SJ and EM had a BIG HUG for MR, because they are going to miss her so much! They have never been away from each other for this long. MR has been so brave! She can not wait to get her little brother home!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
~~ITINERARY~~
| Guangzhou | Daily Itinerary |
| November 3 | Arrive Guangzhou - NW #9 at 11:05PM |
| November 4 | Sightseeing or resting |
| November 5 | Receive your child day Time: 4:00pm GOTCHA DAY!!! |
| November 6 | Adoption registration day Time: 10:00am |
| November 7 | Sightseeing and Shopping |
| November 8 | Sightseeing and Shopping |
| November 9 | Sightseeing and Shopping |
| November 10 | (Scott will leave Guangzhou today at 8:30am Arrive MN at 10:45am on Flight #20 NW) |
| November 11 | Sightseeing and Shopping |
| November 12 | Sightseeing and Shopping |
| November 13 | Receive passport and review paperwork |
| November 14 | Medical Exam |
| November 15 | Consulate Appointment - 9:00am |
| November 16 | Receive Visa ~ Ceremony at the Consulate |
| November 17 | Leave Guangzhou - NW10 at 8:30am arrive MN at 4:14PM on flight NW# 745 from Detroit |
| Hotel in Guangzhou | Victory Hotel - |
I'm sure this will change from time to time, but this is the info we got from our Agency today!
If it didn't seem real before it really does now.
I must get packed!!
Monday, October 29, 2007
~~TOOTHLESS~~
E.M. has been so excited for the past week or so, because he finally has a loose tooth!! His friend from church has lost several and M.R. has lost her front 4...so I think to him that meant he was big like his friends. He hasn't wanted anything to do with me pulling it, but tonight he decided that it hurt the way it was so he wanted it out! So as you can see it is OUT!! He is hoping the toothfairy finds her way to our house!
Sunday, October 28, 2007
October Party!!
The kids and I went to a October Party at a friend's house tonight. They had so much fun!! Just good old fashioned fun. Nothing outrageous or extremely expensive, but the kind of nights that memories are made of!
Friday, October 26, 2007
~Watermelon-pumpkin~
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I had to add the photo of the one pumpkin that grew in the lilac bush!! For a long time we thought it was a watermelon. Then we realized it was turning orange and was a pumpkin not a watermelon. I did grow up on a farm...Sorry Dad guess I didn't check it out close enough!
~~~PUMPKINS~~~
I harvested the pumpkins that we grew in the garden this year today. We were surprised that some of them got as large as they did...not sure where they came from...but we will enjoy them!
Scott planted the small pie pumpkins but I think the larger ones planted themselves!
~~~THANK GOODNESS FOR FRIENDS~~~
I woke up this morning realizing how fortunate we are to be blessed with an abundance of friends! Some are family and others are just wonderful people that we have met along the way!!
My adoption friends...you know who you are keep me sane...or at least as close to that as I am along the way and my family...what can I say...we are so blessed.
I know that my kids will be taken care of and loved while we are gone and although I will miss them...I will not worry! What a wonderful thing that is.
Yesterday my friend from Church came over to practice taking MR to and from school, how nice is that. And then she stayed and helped with dinner and kept us all company, since SF had to stay at school till nearly 10PM last night. We are so spoiled that SF usually is home by 4 in the afternoon, that when we have a week that he isn't home on time, we think that is just the pits!!
Well we are off to get flu shots and make some copies...the time is getting close and I need to get it all wrapped up!
Just know one and all that I consider myself very lucky to be surrounded by such support and love!!
Hugs to all~~~~
My adoption friends...you know who you are keep me sane...or at least as close to that as I am along the way and my family...what can I say...we are so blessed.
I know that my kids will be taken care of and loved while we are gone and although I will miss them...I will not worry! What a wonderful thing that is.
Yesterday my friend from Church came over to practice taking MR to and from school, how nice is that. And then she stayed and helped with dinner and kept us all company, since SF had to stay at school till nearly 10PM last night. We are so spoiled that SF usually is home by 4 in the afternoon, that when we have a week that he isn't home on time, we think that is just the pits!!
Well we are off to get flu shots and make some copies...the time is getting close and I need to get it all wrapped up!
Just know one and all that I consider myself very lucky to be surrounded by such support and love!!
Hugs to all~~~~
Thursday, October 25, 2007
~~~TESTING~~~THIS IS ONLY A TEST~~~
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I am checking to see how this all works. While we are in China I will not be able to view my blog. China does not allow Blogs...I guess they can not regulate them, so they don't have them. So I am hoping to post to it from this email address. This email is to see if it works and if I can post photos. So please put up with this test....Remember this is only a TEST!
WHO'S ON FIRST!!!!!!
Just thought I would give a quick run down on who is going where next week. SJ and EM are going to their cousin's house. These photos are from last May when my oldest niece graduated and we were home for that! Thankfully both set of Grandparents live within 5 miles of each other so while they are there they will plenty of people to spoil them. The kids in the photo with our kids are my nieces and nephew. Boy will SJ and EM be rotten when I get home. My oldest niece will be traveling to China with us. She is holding MR in the photo!
MR will be staying with friends from our church. That way she will be able to go to school. Once SF comes home on the 10th she will be home with her Dad.
MR wishes she had a dog, but this is her cousin's dog, Gracie. She wanted me to post this photo...so I did! OK, so do you all have your score cards. It is confusing...but I think we have everyone covered!Tuesday, October 23, 2007
OH WHAT A DAY!!
I woke up this morning with several things worrying me but after several phone calls I feel better and on track to get things done and be ready to head to China on the 2nd. All the little details can really get overwhelming, but thankfully I have support from my family and friends.
EM has his speech class on Tuesday afternoons. The bus picks him up at 12:50 and he is there from 1till 3:15PM...I had thought about how nice it was going to be to have a quiet afternoon with just SJ, then I spent most of the morning on the phone getting things arranged for the trip. After lunch SJ and EM were playing together when the phone rang...it was EM's teacher, "How is EM...Fine...did he get on the bus........Oh no I forgot about his class...I will bring him right over." Thankfully the school is only 2 miles from us. When I got there his teacher suggested that SJ could stay as well if I could pick them up...I jumped at the chance. 2 hours just for me!!! So I ran over to the YMCA to walk on the treadmill then headed home to get dinner together. Then it was off to pick them up and go get MR from school. When we got home I noticed the back door was open and the phone had a message on it. I listened to find out it was the security system, just then our neighbors were at the door. My father in law had gotten a call from the security system and called them...well next time I look out and 2 police cruisers are at the door. I walk out with my hands up...I live here what do you need me to do to make sure all is OK. They just needed my ID and that was the end of that. It was really windy and the back door wasn't locked. Shut but not locked...OOPS! Next time I am running like a cray woman I will make sure all the doors are locked, not just shut!
So now we are all home and my friend is about to drop off 2 of her kids. No big deal that way they don't have to ride way north to watch their sister swim in a swim meet. Thankfully all the kids play well together and they are no problem!
Dinner and off to MR's dance class.
Guess I better get everyone to bed so I can collapse for the night.
Hope tomorrow is a bit calmer...Oh yeah I have a Chemo recertification class from noon till 4...how is MR getting home from school. Got that one covered...Note to self, don't forget to send a note so she can ride the bus home!
One day closer to JM...4 kids...are we nuts...probably but ready to give it a try for oh 18 years or so...or I guess for the rest of my life.
Life is good!
EM has his speech class on Tuesday afternoons. The bus picks him up at 12:50 and he is there from 1till 3:15PM...I had thought about how nice it was going to be to have a quiet afternoon with just SJ, then I spent most of the morning on the phone getting things arranged for the trip. After lunch SJ and EM were playing together when the phone rang...it was EM's teacher, "How is EM...Fine...did he get on the bus........Oh no I forgot about his class...I will bring him right over." Thankfully the school is only 2 miles from us. When I got there his teacher suggested that SJ could stay as well if I could pick them up...I jumped at the chance. 2 hours just for me!!! So I ran over to the YMCA to walk on the treadmill then headed home to get dinner together. Then it was off to pick them up and go get MR from school. When we got home I noticed the back door was open and the phone had a message on it. I listened to find out it was the security system, just then our neighbors were at the door. My father in law had gotten a call from the security system and called them...well next time I look out and 2 police cruisers are at the door. I walk out with my hands up...I live here what do you need me to do to make sure all is OK. They just needed my ID and that was the end of that. It was really windy and the back door wasn't locked. Shut but not locked...OOPS! Next time I am running like a cray woman I will make sure all the doors are locked, not just shut!
So now we are all home and my friend is about to drop off 2 of her kids. No big deal that way they don't have to ride way north to watch their sister swim in a swim meet. Thankfully all the kids play well together and they are no problem!
Dinner and off to MR's dance class.
Guess I better get everyone to bed so I can collapse for the night.
Hope tomorrow is a bit calmer...Oh yeah I have a Chemo recertification class from noon till 4...how is MR getting home from school. Got that one covered...Note to self, don't forget to send a note so she can ride the bus home!
One day closer to JM...4 kids...are we nuts...probably but ready to give it a try for oh 18 years or so...or I guess for the rest of my life.
Life is good!
99 BALLOONS
I watched this video on another adoptive mom's site. I want to share it with all of you. It shows a family that truly loved their child unconditionally. They can teach us all a great deal. We will all face many things in our lives that we are not sure we are strong enough to handle. We all need to remember where to find our strength. I needed that reminder today as I was letting the little details worry me. After watching this and reading the poem...I am ready to face the day with a renewed strength.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th6Njr-qkq0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th6Njr-qkq0
CLOWNS OF GOD
My brother shared this poem with me this am. It is truly a blessing to us all.
CLOWNS OF GOD
I know what are you thinking.
You need a sign.
What better one could I give
than to make this little one whole and new?
I could do it; but I will not.
I am the Lord and not a conjurer.
I gave this mite a gift I denied to all of you
ETERNAL INNOCENCE
To you she looks imperfect
but to me she is flawless,
like the bud that dies unopened,
or the fledglings
that fall from the nest to be devoured by ants.
She never offended me,
as all of you have done.
She never perverted the work of My Father hands.
She is necessary to you.
She will evoke the kindness that will prompt you to
gratitude for own good fortune....more.....
she will remind you every day that I am who I am,
that My ways are not yours,
and the smallest dust mite whirled in darkest
space does not fall out of my hand.
I have chosen you.
you have not chosen me.
this little one is my sign to you.
TREASURE HER.
CLOWNS OF GOD
I know what are you thinking.
You need a sign.
What better one could I give
than to make this little one whole and new?
I could do it; but I will not.
I am the Lord and not a conjurer.
I gave this mite a gift I denied to all of you
ETERNAL INNOCENCE
To you she looks imperfect
but to me she is flawless,
like the bud that dies unopened,
or the fledglings
that fall from the nest to be devoured by ants.
She never offended me,
as all of you have done.
She never perverted the work of My Father hands.
She is necessary to you.
She will evoke the kindness that will prompt you to
gratitude for own good fortune....more.....
she will remind you every day that I am who I am,
that My ways are not yours,
and the smallest dust mite whirled in darkest
space does not fall out of my hand.
I have chosen you.
you have not chosen me.
this little one is my sign to you.
TREASURE HER.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Apple sauce, Sun and TA's OH MY!!
Just sat down to eat some lunch and thought I would write a note to detail this busy day! A good friend of mine Charlotte...a mom waiting to bring her daughter home, was waiting to find out what her CA(Consulate Appointment) would be. She got her Travel approval last week and we hoped she might be in Guangzhou the same time we are...turns out that she will arrive about the day after we head home. We are disappointed, but are glad to know that her daughter Rachel will be coming home very soon...not quite as quickly as we had hoped, but soon none the less.
Our actual TA (travel approval) that all important piece of paper arrived in the mail today! Actually by DHL...I have it safely tucked into a folder, to make sure it goes with us to China. I had to smile. It had a sticky note attached..."make sure this goes with you to China" You MUST HAVE IT!!!! I guess I can forget many things, but better not forget my TA!! It is always good to have that arrive. We had gotten an email last week that it was sent, but I hadn't really checked it out that closely. Yesteray on the way to Church I asked Scott...did we get a DHL package this weekend. He said "NO" I had worked Thursday and Friday night...so my awareness this weekend was rather limited. Thankfully when I got home yesterday the email said."expected delivery 10-22. And it arrived when it was intended to!
Talking about 10-22. This is my big brothers birthday. He would be 52 years old today! Hard to believe. Always in our memories. The years sure do fly by.
And what is that wonderful brightness I see outside today....surely a welcomed site around here. We have had rain 20 out of 22 days so far in October! It has been rather dismal. This week looks like we might be able to get the garden officially to sleep before we head to China. Scott dug potatoes yesteray and I think we havd sweet potatoes yet. I think we have to wait on a frost before we did those! Guess I will have to check that out.
I finally got the apple sauce made. Our neighbors had extra apples and they have been in the basement waiting on me to make applesauce for too long...but now it is done. I'm sure all of us will enjoy that this winter.
Guess this brings us one day closer to heading for JM. Many things to do, but Oh so ready to go.
Guess I better figure out what we will have for dinner tonight. SF will be home late from school today, so need to get things going.
All for now.
Our actual TA (travel approval) that all important piece of paper arrived in the mail today! Actually by DHL...I have it safely tucked into a folder, to make sure it goes with us to China. I had to smile. It had a sticky note attached..."make sure this goes with you to China" You MUST HAVE IT!!!! I guess I can forget many things, but better not forget my TA!! It is always good to have that arrive. We had gotten an email last week that it was sent, but I hadn't really checked it out that closely. Yesteray on the way to Church I asked Scott...did we get a DHL package this weekend. He said "NO" I had worked Thursday and Friday night...so my awareness this weekend was rather limited. Thankfully when I got home yesterday the email said."expected delivery 10-22. And it arrived when it was intended to!
Talking about 10-22. This is my big brothers birthday. He would be 52 years old today! Hard to believe. Always in our memories. The years sure do fly by.
And what is that wonderful brightness I see outside today....surely a welcomed site around here. We have had rain 20 out of 22 days so far in October! It has been rather dismal. This week looks like we might be able to get the garden officially to sleep before we head to China. Scott dug potatoes yesteray and I think we havd sweet potatoes yet. I think we have to wait on a frost before we did those! Guess I will have to check that out.
I finally got the apple sauce made. Our neighbors had extra apples and they have been in the basement waiting on me to make applesauce for too long...but now it is done. I'm sure all of us will enjoy that this winter.
Guess this brings us one day closer to heading for JM. Many things to do, but Oh so ready to go.
Guess I better figure out what we will have for dinner tonight. SF will be home late from school today, so need to get things going.
All for now.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Halloween Party
M.R., E.M. and S.J. getting ready to go to the Halloween party at the Y. They had a great time. If you can not tell. M.R is Cleopatra E.M. is Captain Jack Sparrow and S.J. is Sleeping Beauty(Aurora).
Cute kids if I say so myself.
Giving this Blog thing a try!
Hi everyone. Most of you know we will be leaving on the 2nd of Nov. to meet our newest addition. I am trying to create a bloy to use in China and then after we get home. We will see how it goes.
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