More Musings on Lemons

Well, I think my head and my heart are finally in agreement that it is going to be another 3 years yet before we bring Ladybug home. Along with that comes the probability that she will be our one and only.

The journey has not been a picnic. "It will be worth it in the end" makes me want to throw up. I'm coming to terms that the wait is worth it NOW.

I've seen many of my cyber friends' marriages crumble under the stress of adopting from China. I think that our marriage is stronger for it. I am convinced now more than ever that I truly married my soul mate and my best friend. It isn't without its problems, but it is a great marriage and I wouldn't change one minute of it. With out the wait, it may have taken me years to realize the treasure I have in my dear husband.

Many of our friends tell us "Enjoy your free time now, because once you have kids you won't have any." We have taken that to heart. We have sleep-in days, naps in the afternoon, take day trips, plan big vacations. We enjoy grown-up TV shows and movies. And this has strenthened our relationship and our enjoyment of life.

I truly think this will help us be better parents, as well. We've had 11 years together as a married couple. We've spent 7 years waiting for a child to come into our lives. My sincere hope is that I have no regrets about having a child, that I never wish that I had one more "sleep in day", never wish I could have just one day to myself, never offer my child to a friend (or stranger) because "I just need a break." I hope this wait will prepare me to embrace the busy-ness that a child brings into the home.

So you will forgive me, dear blog reader, if I post here less often about the adoption. Since we are now through the Review Room, there really is no news to tell until we get referral 3 years from now. I will continue to post interesting happenings in our family, but I imagine that updates will be sparse.

Under the interesting happenings category, B received an award this week from a law enforcement agency because of his work on a case that helped put a loan shark in jail and ensure that his victims receive restitution. I've posted a picture from the night. It was a great evening in a grand old building!

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods!

:D

Cute Poem

A dear friend of mine sent this along to me. I don't know who wrote it, but man, can I relate!

YOU MIGHT BE ADOPTING FROM CHINA IF:

~You know that I-600 & I-171 aren't highways....

~You've been expecting a baby for over 3 years....

~You understand that it's 2006 in some parts of the world....

~You've "paid for" 3 citizenships, but never brought anyone into the U.S....

~You know that waiting for China has nothing to do with Dillards or dishes..

~Your homestudy is followed by a number (i.e. #3 or #4)...

~You never know how many days next month will have...

~You know that babies come in batches...

~You've been fingerprinted four times, but never committed a crime...

~You automatically assume everyone who is expecting is having a girl...

~You own new clothing in 3 little sizes for all 4 seasons...

~You look twice when you see a lady bug...

~You're more interested in what will happen in March 2006 than in March 2009...

~You know people who understand when you talk about 2 day months & 5 day months...

~Your due date hasn't changed by days, but by years...

~You know who the Rumor Queen is ... AND ... you don't know who she is...

~You know that forecast doesn't have anything to do with the weather...

~You've waited so long, they re-checked your fingerprints to see if they changed...

~Trying to understand why they're printing you again, you study your own fingerprints and wonder if fingerprints grow wrinkles...

~When you speak of "that time of month" you're talking about CCAA updates & referrals...

And finally...

You might be adopting from China if you love someone you've never met with all your heart

Author ~ Unknown

MEGA Tear Jerker

I'm having trouble with YouTube in posting the actual video here, so I'll just do the link for now.

BEFORE you click on it, grab some kleenex. Seriously, go grab them. I'll wait.

The words are powerful, but the pictures are what did it for me. Someone made this for their little one. They obviously got a referral because they have some picutres. I think the orphanage pics are from someone else. They haven't traveled yet (at the time they made the video).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcPBA9-wyZE#

This hit me so hard today. I can totally relate to this song and the video. The room is all ready, just no Kiddo to sleep in it yet.

The end of the song gives me hope that this will happen, someday. Until then, it is such a comfort to know that others are enduring this wait, and even made a song about it!

Maybe a candidate for the adoption video. What do you think?

:D

Wonderful Surprise!

We received a phone call over the weekend from one of the local FCC (Families with Children from China) families. They have an annual tradition of providing the flowers for their church on the weekend closest to the day that they met their daughter in China. After services, they then give the flowers to a waiting family to help boost their spirits and wish them luck in the process. The family selected us to receive the flowers this year! They just stopped over and delivered the flowers. It was 14 years ago today that they first met their daughter. She is a lovely young lady now!

We are so touched by this gesture. It is a goregous arrangement, and I plan on pressing some of them to put in Ladybug's scrapbook. We are truly blessed with a wonderful support network here!

Hope all is well with you!

:D

OUT OF REVIEW!!!

WHOOOO HOOOOO! We got the official word today that our file is now out of the review room! What a fantastic Lunar New Year Present!

This means that the CCAA has reviewed our file and found it acceptable. No questions, no additional information needed ~ we are approved!

We still have no idea how much longer it will be unti we get a referral for our Ladybug. Things are going very slow. We hope it will be within the next 2 years or so.

This is truly a big milestone worth celebrating. We are just thrilled to have this hurdle behind us.

So far the year of the Ox is shaping up pretty well! We are both Oxen, so maybe this is a good sign that 2009 will be a wonderful year.

Keep up the prayers for bringing Ladybug home soon!

:D

Happy New Year!

Good riddance to 2008! Bring on 2009!

Here are some more pics of our Christmas decorations. This is my favorite display ~ my Precious Moments nativity set. My mom started me out with the basic set and the three wise men, and my sister-in-love scours e-bay every year to find good deals on additional pieces. This year I was surprised to receive the goat (very rare!), the pig and the bunnies. Once Ladybug comes home, I think that we will use the nativity set as an advent calendar and put one piece out a night until Christmas. Just a few more angels and we'll have plenty to do that!



Hope everyone has a safe and Happy New Year!
:D

Christmas Decor ~ #1

Well, since this site is about sharing, I think I'll post a series of our Christmas decor. Not many folks will get to see it this year IRL, so I'll share it virtually.

Tonight I'll post some outside pics. Sorry so fuzzy, but you can't really use a flash and get the twinkling effect. We bought new LED lights this year for the house and tree. It took a little getting used to the white light vs. yellow lights, but I really like it. The blinkie snow men are new this year. They are my favorite!

And, we timed it just perfectly. The day we put up the outdoor decorations was the one day that we had snow that actually stuck! You can see it in the pics! Adds just the right finishing touch!

Enjoy! :D