CCAA Reviews Another Month

Wow 21 days to complete the review for the month of June 2006. How exciting for all the June LIDer's knowing they are finally approved. At least it is another milestone in the process to celebrate. Both May and June have been through the review room very quickly. Could this be a good sign for the future or are these just smaller months? Only time will tell but a girl can dream and I am dreaming of a speed up in referrals next if we could just get through November 2005.

Now the big question is will referrals go through December as some of the rumors are pointing to or will they stay on the track of 7 days and go to 11/21. Stay tuned were praying for December but also being realistic.

Madeline's First Sleep Over

We debated what is the appropriate age for a sleep over. Maddie has been begging me for her friend Abagail to come spend the night (both 3) and I have been reluctant until Monday night. I decided I would tackle this like having my own two daughters. How much work could it really be (ha ha). First we went to Wal-Mart and bought all the good stuff to eat gummies, pretzels, popcorn, ice cream etc. When we were shopping I felt like I was buying for teenagers.
That afternoon the girls got together they were both so excited the could hardly stand it. Then let the fun begin. The girls were angels for 2 days they played and giggled they are like two peas in a pod.

The best part was night time when they would go to bed, they would lay in bed and talk and talk and talk (I could hear them on the monitor I just laughed). Finally, about 11:00 both nights I told them they must go to sleep or we could not get up for the next days play date at the park and library.

I called Steve and told him I am even more ready now for Kinsey.

Brown Evelope

YIPEE!!! I went to the mailbox today and to much surprise we had our brown envelope (US Consulate General Guangzhou). I am so thrilled I have been reading so many posts and blog where people have been getting there envelopes with LIDs after ours and I was beginning to think we were skipped. Well with everything else going on we needed some good news. Still no computer (Dell is dragging there feet) they claim I will be up and running this week. I hope I am so far behind on posts, reading

yahoo groups, blogs etc.....

July 4th

Happy Independence Day!!!!!

We had a nice family day together and an nontraditional 4th meal no cookouts for us this year. We were suppose to have a get together but well sometimes the best organized plans we find are very unorganized. Poor planing I guess. But both family's had a great day though. We went that evening to see the fireworks in our neighborhood over the lake and met some friends from our neighborhood down there and Maddie had a BLAST. She was all over the place with the kids. She is sooooo not shy. The best was the weather there was a slight breeze and no bugs.

The cute line for the night was she told someone next to us she was "American but also I am Chinese"

Madeline turns THREE!!!!!

Wow! Maddie went to bed on Thursday night and woke up the next morning and said I am a big girl now, "I am Three". She said to us "Look how much I have grown." I have never seen her so excited about anything as she was this year for her birthday. More than ever she wanted to get bigger. We had a birthday party for her a Chuck E Cheese it was only suppose to be for 1.5 hours but it lasted 4 plus hours. Yes, I had seen enough of the mouse. The kids had a great time. I came home and took a nap :) After the party was over she was already to plan her next party with all her friends and invite them into her castle. She does have the greatest imagination.

Audrey gets braces

We are all so excited Audrey received a scholarship for braces. She looks so cute, we joke with her that we can see her in the dark because she got neon green and pink bands. Maddie is envious and wants us to take her to get braces. We tell her she will have plenty of time to grow up. Audrey has grown up so much in the past past 2 years since we met her, she is no longer a little girl but now a beautiful young lady. She is such a blessing in our lives and Maddie just adores her (big sister).

3 Months

Another milestone has been reached. I cant believe it has been 3 months already. The time seems to be flying bye. I know I will not be saying this when we get close to referral but for now the time can keep chugging along. We are praying for a speed-up in the referral process the last few months has not set a good precedence for future referral predictions. I sure hope CCAA has something up their sleeve with the new policy coming out regarding more orphanages participating and guidelines for paper ready babies changing by province.

Father's Day

We had a nice relaxing day. We all went to church in the morning and came home and made a big brunch for Steve. The girls played video games most of the day while dad watched Nascar. Later that day Audrey decided she would take a dip in the pool fully clothed (she had a little help I pushed her.. hehe) Next Maddie went in fully clothed they had a blast swimming with their clothes on. Needless to say we did not want to take Audrey home. Maddie already missed her before we got out of the driveway.

Friends

Abagail and Maddie (my pirate smile)


I am the Queen

Dress up time! Maddie's friend Abagail spends as much time in dress-up clothes and tiaras as Maddie. Say Cheese :) It was not hard getting the two of them to pose together they love playing together. The hardest part is getting them out of the dresses to play outside and eat. We are trying to get Abagail and Maddie into the same ballet school.

Mesue and Papa

My parents came to visit for a few days and we a good time. Maddie clung to her Mesue they painted a craft together. Mom made her the most beautiful little desk. Swapped scrapping supplies and worked with the quilt. They gave Maddie and Kinsey 15 squishes she was very excited. Not much excitement, we took it easy, as I have been for the past several week. Lots of eating. Boy I need a diet. That little voice in my head from the latest doctor visits keeps saying you need to loose, you need to loose! Someone please shut that voice up.

The visit was cut shorter than we wanted it I had to fly to Miami Sunday, I was not up to it yet but off I went. Mom and dad dumped me at the airport and the fun (ha ha) was about to begin. As unprepared as I was I was off and I do mean unprepared I prepared for my presentation on the way and that night.

Meet a Ballerina

We went meet and great a ballerina that was part organized by local ballet schools and several moms with in our local TFWAC organization. All the girls had a blast. Yan Chen is from China and she came to the states (California)to study ballet when she was just a young teen. She loved it so much she knew she was going to come back she did not know how but she was. She has been here studying, dancing (world renown) and is now teaching in Orlando. She took questions from the girls and Maddie piped right up and asked her if she ever played "Cinderella" and she told her yes and Maddie just fell in love with her from that point on which lead into a discussion on her outfits she wore.

Besides signing autographs for each of the girls she also gave them a few pointers in dance. Everyone had a great time. Mom and dad were visiting and they could not believe her enthusiasm. Now they know why she runs around in ballet outfits all the time.

My first autograph I even got one for my baby sister!

These are a few pictures from our collection that shows how much Maddie has grown in the last two years since we received her referral picture which are the first 2. I love these photos most were taken by a close friend of the family, Cindy Strickland who is a professional photographer her in Tallahassee and she has taken fantastic pictures of Maddie. Actual we are due in a couple of weeks for our 3 year pictures. Where does the time go!

Memorial Day Weekend

Ben


Audrey, Maddie and myself went down to my parents in Sarasota for a 4 day weekend to see the latest addition to our family (baby Alyssa). We left on Thursday after Audrey's 8th grade graduation (we are so proud of her Maddie cheered for her big sis as she walked to get her certificate). Steve and I could not be more proud of her if she was our own daughter she is truly an exceptional child. Then the road trip began after we dropped off Steve it was a girls weekend.

We had family dinners, pool party and lots for good family time. I think all's we did was eat and chase kids. It is amazing just a few years ago there were no children and then KABOOM there are 6. Maddie is in love with her Uncle Rich (my younger brother) she can't stop talking about him. Everything is Uncle Rich and next is her baby lyssa. She asked me if we can get one of those babies. We laughed and said soon you will have a baby sister but not quite that small.

Alyssa is truly gorgeous thank the good Lord she looks like my sister.

New Job What a Blessing

A couple of weeks ago my boss came into my office and said they were giving me a raise. I thought GREAT! I could not wait to tell Steve. We have been working on total financial peace where we will be debt free prior to referral (except the house) and we are so on track and this was just one more blessing that God had bestowed upon us. Well it gets better. Then the big boss came to me about a job and and a few days later here I am with a new job and another raise. Unspoken prayer is answered. Everyday our financial goal becomes more and more obtainable. It gets better I do not have to change anything in my daily routine they will work around my schedule that I have currently and flexibility is what they are all about.

God does provide for all of our needs!

Forever Family Day 2008

Two years ago on this day Maddie was placed into our arms. This a memory that will never fade. I think of this day often. It is so hard to believe two years has gone by it just seems like yesterday. We celebrated the evening with Chinese food, games, a movies and our traditional bedtime story.

Over the past two years we have seen a unbelievable transformation of a baby to a beautiful little girl. She is full of energy and is always will to do what we have planned. She is really a true meaning of the red thread. She has thought both Steve and I so many things these two years. Of course we are bias but we believe she is the most beautiful daughter anyone could have both physically and emotionally. God has indeed blessed us.

Maddie has a new cousin

We are so excited and over joyed for my sister Denise and her family as they just had there 3rd child. Denise has always wanted to a mom since we were little girls. The Lord has blessed her with 3 beautiful children (Ben 4 1/2, Bradley 3). Alyssa's was born on 05/04/2007 @ 2:51 p.m.. She was a little thing she only weighted 6lbs 9oz and was 19 inches. She was born at Brandon Regional Hospital. We are all so glad she had a girl I was beginning to think Maddie was going to be the only girl. Madeline loves her :) She calls her lyssa. We can't wait to see her in person we are planning a trip very soon.

We are the proud big brothers

Ballerina

It's official!!! We now have a ballerina in the family. Maddie has wanted to be a ballerina since she turned "2" and her dream has come true. She dances all around the house on he toes it amazes me how the tops of her toes do not hurt. She will start classes in several weeks for the summer session and then full time in the fall. She is not as excited about the tap dancing because they wear pants (sometimes) and she has explained to me over and over again "mommy ballerina's DO NOT wear pants". This will be a challenge.

Since I have not been doing ANY shopping lately it has been lots of fun to look for shoes and ballerina clothes :)

May 1st

May 1st marks another day in history of IA for China. The big question is what is in store now for the waiting families as far as time lines. I have read and heard many different opinions regarding the staffing issues, shortage of babies, lack of orphanage participation and the list goes on. Only time will tell at this point. There are many advantages to a longer referral wait for us so Steve and I are quite content at this point with not receiving a referral until 2009 possibly 2010. Our hearts tell us we would love to see a referral of our daughter in 2008 but reality is what it is......

As far a future families the number of applications of IA's will drop drastically for 2 reasons the new rules implemented as of May 1st and the wait that families will face.

Secret Pal- April

What a great Secret Pal I have. We receive a big package of goodies in the mail. Maddie loves to open all the gifts and see what her baby sister is getting. These were all gifts we could use the stacking cups will come in very handy in China.