Happy Poppy Day

I've been following a family who has just adopted their 6th child, Poppy, from China. The mom and one of her sons are there right now and I thought you might like to read about their first day together. It's so helpful for me to see what the true realities of "Gotcha Day" can be. Lots of emotions flying around. Everything from joy and relief to sadness and grief. I get lost in this lady's blog reading about their journies to each child. It's pretty amazing what the Lord has equipped them to do:

http://nihaoyall.com/2011/07/poppy-day-the-real-deal.html

Enjoy!

3-0

That's right! Last HS visit completed. Just like the rest, it went really well. Our report should be finalized and notarized by Aug 5. Woohoo! Then it's onto lotsa paperwork. I'm taking a breathe before diving in to see what's next. But we're ready!

welcome to our safe house

outlet covers...check

cabinet door latches...check

fire extinguishers upstairs & down...check

fire safety ladders...check

blind cords cut...check

We're ready for our third and final home study visit tonight!

it won't always be this easy

Last minute trips that is. Andy has been planning to take a day off with me for awhile now and announced Thursday that Friday would be the day. So, we pondered over dinner Thursday evening how to spend our time together. I figured we'd sleep in, go out for breakfast, just do a bunch of "local" things. He asked, "Why don't we go to Wilmington?" My first thought was that I had just gotten back from a week at the beach and I really wanted to stay home. I feel like we're gone so much that the thought of leaving again wasn't too appealing.

After some more thought though, we realized we didn't have any weekend commitments, our dog sitter was available and we had a free hotel credit we'd been hanging on to. But what really drove us to "just do it" was the thought that it won't be this simple to pack up and leave at the spur of the moment this time next year...or so we hope. So, we seized the day, did some quick laundry, packed our bags and headed out Fri morning for what turned out to be a gorgeous 24 hours at one of my favorite places: Wrightsville Beach. It was quick but we soaked it up and enjoyed every minute!

 The highlight was dinner outside at Blue Water.

 The boats at Wrightsville add so much to the view.

Surf competition going on while we were there.

two down - one to go

Our second home study visit with Amanda went really well. We went over some questions from the previous session and then she met with Andy one-on-one. I was sent to my room to read so they could talk :) I'll admit I almost fell asleep! She'll be interviewing me next week for our third and final visit. Andy thinks I'll really enjoy this part as Amanda is a good listener and truly cares. The questions were not interrogating at all...just a way to get to know us better.

Thanks for the prayers! Our next one is this coming Tuesday.

home study #2, here we come

Our second home study visit has been confirmed for this Tuesday at 7:00 pm! I'm so glad it seems to be moving right along. I'm learning in the adoption world (and really in all circumstances) to be thankful when things move along as well as when they don't. I comfort myself by knowing every little action, whether quick or slow, will lead us to the child God intended for us. So why fret over the slow downs? And more reason to rejoice when things are ticking along. I am well-aware I may need to be reminded of this multiple times before it's all over with so feel free to do so!

In other news, I can tell Andy is getting more and more into this. He's always been 100% on board but I think it's becoming more real to him as time passes. We've enjoyed some great conversations about "her". Everything from names, to nicknames, to daddy-daughter dates. He even peaked in a few stores with me this weekend to look at girls' clothing :) He said he would give me 5 minutes..ha! I'll take it.

I can't help but feel the Lord may be calling us to more than we realize through this adoption. I'm not really sure what that means but He has definitely been pricking my heart lately for adoption in general.

Please pray for our second visit with our social worker this week. And please, please, please pray for our little girl - that her needs would be met (food, shelter, clothing) and that the Lord would be preparing her heart to accept Him as Savior one day. Lately, I've been praying that she has someone to make her laugh and smile. Someone to give her an extra dose of attention and physical touch so that it isn't a foreign thing to her. I also pray for her caretakers and her birth mother. All involved need Him!

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows — this is God, whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families.

Psalms 68:5-6

it's a good thing...

...I don't know your size yet. Or I would have spent way too much money today on little girl clothing! I think your Nana and Aunt Laura would have too. We looked (a lot) but we didn't buy. Oh but we will!

Even though I do feel like these first few months of the process have flown by, I am beginning to feel impatient. Perhaps all of my blog reading hasn't helped. There are so many families out there who have their babies home and have shared the sweetest, most heart-warming stories. It makes me so excited to know you and to have you.

We're at Myrtle Beach this week for our annual family trip and how it makes me hope you're with us next time. I can't imagine how much joy you will add to these kinds of things. Your nephews would love to play with you in the sand (so would momma!). Your Nana would love to "lotion you up" and your DanDan would love to take you for a walk on the beach. I won't get my hopes set too high that you'll join us next time but it's possible.

Here are a few pics of our beach week thus far. Won't you hurry up and get here???

Watching fireworks from the beach on the 4th

Beep Beep!

Nana and Vince