Hot off the press!

Dear Family and Friends,

Just got word from Living Hope that my travel approval has returned from China! That's the go-ahead for the agency to start making appointments and travel arrangements!

The agency is trying to get a U.S. Consulate appointment for January 17 which would have us leaving for China on January 9!

I'll write more when I get details!

Blessings,

Chinamom

"As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country."

Proverbs 25:25

Christmas Day

Dear Family and Friends,

Merry Christmas!

For me, it's a time of mixed emotions.

There is joy at the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. At the same time there is sadness and disappointment that I am not able to spend this Christmas day with my daughter.

We will, however, have a celebration when she comes home. I do thank my family and those of you who acknowledged my new family with your cards and gifts. It meant the world to me and I have saved them to share with her one day.

May the peace of the season and the gift of salvation be yours today.

Blessings,
Chinamom

"Now there were in the same country sheperds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Ant this will be a sign to you: You will find the Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. "

Luke 2: 8-14

December showering!

Dear Family and Friends,

Today the families who were part of my original LID group have left for China. Believe me when I say that I hope to be in China before they get back! It's not that we would catch up with them there, they would likely be at the end of their journey by the time I would be leaving, I just want to get there! Again, we waiting for my travel approval to come in so we can get this travel show on the road!

On Monday evening, I went to my friend, Lisa's, house. She and another friend, Kim, helped me to cut out cardstock paper for some adoption announcements I want to send out when we get back from China. While I was there, they showered me with some gifts for Sophie! Check this out:

Lots of fun things for bath time! Momma is especially excited about the side tub seat! Her old knees just are not what they once were! There's even a little Dora the Explorer doll in Chinese clothing! I didn't know Dora was in China too! Guess I need to get up to date on my children's television!

Thanks Lisa and Kim! You are the best!

Blessings,

Chinamom

Catching you up....

Dear Family and Friends,

So many things to get you caught up on.

First of all, I won't be leaving for China this week with the rest of my original travel group. My travel approval has yet to arrive. It needs to come in this week for there to be any chance of my spending Christmas with Sophie in China.

I'm very happy for my original travel group who will be leaving on Wednesday morning, but of course am sad for me for not being able to be with them.

On Thursday I was able to meet with Sophie's new pediatrician. I was happy to have him give me information about the things I had in my mind to talk about - and that was without my asking the questions first! I am very comfortable that the group has quite a few internationally adopted children in the practice so the issues I may be bringing to them is something they have experience with!

When I left the pediatrician's office, I went to mall. I was only going there to look!! I really was! (at least that's what I told myself when I pulled into the parking lot!)

I went into JC Penny's (someplace I hate to shop at - too confusing with the layout in these kinds of department stores! I can never find the department I want, then I can't find my way out of the store!). Anyway - I found myself in the children's department and saw a dress that I couldn't leave at the store! It is so cute! I decided Sophie would need a dress for Christmas regardless of if I were there with her in China or for when she comes home and we celebrate it at home together! I don't want to give it away so I won't describe the dress, but be assured the blog will be plastered with photos when available.... good thing I'm renting a phone in China to call home with... I think I see a pair of black patent leather shoes in the future - couldn't buy them the other day as I really don't have a clue on shoe size for her!

Yesterday was exciting for me also. Sophie's crib arrived! My brother in law brought it over late in the afternoon . My brother's children came over for the evening while mom and dad did Christmas shopping and thanks to Jared and Gillian, we were able to put the crib together without too much difficulty! It looks so beautiful!

Tomorrow evening I will be going to my friend Lisa's house to start cutting out the pieces for my adoption announcements!

Trying to keep busy but finding the wait to be excruciating!

Blessings,

Chinamom

Still waiting...

Dear Family and Friends,

Still no word on my travel approval.... if it doesn't arrive by Friday, there will be no traveling for me next week. But..... as my adoption agency is quick to remind me, miracles do happen and tonight in prayer meeting, my prayer group included my friend and church mentor, Chris, who has adopted twice from China. He and his wife have been such wonderful supports to me in this and they are now praying for a speedy TA arrival!

I went out to look at Christmas dresses for Sophie. I hesitate to buy anything because I don't know what size to buy! I do so want her to have a special dress for the holidays... maybe tomorrow I'll splurge and buy one anyway - even if we aren't home in time for Christmas, we WILL be celebrating the birth of Christ together at some point this year - so I want it to be special for her.

I did put up my tree last night. It was hard to think like a Mom here. You really look at decorations differently when you know a baby will be with you! All those lovely glass ornaments stayed in the box and out came the wooden and crocheted ones to fill the bottom of the tree where little hands are likely to grab on to! Oh its the most wonderful time of the year!

Blessings,

Chinamom

The Coming Messiah

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting. " Micah 5:2

My original group is getting closer...

Dear Family and Friend,

Just to keep you in the loop, those people who actually got their referrals on November 5th, those in my LID group, got their travel approvals back from China today! That's huge for them because now Living Hope can start making appointments for them in China and they should know their travel dates by this Wednesday!

Why is that important? Well, obviously, some of these people have become my friends over the last year and I'm very excited for them! They will be seeing their babies very soon! The second reason it's important is that my travel approval (TA) is about 8-9 days behind them. If I should get my TA in the next week or so, there is a chance I could still travel with them! Once MY travel approval comes in, the agency will contact the American Consulate in Guangzhou to see if they can get me an appointment on the same day and perhaps I'll be able to squeeze in before the end of the year!

It's getting exciting!

Blessings,

Chinamom

Getting ready

Dear Family and Friends,

I am THRILLED to report that it was highly productive here this weekend in Massachusetts - thanks in LARGE part to my friend Maria!

She came over on Saturday and we attacked each project until it was finished!We cleared out all the "junk" in Sophie's room and rearranged the furniture so the room makes sense - as soon as the crib gets here I'll take pictures and post them - it's so cute!

Then she helped me re-arrange the front storage closet to fit more storage boxes (we moved the boxes with things like dishes, to the basement (no small feat since I live on the third floor!)She wrapped my Christmas presents while I cleared my dining room table and printed out the completed pages of Sophie's life book I created on the computer.

Finally - and most importantly in so many ways - she helped me re-pack my suitcases! I decided to cut back on some of the baby supplies like diapers and wipes. I'm only bringing 4 outfits for her and found a recipe for a powdered Pedialyte that I will talk to the pediatrician about on Thursday when I meet with him.

I am taking the advice of people who have traveled to Nanchang before me and will ask the guide to direct me to the Walmart there so I can stock up there. (I'll have more suitcase room after I deliver the orphanage donations)

One of the doctors I work with at the hospital is from Nanchang and she said it's much cheaper there than Guangzhou (where her sister lives).My check in bag weighs 42 pounds and my carry on bag is 25 pounds -no lightweight, but technically should get me through the airports!

I feel so much better - I still have things to sort and organize (the pantry, my bedroom....) but I don't feel as overwhelmed at I did before!

Anyone out there preparing their homes for a China adoption want to rent my Maria??? I thought I might be able to raise some money for my possibly outrageous airline tickets! LOL She is FANTASTIC! Thank you so much, Maria, you are such a blessing to me!

Blessings,

Chinamom