We Got It!!!

We got our 1-800 today!! Yipeeeee! That really is all we wanted for Christmas and Thanksgiving. We are so very grateful. Off to the state for certification and then to the Chinese consulate. Hoping to be DTC by Christmas.

Thanksgiving Photos

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and I am looking forward to snuggling with my little ones and watching the Macy's Parade today...then lots of good food! We are so very blessed and grateful this year. Here are a few things I am thankful for.

• My husband who is also my best friend, partner in life who is also an incredible father. I am so grateful to be on the journey of life together.
• For all five of our children who bring us joy unimaginable and for the promise of Andrew being home by next Thanksgiving.
• Our family and friends near and far and all the new friends we have made this year as our children started school.
• Health for all our family and friends. For Nora's eyesight and lightening of her birthmark, Lily's improving speech, and Matt's diabetes being under control...and also the blessing of his continuous glucose monitor.
• Wonderful teachers and childcare providers who love and care for our children.
• For God working through the Orphan Ministry at our church. For the hearts that have been touched and for the new friends we are making through the ministry.
• For our home that allows enough space for our growing family to enjoy. For the deer and turkey that bless us every day in our yard.
• For my new job that has brought new challenges, new blessings and more time with my darlings.
• Almost being DTC for Andrew.

Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with many blessings!

Fingerprints...

are done! Come on I-800!

Care Package on Its Way!

Our care package was mailed out yesterday for our sweet guy waiting for us in Shanghai. With the girls I couldn't wait to send the packages out to them. It made me feel like I was doing something. This time was so very hard. This time our son is old enough to know what a family is and old enough to know the passage of time.

Trinkets just seem so trivial when a 4 1/2 year old is waiting for a family. I want him to know about us and to ready his heart for us by looking at our pictures. I want him to dream of a family and a new life...yet it will likely be 6 or more months until he is home...and that is FOREVER to a 4 year old. So it was hard to decide what to send or if we should send anything at all yet. In the end we learned the orphanage is encouraging the sending of pictures and is showing them to the children.

So we carefully chose our trinkets, assembled a picture album, filled the box with love...and off it goes.

What is this a picture of??

My dear sweet daughter...pretending to blow her nose into her bib...to the hysterical laughter of her brother and sisters of course. :)

Legoland and IKEA...still joyful but not quite so busy

We had a fun day on Saturday. We were feeling a bit stir crazy so we headed off to Chicago to Legoland. We had not been there before and the kids had a great time. Lots to see and do for little ones. Luke LOVES his Legos and so he had the best time of anyone.

We stopped at IKEA on the way home. One of mom's favorites and I got some new silverware (for $7 for a set of 20 pieces) which was great since we are always out now that our family is bigger and some new dish towels, pretty paper napkins, and my favorite was a new lazy Susan. Matt thinks I'm nuts but I love Lazy Susan's. :) I love, love, IKEA.

Today was a beautiful restful day filled with the final mulching of the leaves (yea!), putting up of the Christmas lights, a fire in the fireplace and the Packers. What more can one ask for. I am settling in to a slower life. It is a struggle at times but it is a good thing. :)