Lifeline Fall Festival~

Adoption families gathered for the Lifeline First Annual Fall Festival Reunion.

We enjoyed a great lunch and games for the kids~

 I think the best thing about it was being able to talk and share 

with other families doing exactly what we do every single day.

It was also so cool to see many of the children we have prayed for...

now in their forever families~

We ALL had a great time and look forward to next year when we have sweet Abby home!!!

Thankful for Lifeline helping us bring home three of our precious blessings!!!

Parade of Families~

A couple of weeks before the Lifeline banquet we traveled to Columbus to be interviewed about adoption with two other families. The video was shown @ the banquet and I am sharing with you in hopes your heart is touched for many waiting~ 

To be a part of a family that loves them beyond measure.

Blessings to you all as you watch and be moved. 

Adoption~

Because of His GREAT Love for us before the world even began...

We were chosen BY GOD to be adopted as His children... 

We Love because HE first loved us... 

A pure act of faith is to care for His children just as He cared for us.

  Adoption is partnering with Jesus to see lives transformed...

Adoption is a Miracle! 

This beautiful canvas was sent to our family today from The Franks family... {Grayson's family}.

Such a sweet act of love from one family to another as we all share the awesome miracle of adoption.

It now hangs in our school room and will be cherished each day as I step in to teach them of God's greatest gift to us... Jesus and the miracle of being adopted into His family. 

LOVE this beautiful reminder!

Still Grieving~

Today was a marathon day of traveling for us and Evie is still struggling. I can not put her down at all really so no time to sit and blog. Plus VPN is not working and I am dead tired. Going to bed and hope to blog more tomorrow. Here is our sweet baby for now... 

PS. Payne is the rockstar brother~ God is SO good!!!

We made it!

Getting ready to go Thursday was very last minute. Scott and I needed to do laundry so we could bring the clothes we like the most and waited to really pack Thursday morning. I also wanted to get all the official gifts ready so once that was done the suitcases were filled. We tried to get it down to 3 but just were too heavy. Need to be under 50lbs for international travel. Scott and EK took Sadie to the kennel for a little doggie vacation. Fisher is so old and easy, he gets to stay home for the duration of the trip. As you know, we are hoping he makes it until we get back home.

The departure from home was quite traumatic for Scott, EK, and me. Held it together as long as we could and it just had to come out. We had mama take them for ice cream before we left so they wouldn't see us drive out. She also took them for a little Walmart run for a new Jingle book. :)

I think the little would agree that Jessie came to the rescue when she showed up with new stuffed animals and rockstar glasses. :)
 
 The big girls helped them make a count down chain and Pop (my dad) got a new puppy just for EK to have while we are gone~ now that is grandparenting at its finest. LOL

 Jason drove us to the airport about 2 hours from home. It was a sweet ride as we were able to catch up on day to day as well as process leaving our children. He SO encouraged us by reminding us of the great character building that will go on as well as the relationships to be strengthened with them/mama and daddy/Jason and Amy. Also made me think that this time will allow them to become a little more independent of us as will need to be when two new siblings come and need LOTS of attention for bonding and attachment.

 I think the sweetest thing was him praying over us as we stood outside the airport before going inside. Nothing sweeter than having your brother pray over every aspect of our trip and the ones at home. I LOVE you Jason to God and back as I say with the little all the time (we think that's infinity!). We were then off to check bags and head to wait at the gate.

A little after midnight we boarded our Korean Air flight and flew 15 hours to Seoul, Korea for a 3 hour layover. We love this airport and very familiar place for us. We had KFC for breakfast (ha), and a muffin/coffee from coffee shop.

We met about 5 other families flying to China to adopt and spent time sharing about each other's families and children we were adopting. I think we made everyone's mouth drop open. :)
We boarded another KA flight to Guangzhou for a 4 hours and were supposed to have a 7 hour layover but our flight had been canceled and they wanted us to spend the night for another flight the next morning. UMMM NO! I checked the board and saw a flight taking off in 2 hours and they kindly put us on it. THEN we found out our we could only check 1 bag/person @ 20kg. oh no! They let 2 bags go through, we took one on as a carry on, and had to hightail it across the airport to pay overweight fee and check the last one. To say the least we barely made it the gate just in time to board. PTL! Got on as the only Americans, had a VERY turbulent flight and landed about 6:30pm. We met our very sweet guide Anna and had a 40 minute van ride to hotel. 
 

We are staying at the Wanda Vista Hotel and it is SO NICE! Thank you Lifeline!!!

After 34 hours of travel and 3 flights, we have finally made it to Taiyuan! Good night!!!
{One day until Payne Curtis}

Packing~

I started out packing in these~

Then Savannah and Josh mentioned we might try their new suitcases

 so I unpacked it all and started over~

Now I'm confused and my bedroom looks like this~

Can we possibly pack for three weeks for 4 people in 3 suitcases?

Starting to wonder and it's coming down to the wire.

I need help!!!

{You would think on my 4th trip to China I would have this down.} 

{7 days until China}

Hermie's Announcement~

We woke up to this masterpiece waiting on us in the schoolroom. Hermie used up every single sparkle pompom we owned. :)

TA~ Travel Approval!!!

Whoo hoo~ the LAST step in the process until we get on a plane...

Jan. 4!!!

We found out Tuesday TAs were on the way and Wed it arrived at our agency. Today we got confirmation that our CA is Jan 22 (the last appointment) before we head home next day. We are in the process of booking our flights and making final plans.

To celebrate the news from Hermie, we had portraits made with him. We received special permission from Santa that Hermie would not loose his magic if they touched him~

  I think the beautiful smiles tell how excited they were!!!

Three weeks from today Scott and I will be in the air China bound!!! Praise the Lord!!!

SO... we are in the final days of the Joyful Heart auction and fund raising.

Please stop by and take a look as some of the items will close tonight. 

We are forever thankful to the many prayers lifted for us through this long wait and now as we prepare to travel. God knows every single need and we already give Him ALL glory for every single blessing!!!

James 1:17

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.