Ipad 4 Giveaway!!

Hey Guys!

As you know, we're bringing home another blessing home from China; 6 year old, soon-to-be- Ann-Jolie!

We are doing an iPad 4 giveaway to help cover some of the adoption expenses that are needed up-front and immediately.

(Apple iPad with Retina display Wi-Fi 16 GB - 4th generation - Winner chooses color)

With each donation you will have your name dropped in a bowl and we will do the drawing on Friday, May 10th.

$5.00 = 1 entry

$10.00 = 3 entries

$20.00 = 7 entries

$50.00 = 25 entries

Simply click on the donation button at the top right hand side of our blog home page and enter the amount you wish to donate.

We cannot express our appreciation enough for your support in bringing home our baby girl!  

If you are not able to give in monetary means, we are EXTREMELY appreciative for your prayers and encouragement.  We could not do this without all of the love and support of our friends and family!

Thanks for spreading the word, and thanks, again, for your support!

This

Here we are again...

Another transition...another cross roads...

This time, though, it's without my beloved father in law.  He went to be with Jesus on April 5th.

I guess that IS the transition; that he's no longer with us.  That we'll be living and creating memories without him here.

I could get stuck right there and go on and on about all of the things that we'll be doing without him.

BUT, I won't...Mainly because I know that there's no use in looking at the negative...No use in getting in a dark place about all of this.  That's not what we know to do...That's not the kind of man HE was.

He's in Heaven...He's free...He's home!  And I am happy for him.

We will continue on here; happy...moving forward...continuing the legacy that he left for us...finishing his unfinished business.

Ann-Jolie didn't meet Paw Paw, but by the time we're finished, she will feel as if she did.  And when it's all said and done, she WILL meet him.

I have to tell you, I have NEVER felt so much peace as I do right now.  At first I was sad; and yes, a little bit angry.

I felt lost...I felt confused...and somewhat afraid.

That lasted for about 4 or 5 days...and then...

It washed over me...Perfect peace...

Wow!

I have never felt so calm about....well....everything.

This is the grace that is sufficient.

This is the peace that passes all understanding.

THIS...

It's amazing!  Better than any pill I've ever taken, lol!

It truly is something out of the ordinary, that's for sure.

We have an adoption to pay for -- and to complete...

We have a house to fix

We are living between 2 houses right now, etc, etc...

No problem! God's got it!

That's how I feel...And I can literally FEEL it...No worry...

Not to be redundant, but...Wow!

So, I rest in His will.  I will rest in His peace.  I will joy in His joy.

Let's see where this new season brings us...

Obviously ;)

I Would Gather Children

Some would gather money

along the path of life.

Some would gather roses and

rest from worldly strife. 

But I would gather children

from among the thorns of sin.

I would seek a little child with

a big and toothless grin.

For money cannot enter in

the land of endless day,

And roses that are gathered

soon wilt along the way.

But oh, the laughing children

as I cross the sunset sea,

And the gates swing wide to Heaven.

I can take them in with me! 

LOOK WHAT I FOUND!!!

The little girl in the red sweat suit is Ann-Jolie! This is about a year ago, I think!  You can hear her sweet little voice! I can't wait to grow her hair out and put some bows and get her in some cute little girl clothes!!!

This song.....

Recently, a fellow adoptive parent went to Shangha* to pick up her little one and took some pictures. Our Ann-Jolie was in several of these pics!

I cropped out the other little ones for their privacy...Here's Ann-Jolie only a couple of weeks ago!  I can't wait to hug her neck!

Here we go!

Here we go....again!

This time to Shanghai.  I honestly didn't know if I'd ever adopt again; not gonna lie, 1st time around was a VERY tad bit rough.  But all is well...and all is settled, and life is sweet.  Don't you know that's when God's gonna hit you up to do something out of your comfort zone?  Right when you sit back, sigh, and say, "Ok, now we can move forward into the future." Yep...That's when God says, "Ummmmm, hey! I got something for you to do!"

We bucked at first...I was like, "No!!! Not again! Not now! Things are just settled!"

Then there was the "what if's" and the "why we can'ts"...God wasn't falling for it..."Nice try," He said, lol!

After having my little temper tantrum, I finally surrendered; knowing that if you don't do God's will, you'll be a miserable human being.  I want no regrets....I have enough already.

The day before we found our little girl, I prayed...

"Dear Lord, if you want me to do this, I will...BUT I'm asking that we find our daughter tomorrow."  I went to sleep determined to find our little one the next day.

I searched and prayed and prayed and searched...Long story short, I found her...Her file had been sent to me almost 2 weeks prior.  I had skipped over her bc I thought her special needs were too many; I didn't understand her file...

"Awwww, what the heck," I said. "I'll just send her file to Dr. J to be reviewed and see what she says.

2 hours later I got an unexpected call and an unexpected GREAT review of our little one's file!

She is all fixed!

Well....Fast forward to March 19th...We sent off to Ch*na for pre-approval....March 21st we got it!  Unheard of to have such a quick turn around!!! Hopefully this is a sign of how quickly this whole thing is going to move.

We should have all of our paper work off to Ch*na by May and hopefully we'll get to go get our new addition in September!

Here we go again!  I couldn't be more excited!  She's beautiful and I know she's made for us...Just like we're made for her...
I'll be keeping you all posted here as much as possible.

Thanks for following along!