I800 approved!!!!!

WE'RE APPROVED BY U.S. IMMIGRATION!!!!  

Time to pack....

LOA#2 - We're going to China!!!

 

 !!!!!

We received LOA today for Jenny - and a second one for Sarah!!!!  We're going to China soon - and I took a gamble and sent my I800 this week - hoping to hear by November!!!  I'm over the moon excited - although a little sad that I might be missing Christmas.   What a gift, though!  The time of year when we celebrate the gift of the Christ child, we'll be receiving our own beautiful treasures. 


If the timing is right, I could actually take Clint with me on college break - how exciting! God is good - and His timing is ALWAYS perfect (if a little painful sometimes :)  )


Blessings,
Kim
Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice!  Philippians 4:4

Snow in October?

That's what it looks like in my backyard after a 5 minute dog combing.  This dog SHEDS!!! I'm just praying my vacuums hold up until our adoption is finished - I can't tell you how many I've been through...

Good thing he's so cute...

Blessings, Kim

Nesting - in bunk beds!

 How do you make more space in a room already stuffed?  A really cool Bunk bed system!  

The girls were so excited to get these and have been having sleep overs ever since!  We added some really fun pictures from Marshalls:

And some beds sets that were a steal - comforters, sheets, shams, everything - for about $20 on sale at Kohls:

This took the sting out of losing that Princess queen bed and kept some floor space for playing. :)  The nine drawers will hold all of new sis's clothes which were supplied by good friends who's children are much taller than our girls! (Thanks, Becky and Marie!)  The best part is that I don't have to shop for it all - who has time with adoption paperwork?! 

Grandma bought Corelle plates for my birthday - which stack much more compactly than china - so now we can keep more place settings for our new family of 8.  LOVE them!  Little ones can handle them better as well - they're so much lighter than the heavy (and chipped!) stuff that we had.  Now all we need is two more chairs for the kitchen table! :)  That will have to wait for a good garage sale.

This is the fun part of waiting - getting everything ready for two little ones - who will likely be reeling from so many changes - and not notice much of these preparations.  But it makes me happy to put them in their princess surroundings and treat them like the treasures that they are.

Blessings, Kim

In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.  Isaiah 63:9

8 years old!

Katie is our family girl - just a small birthday tonight with Dad's homemade meatballs, and mom's homemade chocolate cake.

There's a reason homemade is better than store bought - licking the bowl!

I thank God and the Doctors at MUSC every year for giving Katie a second chance at life.

Happy Birthday Princess!  Love, Mom

New pics of Sarah!!!!

Oh Happy Day!!  We sent a care package to Sarah and received these pictures!  I just love her big smile - she seems happy in her foster family. :)  

Here she is looking at a picture of big sister in her dance costume - so neat to see our family across the world.  We sent pictures of the kids jumping in the lake and other fun stuff!  

And this is my favorite!! This girl's got PERSONALITY!  Love that mischievous smile - how am I going to wait months to go and get her??!!  

These pictures are such a lifeline - and such welcome reassurance that our daughter is being well cared for and loved.  I'm so thankful that the director and foster family has taken the time to send these - and can't wait to thank them in person.   Praying we will hear something soon about Jenny's approval and in the meantime we'll rest in God's promises and care.

Blessings, 
Kim

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. :)   Psalms 37:4

L. O. A. !!!!!!!!!!!!!

We received our LOA for Sarah today!!!! For those not familiar with adoption lingo, that is the "Letter of Approval" - the final approval from the authorities to adopt Sarah!!  That is a QUICK turnaround - but unfortunately, we are still waiting for Jenny's paperwork.  Hopefully, we will not have to wait the full time to receive her LOA - but it will "catch up" to her sister's.   We need prayer, friends, as little Sarah has waited almost a year for her mom and dad to come and get her - please pray that the government will move our new paperwork for Jenny's adoption up with the rest.  We are so excited - and hoping to hear about Jenny soon!

Blessings, Kim