Another First

My sweet sweet Abigail started Kindergarten today.

 Just typing this chokes me up.

 Yeah, I know, kids start school all the time, but...not MY girl. It just reminds me just how far she's come.

A year and a half ago, we couldn't get her to even go to Sunday School. 

She didn't want to leave our side, even for a minute.

 The stress, the tears...then, one day she did it.
 
And it was good.

So, we thought, let's try pre-school. 

She would have none of it.  The stress, the tears...

My girl is a control freak, by virtue of what she's risen from. 

But oh.baby. 

When she lets go, its so good. 

She LOVED pre-school.

 It was a huge step and she made a huge transformation. 

Out of her shell she came. 

So, the thought of starting Kindergarten was never an issue...for her.

She has gone from this beautiful child, in her referral picture back on Valentines Day 2007,

to THIS beautiful child, really full of confidence (most of the time) 

Hope she doesn't forget me too quickly!

...and Zach (gēge)

I DO have two boys.  When we traveled to China in May of 2007 to bring Abby home, we introduced her to her brothers and they were both gēge.  After 3+ years home with her, Zachary still remains such. 

Somewhere along the line, Jack became just Jack...but gēge stuck for Z.  Kind of shows the heart of my "middle" child.  He loved on her and took care of her from the start and found a special place with her. 

Now, they fight like an old married couple, driving each other insane.  But one thing remains...gēge.  And he has a heart of gold.  Now if we could just get that hair cut.

(that's mud, pretty creative, eh?)

P.S.

We finally got our I800a out to Hague, so the next step will be fingerprints (Hahahahaha) and then we will be Dossier to China.  I still think travel in February or March is possible...praying praying praying.

Just Jack...

It really IS all about him...for today.  My firstborn son is 18.  I can't get my arms around that yet, he's really not that old (and neither am I).  And the cool thing about today is, the date... 8-9-10. 

We had a great day yesterday out on the boat with his friend Emily and Zach's friend Justin.  Abigail ruled the roost as usual and we soaked in the sunshine, being together as a family...doesn't happen too often anymore. 

Anyway, we are off to PF Changs tonight to celebrate the big 18 (he'll be celebrating his new MacBook Pro) and enjoying the company of family (for real?).

Hoping for good news today as well from our social worker.  She should have received the last piece of our home study paperwork this weekend and we can get that I800a monkey off our backs.

Frankly, I'm Fried

Well, I haven't had the energy to post lately, this waiting thing has got me down.  It's funny, I follow a few blogs myself and just this week, two of them had lengthy posts on waiting and God's timing.  It's all stuff we know, but sometimes the reminder helps...thanks to them. 

The latest on bringing home Olivia (or is it Ruby??, Abigail likes Ruby...) ZiJing is this...as I mentioned, my prints got kicked out not once, but three times.  The FBI was good enough to write a letter stating what a great person I am and send it to my Social Worker, so that piece is done.  However, since it took so long (my hubby's prints were in on 6-1, breaks my heart), my son Jack will be 18 Monday.  THAT is a whole 'nother post...so, we had him get printed and the Social Worker ordered his child abuse clearance from our state.  His prints are in (his fathers son apparently) BUT now we are waiting for his clearance.  She ordered it a month ago...can you hear my fingers drumming on my desk?  I'd like to get this next phase completed by Friday, but its truly out of my control.  If you knew me, I don't like to not be IN control of something...sigh* 

Yes, all in God's time.

And I just threw this picture in because its one of my favs and I feel like sharin'. 

Frustration 101

Okay, so we had an awesome time on vacation.  Weather couldn't have been better, no fighting and the food was pretty darn good to boot!  The place we stayed was very nice, had the best of both worlds (pool AND ocean) and my darling Abigail learned to swim...underwater...with googles...or without.

 We all came home refreshed and trusting in God's will that our paperwork would all be in place to submit the next step.

Well.

Not so much. 

I just received an email from my homestudy agency.  Seems MY fingerprints were rejected by the FBI. AGAIN.  I've been done electronically, and failed.  I've been inked and mailed them in, and failed.  I've been inked AGAIN and mailed them in, and failed.  I'm not sure what the next step is, this is uncharted territory, but as I wait for a phone call from my homestudy agency, I leave you with these pictures...

Worth the wait?  I think so.

Time Away

As we slog along through this arduous process called adoption, we are taking a much needed, yet bittersweet, break and heading to the beach. 

Mind you, I haven't been to the beach since I was pregnant with my oldest son, Jack.  I think that's why this vacation is a little bittersweet for me, you see, he isn't going. 

He just recently graduated from high school and has his first job.  He took some time off to go to the Alive festival (check it out at Alive.org) and didn't feel right about asking for more time.  I guess that's called work ethic and I am proud of him...but something will be missing on this trip.... 

One Step Forward, One Step Back.

For those of you who are "in the know", we thought we were just about ready to submit our I800a, hopefully before we leave on vacation next week...well, God has other plans...I had issues with my state fingerprints where they couldnt read them electronically, so they inked me the old fashioned way and sent them off. 

Lo and behold, five weeks later, we learn that the BCI could read theirs, BUT the FBI could not read theirs.  I dropped everything yesterday, ran and got them re-done and shipped them off AGAIN.  We'll see.  I hate this frustration, but know it's all in God's timing. 

 I did get ZiJing's care package in the mail as well today, so excited for her to "meet" her family.  Praying that happens...

Sign me Waiting Impatiently....

Wendy