A Very Special Girl

Yesterday was the Abigail's 6th Birthday Extravaganza at Chuck E. Cheese's.  It was such a fun day and the kids all really seemed to have a good time...even some of the grown ups couldn't resist the fun and felt like kids again!  We wanted Abigail to feel EXTRA special for her big day since her sister is coming home VERY soon we hope and our attention won't be 100% on this gal for a bit.  She deserved a little extra fun for her big day!  We were joined by family and good friends and what a blessing to see all these kids playing so well together, too cute! 

 The reason to even go there...Chuck E. Cheese!

 and some yummy pizza helped too!

 and games...

 and a special girl....

 yeah, her...she's pretty special....

 and tickets and presents...

 and the best group of friends EVER... (she does have shoes, oy vey)

 and of course, GeGe who helped win lots of tickets in the ticket blaster.

We just love this girl so much, she is our little princess~

again, Happy 6th Birthday Abigail Xin Ru!

Abigail's 6th Birthday Today :)

Wow.  When I look back over the last four years with my little girl, I am so thankful.  She makes me feel soooo special.  Don't get me wrong, my boys used to do that too, but they are "older" now and don't need mom so much.  Miss Abigail, she needs me and loves me, and she makes no bones about it.  Daddy is her favorite plaything and she adores him as well, but there is a special bond between us.

We had a quiet family birthday celebration tonight, just so Ab could bask in the joy of being  SIX now.  Saturday we will host her and her closest buds at Chuck E. Cheese...her choice, last year too. Never fear, taking the Purell.  We weren't going to have the "big" party this year but since her sister is coming home SOON and will likely garner much of the attention, we felt Abigail deserved this.... she does!

Silly Gege... 

On the Olivia front, just waiting for Travel Approval...any day now!!!

Sick Sick Sick

My hubby always says colds come from stress.  What does he know???  So, last week I started feeling crappy and developed a pretty healthy sinus infection.  I mean to tell you, this thing laid me OUT!  I've been hoarding my vacation time for travel and FMLA and HATED to have to use it but, I had to!  The headaches, the snotty nose...well, you get the picture...and you know what?  Maybe he's right...there's a lot of stress built up in these here muscles and nerve endings!  I need to try not to control every.single.situation in my life and let God do His thing...TRUST!!! 

My Abigail was sick with me, hers of the strep throat variety, poor baby...she gets these ugly cold sores from the fever...eek!  I've certainly painted a lovely picture, haven't I?  And for the record Sarah, it has NOTHING to do with living in Ohio :)

So, in trusting God and His perfect timing, I'm thrilled to report that:

1) I'm feeling a little better every day and so is Ab,  and
2) our paperwork has wound its way to the Chinese Center for Adoption Affairs (Article 5 for you "in the know" folks) and we are already on Day 6 of the count to Travel Approval...who knew? 

Can you see the pressure lifting?  Can you feel it?  I CAN!  We better start packing...now where is that list?????

God is Good

Yes, we are still here, still waiting...but the process is moving along, albeit at a snails pace.  We are still very hopeful to travel end of March, first of April.  Anyhoo...

We recently had a potentially life altering situation happen in our family.  One of those things where you blame yourself as a parent, try to analyze and figure out where you went wrong and kick yourself.  I'm a classic enabler, always have been, always will be without therapy. 

{Oh how I love this kid}

I want what is good for my children, to a fault.  So, I turn a blind eye sometimes when I know better.  Well, God saw fit to allow us to have another chance to do the right thing.  So, I have hope.  Hope that the "right thing" will occur when faced with difficult decisions and hope that things will change.  Hope that I can say no when I need to and hope in Jesus.  Cuz' He certainly has hope in me.  I've seen it first hand.

Just for the Record

We found out today that our paperwork was cabled to the Consulate in Guangzhou so we are that much closer to bringing our little ZiJing home.  I guess Chinese New Year will slow us down a tad, but we'll get through it, remembering that its all in Gods time, not ours...hoping to receive travel approval mid-March and outta here by the end of the month...praying...

Lest we forget what is at the end of this lengthy process... 

May God prepare her heart for this HUGE transition.

The Reality of Racial Differences

Abigail learned all about Martin Luther King, Jr. from a Kindergarten perspective last week.  She came home and told me that people used to have to sit in the back of the bus if they were not white people; then she went on to tell me they had separate drinking fountains for white people and people who were not white.  I just kept nodding...mmmm...then she told me that SHE would have had to drink out of the "other" fountain because she is not white. 

She has such a clear, matter of fact, way about her; I just love this girl.  I only hope life gets easier and easier for her and other people of color, it hurts me to think of my little girl hurting one day because of thoughtless ignorant people like me.  I have so much to learn from her.  Ugh.

What We Did on Christmas Break...

I know I'm behind...I know that's okay.  We've been busy doing a whole lot of nothing, but mental planning!  We had a nice break between Christmas and New Years, I worked a couple of those days but not very hard. 

{Isn't she a beauty!?}

We had a very nice Christmas and a quiet New Year, just the way I like it!  Watched a lot of movies, played in the snow, ate, ate some more...and now, its on to Weight Watchers!  My goal is to lose 20# before we travel (hopefully the end of March) and for once, I'm excited about it.  One week in and I'm down 3 1/2 lbs, so this should be easy (right.)!!!  Here are a few pics from Christmas Day, it was very fun!

 (yes, all the boys got nightshirts, their father insisted)

Lots on the agenda coming up, got one kid moved to the basement lower level, one kid moved into his old room and one room ready to be cleaned out.  Still no dresser or bed, but that's the easy stuff, right.  There's sanding and painting to be done, and oh how I'd love some new carpet, we'll see...

We are currently waiting on our I800 approval so I thought I'd mention it here, since when I do, things seem to happen???  Talked to my officer today, he was actually very nice, said our paperwork is "in the house" and they are snowed in, so it may be a few days...what's a few days now?  And what's a little snow??? So, again, we wait...

Hope to post some good news soon!  Happy New Year!