So July it is...

Well, no LOAs or TAs for anyone that we know of this week. Hoping that it means a huge batch next week. So it looks like we'll get our LOA in July after all. A huge thank you to all of you who have been praying so fervently for our Caleb and that our paperwork will come quickly. We are getting anxious to get him home and have a new sense of urgency. We've been overwhelmed by your prayers and support and are thankful to have wonderful folks supporting us in prayer and encouragement. Definitely a perk of the process!

Still Holding Our Breath

Do you remember when you were a kid and you tried to see how long you could hold your breath underwater? Well, that is a good way to describe us! We are still hoping for a LOA this week but time is running out. Hopefully today is the day - we so want our Caleb home!!!

Holding our Breath

On Friday, cyber friends who were logged in the same day as us got their LOA! Obviously we didn't (or you'd know about it :) ) but are hoping that more will trickle in this week. Who knows - this could be our week! Still looking good for August although the last batch of TA came quickly (only 2 weeks!) which is a bit scary but God has it all figured out. Not going to waste brain power on this one!

Yep, we're next!

LOAs came for our agency yesterday and they went through those logged in 4/13. Yes happy campers, that is just 6 days before us. So it is looking pretty good that we'll be in the next batch! The antsy part of me indulged in some retail therapy and bought Caleb the darn cutest sandals - he has to have shoes, right?! Now let's hope it comes before we go on vacation in July!

The Green Eyed Monster

I was fine this morning and this afternoon with getting our LOA in July. Really I was. That is until my friends with a lid of 4/2 got the call today that theirs came!!!! Evidently someone with a lid as late as 4/15 got theirs too. Now that is just too darn close (our lid is 4/19). So, the green eyed monster has risen and I want one of those too!!!!!! As much as it pains me to say this (I really hate the heat), I want to go to China in August!!!. Ok, I feel better. Noone from our agency has posted anything so I'm hoping that this means that maybe, just maybe we'll get ours in the next couple of weeks? with all the other April folks. I also know that there are no guarantees (there never are with international adoption) but a girl can dream, right?

Creative Juices?

WARNING!!!!!!THESE PHOTOS ARE NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART. THEY ARE DISTURBING. YES, WE ARE SEEKING THERAPY...

Mothers, protect your cameras. This is what happens when a camera falls into the wrong hands. Boy does he know how to make his mama proud.....

Dancing Queen

We have survived another recital weekend! Ken's mom came for the excitement and we all cheered Anna on. She did a great job - she loves the hair and makeup and being on stage. Who would have thought our quiet Anna would have so much confidence on stage!

A Slow Crescendo

I have this little excited ache in my heart. I know this feeling is not a new one. I've felt it before, 4 times actually. It is that longing to hold my child. There are days that I can put a lid on it and keep it at bay. But as the days move on, as that huge to do list gets chipped away, as I watch others who are in line just before me get ready to go, that ache is getting harder to ignore. I find myself imagining another little face at the dinner table, another stocking hanging at the fireplace and I look at that Baby Bjorn carrier and imagine cuddling with a little boy. I can't wait to find out what makes him smile, what makes him mad, how he will fit into the fabric of our family. It doesn't matter that he is my fifth child. That ache is just as intense for him as it has been for his siblings. He is my son and I can't wait until he knows that!
So, the crescendo slowly grows. I am thankful that we have a jammed packed summer - maybe it will help me keep a lid on this craziness (but probably not : ) ).

Our Kindergarten Graduate

We are so proud of our big Kindergarten Graduate! We can't wait to see what she will accomplish in first grade and the plan that God has for her life :)

Lucky Number 7?

This week we're finding that 7 is our not so lucky number. We have lived in our house for 7 years this past March. Of course we bought all new appliances when we built the house. We have learned this week that Kenmore appliances have a 7 year lifespan. First it was our water treatment system. The leak was fixed in the spring after numerous calls and frustrations with Sears repair. Next was my washer. Now in all fairness, I probably am a lot harder on a washer than the average person since there are currently 6 of us. That is a lot of laundry. Unfortunately, the spin cycles on our washer were beginning to sound like the launch of the space shuttle. After 2 minutes, the repairman told me that he would not recommend dumping the $350 needed to repair my 7 year old machine. So, off we went to buy a new washer, which I must sheepishly admit, was a bit exciting. They are much larger and quieter than was available 7 years ago. But, a large capacity washer needs and large capacity dryer. So.... the matching set was delivered on Tuesday. It is awesome to be able to wash so much laundry so quietly!! I'm like a little kid with a new toy (I think I need a vacation....) Now the ice machine has stopped making ice. The repairman said he couldn't fix it, I needed to call Sears (groan - do I really have to again? Can't I call anyone but the Keystone Cops?). So, we'll see if this gets a repair or if we'll just be buying ice until the refrigerator itself dies. Which, by our calculations, will probably be right around when we travel to go get Caleb. Sigh....

Are we next?

It looks like LOAs came for those who were logged in during March. Does that mean we are next? Well, not sure but it does sound like things are moving in the right direction. Hopefully us April log ins will hear something in July!! That still puts us on track for travel sometime in late August/September. It would be awesome to be there before/on Caleb's birthday - that is my new little prayer to God. I know that He's got the timing all figured out and I'm not going to spend time worrying about it. But it would be nice to be able to sing Happy Birthday to my little guy and for him to never have to celebrate another birthday without us. The excitement is building - hold on for the ride!

Is the turtle moving?

It is my morning ritual to walk/sometimes run :) every morning. Usually the kids aren't up yet but yesterday morning Anna was up and wanted to join me. She loves our new sit and stand stroller, mostly I think because she can stand in it. She was chit chatting away and suddenly asked me, "Mommy, has the turtle moved yet?". I looked around, expecting to see a little box turtle slowly working its way across the street but all was clear. "What turtle?" I asked. "You know, the one on our website". Yes, she means the ticker! I'm not the only one wishing that the turtle was moving just a little faster!

Strawberry Picking!

This time of year usually means lots of time at the strawberry patch. Unfortunately, our favorite spot was sold last year and we've not gone all season :( A friend invited us to go to another local strawberry patch last Friday and Anna begged until I relented. It was a hot afternoon and over 35 minute drive so I wasn't jumping up and down at the idea. But once we got there, the breeze was nice and the berries plentiful. We had a good time picking berries, snacking on a few and enjoying the outside. Sarah is not a farm girl - she screeched each time she saw a bug! She still managed to fill part of her basket in spite of the bugs :) Anna loves being outside and she and Jacob did a great job helping me fill 2 flats worth of berries. We wish this strawberry farm is closer but at least we were able to keep up our yummy spring ritual.

We have PA!!!

We have our PreApproval! (PA). We weren't sure we would get this since we sent our dossier and letter of intent the same week but we have officially been preapproved to adopt our Caleb! They still have to review our dossier and then will issue our LOA or RA (which we hope for in July sometime). Still on track for traveling some time in August or September. Don't have our official PA date yet - we'll get that in the mail tomorrow or Monday. Any sign of progress is good - one step closer to our little guy!!!