It's HER birthday! ... and I can cry if I want to.

Dear "A",

Happy 6th birthday to you! ...our sweet, sweet and much loved daughter.

We hope you are having a happy day full of love and hugs. Your daddy and I are so sad we are not able to be there to celebrate your birthday with you. You are getting so big, and have turned 4, 5, and now 6 since we started your adoption process. We wish so much that it were different, and know that we are missing out on so much of your life, and learning to know what makes you YOU. Most of all, we want you to know how much you are loved by us, and how precious you are. There is no doubt in our minds that you are super special, and we can't wait to go through life with you.

I went to a Christmas concert {Behold the Lamb of God} by Andrew Peterson last night, and helped out at the Show Hope booth to advocate for the support of orphans. I talked about you to people that stopped by the booth, and would tell them of our journey to bring you home. When I tell people about our adoption process, I tell them that no matter how hard it has been for us, you are so worth every bit of the journey... we would do it all over again for you. Without a doubt. The crazy and very sad thing about this whole journey is we don't know what your journey has been like...like what has happened in your six short years of life-- what do you remember...what emotions do you feel...are you lonely...what makes you happy or sad...?

Daddy and I wonder what you have been up to this past year. We pray you are happy and healthy, and we hope you know that you have a family that loves you. We would be so happy to get a new picture of you. We are praying that someone can send us one because we are sure you have changed a lot over a whole year.

One thing you should know is Grandpa and Grandma bought us a Boba carrier for you, and Daddy and I fully intend to plop you in it when we come to pick you up... I just thought I should mentally prepare you for the ride of your lifetime, and I am really hoping you don't protest about being toted around in that crazy thing because it's pretty important that you learn to trust us, and like to hang out with us.

After the concert last night, I headed to Old Navy because they were open until MIDNIGHT! I decided a little midnight partying for the eve of your birthday was in order...what I really wanted was a doughnut, but I've had too many of those in the past couple of years, so I've been trying to be a good girl and not eat those silly things! Anyway, I made the wise choice (skipped the doughnuts) and just headed straight to Old Navy because I had a coupon and some credit card rewards. I thought it was time to buy you a winter coat, hat, and gloves since I'm pretty sure you are not going to be used to this frigid weather, and well, I guess since I'm your mom, it would be a good idea to maybe make sure you have a coat for freezing weather. I'm believing that we are going to need that winter coat for you soon. I hope it fits! I think you'll like your coat... it is bright pink with a fur trimmed hood.

"A"... you have so many people that can't wait to meet you. Lots of cousins, family, little friends, and big friends that are eager to see who you are, and give you lots of love. These same people pray lots and lots for you. They pray that you come home soon. Daddy and I pray the same, and you are on our hearts all the time.

We love you so much, and are praying we get to see you oh, so very soon!

Daddy and Mommy

p.s. I still have your birthday cake from last year (it was Styrofoam covered with icing) sitting on top of our refrigerator. It doesn't look the best anymore but I'm not getting rid of it until you get to see it too. I'm kind of stubborn like that... you'll see.

I Dreamed a Dream

My dreams took me to our girl last night.

I dreamed that we went to meet her, and I remember holding her hand... and I think she might have even liked me. 

She walked so good while holding my hand, and seemed happy. 

I met her ayah, and her name was "Rosa" (my dream must have thought we were adopting from Guatemala). Rosa and I hugged really hard and we cried. I think I thanked her for taking care of our girl so well. 

I made sure to get a picture session of Rosa and our girl together, but now that I think about it, I think "A" looked more like a blonde haired boy in the picture session. Aren't dreams funny?

Oddly enough, I didn't have many dreams about "A" until recently. I think this is the second one in a week. 

I can't wait to meet her.

I can't wait to thank her precious ayah...thank her and bless her for everything she did for precious "A". 

Thank you all for continuing to pray for sweet "A", and please, please keep praying hard for her paperwork to be processed soon...very soon. Prayers are needed. We have not had any movement in her process for 10 months. 

A Week With Friends

Over this past weekend, I have been grudgingly trekking down my very own Mount Everest.

I had a good reason.

I had spent the week before with some other fellow adoptive moms who have or are in the process of adopting children from Ind*a.

We stayed up way past curfew, ate dozens of cookies, skipped the carrots, and drank a few too many Diet Cokes. I don't even like Diet Coke.

We talked about adoption, adoption, and adoption, and nobody cared.

Because it's important to us.

We also talked about food.

Because we like food too.

Lest anyone think that we only talked about adoption and food, ate cookies, and drank aspartame, I should clarify... We also ate pizza.

I kid, I kid. We had a very well-rounded group of women. I hope to post pictures later.

Many of us had never met before, and by the end of the week, I felt like I had known them all for years.

The kids that were carted along on the weekend did pretty stinkin' good too. They stayed up into the middle of the night with us, and were as happy as clams.

There were two special little girls that graced us with their presence. Lauren and Munni. Lauren came home from Ind*a 6 months ago, and Munni came home just a short month ago. It was really good for my heart to meet these little girls, and to see that ...YES!... Ind*a adoptions actually do happen even though the passing months without any news sometimes makes it feel like it is never going to happen.

Lauren's Mommy's Blog: http://bringinglaurenhome.blogspot.com/

Munni's Mommy's Blog: http://mynepalibaby.blogspot.com/           (pictures of Munni if you scroll down)

These two little girls renewed the love and call of adoption in my spirit. These children are more than just pictures. They are real, precious souls. Now they have real love. They have real families to love them. It was awesome to see the girls with their mommy's, and observe how they craved being loved and nurtured like God designed. Praising God that He made it possible for these much-prayed-for little girls to come home to their families!

I hope everyone is doing well! This week my heart is with two special families who just lost very dear loved ones.  He gives, and takes away. Blessed be His name.

Standing Still in the Spinning

It has been fourteen months now. A whole fourteen months since we started waiting on baby girl to come home.

Wow.

Life just keeps moving on, and doesn't wait.

Life doesn't wait for families to be together... or children to be with their daddies and mommies.

I watch the world spin around me, and see babies being born, and families growing. Newborns growing into babies that are crawling, walking, and talking.

I wonder what I have missed in A's life in the last 14 months?

What does she think is funny?

What makes her smile?

What makes her cry?

Her favorite activity?

Does she want a daddy and mummy?

Is she happy?

Does her ayah(caregiver) get sad when she thinks of A going to a forever family?

We're waiting here for you, baby girl.

We are missing you big time.

XOXO,
Daddy and Mummy

I Married the Man of My Seams

 

The picture speaks for itself. If you need further clarification: Daddy is making Miss A a beanie hat. He only has a couple more rows before he is done. Isn't that sweet? He enjoys it, and is rather unashamed of his new found skill.

Last week we spent the week in Florida with Mr. Fly's parents at their condo. We were very happy to get away, and enjoy the gorgeous sunshine. Florida was unseasonably warm this January, and that was perfectly fine with us.

Mr. Fly took up crocheting one night before we left for Florida via YouTube tutorials. Once we got to Florida, his sister helped him with a few more basics, and he was quickly well on his way. 

Would you care to know the extent of my crochet skills? Okay. I worked on a single very basic chain all week, and could never manage to get any further. I think my "chain" is stuffed somewhere inside a small pocket in my backpack. It really is nothing more than a few knots in a mess of yarn. With that said, I guess I better start making a list of "Honey-knits", since it doesn't yet appear that I am going to be successful in this endeavor.

 If he keeps up this crochet thing, we may end up as the little old people that have mismatched crocheted afghans thrown all over clashing furniture alongside mismatched crocheted pillows.

We may have to get some mothballs to start preserving his work. 

Oh my, maybe I am getting ahead of myself.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

2012 Rundown

2012 was full.

Full of blessings from so many people who came alongside us on this journey. Full of God's goodness showering down on our family. Full of overflowing love for a little gal called, "A".

In January of last year, we were working on finishing our homestudy, and then for the next few months after that we prepared our dossier. We had the mad rush of 2012 at the beginning of May when we received word that our dossier need to be completed and at our agency's office by the end of that week. I get tears in my eyes thinking of that week, and God's faithfulness.

It was nuts, and we got everything done--barely.

In April, May, June, and July, we were collecting items for the fundraiser garage sale. I proved to Mr. Fly that I could be strong if I wanted to as we lifted all kinds of items in and out of a trailer and truck. I think we could start a new business venture in moving items... "A Husband, Wife, and a Truck".

July was the garage sale. The mega garage sale.

July was hot. I am not sure how to describe the garage sale prep other than it was the kind of hot where sweat is rolling down everyone's faces and legs.

Lots of good memories, and some funny ones too.

God made himself very evident to us through the garage sale time.

In August, our friends hosted the adoption cook-out dinner---a great evening with great people, and once again God provided.

At the end of August, we received our A*ticle 5, and started the waiting for our approval from  In*ia---which we are still waiting on.

In July, August, and September, we spent many hours filling out multiple grant applications, and some of our family, friends and elder got lots of letter writing experience through this as well as they graciously provided reference letters for Mr. Fly and I. THANK YOU!

In September, I went to an adoption parenting conference in Nashville. Mr. Fly had to work, but I was super glad I got to go, and soak up lots of information with some other couples and friends.

Later on in September, I held another garage sale at our house.

This fall we attended an adoption support group going through the Empowered to Connect book every Sunday night for about 11 weeks. It was a fun, fun group, and we learned a lot.

That is our year of adoption activities in a nutshell. I left out about a million things.

Oh, and we have also been attending some various sign language classes, but we really need to start cracking down on sign because we have much room for improvement.

We have seen God put people and organizations in our life to make this journey possible, and to also be    part of the journey with us as we wait.

Thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts to everyone who lifts "A" up in prayer, gave their time, thoughts, listening ear, those who volunteered for our garage sale and benefit dinner, and those who gave generous and sacrificial financial support to help bring "A" home... from the garage sale to the benefit dinner to checks in the mail. We are very blessed. Thank you to each of you are there for us, and care about our little girl. It means big stuff to us. We so appreciate each one of you, and we have quite the story to tell this special little girl when she comes home. We can't really convey our gratefulness to you in words, but please just know we are so thankful.

We have and are experiencing the body of Christ.

Prospective Adoptive Families: As far as grants, we would highly highly encourage you if you are adopting and could use financial assistance that you take the time and effort to apply for adoption grants. There are people out there who WANT to help you.
Please contact me if you want a list of grants that I would recommend, and I can help walk you through the process. We have been very blessed spiritually and financially by several grant agencies.

2012 went so quick. We hope 2013 goes that quick too if it means we get to see "A" sooner.

As for what we are doing now as we have faced a stall in the process...we wait, and pray for news.

I have made some awesome new friends who are also adopting from A's country, and we are able to stay in close touch in the long process. One of my friends posted last night about how long another friend had been waiting on their approval from In*ia, and I realized that I don't even know exactly long long we have been waiting now. So I counted. We are going on 6 months of wait, and in the beginning of the wait, we thought MAYBE we would have to wait a month. I don't really like to keep count...I guess I'm in denial that maybe we are one of "those" people who have to wait what seems like "forever" to bring their child into their family.  Although, believe me, we have not waited near as long as many others.

I need to start blogging about other things besides our adoption process because frankly, there is not much to say, and I am finding less and less humor to write about in the process.

We just want her home.

An encouraging verse to me this week:

Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 
***Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 

I want to renew my mind with thoughts of His faithfulness, His goodness, His grace, and His perfect plan.

Blessings to all of you in the New Year.

A |BIG| Birthday Party for a |BIG| Girl

A couple weeks ago, we celebrated A's birthday.

At first, we weren't sure what to do to celebrate her life since she isn't home yet, but decided to go ahead and have a party in her honor. I am so glad we did. We took lots of pictures so we can show her someday how loved she was and is.

In typical God fashion, we received a rare picture update of A the morning of her birthday. Isn't that cool? I wish I could share the pictures with you all on here.

We would have really, really loved to hear news of our approval on her birthday, or even by Christmas, but we're very thankful that we were blessed with the pictures.

She is getting BIG. So tall, and losing that baby look. Still as adorable as ever.  

We had lots of fun at her birthday celebration, ate lots of pizza, and also ensured that all the kids were sent home on a sugar high by topping the evening off with cupcakes and ice cream.

It was so fun getting ready for her party. We celebrated in "Princess" style. I never thought I would  get into all the chintzy kid party stuff, but after being in Dollar Tree for a few minutes, I realized I could learn to like all the dime-a-dozen party decorations----if it makes her happy. 

 

We have all of her presents back in their packages, and put them in a tote for her when she gets home.

 

Party preparations...

Can someone tell me that their kitchen turns into this kind of disaster with simple baking? Pretty good chance that this is the reason I never baked much before I got married. Or maybe I was just lazy. Sorry, mom.

Have you ever used a hot glue gun when decorating a birthday cake? No? Then next time you should make a fake styrofoam cake.  I wasn't about to try to ice a "real" cake. What I love most about this "fake cake" is that we still have the cake sitting on top of our refrigerator, and it reminds me of A as I walk by it.

I am counting on celebrating her next birthday WITH HER.