Some of the details...

So I'll do my best and try to fill you in on a few of the details behind our BIG announcement!
Many of you know we are a licensed foster family who were eagerly pursing a domestic adoption. Over the course of the summer though, Shane and I began praying about changing our adoption plan. The Lord began to stir in our hearts the call towards an international adoption. We weren't really sure where at first, but fervently prayed for clarity, wisdom and guidance as we researched many different options. Our ONLY criteria was that we wanted to be USED! We so desired the Lord to just use our family in ANY way He saw fit! I wish I could tell you specifically ALL the ways the Lord moved in our lives as He directed our hearts towards China! Most importantly though, He strategically placed godly families in our path! Families who we watched step out in faith, and follow His call to China. Because of these courageous families and their faithfulness, we began to pray and ask the Lord if He was calling us to China too!
The answer was a resounding YES!!!

On September 6th 2011 I received an email from a dear friend which included pictures of a few waiting children from China!

When I opened it, I lost it and immediately forwarded the email to Shane at work.

That email changed EVERYTHING!!!
For in that one email...we caught a glimpse of our precious daughter for the first time EVER!!

On September 9th 2011, we sent our application into our agency, along with our LOI (Letter of Intent)  asking permission from China to adopt our precious baby girl!

On September 25th, 2011 we received the news that we had been holding our breath for...

We were (PA) PRE-APPROVED and could now begin getting our dossier ready!!!
We celebrated our new PA status with a dinner at our favorite Chinese restaurant!



I LOVED what my fortune cookie said that night...

"Impatience may be appropriate at this time."

Oh how true that is, and THE perfect description of what my mommy heart is feeling right now!
IMPATIENCE!!!
Everyday I wake up and think..."Okay, what can I get done today that will get us closer to our baby girl!" I cannot stand the thought of her not being with us one day longer than she absolutely has too!!
I LOVE her so much already!!!

  So NOW the real FUN has begun!!
We are on a mad paper chase to bring our girly HOME!
Right now, I am beyond thankful for those who have gone before us in this process.
They are literally holding our hand and walking with us through each and every step!
According to what we've been told, we anticipate to travel in June of 2012, although my heart is fervently praying that we will be able to travel before then!
We'll see!

 As Shane and I were talking the other night, I began telling him just how heavy my heart was for our baby girl!
 I worry about her constantly now!
Is she healthy? Is she cared for? Is she loved? Is she crying? Is she hungry? Is she sleeping? Is she safe?
Please pray for our SWEET Addy-Kate!
Pray that she stays safe and healthy as she waits for us to come to her!!
Our family covets your prayers as we walk through this new and exciting journey!

OUR BIG BIG NEWS!!!!

 WITH HEARTS OVERFLOWING WITH GREAT JOY,
WE ARE THRILLED TO INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR PRECIOUS DAUGHTER!  

~ADELYN KATE~

BORN ON JUNE 2, 2010
IN CHINA 

COMING HOME FOREVER IN 2012 

We are ALL smitten by that sweet face already!!!


More details coming soon!!!

It's P-A-R-T-Y time...(part II)

 I definitely thought I'd be able to get Part II of Sophie's birthday post up before now, however this week has been especially busy for me! 

We've got BIG BIG things happening in our family right now, and I seriously cannot wait to share it with y'all!

 I know, I know...big teaser right! 

SORRY!!

I'm just so..........excited!!!

I promise, as soon as I can share our wonderful "news", I will!!!! 

 Just stay tuned:)

Okay, so back to what this post was supposed to be about....

Our Precious Birthday Girl! 

We decided to keep things sweet and simple this year and just do a family party.  

Now by "simple" I don't necessarily mean small.

 Because we are so blessed to have most of our family living close by,

 a family party usually translates into at least 25 - 30 wonderful guests.  

All our family came over to our home to celebrate our sweet Sophie Lu!

We enjoyed one of our girls favorite meals...baked ziti, salad, and garlic bread! 

 Sophie and I had gone to T@rget earlier in the week, where she picked out a girly theme for her party. 

It was no real surprise that she chose "Hello Kitty"!

The birthday girl indulging in her PINK Hello Kitty cupcake;)

After playing with sweet cousins...

and after much begging and prodding from the birthday girl...

it was finally time to dive into all the presents;)

Each gift opened was special, unique and a wonderful blessing...

just like our sweet birthday girl;)

It's P-A-R-T-Y day....(part I)

Let the Celebrating Begin!!!

Friday was a very special day as we celebrated our super special birthday girl! 

Ballet class was the first thing on our agenda that morning, so on our way to the class...

we stopped by Dunkin D@nuts and picked up two dozen pink frosted doughnuts! 

After class was over, all the little ballerina's gathered together to enjoy a pink doughnut in honor of our birthday girl!

Seriously, is there anything CUTER than a room full of little girls, in pink tutu's, enjoying a pink frosted doughnut?

(smile)

My parents and sister, Al, all came to celebrate the birthday girl and watch her dance in class!

Sophie was SUPER excited to see her Mimi and Papa!!

All day long, Sophie told EVERYONE she saw that it was indeed her birthday! Random strangers shopping at the grocery store, the lady who checked us out at T@rget,  the bank teller, and even the mail lady all knew Sophie was turning THREE! 

As a tradition, we always let the kids pick out what they would like to eat for their birthday dinner. When I asked Sophie what she wanted, she quickly replied, "Cereal and chocolate milk!"

 Now in all honesty, that sounded pretty good to me too, but knowing everyone else in our family would probably want something a little more substantial, we talked her into D@minos pizza;)

After dinner, we all sang "Happy Birthday" to the BIG THREE year old!

Make a wish sweet one!

After everyone enjoyed their yummy cupcake...

 it was time for the most anticipated part of our evening...

PRESENT TIME!!!!

This little miss got a brand new bike helmet

to go along with her new pink princess bike!

After helping Daddy put it together, we headed outside to watch her take it for a spin!

She was so proud of her new bike, 

and looked SO BIG as she rode around on the street!

And with that our sweet day came to an end,

but we still had a fun family birthday celebration to look forward too on Saturday!

Part II coming soon;)

THREE!!!

Can you believe it???? 

Little Miss Sophie Lu is THREE today! 

THREE!!!!

Seriously, when did she get so BIG???

 This girl IS my absolute heart!

 I love her more than words could ever express and am so grateful that I was chosen to be her mommy! 

I am forever humbled AND forever grateful!

 Happy THIRD Birthday baby girl! 

You are loved, cherished and adored!

I am so blessed to get to celebrate YOU!!!!!

2 Corinthians 9:15
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

An Apple a Day...

 Saturday morning dawned bright and early as we loaded up the car and headed to the fields. 

With water bottles, chairs, and goldfish on hand, our cheering section was ready for another great season!

The weather was fabulous,

 and both of our teams were able to bring home a win!

 Not a bad way to kick-off the season!;)

 After our games were over, we quickly changed our clothes and made the hour-and-a-half- trek up to the beautiful mountains of North Carolina! 

Our Adult Life Group from church was meeting up at 

Sky Top Orchard for an afternoon of apple pickin' fun!

 Many of our friends visit Sky Top EVERY year, but this was our family's first trip! 

It was AWESOME and I see why everyone loves this place! 

 With talk of apple pie, apple bread, apple sauce, and apple crisp fresh on our minds...

 

we headed out ready and super excited to fill our baskets to the brim!

I'm not sure if my sweet Hudson ever actually contributed to our basket though. 

Every time I turned around, he was eating...

and eating...

and eating...

and eating!!!

So if that old sayings true..."An apple a day keeps the doctor away!"

well...Hudson is good for a while;)

While Hudson snacked, the rest of us worked hard to fill our basket. 

The BIG boys had fun running through the orchard, searching out the ripest of apples.

 Many times, finding that perfect apple meant climbing up that perfect tree;)

Miss Sophie Lu taste tested a few apples for us too...just to make sure they were ripe and sweet for that pie!

With our basket overflowing, we headed back up the hill with our bounty!

 But not before we paused for a few group shots first!

 Our kids and the Robinson kids!

 Best buddies...

 After our hard work was done, it was time to have a little fun!

 The kids played on the pumpkin slide and Miss Sophie made herself at home in the miniature playhouse!

 After a fun hay ride around the mountain with all our friends,

 our time at Sky Top came to an end!

We are already looking forward to next year!!!! 

Now to find some GREAT apple recipes;)