Sixes that I love

Less than one week....does that sound better than 6 days?? Take a look at one of my fave six packs....Duane's TEE HEE.

Seven

Seven...sounds like heaven doesn't it?? Here are a few important sevens. Days of the week, letter in my name, creation days (including a day of rest)..oh yeah...DAYS UNTIL WE LEAVE TO GET OUR BOY.

We will be blogging from this site...so be sure and stay tuned. Julie...the dice are for your lucky number seven. Koi fish...how cute.

Eight is....

ELITE!!!!! Our agency says there are 8 families traveling in our group. Maybe we will be doing some of this in China.

Because it kind of feels like Christmas.....

I googled nine ladies dancing. I get butterflies when I think about traveling....just like Christmas.

Claireisms...

Just needed to jot down a few things I want to remember about Claire.....

*She asks for a scoop of ice cream cone.

*She calls vomiting..."choking up"

*She loves to make "lists" Funny that really started with us receiving our TA.

*She uses the term "dark soon" as a time on the clock. I will request that she getting ready for bed and she will look at the clock and say "but it isn't dark soon"

*She might look outside and see that it is dark....even if it is only cloudy outside and say "ooh it is dark, 5 min to bedtime.

*If she wants something she will say "can I ask for that" I am sure this comes from me saying to Hannah or her...."don't even ask for anything".

*She has a center at daycare that is a tool bench and tools. She calls it Ho Depot center.

*When she is playing with her friends and not all of them are present she will say "puppy is pretend sick." or Elmo is at pretend school.

*Her imagination is never ending. We are playing something different with appropriate props all the time.

*She is turning into quite the diva. I TRULY thought we wouldn't see that from her. How wonderful that love and security can change a human so much.

She is such a precious gift to us. I can't wait to see what the next 2 1/2 yrs bring.

Oh yeah.....we leave in 10 days. That is only 2 hands!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love the direction we are going

Just 3 more fridays until I get to have my son!!!!!!!!!!

A dozen days

My nerves are all a jangle. Is that really a word??

Baker's dozen

Plans finalized. Suitcases getting filled. Boy's room almost finished. Down to 13 days.

Let the count down begin.....

We leave in 2 wks. WOOOOO HOOOO maybe I will make a paper chain and tear off the links to help pass the days. Remember when we used to do that when we were younger? It really seemed to make the days fly. We are mostly packed and our lists are getting smaller everyday. We really worked hard on Kevin's room yesterday....almost finished. I will post pics when we are really through. It seems so real to have his little room all ready....can't wait to see him in his little bed.

Here is a peak at the rug.....cute cute cute

Orphanage vs. Foster Care

Claire was 20 months when we received her. She had lived in the orphanage all her life. She had many, many traits and behaviors of an institutionalized child. She has adapted to being the center of attention very well thank you very much. It seems to be a battle lately to determine "WHO IS THE BOSS OF ME" she is in no way a disobedient child, just willful. She will do things that shake our world, then when we ask her not to do them again, she politely answers "ok mom". She lived her whole life before us doing EXACTLY as she was told. It was really nice at first because she was almost robotically obedient. Then it has also been nice to see her exert her self will and not be punished for it. I wonder how our willful child would have been if she would have had one on one attention that foster care brings????

We know Kevin is in foster care. How will that make our transistion worse or better? I have been mulling this over in my mind. We happen to know he is the ONLY child in the home as well. He will be 28 months when we get him....how much will the move from the orphanage to the foster home NOW the trauma of coming from that home to America. I don't really worry, as I know this is the child that the Lord has picked for us. He belongs to us as much as our girls do. Our hearts are filled with love and WANT for him. I just want him to not feel so "moved around" so to speak. He will be our only boy....he will, no doubt, be the center of attention for some time. I don't want him to be bitter and sad about leaving the great care of his foster parents. I know he will probably grieve differently than Claire did, but still just as hard. I want to make him feel secure and FINALLY HOME as soon as we possibly can. I hope for this to be as easy as it could be. So many things to have to think about, prepare for, and wishing I would sit and listen to God more often.

We are planning on leaving for China the 24 or 25. Returning home Aprinl 10/11. We will be firming up next week. I will let all know then...