Travel Approval and wonderful friends

Yesterday, my wonderful friends at Pace gave a shower for Cate. They are such a thoughtful group. Cate got many terrific gifts and one very special card. Wes picked out a card that really captures the spirit of adoption (that's why I call him the word man). It reads " The universe has a way of knowing when people belong together"

Grace and Hope for Children

I found out today that Cate has been in foster care through an organization called Grace and Hope for Children. After the adoption is final they will send me records and information of her time in foster care including pictures.

In a wonderful twist, they are starting a new foster care program in Huaibei, Anhui where Grace lived. This orphanage is overwhelmed with caring for so many children. What a blessing to find out that this well-run organization is coming to help. I have set us up to sponsor a child for the Huaibei program when they get it up and running. Later I hope to sponsor a child from Qinzhou, Cate's orphanage as well. If you would like information about this organization please see the links section on this page.

When Love Takes You In - Steven Curtis Chapman

Steven Curtis Chapman wrote this song about adoption after his experience adopting 3 daughters from China.

Getting Ready!

I received the confirmation letter to adopt Min Qing He from Qinzhou China on March 6. This means I am officially approved and the clock begins to tick for our big adoption trip. We are now eagerly preparing to travel sometime in April. Grace is anxious to be a big sister and to show her little sister how to "Talk English" and "jump very high."

Min is is my new daughter's last name and Qing He means "blue or green lotus flower". She will be 3 on April 5th. I received her measurements today and she is 29 lbs, and 36 inches tall. She fits size 3T and a 7.5 shoe. She is from Qinzhou, Guangxi which is a port city on the China Sea near Vietnam.

Grammy (Dianne) is going with us. So we are all getting excited. When we return home Poppy (Guy) and Marla will come stay with us for a week to help us through the big transition to life in America.

Now all we have to do is WAIT, and go see the travel medicine doctor, AND WAIT, and reorganize the girls room, AND WAIT, and apply for Visas AND WAIT, make sure everything else is ready, AND WAIT. It may seem that all we have to do is making the wait easier but it is NOT!