Still Waiting

It has been ridiculously long since I have posted. I guess we're just waiting. It has been 17 months. The people who received the last referrals (yesterday) waited 31 months so we are 1/2 way there pending speed-ups, further slow downs, more problems with our agency, CIS screw-ups, etc.

We have reviewed 2 very significant waiting children files. We did extensive research into the conditions both girls have. We decided not to adopt either girl because of the severity of their special needs. We had to consider how their needs would affect Grace. They were beautiful children but not the right match for our family, not our Lila. We hope & pray that they find their families very soon.

Grace started her 2nd year of preschool today. She is going 3 mornings a week this year. She said she had fun but missed getting to do everything with me today. She's my shopping buddy and I really missed her at the grocery store this morning!

My cousin, Cassi, has a very interesting blog about her baby girl who is battling CDH (congenital diaphragmatic hernia). Please visit them at http://www.babygirlreed2be.blogspot.com/. Elli is doing well but needs prayer & support. The symbol at the top is the symbol for family. We have a very strong family and we are all rooting for our newest member.

Jack's Story

This link is to another adoption blog. In it they share the story of a boy who was older when adopted & his experiences before adoption. It really shows how hard it is for a child to be abandoned & try to survive on his own.

http://afterstories.blogspot.com/

Qing Dynasty

I am so excited that our local art museum will have an exhibit on the art of the Qing (Ch'ing) Dynasty starting March 3. http://www.joslyn.org/exhibitions/Exhibition-Detail.aspx?e=35cf4d30-897b-4203-8caf-efb9356e113b&i=1

Grace & I went with my friend Judy on Friday to see the art of Robert Bateman and discovered that the next big exhibit will be about China! The Bateman exhibit was fabulous too. We are going to join the museum so Grace & I can go to all of their children's events. The Joslyn was voted one of the 10 best art museums for children in the country.

We are also waiting on news of another waiting child. We are 3rd in line for her file but the other families are still reviewing.

WC

We applied for another baby from the waiting children that our agency received yesterday. So we have applied for 2. We will know on Monday if we can view the 2-year-old's file and Tuesday if we can view this baby's file.

Waiting Child (again)

Today Children's Hope received 3 batches of waiting children. 2 of the batches were posted on their website today and 1 more batch will be posted tomorrow. There are many beautiful little girls that would be perfect for our family. We applied for a darling 2-year-old. We will know on Monday if we get to review her file. Keep Hoping!!

Another Adoption Poem

In My Heart
Not flesh of my flesh,
Nor bone of my bone,
But still, miraculously my own.
Never forget for a single minute,
You didn't grow under my heart,
But in it.
Author Unknown

Holidays, waiting, hoping....

We have now been waiting for Lila longer than I was pregnant with Grace. This fact, along with the holidays, has made me very melancholy. I want my little girl home. I worry that she's somewhere alone, longing for a family, waiting, just like we are for her.

Before Christmas, Gracie asked me what I wanted Santa to bring me. I said pajamas, candy, but most of all I wish he could bring me Lila. In her wonderful 3-year-old logic she told me that Santa has a sleigh so he can just go to China & pick her up on the way here. I laughed and said I wished it was that easy but that we have to keep waiting until just the right time. She amazes me every day!

We did have a great Christmas. We celebrated for over a week. We started on the 17th because Gerry's brother & family were here from Florida. Our Great-Niece Miah is only 2 months younger than Grace so they were inseparable. NOISY but inseparable. We spent the 17th (Monday) at Gerry's parents with the whole family then Wednesday, Jim, Sue, Matt, Luke, Rachael, Mark & Miah came over so Grace & Miah could play. The little girls had every toy in Grace's room spread out all over the floor. It was wonderful to get to see them while they were here. Sue & I are thinking a trip to Disney is a MUST with the 2 of them. Hopefully there will be 3 little girls if Lila is home by then. I totally fell in love with little Miss Miah while they were here, she is adorable!

Santa was very good to Miss Grace. She got the baby she has been asking for. She told Santa she wanted the baby with a binky. She also got books, games, clothes, monkeys, ladybugs, legos, etc. Gerry was off all week so we have been playing with all the new toys!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas. We realize we are truly blessed and will keep waiting to be blessed even more with our Lila.