Immigration APPROVAL!!!

Yippee!!!!!! Can you hear me smiling?!?!?!!

We received our I-800A approval today in the mail!! After waiting only 48 days---most folks are waiting about 80 days. This means that we can now STOP waiting on the American government to approve our paperwork and START waiting on the Chinese government to approve us. We should have our file to the Chinese government in the next week and hopefully be logged in by the New Year! Next stop in this process is to apply for visas from the Chinese consulate and wait for our LOA-letter of acceptance-- and then TA-travel approval--with some Hague paperwork thrown in there somewhere for good measure.

WHY am I smiling so big if we have all this waiting still to do? If you've btdt (in international adoption) you understand that EVERY step along the way deserves celebration and this is yet another BIG milestone--the US Citizen's & Immigration Service COULD have said "No" OR they could have questioned us on our background checks or fingerprints...all of that slows down the process even more. But not us--we flew through with flying colors. YEAH!!!!!!

Grady--We ARE COMING!!!!!!!!!!

had to share

so--this is our Christmas card...a bit hard to see, you say?

so click here and get a sneak preview...
Shutterfly Photo Cards

much to be thankful for

my dear sweet husband--the love of my life and the best daddy in the world.

(I get about one good picture taken of me a year so I thought I would share it with you.)

my 4 kidlets... and another on the way...


this beautiful country I am priviledged to live in... and the men and women who give their lives to make it so.

my ornery, cantankerous, grumpy old man...whom I am very much like in so many ways--I love him dearly.

We are home from a wonderful trip to the mountains. The food was awesome, the views incredible, and my kids were amazing in their ability to get along...kindness abounded along with some board game playing, romping through the leaves, tree climbing, fly casting lessons (with Big), and even a little shopping at Bass Pro Shops on the drive home. We are blessed with some pretty special kiddos.

I am thankful for my growing family and that God has released me from the anxiety and worry I have struggled with for so long. Now if He could release me from a few pounds, that'd be GREEEEAT.

I am thankful that my sweet friends, The Perkins, have finally landed in China and will be receiving their 6th child--Grant-- in a day or two. What an exciting rollercoaster of a ride they have had over the last few years. So excited for them...you can follow their journey HERE.

Will and I had an appointment at the Atlanta USCIS office to be fingerprinted on our way home yesterday--Black Friday of all days--It was amazing. we were in and out in under 10 minutes with NO ONE else in the entire building. They even let our kids come in with us. Our fingerprints went straight to the FBI while we were there and a background check will be done within 24 hours...SOOOO our USCIS approval to bring an orphan into the country should arrive very shortly and hopefully we will be LOGGED IN with China before the year ends. Then we wait for LOA, TA, and travel.

I am thankful that my sweet boy in China is in a foster family...and that God led us to him and reaffirmed in so many ways that this boy IS Grady CLARK and he is in the hands of the Father.

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So now we are home and getting started on a science project (or at least the triboard). Mags and I are going to see her sweet friend, Tricia, perform "Clara" in the Nutcracker tonight and hopefully we will go get a Christmas tree tomorrow...

Please, Lord, help us embrace this season to the fullest...not with busyness but with open hearts so that we can see you...really see you.

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Ruby was so funny this morning...I was trying to explain why we celebrate Christmas...Jesus' birthday --so we get presents, we'll have a birthday cake, etc.

I was trying to work Santa in to my discussion. (but really --does he REALLY fit?) We kinda want to play down the whole "Santa" thing but we don't want to do away with him altogether...we want ALL of our kids to clebrate and have the same family traditions...not the "the BIGS did it this way but the Littles do it that way."

SOOO--here goes--

Me-"Santa is the guy who delivers the gifts for Jesus (all I could come up with on the fly)--he wears a red suit, he's kinda chubby, has a beard, has these flying reindeer..."

Ruby-" He sounds yucky."

Will- bursts out laughing from the other room...like HE could have done a better job.

hmmmmph

I think my speech needs work...

So how do you do the "Santa thing"??

this day...

Riding around this morning before we dropped off Janell and Abigail at the Atlanta Airport, out of the mouths of babes...via the rear view mirror...

Ruby-"Mama- Where is Jesus?"

Mama- " Where is He, Ruby?"

Ruby- "In my hawwwt (that's 'heart' in 2 yr old babble)."

Mama- "That's right, girlie- and where else does He live?"

Ruby-"In Heaven with Gawwwwd"

Mama- "Yep"

Ruby-"and is Jesus in Abigail's hawwwt? Big's? Susu's? Grandan? Nana?"

Mama- "Yep- you got it, sista."

Few moments of silence--then... realizing how deep she is thinking to have put all this together...

Mama-"Ruby- you are one cool kid."

Ruby- big cheesy grin in the rear view mirror

I don't think I had it this together at 2 years old. Man- I don't think I have it THAT together at 37.

Thanksgiving Feast at St. Thomas...

Miss Sandra

Miss AnnaJo

Abigail & Janell & Ruby

Proud parents of the cutest turkey around

the chaos before the show--

Mama & Ruby

Ruby & Daddy

fat lil turkey

the treat Ruby gave all her friends

This is why I love St. Thomas...the tradition, Miss Tisha's feast (best dressing in town!), Mrs. Anderson's flute playing, Father Doug's prayer, the drums, the children all dressed up as Pilgrims, Indians, pumpkins, and Turkeys, the songs, the parents grappling for the best viewing positions, Miss AnnaJo & Miss Sandra(& their hearts for children)...there is just so much to love. If you were there- you get it--if not--well, Bless your heart.

And as the children sang their blessing- "God is so Good"--I shed tears of thankfulness...because He IS SOOOO GOOD to me!! I am so thankful for my youngest blessing and the one to come...I never thought I'd sit in another St. Thomas assembly. I am so glad I get to!

some sewing

This skirt for the Magpie turned out cute ...but ugh! it was a pain to make!

a wall hanging

another pillow

these bottom 2 : I still have to make these INTO something and I really don't need another Christmas pillow...any help? Buehler? I thought so.

Ruby, Sam, & Abigail...

Here are our 3 munchkins...LOVED Sam's shirt...when I asked him "Who is trouble?" He pointed straight to Ruby...hmmmmm....he could be onto something.

Sam had a thing for firestarting...and sticks...

Abigail's had just about enough of Ruby's "together-ness"

crunchy leaves

sweet smile

Ruby finally decided she likes to swing.

The Potty- on wheels...

We met up with Susan and Sam over in Auburn, yesterday at a cute little park. Sam lived in the same orphanage as Ruby & Abigail but came home a few months before we did. It was fun comparing notes with Susan and just letting the kids play. Of course they don't understand the connection they share right now, but one day it will make sense...and maybe they'll even appreciate the effort we all went to to give them links to their pasts.

Anyway- Janell's been here since Wednesday and leaves tomorrow--we've had a jam packed few days and will miss her company when she's gone.