One of the greatest benefits of an international adoption journey is the fact that adoptive families meet other waiting families that, through the course of the experience, become dear and often lifelong friends.
One of the first friends I made after Eddie and I applied to adopt is a fellow Great Wall mom from Texas named Kristy Rodriguez. Along with her wonderful husband Frank, Kristy is waiting to bring her daughter Franceska home from China. Because our login dates are very close together, it is possible that Eddie and I will travel at the same time as Kristy and Frank.
It is no secret that international adoption is costly. As a means of paying for her adoption, Kristy has written a book entitled, God Made Me in China. I was privileged to have the opportunity to read Kristy's very first draft of this book. Late last year Kristy learned that the book was accepted for publication. It is now available for purchase on her website, Franceska's Journey Home. Kristy and Frank need your help to bring their beautiful baby girl home. You can help them by purchasing a copy of this wonderful children's book.
I am slowly but surely recovering from my carpal tunnel surgery. I had the stitches removed on Monday so I'm actually able to use my hand from time to time.
I am working on Gracie's nursery. We are getting closer to our referral and Eddie and I have been collecting furniture and other things we have needed in order to finish getting the room "ready for baby". I am going to snap some photos today of our work in progress. We are converting our sunroom into the nursery, so we are having to move some things around. We currently have two refrigerators in our nursery. They both came out of Eddie's shop at our old house. They will be moved into the new shop within a couple of weeks. After that, we're home free!
Eddie has a week of vacation coming up soon. We are hoping to use that time to get the siding and roof on the shop, finish up the electrical work, and get the nursery stuff out of storage. We are also planning a trip to Vicksburg to take Johnny to the National Military Park there. He is a HUGE history buff and Eddie's dad suggested that he might enjoy a tour of the battlefield.
Alyiah has spent almost every day of her summer vacation with me. Consequently, I am all caught up on the most recent episodes of Hannah Montana, I Carly, The Wizards of Waverly Place, The Suite Life of Jack and Cody, Sponge Bob and all the other Disney moneymakers. On a positive note, they do provide a wonderful respite from the usual daytime television offerings.
Check back later for nursery-in-progress photos. Hopefully today, if not, tomorrow.
We had a small get-together at home Friday night to celebrate Johnny's birthday. It is so hard to believe that he is a TEENAGER! When did that happen?
He has been a part of our family since November, 2007. Eddie and I have watched him grow into a handsome young man, full of life and love for our family. He finished his 7th grade year with all A's for his final term and we have gotten some of the most beautiful and touching comments from his teachers. All of his teachers describe him as conscientious, bright and respectful. I cannot being to describe the long and difficult journey he has traveled in his short life. He is living proof that love conquers all.
Happy Birthday, Johnny. We are so proud of you. We love you very much!
Christie had her Carpal Tunnel surgery done on her right hand today. She is doing really well. In quite a bit of pain but all went good. She asked me to post this for her since she won't be typing in the next couple of weeks maybe. She wants to thank all of you for your prayers, emails, and text messages. You are all a blessing, I will keep you posted on her recovery.
We have been having an EXTREMELY hot summer here in Mississippi this year. Alyiah usually doesn't like to take naps, but even she gave into the air-conditioning yesterday afternoon. Lane went down for a mid-afternoon nap and his little sister decided to crawl onto the couch beside him to watch her daily dose of Hannah Montana. It didn't take long for her to fall asleep.
Today, I want to share with all of you how the fathers in my life have made me a better person. As most of you know, my own father passed away in 1998. My brother Ken and I were blessed to have the most supportive father in the world. He never missed a choir concert, a t-ball game, a football game or a Father-Daughter Girl Scouts Banquet.
When Eddie and I met in 1985, my daddy was not so happy about the fact that his baby girl was growing up and thinking about moving away from home and getting married. It did not take long for Eddie to realize what a wonderful dad he was to me. Eddie and my daddy were very close. I know that he misses him as much as I do.
I often think about the times in my life during which my daddy was unable to be there for "big days". My daddy never lived to see me become a teacher...and to go on to be named Mississippi's Teacher of the Year in 2004. This honor provided me with an opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., and meet with the President and First Lady in the Oval Office of the White House. I remember thinking, as I sat in the Rose Garden, about how much my daddy would have loved to have been there.
As our adoption FINALLY approaches, I often think about how proud my daddy would be of his new granddaughter or granddaughters. I know that he would have loved them as much as he loved me. I was talking to my friend Shelly the other day and I told her that it really saddened me to think that my daddy did not live to meet Johnny or our daughters. She said what I already knew...that he has already met them -- that he watches over us (and Johnny); and that he is now watching over a baby girl in China whose mother gave her to God so He could give her to us.
I made this video to honor him several years ago. I hope you all enjoy it. (Don't forget to disable the sound on the music player at the bottom of my blog before you start the video.)
Today we had lunch at Cathy's. Eddie's dad, Kenny and his sister, Linda and her two youngest children joined us. It was a wonderful day. Kenny is a wonderful father-in-law to me. A fellow teacher, he has a unique understanding of my job challenges and he has been a valuable source of advice and encouragement to me. We took these photos this afternoon:
Eddie, Kenny and Linda
Johnny, Eddie, Kenny, Ray, Linda and Lisa (front)
Johnny and his "Pops"
Just us :)
Finally, I want to thank Eddie for being a wonderful father to Johnny. The day I brought Johnny home to live with us was one I'll never forget. Everything happened so fast. I called Eddie and told him that a child I knew was in need. I explained to him that Johnny needed a safe place to stay and, before I could "argue my case", he simply said, "OK. I'll meet you after work and we will take him to dinner and buy him some new clothes." That was 19 months ago. Today, Johnny gave Eddie a Father's Day card and two small gifts that he chose especially for Eddie.
With each passing day, I become more excited by the fact that I know our daughter is going to have the most wonderful father in the world. Eddie had to overcome a lot of adversity during his childhood before finally being adopted by his parents, Kenny and Martha. I believe that his own personal experiences give him wisdom and insight that most other adoptive parents do not possess. Our social worker told me that she was very impressed by Eddie. She described him as "the salt of the Earth" and said that she had no doubt that he will make a wonderful dad. I am absolutely certain that she is right.
Tonight, our prayers go out to the families of two American journalists who were seized by the Korean government on March 17, 2009. Laura Ling and Euna Lee are journalists for a San Francisco-based company (Current TV) and were on assignment in Asia when they were seized by North Korean military guards and accused of "hostile acts", specifically, illegally crossing the border into North Korea from the People's Republic of China. This past weekend, North Korea's highest court sentenced them to 12 years of hard labor.
Laura Ling is the sister of Lisa Ling, a journalist who works for National Geographic. Lisa Ling traveled to China in 2004 to chronicle the journeys of American adoptive families who were traveling to meet their new daughters for the first time. Her work there was instrumental in educating the viewing public about the Chinese cultural and political dictates that have led to the abandonment of millions of baby girls across China. Fortunately for us all, her documentary also showed viewers the profound love that adoptive families have for China's abandoned daughters.
Ms. Ling's family has expressed specific concerns about the fact that she suffers from a medical condition that requires ongoing treatment and fears that she will not receive adequate treatment while she is imprisoned in North Korea.
Euna Lee has a four year old daughter from whom she has been separated since she left for her assignment in China. Undoubtedly, her absence is emotionally traumatic for her little girl.
U.S. news agencies are reporting that the United States Government is aggressively and actively campaigning for clemency for Ms. Lee and Ms. Ling. Please pray that the officials in North Korea will show mercy and compassion to them and that they will be allowed to return home to their families soon.
"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love." - Hamilton Wright Mabi
Coming Up!
"For this child I prayed; and the LORD has granted me my petition which I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD." I Samuel 43:5
About Me
Our Red Thread Journey
Hattiesburg, Mississippi, United States
I am a 41-year old, blissfully happy, married mom-to-be. My husband and I have been married for almost 20 years and are going to China to adopt twins in 2008! We live in Oak Grove, a community just outside of Hattiesburg Mississippi.
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