Off to the Big Easy!

I am leaving tomorrow for New Orleans, LA! I have never been so I am very excited to experience the history, culture and FOOD of New Orleans. My office is headed to the Louisana Dental Convention which will be great, I'm sure, but that is not the reason I am most excited about my trip. I am finally going to meet in person a dear friend that I met through the adoption process over two years ago. Kelly and I both have the same LID of 11.8.06, we both have two sons, and we are both waiting anxiously for our daughters! We have talked via phone, cell phones, email, blogs, yahoo groups, and of course Facebook for two years but we have never met in person. Kelly has been a great comfort and strength to me during this roller coaster ride called adoption. She lives about 3-4 hours from New Orleans but she is going to make the journey over this weekend to meet me and I couldn't be happier!! Pictures to follow.....

Go Dawgs!

Look what came in the mail today for Miss Ruthie! Thank you to Dusty for passing on her girls UGA cheer outfits! We love them and can't wait to dress her up and head to Athens on Saturday's in the fall....or at least a fall in the next few years, hopefully.
Dusty has two girls who have worn these little outfits but now she is expecting a baby boy very soon and he will not be needing these, so she passed them on to Ruthie! So very sweet! Thanks again!

What a difference a week makes....

Oh the joys of living in Georgia! As you might recall, about two weeks ago it was freezing here and we had 4-6 inches of snow. Even though that is somewhat unusual, it does happen here. I think I also mentioned that we really have to get outside and enjoy the white fluffy stuff because it doesn't stay around long at all....this certainly held true this year. After our white, cold week we had a BEAUTIFULLY warm week this week. My boys were on their winter break so they were able to be outside in shorts everyday doing all sorts of things that little boys do like.....ride bikes, jump on the trampoline, build forts, roll around in the creek and play every real sport and made up game imaginable.
Being the "wonderful" mother that I am, I encouraged these things and had no idea that after the snow and ice that anything like snakes or poison ivy would be anywhere close to being "awake" yet. Unfortunately, that was not the case for Anderson. Thankfully, no snakes were seen but here is the aftermath of Anderson's fun-filled, outdoor week!

Anderson...two weeks ago in the snow

Anderson....this week with poison ivy on his forehead....

....behind his ear....

.....and all over his face. Poor baby!

28 Months.....

You usually have to wait for that which is worth waiting for.
Craig Bruce

Wise Beyond Her Years.....

Miss Claire

I was on Facebook the other night, like most nights ;), and my cousin Claire sent me an instant message asking about our adoption. She had several questions about our LID, the process and where we were right now as far as Ruthie goes. I answered her questions and asked her why she was asking. She told me that my family, our adoption and Ruthie have been on her mind a lot lately and she wanted to do something about it. She told me that she was composing a letter to send out to her friends on Facebook that would be asking them to pray for our family and Ruthie. WOW! I was so touched and amazed that this was coming from a 15 year old. How precious she is to us!

I explained to Claire that there are many days when we know we should be praying for our adoption and Ruthie but that we are so confused, frustrated and hurt that we can't find the will or the strength to do it. I told her that I believe that it is at times like this that God brings people into our lives to "stand in the gap" for us. This was such a wonderful reminder to me that as a member of the family of God, I am called to carry others when for whatever reason they can't or don't have the strength to carry themselves. I hope that I will remember this and reach out to someone like Claire has done for my family this week.

Below is a copy of the letter that Claire sent out to her Facebook friends. Many of them have already commented back that they would be praying for us and counted it a privilege to be able to do so. I am so humbled.

I also told Claire that when we started the adoption process we knew that it would take lots of people and prayers to bring Ruthie home. Thank you, Claire, for being one of those people. We love you from the bottom of our hearts!

Hey you guys!
I am going to write you a quick note about something that I have been thinking about a lot lately. My cousin, Angie, has been trying to adopt a little girl from China for about three or so years now. Her and Milledge, her husband, both wanted a little girl. They have been blessed with two outstanding boys that also want a little sister. Angie\'s adoption papers were logged in on November 8, 2006. This says that they do have the paperwork for Ruthie and it was received and logged into the systems in China at the Chinese Center of Adoption Affairs in Beijing on that date. Right now, the CCAA has referred to families with LID\'s up to March 2, 2006, so they are still a long ways out. They are really wanting to have Ruthie before all the paperwork has to be updated again, which is, April 2010. Angie and Milledge are getting very impatient and just sort of want to give up, but they are relying on the Lord for all of their strength.

You are probably wondering...\"and where do I come into all of this?!\". I believe that Prayer can get Ruthie home much faster. I have sent/ tagged you in this message because I think and know you will pray for Angie\'s family. I am very close to Angie and her family and know that I will also love Ruthie one day! I am asking that you please keep praying for Ruthie and her family that is waiting for her! Thank you so much!

Claire

Snow in the Peach State!!!

The makeshift sled they had..aka trash can lid....didn't work. On to Plan B!

This is the creek beside our home...isn't it pretty?

Our home...

This doesn't happen too often down here in the deep south but when it does we get so excited and spend the whole day playing in it....because it never fails....it will be 70 here tomorrow!