Our Red Thread Journey

Cheater's Corn and Crab Bisque

2012-01-12T20:29:00.003-06:00

This recipe is SUPER easy and fast! We NEVER have leftovers when I make this.

Ingredients:

1 large sweet onion, diced
1 stick of butter
4 cans cream of potato soup
4 cans creamed corn
1 can sweet corn niblets, drained
1 pint jumbo lump crab meat (picked clean)
1 t. liquid crab boil
1 pt. whipping cream or half and half
chopped parsley
salt and pepper to taste.

In large stockpot, saute' onions in butter until they are translucent. Add soup, creamed corn and niblets. Heat until boiling. Reduce heat and add crab boil. Gently stir in crab meat. Simmer for 20 minutes. Just before serving, add whipping cream and stir until completely combined. Add salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with shopped parsley and serve.

Note: This soup is wonderful when served with toasted garlic bread. You can add more crab boil if you prefer a spicier soup, but a little bit goes a looooooong way. We like our food spicy and 1 t. is usually enough.

This recipe can also be made in a crockpot. Just simmer onions in a small skillet and combine all ingredients except parsley and cream in a crock pot. Heat until bubbly. Stir in cream and serve with chopped parsley.

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-24T13:08:00.002-06:00

On this blessed day, our family would like to wish everyone in blogland a Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, and any other wonderful thing you celebrate during this time of year. As i sit here looking at our tree, I know that the best presents are those that cannot be wrapped. Family, love, health, peace... these things are more valuable than any other.

What a Difference a Year Makes!

2011-11-24T20:16:00.005-06:00

It seems like only yesterday that we were packing our bags and getting ready to leave for China. It is impossible to describe the emotional roller coaster that our family has been on during the past five years. Traveling to China was a huge leap of faith for us because none of us (except for my father-in-law) had ever flown before. We left for China on October 28, 2010. Two weeks and seven flights later we returned to the United States as a family of four.

Today, I am washing sippy cups, changing diapers and digging chicken nuggets out of the couch...and I wouldn't have it any other way. Tonight, after Thanksgiving dinner, I watched Anna Grace play on the couch with her Paw Paw. She giggled and squealed as he tickled her with a piece of paper. It was my "today's most thankful moment".

These photos were taken on October 31, 2010. They were taken at the hotel in Nanchang just after Anna Grace was placed in our arms. She looks so frightened and unsure of what is going on in these pictures.

Today, Anna Grace is a beautiful, intelligent, sweet-natured, HAPPY girl! She smiles easily and laughs often. She ADORES her Daddy, her Bubba and her Paw Paw. She was slow to talk; but, once she did, she DID! She has charmed everyone at her preschool and is obsessed with The Grinch. We have had to watch How The Grinch Stole Christmas several times each day since last Saturday.

If anyone doubts the difference love can make in the life of a child, just look at our daughter today:

My life is overflowing with blessings. My husband, son, daughter, and mom remind me every day of how fortunate I am. I wish for everyone who reads this a holiday season filled with love and blessings.

A New Chapter

2011-08-21T20:27:00.005-05:00

Tomorrow is a very big day for me. I start a new job as a first grade teacher at Lille Burney Elementary School in Hattiesburg. This year would have been my ninth year in Picayune if I had not resigned.

Making the decision to leave Picayune was not easy. I have many friends at the Center for Alternative Education and the faculty my new school assignment (Nicholson) had been so warm and helpful to me. Saying goodbye to my students was the hardest part of leaving my school. Two of my students were in my class last year and I had become very attached to both of them.

Anna Grace begins a new chapter tomorrow, too. She had a phenomenal sitter in Picayune, Mrs. Laura. Anna Grace absolutely adores her. Eddie and I had planned to enroll Anna Grace in Early Head Start and had taken her to Mrs. Laura's while we waited for the new Early Head Start Complex to open. We quickly realized that Anna Grace was being loved and cared for in a way that she truly deserved at Mrs. Laura's. I actually cried when Mrs. Laura told me that she was going to have a full-time slot for Anna Grace.

This picture makes me cry every time I see it. Normally, when I pick her up at Mrs. Laura's, Anna Grace runs into my arms ready to go home. Not on this day. It was as if she knew she was saying goodbye to Mrs. Laura. She sat next to me on the couch in Mrs. Laura's lap the whole time. I think this picture is the perfect reflection of their love for one another. I will treasure it always.

Bye, Bye Summer

2011-08-21T19:56:00.007-05:00

It seems that summer, 2010, flew by much faster than summers past. I am sure it's only my imagination, but playing with Anna Grace certainly helped to pass the time quickly.

We spent a week in Oklahoma in late July. Eddie was in class for most of the trip, so the exploring was left up to Johnny, Anna Grace and me. We really enjoyed ourselves!

Before leaving home, Johnny and I decided that we wanted to try one of Tulsa's most famous eateries. We surfed the 'net and decided to visit Ike's Chili House while were there. It was highly recommended by Marthat Stewart, how declared it to be the best chili she had ever eaten.

If I didn't learn anything else on our trip, I learned that Martha Stewart has crappy taste in chili. The Frito chili pie was so salty I could barely eat it. Fortunately for me, Ike's does make a mean cheeseburger. The half I ate after splitting my order with Johnny made it essy for us to forget about the chili.

Our hotel had a wonderful indoor pool. Anna Grace had loads of fun swimming with Johnny. We did learn that she is fearless in a pool. We were planning on putting in a pool this year but decided to wait until she is a little bit older. Swimming lessons are definitely in her future.

We decided to do a little souvenir shopping on our last day there. Johnny wanted a cowboy hat. He found one in a western store, but had a lot of trouble wrangling it away from his little sister after he made the mistake of letting her wear it. Anna Grace's daddy decided to buy her a cowboy hat of her very own. I think the following shot is proof that she loves it!

A Summertime Update

2011-07-21T20:42:00.003-05:00

Where has the summer gone? Anna Grace and I have been sooooo lazy this summer. I had grand plans that involved trips to the beach and other places. Unfortunately, the stifling hot weather has made us want to spend time playing indoors.

I have enjoyed playing with Anna Grace. I am, however, sick to death of Sesame Street re-runs. I have seriously considered contacting PBS to ask when the new season begins. If I have to hear that Elmo Song rip-off of Jingle Bells one more time I'm going to puke.

We finished the first of two post-placement visits with our social worker last month. She was very pleased with Anna Grace's progress. She said that the love we have for her is clearly evident and that she looks to be happy and healthy. We agree!

Ostriches, Tigers and Prairie Dogs, Oh My!

2011-06-06T22:08:00.015-05:00

A few weeks ago, Anna Grace's Godmother Cathy and I took her to the Hattiesburg Zoo. She had her first carousel and train rides and had a chance to see the znimals at the zoo. The highlight of our visit was her first time to play on the splash pad!

All of these photos were taken with the camera Eddie bought me before we left for China. I'm still using the "auto" setting. One of the things on my "to do list" for this summer is to read my owner's manual and figure how to fully utilitize the camera's features.

We did have a wonderful time at the zoo. Eddie and I are planning on taking her back very soon!

Halfway There!

2011-06-06T21:59:00.003-05:00

We had our first post-placement with our social worker this past Friday. China requires that social workers visit the home to ensure that the adopted child is bonding and meeting appropriate developmental milestones. Fortunately, our adoption was grandfathered in under the "old" CCAA rules. Current adoptive families are required to have five years of post-placement visits.

Our social worker, Jennifer, was very pleased with Anna Grace's progress. I became a bit concerned as she read off her checklist. I was only able to answer "yes" to about 2/3 of the questions. I was VERY relieved when she told me that she was using the "three-year-old" checklist. Given the fact that Anna Grace was 20 months old three days ago, I think she is doing very well!

Blogging Again

2011-04-24T21:08:00.014-05:00

My name is Christie and I am a bad blogger. Ok, now that the confession is out of the way, I will try to update my blog more often. It is hard to believe, this Sunday will be our six month anniversary as a forever family.

I did not post anything during our Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. We were still a big jetlagged on Thanksgiving. We had Thanksgiving dinner at Cathy and David's. I volunteered to cook because Cathy's mom was very ill. Eddie enjoyed trying out his new electric turkey fryer. It worked beautifully. The food and fellowship were good. Everyone enjoyed getting to meet Anna Grace.

We decorated for Christmas right after Thanksgiving. Anna Grace loved the tree and made pulling each ornament off her personal goal for each day. Hopefully, next year will be less hectic.

We celebrated Easter with Anna Grace for the first time this weekend. Here are some photos from the Easter Egg Hunt at Willow Pointe and her visit with the Easter Bunny at Cypress Creek Nursery.

Hunting Eggs With Daddy

I love the way she is holding on to his finger.

Anna Grace made a new friend. He shared his eggs with her.

Alyiah and her Uncle Eddie

Alyiah and Her Cupcake Masterpiece

Anna Grace loved opening the eggs!

Anna Grace Clapping At The End of the Easter Story

Meeting the Easter Bunny for the First Time Ever!

Kisses for the Easter Bunny!

She almost went to sleep in his lap

We are getting ready to celebrate the six-month anniversary of Anna Grace's adoption. We will have a Red Egg and Ginger party at Cathy and David's this Saturday. I will post pictures as soon as I can. Until then, Happy Easter from our family to yours!

Our Second Update from China

2010-11-03T08:40:00.016-05:00

Anna Grace is offically our daughter! As I sit here writing this, she is sleeping in her crib. Eddie, Johnny, Kenny and some friends we met here have gone downstairs to eat dinner. Because Anna Grace missed her second nap of the day I decided to stay behind and let her grab a quick nap.

Beijing was awesome! We arrived on the 29th and checked into the hotel late in the day. After being in the air for almost 16 hours, we decided to crash in the room rather than venture out to find something to eat. We got up early on the 30th because we had a long day of touring planned.

Eddie, Kenny and Johnny in our hotel lobby in Beijing

Our tour started at Tiennamen Square. We spent time walking in the square before beginning an extended tour of the Forbidden City. Our walking tour lasted approximately four and a half hours. The Forbidden City was beautiful.

Eddie, Johnny and Me in Tiennamen Square

Inside the Forbidden City
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After the Forbidden City tour we traveled to a Jade Factory for a (very) late lunch. We had a round table-style meal of traditional Chinese foods. Following the meal we enjoyed a tour of the factory, including a demonstration of how to recognize imitation jade products. After the tour Eddie and I bought Anna Grace and Johnny jade pendants with their Chinese Zodiac Signs on them. Eddie bought me a beautiful purple jade pendant with the Chinese character for "love" in the center. While we were at the jade factory we saw a very large Bhudda statue carved out of white jade. Grace, our guide, saw Eddie standing next to it and giggled. I told her that I didn't need to spend money on a jade Bhudda -- that I had my own. I told her that if she wanted to she could rub Eddie's belly and see if brought her good luck. She did!

Our Guide, Grace, Making a Wish

After we left the jade factory we traveled to the Badaling Gate of the Great Wall. Eddie and I made it to the first tower (which was an amazing feat after all of the walking we had already done.

The Badaling Gate of the Great Wall of China

We hung our wish lock on the wall in honor of a friend who is battling breast cancer.

Johnny and Me With Our Lock

The Lock We Hung in Honor of Michelle

Our Travel Group Getting Ready for the Climb!

We left the wall just before sundown and took a VERY long bus ride back to the hotel. On the way home, we drove past the Olympic Stadium and the Aquatics Center (known as the "Bird's Nest" and the "Water Cube"). They were beautiful at night. We were asked if we wanted to stop and take photos. We were all so tired that we told the bus driver just to take us back to the hotel.

We got up early (4:00 a.m.) on Sunday to catch our flight to Nanchang. We arrived here just before 10:00 a.m. and went straight to the hotel. We are staying at the JinFeng hotel. The rooms are very nice here, but there is some type of ongoing celebration requiring major fireworks going on here now. Johnny said Eddie's dad woke up from a dead sleep when they started going off. Anna Grace slept right through them. We were originally told that we would get Anna Grace today (Monday), but her orphanage director had a meeting here today so he brought her a day early.

We met her orphanage director and nanny in the hotel's play room. Some of our new friends who are also adopting were there and videotaped our meeting. I will post the video when I get the chance. She cried at first when I held her but she eventually settled down. When we got her she was wearing a small red silk pouch. Inside it were stones from her home town. The nannies had made the pouch and stitched her Chinese name (Long Ai Niu) on the front. It is a real treasure that I hope will mean a lot to her someday.

Anna Grace Meeting Her Brother for the First Time
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She slept through her first night (until just after 5 a.m.). When she woke up Eddie put her in the bed with me and she dozed off-and-on for almost two hours. Another Great Wall Couple met their daughter for the first time today. This afternoon we all traveled to the Civil Affairs Office for our adoption interview. The Civil Affairs Officer gave her a beautiful wood carving as a gift. It is a barrel-shaped container with Chinese characters carved in the sides. When we left the Civil Affairs Office, her adoption was final. She is now Anna Grace Ainiu Daniels!

Our China Travel Journal - Day One

2010-11-03T08:38:00.001-05:00

After a fifty-four month wait, our time finally came. At times it felt as if we would never see Anna Grace. We watched friends bring their daughters (and son) home and followed their journeys on the Internet.

Last night, Cathy and David invited Eddie, Johnny, Kenny (Eddie’s dad) and me over to their house for a belated birthday dinner. We didn’t know that she had invited some of our closest friends to what turned into a Bon Voyage party. We were all so tired from shopping, packing, cleaning and tying up loose ends that the opportunity to sit down and rest for a little while was very welcome.

As is usually the case, I worked up until the very last minute taking care of paperwork, copying documents and washing the last of our clothes. Eddie and Kenny had an opportunity to get some sleep and Johnny and I stayed up until Cathy picked us up to take us to the airport at 2:40 a.m.

I think Johnny and I were more nervous about our first flight than Eddie. The horrible weather we had to drive through on the way to the airport didn’t make things any easier for me. We drove through the worst of the weather when we got to Picayune at about 4:00 a.m. The rain finally ended about the time we passed the Superdome.

We made it through baggage check-in pretty easily. We were carrying with us four boxes of children’s books that students at my school had collected for Great Wall China Adoption’s Libraries of Love program. A VERY nice skycap at the airport helped us get all of the boxes addressed and taped shut. All four of us made it through the security checkpoint without setting off any alarms so we made it to our gate pretty early. Our flight was scheduled to depart at 6:55 a.m. and we felt the plane lift off of the runway at 6:56. Not bad J

The flight to Newark was pretty smooth. We had a bit of turbulence at the start, but the ride smoothed out quickly and we were able to enjoy the rest of the flight. I did make a mental note to purchase some noise canceling headphones when we get to China. The engine noise was much louder than I expected.

We landed in Newark right on time. During the last 30 minutes of my trip I was actually able to cross six things off my bucket list: 1) take my first plane flight, 2) see the Manhattan skyline, 3) see the Empire State Building, 4) see the Brooklyn Bridge, 5) see the Statute of Liberty; and 6) see the fall foliage in New England. The last experience was amazing. We say hundreds of miles of the most beautiful fall colors (orange, red,, yellow, brown, and gold) from the air. We had started to descend at that time and we could see fields, orchards and farms very well. It is an experience that I will never forget.

While in Newark, we decided to grab a quick bite for lunch. About 30 minutes before we were supposed to board the plane to Beijing Eddie noticed that there were lots of passengers gathering at our gate. We decided to see what was going on and realized that the flight was boarding early. We managed to board the plane in plenty of time; but, had Eddie not noticed that the passengers were boarding early we might have missed our flight. The flight was packed and it took quite a while for us to get our carry-on baggage situated. We finally did and got settled in and departed a few minutes ahead of schedule.

As I write this we are in Beijing. We landed here about 1:20 yesterday (30 minutes ahead of schedule). We were all exhausted when we got to the hotel room. I crashed here about 5:00 yesterday afternoon and woke up at 2:30 a.m. today (Saturday). We will leave for the Great Wall in about five hours!

As I write this we are traveling at 563 miles per hour 35,000 feet above the Arctic Circle. The exterior thermometer on the plane reflects our current external temperature at -64 degrees Fahrenheit. We were able to watch both a beautiful sunrise and sunset at cloud levels today. Our international night has been extremely smooth and, barring any unforeseen problems, we will land in China almost 40 minutes ahead of schedule.

We will arrive in Beijing at around 1:00. Our guide, Grace, is supposed to meet us at the airport and take us to our hotel. We will be staying at the Poly Plaza until the 31st. Early on the morning of the 31st we will travel from Beijing to Nanchang. The next day we will travel to the Civil Affairs Office to pick up Anna Grace.

Now that it is getting dark outside, I am going to try to get some sleep before we get to Beijing. I haven’t slept since Tuesday night and I’m tired. So far, this trip has been an amazing experience for Eddie, Johnny and me. We are looking forward to seeing and learning more about the country that has given us the greatest gift of all.

On This Good Sunday

2010-10-31T09:15:00.002-05:00

Today we became a family of four. Anna Grace is beautiful and she LOVES her daddy and big brother!

We're Here! China will NEVER be the same again!

2010-10-29T16:29:00.001-05:00

We made it to Beijing safely. We are showering and getting ready to go downstairs for breakfast before heading out to tour the Great Wall, Tiannamen Square and the Beijing Zoo. I will post pics later if I get lucky when trying to access Blogger again!

Our Baby Girl is Growing...and HAPPY!

2010-10-27T09:24:00.006-05:00

Yesterday Eddie and I received some updated photos of Anna Grace. She is almost 13 months old. She has 7 teeth and can stand on her own.

We have prayed for so long for a healthy baby. Anna Grace's medical reports indicate that she is very healthy. Recently, as we get closer to our Gotcha Day, we have been praying for a happy baby -- that she will transition into our family without being traumatized. We were so happy to see the huge smiles and laughs in the pictures. She is such a beautiful little girl.

We are leaving for China in the morning. I have tried to set the blog up for remote updates via e-mail. I also have a friend who has volunteered to update our blog in the event our remote updates do not work. Please be patient with us because we are going to be on a whirlwhind adventure for the next two weeks.

Mom will be staying at our home with her sitter during our absence. Please pray for good health for her while we are gone and that she handles my absence well.

The next post you will read will be from China!

A Long-Overdue Update!

2010-10-21T19:56:00.003-05:00

Eddie, Johnny and I are FINALLY leaving for China. Next Thursday we will embark on the final leg of our journey to Anna Grace. We arrive in China around noon on the 29th and will be united with our baby girl around 10:30 a.m. on November the 1st.

I do not know how much access I will have to the Internet while I am there. I have a friend who will be updating my Facebook page and another who will be updating our blog. We will do our best to post updates every day, ask for everyone's patience as this is going to be a busy (albeit joyful) time for us all.

While in China we will have the privilege of visiting the Great Wall, a museum exhibit containing a display of the famous Terra Cotta Soldiers, the Beijing Zoo, and several other places of interest.

While we are gone, Mama will remain at our home with her caregiver and our oldest nephew. Please pray that her separation from us will not be traumatic for her and that she enjoys good health while we are gone.

I will do my best to post another update before we leave. For now, we have much to do. We are almost packed and plan on doing some serious housecleaning before we leave. I also have to get four weeks of lesson plans ready so that my long-term substitute will be able to easily transition into my classroom.

We appreciate everyone's prayers and ask for you all to continue to pray for us, for Mama, and especially for Anna Grace. Please pray that her transition from the orphanage to our home is smooth and not traumatic for her. We have waited and prayed for this child for over twenty years. We thank God for His blessings of Johnny and Anna Grace and look forward to sharing the next chapter of our lives with everyone soon.

FINALLY!

2010-09-23T14:07:00.002-05:00

We finally got the official word today. We leave for China on October 28! Anna Grace's Gotcha Day is October 31.Our consulate appointment is on November 9 at 10:30 a.m. In just over a month, we will FINALLY have our baby girl.

I will post updates and our plans develop.

Showers in the Forecast

2010-07-10T00:57:00.002-05:00

This is going to be a busy weekend. Tomorrow, the Chopstick Chicks are hosting a baby shower for Heather Davis and me. Heather and her husband Mark logged their dossier in on the same day as Eddie and me. They received their referral on June 7 and will soon travel to China to meet their beautiful daughter, Lakyn.

If I do not forget to take my camera, I will post photos tomorrow!

Sunday, some friends and family are throwing Eddie and me a "His and Her's Couples Shower". As most of you know, this is a new experience for us. We are having our first baby shower in our forties. I have to admit that I sometimes feel like a duck out of water when we talk about babies, showers and other related things.

I am excited about the fact that some of our friends and family that we haven't seen in quite a while are going to be there. As you can probably imagine, this will be a busy (and tiring) weekend. We wouldn't have it any other way. Every thing that brings us one step closer to Anna Grace is welcome!

We are going to kick the work on the nursery into high gear soon. I am hoping to have everything finished within the next four weeks. I will post pictures of our progress.

Again, as always, we ask for your prayers. Please pray that we travel soon and that Anna Grace will have a smooth transition into our family. Pray also for the children who wait in orphanages around the world. The Lord has been very specific when expressing his feelings about our obligation as Christians to care for the orphans of the world. After all, until we acknowledge Him as our Heavenly Father, we are all orphans in His eyes.

Our Baby Girl is Growing!

2010-07-06T10:19:00.007-05:00

Last week, Eddie and I ordered a care package for Anna Grace from Ann at Red Thread China. Whenever possible, Ann tries to send families updated photos and medical information. This morning, we got updated photos of Anna Grace!

Anna Grace Holding her new Kai-Lan doll!

Sitting Up!

We are expecting to travel sometime in September. Travel approvals from China are lagging a bit. We will post more information as we get it! Please continue to keep our family (especially Anna Grace) in your prayers.

WE HAVE A BABY!!!!

2010-06-07T14:58:00.008-05:00

Today, Eddie and I got the news we've been waiting 50 months for. We have a daughter! Her name is Anna Grace Daniels. She is currently living in the Suichuan County Social Welfare Institute in Jiangxi Province. She was born on October 3, 2009, and on March 20, 2010, weighed 14.74 pounds and was 24.73 inches long. I will post more details when her referral packet arrives on Wednesday.

It's Happening!

2010-06-05T21:15:00.001-05:00

Our first pictures of our baby girl are on a plane bound for Texas. We will probably see her face Monday!!!

Introducing Miss Franceska Danielle Rodriguez!

2010-05-10T17:12:00.004-05:00

Today, 12 familes adopting through our agency received referrals -- 11 girls and one boy!

My sweet friend, Kristy, saw her daughter's face for the first time today. Franceska Danielle will soon be in the loving arms of her family!

Kristy has been my partner in pain throughout this wait. I am so happy for her today. We have been waiting for over four years to meet our daughters!

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-09T15:15:00.005-05:00

I have so much to be thankful for this Mother's Day. Johnny is such a wonderful child. He made me the most beautiful Mother's Day card I have ever seen in school this week. He and Eddie each bought me a bead for my Pandora bracelet.

Mom is doing well. Eddie and I sent her some roses and chocolate; and, Ken stopped by today and brought her some flowers. I took these pictures of her this afternoon.

I have also been thinking about some friends who are first-time mothers. Fliss, Tracy, Susan: Happy First Mother's Day to you all! To all waiting moms (especially Kristy and Heather): We are almost there! I can only imagine what a wonderful Mother's Day we will all have next year!

Big Brother Practice

2010-05-09T15:11:00.001-05:00

I took this picture of Johnny yesterday. We are decorating the nursery and unpacked some of the dolls I have collected for the baby. The one in in the pictures was a gift from my friend Becky. It was the first "official" baby gift we received after applying to adopt.

CRUNCH TIME!!!

2010-04-25T13:47:00.005-05:00

The CCAA has matched all families logged in through the 17th of April, 2006. Many Flying Tiger cubs are safely home, some are meeting their families for the first time in the next few days; and, many families are still waiting to meet their babies for the first time.

If the CCAA follows the same schedule as it has in recent months, the next round of matches should be mailed late this coming week. There is a CHANCE (albeit a slight one) that WE WILL BE INCLUDED!!! If so, we should get our referral in the first week of May. If we do not make it into this batch, it is almost certain that we will receive our referral in the first week of June.

We have been waiting for this day for so long. Four years ago a year-long wait seemed like an eternity. To be honest, it all still seems a bit surreal because of the wait. I know that, once we see our baby girl or girls for the first time, the frustration we have felt during the past few years will melt away and be replaced only with joy.

We are waiting for our final fingerprint appointment. Everything else is in order. Johnny's passport arrived last week, and I have begun copying important documents and making preparations for travel.

The only concern I have about our trip is related to to Mom. She is staying with us full-time; and we are going to have to make arrangements for an around-the-clock caregiver while we are gone. This is going to be a costly and unexpected expense for us. Her regular sitter is available to stay with her; but, we know that the fact that we are going to be gone for 2 weeks is going to be difficult for her. Please pray for Eddie and me as we work to find the best solution for Mom. She has made tremendous progress in the last few months. Any major changes in her schedule are difficult for her to manage; and, it is our hope to find a solution that will create the least amount of stress for her.

We should begin hearing rumors this week. By the end of the week, we should know whether or not we are "in". If our referral is in this next batch, we will be traveling to China within the next ten weeks.

We're Getting CLOSE!

2010-03-01T17:05:00.002-06:00

The China Center for Adoption Affairs has matched all families logged into their non-special needs adoption program through April 11, 2006. As our login date is April 25, we are starting to get excited!

Our home study update is in Hague compliance review and should be done in the next few days. Our next step is to be fingerprinted AGAIN and then wait on our paperwork that gives us permission to bring our daughter home.

Sunday Eddie and I had our first REAL conversation about the trip...things we wanted to do, needed to buy, etc. It looks as if we will be traveling in the hottest part of the year so we can, at least, pack light.

Yesterday a friend hosted an Arbonne party to benefit our adoption. It was so thoughtful of her to support us in such a special way. Cathy's mother-in-law Mrs. Vera didn't read the invite very well and thought it was a baby shower. As a result, Eddie and I received our FIRST baby shower gift yesterday!

As our trip and union with our baby or babies grows closer, please keep our family in your prayers. Our lives are going to be changing in a huge but wonderful way!

It's Not Just Candy and Roses...

2010-02-14T10:25:00.005-06:00

Yesterday, I had to take Mom to the after-hours clinic. She fell twice yesterday and had a near-miss on a third time. She and I have both had pretty bad head colds. The doctor said he thinks she has an inner ear infection that is viral in nature. Viral means that antibiotics, generally, will not help. The inner ear infection can cause serious vertigo. She only gets dizzy and loses her balance when she bends over. As a result, I have spent the last two days following her around TRYING to keep her from bending over. Anyone who knows my Mama knows that she interprets "Mama, please don't bend over...you could fall." as "Mama, I triple-dog dare you to bend over." It's a losing battle.

As I was in the drug store picking up the drug the doctor recommended for motion sickness, I witnessed a Valentine's Day feeding frenzy that was, quite honestly, kind of scary. Last-minute shoppers were grabbing any- and everything they could get their hands on. I guess nothing says "I love you." like cheap silk boxer shorts from CVS that say, "I'm one red hot dude!"

Anyway... I think Valentine's Day is not just about romantic love. I think it's an opportunity for everyone to acknowledge and celebrate ALL of the love in their life. Accordingly, I am thankful on this Valentine's Day for:

Jesus Christ who loved me so much he gave his life for me. As John 15:13 reveals: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

Eddie, my husband...who I have loved for twenty-five years (almost 22 as his wife);

Johnny, our son, who was born in our hearts on November 10, 2007. He has been a constant source of joy in our lives ever since;

My Mama...who has been through so much during the last six months. She is strong, and funny, and, no matter how sick she has been, was never too sick to say, "I love you."

My brother, Ken, and his family who are beginning a new chapter in their life in their beautiful new home;

Nephews and nieces who are kind, respectful and intelligent (and, unfortunately, a bit gassy, too);

My husband's family -- especially his dad who is the bravest man I know -- he's going to China with us -- three people who have NEVER been on a plane before -- and who are traveling around the world to take the greatest leap of faith in their lives -- to become first-time parents to a baby girl after 22 years of marriage.

Shelly, my best friend who knows me better than anyone else (except my husband);

An unknown Chinese woman. At some point in the last few months, she made what was, undoubtfully, an excrutiatingly painful decision -- to surrender her daughter to a better life. Little does she know that a family that lives thousands of miles away already loves her.

I'm hoping that everyone who reads this takes the time to think of those they love -- not just their sweethearts --on this Valentine's Day.

Happy Valentine's Day!

It's Official!

2010-02-08T08:59:00.003-06:00

The Saints won the Super Bowl

and...

Hell froze over!

Introducing Shauna

2010-02-03T08:16:00.004-06:00

This past month has been very exciting for us. At the beginning of our adoption journey, all of the families who had April login dates joined a support group called the April Flying Tigers. During the past four years, the waiting moms and dads in this group have gotten to know one another by chatting, participating in cybershowers and quilt square exchanges.

FINALLY, this week, some of the waiting families in this group received their referrals. This has been a HUGE morale booster for me, as it finally feels like we are "getting there". On Monday, my sweet friend Fliss saw her baby girl's face for the first time...and she is beautiful!

Many people have expressed doubts about our decision to adopt from China. Some have said that they do not understand why we would be willing to wait over four years for a referral. Here's why:

Fliss and Mike should be traveling to China just over a month from now. I will be following their journey by checking their blog every day (well, ok...several times every day). If you would like to do the same, you can click on the following link:

Fliss and Mike's Journey to Shauna

Just Like Mama Used to Make!!!

2010-01-10T15:40:00.010-06:00

Today, after months of requests from my nephew Lane, I made my first attempt, ever, to make spaetzle (homemade German noodles). I made the dough and Eddie pressed them into boiling water using a noodle press my mom brought me from Germany years ago.

The noodles came out perfectly!!! We ate them with roast beef and gravy. I don't believe we have enjoyed a meal this much in a long time. I have included the recipe in this post.

Spaetzle Dough

4 large eggs

2 c. all-purpose flour

1/4 c. water

Attach dough hook to mixer. In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients. Stir with dough hook until thoroughly combined. The dough should be firm but sticky. You can add additional flour or water depending on the texture of the dough.

Spoon dough into spaetzle press and extract into boiling, salted water in a large stock pot. Soak press in water between pressings to keep holes in press from clogging with dried dough. This recipe makes 2 pressings of noodles. We doubled the recipe for 6 people and had about 2 servings left over.

Spaetzle presses can be purchased online. You can purchase one like mine here:

German Deli

Game Nights Will Never Be The Same

2010-01-09T12:24:00.007-06:00

As most of you know, Mississippi is having one of the coldest winters in recent history. As a result, our family is finding more and more things to do INSIDE. Eddie and Johnny taught Alyiah to play UNO. When I saw how much fun they had, I bought UNO Attack!, a faster-paced, more interesting version of the game for Eddie and Johnny.

The newest member of our family, Tinkerbell, decided she wanted to play, too. She kept jumping up onto the table and attacking cards as they flew out of the dispenser. After we put her on the floor and banished her from the game, she found the UNO box and decided to have her own fun.

Rest in Peace Kathy

2009-12-20T09:54:00.003-06:00

I had the privilege of serving as Mississippi's Teacher of the Year in 2004. During my year of service, I had many opportunities to meet and network with TOYs from all of the other U.S. States and territories. One of those people was an elementary teacher from Ohio named Kathy Rank. Cathy was a beautiful person, full of life, and tremendously devoted to improving the lives of her young students.

I learned this morning that Kathy recently lost a long battle with breast cancer. At the time I met her she was in remission and enjoying her life to the fullest. Please pray for her family and for the children of Ohio; as they have lost a true champion.

MARCH IS DONE!!!

2009-12-02T08:21:00.003-06:00

All of the families logged in through the end of March, 2006, have been matched with their babies. With a login date of April 25th, we should be hearing something about our daughter or daughters before too long.

November 25, 2009 was our 43rd anniversary. We have been waiting to meet our baby girl or girls for 43 MONTHS. The wait has been difficult and painful at times. We are excited to finally hear that the CCAA will next match babies with early April families we have come to know during the course of our wait. It is exciting to know that, next month, familiar families will be posting referral announcements.

Please continue to pray for our family and for the babies waiting to meet their new families.

Happy Birthday, Eddie!

2009-10-22T17:41:00.003-05:00

Hope the next year is he best one EVER! We love you very much!

Christie and Johnny

Don't Forget!!!

2009-10-07T08:36:00.003-05:00

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Aside from skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in women. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), an estimated 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed among women in the United States last year. Approximately 1,910 new cases are expected in men. The ACS also reports that an estimated 40,610 breast cancer deaths are expected in 2009 (40,170 women, 440 men).

The most effective weapon against breast cancer is early diagnosis and treatment. Do your part -- get tested!

A Must-Read for Every Parent, Educator and Education Stakeholder

2009-10-05T20:34:00.003-05:00

I am excited to announce the release of a book written by a friend and colleague, Dr. William Dodson. Dr. Dodson was the Superintendent of the Pearl Public School District on the day on which Luke Woodham entered Pearl High School and shot nine students -- two of whom died.

The book chronicles Dr. Dodson's quest for two things -- understanding ("Why did it happen?") and reconcilation ("What, if anything could I have done to prevent it?"). The book provides valuable insight into why such tragedies occur, what kinds of people commit them, and strategies that have been successfully employed to prevent them.

When Luke Woodham was tried for the two murders and seven aggravated assaults he committed on that fateful day, I was chosen to serve on the jury that ultimately sent him to prison for life. Chapter 13, "The Unlikely Juror" is my account of the ways in which the experience forever changed my life.

If you are an educator, an administrator, a member of a board of education, a school resource officer, a parent or any other stakeholder in any of our nation's schools, this book is a "must-read".

I have attached a link to the book's page on Amazon.com. If you would like more information about the book or wish to order a copy, simply click on the book jacket at the top of the post and you will be linked to its page on Amazon.

Walk With Me

2009-09-26T16:37:00.005-05:00

This afternoon it rained...again...and again...as it has done almost EVERY day this month. I believe that this is the most rain we've ever had during the month of September.

When the rain stopped, Eddie, Mama and I decided to sit on the front porch and enjoy the cool air. Eddie walked down to our satsuma tree to sample the fruit. Mom got up and walked out to him and I heard her say, "Walk with me."

For the first 100 feet or so she held onto his arm. He spent the rest of the walk trying to keep up with her.
I looked at this picture and laughed because I noticed that they were dressed very much alike. They finally made it back to the satsuma tree and they got to taste the fruit for the first time this season. Several satsumas were ripe enough to pick (and delicious!), but we have a couple of weeks of waiting before most of them are ready.

I have been so happy with the progress I've seen this weekend. She looked at me Friday night and said, "How was your day at school?" She called Eddie and Johnny by name (firsts since the fall) and has spoken to me with many, MANY complete sentences. We are beyond joyful over the progress she has made. Please continue to pray for her as she continues to recover.

Happy LID Anniversary to Us!

2009-09-25T11:13:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I had my first ladybug sighting in a long, long time. Shelly and I took Alyiah and Johnny to the New Yokel Market in downtown Hattiesburg after work. When we we returned to our car Johnny spotted a ladybug on the left rear passenger window. It was the BIGGEST, brightest ladybug I have ever seen.

I have been watching the Rumor Queen website to find out if there are any referral rumors floating around out there. At this point, it looks like families logged in through March 29, 2006 will be seeing their babies for the first time in the next week. This is good news!

March was HUGE month for the CCAA. An unusually high number of families logged in in March. Presumably these families logged in in great numbers due to the impending changes in China's adoption eligibility requirements. It is my understanding that fewer families have April login dates. Hopefully, this will mean that the CCAA will match April families more quickly than they did those logged in in March.

If this is true, we could POSSIBLY receive our referral before the end of 2009. If not, we will almost certainly receive our referral early in 2010. We have been waiting for our referral for 41 months TODAY!

We are going to apply for Johnny's passport next week. We have to begin our travel shots next month. Thanks to my ADD, it would probably be best if I started packing soon so I do not overlook anything important.

Please pray for safe travels for the families who will be going to meet their children soon and for those who are still waiting. Spending 41 months waiting on a child has been torture for Eddie and me. Most excited parents only have to wait for 9...

An Update on Mom

2009-09-25T10:47:00.000-05:00

It's been almost six weeks since mom's fall. She had a follow-up CT scan a couple of weeks ago and here's what we know so far:

Her doctor is pleased with her progress so far. Her physical strength is returning and she is able to walk without assistance (which is great progress).

She still has a hairline skull fracture, but the blood from the three hemorrhages in her brain has reabsorbed and is no longer an issue.

There is still an area of spinal fluid that has not been reabsorbed. We are monitoring it and watching her for any changes that indicate she could be regressing. So far, so good.

She fractured the temporal bone in her ear. This is common in falls among older people. The fracture will heal eventually, but, as a result, she is experiencing vertigo when she tries to stand upright from a bending or reclining position. As a result, we have to monitor her movements.

So far, the slowest healing and improvement has been with her speech and communication. She has good days and not-so-good days. She stayed with us last weekend and I noticed that she seemed to understand things much better than before. Communicating her wants/needs is still difficult.

We have been blessed with a wonderful sitter for mom. She visits with her each day from early in the morning until late afternoon. Mom seems to really enjoy her company and responds well to her. We are hoping that, even when mom improves to the point at which she is no longer on "fall alert" , Miss Rita will be able to stay and be a companion to mom. Mom has never liked to be alone and my brother and I both think that Rita's company will be a good thing for her.

I appreciate the concern everyone has expressed for my mom's well-being. We are celebrating her improvements but she still has a long way to go. Please continue to pray for our family in the coming months as mom continues her journey to recovery.

Why I Haven't Been Blogging...

2009-08-23T11:04:00.000-05:00

As many of you know, I had carpal tunnel release surgery on my right hand this summer. I have had a difficult recovery (compared to that following the surgery on my left hand in 2007), so I haven't spent as much time in Blogland as I did earlier in the year.

Last Saturday my mom fell in her home. She suffered a skull fracture and three hemorrhages around her brain. To say the least, our family has been on an emotional roller coaster for the past seven days. At first, we were told that she might require surgery (which was extremly risky at her age). We were then told that she would be admitted into the neuro unit for follow-up CT scans and observation for a few days in hopes that the bleeding would stop.

Day two's CT scan did not bring good news. One of the areas of bleeding had increased in size. This was definitely not the news we wanted to hear. Finally, on the third day after her fall, we received the news we had been praying for. The bleeding had finally stopped.

She has been greatly affected by her injuries. Her balance and coordination are significantly impaired. She has difficulty communicating her needs and wants and cannot walk without assistance. Prior to her fall she was very independent so this whole experience has been frustrating and confusing for her.

The doctor released her from the hospital yesterday afternoon. When we got to my house, she enjoyed her first cup of "good" coffee with Eddie and spent the day relaxing on the couch with her dachshund, Trinket. Last night, she slept in our bed with me because I was afraid to leave her alone. The doctor said another fall could be catastrophic and I was not going to risk it.

After FINALLY getting her to understand that I needed her to move to the MIDDLE of the bed, I was able to get a little bit of sleep in the bed next to her. Fortunately, she slept through the entire night without getting up. I think she was quite glad to be away from the hospital and enjoyed sleeping on a regular mattress for a change.

We have a follow-up appointment with her doctor in three weeks. She has to have an additional CT scan to make sure that fluid is not collecting at the site of the bleed on her brain. If it does, the doctor could have to drill a hole in her skull that will allow the fluid and pressure to be released. This procedure is far less risky than what we were facing earlier in the week, but it is something that we are hoping does not have to be done.

We have been amazed by the prayers that have been offered and the concerns that have been expressed by our friends and family. We would appreciate your continued prayers as mom's journey of healing continues.

First Nursery Photos!

2009-07-25T16:02:00.001-05:00

I have been working on the nursery off an on for the past several months. It has been so hard to get motivated to finish it because the wait has been so long and unpredictable.

The home we bought last year is very rustic. The interior walls are cypress and the fireplace is made of stone that was harvested in quarries in the Smokey Mountains. We decided to convert our sun porch into a nursery after considering all of our other available options. We have two bedrooms and a media room upstairs; but, we didn't want the baby's room to be on a different floor than ours. The sun room was our next best option.

Even though freshly-painted nursery walls with pastel feminine colors would have been nice, Eddie and I didn't have the heart to change the beautiful wooden walls in the sun room. We instead opted to preserve the natural feeling of the room and create a nursery that will be very natural and rustic.

We will be using a Jenny Lind crib that was given to me by my daddy's brother. His grandchildren used it and we were very happy to have a crib for our daughter that has a sense of history. The bedding we will be using is called "Ladybug Parade". Eddie bought it for me right after we submitted our dossier to China.

I have taken a few snapshots of what we have done so far. It is definitely a work in progress. I will post new pics as we progress.

Sentiments Plaques - A Christmas gift from Eddie

I have been collecting children's books for years. The books on this shelf are by some of my favorite authors (Laura Numeroff, Shel Silverstein, Eric Carle and Dr. Seuss). I have also managed to find the entire Dick and Jane series. When I was in the first grade, I learned to read using the Fun With Dick and Jane series. These books are enhanced reprints of originals. They are BEAUTIFUL!

These are a few of the nursery rhyme and pop-up books I have collected. Pop-up books have come a long way since I was a child. These are very intricate and detailed.

This is a photo of the curtains that line the entire back wall of the nursery. The rear wall is covered with windows and it overlooks our pond and pier. The curtains were hand-made in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. They are gorgeous! The votive holders are also hand-made and give off the most beautiful light at night when lit. We are debating whether to leave them up or to replace them with some Chinese lanterns we bought last year.

This is a hand-signed limited edition panda print by Mississippi artist Sandra Eisler. Sandra is the mother-in-law of my friend Margie. She is also the grandmother of two beautiful little girls from China. Eddie purchased this print for me as a part of a fund-raiser for Love Without Boundaries. He also purchased a beautiful tiger print (also by Sandra Eisler). I will post photos of it soon.

The Ruins of Windsor

2009-07-20T20:41:00.000-05:00

Our last stop on our day trip was at the Ruins of Windsor. They are located about ten miles southwest of Port Gibson, Mississippi.

Completed in 1861, Windsor Mansion was built on the 2,600-acre plantation owned by Smith Coffee Daniell, II, the son of a Native American fighter who later became a farmer and landowner. Daniell, who died at age 34, only lived for a couple of weeks after moving into his new home. The one-of-a-kind home featured over 26 rooms and contained rare indoor bathtubs that used water fed from tanks in the attic.

The home was used by both Union and Confederate troops during the Civil War; and, at one time, served as a hospital for injured soldiers. Following the war, Mark Twain stayed at the home often and often observed the Mississippi River from its rooftop observatory.

On February 17, 1890, a party guest left a cigar burning on the second floor balcony. According to the Daniell family, the fire started around 3:00 in the afternoon. They had gone into town to buy supplies for a dinner party to be held that evening. The fire burned the house from the top down and was impossible to extinguish. All that remained of the home were some of the Corinthian columns that surrounded the home.

The Ruins of Windsor are on the National Register of Historic Places and they have been featured in several major movies. They are truly an unbelievable and haunting site. In searching for them, we turned off of a pave road onto a small dirt driveway. After driving back into the woods approximately 1/8 of a mile, we suddenly found ourselves staring at a piece of history

We visited the site late in the day (around 4:40 p.m.). The sun was beginning set and the shadows it cast made the scene beautiful. I was so grateful to find that the photographs I took really captured the scene we enjoyed very well.

The View of the Ruins from the Parking Area

The live oak shading the columns on the left was enormous. Eddie and I discussed how that tree most likely witnessed the birth and burning of Windsor many years ago.

This photo provides a good view of the elaborate ironwork at the top of the columns.

My Niece Alyiah

Johnny is a history buff. He really enjoyed the visits to Vicksburg and Windsor Ruins.

Out of all the photos we took at Windsor Ruins, this one is my very favorite. Beautiful!

Vicksburg National Military Park

2009-07-20T17:46:00.000-05:00

This past Friday, Kenny, Mom, Lane, Taylor, Johnny, Alyiah, Eddie and I traveled to Vicksburg and Port Gibson for a mini-vacation. We visited the Vicksburg National Military Park and Cemetery and the Ruins of Windsor. The following photos were taken during our tour of the Park:

Johnny and Alyiah at the Visitors' Center Before Our Tour

One of the Many Monuments Inside the Park

The Missouri State Monument

The Illinois State Monument - The Largest in the Park

Johnny, Alyiah and Lane Aboard the U.S.S. Cairo

The U.S.S. Cairo, a Naval Gunboat the Sank in the Yazoo River

Eddie, Johnny and I In Front of the U.S.S. Cairo

Eddie, Johnny, Taylor, Alyiah, Mom, Kenny and Lane

Union Soldier Graves in the Park

17,000 soldiers are buried inside the park, 13,000 of whom are unidentified.

The short grave markers denote that an unknown soldier is buried there.

I Owe You HOW MUCH?!?

2009-07-20T17:17:00.000-05:00

Last Thursday, Eddie's dad Kenny came up to visit and to fulfill a promise to play Monopoly with Lane, Taylor and Johnny. The boys had heard stories about how vicious game nights would become when Eddie and I were dating and we would play games at Kenny's after church on Sunday nights.

Mom and I made a quick run to the grocery store for snacks and drinks and then the fun began. As you can see from the photos, it was a really special night.

"Pay up, Johnny!"

"Brutus and I will have a Diet Dr. Pepper and some chips, please!"

The Sweet Smell of Success!

When in doubt, read the rules!

"You can read that book all you want, I know I'm right!" (He was.)

Lane is 19!

2009-07-20T16:26:00.000-05:00

On July 14, my oldest nephew, Lane turned 19! Our family celebrated his birthday at Conestoga Steak House. It is SO hard to believe that he is already 19! Happy Birthday, Lane! WE LOVE YOU!

Alyiah and Lane about to dive into a cookie cake!

Help Bring Franceska Home!

2009-07-10T12:05:00.000-05:00

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.

Back Among the Living...

2009-07-09T13:48:00.000-05:00

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.

Happy Birthday To You!!!

2009-06-29T22:27:00.000-05:00

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's Surgery Update....

2009-06-25T00:08:00.000-05:00

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.

Love and blessings, Christie and Kristy

Franceskasjourneyhome.blogspot.com

Naptime

2009-06-23T09:23:00.001-05:00

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.

Happy Father's Day

2009-06-21T17:12:00.000-05:00

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.

Praying for Euna Lee and Laura Ling

2009-06-08T23:30:00.000-05:00

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.

Pray for Raegan and Her Family

2009-06-07T19:16:00.000-05:00

This past October, our friends Margie and John traveled to China for the second time to adopt a daughter. It was then that a beautiful little girl named Raegan became a member of their family.

Margie and John knew that Raegan would have some physical challenges to overcome after her adoption. They are on their way to Ohio where Raegan will undergo a series of medical procedures next week to correct her medical issues.

Please pray for traveling grace for their family. They have a long way to drive and will have to remain there for an extended period of time after Raegan's surgery. Please also join our family as we pray that the procedures will be successful and that Raegan will have a swift recovery.

Working on the Nursery

2009-06-07T19:03:00.001-05:00

I have been looking for a bookcase for the nursery for about a month. I wanted to find something that was a bit rustic (like the house), but feminine and attractive as well.

Today Eddie and I stopped at Office Depot to buy some ink for the printer. On a whim, I decided to take a tour of their furniture department. I FINALLY found just the right bookcase for the nursery. The bookcase is a part of the Christopher Lowell Collection. The collection also contains a beautiful armoire that is next on my list of things to buy.

I have been collecting children's books since I was in high school. I have children's books in Johnny's room, on the dining table on the sun porch, in the trunk of my jeep, in the carport, in the media room and in storage. Hopefully, this bookcase will hold most of them.

The work on the shop is progressing well. The slab is done, all four walls are up and the windows and doors will be hung tomorrow. Eddie, Harvey and Lane are nailing up lads even as I write this update. If the trusses arrive this week, I will be able to order the metal for the top and walls on Friday. I am really hoping that the shop will be finished before Johnny's birthday on the 26th. He has asked that we boil crawfish and my pots are on the carport behind all of the stuff that will be moved into the shop.

There have been no rumors about when the next batch of referrals will be sent. We are hoping that the CCAA will match in the next couple of weeks. If this happens, we are definitely on track for a fall referral.

Lane has WHEELS!

2009-06-02T21:17:00.000-05:00

My nephew, Lane, bought his first car today. He used money he received as graduation gifts to purchase a used Ford Explorer. The previous owner took VERY good care of it. The SUV has an Eddie Bauer upgrade package on it (leather, sunroof, digital code locks). Lane is a really good and careful driver. I am looking forward to having him drive ME around for a change very soon.

Lane was on his phone telling his Nanny about his new SUV! He was VERY proud of it!

Thumbs up! One of Lane's first photos of his new SUV. The quality is not the best because I used my iPhone, but I'm sure it did an adequate job of capturing his beaming face!

Grandma checking out Lane's new SUV. She was so proud of him and told him she's ready for a ride!

Going Up!

2009-06-02T21:05:00.001-05:00

We have finally started building our new shop! We had the foundation poured and finished several weeks ago, but an unusually rainy spring has created constant delays. If all goes according to schedule, the trusses should be here next week and the roof and siding should be here the next.

I am very excited about the shop because I will finally get my garage back. After a really bad theft at our other house, we had to move the contents of our shop in a hurry. Until the shop is finished, my garage will remain filled with tools, parts, furniture and equipment. The new shop will be 40 x 50 (2,000 square feet) with upstairs storage. I am especially excited about the shower and bathroom that Eddie and Johnny can use BEFORE them come into the house! We are also building a kitchen area with an outdoor deck that we can enjoy when Eddie takes a break from working.

Eddie and Harvey putting together the frame for the rear wall. The faceless spectators are the teenagers (imagine that!).

Johnny helps Eddie by holding 2x4's steady as they are nailed to the top rails. He actually had fun!

Our chocolate lab, Choco, enjoying the cool cement slab. He is VERY attached to Eddie. He has even tried to climb onto the tractor with him when he was clearing some of our land.

An Adoption Update

2009-05-25T12:24:00.001-05:00

This month adoptive families have been on edge because there was a significant delay in the issuance of referrals by the CCAA. The general consensus was that the swine flu was the cause of the delay. Some agencies sent notices to their clients that referrals could possibly be delayed until September.

Fortunately for us all, referrals were sent last week and the CCAA matched 6 login days this time. If this pace continues (and please pray that it will), we will receive our referral early this fall (possibly October) and travel approximately 5 weeks later. If the current rate or referrals continues, we will be home with our baby or babies in time for Christmas.

Please pray for all families waiting to see their children for the first time. The wait has been long, but we know that, in the end, it will be worth it. Sometimes when I feel like complaining, I think of a thought shared with me by a dear friend, Tina. She said, "Christie...think about it... it would just not be right for our children to have to wait longer than we do." She's right... and I have a great sense of peace about our wait.

For those of you reading this blog for the first time, this is such a big thing for our family. Some couples have to wait for a very long time before they are blessed with a child. By the time we bring ours home, we will have been waiting for 21 years. We apppreciate your well wishes and your prayers. Hopefully, we will soon be sharing referral news here!

Way to Go, Lane!!!

2009-05-25T12:07:00.000-05:00

My oldest nephew, Lane, graduated from Oak Grove High School Saturday morning. A consistently A-B student, Lane has worked hard this year to prepare for the start of college in the fall. We are SO VERY proud of you, Lane!!!

Lane and his VERY proud Grandma!

Alyiah and her Uncle Eddie

Congratulations Alyiah!

2009-05-15T10:26:00.000-05:00

Today is a BIG day for Alyiah. She is graduating from Kindergarten. She has been a student at Lamar Christian School for the past two years.

I have been amazed at the quality of instruction she has received over the past two years. She won an award for having the best CURSIVE handwriting! I teach middle and high school students who do not write as well as she does. She is an excellent reader and can draw beautifully. I already have an extensive collection of her "originals" that she has given me for my baby's room.

Alyiah, Uncle Eddie, Johnny and I are VERY proud of you! Congratulations!

For My Daughter

2009-05-11T10:12:00.000-05:00

I have friends who are very creative -- who can sew, paint, sing and lots of other things I cannot do well. For some reason, though, I have recently had a desire to create a hand-made gift for my new daughter. Several weeks ago, I decided to try crochet. As most of you who know me by now know, following directions is not my thing. I have severe ADD and my days are filled with non-sequitors and detours. Fortunately for me, I also have a touch of OCD -- mostly evidenced by a pressing need to finish whatever I start (when I'm doing something that interests me at the moment). Well, between You Tube's free "how to crochet" videos, my friend Natasha's instructions, large doses of caffeine, and my determination to finish SOMETHING, here it is:

I did use directions to make the rose. Fortunately for me, there were only 6 steps involved and they were very, VERY repetitive. I think I'm going to try something a little bit more challenging next time. I'll post pics if I have any luck.

Signs of a Baby in the House

2009-05-04T09:20:00.000-05:00

Last month, Eddie and I drove to my uncle Leslie's house in Wiggins to pick up a crib for our baby. As we have been blessed with some truly special and beautiful "big girl" furniture, we decided not to go into deep debt over the purchase of a crib. Uncle Les and Aunt Elizabeth gave us a Jenny Lind crib that had been used by their grandchildren for use in our nursery.

Yesterday, I began packing up the baby's things that we have stored in the extra bedroom upstairs. We will soon move everything to our sunroom (which we have decided to convert into our nursery). We also took a small (but ever so important) baby step yesterday when we actually put our ladybug bedding on the crib and began decorating the room for Gracie. As I stood there looking at the crib I had a very powerful "this is finally happening moment". With a huge lump in my throat and tears in my eyes I finally saw the bedding as something that our daughter will soon be using -- not just some linens Eddie bought for me almost three years ago that have been stored away because the realization of the wait had become too painful for us both. Although I will have to remove, wash and iron the bedding before we leave for China, for now we are admiring the special signs of a daughter who will join us soon.

I have decided to work on the nursery a little bit each day in hopes that the small steps forward will ease the pain of our remaining wait. My friend Shelly and I are going to do a very special mural that we hope to begin sometime after summer vacation begins. I will post photos of it as soon as it is done.

I have completed and printed a packing list for China. We have applied for Johnny's passport and we will soon start our vaccinations. Later this week I will provide our family doctor with a list of medical supplies (prescriptions, etc.) we will need before we leave. I have had many horrible dreams about leaving for China without critical items or documents. Given my severe ADD, I have decided to figure out which items to pack where, to start packing non-perishable items as we get them, and to check them off of a list I am going to keep on a clipboard on the top of our suitcases.

Finally, I am asking for prayers for my friend Shelly. She has the flu. She will know sometime today or tomorrow whether or not she has the swine flu. As a precaution, her doctor prescribed Tamiflu for me and I am seeing signs that I will probably need to start taking it today.

The End is in Sight!

2009-04-18T12:05:00.000-05:00

We had our last pre-adoption interview with our social worker Thursday. We had to have a home study update done so that we can renew our INS paperwork for the final time before we go to China.

Today, Eddie and I are going to get the crib. We have decided to convert our sunroom into a nursery and playroom. We have quite a bit of work to do, but I know we will enjoy every second of it. I will be taking some before and after photos and will post them as soon as I can.

Our House and Garden 2009

2009-03-22T18:31:00.001-05:00

CONGRATULATIONS KEN!

2009-03-19T14:35:00.000-05:00

This morning, my brother Ken, who has had a long and distinguished career in law enforcement, was promoted to the rank of sergeant with the Hattiesburg Police Department.

Congratulations on a job well done. We are so very proud of you!

Little Hands Are Sometime the Best Helpers!

2009-03-18T19:15:00.000-05:00

I have been promising Eddie and Johnny homemade bicuits and sausage gravy for a long time. Alyiah has been staying at my house with her Omie this week while she enjoys her spring break.

After I made biscuit dough, Alyiah volunteered to "make" the biscuits. She did a remarkably good job for her first time "in the dough". Johnny told me that my biscuits were "better than Ward's" (which is a pretty good compliment at our house.

A Quick Update

2009-03-15T09:27:00.001-05:00

This has been a very difficult week for my family. On Wednesday, my great-aunt Iva passed away. She was my grandmother's sister. She had been ill for quite some time, so her death (although hard for us) was not unexpected.

Yesterday morning, I awoke to discover that her younger brother James, the only surviving sibling of my paternal grandmother, had also died. We have, as a result of his death, lost an entire generation of our family in one week.

Two deaths in one week have left me physically and emotionally whipped. I had planned to seriously update my blog with pictures and other bells and whistles, but I just cannot do it right now.

This afternoon, before we go to Uncle James' wake, we will celebrate Alyiah's sixth birthday. Uncle Eddie and I bought her a gorgeous princess cake and a crown for her to wear. I will post pictures from the party as soon as possible.

Finally, as proof (yet again) that God has a sense of humor, I woke up with a horrible cold. I had to forego church, as I am sneezing constantly and the ear ache makes it difficult for me to hear anything.

For a bit of good news, many agencies are predicting a "speed up" in referrals starting in April. If these predictions are true, we will definitely have our baby or babies home in time for Christmas!!!

Please keep our family (immediate and extended) in your prayers during this very difficult time. I appreciate the e-mails and calls I have already received. Your prayers are, no doubt, being heard. Thank you all!

Inching Closer

2009-03-04T07:55:00.000-06:00

All families logged in with the CCAA through March 6, 2006 will see their babies for the first time this week. Our agency did not receive any referrals this month because they had no families with login dates between March 2 and March 6. As of today, there are only 10 login dates to go for Great Wall clients before we receive our referral!

Eddie and I have begun the process of updating our home study. Our original home study and addendum have expired; so we are having to do medical, financial and employment upates as well as another home visit by our social worker. This process if very time consuming and the fact that we are on our second home study, third round of immigration paperwork and third round of fingerprinting has been costly.

If all goes as expected, we will receive our referral before the end of this year. By that time, we will officially have been waiting to see our daughter or daughters for three and a half years. Please keep our family in your prayers as we near the end of this very long but rewarding journey.

This Just In...

2009-02-20T09:35:00.000-06:00

Our family photo from our first FCC Chinese New Year Celebration arrived in the mail yesterday. You would never guess, from the look on Landon's face, that he cried for the first 1/2 hour because it was his first time to be left alone with us without his mommy and daddy. As you can see, though, all's well that ends well!

Why I Haven't Been Blogging

2009-02-19T09:06:00.000-06:00

Every single day I faithfully check the blogs of my Chopstick Chicks friends and others who share their lives with enquiring minds in Cyberspace. I have done this, however, with much guilt about the fact that I have not been faithful in updating my own blog.

My mom spent a little over a week visiting with us recently, and I took advantage of every moment I was with her to spend some time talking, cooking and enjoying her company. I believe that the time I spend with her is precious. Not a day goes by that I do not think of my Daddy. I cannot even estimate the number of times I have said, "You know, if my Daddy was here..."

Valentine's Day Eddie and I attended a "movie night" at our church. We watched the movie Fireproof and enjoyed some fellowship time with friends afterward. I recently purchased a copy of The Love Dare, the daily devotional book that is the subject of the movie. I spent a good deal of my spare time trying shift my focus away from the adoption and onto my family. The adoption is still in the works. The CCAA has matched all couples logged in through March 2, 2006. As our login date is April 25, 2006, we expect to see a referral some time later this year.

Finally, on Sunday, a dear friend and former high school classmate died unexpectedly. For reasons that we are finally piecing together, she decided to take her own life. I have spent this past week working on an upcoming class reunion and reconnecting with classmates with whom I haven't spoken in years. Beth's death has reminded me not to take friendships for granted.

Lately, I have felt unfulfilled in several different ways related to friendships. Feelings of being left out, ignored and discounted have made me feel like withdrawing -- something that I know is not a good solution to the problem. The hardest thing in the world that someone can experience is to be among a group of friends while, at the same time, feeling alone. Beth's death has reminded me of how important it is to not only feel valued, but to make others feel the same way. I have made a personal commitment to do everything I can to treat others with the respect and dignity that they deserve.

Next week our school will be closed for the Mardi Gras holiday. I hope that the much-needed rest will allow me to catch on some housework, spend time with dear friends, begin work on my nursery, and to resume working on our adoption lifebooks. I also hope to take the time to post some photos that I should have shared a long time ago...

Congratulations Lane!

2009-02-01T13:10:00.000-06:00

Lane had his first powerlifting meet of the year yesterday at Hattiesburg High School. He did very well and advanced into the second round of competition!

Lane And His Proud Dad!

Landon was very proud of his big brother!

Ever See A Chinese Conga Line?

2009-02-01T12:55:00.000-06:00

This is about as close as you can get. In this picture, Paige, one of the FCC Chopstick Chicks, leads a group of children in a traditional Chinese Dragon Dance at our Chinese New Year Celebration on January 31.

My nephew, Landon, got off to a rough start after having to leave his mommy and daddy, but he soon loosened up and had a great time. He and Alyiah (in light blue in front of Landon) joined the other children at the celebration in a traditional Chinese Dragon Dance.

Our celebration included a silent auction for Love Without Boundaries. We were hoping to raise enough money to sponsor a year of foster care for a Chinese orphan named Lucy. We were all surprised and thrilled to know that we raised enough money to provide foster care for TWO children for one year!

He's the MAN!!!

2009-01-29T20:24:00.000-06:00

Eddie and I bought my nephew Landon a genuine silk "kung-fu" outfit from a Chinese importer. He is going to wear it to a local Chinese New Year celebration Saturday night. He LOVED it! Alyiah got one, too. Her outfit is baby blue with cherry blossoms. It's the same color as her eyes....beautiful! I will post photos from the party this weekend.

2009-01-23T10:04:00.000-06:00

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Chinese New Year officially begins MONDAY!!! Monday is the first day of the Year of the Ox! This is an exciting year for us because, in all likelihood, our daughter or daughters will be born in this year.

According to the Chinese Zodiac,

"People born in the Year of the Ox are patient, speak little, and inspire confidence in others. They tend, however, to be eccentric, and bigoted, and they anger easily. They have fierce tempers and although they speak little, when they do they are quite eloquent. Ox people are mentally and physically alert. Generally easy-going, they can be remarkably stubborn, and they hate to fail or be opposed."

It is going to be quite interesting to see just how our little ox babies' personalities develop. It sounds like they are going to be JUST like their daddy...(except for the part about them being bigoted). I remember Eddie's daddy once telling him "I swear, I hope you have a baby that is JUST as hard-headed as you!" We'll see! HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

Teach Your Children Well...

2009-01-20T14:12:00.000-06:00

This morning my students and I attended a school-wide assembly at which time we watched President Barack Obama take the Oath of Office and become our nation’s 44th President.

As I watched our outgoing President extend a hand of cooperation and fellowship, I listened as many of our students booed and made derogatory comments out loud. I sat in disbelief as most of the adults in the room laughed, agreed, or turned a blind eye to their disrespect.

As a teacher and administrator, I have come to realize that the children in our society are suffering from a lack of respect for others – peers, teachers, administrators, parents, strangers, and, sadly, our leaders. It has also become apparent to me that this lack of respect is fostered and modeled by adults who publicly defame and insult the leaders of our cities, states, and nation.

Please understand that I am not saying that Americans should be obligated to like or agree with anyone else – including the President of the United States. I do believe, however, that the leader of our country (regardless of who he or she is) deserves respect from its citizens.

President Obama recently said about former President Bush: “I mean, I think personally he is a good man who loves his family and loves his country. And I think he made the best decisions that he could at times under some very difficult circumstances.”

I cannot even begin to imagine the gravity of the responsibility of carrying an entire country’s burdens on my shoulders. During the past eight years, I have watched our nation united by the 9/11 terrorist attacks and determined to defeat a powerful (albeit mostly unseen) foe. I have seen military mistakes and shortcomings send MY fellow Americans home to their families in pieces. I have watched a storm wipe out a part of MY home state that can never be restored to the way it was before. I have watched greed and power devalue our currency, cost Americans their businesses, jobs, and homes; and send energy costs through the roof.

I have great hope for the next four years. I have closely followed President Obama’s ascension to power during the last several months and have observed some things that impress me greatly:

1. He is, unquestionably, an intelligent man.
2. His choices of appointments reflect his commitment to surround himself with people who are experienced, capable advisors.
3. He has a passionate love for his family – especially his daughters. As a result, one of his greatest contributions to our country will, hopefully, be that he will serve as a role model for young men around our country who have not had the privilege of growing up in a home with a devoted father.
4. Finally, and most importantly, I have observed in him behaviors that lead me to believe that he shares my belief that respect for others in an element critical to the survival of a civilized society. To President Bush, he was a fierce political adversary. That was to be expected, as he was on a mission to become the leader of our country. To his credit, however, when the votes had been cast and he had been declared our President-Elect, he took the gloves off and spoke of our nation’s leaders with respect and reverence. God bless him for that.

For our new President and his family, we pray for wisdom, courage, compassion, devotion, strength and success. It is our sincere prayer that God’s hand will lift him up and guide his every decision.

Happy Mardi Gras!

2009-01-07T19:09:00.000-06:00

Our Mardi Gras season officially began yesterday, December 6 (otherwise known as Twelfth Night). On this day, the first celebrations of the season are held to commemorate the magi's visit to Jesus following his birth in Bethlehem. The official parade season begins about three weeks prior to Fat Tuesday (or Mardi Gras). Mardi Gras is the final "bash" leading up to Lent -- a period of fasting and abstinence that with the celebration of Easter. This year, Mardi Gras will be celebrated on February 24.

Today, many of our local bakeries began selling king cakes, the "official" dessert of Mardi Gras. These cakes can be ordered with a variety of fillings and contain a small plastic baby. Mardi Gras tradition dictates that whoever finds the baby has to buy the next cake and host the next party. Our family is looking forward to sharing our first king cake this weekend!

Happy Birthday Mama!

2008-12-30T22:14:00.001-06:00

Today we took my mom out to celebrate her 82nd birthday. Cathy, David, the kids, Eddie, Johnny and I all took her to one of her favorite local restaurants and we enjoyed Mexican food and a gorgeous (and delicious) cake from C'est La Vie. We left home in a hurry, so I forgot to bring the camera :(

Why I Celebrate Christmas

2008-12-24T20:48:00.000-06:00

Luke, Chapter 2 (King James Version)

1. And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

This Christmas...

2008-12-21T21:07:00.000-06:00

I wanted to share this video about a woman from my home town who is dying of ovarian cancer. Her husband, Tony, used to race stock cars with Eddie. I have watched this video over and over and it is a poignant picture of the thoughts of a woman who knows her time on this Earth is nearing an end. Please pray for Angie, Tony, their children, and their extended families as they face what will likely be their last Christmas together.

Don't forget to disable my playlist at the bottom of the page before watching the video.

Congratulations Ken!!!

2008-12-16T17:34:00.000-06:00

My brother Ken called me today to tell me that he has been promoted to Sergeant! Ken has been working in law enforcement since 1997. He has had an honorable and distinguished career and NOBODY deserves it more! I am SO proud of you and love you! Congratulations!

Visitors!

2008-12-16T17:16:00.000-06:00

This evening, as I parked my Jeep in our driveway, I looked out and noticed something swimming across our pond. At first glance I thought it was a gator. I walked down the hill and out onto the pier and quickly realized that it was a beaver!

I stood on the pier for a long time, and before I knew it, I saw three adult beavers swimming just a few yards away from me. The largest one did not appear to be afraid of me and even swam close enough to the pier to allow me to snap a quick photo.

Eddie and I are quickly realizing that we are not the only residents of our little slice of heaven out in the country... we now know we have beavers. We have rabbits (as evidenced by the "Cocoa Puffs" they have been leaving in our orchard), raccoons, possums and deer. The Daniels Family Zoo might be a good option for retirement income.

Just Beautiful!

2008-12-14T11:34:00.000-06:00

Last night, Eddie, Johnny and I toured Hattiesburg's Historical District with our friends, Chris and Kristine. Each year, the homes in that area place luminaries on their sidewalks and driveways. A few offer tours, and carriage rides are available. The tour can be driven or walked.

Tonight is the last night for the tour. If anyone lives within about an hour's drive from Hattiesburg, it would be totally worth your time to check it out.

Congratulations Chris and Kristine!

2008-12-13T13:35:00.001-06:00

Our friends Chris and Kristine graduated from The University of Southern Mississippi yesterday. This wonderful couple are educators. Chris received his Master's degree and teaches math at a local middle school. Kristine received her Bachelor's degree and is dually certified in special education and elementary education. She will begin her first full-time teaching job in January.

Eddie, Johnny and I send out best wishes for the both of you!

Some Snow Day Pictures

2008-12-11T15:43:00.000-06:00

These photos were taken at our home earlier today. We got about two inches of snow and are still getting some icy drizzle in the middle of the afternoon. The snow was beautiful and Eddie, Alyiah and Johnny had to have a snowball fight. Eddie learned the hard way that little people have naturally low blows. He was the most miserably cold of us all by the time she was done!

The pier in our back yard.

Snowball fight!

I think he let her win...

She wanted a "clean" snowman.

Eddie had cut firewood for this winter. The snow interrupted his work.

Johnny and Alyiah in our garden.

The amazing thing about this snow is that it is the second time it has snowed here in Mississippi in this year. On January 19, we had snow, but no snow day (it was Saturday). Each year we wish for a white Christmas... maybe some day?

This morning I woke up...

2008-12-11T07:54:00.000-06:00

and it was SNOWING! As you all know, teachers love snow days as much (if not more) than their students. Last night, the National Weather Service predicted between two and five inches of snowfall here in South Mississippi. We were all pretty skeptical, because we have been disappointed SO many times before when snow predictions were made.

Surprisingly, the ground at our home is covered with beautiful white powder and it is still falling heavily. Johnny and I ran outside in our pajamas (I'll spare you all the pictures) to catch snowflakes on our tongues. Brutus wasn't impressed. I didn't know that dogs could pee and run at the same time but, as you all know, he's not like any other dog...

Pictures to follow.....I promise!

Our Family Tree is Growing!

2008-12-11T07:15:00.001-06:00

This Thanksgiving was such a time for blessings! Eddie and I both had time off for much needed rest. Mom stayed with us for nine days and the two of us spent a good deal of that time cooking and preparing for the holiday. I finished most of my Christmas shopping early, so I took advantage of the extra time I had for wrapping presents and rest.

Eddie's brother Rick and his fiance Sanja were married on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. In one fell swoop, Rick was transformed from a bachelor into a husband and stepdad. As you can see, they are a beautiful family.

This year, I felt a great sense of peace at Thanksgiving. I am confident that this one will be the last one without our daughter or daughters. During a discussion about the adoption, Eddie's dad, Kenny, told us that he had decided to travel to China with us. We are very excited about the fact that he will be there to witness our Gotcha Day!

Girl Time

2008-11-22T10:57:00.001-06:00

Several days a week I pick my niece Alyiah up after school. We usually come home and hang out on the couch watching tv until her mom gets off work. This past Wednesday we decided to decorate some gingerbread cookies for Thanksgiving.

Manipulating an icing bag is difficult for some adults, but she has a remarkable gift for decorating with a piping bag. I don't think the Food Network will be calling her for a challenge anytime soon, but I think she could hold her own against any five-year-old in the country.

I snapped the following pictures so we could remember the day. NEXT Thanksgiving, we will be decorating cookies for our new daughter or daughters.

Finally!

2008-11-22T10:45:00.001-06:00

I haven't posted in quite a while, and for that I apologize. Eddie and I were so fortunate to have sold our home after having it on the market for just a little over a month. We prayed for a quick sale so that we could set aside enough money to pay for the adoption. A nice couple purchased it as their first home (as did we 20 years ago) and offered us the full appraised value. We closed a couple of weeks ago.

After we finished the closing, Eddie and I drove out to Mom's to take her some satsumas that were picked in our orchard. From the moment of closing I had felt a GREAT sense of peace and relief. As we were leaving Mom's house, I looked eastward (toward our old home) and saw a rainbow. I'm not certain how it occurred, as we had had not one drop of rain on that day. I truly believe it was God's thank-you to us for trusting in Him that everything would be ok with the sale of the home and the adoption.

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T09:09:00.001-05:00

I just wanted to take a minute to wish everyone a Happy Halloween! Actually, we have been celebrating all week. The church we have been visiting near our new home had a fall festival Wednesday night and Johnny and Alyiah had a blast! We took some photos, and as soon as I can get them uploaded, I will post some here. We have been blessed with some spectacular weather here in South Mississippi. The early mornings and evenings are cool and crisp and the skies are clear. Tonight, my friend Jackie and I are taking the kids trick-or-treating early so the grown-ups can enjoy a dinner at a local restaurant later.

This coming week is going to be hectic. Eddie and I sold our home in Petal and we have a closing scheduled for Thursday. Barring any unforseen problems between now and then, we will be blessed with money to cover almost all costs related to our upcoming adoption. We will also be able to build a shop at our new home so Eddie will have an excuse to buy a new race car. I have already found the perfect onesie online that says "My dad is faster than your dad!"

Calling All (Not-So-Good) Cooks!

2008-10-27T14:36:00.000-05:00

Our local newspaper, the Hattiesburg American's newest website, hattiesburg.momslikeme.com, has announced an exciting new contest! Details can be found here:

Please note that the registration deadline is October 29th!!!

I Love You On Your Birthday Because...

2008-10-22T11:30:00.000-05:00

Today is my husband Eddie's birthday. Johnny and I are surprising him tonight with dinner and a homemade birthday cake. For now, I want him to know that:

I love you on your birthday (and every day) because...

you have a kind and giving heart;

you have opened up your heart and your home to children in need;

and you have loved them as if they were your own.

I love the way that, no matter how tired you are at the end of the day,

you always have time to spend time with me,

play a video game with Johnny,

or sit on the pier and fish with Alyiah until she gets tired.

I love you each and every day because...

you are always my calm during the storm;

you always try to treat your family and friends with respect; and

you work tirelessly to provide for your family.

I love you each and every day because...

you appreciate the blessings we enjoy...like

Johnny, our new home, our daughter waiting in China...

and careers that have blessed our family.

You are a wonderful husband and father...

I am honored to know you and divinely blessed to call you

my husband.

Happy Birthday. I love you.

2008-10-01T20:12:00.000-05:00

Remember...

As most of you are aware, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is dedicated to increasing awareness of the importance of early breast cancer detection. It is always, but especially now that women are encouraged to take control of their own breast health and participate in regular breast cancer screenings including self-examinations and mammograms.

Please show your support for this important initiative by proudly displaying pink ribbons on your blogs!

A Long Overdue (Public) Thank-You

2008-09-25T12:42:00.000-05:00

Several months ago a dear friend and fellow adoptive mom, Tina, gave me a beautiful gift. Tina and her husband Stan have adopted three beautiful children from China. In addition to being a spectacular mother and wonderful friend, Tina is an artist. She is an accomplished wire wrapper and jewelry designer. Wire wrapping is an intricate and time-consuming way of shaping metal around stones to make beautiful, one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces.

A couple of years ago, I ordered several loose stones from a wholesaler. One of the stones I received weighed approximately 10 carats. I asked Tina if she could design a unique mounting for it and this was the result.

Tina embellished the necklace with pearls from China and small green glass beads. The result is a spectacularly beautiful work of art that I will treasure forever. I wear the necklace often, and each time I do I am reminded not only of the fact that it represents the beautiful birth country of our future daughter, but the fact that friends like Tina are a rare and precious find. Thank you, Tina!

I'm a Hub Mom!

2008-09-25T10:35:00.000-05:00

Our local newspaper, the Hattiesburg American, has selected four Pine Belt moms to serve as moderators and representatives for their new website, www.hubmoms.com. This new website will be a place at which moms and moms-to-be from any- and everywhere can meet to laugh, cry, vent, learn, share, ask questions and celebrate together.

I have been selected to moderate two forums and to share my thoughts on the subjects of education, discipline, home schooling, adoption, foster parenting, and other related topics.

Although the site is hosted by the Hattiesburg newspaper, anyone interested in sharing information with other moms is welcome and encouraged to join. One of the features of this site that will be implemented soon are weekly chats about topics that are of particular interest to women.

The Hattiesburg American's site is a part of the www.momslikeme.com network. This site provides visitors with the opportunity to visit Moms sites around the United States. This is particularly valuable to parents who travel often and would like tips on kid-friendly activities in other parts of the country.

The Hattiesburg American will be printing an extensive article about the new site on October 4. I will be creating several different discussion groups relating to the subjects I will be responsible for moderating. I hope all of my blogfriends will take the time to join this site and contribute!

Miss Shelly is SO COOL!

2008-09-25T09:42:00.000-05:00

My best friend Shelly and her husband Harvey recently moved back HOME to Hattiesburg! Shelly and I have been honing our domestic skills in preparation for the arrival of our new daughter or daughters from China. We have been making hair bows and are going to get started on some clothes in the next few weeks.

Yesterday, Shelly and I picked up Alyiah after school and took her back to my house for some "girl time". Shelly brought her beading supplies and helped Alyiah make a beautiful necklace to match a bracelet that she had made for her earlier.

I cooked supper for the whole crew while they worked on the necklace. When I noticed how hard Alyiah was working, I decided to snap a few pictures for the blog. Enjoy!

I Found My Camera!

2008-09-25T09:30:00.000-05:00

I have had very few pics to post lately because I had misplaced my digital camera. I was relying on my iPhone for picture-taking, and the quality is usually not sufficient for blog posting.

I took these photos on the first day of school for Johnny and Alyiah. It was such a big day for him!

I remember the first day of school when I was a child. New clothes, new shoes and a fresh box of new crayons made me feel richer than Donald Trump. I believe that even now, blindfolded, I could identify a bottle of Elmer's paste by the smell alone. I am so excited that Johnny is enjoying a "real" school experience for the first time in his life. Now...if I could only get him out of bed in the mornings the FIRST time I called for him...

A Few New Pics

2008-09-22T08:22:00.001-05:00

Our dog, Brutus, is a miniature feist. After spending eight years with him, I now know where the word "FEISTy" originated. On most days, he has the personality of a bent can of crap. Surprisingly, whenever Alyiah is around, he is, well, almost...normal. He absolutely adores her.

The other day she came home with me after school and decided to take a nap. As you can see, her bodyguard is never far away from her.

Later in the day, Eddie, Johnny and I went to Alyiah's house for supper. After her nap, she was full of energy. Cathy had bought supplies for making caramel apples and Alyiah just HAD to have one.

Reasons (Not Excuses)

2008-09-20T16:14:00.000-05:00

I want to apologize to friends and family who follow our adoption story for not keeping my blog up-to-date. It seems that so much has happened in our lives since the beginning of summer.

The end of summer arrived way too soon for me this year. I started the school year not rested, but exhausted. In trying to determine why I was (or am) mentally and physically exhausted, I was able to identify several reasons:

First (and foremost), this has been an extremely emotional summer for us. Since May, we have had to attend MANY funerals. First, a colleague of Eddie’s died unexpectedly at the beginning of May. Terry’s death was almost immediately followed by the death of Mr. Elbert, a close friend of our family. Shortly after Elbert’s death, Eddie’s beloved Grandmother Lois died of lymphoma. After Eddie’s grandmother’s death, our friend Dennis’ father died of cancer. Just about the time we started to see some daylight, Our dear friend Harvey’s mother passed away. Near the end of our summer break, my mom’s dearest friend Mrs. Lee died following a long battle with cancer.

In late July, we had to have our cat Miss Priss put to sleep. She has been battling mammary cancer for months. Her condition worsened and Eddie and I decided it was finally time to let her go. It was not an easy thing to do. She was 14 years old and had lived with us since she was only 6 weeks old.

After such an emotionally draining summer, I actually looked forward to the start of school. I was hoping that a new school year would shake us out of our sadness and give us renewed energy. Unfortunately, right after school began, our dear friend Rev. George Sawyer died as a result of complications caused by diabetes. Rev. Sawyer blessed our new home back in May and was looking forward to baptizing our daughter or daughters when we returned from China. My heart breaks each time I think about the fact that he will not be there for that special occasion.

I spent the last two weeks of July on pins and needles as my family prayed for my mom to recover from a still-unknown bacterial infection. The illness left her dehydrated, weak, and suffering from dementia. She is much better now, but the whole experience left our family emotionally drained.

As many of you know, we moved to Oak Grove in May. Our house in Petal has been on the market since the first of August. Some time during the second week of August, someone broke into our garage and stole much of Eddie’s professional racing equipment and many of his tools. To date, the damage is over $25,000. We are currently working with our local law enforcement and our insurance company to resolve our losses. Being a victim of crime (in spite of the fact it was not a crime of violence) is heartbreaking and traumatic. We are still trying to cope with our feelings of hurt and helplessness that accompany events of this nature.

Our family is weary but not broken. We know that the Lord will deliver us from the hard times that have befallen us during the past five months. We know that there are still blessings all around us. Please keep us in your prayers as we look forward to the rest of 2008 and 2009. We have great hope that we will soon see the face or faces of our new daughter or daughters. Our anticipation for our trip to China grows with each passing day.

In the words of our late friend Rev. Sawyer, “Lord we trust that all of our needs will be taken care of by You. We know that You have the strength, the wisdom, and the power, and the ability to do anything but fail.”

An Update...

2008-08-01T13:22:00.000-05:00

I aplogize for the profound lack of posts to my blog lately. My mom has been seriously ill for the past three-and-a-half weeks. Home care and round-the-clock hospital duty has consumed some of my time and trying to make the best of the last week of summer vacation has made up the rest.

Mom is doing better, but still has a long way to go. A short-notice colonoscopy this past Saturday yielded good news. We still, however, have not identified the source of her illness. Please pray with us that her recovery continues and that each day is better than the previous one.

We FINALLY put our old house on the market. We have a wonderful realtor and the listing hit the Internet today. We are hoping that it sells quickly so we can build Eddie's new shop and begin enjoying our new home together.

Today is "Back to Work Day" for teachers in South Mississippi. I have prayed for patience and compassion with and for my students. I have also vowed to make this year a "Positive Only" year with regard to my fellow faculty and staff. Now...only 192 work days until Summer Vacation!!!

Happy Birthday, Lane!

2008-07-15T23:07:00.001-05:00

My nephew Lane celebrated his 18th birthday yesterday! I am amazed when I think about how quickly time has flown by.

Our family celebrated his birthday on Saturday with a trip to Ft. Morgan, a beautiful beach community near Gulf Shores, Alabama. Eddie and Johnny went deep sea fishing and had a blast! Both groups of fishermen (and women -- Cathy and Alyiah) caught their limit of Red Snapper. Lane caught a Cobia (Lemonfish) and Johnny caught a Triggerfish.

As you can see from the following photos, it was a wonderful day!

Lane and the Cobia he caught!

The Morning Crew!

The Afternoon Crew!

Eddie and Johnny

Alyiah

I took this one while I was waiting for the fishermen to return!

Eddie has been so focused on finishing up the work on our old house so we can put it on the market that I had to DRAG him away for a day of fishing. I am SO glad we went because he had a wonderful time. He said we would definitely plan a fishing trip for this fall and, last night, I caught him looking at boats on E-Bay!

Thank You, Kristy!

2008-07-15T22:35:00.000-05:00

My friend Kristy has given me a blogger award! Thank you so much, Kristy!

Literally translated, the Arte Y Pico means "The Peak of Art". Recipients are expected to follow the following directions:

1.) You must post these rules.

2.) You must name 5 blogs worthy of this award based on creativity, design, interesting content, and contribution to the blogging community.

3.) You must list the name of each blog and link to it.

4.) You must link back to the presenter of your award.

5.) You must link back to the original presenter so that readers may know the origin of the award.

I happily forward this award to the following individuals whose blogs I read each and every day:

1.) Margie, whose adoption journeys provide continued hope that mine will come soon;

2.) Rony, who NEVER fails to leave me laughing (and crying) as she shares her life with twins adopted from China;

3.) Kathryn, who I look forward to meeting on the other side of the world;

4.) Mimi, whose never-ending quest for peace inspires millions of people around the world; and

5.) Jill, whose journey to Macie proved that love, prayer, faith and persistence can guide you through a difficult adoption transition.

A Busy Hiatus

2008-07-02T17:06:00.000-05:00

I have been a bad blogger lately. I just noticed that my last post was almost three weeks ago. Moving has been insanely busy. We have FINALLY gotten everything out of the old house and are working on a few last improvements before listing it. Everyone cross your fingers in hopes that it sells quickly and we do not have to turn it into rental property.

I finally felt like I had made progress at the new house...that was until the last load of stuff from the old house arrived today offering a whole new pile of boxes to unload. I am amazed by the amount of crap we managed to cram into that little house in Petal.

For now, I'll post some update nuggets until I have time to REALLY update my blog.

We celebrated Johnny's birthday on Monday, June 23rd. His actual birthday was on the 26th, but we wanted his uncles and aunts from Picayune to come and we had to work around their schedules. We had a really nice time. Eddie grilled some awesome steak burgers and we had cake and homemade ice cream. I'll post pictures soon!

Prior to the party, I went to a State Pupil Transportation Conference with Eddie. He wanted me to go so I could watch him drive in a school bus rodeo. Ever the loyal wife, I sat in a horribly hot parking lot for half a day to watch him navigate a school bus (or as Harvey used to say, "The Cheese Wagon" through an obstacle course. He did well, but did not win. I, however, was the proud winner of a tremendously painful sunburn.

My friend Herb lost his mom to a long illness on Monday. She attended several holiday gatherings at our shop and will be missed.

The adoption is still crawling along at a misguided snail's pace. The Rumor Queen reports that the CCAA has probably matched at least through January 25, 2006. If this is true they are still three months away from our April 25th LID. Please remember that three months in CCAA time can equal up to a year of NORMAL time. I'm not packing any time soon!

My sister-in-adoption angst, Kristy Rodriguez, honored me with a blog award. I have to follow reposting rules, so it's probably going to be this weekend before I can finish that project.

That's all for now. Until then, please continue to pray for our family as we finalize our move, market our old home, and wait for our adoption referral.