We are home!

Gracie and her cousin Matthew.

Having fun at Chuck E Cheese.

See...Spring really is coming. Now it just needs to move further north.

Playground fun outside in early Spring.

Ahhh...we are home. Back after a busy 5 days away visiting family in the state of Indiana. First we saw my sister Betsy and her family in Carmel. Grace had a great time with her 12 year old cousin Matthew, who is one of the sweetest boys I've ever come to know. Even with their 6 and a half year age difference they played and got along amazingly well. What did we do with the kids? Made a trip to Chuck E Cheese where the 2 of them had a blast. Also saw the movie, "Horton Hears a Who," which I highly recommend. I brought Grace's bicycle with us in the car, so Grace and Matthew rode their bikes a lot too. We were on Spring Break and Matthew wasn't, so one day Betsy, Grace and I had a major shopping adventure while Matthew was in school. Grace was quite patient with her Aunt Betsy and momma and it seems she is turning into quite the little shopper too. Let's just say that Grace really doesn't need anymore Spring or Summer clothes now...tee-hee. She needed clothes, as she's had a big growth spurt over the Winter in height. I love spending time with my sister. When Betsy and I get together we finish each other's sentences, laugh until we cry and could stay up all night talking. I am blessed to have a sister and 2 brothers, but there is something very special about a sister. Friday night Dan arrived and the 3 of us traveled an hour and a half away to see his mother, Grace's Grandma. Another very nice visit too. Spring is arriving in central Indiana and I loved it that Grace could play outside at a playground and burn up some energy. It was only in the mid to upper 50's outside, but it felt great to us after our "endless Winter" in the upper Midwest. We are home now, it sure is nice to be able to sleep in our own beds. Now back to the real world. :)

3 word Sunday

16 mos. and taking a little break

It's been 16 months since our dossier was received in China. If I remember correctly...it was just about 2 years ago that we definitely decided that we wanted to adopt again from China. We started some very preliminary paperwork as far as collecting some originals of birth certificates, etc. and then researched agencies again to adopt. We filled out an application in May of 2006. I remember being so excited because I knew the process and kind of what to expect...or so I thought. I mean I do know the process, but who would ever think what has transpired with China's program would have happened? How much longer will we wait for a referral? Right now my "gut feeling" is another 2 years. People don't ask me much anymore how long. That's okay with me, I don't get my feelings hurt about that part of it. Truly the only ones who understand the agony, the uncertainties, and the just plain old wanting to meet and hold your baby for the first time are us folks in this line. But we are getting there...slowly, but getting there. The wait IS worth it, I hope you all can see that by seeing Grace and how much joy she brings us. When we were in China, so many of the Chinese people would come up to us and say, "she is a lucky, lucky girl!" No....we are the lucky ones.

I'm taking a little break from the blog, we are going on a road trip. Miss Grace and I are traveling to Indy for a little while to visit my sister and her family. It will be good for us to have a change of scenery from the cold and grey of March in southern Wisconsin. We'll be back next week with some pics of our trip. Take care and see y'all soon....:)

2 new little girls in the house

Miss Grace with her "Samantha" doll.

"Grace" doll on the left and "Samantha" on the right. They're lying on the quilts that come with them.

2 new dolls have come to live with us, both beautifully handmade and purchased from Stephanie at Jiinkin Kids. http://www.jiinkinkids.com/

I believe I first found out about Stephanie's website in Nov. of 2007, fell in love with her art work and bought a print for Grace's room called the "ABC's of China's Provinces." I also bought some of her Christmas ornaments for gifts. Stephanie is a very talented artist and is also a waiting parent for a child from China. Anyway I recently found out that Stephanie now has handmade dolls. They are soft, fabric dolls with embroidered features. Everyone is different as far as fabrics and style of their dress, they also have some applique and embroidery on the clothing. I know from experience it is kind of difficult to find nice handmade dolls that look like our children from China. You can find some plastic dolls, some of them are quite nice but so far I haven't found any like these. I was taught to sew and embroider as a child, so I really appreciate the work that has gone into them. The dolls come with a matching embroidered quilt, adoption papers, and each one has a special blessing. I'll also say they arrive in this gorgeous mesh bag. Miss Grace is in love with hers, the one she picked out is named "Samantha" and we have another one named "Grace" that waits for Miss Grace's little sister Lily. Thank you Stephanie for having these dolls now, I know they will be well loved and have gone to a good home. :)

Some pics from Easter Sunday

Grace in her Easter dress.

Pretty tulips.

Gracie and Mommy.

Sitting with her Easter basket.

First bite of the chocolate rabbit, of course it was the ear.


First of all, let me tell you what time Miss Grace decided to get up this morning...5:00 am! I can tell you truthfully that she has never, ever attempted to get up that early even on a Christmas morning. I groggily asked her to get back to her room and please go back to sleep. Second time waking up and coming into our bedroom...5:45am, again back to her room. She wanted to see what the Easter bunny had brought her. Finally she was up for good at 7:00, which was fine. We had a busy morning and day. The Easter bunny had hidden eggs and left a few little gifts for her. Of course Miss Grace was quite delighted with her "treasure." We attended the early church service and then came home for dinner later on with Grace's Grandparents, Uncle and big brother Nick. We had a great day and hope your's was too. :)

Easter

May you have a blessed Easter and be renewed by the sacrifice that Jesus has paid for us.

Favorite Foto Friday--coloring eggs

All ready to start...she was so excited here.

Pretty colors.

Grace being very careful.

Some of the finished product. :)

Wednesday night Grace and I decorated eggs. She has been begging me for a week to do this. I set up everything for her and really she colored them all by herself, I just demonstrated the process to her once. Grace absolutely loves to cook, bake and help out with anything we are doing in the kitchen. I'll say she's a great little helper too. As you can see in the pics she even has her own little apron that she wears that was a gift from a friend.

Let's see...on Easter morning the Easter bunny will have arrived and Grace will get up (bright and early I'm sure) to find her Easter basket and eggs that have been hidden that the bunny has left. There will be no eggs hidden outside as it's snowing and very cold (again!) today. After the Easter basket and breakfast we will be going to church. My parents and brother will be coming over later for dinner with the 4 of us and we will spend the afternoon together. May you and yours have a very blessed and Happy Easter. :)