Saturday, February 27, 2010
30 hours, but who is counting?
Update: The "Gotcha" time for Sienna was moved back a few hours and will now be at 3:00 China time (which is 1 am Central time). Di hopes to send photos by about 6 a.m. Monday:) So check back!! Keep the prayers coming. Diana and family are so grateful for them.
Since it is 3:48am and Ainsley and I are wide awake, I thought I would share a few more pictures from our fun morning exploring the area around our hotel yesterday. We don't meet up with our guide and the four other families we are traveling with until "Gotcha Sienna" morning, so we are on this adventure solo until then. It really is amazing to be the minority in every way here. Unlike Beijing or Guangzhou where you will fine many people who speak English, this is a mandarin only speaking town. Smiling and head nods seem to go a long way. Honestly, it is hard not to enjoy the harmless attention if you let yourself! Just imagine the stares we will get when Sienna mixes it up!
So, it is Sunday morning (almost 4am now in China.) The rest of you are winding down your Saturday's and getting ready for dinner. Jeff is sleeping, Ainsley is playing a game, and I am catching up with all of you. On a side note, if you received an email from me, with a lovely advertisement for Viagra my apologies! Some hacker obviously got a hold of my address list. I have now changed my password and it will hopefully solve the issue. UGH!
Thank you for your specific prayers for our family. It is a very big day for Sienna tomorrow. She will be up early, and on her way for the three hour drive into the city with staff from the Hengshan Social Welfare Institute. How does a four year old begin to understand what is ahead for her? We are praying for God's peace beyond all understanding for Sienna Grace. That her heart will sense that we are here to love her and protect her forever... That in some ways she will not look back, but forward to the path that has been chosen for her. We will do our best to meet her where she is, and to love her through it all. I know many of you understand the enormity of it all, and the thoughts and prayers of this mother's heart!
I have been blessed with some mighty prayer warriors in my life. You have all taught me so much about trusting our Heavenly Father to be the one in control! I have chosen this verse to cling to:
"Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you." ~Hebrews 13:9
To me, this means, I will be there in that Civil Affairs office, I will be there in your hotel room, I will be there for Sienna Grace. So do not worry Mom! Thank you Lord for your comforting reminders and truth!
Blessings from China!
Diana
Friday, February 26, 2010
"Ni Hao" from Southern China
After 22 hours of "un-eventful" in the air flying, we made it safely to Changsha! We can't believe that just three hours from us, is our precious Spicy Girl! And, in just three days she is going to be in this room looking at her Provincial City outside our 19th floor window! We are so excited!
In the meantime, we are going to take in the end of of the Chinese New Year Celebration. The Lantern Festival is on Sunday. My camera will be ready!
From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for your prayers. It is so humbling to know that we are being lifted up all over the world!
Blessings,
Diana
P.S: Her Rubiness is doing fantastic at Camp H!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Sienna's Adoption Website!
Here is the address for our website for Sienna Grace! Your guest book messages will be such a gift of encouragement to us while we are in China, and for Sienna one day.
You can also check the blog for photos, prayer requests and updates. I hope to have something for Kim on Sunday night, February 28th. We are scheduled to meet our girl at 8:30pm Central time.
Thank you in advance for your support and prayers! We can't wait to share her with you!
Four more sleeps to wheels up, and eight more days to "Sienna Day!"
Have a great weekend!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Thankful Thursday!
It has been a while since I have posted on Thankful Thursday. It seems fitting today as we count down our days to Sienna Grace.... I am thankful for:- A little girl named Shaelee who is waiting for her best friend to come home...
- That one week from today we will be waiting in Guangzhou to catch our connection to Changsha, Hunan
- For the many friends who started praying for this journey with me long ago
- For women of faith that blow me away
- For family who have never questioned our choice to go back to China for #3
- For Kim who encouraged me from the very beginning
- For Denise who listened to God one Friday in September, 2008
- For Bridget who is just too far away right now...
- For Jen for sharing in the last minute milestones with me. And the cutest red shoes ever
- For Pearl River Outreach for blessing me and so many precious children
- For Sienna Grace's Foster Mother who is getting ready to let her go...
- For The Pearl who advocated for another sister from China and her willingness to go
- For the way that Ruby Mei has proven that it only takes faith as big as a mustard seed..
- For how God has stretched Jeff and me in many ways
- For a husband who loves me with all his heart
- For Camp H and their willingness to love on Ruby for 16 days
- For Katie who will be taking care of things at home for us
- For new friends that I will soon share this adoption story with in China
- For 2 very special women at Great Wall Adoption who believed it could happen
- For a little girl in Hengshan who soon will have a forever family
- For Jeff's willingness to travel this journey of the heart with me.... again!
My list could go on and one...
I plan to post one more time with our "My Adoption Website" address before we leave. Just know we are busy getting ready and very excited to meet our daughter & sister, Sienna Grace in ten days!!
Blessings,
Monday, February 15, 2010
The Cabin with the Girls!
While many of you were celebrating Valentine's Day or kicking off Chinese New Year with your sweethearts, I took our little sweethearts up north.
We had been planning a trip up to our cabin over the long weekend. Our last hurrah as a family of four. Unfortunately, Jeff came down with a bad case of Strep Throat on Thursday. I guess that is what happens when the Dad volunteers at the pre-school Valentine's party for me. Rumor has it he was even painting finger nails with the other Mom's! :)
By Sunday we were all a little stir crazy, and Jeff sent me off with the girls. So much for a romantic Valentine's dinner!!!
It is snowy and cold up here. But, so fun to see the girls just having fun outside together. We took a snow shoe walk on the lake this morning. Ruby did fantastic! It was her first experience walking on top of the snow! I was telling her that I remember going for a very long walk by myself the day before we got her referral back in March, 2007. I walked and prayed that we would finally know the child that God had chosen for us. Two weeks from today, I will finally have the newest child that has been chosen for our family. I can't wait!
Back to the city today, and the normal routine tomorrow! Nine more days until wheels up!
Friday, February 12, 2010
Happy Valentines Day!
We hope you all have a great Valentines Weekend!! And, for all of you celebrating Chinese New Year too,
Gung Hay Fat Choy!!!!
And before I forget, Happy Birthday Wesleigh Jane and Julie! And, Happy Anniversary Becky & Mark.
Valentines you will ever meet!!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Blessed...
When my parents asked me if I was ever going to update my blog yesterday, I thought I better check in! Believe it or not, my camera has been in it's bag so n0 new pictures of the girls to share. I was going to do a Sunday Snapshot on the Pearl, but we never got to that photo shoot!So, instead I will tell you what is going on, and a little about this beautiful necklace above...
First, CHINA UPDATE! In exactly 16 days we will be getting ready to head to the airport! We are flying from here to LAX and from there directly to Sienna's Province. The weary travelers will spend the weekend exploring and getting our clocks adjusted for Sienna Grace Day! Three weeks from today, that precious girl will be with us! Hopefully, you will be waking up to pictures of her about this time!
The packing has begun! Ainsley and I actually have Miss Sienna ready to go!!!! She has her own big suitcase with some very special girly things! I took my friend Jen's idea and put individual outfits into Ziplocks.. What an easy way to pack! Thanks Jen for convincing me that was the thing to do!
Jeff started going through the electronics, and Ainsley is almost ready. However, since she has grown like a weed, we will be doing a little shopping for The Pearl! We are so excited for warm weather in Southern China!!
Now for this necklace... It was sent to me by another adoptive Mom whom I have never met. Kim E. reached out via my blog for me to contact her. She explained that she was a fellow "MAW MOM" (My Adoption Websites) and that she wanted to send me something she had made for me... She has a new business, that when she is ready I will share the details of with you. Well, I received this beautiful gift on Friday. What a blessing to have something that represents the Pearl and my Rubies! I will be wearing this on Sienna Day! Thank you Kim!! I absolutely love it!
Speaking of Sienna Day, what am I going to wear?... Yes, I think about these things!
Lastly, Ruby and I were blessed on Thursday by my sister, Barbara or "Aunt Bop!" We were invited to listen to her speak at chapel at the college where she is The Dean. Her sermon focused on a Deuteronomy verse that challenges us to choose life. While this has many meanings, one including eternal life, Barb focused on choosing the path that God has for each of us. She used Ruby's enthusiasm for life, and Jeff's and my decision to go back to China for Sienna Grace as examples of "choosing life." To say I was touched was an under-statement. What a gift to have your big sister share what God is doing in her little sister's life. Thank you Barb... The service closed with Paster Sonja doing a blessing over our family, and with Ruby singing "Jesus Loves Me" into the microphone with the congregation. It was a beautiful morning.
I loved this prayer that was read, and I dedicate it to all of my Adoption Mom Friends this morning:
Prayer for the Care of Children:
Almighty God, with a mother's love and a father's care you have blessed us with the joy and responsibility of children. As we bring them up, give us gracious love, calm strength, and patient wisdom, that we may teach them to love whatever is just and true and good, following the example of Jesus Christ, or Savior.
Amen
Have a great week! Hoping to post a new pic of Sienna in the next few days!!
Blessings,
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
A Litte Pink and Red for her Suitcase...
So I have tried... I really have.. to be good and restrain from buying a new wardrobe for Sienna Grace... She is the same size as her new little sister after all... But, there are just some things a little girl deserves of her very own when she meets her new Mommy... Especially, when her favorite color is red.... And, Valentine's Day is upon us... I could not resist a little pink and red crocheted hat from Sweet Savannah Baby. And, then there is this beautiful blanket designed just for Sienna by Ann at Southern Sassy Pants. I absolutely love how it turned out! I can't wait to wrap it around Sienna Grace soon! Both of these items were purchased at their Etsy Stores! Quite honestly, I can't believe the quality and how great their prices are. If you are looking for some special gifts, I would definitely spend some time in their stores.
Soon I will be packing (and re-packing her suitcase!)
Blessings,
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