Taylors part of Christmas Show 2010

Dayspring Peformence

Loving the holidays!

Well our Christmas activities are starting to wind down. December has been really busy here. Plays, musical, piano recital, and church things have kept our family busy - not to mention the parties... After the holidays I swear I am going on a strict diet, protein maybe? It is hard to resist all those yummy treats sometimes. After Christmas we are visiting my family back in PA and hopefully going back to NJ for a night or two to see some awesome friends. I do like it out here in Illinois but I still am an East coast girl at heart, no pretty landscaping out here that is for sure - I probably miss that the most.

We are hoping our Letter of Approval comes in for Sun Fen this week or next. It has been such a LONG process. I keep telling myself all in God's timing but it is hard at times. Luckily the business of our live has helped us focus on other things but it is hard not to think of our 8 year old little girl alone over in China who needs a mom and dad. Next year will be so marvelous.

Last night we went caroling to some "shut ins" it was so awesome to see the kids not be afraid to go up to the elderly and sing to them - I hope to instill in my kids that it is not about I at Christmas but about what can "I" do to help others. I see so much selfishness and so many people lose the focus about what Christmas is about. What ever happen to doing just good will toward people without having something happen in return to you? Hope you have a great week friends...

Scott AFB HS Party 2010



Create your own free slideshow design

Some quick pictures...hoping for LOA this week...

Taylor and I went out to get some quick pictures for our Christmas cards today, let me tell you it was COLD! I am so hoping this week is our LOA (that is letter of approval) from China. We have had our daughter waiting for a long time (over a year and a half) due to our home study agency. BUT they say everything happens for a reason that seems to be my motto in life. So we are down to the name Sonni, Summer, Autumn, Willow or Mia. Sun in China means "summer" so we were thinking Summer because of that, but who knows. We will also keep her name as her middle name and if she wants to be called Sun Fen we have no problem with that.

Life here in Illinois has been great. I still miss the East coast but I know this is just a phase of our life and God has blessed us with such great friends here. We only have 4 years left in the Air Force and I will enjoy it no matter where we are! (this is what I keep telling myself. My goal for the next year is to get back into blogging like I use to, now that Facebook is the thing it has taken me away from here for some reason.

Falling Into Fall...

Had the kiddos out for a little Fall photo shoot! I so love Fall, I wish it could stay fall longer. Not to much is new with our family. We have had some relatives visiting from out of state and that is always wonderful. Still waiting on or paperwork from China to go through, thinking it could be another month to receive our LOA. Just praying there is no mistakes with our home study. God is good and I am so thankful for all he has given us. Without him I don't know how I would have survived some of the things we have gone through in the last few years... and now I can look back and think how a tragedy has turned into such a blessing for our family.

The Best of Times... sister visiting

So glad my sister and family could make it in for a few days. Nothing like family visiting! My mother in law also was here for 5 days so the kids have had a lot of attention this past week! They get spoiled to say the least when grandma visits. I am going to try and get back into blogging but I have to admit I have been "Facebooking" a little more then I should...

We are out in the Midwest for over a year now, and we are settling in pretty nicely. Although I miss the scenery of the East coast we have made some great friends out here and have an awesome church family. St. Louis area has a lot to offer as well, so that helps! Homeschooling is going pretty well, I have to admit I am really enjoying it. I never thought in a million years we would go this route but for this season of our lives it is what is working for us. Taylor goes to a Fine Arts school on Wednesdays for enrichment classes - she just loves that.

I want to start journaling about this transition, adopting again and homeschooling... what a year it has been. God has been good!

Paperwork to China today... Thank God!

Thanking God today that we finally are DTC, that means our paperwork is flying over to China right now! It has only taken 3 times as long as the normal amount but thank goodness it is sent. What a relief off of my mind. I am praying our paperwork gets through and we will be traveling around March?

Now we are back to thinking about names. We are going to keep Sun Fen but are also adding an English name, so the fun begins: Mia, Mya, Kyley, Kinsley, Summer, Autumn, Sunny - any thoughts? More importantly then giving her a name we are just so excited to be on the next step of this journey and that is to bring her home. It should be interesting and I am sure challenging of what it will be like with two 8 year olds, but my daughter is so excited so I am praying it will go well. Sun Fen wrote that she "Dreams of coming across the ocean to meet her mom, dad, brother and sister" ... we sure can't wait either.

In the mean time I live by Jeremiah 29:11
'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, ' plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'

Busy Busy Busy ... favorite summer pictures

We had a busy summer visiting family in Michigan and PA. Great fun but tiring as well! Loved Lake Michigan this year it was actually hot when we were there for a change. It is always great to go back to PA as well. It was hard going back and leaving seeing my dad being sick with his illness and my grandparents health. My mom sure has a lot going on right now... keep her in your prayers for strength. She always handles everything with such grace. I am still working on my adoption paperwork, hope to be DTC by October. All I can say is my homestudy agency was not very good here... I will let that go at that.

Hope my friends had a great summer!

New Pictures of Sun Fen

We were lucky to get two new pictures of Sun Fen celebrating her birthday. We sent her that little dress and cake (through LADY BUGS N LOVE) Thanks Angela!

Summer craziness.. busy, busy

So much has been going on this summer I feel like my head is spinning at times. School ended and we took my kids to my mother in laws in Michigan for two weeks, went to Michigan for Memorial Day weekend, got Taylor ready for church camp and Aiden is in "Camp Cho Cho" this week for 3 hours a day... I thought summer is suppose to be relaxing? Doesn't seem to be that way when you are a military family and everyone wants you to come visit... plus I do like my kids to know their relatives, but it doesn't make summer relaxing. I miss going to the beach for vacation or Florida... we are going home... I think next year we will definitely make some changes... Plus we will have a new addition. I do think the holidays we will be relaxing a little more.

So my summer is just starting we are going to Michigan for 4th of July and then towards the end of the month I will be going back to the East coast to my families house... lots of miles and hours in the car. Thank goodness for DVD players in the car!

In the meantime, we also had 3 birthdays in May.... Taylor turned 8, Aiden turned 4 and Sun Fen turned 8... I was able to get some updated pictures of her on her birthday. It makes me sad that she still waits, my home study agency was not very fast 10 months to finish a home study, not good at all. It could be Christmas/January till we travel.