This is definately a work in progress

I am still trying to figure out how to manipulate this site. There are so many things I'd like to do but don't know how. I'll probably keep changing the format until we finally leave for China. I've added just a couple of my favorite links. Rumor Queen of course and Radio Free Florence which is my son's internet Christian Radio Station. Take a look around the site. Kids love it! The other two blog links are for two families which will probably travel the same time we will... as we all have January 2006 LIDs. RQ forum has had some talk today of the CCAA matching families through 2005 by May 1st. What a miracle that would be!!

I can't believe I'm finally doing this!

We have been on this amazing journey for what seems like an eternity! I've wanted to adopt a little girl from China ever since.... well let's just say a very long time. I've been fascinated with the country ever since I was a small girl. It wasn't until about four or so years ago that my husband, Rob, brought home a picture he received from a friend he had made at a Kairos weekend. The picture was of this guy's daughter - adopted from China - whose name is Bree and is absolutely ADORABLE! From the moment I saw her my heart exploded and that's when I knew deep down that I, too, one day would have a daughter like Bree. Not very long after this...the journey to Brielle started to unfold.

My brother and sister-in-law decided to adopt in 2004 and after much soul searching and exploring options, they decided to adopt from China. I couldn't believe it when they called to tell us the news!! I still remember that phone call like it was yesterday. We were actually going to have a beautiful little one from China in the family - and OHHHHHHHH how I wanted to do it too!! Of course, Rob was totally against us doing this. He thought I was crazy as we've already raised two children who are now adults. Why would I want to do such a thing!! Well... let me just say that I knew in my heart it would happen and prayed that God would work it out (sooner rather than later please!)

My brother, Cy, and Dawn traveled to China in March, 2005, to get Kali Mia. I practically held my breath until they came to visit us in April. I couldn't WAIT to get my hands on her. By the end of the visit, little Kali had worked her way into Uncle Rob's lap and then his heart! Only a couple of short months later God spoke to him through the book of James (care for the widows and the orphans). Of course he didn't share this with me right away - darn it - and then was channel surfing the radio one day while working and happened to hear an annoucement from an adoption agency. He called me on the phone and told me to call and register to attend........ I almost fell out of my chair. My fingers couldn't dial fast enough. This is a multi-country agency but it just so happened this meeting was dedicated only to adopting in China (which we did not realize until we got there!) Imagine that!? Well.. that was on a Saturday in June, 2005, and you guys know what happens next! A mad rush of appointments & paperwork & more paperwork & more appointments. Our dossier finally went to China on December 22nd of that year, and we have a LID of January 13, 2006. It's been hard for Cy and Dawn to see all this time pass for us as well, as they only had about a six month wait. But since their adoption everything almost came to an excruciating halt... down to a low of only 5 days of referrals in a month compared to referring one whole month at a time.

Over this past year, I've learned alot just from reading the blogs of other families going through the same process and waiting along side of us. There is such an awesome adoption community out there. I am so grateful for everyone who posts their referral pictures each month and for those who expose their thoughts and fears in addition to their encouragement and celebration. And I'm especially grateful for my beautiful niece, Kali, who is waiting for her cousin to arrive!!!

I hope I can figure out how to make this interesting....