The Light is Just Right

Yesterday evening, I was off delivering radishes to some neighbors, and Daddy and Ava were having a front porch photo shoot. Ben will sometimes run and get the camera exclaiming, "The light is perfect right now." We've taken pictures of sunsets, rainbows, our dog, Bear, a tree, an old farmhouse standing abandoned on the side of the road, and countless other things when the light is just right. Yesterday, it was splendidly beautiful.

Thank, you Father, for being the Creator of light and illuminating our world with Your Presence. Help each of us to be a light in our corners of the world, no matter how large or small those corners are. Sometimes, it's in the midst of just taking radishes to neighbors that the Lord impresses something upon my heart. It's in the every day, and I sometimes forget that. I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Three Years

Hi, everyone,

I'm home now after the picture session, and, boy, am I dragging! One super big lollipop, a painted tire, a pinecone, and a caterpillar or two later, and Ava still has so much energy, and I could collapse. Maybe I should have had a lollipop, too! I could close my eyes and seriously go to sleep and sleep all night, and it's only 8:00!

I came back on to post some pictures, and as I scrolled down the blog, something jumped out at me - our waiting time thus far for Maia Grace.

3 years

In April of 2006, I was at my desk at school grading papers and solving emotional issues with students, when I got the news that our paperwork, called a dossier, had officially been logged into the China Center of Adoption Affairs. We exhaled, knowing that it had arrived, and we prepared ourselves for the then eleven to twelve months of waiting until we would bring our daughter, Maia, who we assumed had been born, to her forever home.

Eleven to twelve months, month by month, day by day, turned into three years.

We could never have guessed that it would be this long. I never knew that such a fierce love for a child who is across the ocean who maybe has or hasn't been born yet could grow in my heart. I would still get on a plane tonight to go and get her.

Maia Grace

This is what I wrote three years ago.

Isaiah 46:9-11.

Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure, calling a bird of prey from the east, the man who executes my counsel from a far country. Indeed, I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it."

The call we've been wating for and anticipating since all of the mountainous paperwork was finished came yesterday, May 26th! We got the call from All God's Children that our official log-in date to the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) was April 28th! This is the date that our official wait for referral for our little girl begins. At this time, they are telling us that it is approximately 11-12 months, longer or shorter, until we get our referral, meaning the picture and medical information about our little girl. We were submitted to CCAA on April 26 and logged-in on the 28th! We were astounded that we were logged in so quickly. These log in dates were some of the quickest our agency has ever seen! Maybe, the referral process will speed up, too!

It is comforting to know that God is behind the scenes moving on our behalf this very moment in China thousands of miles away! Reflecting back on the seven years of infertility we've endured, it's easier for Ben and I to wait. We've grown accustomed to it I suppose and have realized that there is nothing we can do now to speed up China. That's in God's hands. It's amazing how refreshing hope is after grief and despair. So, now we wait on the Lord, however long it is. It's as simple as that.

We now have just one last document to go - Ava's final adoption decree has to be sent to Beijing to join the rest of our paperwork. I just got it back last week state certified, and it will go tomorrow! I hesitate to say that that is the last thing that will be required. How MANY times I've said that before. I know the Lord is going before us. I've asked him to. I've petitioned Him so many times on Maia's behalf. He knows her name and hears her cries.



So, my vehicle can not get to the P.O. fast enough to mail this tomorrow! Away it goes to join our dossier in China, and we wait. It will be in the blink of an eye when I'm writing to tell you that we got our long-awaited referral, and Maia is COMING HOME!! I can't imagine that day!!

Well, Ben just came in from mowing, and I don't have a chance to post pictures because I need to fix dinner, but I promise I will post tomorrow! It will be a much more laid back day than today! Plan on planting some tomatoes, onions, cabbage and cucumbers. Hopefully! Did I tell you I'm growing potatoes in garbage cans? I'll show you a picture soon!

Goodnight!

Catching Up Soon!

Hey, friends and family!

This has been a crazy past five days with lots on our plates, but I want everyone to know that just as soon as I can - I'll post a boatload of pictures to catch you up on life with little Ava.

Two events that you can anticipate are her falling off of the bed into a tiny little space between our nightstand and the bed - how in the world she landed and was ok is beyond me! The other is how we awoke to only 1 diaper this morning, and how I tried my hand at cloth diapers with MY old plastic bloomers. Interesting!

Be back soon! We're going to Tamyra Park's house today for a teacup picture at 4:30. "Alice" is sleeping right now after an adventurous trip around town today.

She'll "see" you soon!

8 Months Old and Active!

Ava turned eight months old today! I simply can not believe how quickly time has gone by. She is rolling all over the place now and scooting forward and "crawling" backward. I'll leave the room for a few minutes, and she'll be five feet away in the opposite direction when I come back. It's almost time for safety locks and gates. She'll be crawling before we know it!

Ava is such a joy! She has boundless energy and constant smiles right now and is SO curious about things. She's as busy as a bee all of the time! You can see in these pictures that I had quite a time trying to capture a decent shot of her at eight months!

This and That

Happy Monday, everyone!

I'm sorting through mountains of pictures this morning and reflecting on this past week. Ava started running a fever of about 101.7 last Wednesday, and she's been under the weather ever since. She still has a very runny nose and a little cough. I think she'll be over this in a few days -it's just taking some time. So... here I am back to blogging, trying to go through pictures and organize. It's cloudy and rainy today, and I'm playing catch up. Here's a few fun shots of her... oh, and our cat, Saki!

Ben decided to have some fun and put an old 3 month onesie on Saki! Humans!



Daddy reading to Ava in the beanbag at Mimi and Papa's house



Ava loves to bounce in her swing!



Bumbo fun! She's almost outgrown it, now. :(



Ava has a toy box at Mimi and Papa's with all kinds of things in it. We went out Saturday night, and they decided to put Ava inside to play! They started pulling her back and forth, and she went to sleep!







Daddy, can I play in the trash can? Sure, honey! :)

He is Risen!

Happy Easter, everyone! He's ALIVE!



We had a great celebration yesterday for Ava's first Easter. She put on her frilly pink ruffled dress and off to church we went to join in the joyous celebration that Jesus has risen! We came home, and Ava "found" her Easter basket, and we took some windy Easter pictures and then headed to my aunt's house for a delicious Easter lunch.

















Today, I'm a little exhausted and lethargic. Maybe it was the six deviled eggs I ate! I'm cleaning up Easter grass today which is somehow, everywhere and in odd places, and sorting plastic eggs, chocolate and bunnies. Ava is napping after a big day in the nursery with her friends, Aiden and Braden, and a great time with family. She was a little trooper yesterday, skipping her nap and going straight through until dinner time! There was so much excitement and distraction yesterday! This post may be a little scattered because I'm so tired, but I wanted to put some Easter pics up for you to see!

Before I go and do laundry and clean out the dishwasher, I want to earnestly wish each and every one of you the unending joy of Easter everyday in your hearts. He is Risen! Because He lives, we live and have hope for every upcoming day, whatever it holds. Thank you, Jesus, for loving ME that much! Amazing love!

Ben and I are going on a big date tonight. I got tickets for his birthday in March to go and see David Sedaris at the Tennessee Theater. He's one of Ben's favorite satirists on NPR. We're looking forward to going out!

Have a great day, everyone! Peace to you.

Our Big Blue-Eyed Girl

A few weeks ago, I began filling in details in Ava's life book. A life book is very similar to a baby book, but it's especially written for an adopted child. This is something I've been researching for Maia for several years with special sections devoted to her birth heritage and Chinese culture.

I was tickled when I found a traditional baby book written for an adopted child with a special birthparent history section. It was just what I had been looking for! It is so important to us for Ava and Maia to have something to help them fill in those missing pieces. They each will have incredible journeys into our family, and we want to honor that journey by documenting it in the best way we can. Plus, creating this for them will help to be a conversation starter about their adoption journeys. Undoubtedly, questions will come, and each of them having a documented story is part of us being ready to answer those questions openly and honestly. I am forever grateful to the precious birthparents who gave Ava and Maia life, and I want them to forever know how very loved each of them is.

There is one section that I was recently filling out that asked if Ava had any distinquishing features, like birthmarks, moles etc. She doesn't have any of those, but when we go out in public, so many people comment on her big beautiful blue eyes. I tried to find a good picture of these eyes! There are many, but Ben took this one the other night of her looking up while she was in her bassinet. I just think it's precious of her and her big eyes.

These eyes will see many things along her unique journey through life. I pray that they will be good things that make her eyes light up in wonder.

Have a fantastic Thursday everyone! I'll be back to post some Easter pictures soon!

Walking On Sunshine

Last week, we took a walk in the backyard on a really pretty sunny evening and captured these fun photos. Ava is sporting her beach hat and her first pair of sunglasses! I saw these at Old Navy and just had to get them for her. Lately, we've had to go on walks between the raindrops. It's been raining like crazy here. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Connecting

I'm aware of many of you who follow our journey, but recently, I learned that there are other adoptive families or families who are on that long journey that have stumbled upon our site. If you'd like to contact us, please leave us a comment with your e-mail address, and I'll get back with you as soon as I can.

Blessings to you!

Emily

Little Bird

Good afternoon after a very windy and stormy night! I hope everyone is ok - Martha, I was thinking about you guys living close to Nashville last night. My parents said that a tornado had touched down on Doneldson Pike? Quite the weather we've been having here in the South!

Ava and I are back to posting today- she's waking up from beauty sleep upstairs, but I thought I'd post a quick snapshot of her breakfast time. She's like a little bird waiting for food. She's trying all kinds of tastes and textures right now. The only things we know to stay away from so far are pears, blueberries and strawberries - all purees. We think the berries are what caused her eczema to flare up, which is under control now thanks to hydrocort! The pears are causing some pretty ugly diaper rashes.

Anyway, I hope you all are having a great end to your week and will have a great weekend! Every chance I get, I want to go outside!

I'll be back soon with more pictures of little Ava. Oh, she's now 20lbs 3 oz as of last Monday when I took her in for the eczema. :)