Snakes!

One of the most unforgettable scenes in a movie for me was the snake scene in Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. Remember that scene when all the snakes were down in that pit with Indie? That has stuck with me for years, and well, the pictures I'm about to share from our vacation took that scene to a whole new level for me! They can climb trees! I knew this but I had never seen anything like what I'm about to show you. This should be added to the definiton of the word, creepy, in Webster's dictionary.

We discovered a Serpentarium on Edisto Island that houses hundreds of snakes and other reptiles like turtles, lizards and alligators. We bought a little doggie backpack for Ava (she chose that one) and she had a ball walking around looking at all of the animals. We had to stay three feet away from the glass, and I do believe we saw every kind of snake in the world, including the anaconda! Talk about impressive up close. The habitats were incredible, and it was a great adventure for the whole family.

As Indiana Jones would say - "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?" Ha! Enjoy.

No word on China yet. We're expecting dates to roll some time in late July. Ava's carrying teddy bears in a wedding this weekend and we have a beach trip with Ben's family coming up the next few weeks. This summer is packed, and that doesn't include preparation for China! One. day. at. a. time.

Love to all!

Beach Bound!

A few weeks ago, we packed up the car and traveled to Edisto Beach with my folks, known as Mimi and Papa to Ava. We had a very relaxing and fun time as a family and had some of the best low country seafood we've ever tasted. If you're ever in that area, I would highly recommend the Old Post Office. It might be, hands down, the best meal I've ever had. I discovered a new appreciation for southern grits, and they'll be on my summer menu for many weeks to come! Thank you Papa and Mimi for a wonderful week! We had a great time, and we love you!

The first day, we just relaxed and took Ava swimming in the pool. We decided to try to just hold her without swimmies or a life jacket, and she was absolutely fearless. Toward the end of our time in the water, she didn't want to be held at all and had a meltdown. We think that she really thought that she could just walk in the water like us. We decided to try swimmies later in the week with her life jacket on so she could just float around and it worked great! I'll post those pics later on. We also brought a little float boat, but she absolutely wanted to be all the way in the water. She's going to be a little fish!







Don't forget to pause the playlist music.

Toddler Bed Time?

Could it be that Ava is ready for a "big girl bed?" We've been experimenting with two beds in one room and have been trying to decide if Ava is ready for the toddler bed? We left her crib in her corner and set up Maia's crib in the other but hadn't put the front on yet. Well, to answer our question, this is where I found her one afternoon napping. She's been a climber for a long time now, and when we heard a thud a few weeks ago, we knew that this transition was coming.

She doesn't always sleep in it, though. Every once in awhile, especially at night, she'll want to be in her crib. This should get even more interesting when Maia is in the crib! I fully expect to find Ava in there with her. :)

Returning and Rest

Hey, everybody!

I have been kneep-deep in to dos and am just now finding some precious time to sit down and post. I'm realizing more and more that just because there's a need doesn't mean I'm always called to fill it or fix it. I'm on a journey lately with the Lord in learning how to live and move and have my being in Him. Jesus didn't have a non-stop ministry schedule. He rested. He listened to the Father and was obedient to Him. He ministered to those the Father moved Him to minister to.

So why do I feel like I have to be wonder woman?

My schedule has been non-stop lately, especially with our China adoption quickly approaching, and I know that I need to rest. To be more like Jesus means to accept the rest that He offers me. To be more like Jesus means to allow His Spirit to flow freely through me, instead of me trying to make things happen. It's hard isn't it? It's one step at a time for me with this. I'm discovering that just because something is a good thing doesn't mean it's God's best for me at that time. Walking in obedience to what He would have me do is much more peaceful than protecting some kind of holy reputation by doing everything. I'll be completely honest and tell you that the only holiness I have in me is Jesus. I am not righteous or perfect in any way. He is, though, and this is what I rest in daily, particularly when I've had a very ugly day. Apart from Him I can do nothing. The fruit I give to others has to daily be replenished by Him. These are just a few things I'm pondering as I sit and type and seek rest in Him today.

Back to pictures of Ava~

I wanted to post a few quick pictures of our time with Amy and Caden Jones at Dollywood a few weeks back. You might remember that we met through a mutual acquaintance, and she and her husband, Eric, adopted Caden domestically a few years before we adopted Ava. We had such a fun time, and Ava enjoyed her carousel horse ride this time! Dollywood really had a great toddler-ride area, and Ava and her adventurous spirit couldn't wait to move on to the next ride!

Ava and Caden - ah how nice it is to be pushed around a theme park! :)







I thought this would be a cool shot. I couldn't believe how well it focused.



Ava enjoyed riding kiddie rides for the very first time! She rode the pigs that went around in a circle as a warm-up, and then she moved on to circling ducks and flying bees. I rode the hydrolic elephant ride that went 15 feet in the air with her, and she did great! We also rode the tea cup ride with Amy and Caden that I disliked when I was little, and um, I still dislike it. :) I don't think Ava was all that crazy about it either.







Up, up and away!

China Referrals

Ok. It's looking like the 26th of April '06 is the cut off this go around. Now, we wait for USCIS to send our I-171H, updated US approval. We definitely think we'll be in the July batch!

Maybe it will come on my birthday. Wouldn't that be something? :)

Beach pics coming up soon as soon as I go and get Bear at the vet and restock our groceries!

CHINA NEWS...

Hey, everybody!

Well, we're home from spending a week at the beach with my folks ('ll post pics very soon and post about that), but first, I have to post about China!

For a long while now, Ben and I have followed China Adopt Talk otherwise known as Rumor Queen. A woman who has two adopted daughters from China started this site for other families, and she keeps up with American and European agencies who are being issued referrals and then reports on what she believe the next cut off dates to be.

As you probably already know, we were logged in to the China Center of Adopion Affairs April 28th, 2006 and have been waiting ever since for our little girl from China who we've named Maia Grace. China does not match you with a child until they pull your paperwork, so Maia can be anywhere from 5 months old to 12 months old when we get our referral. Ok. So here's where they are at this point! This COULD CHANGE! This is what Rumor Queen is reporting. Last month, the CCAA issued referrals for all famlies logged in through the 21st of April.

Now, this month....from Rumor Queen

"A U.S. agency reports that the CCAA is matching.

A European agency reports that the 26th will be included. I don’t believe they are saying the cut off is the 26th, just that the 26th will be included. (I’m dealing with translation issues, but it really doesn’t sound like they are saying it’s the cut off, just that the 26th families are in).

Another European agency is warning their 29th families that they do not believe they are going to be in this batch.

I don’t think anything is above an R3 yet

Ok, so we're the 28th!!! Are we in or not?? We just don't know yet. I don't think we will be but I have no idea. We're still waiting for our amended I-171H from USCIS, which is our US approval.

I'm breathing. Trying to. Ok, holding my breath is more like it.

I'll post ASAP to let you know when the date is confirmed!!!

Love to all,

Emily, Ben and Ava