Prayers

Well, we're still waiting for our LOA. So many families have received theirs whose paperwork was sent after ours. Our agency said that they would check on ours, and so we are praying for some good news soon. I can't explain the emotions over the past couple of months- the daily anticipation and then disappointment with no word. Ours hearts ache to hold this little girl that we have come to love. She is getting older with every passing day, and we want so badly for her to know us as her family. All that being said, we have the most wonderful family and friends. The words of encouragement and love has meant so much.
Please pray for us and for Cate and that everything falls into place for us to be able to travel for Cate soon.

Happy Summer

Pressley is waiting for the girls to STOP dancing !

The girls danced the ENTIRE weekend!

Pressley and his cousin Madelyn are the cutest little friends!

Sophie and cousin Taylor

Here is Pressley with his Henna tattoo

We joined several families this past weekend on a boat trip to Myrtle Beach. It was lots of fun and all of the children had a blast! Rion is at camp this week doing all the things he likes best-hunting, fishing, lots of outdoors activities. I can't believe it's July but it seems like summers always go by fast. We are trying to make the most of ours!

No news with our adoption. It has been brought up that maybe China is stalling LOA's to keep people from traveling during the Olympics. While I would like to believe that this is not the case, we have been waiting 99 days( did I really just say that?) since our dossier arrived in Beijing. I did not think we would have to wait this long and certainly hoped we would have Cate with us by July. This has been a very emotional process, probably more than I thought it would. And especially the last couple of months. It is so hard with every passing day knowing that was another day spent without Cate. Missing another day of her life, another day that we could be bonding with her and her with us. There is a family in Hefei right now, and when we sleep tonight, they will be visiting the orphanage. Ruth has a package for Cate and will try to get to see her. I am very anxious to hear about this and if we get new pictures, I will try to post them. Please pray for our family and for Cate that we will be together soon!

Our weekend

Seth, Sophie, Gabe, Rion, and Pressley-They had a ball together!

Pressley and his best friend Seth. They have been the best of buds for 5 of their almost 7 years!

Rion, Sophie and Pressley had a lemonade stand and donated the money they made to an orphanage in China. I was very proud of them. They made $63!

This weekend Greg and I went to Daufuskie Island- an island that is between Hilton Head and Savannah. You board a ferry to get there and that is the only way on and off the island. It is very secluded and quiet! We toured the island by golf cart, and saw lots of wildlife- alligators, deer, horseshoe crabs... It was so much fun and Oh, so relaxing! My parents kept our children and so we knew that they were having a great time too (the children that is!) I thought I took more pictures, but I forget to pull out the camera when it's just us! Last week was VERY busy- my best friend moved away last summer and her boys and my boys were very good friends, so the boys spent last week with us. We went to the water park, saw Indiana Jones, ate out alot(it was much easier keeping 4 boys out of the house rather than in!), and went to the pool every day.

I am of course praying that this week brings our LOA. Please pray for us that we will be traveling for Cate soon. It's funny how I thought of so many things like... By then we will have LOA, or when we go there, we will be home with Cate, or getting ready to travel... And already many things have passed with no news still. Today marks day 85. I never thought it would take so long. But I set myself up for this. I really forget to let God have control of our adoption. I want Him to have it, and yet I want Cate right now. This has been so hard, and I am not a very good student. I read this at the bottom of an email this past week, and I really needed to hear it-

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it. I love that.

No LOA

I really thought this time I would be posting to say We have LOA- It's a long story, but this past week our agency was out of town, BUT with a package waiting on their desk. So.... I was hoping and really counting on our LOA being in that package. I found out yesterday that it wasn't. So, today I am just going to post some scriptures that I am holding onto.
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. Psalm 40:1
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. Psalms 145: 18-19

Time for an update

Sophie was VERY stressed out in this picture that Rion was going to get too close to her on his kneeboard!

Last game of the season!

Every once in a while I look back at my blog and realize how long it's been since I've posted. It's just that I really created this blog to be about Cate and our journey to her.But I enjoy reading other blogs so much, so I fill in with our family life as we wait for Cate. Every time I post, I think, next time I am going to be sharing our news of LOA!! We are still praying that it will be here soon! Believe me, to say I'm ready is an understatement! Sometimes I just have a good ole cry.

It is SO hot and so we have been spending as much time in the water as possible! Rion's baseball team finished with their tournament last night so we are done with baseball. Pressley had his tonsils and adenoids removed this morning and is doing so well. I am relieved that's over-Now we will be laying low for the next week to recupperate.

I sent a small package to Cate with a family that left on the 4th- some playdoh,bubble gum, stickers and a coloring book and crayons.

Here are a few pictures of our last couple of weeks happenings!

Happy Memorial Day

We spent Memorial Day weekend on a boat trip to Hilton Head. It was just what we needed. We spent three days on the boat and in our bathing suits. Which is why there are no pictures of me! While I was unpacking tonight, Sophie asked why we didn't wear any real clothes this weekend? That's the beauty of vacation! While we have not received our LOA yet,(but are still trying to patiently wait), we have added two fish, two frogs, and two kittens to our family. We did buy Cate a pink Salty Dog T-shirt which I pray she will be wearing soon!

It has been so long since I have posted, I wanted to add this picture. Pressley is an official kindergarten graduate! Here he is patiently waiting to be called for his diploma. Yes, I cried.

Happy Mother's Day

To the children that made me a Mom. I love you. Doesn't Rion look happy?

Happy Mother's Day to my mom. I would be lost without her. She is my best friend and she does so much with and for our family! We lost my brother two years ago and she has been a great source of my strength. I love you Mom.

From the moment we began our China adoption, I had in my heart and mind that we would travel in June. So that is what I have prayed for every day. Prayed hard. I have so many reasons why I want it to be June. The main one being that I just want Cate in our arms. I have begged God and I have prayed for a miracle. I have not prayed that His will be done. I tell Him that I trust Him and believe and have faith. And I do....... except I have been praying for what I want. It hit me today, after a very down week last week, that I am NOT trusting God. So, I am going to completely change the way I have been thinking and praying to Thy will be done, and in Your perfect timing. I was admitting this to Greg today, and he said that he hated to see me worry and be sad about what hasn't happened (our LOA) when this should be such a happy and exciting time for us, and he's right. We WILL meet Cate and I truely want it to be EXACTLY when God wants to put her in my waiting arms.