Sunday snapshot: another glimpse

We enlisted the help of Adele at Blessed Kids to see if we could get some updated photos of our girl, Jenna.

Her referral photos were from when she was just one, (about 8 months old), and in one of them, her eyes were half-closed.

So, I was dyin' to see her!

It took some extra time, but on Friday, we received three updated shots. eak!

I hadn't posted her picture previously because I wanted confirmation from our agency that it was ok to do so.

Isn't she sweet?

one step closer

We got word today that we are, in fact,
LOGGED IN!
I had been hoping that it had happened and
we just didn't know it yet,
(due to Chinese New Year holiday and such).
We were DTC (dossier-to-China) on 2/1/10 -
Well, just as I had hoped.
Our LID (log in date) is 2/22/10!!
One step closer to Jenna!

We can't wait to see her sweet face in person.
Now we wait some more for LOA.
Pray for speed!

Sunday snapshot: squares + wishes!

I am working on a 100 Good Wishes quilt for Jenna to help pass the time while we wait, and I really need your help! I am about 1/3 of the way there on my squares.

This is a photo of one I just received from our dear friends, Bill and Sara, that just came in the mail yesterday.

You can visit the link on the sidebar to go to Jenna's quilt site, or click HERE to go directly to the instructions of how to participate.

It takes a village, right?! please consider helping us! please?!

it's not as much work as you may think and once you get started, it's really a lot of fun.

If you decide to participate and need our mailing address, my email can be found in my profile. 

send me a message and i'll get you our info.

emily's first piggytails/curlytails

Sunday snapshot: what a week!

Well, as much as I wish it weren't so, we've had a lousy week here.

Some version of a stomach bug hit our house, and one-by-one, each of our kids had their turn with a less-than-12-hours of vomiting. Of course, for 2 of them, it involved overnight. Why does it always happen like that? One of them never actually vomited, but felt very nauseated all day and was on the verge. Poor guy. 

So, not a ton to photograph (well, be thankful I didn't photograph in the moment) ;) 

By week's end, everyone was on the mend so we did make some Valentine's cupcakes and paper lanterns for our first Chinese New Year celebration. 

However, today the bug revisited Abby, so we had to lay low again....

Praying it's not the adults' turn this week!

worth it

Stefanie over at Ni Hao Y'all and also the creative genius behind Wild Olive tees is introducing their latest design, and 100% of the profits will support Haiti. I have a couple of Wild Olive's other tees, and I love 'em. You can click on the photo of the shirt above to visit Wild Olive's site.

Now's your chance to try one, with it supporting a great cause. Totally worth it.

Sunday Snapshot: behind the scenes

So, on the 28th of January, we got PA. Pre-Approval from China for our girl, Jenna, waiting for us there, in Guangxi. So, with that, our agency said we could put together a care package for her. So, of course, we obliged. We sent off to her: a taggie blanket, some disposable cameras (for the nannies to fill up and give us when we get her, which will be a great keepsake for her; some pics of her and her peeps in the orphanage), a photo book of our family (the thought of her seeing us for the first time is something I can't seem to get out of my head, and I've been praying about her heart in that moment, alot), a stuffed panda bear named Munches, some coloring books and crayons for the other children, some hard candy for the nannies, and heart-shaped Valentine suckers for all.

Then I got to thinking, as I've been trying to keep everyone updated on the whole process, about how much has gone into this whole thing, behind the scenes.

• I have no way to document for you the amount of sleepless nights there have been, but believe me when I say, there have been many. 

• The paperchase. I now understand what I never could have before, the amount of time and energy that goes into the documents we "chase" down. Definitely worth it, but alot of busywork nonetheless.

           

• The amount of time spent in prayer. Before we ever started any of it, and most certainly alot along the way. Maybe even most now, as we think of Jenna and her precious little heart, waiting for us, without even knowing it. And for how hard a transition it will be for her. 

We're coming, baby, as fast as we can.