Sunday Snapshot: baseball, amped

So this weekend was our first weekend with both boys in a tournament. Ben's team has had a couple but this was Matthew's first go-round with a tournament. Between both boys, on Saturday and Sunday, they played 10 games. And yesterday included the most intense baseball game I have ever personally witnessed with Matthew's 8u team in sudden death that went 3 extra innings; and he was pitching throughout those 3 innings. He did amazing; didn't give up any runs and struck out several. "We" ended up winning by one run!! His team ended up getting 2nd place in the tournament overall.
Ben's team played some really good teams and tougher competition than they had probably seen before, so that's good for them as a team to be learning to play up and rise to the challenge.
On top of all of that, we took a group of boys to the local University baseball game Friday night to celebrate Matthew's birthday. (I know, more baseball, we must be crazy, right?) That was a ton of fun too and I'll post more about that tomorrow.


So, needless to say, I'm exhausted!
Happy Spring to all of you! Happy Baseball season to us!

while I'm waiting....

I've been working on the little girls' room. I think it's helped Emily to grasp this upcoming change in a tangible way also. She'll be sharing her room with Jenna, so we put the bed up in there, and now I've gotten the bedding and everything just how I wanted, pictures and letters hung and all. I *love* the artwork on the wall. It's a series of 3 with 2 birds in cherry blossom trees (remember "jenna" means 'little bird' so I love it all the more!)

Now we just need Jenna home to sleep in this darling bed! I was telling Jason how weird it is to see this empty bed sitting there. He responded, "think how it will be to see it filled."

I can't wait! All these small steps feel like they're adding up and I'm ready to bring this girl home to her bed, and her room, her toys, clothes and FAMILY!

Meanwhile, everything paperwork-wise is plugging right along. We got our NVC letter yesterday saying that we were cabled 5/4 (basically that our immigration approval was sent/wired/cabled from U.S. to China so that they know we're cleared and can issue her visa while we're there) and so our agency representative will hand deliver some paperwork in China on Thursday and then it should be 2 weeks until we get Article 5. I don't really know what Article 5 is, but I know that it's the LAST thing we need before they will issue our TRAVEL APPROVAL (TA)!! So, we are getting there!

And now, alas, the room:

Sunday snapshot: celebrating life

I was honored when a close friend asked me to come to the hospital to take pictures immediately after the birth of their third child.

I absolutely loved being reminded of the miracle of life. What a joyous creation! God is so good and simply amazing!

Here's a couple of my favorite shots from my time there....

Trey Aaron-isn't he perfect?:

preparing

a "rag" quilt I made for Jenna

a "required" pink item I picked up after we got PA

"jenna" blocks added to the rest of ours

We're preparing for Jenna, in ways big and small.

Rearranging bedrooms. Purchasing bedding (matching bedding, that is so super cute - pictures forthcoming when room is finished!), each time I go to Target, I pick up some necessity for the trip. Immodium, TUMS, (can you tell I'm concerned about our tummies?) antibacterial wet wipes, tylenol for all, the list goes on. But the point is, I am checking items OFF it!

I'm reading "The Connected Child," (very informative, very practical) and I picked up the most excellent children's book from Amazon recently. It's called "I Wished for You." It's a marvelous story of adoption through a conversation between a mother and child bear asking questions about how they became a family. If it's one you haven't seen, you should!

We're currently waiting on our 800 approval. It should arrive any day now. Maybe a few days ago, actually. But it's fine because I know we're getting there. Looking at the calendar this week at May's arrival!! wow! Next month is likely the month that I'll look face to face at my daughter for the first time. I can't wait!!!

buckle up - guest post

(this is a post from Stefanie at Ni Hao Y'all)

If you're not a Christian, this post is not for you.

If God hasn't pricked your heart to the plight of the orphan, stop reading now.

But if you're still with me, I've got something to say. And it's not wrapped up with a bow, nice and pretty and polite.

So buckle up.

What are you doing? To make a difference in the life of an orphan?

Right now?

I believe that God uses us all uniquely for His purposes. Some He calls to care for the orphan. And this 'orphan care' has many faces... but the common heart is doing something, some thing, for orphans.

Sponsoring children. Knitting blankets. Volunteering. Spreading the word. Collecting pennies to donate. Praying diligently.

And while I have no idea what that looks like for you, I know it's been nothing short of a revelation for me. We were called to adopt. No hemming. No hawing.

One day my eyes were closed and the next day they were opened. And as quickly as that, God planted that seed in my heart for orphans and no matter how much I might have wished to 'go back' over the years (not many, by the way) there simply is no going back.

I have seen. And I am responsible to act.

And if you have had that same seed planted, to love and care for the orphan, so are you.

It might not mean adoption, true. But it might. And if you think that you're fooling God by spouting off with all sorts of excuses, you're not. God's heart is for the orphan and time and time again He has revealed Himself to be the Provider for the fatherless. In our journey and in countless other adoption journeys we have been blessed to witness His hand at work.

There is no excuse good enough to justify closing your eyes.

And pretending like it's not there.

And that you can't afford to give up some time and energy to care and love another.

Or that "once x, y or z happens" then you'll consider adoption.

Or that the $25,000 it costs to adopt is more than God can possibly provide.

I'm not buying it.

Adoption isn't easy. Sometimes it's downright tough. But is the God who sent His only Son as a sacrifice for you and for me not allowed to ask you to do something that might be occasionally difficult? For Him? For one of His children?

Really?

So, if your face is burning and your stomach is turning, that's the Holy Spirit tapping you on the shoulder, again.

This post is for you.