6 days until we leave

I saw this sticky note image and it brought a smile to my face. When I was a teenager and my parents would leave to go out of town, the house would be plastered with sticky notes. This was my mother's way of ensuring that she would have a home to come home to! I fill like my brain is one big list of sticky notes. Maybe if I would take the time to write down all of the things I am trying not to forget, I wouldn't be spending so much time trying to remember. Don't forget.....

to stop the mail

pick up the prescription meds

buy a canister for art work or kites

buy the clear containers for the paperwork

make the copies of the paperwork

check to see if the airline has released seats so we can all sit together

pack for all of us and find a scale to be sure that the bags are not over 44 pounds

get keys to the dog sitters

spend some quality time with Lily before her world flips upside down

spend some quality time with Wes

avoid a total meltdown at all costs

rest so I will feel better before the trip

pray for Graeme's transition to our family

BREATHE!

Mom, I need some sticky notes quick or better yet could you come up before we leave and be here to help when we get home. If only we lived closer....Missing you more than you will ever know!!!!!

7 days and counting....

Sorry...no profound quote with cute graphics tonight. We are both exhausted and ready for bed. We had a very busy day with Margaret working and Wes working on all of the projects that need to be finished before we leave for China.

Tonight, we went on a date. I was asked to speak at an International Dinner in our small town. The dinner was in honor of Sunshine School where our daughter attends preschool. It was an amazing evening. The International Dinner was sponsored by many people who live and work in our town. We currently live in a very small town in Southeastern, Kentucky. The interesting thing is that our town has a lot of cultural diversity for a town that is so isolated. There were people from many different countries that all enjoyed the evening. Dishes from the different countries were prepared by the families. At our table alone, we sat with good friends from Greece and Kenya. I think there were people from 20-25 different countries present.

I was asked to be a part of the program and to read the story that I wrote about the first time I held Lily that was published in Love's Journey 2. It is a piece called That Moment and is very special to me. I practiced today so that I would not get choked up. I found out when we arrived at the dinner that I was not part of the program but that I was the program. I was a little nervous. Even though I lecture in my professional field, tonight I was speaking about something so personal. Even with the practice, as soon as I stood to speak, I got shaky and nervous. I was on the verge of tears. I am already so emotional. I read the piece about the first time I met my daughter as I am 7 days from flying to China to meet my son. I had to stop looking at the crowd because so many of our friends were getting teary eyed right with me. It was wonderful to share the story of our family with so many in our community. I am so glad that we are living here in this town in the mountains. I can't wait to bring Graeme home and to introduce him to the world in our own backyard.

8 more days until we leave for China

Myspace Graphics at WishAFriend.com

Wes and I have been married for quite a while now. There has been much madness in our love for each other. It appears the most under stress. Somehow our ability to communicate clearly completely disintegrates. Could it be that we are both just wearing our feelings on our sleeves? Perhaps our feelings are at such a heightened state or the nerves are just raw and exposed. We both are trying so hard! I understand my reasons for my madness and I am sure he understands his...Now, getting us to understand the others madness...that is the test. I wish that I could just look into his eyes and understand or get it and have him do the same for me. That does not happen for us. I love to see couples that are totally in sync and so admire their ability to communicate. I have come to realize that for most couples, it takes work and understanding and patience. I am glad we are both commited to each other and our family. We may not always understand but it is definitely not for lack of effort. So China, here come the Miracles in all of our madness.

We leave for China in 9 days!!!!

Myspace Graphics at WishAFriend.com

We leave in 9 days!!! After waiting and waiting, things are in overdrive as we prepare to bring home our son. I would love to say all my bags are packed but for those who know my procrastinating self, this would be absurd. I can say that our tickets are purchased which has been a major accomplishment. The prices have fluctuated a lot in the past few days. We were really lucky to work with a wonderful agent at Lotus Tours that helped us get the prices I had found weeks ago!!! So much to do and so little time. I will try to do a count down as we prepare to travel.

We will meet Graeme on June 10th. I CAN'T WAIT!!!!

We are so excited to announce that we received travel approval today!! We should leave the first week of June. Now, we wait for our agency to set up our consulate appointments at the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou, China. We hope to know that on Tuesday. Once we do, we can finalize travel plans!

I am overwhelmed and relieved and don't know whether to laugh or cry or scream!!

Graeme, it won't be long now until we can hold you!

Mommy, Daddy and Lily Wen are coming to bring you HOME!

Waiting and Waiting and Waiting

It has been 163 days or 3912 hours or 234,720 minutes since I first saw my son's picture.

I am waiting and hoping and dreaming every day.

Waiting....

for that first peek.

to see him and to hold him.

to be there for him as he struggles with this life changing event.

to be there for the tears, the laughter, the sadness and the joy.

to see his little toes and his hands.

to feel the warmth of his skin.

to hear him talk and laugh.

to watch him see and explore.

to protect and comfort him.

to shower him with kisses, hugs and Love.

to softly dry his tears.

to be there as he experiences so many firsts.

to glimpse his world.

to remember every detail to share with him one day.

to share our everything with him.

to go beyond dreams and into reality.

to know He is Ours!

Waiting to come to the end of this WAIT!

Cupcake Celebration!!

We celebrated the end of Sunday School for this year with a Cupcake Party!!!! Lily likes the way icing looks but not the way it tastes!
Now she has me cutting the icing off.

This is the way my girl likes her cupcake!

Shane and Lily celebrate

Carson is happy!

Anthony is enjoying the party and

so is his little sis....isn't she Beautiful!

Story and Lily

Lily, Hannah and Leah

I think everyone had a wonderful time!!

Three Word Sunday

Sunshine Celebration

Lily and I spent our morning celebrating the end of her K-3 year at a party for Sunshine. Due to the rainy weather, the party was moved indoors but she still had lots of fun!!!!!

Alisha and Lily

She is showing us that beautiful butterfly!

Braden and Lily

Lily and Lily (they could barely stop playing for me to get this picture)

Sunshine is a great place to grow!!!!

Travel to China!!!!

"Remember what Bilbo used to say: It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to." J.R.R. Tolkien

It seems that we are about to be swept off to CHINA!!!! My agency called today and they are tentatively planning that we will leave for China on June 4 and meet our Graeme on June 9. These plans are tentative as we do not yet have our travel approval but they are hoping that we will by the end of this week. I am excited and hesitant to be so as until we have that TA, there are no guarantees. So we are hopeful and somewhat panicked as we have so much to do before we leave. So I am cautiously freaking out!!!!! Woo Hoo!!!! June 9 could be the day that I meet my son for the first time. I am just overwhelmed that we could finally be with him 3 1/2 weeks from now. Time can't fly fast enough!!!

Earthquake in China

Many of you have contacted us regarding the tragic earthquake in China. Sichuan Province and Chongquing Municipality were hit with an earthquake that ranked 7.8 to 8.0 depending on the news report. The death toll has reached over 7,000 at this point.

Graeme's orphanage is in Anhui Province and there are no reports that there is damage there as of this point. We believe that he is safe!!!! We are so fortunate!!!

However, Lily is from Chongquing and her social welfare institute is there, XiuShan SWI. We have not heard directly about her former orphanage and the children and nannies there. We are praying that they are all well. The news has been heartbreaking and I will be honest in saying that I have avoided it as much as possible until tonight when I could watch and cry and pray! I am hoping that in the upcoming days that they find many more survivors!

Three Word Sunday

Thank you Secret Pal!

Thank you so much for the bedtime package. I can't wait to have Lily and Graeme dressed in their cute 'PJ Pajamas' sitting on my lap and reading Dr. Suess!!! I so look forward to your gifts. Thanks so much!

NEW PICTURES!!!

I love this picture!!!! SO CUTE!!!

These were just sent to us by our agency!!!! He is so cute. I am just in love with that smile!!!! He is 27.5 pounds and 34.6 inches tall. He is almost as big as his big sister Lily. Bring on that travel approval...we need to get him home!!!!

We signed our LOA and it is on it's way back to our agency!!

This morning at 6:45 a.m., our local post office called as they had just received our Letter of Acceptance. It was sent overnight from our agency and was supposed to be here on Friday but didn't make it. Everyone at the local post office knew that we were waiting....I think everyone in our town knows!!! They called as soon as they had it. This is the fastest our little family has ever gotten dressed on a Saturday morning.

Big sister Lily proudly holds this document we have waited so long to receive.
Mom signs it....WOO HOO!!!!

Dad signs it too!!!

Then we went to McDonald's for breakfast and WalMart for some more things for Graeme's LAST care package while we waited for the post office to officially open so we could send it back to Colorado. Next our agency will send it to China. Now we wait for Travel Approval (TA). Soon, I hope, soon!

Beautiful Flowers, Beautiful Friends!

This evening my friend Heather called and said she wanted to stop by for a minute. Heather and her daughter, Lily brought these flowers. They are from Jon, Heather and Lily to celebrate our recent milestone in our journey to Graeme. Aren't they beautiful?!?!?!

Heather and Lily stayed a while to visit which was a precious gift for my soul as well! Heather and I have developed an easy friendship and I feel like I have known her my whole life. We connect on so many different levels and there is never a shortage of conversation!!! I am so blessed to have her for my friend. My Lily calls Lily her bestest friend and they get along like sisters too. We had a wonderful evening!

Lily insisted that there had to be 'Lily flowers' in the bouquet. The stargazer Lily is one of my favorite flowers. They smell as good as they look in the bouquet too!

Lily D also wanted 'Graeme flowers'. Heather got creative and made these 'Graeme flowers'. I got teary eyed when I saw the bouquet the first time and as I type this, I am crying sweet tears of joy. Beautiful flowers, Beautiful friends.

WE GOT LOA!!!!!

Oh Happy Spring!!! Finally, finally, we have our LOA!!!! I am so Happy I just can't believe that it is finally here. THANKS to all who have prayed for us and supported us during this wait. We should travel in June to bring Graeme HOME!!!!! I am thrilled beyond words!!!

The Wait Continues.....

So I just had to use this picture. I feel a sort of kinship with this tiny dog. I feel like a rabid beast and scared all at the same time. I am tough just like him and I know that I can handle whatever is coming my way but at the same time I JUST WANT MY LOA COMING MY WAY. There is a rumor that packages are on their way to agencies. They should arrive by Monday. They are probably the referrals for people waiting for a non special need referral but I am hoping that our LOA is in there if it is not already on its way. Oh please Oh please Oh please!!!! I may have to resort to wearing a collar that looks like his to scare people from asking, "Have you heard anything?" Trust me when I say, when we hear, EVERYONE will know!!!

I love Spring and today is our first day for this season of new beginnings. The weather is beautiful here and the flowers are just blooming. May the Joy of Spring be with all.....New Beginnings....so close!