Spring Carnival

We attended the Spring Carnival at our church on Saturday (yes I'm a little behind on posting--sorry!). It was a blast! Everyone had a great time. Can't wait for next year.

Someday

I found the following poem in Philip's (our 9 year old) folder today. PJ & I both teared up when we read it. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Someday

Someday I will hear my neighbor's old voice again.

Someday I will be a Marine in combat.

Someday I will feel my great-grandpa's hand.

Someday I will hear the Harley's motor again.

Someday I will be a man.

Someday I will have a sister from China.

Someday I will have a perfect life.

Someday I will die.

Someday I will go to Heaven.

Someday I will see God.

Sydney's Present Home

We are still waiting on our RA (referral acceptance). So we still can not post pictures of our cutie! We are thinking our RA will arrive somewhere between June to August. Basically, the RA means that China officially approves us to adopt Li Si Xin (Sydney Hope). I think it is okay to post pictures of the orphanage & a map of where Sydney is in China. Sydney's city is known as the city of flowers. Not exactly Amarillo!! The city has a population of 8 million. Wow! Average temperature is 21.7 degrees Centigrade (71 degrees Fahrenheit).

I realize this post is BORING! Sorry!

Sydney is in Guangzhou City. It is the yellow in the middle of the picture.

Picture of Sydney's orphanage.

The updated orphanage pictures that we received in March show bright green everywhere. The green almost hurts your eyes. The orphanage looks huge to me. Not quite what I expected??

Cardboard Testimonies

This is an awesome video from our church from May '08. I'm sure you have probably already seen it on youtube. It is worth watching again! Today's sermon was filled with new cardboard testimonies. Grab some tissues & pause my playlist at the bottom.

Easter Sunday

We had a fun-filled Easter. Started out with a super packed auditorium at church--awesome message. I'll post the link from last year's in the next posting. And then off to my parents house for a yummy lunch & egg-hunt. This time next year, Sydney will be home. How awesome!

Ashlyn being silly!

A-Team (Ava & Ash)

My cute kids!

Pre-Approval!!

We have our Pre-Approval (PA) to adopt Li Si Xin. Exciting news! PJ & I celebrated by having lunch at Blue Sky--the same restaurant we were in when the referral call came in. Cheesy. I know! I think we waited 27 days from EA to PA.

Our FC said that we can expect our Referral Acceptance (RA) within 3-5 months of our Electronic Acceptance (EA) which was March 12. Our dossier has not been reviewed by CCAA--which is why it might take 5 months. All in God's timing!

As you can tell--we have a lot of A's to accomplish. And yes--we know that PJ's name is wrong all over the document! I called our FC & she said it should not be a problem.

**I know that a lot of people reading our story might have questions about adoption, our journey, why adopt from China, etc. Ask them! You can either comment or email me. I'm pretty open about the entire process and love people to be interested in adoption. I'm by no means an expert on adoption. But we have some of the same questions asked all the time!

Dancing!

The reception was a lot of fun! Great food & dancing. Good times all around. Ashlyn danced almost the entire night. Philip well just scroll down.

Ashlyn & Ava being goofy!

PJ, Jen (me!), Melissa & Justin

Philip sleeping! This is why he is not in any of the pictures dancing. He went to sleep around 9:30pmish. He was very tired--poor guy! We stayed way past their bedtime.

Ashlyn dancing with her daddy. I love this picture!

Jen, Ashlyn & Melissa

Ashlyn dancing with Cool Aunt Melissa! I think they danced almost all night. Melissa is a wonderful aunt.

Ashlyn dancing with "the girls"! Too cute.

Ashlyn & Heather (obviously the bride!)

Wedding Ceremony

Ashlyn was a little nervous before walking down the aisle. Aunt Melissa mentioned that she was a little nervous also so Ash felt a little better after that. Ashlyn informed me that she was going to sit with the bridesmaids instead of ME while waiting! She was really into the wedding thing!

Ashlyn waiting for the big walk down the aisle!
Fulfilling her duty as a flower girl. She was beautiful!

Ashlyn & Ava started out walking down the aisle together. But when Ashlyn would throw out her petals, Ava would pick them up! It was so cute. I whispered to Ava to go catch up with Ashlyn & she ran down the aisle. They both did a great job!

I can't tell if she is glad it is over or still a little nervous??

Just hanging out waiting with the wedding party.

The girls had enough of the whole picture taking thing by now.

Ash & Papaw (my dad)--practicing their dance moves for the reception.

Sword Detail

Ashlyn Grace aka Flower Girl

Ashlyn has been waiting for "the wedding day" to come for weeks. It is the wedding of Todd & Heather. Todd is really good friends with my brother, Justin. Ashlyn & Todd are great buds. Ashlyn's cousin Ava (you guys know Ava the cutest little 20 month old) was also a flower girl.
We picked up the dress several weeks ago. On Thursday, Cool Aunt Melissa took her for a mani & pedi (and then out for ice cream!). Ashlyn was so excited! We read a book about being a flower girl, practiced being a flower girl and talked about being a flower girl! Ashlyn was really all about this wedding. It was a huge deal for her! Both of the girls are so beautiful! I was actually a little teary after Ashlyn put her dress on. She looked so grown-up!
PJ & I took so many pictures of this occasion that I have broken it down into 3 posts. This post has pictures before the actual ceremony.

Ashlyn getting her updo. Our hair stylist did an AWESOME job. And Ashlyn did an AWESOME job sitting there for an hour without any complaining or whining.



Miss Ava

Miss Ashlyn

Ashlyn & Todd (the groom)

Justin & Philip (they are so handsome!)

My cute kids--Philip & Ashlyn

Finding Ad

We received Li Si Xin's (Sydney Hope) finding ad in the mail today. The picture is priceless. Big chubby cheeks. PJ & I were amazed at how many children were featured in the paper. PJ actually picked Sydney out of all the children. Her finding ad was published on October 12, 2007 in the Southern Farmer's Daily (kinda sounds like a small Texas town newspaper). The ad said the Si Xin was found at the hospital on October 25. This is new information to us. Her birth mom kept her for three days before leaving her at the hospital. I can not imagine what that precious woman went through during those three days. The ad also says that Si Xin was a premature infant and her weight "was very light".
Can't wait to see Sydney & her chubby cheeks!