HAPPY EASTER!!!!!

Easter Traditions

On Saturday the girls and I went to my mom's house to dye Easter eggs. It brought back many memories of years past, I love how these sweet traditions are passed from one generation to the next. I also love to see how much our girls have grown and how close they are to each other. It is bittersweet in that Arianna is not here yet and missing out on this, but I know that next year when she is here with us it will be even more special.

Well, here's what you are waiting for...

NEW PICTURES!!!! I had a wonderful conversation with Deanna the mom of Arianna's best friend. She told me that they had a very good day at the orphanage and that they really enjoyed meeting Arianna. Deanna told me that Arianna was a very sweet, smart, helpful, and outgoing little girl. She also said that she couldn't be cuter. She also told me that her daughter Lauren and Arianna are best friends! They did everything together, including sleeping and eating. I am so glad that they will be able to continue to see each other and talk to each other after they are both home. I was very happy to hear that Arianna is being well cared for and loved at the orphanage and that the Director of the orphanage was a very caring person. This is really one of the best days! I can hardly wait to go and get my girl!

I can hardly breath!

I am so excited!!!! There is a family that I have become good friends with that is in China right now getting their beautiful daughter! Their daughter is from the same orphanage that Arianna is at, so they are going to the orphanage tomorrow to visit. They are going to take pictures and video of Arianna for us and give her the care package and photo album that I have sent. They have had a long hard wait to get their daughter and I am so happy that they are finally in China getting their girl, I am also happy that they are able to visit the orphanage and get pictures for us. It will help me so much with this wait. So, check back soon to see the new pictures!

Happy Birthday Annika!

Annika turned 11 years old this last week! I can't believe how fast my baby girl is growing up. Annika has been a blessing to our family from her first moment. I am so thankful to have her! I love you very much!

Good news today!

Our agency just e-mailed me to let me know that we have our LID (log in date) and believe it or not it is today! Our dossier headed over to China on March 6, and was logged in today March 14th! It came much quicker then I expected so I am very excited now! And having a much better day!

Hard day

I am having a really hard day today. I don't know if I just don't have enough things to do to occupy my mind or if it is just the emotional letdown now that we have our paperwork sent off. Some days I can handle the wait and some days I just want to pull my hair out. Today is a hair pulling day. I look at the calender and count the days and I just feel so depressed that we will not be able to travel in May like we are hoping too. I know that if we don't travel by May we will most likely have to wait until September to travel and it hurts too much to think about. I know that the Lord is in control, but when I think about how hard this is for Arianna, waiting for us to come and get her, it makes it harder for me. I am so ready to go and get her! It does seem like things might be speeding up some, but I don't know if it will be enough for us to travel in May. I could really use so prayers right now and maybe a new project to keep me busy.

Drumroll please.....

The big day is finally here! We are DTC!!!! Our agency just let me know today that our dossier will be hand carried by our agency director to China this week! I can't believe how fast things are going! On another note, Annika got her passport this week. Guess, how long it took? One week! That's it! Just one week! When we received it in the mail, I about fell over! This same thing happened when we were in the process to adopt Alenna. Everything happened for us so quickly. I really hope it continues and we will be able to travel in May to get Arianna. I am so ready to bring her home.

Father Daughter Ball

Last night my husband took our daughter Annika to the annual Father Daughter Ball. It was a wonderful experience for Annika and I know that Tim enjoyed it also. After the party was over Tim and I were talking about how wonderful it is that he was able to take Annika to this Ball and be treated like a princess. It is very important to us that our daughters know how they should be treated by the men in their lives. As they grow they will know the love of a father, and the main man in their life, so that when they are grown they will be able to find a loving, caring husband that will treat them like queens. Before the ball started I took some pictures of Tim and Annika, and I have posted a few of my favorites. I can't get over how fast Annika is growing up, she is such a lovely young lady, and you couldn't ask for a better daughter!