We have her!!!

We finally met our daughter and it was better than I could have ever dreamed.  She was so happy and she ran straight up to her daddy and said"Daddy" and gave him a huge, long hug.  Mom was bawling!  Then it was my turn and once again she hugged me so tightly and said "Mommy".  She seemed to be overjoyed.  I can't tell you how many time she has hugged us and called us "Mommy" and "Daddy" today.  This was definitely meant to be! 

 

She had the photo album and necklace that we had sent her, but she just got it today. 

 

I'll post more later, but right now she's laughing at daddy snoring.  He fell asleep just now.  She's making necklaces that we brought for her, compliments of NiNi.  I just had one made for me.  She is very generous.  When we bought her a drink, she insisted that Wayne and I each take a drink first.  So very sweet.

 

There's so much more to tell, but will update more later.  Just a little busy right now but didn't want to keep everyone waiting.

 

P.S.  Having some trouble posting pictures so I seem to only be able to post two at a time.  Will try to get that ironed out later and if not will direct you to another site to view pictures.

 

 Lisa

Today I wonder...

I am in such a funny state of mind.  My mind is racing with anticipation. 

 

I wonder if Schey knows we're coming.  Did they tell her?  Did she get the pictures and gifts we sent her? 

 

Today her life will change so much more than ours.  We will be blessed with another child and she will be blessed with a family.  She will have her very own family FOREVER!  I wonder if she will even understand what that means.  She will always have someone to turn to, someone to depend on, plenty of food, a home to call her own, a mom, a dad and a brother and sister.  She will no longer be an orphan!  

 

Today as I type this I can barely hold back my tears of joy.  I wonder if she will shead tears from sadness and fear.  I know in the end everything will be great for her, she just may not know that yet.          

 

Today our family is growing!  Today we finally meet the precious little girl we have stared at in pictures for a year now.  Today she will be in our arms! 

 

Thank you God for this precious opportunity.  
 

 Lisa

The time is fast approaching!

We meet Schey in about three hours!  So incredibly excited and filled with peace and hope.  Just can't wait to finally see her!!!

 

Here's a funny picture of a family with their kids feeding the koi fish in our hotel.  I thought it was really cute! 

 

 Lisa

Pictures with Kenny

 

In China Now...

We made it!  

 

We finally got to our hotel a little after midnight.  We're staying at the White Swan again and it's just as I remember.  Everyone is very nice and the breakfast is once again fantastic. 

 

Our flight was awesome.  No problems at all and we bought our in country tickets when we got here.  Everything has been perfect.  One of the pictures below is us on our flight from Chicago to Shanghai.  It took just under 15 hours. 

 

We ventured out today and met this wonderful christian man named Kenny who works with children in the orphanages to teach them life skills.  Kenny is a wonderful man who is obviously very passionate about the children that he works with.  While we there he shared some tea with us and that was very fun because he discussed some Chinese traditions and stories behind the traditions.  We had several teas and one of the pictures below is one that starts out as a little ball and then open into this beautiful flower. 

 

I had to include a picture of Dalton and Sierra the night before we left.  We love you and miss you! 

 

Now, what we're here for...in about 18 hours we finally meet our daughter!

 

We're coming Schey!!!
 

 

Leaving Tomorrow

We can finally go get our daughter!

 

We leave tomorrow!

 

I can't believe the time has finally come.  We will be meeting our daughter on Monday.  We will be staying at the White Swan in Guangzhou the entire time.  We really liked this hotel when we were there to pick up Sierra so we decided to stay there again.  

 

Please keep our family in your prayers.    

So many emotions...

So many thoughts are going through my mind lately just as they did with both of my other children. This time though I will share my thoughts with anyone who wants to read them. Please remember...these are MY thoughts and they may not represent what anyone else thinks or understands and that's OK. I'm sharing them in this manner because I want people to experience the joys of adoption just as I have.

At this point in our adoption I can hardly talk about our new daughter without breaking into tears because I feel so much joy at the prospect that she will finally be in our arms soon. I wonder if this is how a momma feels when she is close to giving birth...something I have never done. I have so much hope for her. Then there are those fears that come, not heavy fears just more of wondering...

Wondering what will she be like, will she be sad, will she cry, will she like me, will she like my husband, does she even know we're coming, does she know she is about to have a family...so much to wonder about. I want to hold her so bad...will she let me...or will I have to be patient and let her learn to trust me and to love me. I pray that God will guide my every step and every word when I finally meet her. I know He will...trust in the Lord with all your heart...I do and I will!

Excitement and joy...our daughter is about to become part of our family...a family that will NEVER, EVER abandon her, a family that will always love her no matter what. She will always have us there for her and we will be happy to be with her. We are excited to share new experiences with her. We are excited to hold her, hug her, kiss her and tell her how much we love her everyday.

Yes, I know I mostly see this through rose colored glasses but that is because I have every faith in God that this is His plan for us to have this precious little girl. He placed her in our hearts and she will be our precious daughter.

How this love began is so amazing to me...as I ponder the love of a child I've never met but yet I love her so much that words can not express my feelings for her. It's the same feelings I've had for each of my children and to me it is one of God's miracles. People ask me all the time how is it that I can feel so strong about my feelings when I'm adopting...especially an older child (yes, sometimes, many times people ask stupid questions)...well to me...how can I not feel so strongly for the children I have been blessed with through God's grace and mercy. HE LOVES ME...no matter what...HE LOVES ME. How can I not love the children He has given me?

Here's how it starts...if you've ever been pregnant (as I said, I haven't) but I think you probably felt an immediate connection to this little life growing inside you. That's how I have felt with each of my children the INSTANT I knew of them...each of their stories are different in how they came to be but each of them were all part of a MIRACLE. I began to LOVE them instantly and I began to pray for them and I could not wait until the day I met them. What an amazing life as a momma I have had. What joy my children have brought to my life! I can not imagine my life without them! They are wonderful and I am blessed to be able to be their momma!

Oh, I know this post doesn't even really begin to express how passionately I feel about my thoughts when it comes to being a mom but it's so hard to put love into words that truly express how I feel.

I adore you my precious children!

Love, Mom