Just sending our love at Christmas!

Mia learning photography update!

We hit the streets of Lafayette and had some fun.

I haven't shown her Marilyn Monroe yet!

I loved how she commanded the shots

Thanks and love you all,

from us :)

Welcome, Poppy Louisa!!!

She is just an arm full of sweetness.

Love you, Poppy!

whenever I see her smile.....

not that long ago.
She was way over there, I still sat here wondering and praying
if love was alive, if there would be an opening, a way for "us"
not that long ago.

I realized how few times I truly had trusted Him. I realized how tiny my faith was.
I saw all the questions in people's eyes, I saw how tired my husband's eyes were,

But there was always hope in her smile.
I read a thousand thoughts into one smile. She was way over there,
not that long ago.

and then the day came.
The city was strange, the language even stranger, but the strangest was knowing she was behind
one more door.
And then I saw her smile, there were a thousand lights and answers to prayer,
it seemed Mia could share hope with us in that smile!

I will always have the memory that God gives the greatest gifts to us for no reason I deserved
whenever I see her smile......

Mia!

She may need this translation book for awhile :)

This is the victory sign!

The hat Kait gave to her

She loves photography!!!!!

We love her so much!!!!!

Us

It's time!!!!!

We are flying out today to pick up our Mia!
We are pretty excited and sort of running around in circles.
I will try to blog from China!

P.S. I learned our Asian neighbors are Christians when I was setting up our "cooking classes". Yeah and praise the Lord!

love you all,
Annette

We miss you, Alan

Alan is back home again, I miss Kurt and Alan's loud laughs and yelling around already. He left the dearest note for me, saying we would always be his USA mom and dad, he also said we were the most unique couple he has ever met! (is that good or bad?) hehe -I will always remember his cute accent and curious questions.

could you repeat that please!

-this little sweet song was posted by Ashton, long ago, mine sends you to youtube annoyingly with commercials plastered around it. I still love the theme -

Is love alive. I have been praying it is. Thanks Ash, for the inspiration,

We have our travel approval to China, it's July 9th to the 24th, for Mia, ahem.... yeahhhh.

so, yeah.....there is some good news to share!

It's a big heart full of a lot of emotions around here.
---some quotes starting out with thoughts of adopting:

Kurt- "are you crazy, we already have six kids, .......and why another girl"

Ash- "I just think every Christian home, that can, should adopt"

Andria- "I can't take it serious ...until it's more real, so I am not disappointed if she doesn't really come."

Ed- "I need some time with this" ......"I need more time" ......."this feels very unknown"

Clint- "Mom, that's great, she is sooo cute, so dad's finally letting you adopt?"

My sister Joyce- "are you sure you won't find another one when you are over in China, I think you need two."

Alan (exchange student)- that's awesome, man! ....are you sure you are taking this seriously?

Kait- "mom, this is a big deal!"

Jenny- "Oh mom, I am just going to be quiet about this, I don't know what to think."

......this was a very small sampling of all the conversations over the last seven months..... I love the honesty and grace my family has shared over this time.

For myself, I am mostly tripping over prayer that seems to be hidden by bigger fears in front of it. But eventually I found more quiet time and soul searching. There wasn't a huge pull or slamming conviction which way to go. In the end, I imagined the faces of my grandkids, in an orphanage, I broke down and really bonded with the little girl, growing into an adolescent and simply couldn't leave her behind, no matter what. Ed has come in and out of conviction over time, it's just hard to move ahead on something so distant and not able to calulate. He is leaning on my gift of relationship/connecting heart with this one.

Mia hasn't even arrived, yet she definitely has changed me already. So the journey begins......
and here are some follow up quotes that might bring a smile:


Kurt: "I think I am open to this now, I think we may have a chance to reach her" (spiritually)- this was after an amazing retreat he attended.

Ash: "I think it might be really hard, but I still think we should do this work"
Andria: "I am really getting excited about Mia, I just had a feeling she would really be yours."

Clint: "So, when is she coming, what's new with Mia?"

Alan: "I see after ALL this months of paperwork and more paperwork, you are serious."

Kait: " I am excited to try and connect with her."

Jenny: "Mom, you have tried to support my dreams, I want to be there for yours"

Ed: "She is going to need a dad..... I can't imagine what she must be feeling, finding out someone wants her, finally." (when she received our pictures and a gift we sent.)

So, with no further details but a lot of joy sharing with all of you, ....

here is Mia, she just turned 12. We plan to travel to China the first of June to welcome our new daughter!


God bless, Annette

no, I didn't die ...... it's just been a long absence from the blogging world!

This is Avo's homecoming to Indiana and Luca's Birthday celebration!

This is what I found 2 weeks later after Luca left, I kept him for awhile when Jen and Luke were in Ethiopia, He loved this plant stand...... and I am guessing found a way to imitate it in is own unique way with some antique spools from my basement. It made me ask the question, if he is building a look alike from what he saw in my home and honestly, with his activity level , I wouldn't have thought it in him. How much more did he take away of my spirit in those day he spent with me? It was a sobering, funny and scarey thought. I miss you, Luca

I felt pretty much like these bears after the whoop-a-la was over for the two and a half week mark! I was hoping no one would notice my pasted on smile of overstimulation!

This is Kurt and our exchange student, Alan----- tough guys, ehhh

I thought I would shock everyone and come out of my blog "freeze"

because........ there are too many things to let slip by unnoticed.

I think I will start nice and easy again with a few pictures: - nice checking in again! -Annette