BABY ITS COLD OUTSIDE...

OUR WEEKLY BLIZZAED IS HERE.....

AN APPLE A DAY....

THESE PICTURES STILL MELT MY HEART

January 25, 2011

Five Years Ago today the stork delivered my daughters photo to me. It came via Internet at 6pm and as it downloaded I caught glimpses of an angel pixel by pixel. I had dreamed of this face for year and the reality of it was even more spectacular.Like the rest of the April 29ers we knew that the referrals had come to Great Wall Adoptions the evening before and that they would be calling us with our precious children’s Information the next day. I didn’t sleep a wink thinking of this special treasure that I would final get a glimpse of the next day. January 25, 2006 was the longest day of my life. I knew that GW would start its calls around 8am, so I patiently stood by the phone awaiting my turn. It was a true labor of love. Every so often I would glance on the Internet and check to see how many others in my group got their referrals. It seemed like everyone but me had a referral. My heart grew more anxious and I grew more stressed. What was taking them so long? Was their something wrong? Did they forget me? My friend Kathy and my mom kept calling me the whole day with encouraging words to help me pass the time. But 5pm I became frantic. Where was she? I called GW and I was told that they would get back to me. Surely they had called everyone but me. I knew something was wrong!!!! At 6pm, Beth finally called. My mom was sitting next to me and Kathy was on my cell speaker phone. Then I finally heard the words that I had been waiting for my whole life. “ Congratulations, you have a daughter” I'm sure she said something else after that but I didn’t hear it. When I finally stopped crying she gave me the information I had been waiting to hear. Her name was Xu Jin Xiu and she was 5 ½ months old. She was living in Xuwen SWI in Xuwen, Guangdong province and she was a very healthy and happy baby that loved to smile. Beth then told me she was sending over all over her documents and pictures via email. I hung up the phone with her and downloaded the file. As the four pictures downloaded. I was captivated by the beauty and purity of this child.. She was beyond any expectation I could ever have wished for. She was perfect!!Emilee turns 5 ½ years on January 28th, and on March 28th we will celebrate 4 years together together! They have been the happiest, most amazing years of my life. I thank God every day for blessing me with my precious daughter.

THE XUWEN GIRLS 2011

On January 25, 2006 myself and the rest of the April 27th Log-in group received a picture of their angels. Among them six families received red threads connected to six beautiful princesses in Xuwen, China. These precious children would finally be placed in our arms on March 29, 2006. But on January 25th we finally got a glimpse of our forever children. A year later I created an update college of the six Xuwen girls. Every year I try to create an update picture, its truly amazing to see the girls grow and blossom.

As I sit back and look at all the colleges from years past, I am amazed at how much they have grown. each girl is unique and special and very beautiful. But they share one thing in common, the home they shared for their first few months.

2010 2009 ( sorry didnt have a new one of Evelyn)

2008

( didnt have a new one of Evelyn)

2007

our refferal pictutures

IS ANYONE ELSE TIRED OF ALL THIS SNOW?

WE ARE!!!!!!

Two days of Ice storms, snow and arctic blast in one day and it looks like another is on it was next week. Not to mention that every week since before Christmas we have had at least one day of snow of arctic weather. The funny part is our Mayor ( who shall not be named) keeps getting on TV and telling everyone don't go out if you don't have to ( or better yet go to a Broadway show) but he doesn't close the school. so we as parents run the risk of using up all there sick days ( I don't know about anyone else but Oct and Nov there were flu's going around the school and all the kids were out at some point or another) or braving the crazy weather and taking a chance. Not an easy decision in the morning when your neighborhood looks like a winter wonderland.

Winter is really getting on my nerves. I long for some nice warm sunshine to brighten my day and to go outside without having to bundle up in multiple layers. I keep saying only a few more weeks till we leave for Florida but its not coming soon enough.

As you can tell the snow is not bothering Emilee. She is making Lemon aid out of Lemons and creating every sort of fun idea it has to offer. Even a routine trip to the park was a great adventure to her.

Ok theres my sunny spot. Ill take what i can get.

I hope everyone is warm at home any enjoying winter. Then again do we have a choice.

Have a great weekend!!!

THE MANY FACES OF EMILEE