Seven Years of Marital Bliss

Well, to quote my friend Jen: "Seven's Heaven" and indeed it has been.

I've been married for seven of the most wonderful years to the best husband in the world! I couldn't have asked for more. I feel a lucky woman to have him in my life. He's my best friend. We've traveled the world, gone flying on airplanes, shared many "date nights" and have shared many laughs.

This morning, I awoke to a beautiful bouquet of roses and a handmade card. He's a keeper, for sure! A romantic at heart...

July Matches are in!

It's official. July matches are in! Two more big referral days checked off! Only 114 more referral days to go. Here's the official posting from the CCAA.

The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were registered with our office before March 22, 2006.

3 Year Anniversary

It’s hard to imagine that today is our 3rd anniversary of our Log-In Date in China. We certainly never expected to reach this milestone. But, alas we have… I am a firm believer in the philosophy that things happen for a reason, even if we’re not sure what that reason is at the time when it’s happening. So, I have to think that this wait is teaching and preparing us for this wonderful child that we get to call our daughter.

During our wait, we’ve taken lots of wonderful vacations (each one was supposed to be our “last one before our child”) and Robert was able to get his private pilot license (this would have been harder/impossible with a child at home). I have even gotten to meet some of my July 2006 CCAI chat group - some of whom we'll be traveling with in China - Yeah!

I strongly feel that we are on the downhill now awaiting our daughter’s referral. I am optimistic that around this time next year, we’ll be holding a referral in our hands and sharing with you her beautiful face.

I look forward to the day.

Happy Anniversary to us!

Waiting

Waiting
By Karen Cooper

I haven't met you yet or seen your face,
but in my heart you hold a place.
My hopes grow with each passing day,
even though you're miles away.
I know you're there waiting for me,
As I am here waiting to see,
the child God has sent from above,
to make me a mother and share all my love.

Nashville Get-Together

Well, after close to 3 years of waiting for our daughter and about 2.5 years of "chatting" daily over the internet, we decided we needed to meet face-to-face. There are about a dozen of us who have become very close since our chat group started in January 2007. As the wait has become longer and longer, we have become closer and closer. There were 5 of us who met for the weekend (Autumn and family surprised us for lunch on Friday) These ladies are all logged-in during July 2006 and using the same agency as we are, so many of them may actually get to travel to China with us (I do hope it's all of them - it's going to be hard to not have them nearby for support). We have become eachother's support system - getting through the good and the bad days that we all have. I am very lucky to have them all!

Here are a few snapshots of the weekend

Our Hotel: Gaylord Opryland Hotel


The "Ma Ma Sisterhood" (the name we call our little group)
Charity, Beth, Lori, Autumn, Sue, and Cary


The whole gang including kids and dads


Eating dinner at the Rainforest Cafe

Charity and I


Cary and I onstage at the Ryman Auditorium (the original Grand Ole Opry)