Please click on my link 'China to California' and send your warmest wishes to Leda and her family. They received their Travel Approval today.
She thinks I brought her luck. While writing my address on an envelope that she was sending a square for my 100 Wishes Quilt in, her agency called to tell her that she has TA.
Her post brought tears to my eyes and huge smile to my face.
Congratulations Leda!
I started this blog as a way to communicate with others who were adopting from China. It has become so much more than that. I have met some truly wonderful people. I have laughed and cried and cared for strangers. There are blogs that I check daily to see what new fun news they are posting. I have waited with women for their LID's and Referrals. I have cheered them on during their Paper Chases.
And what is really great is that they are doing the same with me.
I have had a great month. My thanks to everyone who visits my site.
I am accepting the tag to reveal some things in my house that are weird. Now, everything on this list, I just love. I can't tell you why, I just do.
These are called witches balls. Kind of creepy name, but the story is that the glass tendrils inside of the orbs were believed to be able to capture evil and keep it contained in the glass ball. These are said to have been quite popular during the 17 and 1800's.
The fairies hanging from the rafters above the staircase.
When I initially decided that we were going to make a 100 Wishes Quilt for Sophia, I made the decision that I was only going to include our family members and friends. I was not going to solicit any squares from the blogging world.
Well, I received a request from Robin at sarahs-adventures.blogspot.com to trade squares. I agreed, I would never turn down a request for someone's child.
Above is what I received in the mail today. An absolutely beautiful piece of fabric with a wish that is on lovely paper and filled with beautiful quotes. I was taken by surprise at the care that Robin took to send something so special for my daughter. Thank you so much Robin, I just love what you sent. It is a treasure.
It started me thinking about the great women who I have met through this blog and how much support and encouragement they have given to me. It has truly been a pleasure getting to know all of you.
So, I have changed my mind. I would be delighted to swap squares with any of you. Above on the left is the fabric that I will be sending. On the right is an example of the paper that my wish will appear on. If you like it and would like to swap, just let me know.
Isn't this fabulous?? Our fellow blogger Donna designed it for me out of the kindness of her heart and I just love it! The problem is that I can't figure out how to get it on my blog. The only place I can insert it is at the bottom where no one will see it. That won't do.
My dear husband has offered to figure out how to get this in place as my header.
So...what do you think of my new look?
I have been tagged to reveal six weird things about myself. 
I have twirled my hair all of my life.-especially when I am tired.
I sing while I drive-I mean I really belt it out.
I talk to myself.
Every morning I am worried that my hair rollers are still plugged in. I check them at least twice and sometimes I make Tim check them.
There is almost as much creamer in my coffee as there is coffee.
I am usually cold, especially in the winter. Regardless of what the thermostat says.
Dad is making sure that Grandma is cutting things up just right for our chili dinner.
Eli is spending some quality time with Uncle Billy.
Papa decided to try his luck at ice fishing. No luck.
Eli and cousin Cassie reading a book together.
This photo is taken from one of Eli's favorite television shows on the Disney Channel called Go Baby!
On the show Baby experiences the world with his friend Sophie, who happens to be an Asian little girl. I looked everywhere but could find no photos of Sophie. She is adorable.
When this show first came out, I was still under the belief that we were moving right along in our adoption timeline to our baby Sophia and that she would be arriving in the next year. Silly me.
Anyhow, when Sophie would come on the screen, I would point to her and say Mei Mei.
Now, Eli thinks that all little Asian girls that he sees are his Mei Mei. Mei Mei means little sister in Chinese.
We were at Toys "R" Us the other night picking out a small scooter for Eli since his brothers and sister all have scooters. A little girl about 15 months old toddled over to look at a tricycle. She looked just like Sophie. Eli took one look at her and starting yelling, "Mei Mei"! He followed her all over the place. Her parents finally scooped her up and took her to another section of the store to escape Eli's hugs.
I think that the thought of adopting from China was planted in our heads while we watched the National Geographic special with Lisa Ling about China's Lost Girls. As a very independent woman, I was completely caught off guard by what has happening. Having never had a daughter of my own, I could not imagine wanting anything more.
It was quite some time later that we actually discussed the topic of international adoption. Eli had been born and there was such a gap between him and his siblings that we were considering having another child. Both of my last two pregnancies were high risk though, so another biological child was not advised by my doctor.
A few more months passed with some small discussions here and there. Finally, we decided to get more information. We submitted a pre-application to our agency and requested a packet with detailed information. We looked at all of the different countries and options. My husband had his heart set on China.
We knew that this decision would have a huge impact on our children, so we scheduled a family meeting. We announced what we were thinking about doing. To our delight, our children were very positive. They asked a lot of questions. We discussed what this would mean to our family and what implications there would be for each of them.
We met again about a week later and voted. Each child had a vote as to whether or not we were going to grow our family and from which country we would choose to adopt. The vote was unanimous to adopt and unanimous to adopt from China.
My husband and I began working on the paperwork. I enjoy writing, my husband does not. The long lists of questions took a toll on him. On our third wedding anniversary, he handed me his completed paperwork. It was the sweetest anniversary gift I have ever received. My daughter.
I cried all of the way to the adoption agency and turned in our packet with puffy eyes. Now we wait together for our brown eyed girl.
I couldn't resist this shirt today. I was picking up a prescription for Zachary and there it was. The same shirt that my blog buddies have their beautiful daughters wearing. I just had to get one for mine.
One thing that my children really enjoy doing together is baking cookies. They work as a team and don't argue (for the most part). I love being the silent observer watching how they decide who will have what responsibility. They each have their favorite piece of the process and ultimately work through the recipe together.
Tyler snitching the cookie dough.
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