Care Package sealed with love followed by BLESSINGS in "jpeg" format

PHOTOS FROM THE CARE PACKAGE WE SENT TO HALLE-GRACE. The letter was translated, I have mastered the language yet!!
Yesterday I received a phone call from Nancy, our coordinator. Her voice had a tone of excitement...well, an extra bit of excitement! She has been an answer to our prayers throughout our journey to our daughter. She always knows the right thing to say and just how to calm my nerves when "mommy mode" kicks in. I can't describe my feelings... being on the other side of the world from my child. I know without a doubt that she is receiving the best care and she is loved, however, there is the "mom" in me that desires to provide for her every need.

Nancy's great news was NEW PHOTOS! When your child is in another country (12 hour time difference, a different language, different culture...the saying pictures are worth a thousand words is VERY TRUE!!! I cried on the phone as I was driving down the road in excitement to see how she had changed since the last photos. Now that is triple fear for on-coming traffic #1: talking on cell phone while driving, #2: crying, emotional "ELEPHANT MOM" (you know elephants carry their young for almost 2 years...the time of our adoption journey and counting) #3:trying to drive a little faster to make it to a place to get a wireless internet connection!!!

The photos are BEAUTIFUL, PRECIOUS, ADORABLE, simply the most ANGELIC vision I have ever laid eyes on (all of her photos have brought a huge CRY of joy...tears streaming, the whole nine yards). If someone is watching they probably think "oh, that poor woman is having such a bad day" and I am thinking "THANK YOU LORD"!!!

Thanks to the nannies and a very special someone on the west coast! "Thank you" cannot begin to describe my gratitude! Thuy, you are an angel!

First Shower to celebrate "our tiny miracle"

Family & friends blessed us with an amazing baby shower. We were humbled by the outpour of love for our tiny miracle! Steven Curtis Chapman said it best "Adoption is a perfect picture of what God's has done for each of us in making us His children through Christ." Her nursery is packed with anything she could ever need...monogrammed bibs, burp cloths, blankets, a prayer blanket, a baby bible, bottles (BPA free), two strollers, two car seats, a pack & play, a jumparoo, bouncy, a precious rocking chair that was Papa Gene's when he was a little boy (many, many years ago), clothes, clothes and more clothes. Thank you to everyone who made the day so very special!

We love her so much and cannot wait to hold her! It will not be long until our "tiny miracle" is home! Please continue to pray for her and all of the children.

First Mother's Day (written on May 12, 2008)

Today seems like the perfect day to start a "blog" as means of communication with our family and friends as we get closer to meeting our tiny miracle, Halle-Grace!

God has blessed us beyond what I ever envisioned! There were many times along this "journey" that I questioned WHY, WHY, WHY? Now, I know why! You see, God has the master plan! The best way for me to describe my understanding is this...He holds the completed piece of art in His hands (our lives) and He also has all of the colors a crayon box can possibly have...we, on the other hand, have a piece of one of the crayons in His box of 64! It may seem like a weird analogy, but it is the best I can do. The bottom line...the last two years have been extremely hard, heart-breaking many times, lots of tears, tons of fears and NOW, this amazing, most beautiful tiny miracle He has chosen. WOW! Now I say, WHY again--What did I do to deserve this most adorable, most precious girl?

Good things come to those who wait! So, as we prepare to meet our daughter, we hope that you will celebrate with us, follow our journey and PRAY each and everyday for her homecoming!
God Bless! We look forward to sharing our "journey" with you!