CCAA Report

The CCAA sent out there monthly report on how many days of referrals were given out. Only 14 days worth of referrals, were given out for this month, despite the rumors that September would be the month that they started matching whole months at a time once again. There are many upset, angry, and depressed people in the Chinese adoption community right now. As for me I'm doing ok this month, there have been months that have hit me hard and I've cried like a baby, but I truly believe that China is doing all they can. I am thinking, there are so many people adopting from China right now that the CCAA are giving out a lot of referrals, it just doesn't cover as many days because the number is so high. I keep reminding myself that we'll get our referral when the child that God has chosen for us is ready and that won't happen one minute before it is suppose to. Good things come to those who wait!!!

BEAUTIFUL CHINA

Meme, The Treadmill Queen

Mom, I posted this just for you. All you need are a couple more treadmills and you and Diane can make your own video. I think Pawpaw and Ricky should join in. I'll be on the look out for a pair of hot pink pants for Pawpaw.

FAVORITE FOTO FRIDAY

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I have always loved this photo. Check out the rubber boots and the shorts. Mark is holding a baby snake in his left hand. Boys will be boys. (at all ages) How time flies, Mark is now 20, Hayden is now 18, and Paul is now OLD....lol....love you Paul :-)

Chinese Orphan Video

Turn up the volume and get out your kleenex (thanks Kelly)

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

I look forward to the day our home is once again filled with priceless art!

Just for you, Vivi

KISSES IN THE WIND

We hold you in our hearts and touch you in our dreams.You are here each day with us, at least that's how it seems.We know you wonder where we are... what's taking us so long.But remember child, We love you so and God will keep you strong.Now go outside and feel the breeze and let it touch your skin...Because tonight, just as always, we blow you Kisses In The Wind.May God hold you in His hand until we can be with you.We promise you, my darling, we are doing all that we can do.Very soon, you'll have a family for real, not just pretend.But for tonight, just as always, we blow you Kisses In The Wind.May God wrap you in His arms and hold you very tight.And let the Angels bring the Kisses that we send to you each night.

Lamps for Vivi's Big Girl Room

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I think I have been eyeing this lamp for atleast a year. I absolutely love it and could see them in Vivi's big girl room on each side of her big girl bed, but would NEVER pay the big $$$. I got on the Anthropologie website just to look around and found that my lamps were on sale, they were not just on sale, they were nearly 75% off on sale. I know that Anthropologie sometimes will have an item at a really low price for a few days and then raise the price. I made the executive decision to grab that deal while it was there, and while the lamps were still there. I know it is hard to see in the picture but the lamp base is made up of three-dimensional ceramic rosettes. It is stunning. The shade is not included, so I will be on the look out for another bargin. BTW...I am not getting her big girl room ready at this time but I have ideas floating around in my head of what I want it to look like. When I find something perfect and it is a good deal I get it and put it back for when I am ready for it. While I think about what her big girl room will look like I also think about Vivi and I playing together in that room, and the thought of that makes me so happy. I love you so very very much!!!!!!

BEAUTIFUL CHINA

More Projects

This is a picture of our bedroom. I wasn't ready to decorate our bedroom when we first moved in because we moved so quickly, so I painted it a neutral shade and started deciding on the design of the room. Now about 8 months later, I'm ready to get started.

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I got a whim and decided now was the time to repaint and redecorate our bedroom. We just moved into our house in February and painted nearly every room and now I am at it again. We are having the bank Christmas party at our house in December so I thought this would be a good reason to get a few things done that I have wanted to get done for a while. The walls are not going to be white, you will have to wait and see. I will post pictures when I am completely finished.

Beginning of the Nursery

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I will post the nursery in stages of completion, then I will post again when it totally finished, at the rate I am going it may be a while. I got this chandelier on ebay, it looked pretty rough. The chandelier was white, the leaves were a bright bright green and each rose was a different color. I spray painted the chandelier a creamy white and painted the roses a soft pink, then made a casing for the chain to give it a softer look.

This little treasure I found at a junk store. I thought it would give a nice vintage touch.

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I purchased the Beatrix Potter prints from ebay as well. When I got them they were crisp and the background was a bright white. In my mind I wanted them to look vintage and aged. I placed the prints in the sink and gently poured my left over coffee over the them. I laid them out on a towel when I got them the shade I wanted and then I blow dried them on a low setting. The frames are from the $ store, I painted them white and distressed them a little bit. I hung them from pink ribbon, that I am not happy with, it's just to shiny and stiff, I might try putting them in a garment bag and washing them in the washing machine and then drying them in the dryer, if that doesn't work I will look for new ribbon. I am enjoying getting the nursery ready for our sweet precious, but when we get her we won't care what the nursery looks like because we will be focused on her, but it does help pass the time while we wait.

FAVORITE FOTO FRIDAY

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I took this photo with my new camera.

Vivi Jo's Christmas Tree

We ordered this Christmas tree for Vivi Jo. I know we will not have her this Christmas but when I saw it I thought that she would love her very own PINK tree in her bedroom. Jill (one of my travel buddies) gave me the idea, she bought this tree for her girls room. Ashlie and Allie were so excited to surprise the family with their pink tree all lit up. I can't wait until Vivi Jo and I put up her pink Christmas tree and surprise daddy with it, when he comes home from work. I am dreaming of that day right now but in time that dream will come true. :-)

A Piano for Vivi Jo

We bought this piano for Vivi Jo. We wanted one when the kids were growing up so they could take lessons but we didn't have a place to put it. When we bought this house and it had a formal living, we knew that we wanted to get a piano, so we can give Vivi the opportunity to take lessons and play. I look forward to the day when our home is filled with music.

BEAUTIFUL CHINA

3 Slideshows for 3 Weekends

Hwy. 80, Friends, and Bargains!!
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October 21st was a day Patti and I have had planned for a year. The Hwy. 80 sale is an annual event that stretches 400 miles. All along the hi-way, and at houses people bring there stuff to sale. No we didn't go 400 miles but I couldn't tell you the number of sales we stopped at. We got a lot for a little. I got so many things for a quarter and fifty cents. That's the kind of sales I like. We had so much fun, but we always have fun with the Waffords. Mike and Patti are friends we truly cherish!!

Trip to Tulsa
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On October 28th we went to Tulsa to meet our travel group. There are 7 families we will be traveling with to China, and we will all get our baby girls together. Chances are our girls are from the same orphanage, which will make them sister friends. The weekend was wonderful, and the families are AMAZING!! We did a little shopping at Babies R Us, went to the park and let the kids play, and then went and ate at a Chinese restaurant. The weather was perfect and we had a great time. Our group has a message board where we can leave messages, I already felt close to them but after this weekend, I know these families are forever friends. There were 2 families that didn't get to make the trip and they were truly missed. We are talking about having another get together in the spring, I hope we can all make it. Within the 8 couples, this is a repeat adoption for 4 of them, for 3 families this will be their 3rd Chinese adoption and 1 family this will be their 2nd Chinese adoption. What does this mean....it means we will be traveling with seasoned veterans, they know what they are doing. I could not have hand picked a better group. God is so good and I give Him all the praise and glory for blessing us with such an incredible travel group.

Get Your Own! View Slideshow

Enjoying Britney at Canton
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We has so much fun Saturday, November 4th at Canton, we picked Britney up on our way. It was so good to spend the day with her. It was the perfect fall day, it was a little overcast with a nip in the air. We laughed, we ate, we hunted for treasures, and we bargained. It was so crowed that it was crazy, but that's part of the fun. It was a wonderful day that made wonderful memories!!

FIVE

We are 5 months into our wait. Slowly but surely we are getting closer to our baby girl. We have been so busy that the 5 months have passed so fast. It is bitter sweet because I want the time to pass quickly so we can hold Vivi Jo in our arms but at the same time I want time to stand still because Hayden is a senior and he will be going away to college and I don't even like to think about that. Hayden was hoping that we would have Vivi Jo before he left for college but it dosen't look like that will happen. I have to keep in mind that God is in control and we will get our Vivi in His perfect timing.

FAVORITE FOTOS FRIDAY

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Ours is not the first adoption in our family. Chandler(kitty) was abandoned on the side of the road and found his way to Miss Maggie. Maggie nursed him, watched over and protected him, and loved him like he was her own lab pup. They were one big happy family. (Thanks Brian for the idea to post this.)

Finally

Finally.... I have been checking the CCAA website everyday for 2 weeks. They gave out 16 days worth of referrals this month. I was hoping for more. It is less that last month but more than the month before that. I hope it picks up soon!!!

Music Video:

WHEN LOVE TAKES YOU IN (by Steven Curtis Chapman)

Music Video Code provided by VideoCodeZone.Com

My Favorite Commercial

GO AUDREY!!

If a girl wants to dance, a girl wants to dance. How can I convince Paul and Hayden of this?..lol.. Sometimes I just have to express myself. ;- )