This past weekend, Katelyn and Dad headed our for their Father/Daughter Dance for Brownies. As the pictures show, Katie was beaming on her dad's arm. What the pictures can't do justice to is the wonderful memories the two of them will have forever of this special night together. Makes my heart smile.....

Grace's Referral Photo





Grace and Piggy Piggy today!


One year ago today, we got "the call" that our agency had received our referral from China and in their hands, they had a picture of our daughter. As soon as the kids got home from school we drove two hours to our agency to get her picture and what little information they sent us about her. As soon we received our envelope with her info and picture, we hopped back in the car with the kids and headed for home. Not once did we peek in that envelope. The kids had voted and we had all agreed that we wanted to be home when we saw our daughter/sister for the first time. Thank goodness we did, because I do not think either Jeff or I could have driven home through all the happy tears after we laid eyes on her beautiful face for the first time! I still tear up every time I think back to that day.

Happy "Referral Day" to us!!!!!!!

Lin Xiao Huan
August 30, 2005




On December 14th, 2006, we laid eyes on our daughter for the first time. It was LOVE at first sight. On Christmas day, we shared the exciting news with the kids and family that our "gang" would be expanding, once again. The kids were ECSTATIC! And also, in love. We heard screams of joy, a lot of "awww, she is so cute", and we were also subjected to endless interrogation as to when we can bring their little sister home!

Our Letter of Intent (LOI), asking permission from the Chinese government to adopt Lin Xiao Huan, went off to China on Friday, January 12th. Now we wait for our Pre Approval (PA) Letter from China granting us permission to be her family. Then we send off our dossier (same colossal mound of paperwork we did for Grace), and wait for Travel Approval (TA) from CCAA. Once we get our TA, we are good to go! We are estimating, based on current wait statistics, that we may travel in the summer to bring her home.

Needless to say, our hearts are SO full with joy! We pray that this is God's will and that CCAA grants us permission to be her family. We already know that Xiao Huan is very beautiful, loves to dance, and is very smart! We are so anxious to meet her, to give her a huge hug, to start learning everything about her, and to get her home to meet her five super-cool, fantastic ,wonderful, & amazing siblings!! In the meantime, we have peace knowing that God is watching over her. Please keep her in your prayers!

:)

The Gang
(who is still trying to find her perfect name! :) )

Lin Xiao Huan at 12 months

In November and December, David and Grandpa met for a few Saturday's, for several hours, in "Grandpa's Workshop". They were working on a secret project. I come home one Saturday in December from running errands, to find this fellow greeting me on my front lawn............





Needless to say, This is now one of my most favorite Holiday decorations ever(along with all of the other home made ones from the kids.) Thanks to the boys, every time I look out the window or pull up to the house during the Holidays, I will smile thinking about all of the hard work and love that went into creating Frosty!

Thanks guys!