In a few hours we'll be on our way!

It's been a very full day. We packed, then repacked, then packed again. Just couldn't get things down to 44 pounds in the one suitcase. Finally, it weighed in at 43! Joshua's is under. I am down to having practically nothing but I have the needed gifts, things for Frankie, and food for Josh so he doesn't starve while we are there. The suitcase was about 16 pounds by itself. So we are ready. Here we go. We prayed together tonight, and Allie cried through the whole prayer. She's very excited about her new brother finally coming home, but not so happy about her big brother and mama leaving to go get him. She wanted to go too in the worst way. I wish so much we could have all gone. Then I would be a lot more relaxed. But the main thing is, I'm going to bring our son home! We keep thinking about how Frankie must be feeling. I wonder if they have told him yet that we are coming now. It's been such a long wait. We love you Frankie. 2 Tim 1:7 God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.

Packing?

Time to start getting everything together. All the paperwork is in order, I hope. I think I have everything I need. Time to get it all together in one place so I can start to pack. The dining room table is full of papers, medications, converters, and all kinds of things that I want to make sure make it into the suitcase. So, what are the chances I can fit everything I need without going over the 44 pound goal?

HOME

5 more days until travel!!

 5 more days to go. I'm feeling a little pressure, but a whole lot of excitement. Still so much to do. I think I am becoming over come with post it notes. I've got a few full pages going as well since the post its just can't hold all that needs to be done. Michael is working right up until the day before we leave so he is able to stay home and take care of the girls while I'm gone. All the paperwork is finally done and organized and ready for the trip. Hopefully it's all good. I'm starting to get things ready to begin packing. Michael reminds me all the time of our frantic pack the night before leaving to bring Allie home. I will not do that again! I got a little suitcase weighing thing. I do not want to run into trouble with over packing. Enough for 3 people for 16 days in 2 suitcases not weighing over 44 pounds, hmmmmm, and this has to include food for son number one who otherwise may starve in China. As hot as it was in the summer, I'm kind of wishing that was the weather so the clothes would be lighter. I can't stop thinking about Frankie and how he's feeling. I wonder if they have told him when we are coming? I wonder if he is excited or nervous. I hope he's not too nervous. I hope he is not angry with us that it has taken so long. As long as it has been, and believe me it's been long, we actually did really good on time. We are almost 1 year to date from when we started the adoption process. I wish I had time to go over the training we were required to do. That was so long ago. We are praying his adjustment goes well. He is so brave to be doing this. A good friend prayed with me tonight. In her prayer she asked that when Frankie got here somehow God would prepare him so that things seemed familiar, almost like he'd seen things before. This touched my heart and it brought me back a few years when I first saw his picture. There was something that connected us to him. It could only be God. The picture he drew of home when they asked him if he wanted to be adopted. I still have that hanging on the refrigerator with the other kids art work.  I pray that miraculously when he gets here he somehow recognizes this as home. 

You Over came

Well Frankie, if your mom could stop crying long enough to type I would like to leave you a message. On August 10th 2003 a great miracle happened. You , my beautiful son were born. Today, we'll never forget, God blessed us with another miracle. With one week to travel to bring you home, God provided the remainder of the finances needed in a very large grant from "A Child Waits". God heard you. When you said you wanted a family, and we said we wanted you to be our child. He heard, and they helped us. This is such a huge miracle! You see there are so many people that love you and care about you with out even having been blessed to meet you yet. You are precious and so wonderful. Through this there have been so many people praying for you, caring about you, and working so hard to make this happen. Never forget how blessed we are. Never forget how faithful God is, and how much He loves you. Never forget to give back and help others when ever given the opportunity to. I am in awe today, of God, and of so many wonderful people that have so unselfishly given and worked hard to help us bring you home. This has been a very long year....with a lot of work...and a lot of lessons. In a week your brother and I will board a plane to travel very far. Have I mentioned I don't like to fly. (I know I have to everyone around me....often). We are coming to bring you home!!!! That is a very good thing!! I love you!!!

One Year

Although he's been in our hearts for a long time, and we've been praying for him for what feels like forever, it was one year ago today we took a giant leap of faith and believed God would provide the finances needed so that we could become Quan's family. Now in under 2 weeks Joshua and I will be traveling to China to finally bring him home.

2 weeks!!

With 2 weeks to go, for the first time, I am coming apart at the seems a bit. Feeling a little stressed. I'm really nervous. Not about my beautiful son, I can't wait to finally meet him and to have him home! That could not come soon enough. I do have some butterflies. I mean I hope he likes me. I know he'll love Michael. But I am actually really nervous about the travel part. I am such a home body. It's ridiculous. I am really venturing out of my comfort zone. I always dreamed of going back to China. Just in my dreams I was never going alone. I really love this child. And my new son, can you imagine what kind of butterflies he must have. I keep telling myself, if he can do what he is about to do, I certainly can do this. I realized tonight that we are not going to be in the same part of Guangzhou that we were the last time and I had a melt down. Not really sure why. But I was kind of gearing up for getting there, which is the last part of the trip, because it would be familiar. I do not like the unknown. And getting on a plane to Korea, finding a connecting flight to Beijing, several flights around China before leaving Guangzhou with my sons to find all the connecting flights again, until we are finally home. Nothing familiar in that.  Hmmm, Getting home. That's when all the unknowns start for our new son. And it's not just for a few weeks. He will be learning a new language. New everything.  Everything is unfamiliar. Oh my very brave boy.  This adoption has been a walk of faith. Knowing we are suppose to be a family. Knowing this was God. Now with the trip, I have to trust and believe, God's got this. He has to equip me to leave my comfort zone. I pray for His protection over us. I pray He brings peace to Frankie's heart. I pray that this is a blessing and growth opportunity for Joshua. I pray for God's protection over our home, that He keeps the girls, pets, and Michael well while we are gone. I pray for Selah.   That is my dog Selah, who is a French Mastiff, with a lot of "issues". We have Copper, Maddy, and Chrissy, who were rescues, and then Selah who is our "non rescue" rescue. She is afraid of everything and everyone including Michael, and never leaves my side. She's my very high maintenance baby and I am seriously concerned how this is going to work out with her staying home with Michael. Allie is having a very tough time with my leaving. I can't even think about being away from the girls or I'll cry. Oh boy. So... I was thinking I will tell Allie I need her to look after Selah. Hopefully that will help both of them, and me. O.k. now I am babbling. I told you....the seems started coming apart tonight. With that note......2 Timothy 1:7 God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. Good night all.  :)