A lot of catching up to do.

Wow, it has been a long time since I posted anything. I have wanted to get back on here....to keep a journal to look back on, maybe learn from....to encourage others taking the same path we have chosen.... and just maybe as a means for helping get through the tough spots. And there have been tough spots. I can write this openly because some day when Frankie looks back on this he will no doubt agree there were very tough spots. Maybe it will some how help him, or all of us to read about our journey of becoming a family, with all the lumps and bumps along the way. The trip to China went well. We made our way around and Josh was an awesome helper and grew into an amazing young man right in front of me. Not sure what happened or why but we saw him grow up a bit during that trip. Frankie happily arrived. He was not the shy fearful boy needing encouragement that Josh and I had both anticipated. Rather he was a very happy, very talkative, boy with a take charge personality. He immediately wanted to take charge, of....the hotel room, the computers, the tv, the food.... And the adjustments began. Josh had a very tough time. He's quiet, kind spirited, and doesn't like to be in the limelight. Suddenly his new brother was bringing attention to our little group....and emotions started to show. By the end of the trip I started to see glimpses of hope of this new brotherly relationships, but we were all ready to be home. I wasn't in denial and had already given Michael a heads up that our room plans back home were going to need to be changed and we would be relocating the girls to give Frankie his own room to let Josh keep his space. Two weeks in China sharing a hotel room made Joshua reconsider what he previously thought was a cool idea, was not so much. So shortly after getting home....desperately needing some rest and bonding time....we began redoing the new rooms. Although the rooms are long done....and working out well, the pace has not slowed down yet. After being home for about 2 weeks Frankie was so eager to attend school that we allowed him to go. We are so blessed with a wonderful school, principal and teachers, they made sure he did well, and he absolutely loved it. We began what I now think of as the honeymoon stage. Although I wondered if it was just a stage...I saw this extremely happy, grateful boy, that said "I love you mom" all the time, and figured we were not going to see all those things we had prepared for and prayed about. Michael was having a little tougher time with the adjustments of another new personality in the house, but even that started to smooth out and all was working out really well. (To be continued)

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!!!