We have a daughter!!!

Hello everyone!

We have accepted a referral for our daughter! She is 22 months old and from the Anhui Province. This week-end will be a world wind of paperwork. Monday we will have our pediatrician review her medical file.

Once paperwork is done, we will forward it to our agency at which time they will send an electronic acceptance (EA) to China. From there, we await the pre-approval (PA) from China and then wait for TA (travel approval).

Believing God is in control, we look forward to meeting our daughter and bringing her home. Emotions will be up and down but we trust God.

We have a daughter!!!

It is hard to believe that we have received and accepted a referral TODAY! Believing that God is in control, Amelia Grace will be coming home in early 2009.

She is from Anhui Province in China. Born 10/28/06 she is 22 months old and has an unrepaired cleft lip/palate.

The next few days will be filled with paperwork and document review by our pediatrician. By monday evening, China will have received our EA (electronic acceptance) of the referral and will review our file. From this point, we will wait 3-4 months for PA (pre-approval) and then TA (travel approval) which is 6-8 weeks after approval.

Please keep us in your prayers as we pray for God's provision, safe travel, the health and well-being of Mia and that she is healthy and loved.

Though our house is calm at the moment, we are shocked but happy to know that we have made it to this process only 3 months after applying for SN. God's timing is not our timing and we TRUST him.

More to come!

In Memory of Maria Chapman

Remember the Chapman family today. One week ago today, they lost their youngest daughter Maria (5 years old) in a terrible accident. Our hearts break for them during this time of loss. They will need our prayers from today on as they grieve and us along with them.

The Chapman family is instrumental in helping to bring millions of orphans home to their forever families. God bless and comfort them and their family at this time.

Todd Smith of Selah

If you haven't heard, it is with sad news that I report that Todd and his wife Angie lost a child on April 7, 2008. Apparantly, they knew of this during Angie's pregnancy. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers during this time.

See blog: http://audreycaroli ne.blogspot. com/

I'm Back!

Well, its been a while so let me give you a quick update.

On April 6, Dominic preached his first sermon for the youth service. The message was on perseverance which we all need to hear. Hunter was also an usher. Needless to say, I was very proud of them. His examples came from the book of Daniel and 2 Corinthians and Paul. He also spoke about Wilma Rudolph and Abraham Lincoln.

Earlier that morning Gabrielle had a gymnastics competition at which she did very well. I was able to see 3 of her 4 events; bars (8.2), vault (7.25), beam (8.65). She received a 9.1 on floor (1st place) and 6th place all-around. Brie texted me to give me this information. What a great day for the kids. I am soproud of all of them. It was a crazy day for me trying to be in 2 places at one time but it all worked out.

This past week-end, I went on a scrapbooking week-end with my peeps (Alex, Lena and Lynn). We had a great time. Lots of food, little sleep and the beauty of the Lord. We stayed along the Potomac River at a campsight. The beauty of His majesty surrounded me! I was able to get over 40 pages done which made up 2 of the 4 kids books. Hunter's is next. Finding the time now will be hard I will make it work. Thank God school is almost over! Praise the Lord.

On April 12, we hit our one-year mark of waiting for our referral for Amelia. Boy did that time fly by. I only hope that the next year goes just as fast so that we can bring our daughter home.

Pastor Chris and Alex will leave on May 1st and I am so excited that I get to take them to and from the airport. I get to see Raia when she comes home and enters the USA. Yippee!!!!

Well, that about all for now, til next time.