Happy New Years and thoughts of 2005!

Happy New Year Baby Girl !!!!

I guess I want to write a little about the year 2005.

2005 was the year you were born in our hearts. In January we began the year long process that would bring us to the point we are now. Physicals, background checks, social worker visits, question after question after question, F.B.I. fingerprints, police clearance, documentation, authentication, norarization, you name it. Your all worth it and more!!!!! From day one you were our baby girl. 2005 is the year that we fell in love with you. We have bought you so many material things but you have given us so much in our heart. We love you so much already and we are counting down the time until we can hold you in our arms. 2005 was the year of dreams being born. Our dream of a baby girl to laugh, and cry, and fight with her big brother. Someone to hug and cuddle on cold nights and to nurse through sickness. A little girl who will be her daddy's princess and her mommy's heart. A little girl who will be her granny's angel and her brother's love. A little girl who will be the entire world to all of us. 2005 has been a hard year. Its been a frustrating year jumping through hurdles and having all our i's dotted and t's crossed. The waiting has been horrific and there have been times when the thoughts of hijacking a plane to get you has crossed our minds. 2005 has also been a year of buying a baby crib, buying princess outfits, buying little baby dolls and scrapbooking, attempting 100 Good Wishes Quilts and hanging an extra stocking. 2005 was the year you were born in our heart and became a part of our souls. 2005 has been a wonderful year! We love you Ariel-Jadeyn Barbara Kirksey!

Now lets talk about 2006! 2006 will be the year we meet you. The year we hold you in our arms and give you eskimo kisses. 2006 will be the year of crawling and babbling, laughing and smiling, crying and tumbling. 2006 will be the first time we hear your voice, the first time we see your face. You of course will have no idea why these two people are crying their eyes out and you might cry too, but it will be because we have our dream. We finally have the missing link to our family. 2006 will be the year you realize that you have had us wrapped around your little finger since the day you were born. 2006 will be the first year you see your brother play basketball. 2006 will be the first year you get to tear into a birthday cake and get it all over your face. You'll get to play in the mud and play in the rain. You'll know that screaming one note will bring us running and you'll figure out how easy it is to get whatever you want. Yes, 2006 will be the year you realize that you were born a princess and will be treated that way. 2006 will be a year of seeing your first Christmas Lights and hearing your first fireworks. A year of hair bows and frilly dresses, of joy and excitement. Most importantly 2006 will be the first year you hear about God and you hear how he is the one who brought you to us. He is 100% responsible for bringing us our princess!

As I end this entry tonight and as we end 2005 and go into 2006 a new chapter of all of our lives is opening. The chapter with our baby girl, the chapter which makes us a family of 5. Which makes John and I parents of two children. Which gives us a son and a daughter! You are worth the world to us, and we love you more than you can imagine!

Goodnight Ariel-Jadeyn Barbara Kirksey wherever you are! God look down on our baby girl as the old year ends and the new year begins. Let her know that this is the year mommy and daddy will be there to get her. Let her know that she will NEVER have to be alone again. That she will have a forever family and will never want for anything ever again. We love you our little princess and can't wait to see your face!!!!

Happy New Years Everyone!

DTC Presents for our Princess!!!!

We bought presents for our baby girl today. Tons of little outfits to take to China with us. We bought some six month and some nine month outfits. John even picked out the cutest little Bunny Rabbit outfit!! She is going to be so rotten.

I can't tell you how excited we are to be DTC! Its such a huge milestone. Now there isn't much we do but wait and wait and wait and wait. Hopefully though the time will fly by!

I joined a December DTC group on Yahoo Groups and its going to be nice to get to know people who are DTC around the same time we are.

Night

Goodnight baby girl, mommy and daddy love you!

WE ARE OFFICIALLY DTC!!!!!!

We are officially DTC as of December 29th, 2005!!

Just got the email from Kevie which says the following,




My oh My! You are on the fast track! I just got an email saying that your dossier was mailed to China already! It went out yesterday!! Your log-in date will probably end up being about 3 weeks from now. I'll let you know when we hear, but it probably won't be until the end of January/first of February (or later due to the Chinese New Year) when the next batch of referrals get sent in. Let's see. Add 9 months to Mid-January, and you would expect the referral in September '06 based on PAST experience...can't predict the future of course, but that would be our best guess.

I have a family near Memphis (Coldwater) who are probably going to be in the next batch of dossiers to China. They don't use email, but they said to please give you their phone number.
Her name is Glenna 662-233-2936 if you'd like to call them. If you want me to give them your number, let me know.

Kevie O'Haver, LCSW
Northern Mississippi
662-801-1211

Now to Him who is able to do immearsurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! AMEN.

We are so excited. John even got a bit teary eyed. We are there!!!! We are really out of the U.S. and on our way to China!!!!

It seems so unreal and right now my emotions are on a rollercoaster ride. I'm shaking, my heart is racing and I want to cry everytime I think about it!!

Kevie also mailed our Indroductory travel information that we need to sit down and read!

So it looks like by August-October we will be on our way to get our daughter!!!!!

Got Travel Information

We got Travel Information from Kevie today. Haven't heard that our Dossier has left the U.S. yet though. Wish that would hurry up but as always I know God knows whats going on and everything will happen as he wants it too.

Went to the Dr. this morning. I ended up in the E.R. the other night with bad back pain and also horrible pain in my breasts under my arm. Well Dr. Montesi seriously suggested breast reduction surgery. It's funny because a bulletin board friend just had this done so I've asked her to email me. How wonderful would it be not to have these big old things anymore....LOL! I know its a serious surgery but how awesome would it be to be that comfortable! We'll see I guess.

I'm bored, John-Cole is asleep and I don't have to much to do. I guess I need to start working on Ariel's quilt and scrapbook again. I did finally get the Wish Book in from the auction back in October but I'll probably re-do the entire thing. I had to take apart the quilt because it was way to uneven. I bought a rotary cutter and pad to be able to do the cutting correctly. I just haven't felt like having the patience to do it. I ordered some really cute stickers off of ebay to do the scrapbook with. I also bought some at Wal-Mart and dollar tree that are Christmas since some of my wishes are christmas. I'm trying to remember the swaps I've signed up for,
Classics
Fairy Tale
American/Asian
Ladybugs
Bugs in General
I think thats it.......thats enough.....LOL!

I'm really hoping to hear from Kevie soon about our Dossier going to China!!

Sad update to my above post about Kris and her cancer. Kris is our youth pastors wife. She is probably mid 30s. Her cancer is back and it is worse than before. God does everything for a reason and we have to keep our faith in him even through the rough times. So if you pray, please pray for the Kelly family, Mark, Kris, Caden and Cassidy. I strongly believe in the power of prayer and this wonderful family really needs our prayers right now.

I suppose thats all for right now! John still hasn't mentioned anything about going to the Bowling Lanes on New Years. I don't know what will come of that, I'll just keep quiet and let him make his choices.

Night Baby Girl

Nothing new to report today, I just wanted to log on and say goodnight to my baby girl Ariel-Jadeyn wherever she is. Hope God is looking down on you and the angels are whispering in your ear about your mommy and daddy who love you more than anything and can't wait to get to you! I love you my little princess!

Merry Day After Christmas!!!!!

Well Christmas is over for another year! I can't wait for next year!! I can't wait to have Ariel here!

John-Cole actually got up and went shopping with mama and me this morning. It was so funny because on Christmas Eve we wanted to hide some Disney Christmas Stockings and some perfume and John-Cole hid it all for us. I told him last night he needed to go with us so he could find everything he hid. I wasn't serious but he was up and went. He found everything too....LOL!

We hit Wal-Mart first and stocked up on perfume and bath sets. I also bought the other three Disney stocking they had. So we have Ariel, Aurora, Belle and Snow White. I need to see if I can find Cinderella although we bought John-Cole a basketball stocking so we really don't need another one.

Then we went to McRaes. I got a Fossil watch which was an additional 50% off. I think it ended up costing $29 dollars. Its really cute. Here is the sweet part. John-Cole had some money and he found something Ariel just had to have. He picked it out all by himself and used his money to get it. Its the cutest little pink onsie and on the front it says,

I'm the Princess which means we're going to do things MY WAY!

How true is that going to be!!!!

We took Dootsie to the vet. She isn't feeling well at all. I hope shes okay because she has really gotten under mama's skin. The vet sent off tests to Memphis and we should know something by the end of the week.

Thats it for now!!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Last night was fun, John-Cole was thrilled with his Bass. I fooled him so good! He opened the amp and still didn't realize that the actual guitar was here. So he did good. He bought a CD/MP3 player, got Kelley Clarkson on CD, got a basketball (which he hasn't put down yet), his Bass, a Guitar Stand, his amp and an Ole Miss chair. Also another $30 in his stocking.

Tomorrow is SHOPPING!!!!!

I wish my baby girl was here. Next year she will be though if thats God's will!

Now the hard part, dieting and getting myself ready to go to China. I hope to lose at least 50 pounds before going to China. I'm going to start the diet on the 2nd and then join the program at church with Amanda and Shirley.

Well I guess thats about it for today. Merry Christmas!! I hope to have news that our Dossier has wings soon!

I love you Ariel-Jadeyn and we can't wait to bring you home!!

Merry Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas Eve!

I'm sitting here waiting on John to get back with John-Cole's guitar. We ended up going to Buster and Vicki's today. Had a great time. John-Cole got $50 and bought a CD/MP3 player. We went to Kenny's too. I'm glad John got to see James and I really hope he decides to work things out with Ann and Kenny. They are his parents and he misses them whether or not he wants to admit that. Its up to him though, I'm not going to push him to do anything he isn't comfortable with. It would be nice for Ariel to have other grandparents IF things work out.

I'll post more later, going to wrap!

Good news for April!

April got her test results back and there is no cancer! Thank you Lord for that! She does have some fluid on her lungs but they are giving her steroids to help get rid of that. I'm so happy that shes okay!

We haven't heard anymore on Kris but I'm praying she will be okay too!

Happy Christmas Eve Eve

Happy Christmas Eve Eve!

We didn't do much today. John-Cole's Guitar came in thank goodness. I really hope hes surprised but hes so sneaky I have no idea. He may know hes getting it, I have no idea.

We got him a Ole Miss Chair, Kelley Clarkson C.D. and a new Basketball yesterday, oh and I also got him a Guitar Stand.

Bought John 2 shirts, a pair of pants and a really cute jacket.

We go to Buster and Vicki's tomorrow. I guess I need to wrap the presents for the little kids. Autin, Kelley, Emily, Stephanie, Carolyn and Laura Leigh.

Mama is cooking trash and Buck Eyes, shes going to make chess squares tomorrow. We got an Italian Cream Cake and a Lemon Ice Box Pie from Connie's Kitchen. Joel is deep frying a turkey for us.

This time next year our baby girl will be here with us! I can't wait to tell her how much I love her and to spoil her rotten just like her brother!

Merry Christmas Eve Eve!

Merry Christmas Eve Eve Eve!

Merry Christmas Eve, Eve, Eve!

I started on Ariel's Wish Scrapbook last night and its really going to be pretty! I have to buy new stickers so it won't look like the same ones over and over. I really wish my baby girl was home this Christmas!

John was talking last night and he said, you know, Ariel is going to be daddy's baby! She probably will! She is going to be so spoiled. I just wish we had her here with us.

John-Cole's Christmas Present is on its way. John is supposed to be calling UPS to see if they will hold it at the hub instead of delivering it here. I thought it might come today so I got up early and wouldn't you know it, I hadn't been in the den 10 minutes until out of the bedroom he comes. At 7:30!!!! Hes so sneaky! I think I'm going to tell him that Musicians Friend emailed me and told me they were sorry but his guitar was out of stock and that it won't be in until February! Will serve him right for being so darned sneaky!

Mama has gone to Oxford for the day. I'm hoping she gets back in time to run to Judge Littles and pick up the Basketball and Cones. He also wants a Kelley Clarkson C.D. and if I can find a cheap CD Player I'll get it for him.

Oh remember I mentioned that I had started Ariel's 100 Good Wishes Quilt? Well it was soooo uneven that I ended up taking it all apart and will start over once I buy a rotary cutter at Wal-Mart and try to make it more even. I think I'll sew it in squares rather than straight lines. That may have been one of my mistakes.

Oh here is a funny story. John can't spell Ariel's name. I've been asking him and he will say A-R-E-I-L to which I say, No, I before E! Then he will say okay A-R-I-E-L. So then I say spell her other name and he says J-A-D-Y-N.....Nope! J-A-D-E-N....Nope!! I say J-A-D-E-Y-N to which he says why did you add the y in there? Because J-A-D-E-N is a boys way of spelling it. So why did you add the E? Because she may want to be called Ariel-Jade so I wanted the actual spelling of Jade to be in her name. Its so funny!!

Talk to you all later (if anyone is reading this....LOL!)

We got our Return Receipt from Grand Rapids!

Yay!!!! We got the returned receipt today from Grand Rapids. So we know they have the Dossier in their hands. Now if they will process it as quickly as possible! What a wonderful Christmas Present that would be to have our Wings to China before Christmas. I don't really think thats possible but it would be awesome!!!! Maybe early January though!

Eloise comes on tonight....LOL! John-Cole has been yelling about it all day. We of course are recording it so I can look forward to hearing, I'm Eloise, I'm Six for the next year! He swears he wants to name Ariel - Eloise.... Nope not happening!

We got an email from Mark last night saying that Kris's cancer is back. If anyone is reading this please keep Kris Kelly in your prayers. April is scared to death because she goes back to the Dr. tomorrow. She should be in Memphis now as a matter of fact. We pray that its God's will that her cancer not come back. I know shes terrified because Kris's is back.

On another note, we have flurries in the forecast. That doesn't happen much in Mississippi! I wish it would snow and snow and snow! I can't remember the last time we saw any signifigant snow! That would be awesome!

We ordered John-Cole's Christmas today. I didn't think there would be a chance of it getting here before Christmas but they said it could! Hes really going to be surprised! We are also getting him some basketball stuff!

I would love to work on Ariel's quilt more tonight. Its time to sew the rows together. I guess I need to iron them out and get started.

OH! We made Christmas Cookies last night. It was so funny! John and I were decorating ours so pretty and neatly and we look over and John-Cole has the frosting (which I bought in a can like Cheese Whiz comes in)....anyway he has the can in his mouth and is squirting all the icing in his mouth!!!! So we told him to stop and he starts putting loads of icing on the cookies. John asked him what on earth he was decorating and he said it was abstract art. Crazy kid!

Two more things to remember for Ariel's Lifebook.

These are two more things I love for Ariel's Lifebook. One is the Red Thread Poem and the other is a Wish Card that I love and explains our feelings so perfectly,

Cute John-Cole and April Story

Nothing much new is going on, I just thought I would share a cute John-Cole and April story that I don't want to forget.

John-Cole and April have agreed that they can both date as many people as they want until its time to get married. Then they are going to marry each other. Thats fine with us because they are so close. I would never want them to date right now and then break up and end up not liking each other. The closeness they have is awesome and something that doesn't happen very often.

Anyway Wednesday Night at Straight X Heather Azar was showing off her engagement ring from Drake Colilns. April looks at John-Cole and says, "See that ring? You remember what it looks like because thats what I want!" John-Cole was like.......oooookay!!!!!

Then at the Basketball Game Friday Night John-Cole had been playing the entire game and the coach pulled him out to put some of the "B" team in. Well John-Cole had just sat down when April and Jennifer were leaving. April yells.......JOHN-COLE! John-Cole didn't hear her so she yells again. The coach looks at her and she says,
"I don't care if the coach looks or not I'm not leaving without telling John-Cole I love him!"

I do love that baby girl though. I would be thrilled if they did marry down the line or at the very least if they keep this close friendship throughout high school. I look at John-Cole and April and realize that John and I started dating at the same age April is now (9th grade). John-Cole will be the same age John and I were in less than a year. What a scary thought. My baby is growing up!! Its so hard to think of him dating anyone seriously but if he finds the right one, like I did then thats wonderful! If that person is April then its more wonderful. Now if he reads this he will kill me and if April reads it she will LOVE IT!!!!!! LOL!

Lets see, on the adoption front I was hoping that we would get the return address slip in today but I guess thats asking for a little much since it was only delivered on Friday. Maybe tomorrow. Being my father's daughter I would love to call Grand Rapids and say "DID YOU GET OUR DOSSIER????" "ARE YOU WORKING ON IT????" "WHEN WILL WE BE DTC????" "I WANT TO HIJACK A PLANE AND GO GET OUR DAUGHTER!!!!" Okay I'm not hijacking a plane....LOL! I just wish Ariel could be here with us this Christmas! Again I just pray God wraps his arms around her and holds her safe and tight and lets her know how much we love her, and that we will be there to bring her home as soon as we can! Oh after this post I'm going to post a picture of an Adoption "wish" card that I love. It says it all.

Humm as for Christmas we won't be doing much, John-Cole still wants the Bass Guitar which we are going to get him. He is going to love playing in the Youth Band. Alan says it won't be hard for him to learn.

Buster and Vicki called and Christmas has been changed to Saturday afternoon so I guess we will see all the Bingham's then. Christmas we will go to church and I guess stay home and fix Christmas Dinner. No plans for New Years unless we do something at the church.

Oh, John-Cole has been home all day today. He hasn't shut up since he woke up. He has sang and banged and danced and gone in and out and in and out and is pretty much hyper beyond control. I'm surprised Matt isn't over here or he isn't at Matt or John-Allen's. John came home for dinner and told him to go outside and rake leaves......yea thats gonna happen.....LOL! Anyway I'll end for now!!!!

Pictures of John-Cole and April

PICS of John-Cole
and April!
Beauty Review Last Year
EBC Youth Trip
Last Sunday at Church!

Some more things I want to keep for Ariel's Lifebook

Some more information I found on another blog that will be perfect for Ariel's Lifebook!

CHINESE MOON FESTIVAL – SEPTEMBER 17, 2005 The Chinese Moon Festival (or the Mid-Autumn Festival) is on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. Chinese culture is deeply imbedded in traditional festivals. Just like Christmas and Thanksgiving in the West, the Moon Festival is one of the most important traditional events for the Chinese. The Moon Festival is full of legendary stories. For example, legend says that Chang Er flew to the moon, where she has lived ever since. You might see her dancing on the moon during the Moon Festival. The Moon Festival is also an occasion for family reunions. When the full moon rises, families get together to watch the full moon, eat moon cakes, and sing moon poems. The moon cake, which is pictured above, is the food for the Moon Festival. The Chinese eat the moon cake at night with the full moon in the sky.

CHINESE NEW YEAR – JANUARY 29, 2006 The Chinese New Year is the biggest holiday celebrated among Chinese people. It is often referred to as the spring festival because it signals the beginning of spring. It is a time when families and friends get together to say goodbye to the old and welcome the new. The Chinese believe that as they enter a new year, they should put behind them all things of the past. They clean their houses, pay off debts, purchase new clothes, paint their doors and window panes, and even get new haircuts. These activities symbolize new life and new beginnings. Homes are decorated with flowers and paper lanterns stating wishes of prosperity, good luck, happiness, good fortune, wealth, and longevity for the coming year. The dragon is another popular symbol for Chinese New Year. It is a symbol of strength, goodness, and good luck, and supernatural forces. A Chinese New Year celebration would not be complete without fireworks, which are supposed to scare away all evil spirits and misfortunes, preventing them from coming into the New Year. Because Chinese New Year follows the lunar calendar, rather than the solar calendar used in the US, the holiday never falls on the same day. On a lunar calendar, the New Year begins the first night of the new moon after the sun enters Aquarius. This date is anywhere between January 20 and February 19.


THE LANTERN FESTIVAL – FEBRUARY 12, 2006 The Lantern Festival or Yuanxiao Jie is a traditional Chinese festival, which falls on the 15th of the first month of the Chinese New Year. It is the last day of two week long Chinese New Year cerebration. Everyone gathers to enjoy the beautiful lanterns. Children will carry their own lanterns to participate in the showcase. Usually there is competition for the most beautiful lantern. Some of the lanterns may be works of art, painted with birds, animals, flowers, zodiac signs, and scenes from legend and history. People hang glowing lanterns in temples, and carry lanterns to an evening parade under the light of the full moon.


DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL MAY 31, 2006 The Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated in China on the fifth day of the fifth moon or month of the lunar calendar and for this reason is sometimes called Double Five Day. The celebration is held in honor of a former scholar and official, Ch'u Yuan, who lived in the third century B.C. According to legend Ch'u Yuan tried to advise his king wisely but the king did not want to hear what he was saying so he banished Ch'u Yuan to an isolated village, where he lived for seven years writing scholarly books. When, on the fifth day of the fifth month of the seventh year, he heard that his predictions had all come true he drowned himself in the river in an act of despair. Some fishermen who had seen him leap into the river took out their boats and tried to save him while their wives wrapped cooked rice in banana leaves and threw the rice balls into the river hoping that the fish would eat them instead of Ch'u Yuan's body. On this day, the Chinese still eat special rice balls called tsungs, throw some of the rice balls into the river as an offering to the spirit of Ch'u Yuan, and hold dragon boat races to the beat of drums as they re-create the search for the body of Ch'u Yuan.


HUNGRY GHOST FESTIVAL AUGUST 8, 2006 Just as Halloween is for Americans, the ‘Hungry Ghost festival’ is for the Chinese. For those who have never heard of this festival, here are the essential ‘spooky’ facts on this festival. Hungry Ghost festival is a popular occasion that is taken very seriously by the Chinese. It is believed by the Chinese that during this month, the gates of hell are opened to free the hungry ghosts who then wander to seek food on Earth. Some even think that the ghosts would seek revenge on those who had wronged them in their lives. The reason why the Chinese celebrate this festival is to remember their dead family members and pay tribute to them. They also feel that offering food to the deceased appeases them and wards off bad luck. Throughout this month, to keep the angry spirits amused, people stage street operas and other forms of public entertainment. In the past, people did not view the street operas as they were performed only for ghosts. Other rituals（典礼，仪式）are performed to help souls enter into heaven. People burn bundles of joss sticks, paper hell money, food, and other offerings by the roadside. Communities along rivers or near the sea float lanterns in the shape of the lotus or carved from fruit or gourds in the water to guide them away from their homes. They follow the lanterns from the river bank or sea shore till they can no longer be seen. This is done to redeem the soul of those who died by drowning. The most important days of this month are the 14th and 15th, the days of the great feasts. On the 14th, a great feast would be held to honor family ancestors. Prayers and offerings would be made at family altars. On the following night, the 15th, they would feast for the hungry ghosts. Held outside under the full moon, these feasts feed the evil spirits so that they will leave the living alone and bribe（贿赂） the ancestors for luck with money and the harvest.

Ultrasound Photo!!!!!!

I love this

List I found and didn't want to lose, 90 things.....

A list I found online, and didn't want to lose. The 90 things to do while you wait for referrel!

90 . Learn to say please and thank you in Child's language.
89 . Find the cities you will be traveling to on a map.
88 . Watch videos about Child's country - check at library.
87 . Little list: pocket dictionary, travel book, sketch book.
86 . Double check with employer about adding child to insurance policy.
85 . Library / appointment / shopping day.
84 . Distraction Day - Do something else - REALLY! Watch a movie, read a book, etc.
83 . Little List: Tylenol, Motrin, (adult and child) extra dropper, Benadryl, Tums, Metamucil
82 . Visit international grocery store - if available. (Get catalog, view website?)
81 . Free Day!!!
80 . Little List: Neck Pillow (for sleeping upright) door block, stain removal packets, sink stopper (flat circle)
79 . Work on current projects day.
78 . Library / appointment / shopping day.
77 . Distraction Day - Do something else - REALLY! Watch a movie, read a book, etc.
76 . Evaluate your shoes - are they good for walking? If getting new ones, make sure you break them in!
75 . Try to make at least one food your child may be eating.
74 . Little List: Stacking cups, toy mirror, travel Kleenex, toothache med, baby gas drops, rash cream, pacificiers
73 . Read/look through a cookbook from your child's country. Some have great photos!
72 . Find the hours, price and location of the nearest children's museum/zoo.
71 . Little list: flashlight, Swiss army knife, duct tape, sewing kit, eyeglass repair kit (backup glasses.)
70 . Work on current projects day.
69 . Get diaper Dooley and refills.
68 . Get Hepatitis shots
67 . Read/review developmental milestones for age of child.
66 . Library / appointment / shopping day.
65 . Get wills made or updated.
64 . Make laminated "adoption" card in Chinese, English and Pinyin explaining why you are in China.
63 . Arrange to get new $100 bills.
62 . Distraction Day - Do something else - REALLY! Watch a movie, read a book, etc.
61 . Get 2nd round of Hepatitis shots (30 days, check with Dr.)
60 . Make copies of tax returns
59 . Begin one "starter" suitcase.
58 . Work on preparing child's room.
57 . Library / appointment / shopping day.
56 . Make Photo album for caretaker. Part 1: take photo's that you don't already have.
55 . Find, meet pediatrician
54 . Childproof house
53 . Work on current projects day.
52 . Little List: Lice shampoo, scabies med, Oatmeal Bath, Caladryl, Pepto, Visine, vitamins, thermometer.
51 . Make Photo album for caretaker. Part 2: Decide on photos and get necessary translations.
50 . Work on preparing child's room.
49 . Library / appointment / shopping day.
48 . Distraction Day - Do something else - REALLY! Watch a movie, read a book, etc.
47 . Get visa photos.
46 . Get 3rd round of Hepatitis shots - if necessary (check with Dr.)
45 . Review child's clothes. Make list of needed items.
44 . Free Day!!!
43 . Make Photo album for caretaker. Part 3: Print/develop photos and assemble book.
42 . Work on current projects day.
41 . Make sure you have enough of your medicines (and they won't run out before you leave.)
40 . Library / appointment / shopping day.
39 . Buy gifts for caretakers. (Don't wrap for airline security checks.)
38 . Collect wrapping paper, tape, etc. to pack.
37 . Buy calling card or arrange to get Panda Phone.
36 . Get country calling code for China and USA.
35 . Review luggage. Buy / borrow luggage needed.
34 . Free Day!!!
33 . Apply for Back-up credit card (NOT debit card.)
32 . Little List: diapers, pull-ups, baby soap, child nail clippers, wipes, a few small towels to trash.
31 . Baby-sit a child of the same age as the one you will be adopting.
30 . Library / appointment / shopping day.
29 . Distraction Day - Do something else - REALLY! Watch a movie, read a book, etc.
28 . Little List: hand sanitizing wash, sippy cup, bowl, thermos, spoon, formula, snacks, blanket.
27 . Gifts for person to get mail, newspaper, water plants & fish.
26 . Buy Adoption announcements, collect addresses needed.
25 . Review electronic needs if taking digital camera, laptop, etc. Batteries? Converter? Extra memory? Passwords?
24 . Make a dinner with your favorite comfort foods.
23 . Get Visa (after referral/TA)
22 . Arrange to have the lawn mowed while gone.
21 . Work on current projects day.
20 . Library / appointment / shopping day.
19 . Put a stop on your mail / arrange to have someone pick up mail.
18 . Get reservations at Kennel, stop newspaper.
17 . Free Day!!!
16 . Review documents.
15 . Practice getting items out of carryon bag if crammed under seat in front of you. Practice carrying luggage and child.
14 . Get money orders.
13 . Register for out of country www.usembassy.state.gov - print contact info
12 . Get antibiotics from Pediatrician.
11 . Arrange to have someone come in and check on house/apt., water plants, feed fish. Give them KEY and your travel info.
10 . Send travel info to friend/relative.
9 . Practice making formula (with hotpot if taking.)
8 . Write out bills that will be due while you are gone. Arrange to have someone mail them.
7 . Call Credit Card Companies and let them know you will be traveling to China.
6 . Call airline to request special meals and infant meal on return.
5 . Have special night with spouse/children. Especially if children will be staying with family/friends.
4 . Pack carryon, make list of things that need to go in at last minute, put inside bag.
3 . Eliminate unnecessary items in suitcase!
2 . Confirm travel info - Take pets to kennel at least a day early!
1 . Confirm travel info

Started Ariel's 100 Good Wishes Quilt

Started Ariel's 100 Good Wishes Quilt last night. If I can get it somewhat even its going to be really pretty. Its going to be much bigger than the last one I made.

We also bought the Stephen Curtis Chapman CD All I want for Christmas, of course I cried when I saw the pictures and heard his daughter read the Christmas Story. I so want my baby girl home! Bethany in Grand Rapids should receive our Dossier today so again saying prayers that everything is the way it should be and that it will be authenticated and sent to China soon!

John-Cole plays at Washington tonight. It would be awesome if they could win! Then they play Manchester tomorrow at the school. We also have to find John-Cole some kind of Christmas Present. Its going to be a small Christmas this year but thats okay, especially since the outcome of saving all the money is Ariel.

Oh and I've got a cold.....LOL! I feel horrible, all stuffy but I guess that can be expected from the crazy weather we have here. John-Cole finished exams today and hes home for 2 weeks so at least it won't be boring. Nothing is ever boring with John-Cole!

Okay thats it for now! Have a Merry Christmas everyone!

Its Gone! Prayers that its right and will be DTC soon!

Well its gone! We mailed our Original Dossier yesterday, on daddy's Birthday, how appropriate I think. I'm praying that the authentication that they need to do in Grand Rapids will happen quickly and we will get a note that its gone to China soon!!

Just wanted to say a bit about how much I miss my daddy. Yesterday he would have been 66, wow hes been gone over 5 years. I had the greatest daddy in the world. He was so funny and silly. I miss that so much. He always loved Christmas because he was such a big kid himself. I can remember him playing with John-Cole's new toys until John-Cole would get mad. He would have adored Ariel. I know hes looking down from Heaven on us and hes watching our for us and praying for Ariel as well. I love you daddy, I love you and miss you so much and wish I could give you a great big hug!!!! I wish you could see how much John-Cole is like you. Hes just like you! He acts like you, talks like you and has your personality. He even looks like you. You would be so crazy about him!! Love you daddy!

Humm well I guess thats it. Lord please look down on us and help with the quick expadite of all this paperwork. Please look down on Ariel in China and wrap her in your arms. Please let her know that we are on our way as soon as we can and God keep her safe until we can get there to get her. Thank you God so much for being the awesome God that you are!

Did it myself and FOUND A LADYBUG!!!!

Well to save the lady at the Clinic I decided to type the letter up myself and I had John fax it to her. Now all she has to do is make a copy onto the Clinic's Letterhead, have Dr. Montesi sign it, have it notarized (which is there in the Clinic) and thats it. I decided to wait until AFTER dinner time, after picking John-Cole up from school to go and get it. So hopefully that will be enough time.

On a WONDERFUL NOTE! I was cooking supper, looked up and there is a ladybug crawling across the stove. I picked her up and took her outside. For those of you unfamiliar with Chinese Adoptions, ladybugs are said to be and bring good luck. I needed that ladybug today! I think God sent her to me as a sign that its going to be okay!!

Now I'm going to pick out some pictures from our trip out West and from Disney and make up new paper then get the ORIGINAL DOSSIER in the mail to Grand Rapids!
I'm so excited to be at this point in the process. I can't wait to bring Ariel home!!!!!!!

VENT!

Yay! Kevie called, everything looks fine except she wants a copy of the letter from Dr. Montesi in my file saying my health is fine.

So I call the clinic and Vicki is out.....(I need a crying smiley here!) The girl I talked to seemed less than interested about anything I said. I told her it had to leave tomorrow and I really needed to pick it up tomorrow morning. She could care less. All she needs to do is change the date. Thats it, just change the date, get him to resign it and have it notarized.

If I haven't heard from them by 4:30 I'm calling back!

Waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting......

Wish Kevie would call with news on the Dossier. Waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting..........

I got all my quilt squares cut last night, now I'm contemplating whether to try and piece and start the quilt or not. I don't want to ruin it but I also think I'll do okay. Its going to be a good bit bigger than the first one I made.

Also contemplating what to get John-Cole for Christmas. He really wants a Bass Guitar, I don't know. He needs a new bed but we don't have the $$$$ for that right now with saving for Ariel.

Oh I got the cutest stocking. Its light blue and has Ariel from The Little Mermaid on it and has Ariel embroidered on it. Its darling! I can't wait for my little girl to get here.

Humm what else, just brain storming here......we play Washington Friday night and Manchester here on Saturday. John-Cole has exams this week. I suppose we will be studying Science and English tonight. I really hope he has good grades. Basketball is so important to him and he really wants to be in Beta Club.

I guess its not possible to will the phone to ring! So I guess I'll end for now. I'll update tonight if I hear from Kevie. I really want to get the Dossier off to Grand Rapids this week!!!!

Oh still trying to decide if Ariel will be Ariel, Ariel-Jade, Ariel-Jadeyn, Jadeyn or what. Guess we will have to look at her to know "WHO" she is. We know shes Ariel-Jadeyn Barbara but beyond that don't know. John-Cole swears hes going to call her A.J. but I don't think so!!!!

Sent our Dossier to Kevie this morning!

Well we overnighted our Dossier to Kevie today, she should have it tomorrow afternoon! We are praying that everything is okay and that we can send our original to Grand Rapids by the end of the week!

I'm thinking we will be DTC by either the end of the month or beginning of January! I'm so excited to get this milestone behind us! I'll update when I hear back from Kevie.

We had a good time this weekend at all of our Christmas Parties! Friday night was our Couples Party at the church! I ended up with a candle and John ended up with......oh a plug in heated and cooled travel mug! Mark's Straight X Party was Saturday night. It was fun as well. We got a massaging head pillow, lol!

We helped with the Spaghetti benefit at church last night. I believe we raised around $2,000 dollars. Wow would that be awesome if later we could have a supper to raise money for the adoption.

Speaking of money, we are hoping everything turns out okay. We have IRS refunds coming plus a little saved money but it still looks like we will be short. We are thinking of asking Mark if we can do a spaghetti supper. I really didn't want to ask for donations but it looks like we are going to have to. I'm trying to think of things that we could auction off or possibly other fundraisers. We will get there somehow though, even if we have to sell everything we own....LOL! Things aren't that dramatic but it is time to start thinking of the money we are short.

Anyway, I'll update when I hear from Kevie!!!!!!! I can't wait to get things DTC for Ariel!

Still need one state seal.......

Well we had one State Seal missing so I called at lunch and Nan at the Secretary of State's office said she had just mailed it out so it should be here tomorrow, Saturday at the latest. So it looks like it will be the beginning of next week before we can get the Dossier overnighted to Kevie to have her check over it.

Our party at Garfield's was fun last night. We talked about the official United States approval and how it looks like 8.5 - 9 months now before refferal. I joked that I guess I'm officially pregnant now. Everyone joked with John and said now he had to treat me like I was pregnant and do everything I say, to which he said I already DO THAT....LOL!

Its icky and rainy and cold here today. We had hoped for some snow but it doesn't look like thats going to happen! Guess thats it for today!

Got our State Seals!

Yay!
We got our State Seals in today! It moved so fast from getting our 171 to getting the Seals. We have to go tomorrow and make copies of everything and then go and get some passport photos.

I'm hoping to have everything overnighted to Kevie by Monday. Then maybe everything can go to Grand Rapids by the end of next week. I have no idea how long authentication will take but I'm praying for DTC by December 31st.

Oh I also found out that people who are traveling right now were DTC the very end of March so it looks like if we are DTC by the end of December we will get a refferel around mid August and then travel around the end of September! So it looks like right around the time John-Cole goes back to school everything will be coming in!

Now we have to start raising money for travel and China expense. I know we will have some from the IRS refunds and then some from mama's retirement that she is giving us. So we will see! We also have to go and get the Hepatitus shots started. I'm still up in the air about Typhoid and especially the Malaria pills as I've heard both have horrible side effects. I think we should be fine if we drink NOTHING but bottled water. How oh how will I do without my Diet Cokes.....LOL! Do they have Diet Cokes in China? I'm being silly now!!!!

This week are Christmas Parties. We have one small one tonight at Garfields and then our couples party is Friday night and our Straight X Party is at Mark's Saturday Night. We are playing Dirty Santa at both parties which should be alot of fun!

Hummm I guess thats about it for now!! If anyone reads this Merry Christmas!! Oh I also wanted to mention that Forrest and Robin finally have their Homestudy found and we are so hoping to be DTC with them. It would be so terrific to go with people who have been to China and who know whats going on. Maybe they will calm me down as getting on that plane is going to be some task!! Ariel is worth it though!!!!! Can't wait to hold and love my China Doll!

WE GOT OUR 171H TODAY!!!!

John had gone hunting and I checked the mail before going to John-Cole's game and there it was! Of course John wasn't there to scream and yell and cry with, but I cried on my own. I'm so so excited!!!! I went yesterday and had our physicals and other paperwork notarized. Next week will be calling Kevie and getting everything in order to go and have everything state sealed. We still have to go get passport photos and copies of our passports to add to the Dossier.

I'm so so excited!!!! I can't wait to get our baby girl!

After Thanksgiving!

Hummm lets see, not much to talk about. We've all been feeling bad lately but thankfully today everyone feels better. Today was Dootsie's B'day and we had cake and ice cream. John-Cole has a huge basketball game tomorrow against their rivals. Its the most looked forward to game of the year. I hope they can pull it off!

Nothing new on the adoption front. I do need to get off my butt and get the letters typed up and notarized. I also still need to go to Indianola and get the physicals notarized. We also need to start on the Hepatitus Shots. I need to make that phone call this week!!!!

I still find my self running to the mail box looking for the 171 which I know still has probably a month. I'm just ready for this milestone to be over and get closer to our daughter.

Our pastor preached on being adopted yesterday and it made me cry. I know God has this precious daughter waiting on us and I pray that he holds her in his arms and loves her and lets her know in HIS way that we are on our way just as fast as we can!

Humm well I guess thats it for now.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Today has been a pretty slow day. We had Turkey, Ham, Stuffing, Corn, Beans, and Rolls. For dessert we had German Chocolate Cake and Carrot Cake.

Tomorrow is the all famous Black Friday. I think we are going to leave around 4 and drive to Jackson. Going to look for a sewing machine for Ariel's quilts. Also going to get John-Cole a Ping Pong table and go to Michaels and Hobby Lobby.

We may end up spending the night but haven't made up our minds yet.

Hopefully by this time next year we will have our baby girl home with us.

We love you Ariel, our China Princess, and are thankful for you already wherever you may be.

Here is Dootsie in New Orleans before Katrina. What an amazing city with such charm and such history! I hope they rebuild bigger and better than ever!

Above is my silly goober boy. He turned 14 and was way too old for the cupcake and hat but being the clown that he is he hammed it up quite well!!!!


This is one of my favorite pictures. My two men together at Disney! I just love this picture!!!!

Here is "us" in Disney World in September of 2005. John, me, John-Cole and Dootsie! As I said we love Disney and try to go at least once a year. I can't wait to have my Princess here to go with us!

Not much new Today

Not much new today. Got an email from our social worker just reminding us to copy the backs of all the papers for the Dossier. I also got the name and number of the lady who does the official state seals in Jackson so once the 171 gets here we are going to call her and go the next day if possible.

John-Cole has basketball games all weekend. We play a really hard team tomorrow and then go out of town Saturday to play.

Next week is Thanksgiving so I guess I need to go look up some receipes!

Oh John lost his keys and hes spazzing about it which is funny. Wonder if hes found them yet. I do love that husband of mine!!!! Hes so funny!

Post number one!

This is my first post so I guess I'll say a bit about us and our family and our adoption process so far.

My name is Beth and I'm 33 years old. I'm married to John who is also 33. We have been married for 15 years and together for 18. We have one son named John-Cole who is 14. My mom Dootsie also lives with us. We live in Mississippi. I'm a stay at home mom. John is manager at our local cable system and John-Cole attends a small private school.

Lets see a little bit about me. As I said I'm a stay at home mom. I enjoy, no I am a bit obsessed with Walt Disney World! I love planning trips and saving money on Disney vacations. I always challenge myself to find a cheaper way to go and I've been very successful in the past. I just started scrapbooking and rubber stamping and I am going to "try" to learn to quilt. I'm very talkative and outgoing and also very truthful to a fault at times. I also enjoy working with out youth group at church.

John enjoys watching T.V. LOL! He loves CSI or NCIS any type crime drama. He usually enjoys hunting although he says the "bug" hasn't bitten him this year. He also enjoys working with the youth at church and enjoys working with lighting and sound for one of our church bands. He also loves working with electronics.

John-Cole is 14 and in the 8th grade. He plays Football, Basketball and baseball and also weight lifts. His major love, though, is basketball. Hes lucky enough to be on the 2nd string in the 8th grade and is first in if one of the starters can't play. We are so proud of him. Hes very involved in everything to do with church and school. Hes in the Beta Club, Student Council, SADD and other clubs. Hes a great kid and we are so proud of him. Hes also the class clown.

My mom is a very active grandmom. She works at a loan company and is church pianoist at a local church. She loves shopping!! Her hobbies are.....shopping! She is much more active than I am and enjoys roller-coasters and thrill rides which amazes me! John-Cole would also much rather have her help him with school work than anyone else.

ADOPTION!!!!!!!

In January of 2005 John and I started our adoption journey. Today is November the 15th and we have finally finished all of our paperwork. It has been a long and hard journey with home visits, counselors and page after page of paperwork. We've also had to deal with the Government which is always a pain. It will be well worth it in the end though!

On October 14th, John, Mom and myself went to the USCIS office in Memphis and were fingerprinted. We are currently waiting for our 171 to come in. After that comes in and we get everything state sealed our Dossier will finally be on its way to China. We have waited so long for our Dossier to get its wings! After that we should recieve a Log In Date and then we will simply wait on a refferel.

ABOUT OUR DAUGHTER TO BE!

After much talking and considering we have chosen the name Ariel-Jadeyn Barbara for our daughter. Since I love the name Ariel and John loves Jadeyn we decided we just wouldn't know who our daughter was until we saw her for the frist time. The only compromise was a double name. Her middle name, Barbara, is for my mother Dootsie. Barbara is her real name. When we see our baby for the first time we will know if she is Ariel or Jadeyn or perhaps both. John-Cole likes A.J. but we don't! He also liked Eloise (Eloise at the Plaza) which was VETOED quickly.

So as of right now we are waiting on our 171-H. We have started the nursery and I am gathering materiels for Ariel's 100 Good Wishes Quilt. I'll try to keep this updated as time goes on.