Ladybugs Everywhere!!!!

Well today after chruch we went to Wal-Mart and came home. As we were putting up the groceries I glanced out the window and there were ladybugs everywhere! They were crawling on the window and all over the back porch. Then we went outside to get the recliner out of the van and one landed on John! I'm hoping that this is a great omen! Hopefully the CCAA will speed up and we will have our referral in March or April (one can dream!)

Screen Cap of CCAA

I'm going to try and post a screencap of the CCAA websight! Yay!!!! Out of review!!!!

We are OFFICIALLY OUT OF REVIEW!

Well I'm sitting here shaking and crying and my heart is racing. Tonight, November 3rd, 2006 the CCAA just updated their websight that January is officially out of the review room. So the way it looks we are approved. Everything is fine and we should expect our referral somtimes in the March-July time frame. I woke John up. I think I scared him to pieces. He hugged me and went back to sleep. I called and woke mama up and she was excited. I'm just shaking, I can't stand it. I want my baby girl home!

John-Cole is going to the Ohio State game at Illinois this weekend and he is so excited. He is going with Nathan Steritz. We took them, Matt McClelan, Kat, Nathan and John-Allen to a Haunted Corn Maze last Saturday and had a blast. On a sad note Kris Kelly passed away on John's birthday. It was such a long and sad fight for her. Mark is so stong. His faith is awesome!

Anyway Ariel we are one step closer to you! We love you so much and think about you constantly! We can't wait to hold you and love you. Referrals arrived today and were good through August 25th so we have less than 5 months until our referral. The sad thing is it is taking about 2 months to get through 1 month so 5 months could turn into 10 but we hope and pray it doesn't. If it is 10 more months that will be August. I hope it isn't that long but we know that this is God's timing and his Grace that is bringing us closer everyday to our daughter. I pray that God will take care of her and love her and hold her in his arms and just whisper in her ear that everything is okay! That we will be there soon to give her big bear hugs and butterfly kisses and love her and hold her. Until that time we put our trust in our Lord to take care of our daughter. Mommy, Daddy, Granny and Brother love you Ariel Grace!

Dream

I had the weirdest dream last night and I'm trying to remember what I can about it. I just remember bits and pieces. I remember being at a large get together. There were tons of people there and all of a sudden a group of little Chinese girls walked out and were dancing in a circle. I wish I could remember the song they were dancing to. One of them looked at me right in my eyes and I started crying. Then they went away. I remember crying and going to leave and this fairy or angel lady stopped me. I told her I had to go and she said, NO, don't you want to come with me and have a baby. So I took her hand and all of a sudden everything around me started turning into like a fairy land (WEIRD I KNOW). Flowers started blooming and people were singing. I remember everything turning into Christmas and to angels or fairies saying have a wonderful Christmas. Then everything started blooming into roses and all these red and pink and orange flowers. I don't know if this means spring or summer? Then there were pieces of satin coming down from the ceiling which obviously represented flying. I remember them talking about flying and how easy it would be (I'm scared to fly). Then coming home with my baby. Then it was over. So weird but so real. It was so so real. I don't know what it means. I don't know if it means that we will fly in spring or summer. I don't know if it means maybe our daughter was born last night or this morning actually because this dream was after 9:30 a.m. I don't know if October 15th is an important day. I just know that was the most real dream I have ever had. I know there was water flowing and just flowers everywhere. At the beginning though there were Christmas houses and snow. Anyway I wanted to write about it so I would never forget it.

There is really nothing new. We are still in the review room. The wait is still predicted to get longer. I have seen the name Ariel everywhere lately. There was an Ariel at the Drs. office the other day, then I saw a baby named Ariel. It's just pretty obvious that our baby is supposed to be Ariel.

Oh, complete change of subject but we had our Freshman pep ralley last Thursday. It's all about the 9th graders since this was their last game and last pep ralley of Jr. High. It was cute. They blindfolded them and then had the moms come out and kiss them on the cheeks and told them it was the cheerleaders. They had to guess which cheerleader it was. John-Cole guessed Abbie....LOL! It was really cute. They got gifts. Then that night we played North Sunflower at Ruleville. The game was great! We were losing in the last 30 seconds and Nathan Steritz ran the ball on kickoff all the way for a touchdown. John ran the entire way with him....LOL! I'm so proud for him. We parents acted like crazy people! So our boys won the game, the first Jr. High game won in over 3 years in the last 30 seconds and a 9th grader won it. How great for them to go out of their 9th grade year knowing they broke that losing streak! The score was 26-22! I've got some great pictures that I need to upload and post. I'm so proud of them.

Humm can't really think of anything else. Just once again pray to God to keep Ariel-Grace safe and hold him in her arms until we can get there. Just tell her how much she is loved!

Dreams and Name Change

I didn't post about Ariel's name change and the two dreams that I had that led me to changing her name.

The first dream had to do with her name, Ariel. If anyone knows me they know that I love Walt Disney World. We try to go at least twice a year and I can't wait to take Ariel there. Well one night I dreamed that we were at Disney. Ariel was with us and about 2 years old. We were in a store shopping and there was an Ariel doll. I looked at my baby girl and said
"Who is that?"
She said in her little voice "Ariel!"
And I said, "Who is Ariel?"
She said "I am mommy!"
Well that sealed the name Ariel!

The second dream had more to do with the wait times. For any of you going through this process of adopting from China you know how horrible the wait times are now and that the predictions are even worse. What turned out to be a six month wait has turned into a possibly 14-18-24 month or longer wait. It's really frustrating to not have our daughter and to not really know when we will get her.

For those of you who read my blog and know me you will know that I love my Lord Jesus very much and that I pray to him often. Well with this wait we pray daily for the Lord to help us get through this. To protect Ariel until we can get to her and to give us a peace about this wait. Well one night I was just frustrated and when I talked to God I was frustrated. I just begged God to tell me how I was supposed to handle this wait. How I needed my baby girl and she needed me. Well that night I heard God's voice so clearly in my dreams.
He said,

It is by my GRACE that you will get your baby girl!

When I woke up I knew that our baby was to be Ariel-Grace. It was a clear as the sky that she was meant to have the name Grace. Because it is through HIS GRACE that we will have our daughter.

So the name Jadeyn is gone. I'm still thinking of whether to hypen her name or not. Our daughter will be Ariel Grace Barbara Kirksey. Or Ariel-Grace Barbara Kirksey. I personally like the hypen but don't know how many people will call her the entire Ariel-Grace and how many people will call her simply Ariel.

Humm I guess that's it for today. Nothing really new on the adoption front. The rumors are all over the place like always. Some say the wait is going to speed up, some say it will slow down even more so we have no idea. John did get a pension from Cox which will end up being close to $5,000 dollars. That's great and will go a long way with more expenses that are being incured because of the wait. We still have to have our last set of shots and we also have to redo our fingerprints. From that point on we may have to update our home study which would mean more physicals and more background checks and then possibly redo the I600 to get another 171. It really gets frustrating that China won't give us a straight answer on anything. If they would just come out and say the wait will be 20 months or whatever then we could prepare. With everything up in the air we have no idea. We just wait month to month to see what the CCAA says. At least we are in the review room. I so want to see January out of the review room. That will be one giant step!!!!

Oh, I wanted to tell a cute story I heard on one of the adoption groups so that I can put it in Ariel's lifebook later on. To think the wait is frustrating for us is one thing but thinking of little children who are waiting on their brother or sister is another. They are so confused. They know they are supposed to have a baby brother or sister but that brother or sister NEVER seems to get here.

So a mother said the doorbell rang and it was UPS with a package of something she had ordered off the internet. She said she brought it in, layed it on the table, opened it and looked at it, put it up and went back to doing what she was doing. Well her 4 year old was watching the entire time and she looked at him and he was just shaking his head. She said "What's wrong?" He looked at her and said,

"MOMMY IS THAT BABY GIRL WE ORDERD FROM CHINA EVER GOING TO COME IN?"

I thought that was hillarious and so true of the way a child would think!

Anyway I do want to ask the Lord to watch over Ariel-Grace and to wrap her in his arms and love her and let her know that her mommy and daddy will be there as soon as we possibly can!

We love you our baby girl!!!!

To long!

It's been far to long since I've written. I have to admit to being depressed about the long wait and all the possible questions that could be coming from the CCAA. Rumors have run rampant about weight restrictions and I am scared to death.

We just got back from Disney World and I'm down 43 pounds. We had a blast there but I just couldn't stop thinking about how Ariel should have been there with us. We have decided on the name Ariel-Grace Barbara Kirksey. I had a dream where I realized that it's by God's grace that Ariel will come home to us. In that dream I knew that I had to include the name Grace. It was as if God was giving me her name.

As of right now December is out of the review room so we should officially be in the review room. Everytime I get an email alert or the phone rings my heart flutters a little thinking it could be Kevie with questions from the CCAA. I will breath such a sigh of relief when we see that January is out of reveiw.

On the home front John-Cole is having a super 9th grade year! He is playing both Jr. High and High School Football. He was elected to the Homecoming Court and will be escorting Halea Brown and Matt McClelan will be escorting Chelsea Stevenson. I can't wait to see him dressed up! He has grown so much over the past few months. He's turning into such a handsome young man. He still has his sense of humor though.

Its been a while again

Well its been awile again since I posted. We have heard nothing new. CCAA seems to be slowing down and I'm afraid that what we thought would be September travel may very well be well after the beginning of the year. Of course we pray and we try to keep positive thoughts but sometimes its hard. Again I know that God has our baby girl waiting and that all of this is in His time but being human I can't help but mourn the missing link in our family at times. I just want our daughter.

There have been some concerns about weight so I'm still trying to lose weight so that if anything is said I can have proof that I've lost a good deal of weight before travel.

Lets see on the school front John-Cole only has a bit over a week left. We had the Athletic Banquet the other night and John-Cole won the track award along with a certificate for all sports and also a basketball medal. I'll try and post a picture.

What else......not much really. We have planned another trip to Disney in September and will be staying at The Wilderness Lodge. This may be the only time we'll ever be able to stay here. I'm really looking forward to it.

Just wanted to tell Ariel that I love her and am praying for her every single day!

Its been a while

Well its been a while because there really isn't anything new to report from China. The rumors go up and down and can get to you sometimes. I read one last week that said CCAA said there is no way it will go past 12 months LID which would have us traveling probably February at the latest. I still hope we have our baby girl by Christmas.

Ariel's quilt top is finished. I'll add pictures of it. Its really gorgeous! I need to get it quilted and have to decide on a person to quilt it. Isn't it pretty!! I love the hearts, plus it has the little Asian girls as the boarder. Its queen size.

We got back from Disney. Had a wonderful time. Came home and found out they are offering Free Dining again in September so we will be going back. Hopefully staying at Coronado Springs! We will be there for John-Cole's 15th birthday. Seems appropriate since we always seem to go for his birthday. I'll add some pictures from Disney.

We also had the Beauty Revies. Jamie Luke won Jr. High with Sara McDaniel, Taylor Dobbins, Emily Newton and Morgan McGaugh being beauties. For high school Mary Lemonis won and the beauties were Jessica Stokes, Jennifer Seymour, Nicole McAdory and Kaylee Wilson. John-Cole was an escort. Here are a few pictures.


I've seen quite a few ladybugs lately. We actually rescued one last night from the ceiling of the bathroom. I also dreamed about a little Chinese Girl with pig tails jumping up and down on our bed. I hope she was our girl. John was cutting on some of the trees this weekend and talking about building Ariel a tree house with a slide and swing in the big climbing tree. We are so ready for our baby girl!

Oh heres something funny, I'm going to get my ears stapled tonight. Its supposed to help with weight loss and your hunger. Its supposed to work by pressure points. I hope so. I hope it doesn't hurt....LOL! So we will see. I've been on and off the diet since getting back from Disney but I am going to re-join Weight Watchers next Tuesday. So if the ear thingy works at all hopefully along with Weight Watchers it will be good!

A message to my baby girl. We can't wait to get you here. We pray for your comfort every night. We pray that God looks down on you and that he loves and comforts you until we can get there. I love you Ariel. Mommy and daddy can't wait to come and get you! Hopefully it will be soon!

Got our second round of Hep B

We went this morning and got our second Hepatitus B shot! So now we go back in 4-6 months for the final round of both A and B! There are so many rumors floating around the internet that I really don't have a clue when we will get Ariel. I'm still secretly hoping for a referral in August but it looks like closer to October or November and traveling late November or December. I hope and pray we get her home by Christmas!!

Love you baby girl!

A dream I had

I had to write about this. I hope it means that Ariel was born, or maybe this is the day her mother had to leave her or the day the orphanage found her.

Anyway on the night of Feb. 26th I had a dream that there were ladybugs everywhere. I was running through a field and there were ladybugs on the ground and flying through the air. Everywhere I looked there were millions of ladybugs. It was so real and so vivid.

So I thought I would write it down just to see if it means anything.

I love you baby girl!!!!

Rescued two ladybugs last night!

We rescued two ladybugs last night. Both of them were in the upstairs bathroom. I guess there really is something to this lucky ladybug thing. We got our Log In Date and saw 2 ladybugs on the same day.
John-Cole went to work at the bowling lanes yesterday. His first day of real work! He will get paid on Sunday.
I bought Ariel the cutest little ladybug outfit off of ebay to celebrate our log in date. Isn't it cute! I can't wait to get my baby girl home.
Love you Ariel-Jadeyn!

Yay got our LID!!!!!

Yay!!!! Our Log in Date is 1-17-06!!!! So 9-10 months we will have our ARIEL!!!!
Saw a ladybug last night so maybe that meant something. Also saved one last week! Its been really icy here and John-Cole is out of school today. Hes going to the bowling lanes to work for a little while this afternoon. I can't remember if I've posted a diet update but as of last Tuesday I'm down 20 pounds!! Its feels great getting into clothes! Even though we are going to Disney I'm not splurging. I'm going to watch what I eat. I don't want to gain much back. Love you baby girl! We are officially on our way!

We're going to Disney!

Well after getting depressed because of the refferal rumors we decided to spend spring break, March 10-18 at Disney! We are going to stay at Pop.
I read a new rumor today which has referrals in August again, goodness I hope so. I want my baby girl home! Beside that we havne't heard anything about our LID. I emailed Kevie and she said it would probably be March before we heard anything but that she is sure we are logged in sometimes in January!
I can't wait to get to Disney and buy Ariel lots of stuff!!!!

No LID Yet and Ladybug

Well still no Log In Date! SCREAM!!!!!!! I just want to know when it is!!!!!
John-Cole was sitting in the recliner last night and he said "Hello little ladybug!" He took her outside so maybe that means more good luck.
If anyone is reading this please join our family in praying that the wait time between LID and referral speeds up. Right now I have heard that it could be February before we travel. Goodness I hope not. I really want to have my baby girl home before Christmas. CCAA's websight says that they are through reviewing all applications for June but they don't mention any referrals past May 18th. I hope they speed up.
Love you babygirl, so so much and just want you home with us.
Dear Lord, I love you so much and would like to ask you to be with all of the employees at CCAA. Give them as much help as they need to speed the process up. Lord I know our daughter will be here with us in YOUR time and not ours. I know you have our daughter picked out for us and I know she is meant to be ours. Lord please just be with us through this hard wait and be with Ariel and let her know that we love her so much and that we wish we could have her right now but that You are there with her, loving her and comforting her until we can be there to get her. I love you Lord and I know You do things for a reason and for what is best. Amen!

We started our shots today!

Well we started our shots today finally. We had Hepatitus A and B, one in each arm. I have to admit to being a little chicken because of that .00001 percent chance of an allergic reaction but it didn't happen. So now we take one more in a month and then the last 2 in 6 months which will be around August 7th. It was a bit on the expensive side. $240 for the three of us and then it will be a bit less in a month and then another $240 in August.
We still haven't heard of a log in date. Still waiting patiently. I know Bethany got a few referrals on January 4th and then none at the end of January so hopefully on the next batch of referrals we will get our LID.
I weighed in tonight and gained 2 pounds. Thats depressing. I know its either the Superbowl Party Sunday Night or the new vitamins that are making me gain. The leader said don't take the vitamins anymore so I'm not.
Humm...new goings on around here. Nothing really. We still need to get in Ariel's room and get things started. There are so many bags and things in there that need to be gone through. John also mentioned painting each of the walls a different color which would be cute and then using the stencils. We really need to get started now that basketball is over.
Purpose Camp's theme is going to be True Love Waits this year promoting virginity until marriage which I think is excellent! We just ordered John-Cole a very nice necklace. Here is a picture of the necklace,

I did see a ladybug today which makes sense since we started our shots.
We are getting there slowly but surely. I'm so ready to go!
Love you Princess!

Weight Watchers Weigh In Night

Tonight was weigh in and I lost another 5 pounds! yea!!!! Thats 16 pounds in four weeks so an average of 4 pounds a week. I think thats super and hope it keeps up for awhile. Every pound off is a healthier me for the future.

Nothing new on the adoption progress. Still pulling our hair out waiting on that Log In Date!

John-Cole started weight lifting today and I'm so proud of him. He has lost almost 15 pounds over the last year with basketball and football. He also let it slip that they may choose him as quarterback for Jr. High football next year. Thats a scary thought but exciting for him.

I suppose thats it for now. Just wanted to update on the weight loss so I can keep track.

Love you Princess!!!!

Hi!

Hi!!

Nothing much new lately. Just wanted to say Happy New Year to my baby girl. Its the year of the doggie! I wonder if you were born this year or last. I really think it was last year, maybe December of 2005 but that may just be because December is a special month with daddy's birthday being December 14th.

The CCAA rumors are flying as usual. Now they say 10-14 months but that isn't a fact its just rumors. All CCAA is saying is that they are through reviewing applications through June and through matching through May 13th. I still hope and pray that after Chinese New Year things will speed up some. I just want to get my baby girl home.

John-Cole's team beat Humphreys and did an awesome job in the tourney. They came in 2nd which is fab!!!!

I've been having a few back problems lately. Don't know what it has to do with but I'm hoping it will go away soon!

I'm going to weigh in tomorrow again and I'm hoping I've lost. I have tried to do really well. I have to get this weight off. Just losing this little bit makes me feel so much better!

I love you Ariel! Love you so much!! Just know when we can we WILL be there! Wish it was today! Wish you were home with your family!!

Had another Ladybug Sighting

Had another ladybut sighting last night. I went into the bathroom to get ready for bed and there she was on the counter behind the tub. I of course called John in there and told him to save her. He opened the window and she flew off. I hope she is a sign that our Log In Date will be here soon!

We had our first game in the district tourney tonight and our boys beat Ruleville and our girls beat Ruleville too. So we move on. Our boys will play Humphreys and I'm honestly not sure who our girls will play. I think Deer Creek. I think our girls have a good chance to take this all the way! That would be awesome. Our boys play Humphreys Thursday night and they haven't beat them. Its possible and would be awesome so I can hope but say its not likely. But I will keep the faith for them.

John-Cole and April are liking each other again. I just hope they go very very slow. I love both of those kids so much and they are such super best friends! I just don't want them to ruin that and at this age the ""relationship"" think can be so stressful.

I've been flip-flopping on calling my baby girl Ariel and Jadeyn lately. I really think its going to take looking at that picture for the first time to know "who" she is. I already know shes my daughter sent to us from God, I just don't know what we are going to call her. One day its definately Ariel and the next day its Jadeyn. There are alot of Jadeyns' though, both boys and girls coming along and I don't want her to be One of Three in her class as she grows up. Kind of like it is with Madison and Abbie and Olivia. There are soooo many Maddie's out there. Ariel isn't very common so I may stick with that unless she is 100 percent Jadeyn when I see her.

There really isn't any new news on the referral front. I believe its still the 9-10 month waiting period which still puts us in a August-October referrel date. CCAA did update their websight to say that applications have been matched up until May 15th. So that will have them traveling in February. So thats a 9 month wait until travel time. That would be super. Of course with Chinese New Year coming up things may slow down. Hopefully they will pick back up mid-February though. I'm so ready to go and get my baby girl!

Oh, I didn't get to weigh in tonight because of the ballgame at Deer Creek. John-Cole wanted to stay and watch Humphreys and CDA so we didn't get home in time. I'm kind of glad because its ""that time"" and I know I have water retention. If I had gained because of fluid I would feel horrible. I haven't been off program at all but by next week ""that time"" will be over and hopefully at weigh in the weight will be truer than it would have been tonight. I'm still doing really well following the diet. Its really the easiest thing I've ever done. The water is getting easier and easier to drink except that it leaves a bad taste in my mouth which I can't stand. As for food its pretty easy to stay on. With the Weight Watcher Smart Ones and sandwiches and all the WW sweets you can just about have something for ever craving possible. I am thinking of getting some vitamins.....just a multi-vitamin and then maybe some fiber pills. I could live on veggies and I know I'm not getting enough protein in. At least I can feel my pants getting bigger. Hopefully I'll have at least 40 more pounds off by the time we travel. I'll feel so much better about myself and be so much more comfortable.

To my baby girl, as always mama and daddy love you so much. We can't wait to see you. Tonight at the ballgame we were talking about how this time next year you would be toddeling around and how John-Cole would be right there with you. He can't wait to meet you and neither can your granny! Honestly the entire town can't wait to meet you!!!! We talk about you constantly and think about you all the time. God wrap your arms around our baby girl, keep her safe and sound and whisper to her how much she is loved. Tell her we will be there as soon as they will let us.

Love you my precious angel!!

Its been a few days!

Its been a few days since I've written. Really nothing new on the adoption front. I keep hoping that we will hear of our LID but not yet. We were supposed to get our shots last week but mama and I both got the worst cold ever and they wouldn't give them to us with fever. We have Matt this weekend so John-Cole has had a good time. They are at Kat's b'day party right now. I hope they have a good time. Humm basketball is the same. They beat Benton again which was awesome. Our tourney starts Tuesday at Deer Creek. It would be awesome if they would do good.

We bought Ariel loads of little outfits from Pennys today. So cute!!

To my baby girl. I love you! I miss you everyday and hope and pray we can get you as soon as possible! God has already blessed us with the birth of you in our heart and I can't wait to hold you in my arms!!

Ladybug Sighting!

Its so funny when you see a ladybug on a really important day! We got our brown envelope from Guangzhou today and then tonight while I was working in Ariel's scrapbook I found a ladybug. Of course I took her outside and set her free. Ladybugs mean luck so I'm hoping this means our luck with Ariel's referrel will pick up. I'm praying for an August Referrel!

John went to pick John-Cole up from his basketball game. It was in Mark's the furthest away I think, maybe Tallulah is farther but its far enough. Of course they all lost with the exception of the Jr. High Girls who almost always win. Thats okay though they are having fun.

In closing I love you my baby girl where ever you are. I miss you everyday that you aren't here with us. God love our baby girl and keep her safe.

Got our Big Brown Envelope from Guangzhou!

Well I never thought it would get here this soon but we got our Big Brown Envelope from the Guangzhou Consulate today! It was so awesome to see all of that writing in both English and Chinese. It was information and forms that need to be filled out for Ariel's Visa once we are in China so we have quite awhile before we need to fill anything out on it, but just having it makes it all that much more real. John had chill bumps!

We also had our taxes done today. We are well on our way to the money needed for travel. We will use a little of it to go towards shots and then pay Bethany for the authentication of the documents. After that its all in the bank to get what little interest in can before travel time.

Still don't know a LID. Waiting patiently but would love to know. All in God's time though.

I think I'm going to work on Ariel's scrapbook with her wishes tonight. I keep joining so many swaps on OHGWQ group that I'll have so many wishes that she will have five or six books. We joke on the board that we need to join swappers annonomous!

Love you baby girl! Going to work on your wish book.

Hi baby girl!

Hi baby girl. Its been a few days since I posted. I've been down a little reading about delays in referral time. I know that I just have to trust in God to bring us together in his time but I miss you so much. I feel like you should be here with me right now. As I sit here typing on the computer and watching TV I feel like I should be taking care of you. You need your mommy and I need my baby girl. I know God has a purpose for both of us and I know His timing is perfect and we will be together at the perfect time. I'm just human and impatient.

We played Deer Creek last night and lost by one point. It was a really good game. I swear our boys don't know how to play a game without having people sitting on the edge of their seats. One point!!!!

I did weigh in for the first time last night and I'm down 5 pounds. I've got a long way to go but its a start. I can feel my jeans being loser which is wonderful! I also feel so much better drinking water instead of Diet Coke all the time. Don't get me wrong, I still love my Diet Coke but limiting them is really helping.

I wish I would hear from Kevie about our LID. I'm sure we are logged in by now but a date would be wonderful! I'm still hoping for an August referral and a late September travel date.

We should get our money back from our taxes sometimes next week. I have to send a check to Bethany for authentication, I also need to send the signed form that we read the travel information to Bethany. I need to send in the Tempo travel form and make appointments for our shots.

Here is something I don't want to forget as well. I would like to ask Tempo if there is a possible way to stay a few extra days in Hong Kong and go to Hong Kong Disney. I know it all depends on the age of Ariel but its a once in a lifetime opportunity. I wish we had the chance to go to Hong Kong first like we do Beijing. I think we leave from Hong Kong on the way back to the U.S.A. so I don't know how that works but I plan to ask.

I love you, mommy's baby girl. You daddy, granny and big brother love you too! We can't wait to hold you in our arms!! Never forget that and let God and your nannies take care of you until we can come get you.

Just wanted to say Goodnight

Night baby girl.

Just wanted to say that we did our income taxes yesterday and if I did them right we are well on our way to having the $$$$ for travel. I really hope I did everything right.

Tomorrow we will go and find out and I'll update. I love you baby girl! Bought you the cutest little coat today. It's leopard fur and a size 24 months so it should fit you for quite a while.

Love you my princess Ariel! I'm still trying to get your daddy to learn how to spell your name. Its funny, he writes Areil Jadyen........instead of Ariel-Jadeyn! He'll learn though.

In Wal-Mart today there was a Chinese family who had the cutest little girl with them. I wanted to just follow them around to look at the gorgeous little girl!!!! Can't wait to see you and hold you in my arms!

Ms. Mary had pictures of Natalie today. She is so gorgeous and she looks so so happy! This time next year you will be too!!!!

Again God just hold our baby girl tightly in your arms and whisper in her ear that her mommy and daddy will be there to get her as soon as possible! Tell her how much we all love her and can't wait to give her kisses and snuggles and hugs!!!!!

Started Weight Watchers Today

We won't go into how awfully FAT I am but I did take the first step and joined Weight Watchers last night. I don't ever think I will forget the number on that scale. It was sad and scary. So I started today. Eating all of the points is pretty hard to do and I'm starting to think that maybe thats why I'm so big. I don't eat enough of foods that are good for me to keep my metabolism running right. I will eat sweets or bread or something fattening but when I eat healthy, veggies, fruit etc. I can eat alot of it and it doesn't hurt me. So I have 8-12 months I'll say before travel. I hope to get at least the first 50 pounds off and hopefully more than that!! I remember when I was on Diet Center a few years ago I felt sooo much better even being a bit littler. Its so worth it not only for John, John-Cole and my health but for Ariel. There is no way I'll be able to chase her around at this size.

Tomorrow is my birthday....uggh I feel so old! I can't believe I'll be 34! It seems like yesterday I was a teenager and now I have a teenager!!

Oh I have a funny story that I'm keeping to myself for now but one day John will read it and hopefully laugh. I mentioned that John got a new laptop right at Christmas Time. Well hes been all over me to take care of it or hes taking it to work and not bringing it home. So I've done really good at keeping it clean and not downloading *MUCH*. Well John-Cole called today to come and pick him up from school. So I sat the laptop on the floor and left it open. Well when we got home Isis was laying in the middle of the keyboard asleep! I guess it was warm! John would have killed me and ISIS!!!! So .... then I start it up and it won't work. Scared me to death! I can't get on the internet at all!!!! I called John and acted dumb. I have no idea why its doing this. So after Straight X we came home and it took him about 10 minutes to figure out that if you mash the function key together with another key it turns the internet connection off. Well Isis probably had every key mashed as he was ASLEEP on the keyboard! So its fixed, John doesn't know, I took the blame and Isis is INNOCENT I TELL YOU! I do love my cat!!!!

Hummm no new news on the adoption. Alot of LIDates seemed to come today but I haven't heard from Kevie and it would be beyond awesome to be LID this soon after we were DTC. So I'll just say I love you baby girl!!!! God keep our baby girl safe in your arms and let her know we will be there to get her as soon as they will let us!

Great Basketball Game!

We had a great basketball game tonight! Our boys played in Inverness and were losing for the entire game. I think they must like to play under pressure or something because they won the game by one point in the last second of the game. I think they are going to give their coach a heart attack if they don't quit playing last quarter, or heck last minute games!

I joined two Yahoo DTC groups, the December group and the January group. I was also made co-moderator of the December group which looks like its going to be pretty confusing at first but I'll learn. It looks like both groups are going to be busy with exchanges, secret pals and such for the months until we can go and get our daughters.

I finally finished reading all of the preliminary travel information from Bethany and some of it is pretty funny. For example it says that you have to have new money with no bends but even then China may request another bill. I have to go right now and fill out the preliminary travel info so mama can mail it all out tomorrow.

I also need to talk to mama and John about the Hep. A and B shots and I need to call the health dept. tomorrow and see if we can get them here in Greenville or if we have to go to Greenwood. We need to start this as soon as possible since you have to wait one month between the first two shots and then six months for the last one. That will be cutting it pretty close!

I got up and spoke about Ariel in church last night. I was proud of myself I only cried a little bit. Without God in our life there is no way we would be where we are now. I give God all the praise for taking us where we are in our journey for our China Princess!!

Love you Ariel-Jadeyn!!

Happy 2006 !!!!

HAPPY 2006 !!!!
This is the year we come and get our baby girl!
Love you!!