An anniversary and a beginning...

Two years ago today, J and I sat in our living room awaiting the most important phone call of our lives. Every time the phone rang we'd jump. Finally, after lunch, the call came.

We were parents. To a daughter.

I'll never forget the anxiousness I felt awaiting that phone call. Horrible thoughts were running through my head. Maybe something was wrong and China didn't send our referral. Maybe we were wrong about our LID date. Maybe this, maybe that. I think somewhere in the back of my mind I was convinced we'd never be parents.

But the call came and we were/are parents. Parents to an amazing little girl.

An amazing little girl who started school today.

She started 2 year old preschool and did a great job. She already loves her teacher and talks about her a lot. There were tears this morning, but not from our baby, just her baby of a momma. I couldn't help it - she's growing up way too fast. It hit me on the way that this is just the first step of many.

Splish Splash, I was taking a bath!

It's been a while since I've taken any bathtub shots of E. I took about 50 pictures, and these were my favorites!!! I was also experimenting with my new flash. I was adjusting where the light was pointing and trying to soften the light.

08.08.08

Are you going to watch?

The Olympics for me are bittersweet. Many moons ago when we were getting our dossier ready my "plan" was to go back to China for a second adoption around the time of the Olympics. If things had held steady at the time, that was a very realistic timeline. Of course, things changed.

Some people think it's the Olympics that have caused the slowdown. I believe we will know by the end of this year if it's true. I honestly think things will stay the same for quite some time.

These are pictures we took while in China to meet E. Back in 2006 the Olympic symbols were everywhere. I can't imagine what it looks like now.

A new book: Silent Tears

An American woman who volunteered in an orphanage in China has written a book about her time spent in China.

I have not read this book, so I can't comment on the contents. However, I have heard over and over that it is a realistic and eyes open wide view of orphanage life for children in China.

I'm about to order the book and hope to read it soon. I'm not good at reading these books, and I'm guessing E is going to get many extra hugs and kisses while I'm getting through it. It's hard to be thankful that I have one child home knowing that I'm waiting on another. It feels like we're only halfway there.

http://www.kaybratt.blogspot.com/

Love Without Boundaries Foundation has set a goal to raise $5,000 by August 27

Goal: $1 challenge to save a child's life!

LWB is launching a $1 challenge to kick off our new Unity Fund for impoverished, rural families in China. So many times over the years, we have met families who have had to make the painful decision to abandon their child in the hopes of getting them the medical care they need. It has been a dream of ours for many years to begin such a fund, so that when we learn of families in true crisis, we can provide their children with the surgeries they need so that such a painful decision does not have to be made.

We have met so many of these families in person, and they love their children completely, but they simply could never afford a $5000 heart surgery to save their child's life when their family is living on less than $50 per month. Our Unity Fund was created to keep these families united and to give a second chance of a healthy life to at-risk children living in poverty. Join with us on this dream, and actually help prevent children from being orphaned. We challenge everyone to send just ONE DOLLAR during this challenge period to LWB's Unity Fund. Is it possible to find 5000 people to donate $1? With your help, we believe it is. If we meet that goal, then together we can impact a child's life forever.

Pass on this message to everyone you know! Pop just $1 in the mail to Love Without Boundaries and help change the world, one child at a time.

Love Without Boundaries
P.O. Box 25016
Oklahoma City, OK 73125-0016
or donate $1 online at www.lovewithoutboundaries.com or donate through Facebook by clicking "donate" and then choosing "other" and putting in $1.

Together we can continue our work of bringing hope to those truly in need!

Hey, I didn't even notice!

Back in 2005, every day we waited for our daughter was another tickmark. You see, when we began the process it was a six month wait. In fact, it was still a six month wait three months into the wait. And then boom goes the dynamite.

So, Saturday would have been a milestone if we were still in 2005. We have been LID for our second child for a month. Woohoo. One down, 48 - infinity left to go.

Learning new stuff *updated

Here's a picture I loved, but J's legs were very prominent in the back. By doing a quick edge burn I was able to soften the legs and focus on E's face...where it should be!!!

Whatcha think???

I added a second picture from the same parade. E had a blast and so did we!