Care Package and more.....

Today we mailed Jackson's care package. We included 2 sign language board books, Good Night Gorilla board book (the kids' favorite), Crayola triangular crayons and a drawing pad, a Fisher Price camera that works much like a view master, although you don't put in any discs. We also included a little notebook for the foster family to write down special memories or events in Jackson's life since he has been living with them, a wooden Thomas the Train, a chunky Tonka truck, Werther's Original candies for his foster family, a disposable camera, a letter translated into Chinese, his very own "Night, Night" blanket and a Sassy photo album with our pictures in it. The pictures are also labeled in Chinese so that his foster family can try to communicate to him, using the sign language books, who we are. I did not include anything that could not be replaced, just in case he never gets the gifts. Often times, you will send a package and they only come back with the photo album and maybe a toy that you sent.

We also received our notice from USCIS that they have received our I800 application. We are hoping to have that approval in a week or so.

We purchased the Baby Signing Time DVDs to begin working on our sign language more. We will put these on our laptop to have for Jackson when we travel.

If you have been following the "Weather In Datong" widget that is off to the right of my blog, then you have noticed that it is already very cold in Datong. This morning I awoke with a heavy heart and felt God's Holy Spirit nudge me to pray for Jackson. Specifically to pray that he would be kept warm. I have enjoyed our little 2 day cold front that we had for Thanksgiving, but so often I take for granted how cold it gets in other places. Being a Florida girl, I have only experienced "cold" in Wyoming and Colorado in December, but not for an extended amount of time. Please pray for all of the orphans who are already in the beginning of their winter right now! I do not know what Jackson's living conditions are. But what I do know is that the temperatures in Datong (January/February) can get to 25 below zero. Please pray that when Jackson goes to bed tonight, that he has a full belly and warm blanket! Please pray for God to prepare his heart. Please pray that God will fill his mind with memories of his foster family and that one day he will be able to recall those memories of his life in China. Please pray for his foster mom, the only "Mama" that he has known. Pray that God prepares her heart for Jackson to leave.

It's Gonna Be A JUNGLE In Here!

Have I mentioned how wonderful my husband is??? I need to find a before picture, meaning BEFORE there were walls and doors to close off this bedroom. Kurt added walls, extended tile, added french doors, installed a new ceiling fan, texturized new walls, painted, pulled up old, NASTY carpet, installed the flooring, painted baseboards and put back in (which all has been a work in progress for quite a few months) and at the end of the day when I asked him at 11:00pm if he felt up to hanging the curtains, he said "Yes" with a smile on his face and a sweetness in his voice! And never showed that he was annoyed as I followed behind him and swept up the white drywall on my new floor! He is more than I deserve!!!!

Jackson's bedding is the Baby Cocoa by Lambs and Ivy. I can't wait to start hanging the wooden animals on the walls and putting the stuffed jungle animals we have purchased into his room. We are going to buy a toddler bed and then a dresser that matches Jadon's furniture. We hope he will just love it!

HELLO PERGO!!!

After much hemmin'and hawwin' we finally decided on the Pergo laminant. It's beautiful, don't

'cha think?? Although it is not the best acoustics for a hearing impaired child, it IS the most practical for our family. The process to install was not difficult at all, as long as your walls are straight! But, it's all good we worked out the kinks! It's so shiny, and cool to the feet and most of all, doesn't have a lick of dog hair on it! The french doors shut to Jackson's room and is off limits to the dog! We are very pleased with our purchase!

GOOD-BYE CARPET!!!

I can't say that we shed any tears as we pulled up the carpet. We have only been in our house for 4 1/2 years, but our carpet has sure seen better days. I'm sure our 2 1/2 year old chocolate lab will be sad to see it go. I have never seen a dog that could roll back the carpet (since construction of the bedroom) while you weren't looking, snack on some carpet padding and then roll the carpet back in it's proper place undetectable...except for the evidence on her whiskers and green padding scattered here and there! The kids had a great time helping! We're looking forward to trash day tomorrow...I'm not sure I can have carpet again after seeing what's under it after only 4 years!

We Said "YES!" Again!

When we received our first LOA, our last name had been mispelled! We were quite concerned because we didn't know how much of a delay this could cause. Our agency has been wonderful and assured us that everything would be fixed quickly. We sent our I800 application which is our application to classify Jackson as an immediate relative. Our case manager contacted CCAA to request a corrected LOA and we received it the night before Thanksgiving. It was in the Fed Ex box Friday morning and at our agency this morning. We are so relieved that this is completed and on it's way to China! It will meet up with our I800 approval (which we are still waiting for) that gets cabled. Then the process continues to our TA. A few blogs that I have read have a wonderful explanation of the process from this point on. I will dedicate a separate post to that soon.

Painting and More Painting

Kurt's dad (Grandpa) came for a week's visit and helped us paint Jackson's room. I just love the color and am pleased with our choice. Jackon's room will have a jungle theme.

TODAY IS THE DAY!!!!!!!!

FOR OUR LOA!!!!!!!!

We received our phone call tonight from WACAP at 5:34pm while on the soccer fields! Our case worker is estimating travel in 2 1/2-3 months! That puts us in February!!!! Exactly one year from the time we decided to adopt!

We just started painting Jackson's room tonight and I'm sure we'll be up for quite awhile this evening!

Our God is faithful and His timing is PERFECT!!! Please pray for Jackson because I'm sure they will start transitioning him soon and preparing him for our arrival. From what we know, he has been with the same foster family for over a year!

DAY 84 and praying!

"but these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, be patient! for it will surely take place. It will not be late by a single day!" Habakkuk 2:3

The Lord layed this scripture on my heart on Day 79. God's timing has been perfect from the moment time began! The past ten years of my life have been the fruit of God's perfect timing and His perfect plan...my husband, Sydney, Jadon and now, our "very clever" and cute Kuan Kuan! I find great peace, comfort and assurance that our LOA, our TA, our flight, and our Forever Family day "will not be late by a single day!"

TEST POST

This is a test to see if we are able to post on our blog via email!

Preparing for China soon.

Painting to begin soon and decorating Jackson's room!

 

We received an update from a family that just returned from Datong with their

daughter.

 

Apparently our little Jackson is "very clever" and cute!