Day 105

And still no letter of acceptance. I did get a confirmation that we are next.....again. But I have faith that we are and everything works out for a reason.

We did find out that JJ will need surgery in Jan. Jan 6 to be exact. She has to have her ear tubes replaced and her ears cleaned out. Not something I want for her but with her having no hearing in her right ear we need to have this done. So you see everything does work out. We will have the surgery and then she will recover and then we can go to China for little sister.

This dress is now available for order in the shop. It has a cute cupcake on the front. Perfect for a birthday party!!

Hope you all have a great New Year!!

Sunday Snapshot ~ Rachel ~

Seeing as how I have done all the kiddos except our youngest, this will be all about our baby girl.


The first time I saw her face was way back in June....I had looked through many files at the time without really thinking we would find our child or if we even wanted to continue. We had been devastated by a match with a well known agency and had it given to someone else by mistake after we had been assured the little guy was ours, but I just knew the moment I saw Rachel's eyes sparkle, she was our girl. God works things out you see and everything happens for a reason.



Most people think we are nuts, I mean come on, six kids, what are you thinking?? Especially adopting another child with special needs. I say, we are very blessed and God will not give us more than we can handle.


I think Rachel will fit in perfect. She looks inquisitive and has a knack for looking cute and getting what she wants. (yes, I know just my opinion, but from the pictures we've seen how can you not think this.)

I can not wait to bring her home and love on her, teach her to walk, read bedtime stories and give her a forever family. Our journey to Rachel has not been without it's trials, but nothing worth while ever happens easy. She is our little caboose and our final child. And we love her.



~"The decision to grow our family consists of much more than adding up noise and groceries and laundry, and guaging your tolerance to each. You also have to factor in the multiplication of hugs, the many more funny sayings, and the additional joy of witnessing each child succeed at each new phase of life" ~ Mary Osten ~ A sane woman's guide to rasing a large family.

The best gift....

well, I would imagine our LOA (letter of acceptance) would be first however instead we did get updated pictures. Check out the cuteness!

Merry Christmas!!

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!"

Hope you all have a very Blessed Christmas.

TA's and LOA's have arrived...

but we will have to wait until after Christmas to see if ours is in the bunch. Nothing like anicipation....I am not getting my hopes up but with us on day 100 of the wait, it could happen right??

Twas the day before the night before Christmas....

when all through the CC*A

Not a person was stirring, not even a single LOA;

Our paperwork has been in and sitting on a desk,

In hopes that some nice person would approve us once again.

Rachel is all ready and waiting for us,

With visions of a forever family swirling in her head.

And momma with her suitcase packed

and Baba all ready to depart....

won't be settled until all are home again.

When out in the drive there arose such a a clatter,

I sprang up to see what was the matter,

Away to the window I flew like a flash

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

Could it be, a Christmas miracle indeed?

No, just some idiot on a tractor plowing the snow.

Oh where oh where will this all lead???

I want my LOA!!!!

Ok, I feel better now. Just needed to vent. Now onto what I've been working on....

I can't handle anymore baking, I think I've gained about 10 pounds this week. They might have to roll me on the plane by the time our TA gets here.

Gracie J's birthday dress. Still needs some tweaks here and there but there you have it. This will also be on the sewing blog for sale.

Nothing...

that's right, nothing. It's not that we haven't had much going on or that we weren't overflowing with snow. But, I was expecting something....something big and important and so much wanted.

Yep, our official letter of acceptance from the CCA* . And we got nothing. It's been almost 100 days of waiting, of Rachel getting older, taking her first steps without us, getting her first tooth and all those other important milestones. We are ready to go and get her, to complete our family. She is so very much loved and wanted and needed HERE. At home, where she belongs.

We just got a video from traveling parents that went to get their daughter in Jiangsu. It was so bittersweet. Rachel is a doll and I want her like yesterday. And now, well we will be waiting longer. Chinese New Year is coming up and that will delay us some. I know it's all in God's timing but can't He just hurry a little....please?

Snowed In!!

Here in the south!!

I won, I really won!!

You read that right, I won something, and not just any something a brand new Wii!!

Cynthia over at My Chinese Dumplings was having a raffle to raise money to help bring her son home. Stefanie did a post about it and I entered, not thinking much of it because well, I never win anything.

I guess Cynthia had been trying to get a hold of me but hadn't. Don't you just love Yahoo email. (not!) So, I get a comment on my blog to contact her and I won!!

I asked if they had met their goal, sadly they did not. I offered to not take the prize and have her do another raffle. She declined. How sweet is she??

So, if you are feeling generous and have some extra $ in your pocket hop over to her site and donate....Not only will you be helping a little boy come home to his forever family, you will also have done a good deed this holiday season!!

Sorry I left you all hanging....

it's been a very busy week!! And not because we got our LOA....day 93 of waiting here. Hopefully the end is near. So, anyway, about Jake. He was supposed to be sick as in sore throat fever sick. I went to do dishes and all of a sudden I hear him screaming. The boy had used our crib mattress box and loaded it with toys and decided to jump over it. Long ways, as in six feet long.

Well, he missed and landed on his arm. Silly me, thinking he was just conning me to get out of another day of school, I didn't take him to the ER until the next day. You know that boys will be boys thing and all.

We did go the next day and they couldn't read the xrays or something said he had a fractured wrist, put on a half cast and we were out the door. Could have attributed that to having two Little's along for the ride. If you want to get out of the ER fast take small children with you, boy will they move fast, especially if one of the Little's is screaming.

He ended up running a small fever so I kept him home today and the ortho called and said "we've got an opening this afternoon,can you make it?" Sure I said. Went there and the doctor said he has a compound fracture of the elbow. Huh? really?

Why is it that the doctors all have a different opionions of what is wrong? Can they ever actually agree on anything?

Anyway, Jake got to pick out a cast color and here we are. Now if you go through all that, great!! I'm tired or more like exhausted. Going to take a nap.

Wordless Wednesday...

Snapshot Sunday ~ The Little's ~

They possess a special bond, a unique ying ~ yang relationship.

We worried about going back to China so soon after H came home but you know I think she needed this, a sister like her, another little to run with and share secrets.

These two are inseparable. Wherever you find one, the other is not far behind. And J, well she is the younger of the two but you'd never know it by her personality. She is the protector. You can not get anything past her.

H is the super sensitive one, the one to give hugs and cry with you.

As we are about to go back to China for one more little the same thoughts race through my mind, will they mesh as well as these two? Is there room for one more? How will our family have to change to incorporate one more little? But you know what, it all boils down to Love. We have enough for one more, there is room in our hearts and house for another daughter and God has blessed us immensely.

There will be changes and personalities will clash at first but, we have the love and patience to make it work. And just like the dance the Little's do now, we will find our rhythm again and it will be beautiful!!

Baby Sling Giveaway Winner!!

and the winner is...


.

A Preview...

of said hot pink capes. I didn't let the Little's try them on or they would commadere them, never to be seen again. They have been watching way to much of the Dora Christmas special, you know the one with the purple capes where she dances and swishes her cape...well in our house they live , sleep and eat with these things on. I will be lucky to get to the grocery store without them today.



I know the picture is a little bright and well I did say Hot Pink.

And don't forget, the deadline for entering to win my first baby sling ends tonight. Tomorrow I will draw a winner!!

I have redone the sewing blog once again....I am going with my old standby, the pillowcase dress/top. I have included a matching headband and shipping is free. Please stop by and order one today and help us bring Rachel home!!

Super Hero Capes....

Wow, the site I saw these on are charging $38 and $48 each for these. I thought ok, I can do this and proceeded to buy the fabric and try my hand at sewing with satin.


Total cost for the fabric about $9.00, thread $3.00 and the felt for the applique about fifty cents. So around twelve or so dollars....



However, after trying to get this made with the lovely silky soft sliding all over the place fabric, I would have to say the money they want on that site is SO worth it.


It took me forever to get it right. The satin kept sliding and I couldn't get the applique on right because it would slide and the threads are not straight....I could go on and on but I won't. Suffice it to say I will not be making these. But, the lovely purple one, I have a duplicate cut out ready to be put together and it's all for Two + Two + Fourever family. Just email me and I will ship it off to you.


And if anyone else wants one and is super nice to me I might consider it. LOL!!


Oh yeah and thank you oh so much for the idea. Now I have to make a pink one for the other sister, with not just a flower but a bowl of noodles, because you know her super powers don't come into effect until she's had her super noodles. (from the mouths of babes LOL)

Scratch that, the little's have informed me that they need matching capes and I must make the purple for JJ, so just for you Rett I have a hot pink satin. I will see if I can squeeze two out of it because if your little's are anything like mine, you have to have one for each or teeth nashing and hair pulling ensues. And we don't want that!!

And I am kidding, just like being a smart Alec. (about the fighting not the free capes) I enjoy changing it up every so often.

Still confused and needing idea's

Last night may have been a creative breakthrough. However with all of your awesome idea's I went a little overboard.....





I started with a pieced quilted bib. Very cute but I need to come up with something to go with it....a changing pad or maybe a pacifier holder??




Next I went to an old standby, the pillowcase dress. Since I have started doing french seams with everything I can't seem to have any unfinished lines or messiness about my sewing. It's a terrible thing to be a neat freak.... This is one of my favorites and so easy to make. (compared to most things) If anyone wants one of these I will make one in your choice of fabrics...



Are you just loving her cute little self or what?!?!


Right back at ya babe!!


ok, ok back to the sewing. So I loved the idea of the super hero cape and just got a book (one yard wonders) with a pattern in it. Silly me though I went ahead and didn't use the pattern because I am just that stubborn. The one I came up with I am not loving. I can't seem to get past the cluttered look of an applique. Mine are also reversible and use a bit more fabric than most... I will have to tweak the pattern a bit and try again, because like I said, I love this!! (when I get it right)



Finally because you know I just don't have enough to do with five kids and one more on the way, I made a stocking for our daughter's cat.



Yep it's shaped like a fish and just the right size for that little bag of catnip from the big guy in the red suit.

Need some help....

I am in a creative slump...I am a ton of ideas but am really looking for something that will sell. Something not to expensive something cute. Anyone have any ideas? And if you do, leave a comment, If I choose yours you will get my first order free!!

I do currently have this super cute apron just made, size 5 to whoever wants to purchase it. $20.00 free shipping. It's completely reversible. I am in love with it. I do have another in a size 7-8 but it still needs some finishing touches.

Sunday Snapshot ~ Hope ~

How can I keep this short and sweet?? It's really impossible to do. Hope is so much more than we ever expected or realized. She is a survivor, she is strong and very determined.





She had to be. Her first two years in her orphanage defined who she is today, how she reacts to things and her personality. Sure, we helped with that after she cam home. But really what she experienced in her first two years in China formed her determination.








She has been through quite a bit. We brought her home to Alabama, then just one month later moved to Michigan and then two years later we moved again. She has taken it all in stride. This girl could make friends anywhere with anyone. She has very few fears. Hope loves to charge ahead. Yet, she is so in tune with everyone's feelings. She will get very upset when the boys fight. (and trust me if y'all have boys this is a frequent accurance)




Hope loves to help and be a "big girl". She is counting the days until she starts kindergarten. We love this girl like nothing I've ever felt. (other than the five other kiddos) She is the reason we went back to China for Grace and will travel again for Rachel. She is the child grown in my heart.

Snow, Snow!!

Always the serious one. (JJ not the Baba)

Yep here in our southern part of the US we had snow, tons of glorious white snow. As a matter of fact it's still snowing right now. My kids are loving this, they fought tooth and nail on this move. Back in MI we had snow all winter. Here, well we haven't been here long enough yet, but it's looking like a great start. I just won't tell them that this isn't what usually happens in the winter here.

Instead of traditional hot cocoa, we had chocolate, caramel peppermint apples and marshmellows!! Yummy!!

Hope y'all enjoyed your Saturday.

Giveaway Time!!!

Just off my machine and ready to give away to someone... All you have to do is leave a comment. I will pick one lucky winner on the 12th of December. Very cute ladybug print on one side and a red/black floral on the other.

BTW, this is a size small.

Coming soon....

a super cool giveaway!! I am working on a ladybug print baby sling and just because I love y'all I am giving this one away!! Pictures coming soon...

Any interest....

in these?? I am trying to come up with new ideas for the sewing site. I love these, they can be used for very small babies or toddlers. I was thinking a Michael Miller Chinese kids print on one side with it reversing to a black chinese print...

For this little girl I am sewing until my fingers bleed. (not really but I am the overly dramatic type. LOL)





For this little girl my heart yearns, for this little girl there is a place in our family.
For this little girl we will bring her HOME....

soon little one, soon.

Wild Olive Tees

If you are looking for a great Christmas gift for someone...(hint hint) look no further than Wild Olive Tees!! They have some amazing designs and the good news, they give 10% to charities!!

The new Peace design is mu current favorite, what's yours??