Another VBS behind us!

DD2 was at our church VBS this week. They changed the name from VBS to Grace Kids Camp this year, but I'm not sure why. Anyway, I usually volunteer to be a small group shepherd for VBS each year. I really enjoy being with the kids, and DD2 during this time. It's really tiring, but to see the kids learn about how Jesus loves them and how He gave everything for them to be with Him forever, is great. This "tradition" started when DD2 said she wouldn't go unless I was with her (4 years ago), and continued each year with DD1 volunteering too as she outgrew VBS. Until this year. I just couldn't take the time off from work to be able to go this year, because I needed to save my vacation to go to China. I was really hard not to go, but DD2 decided to go anyway because this is her last year. In the last year, they have the 5th graders make tie dye t-shirts. She brought hers home yesterday. It's very cool!

Tonight was the culmination of the week of Grace Kids Camp. I got a call a few days ago asking if I would volunteer to serve pizza at the evening event. So I served pizza, and the girls ate and played the silly kids games. They had fun, and so did I. It was nice to talk with a few of the people and see the kids having fun. We didn't stay too long, and it was just nice.

So another year of VBS is over. Who knows how many children get the message of VBS, and how it can start a life long journey of understanding how much God loves us. But I know that it does have an impact in the long run.

DD2 asked me yesterday if I would volunteer next year, and have her be my helper like DD1 had been in the past. I told her I would if it would work out with having DD3in the child care they provide at church. So until next year!

I'm having hard time keeping up with things

Somehow my life has started spinning out of control. It seems like from the moment the girls got out of school, that things have gone crazy. I think it's because of DH traveling more than he has in the last few summers, and of course all the prep work to get ready for DD3. Not that work is any busier than usual, but it too is eating up alot of my time.

Here's what's been happening since my last post. The formation of our adoption ministry at church is picking up speed again. This is another reason that I feel like things are busier than ever. We're meeting on Monday to go over the final Frontline Ministries application for our Hands of Hope ministry. We'll see what Keith thinks and go from there.

My dad is coming in tomorrow for the weekend to play euchre at our monthly party with friends. Since DH has to fly, I was looking for a single person that could fill in. My dad fits the bill! I think he'll like the company and enjoy playing cards again. He and my mom used to play ALOT when we were kids. They played with their friends Dot and Eddie, it seemed like every week. Eddie's been dead for years, and of course with my mom dying too, the foursome had to break up. I don't think he's played in a very long time, but he definitely knows how to play. I hope it will be fun for him and for the rest of us too.

DD1 has been volunteering at the Y this week. She's enjoyed it more than she thought she would, so that's good. She has one more week of volunteering at the day camp. That will be in July. DD2 has been going to swim team at the Y 3 mornings a week, and going to VBS at church everyday this week. I'm volunteering at the final celebration at church by serving pizza. So that should be fun. Things will settle down a little maybe next week, but then again maybe not, as DD2 has 2 swim meets next week!

With the help of the greatest DH ever, we got DD3's dresser put together. It looks really nice, but we need to get it moved into the bedroom. It's setting in the play room facing the backyard. Not the best spot for it!

I've started my packing list using Erin from the October05 DTC group's list as a start. Since we're going to pack carry-on I'm trimming the list where I can. Also, we registered at Target for things for DD3. She's going to be the best dressed baby on the block if we get all the clothes that the girls swiped with the wand! They sure LOVED shopping for DD3. DH wasn't quite as taken with it. He got tired of the girls fighting about who got to scan, and begging to scan things left and right. But we made it through, and I think it really got the girls excited about having a mei mei.

So there's the wrap up of our week. I'll post a photo of the dresser later. Right now I need a nap as I didn't sleep very well last night and had to get up early to get my 4 hours of work in for my paying job.

Feeling Overwhelmed!

I know that this is a normal feeling, so I'm just owning up to the fact that I'm feeling overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by all I have to do to get ready here for Grace, because of all I have to do to get ready to travel to China, because of the money we have to have to take to China with us, and well, I think that's enough.

I know things will work out. I know that it will all be worth it and will be ok. But I'm still nervous about it all. I wish I didn't have to work right now. I feel like I need to work on getting ready full-time, but I just don't have the time!

Whew, I feel better.

Now we wait (Some more!)

Everything has been sent to get things ready to go get our Grace. Our adoption agency received the package with the letter of acceptance, passports, visa applications, and other stuff they needed for travel preparations on Thursday. The required paperwork should be on its way to get our TA and visas. I think we'll hear something in about 4 weeks. That's puts us at about mid-July. After that we need our consulate appointment. Then we're on our way.

We've been working on getting the new bills we need to take with us for both the adoption and for the in-China travel. I just realized that my dad will have to have newer bills too for travel. I need to remember to tell him about that. I guess I'll tell him to get new bills for about half of what we need. That shouldn't be too difficult for him, since it's not that many bills. Ours on the other hand are, between needing cash for both the orphanage donation and the travel.

Besides that, I'm still working on putting together the darn dresser. I got it all together, cabinet and drawers, and of course when I tried to put the drawers in the cabinet, they don't fit! The middle drawers fit, but I can't get the top and bottom ones in. It seems the rollers are aligned correctly, but I screwed them in in the holes provided, so I need some help. I'm gonna get DH to help when he has time. Although, I don't know when that will be.

Today if Fathers Day. DH is traveling, so we haven't celebrated wit him yet. And I need to call my dad later. DDs and I went to church this morning, and then took back a tshirt to Kohls, and then went to Paradise Cafe for lunch. Pretty quiet so far.

It's HOT here! It's been in the 90's for the last severals days with no rain. We are in a mild drought according to the news. Our mayor has forbidden watering the lawn, so it's getting browner everyday. DDs have been spending a little time at the pool. DD2 more than DD1. This week is VBS week at church. DD2 will attend, and swm team is in full swing. DD1 is volunteering as a dance captain at Y camp this week. So it should be a busy week.

As for me, I need to get the care package for Grace ordered from Blessed Kids, and then start making a packing list. Besides that, work looms over my head. Busy week!

Our acceptance letter will be on its way to China tomorrow!

I was able to get everything together, including my dad's visa application and passport, to be able to overnight the travel stuff to our adoption agency yesterday. Well, actually DH did the shipping part, but I got things together to go. So it was a joint effort. We also sent in our signed acceptance letter accepting the referral for Grace. The paperwork is supposed to be on its way to China tomorrow. The visa applications and passports get sent to the closest consulate office I think, but that happens tomorrow too. I guess it's takes about 4 weeks from the time that gets sent in until you get your passport back with the visa, and the same to get travel approval to China. After that they set up our consulate appointment in Guangzhou, and then it's time to make flight arrangements.

We, of course, will be flying space available because of DH's airline job, but our in-China travel will be arranged by our agency's staff in China.

One sad note is that DDs will not be traveling with us. They opted to stay home because they didn't want to miss the start of school. I can understand that, but am disappointed they won't be with us. They will be staying with friends, so they'll be well taken care of.

I'm working on putting together the dresser for Grace, although DD2 has said she want the new dresser and Grace can have the old one. We'll see. I've got the cabinet part put together, but not the drawers. I'll finish that this weekend.

My SIL and Sister are going to throw us a baby shower! How fun!! It will be on July 14, so I've got to get the names and addresses of everyone that we want to invite. I'll try to do that tonight or tomorrow.

This is finally a reality, after waiting so long!!!

DD2 has butterfly curtains!

I was finally able to get the butterfly curtains up in DD2's room. I think they turned out pretty nicely, if I do say so myself! We'll see if they let too much light in, as they are pretty sheer. If so, I may have to put up blinds or a shade underneath. But for now, I'm just happy they are up and I was able to take down the towels that were tacked up over her windows since we had the new windows installed.

Here's the photos:

Now, on to the master bedroom!

Whew, what a flurry of activity!

It's now been 2 days since our referral for Grace, and things have been a little bit crazy. I had to work yesterday, so not much related to the adoption happened. But DDs were pretty busy. Both had sleepover and playdates. So I had to run them around. DD2 and I went out to dinner and then to the library. I have to say, it was great to have the one on one time with DD2. She's 10, and I don't really get much of a chance to be with just her. I'm either with her and her sister or her and her Dad. So we had a very special time, just the two of us. She's a great kid! We hadn't been to the library much either, so it was great to be able to get some books and movies to share.

I spent alot of the evening after she went to bed reading up on Chongqing and Nanchuan, and surfing the internet. I didn't get to bed until 12:30, and then had to get up around 7 to start work at 8. DD2 slept in until about 8:30, so I had a little bit of time by myself getting some work done. Shortly after that, things got crazy. Our family advocate called and said that he'd emailed Grace's translated medical records, so of course I had trouble concentrating on much else but being able to read it carefully. Unfortunately, I had a teleconference that lasted pretty much the rest of the morning. After that ended I quickly read over the report, and realized that I needed to have our pediatrician look over her medical record and let us know of any concerns very quickly because we have to send back our acceptance by mid-next week. So I quickly showered, dropped the paperwork off, and then had get DD2 over to the pool to meet up with her friends. Well, shortly after that the doctor called, told me what she'd found in the report.

Everything looked good. So now it's on to signing the acceptance form and moving forward with our adoption of Grace!!!

After that, things just didn't stop until I was able to finally sit down around 8:30. I'm pooped, and will sleep well tonight!