Some more on Chinese culture

There is an ancient Chinese belief which states that when a child is born that child's soul is connected to all those people present and future who will play a part of that child's life. As each birthday passes, those threads shorten and tighten bringing closer those people who are fated to be together.

WOW!! What a birthday present (today is mine)

I have to share this with you!! First, the neurologist who has been looking at all our information to this point didn't have any appts. until April. He told us to come at 8:00 this morning, and he would look at the actual MRI and go over it with us. We were told that there would be a fee for the consultation. Anyway, on our way to his office, we heard "Our God is an Awesome God" on the radio. When we went into his office, on his credenza (don't think that is spelled right) there was one of the wooden signs that spelled Jesus. That made me smile. Then, he went over some information from his initial review of the info we sent to him, then looked at the MRI. He pointed out some things to us, but feels that at some point we will do the detethering, and shouldn't have any real problems. He doesn't do surgery but told us 1) he would have a radiologist check it out if we didn't mind him keeping the film, and 2) he was meeting with a neurosurgeon, and that he would use that consult to also run our precious little ones info by him for his opinion, and a recommendation of a pediatric neurosurgeon. YES, OUR GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD!!!!!!!!!!
At the end of our meeting, he shook our hands, and said he knew that there had been mention of a fee, but he was not going to charge us anything for the visit - money we can now save to bring our baby home!! Then, on the way to work, I heard "Sing Praise" - so, I've been telling everyone just how AWESOME our God is!!!

Happy Birthday again!!

Even though we are not with her on her birthday, we did celebrate it tonight. We had a cake made with her precious little face and pouty lip - isn't she just the most adorable baby you've ever seen?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EMMA!!!!!

Today, Emma is 1 year old!! According to her finding add, she was found on the same day she was born. Emma, we wish we were there to share your birthday, but this will be the last one you have without us!! We sent her a cake and panda bear along with a couple of cameras requesting that pictures be taken on her birthday with her foster family so we can share them with her when she is older. We also are celebrating with a cake with her picture on it tonight. We will post pics of her cake later this evening.

Where is she?

Emma is in Guangxi, in foster care in Nanning, the capital. Below is the information I found on the region that she is from.

Guangxi Province(Wide East)Population: 46.6 millionLush and green for the most of the year, Guangxi (Gwan-she) rambles gently south from the highlands it shares with Guizhou Province to a tropical coastland and a border with Vietnam. It is said that the mountains and rivers of Guangxi are the most beautiful under heaven. Postcard-perfect, limestone mountains and colorful paddy-field landscapes are found in the north near the eastern city of Guilin (Gwee-lynn), which is easily accessible from Hong Kong and has become a massive tourist haven. The capital of Guanxi, Nanning, is found in the southwest, on the banks of the Yongjiang River.

Today is Sunday, and everyone has been praying for you Emma!!

Everyone in our church is so excited about our baby girl, and she is always in their prayers. Our Sunday School class is planning a baby shower for little Emma on Saturday, Feb. 10 - we are so blessed to have our church family!

Today is the 10 month anniversary of our LID!!!

It has now been 10 months since our paperwork was logged in (LID) at the CCAA in China. That means, that our little one was just going to foster care at the time. Her birthday is coming up Wednesday this week, so I thought I would share some more Chinese culture with you. It's her Chinese Zodiac. She was born in the Year of the Dog - how fitting for our family, since we have so many!! Anyway, below is some information on the Chinese Zodiac sign, Dog:



THE DOG
Dogs are honest,straightforward,and friendly. They are extremely protective of themselves and their loved ones. With a passion for fair play and justice, they never fail to rescue you time after time. They may rant and rave, but they never rest until they right the wrong. They are true humanitarians and suffer with the world.In spite of their concern for others,social graces and fancy parties do not impress them. Having sharp eyes, they will see through people's motives. They are quite private about their personal lives and someone prying into their affairs make them secretive and withdrawn. Once you gain their confidence, they open up freely.
Once Dogs classify you, they rarely change their minds. There are few in-betweens. Dogs perceive things either in black or white. You are either friend or enemy. Luckily, they are good judges of character and have superb insight into human nature. Dogs are tolerant of their friends. Before they approve of you, the friendship must develop slowly with a variety of meetings and conversations. If they look you over and decide they can trust you, you remain in their hearts forever. If you need them, Dogs will be there.
When the time is right, Dogs work long and hard, but they know how to relax, and enjoy their home and loved ones. The Dogs have playful moods and a great sense of humor. They have quick emotions and if you offend them, they will snarl and insult you with expertise. They forgive with the same speed. Dogs are intelligent and well-balanced. With their stable minds, they make good counselors or psychologists. They endure during any crisis situation. They are trustworthy people and know how to keep a secret. Being efficient and very diplomatic, they can hide their prejudices well. Most Dogs have a comfortable home and do well.Dogs always defend what is theirs and have a high sense of value. Home and family come first,and Dogs will work to see that they have the best!

Famous people born in the Year Of The Dog:Shirley MacLain, Henry Cooper, Slyvia Sims,Dolly Parton, Liza Minelli Jane Asher

Ladybugs are a symbol of luck in China. I found this picture, and thought it was pretty.

What's the weather?

Today, I added the weatherpixie to our blog. The first one shows our local weather, and the second, shows the weather in Nanning, where Emma is in foster care. Not a big difference today! Though, our day is their night, and temps are usually cooler at night.

I am also adding a clock showing the time in China as well..

Our timeline to Emma Grace SiQi

God put adoption on our hearts several years ago, and we discussed it, but never really followed through. In early 2005, things just kept coming up over and over again, although we had not talked to anyone about it, or solicited any information from anyone. We prayed about it, and it seemed to be the direction we were to take, so we officially began this journey September 7, 2005 by completing an application for adoption through Living Hope Adoption Agency. When we agreed with God and began the paperchase, we did not have the money for this addition to our family. At every turn, it was supplied. God is awesome, and it has been amazing!!

Our paperchase took exactly 5 months, and our paper work was DTC (Date to China) on Feb. 13, 2006. The wait had already started to climb, and was at approximately 10 months at that time from the date logged in to China's system, LID, and our date was March 20, 2006.

We originally applied to the Non-Special-Needs, or the Traditional Program as it is called, though we talked of adopting a waiting child, called a Special Needs adoption. We were on several agencies lists to view their waiting children since December 2005.

On November 28, I received an email to look at A Helping Hand's list of waiting children. I already had a password for that agency, and did go on line and view the children they had on their list at that time. When I opened the "file" for a little 10 month old girl referred to as "Kelly" on their site, my heart just melted. It was love at first sight. Bobby was away on a golf retreat with some of the men from our church. I called him right away, and told him he had to find a computer and look at this little angel. He called me as he was looking, and said, "I think she's ours."

"Kelly's" special need was listed as corrected club feet, and possible neural tube defect, which translates to possible spina bifida. Well, we immediately took the information we had to a local doctor who checked it out, as well as a neurologist for review. We also requested an MRI so we could have a better idea of what to expect. We enlisted every praying person we know to intercede for our little girl that she would in fact NOT have SB. Guess what? Early on the same day we were referred this little one by AHH, we received an email from the director of the orphanage who said that she DID NOT have SB - Praise the Lord!! Thank you to everyone who prayed this away!!

Then, on December 20, at 5:10 pm, 9 months to the day we were logged into China, we received THE call that we had been chosen to parent this wonderful baby girl.