I thought I would share

I received this today from a wonderful friend, and thought I would share it here:


Today I Will Make a Difference

by Max Lucado


Today I will make a difference. I will begin by controlling my thoughts. A person is the product of his thoughts. I want to be happy and hopeful. Therefore, I will have thoughts that are happy and hopeful. I refuse to be victimized by my circumstances. I will not let petty inconveniences such as stoplights, long lines, and traffic jams be my masters. I will avoid negativism and gossip. Optimism will be my companion, and victory will be my hallmark. Today I will make a difference.
I will be grateful for the twenty-four hours that are before me. Time is a precious commodity. I refuse to allow what little time I have to be contaminated by self-pity, anxiety, or boredom. I will face this day with the joy of a child and the courage of a giant. I will drink each minute as though it is my last. When tomorrow comes, today will be gone forever. While it is here, I will use it for loving and giving. Today I will make a difference.
I will not let past failures haunt me. Even though my life is scarred with mistakes, I refuse to rummage through my trash heap of failures. I will admit them. I will correct them. I will press on. Victoriously. No failure is fatal. It’s OK to stumble… . I will get up. It’s OK to fail… . I will rise again. Today I will make a difference.
I will spend time with those I love. My spouse, my children, my family. A man can own the world but be poor for the lack of love. A man can own nothing and yet be wealthy in relationships. Today I will spend at least five minutes with the significant people in my world. Five quality minutes of talking or hugging or thanking or listening. Five undiluted minutes with my mate, children, and friends.

Today I will make a difference.

From Shaped by GodCopyright (Tyndale House, 2002) Max Lucado

She is 16 months old today!!

Today, little SiQi is 16 months old. We are so hoping to hear good news very soon that her file has come to our agency. If it does, our letter of intent (LOI) will immediately be sent back to CCAA, and hopefully, we will have her by the end of summer! Bobby thinks we will get her on his birthday, which is July 25.

There should also be new pictures of her available by the end of June as well, because the organization that sponsors her in foster care has pics taken every three months that are sent with their reports on the child's progress.

Everyone keep the prayers coming that the file comes, and CCAA lets us travel quickly!!!

Next FCC Outing planned...

On Saturday, June 9, our local FCC chapter will be getting together at Garst Mill Park. We try to meet 3 or 4 times a year. This is where all our local families with children from China or who are in the process of adopting, from any country, actually, get together and eat, play games, have cultural info and music. We also invite anyone who might be interested in adopting, so they can see the children, ask questions, etc.

It is always a lot of fun!! We will take some pics and post after the meeting.

We are also hoping to have some news soon on Emma's file being sent to our agency. At least, by the end of this month, we hope to know if this will happen or not.

Another anniversary!!

Well, today is our 14 month LID anniversary - 14 months ago today, our paperwork was logged in at the CCAA for the ever growing wait to adopt. We shouldn't have as long to wait as we have already waited - let's pray!!!

Today in the newspaper there were lots of diaper coupons, so maybe that's a sign we'll hear some good news this week!!

The Rumor Queen is saying that things are looking good for a very good batch of referrals this month - maybe up to 20 days worth!! That would be such a wonderful thing to happen, to give all of us hope that our referral will also come soon.

Well, it's Friday afternoon...

and no news on the file being returned yet. We were hoping to have good news to celebrate Mother's day with!! I have had contact with several people who are in the same wait with us, so at least we're not alone! Maybe next week will be the week for WC files to be sent out!! Our agency seems to think that maybe the files they are waiting on will come with the next batch of WC files, which they expect anytime between now and July.

Keep those prayers coming!!!

Update on CCAA site

Above is the newest info on the CCAA site that shows how far they have gotten on paperwork. SLOW BOAT!!!! for sure!! If we do not get to adopt little SiQi, it will most likely be April next year before we receive our referral.

Back to work!!

Well, the CCAA goes back to work tonight while we sleep. Our agency should be following up on the status of our request for the file for SiQi this week, so we are hoping for at least a response as to whether or not her file will be sent to our agency. The next question would be.........................WHEN????????????????

Our agency already has all our paperwork, our letter of intent, and other stuff China requires when requesting a SN child. It has already been sealed, and is ready to go as soon as the file comes in. Please pray that it does, and SOON!!!

Another confirmation of sorts...

We also received an email from our agency that the director made their request for SiQi's file while he was in China last week. Since the CCAA is closed this week, we won't have any news until next week, but we are remaining optimistic that we will still be able to adopt her.