Hi everyone!  We’re finally getting back to normal after hurricane Wilma.  We didn’t think it would be that bad.  Wilma was supposed to be a category 1 by the time it crossed the peninsula to hit Palm Beach County.  Well, she slammed into us as a category 3 hurricane with full force.  She left a path of destruction and most of south Florida in the dark.  We were without power for 9 days although we were fortunate enough to have a generator to run a few things.  We were able to have water and refrigerator as well as a few lights.  With gas being close to 3.00 per gallon, though, we spent almost $50.00 per day to run the thing.  We only had cosmetic damage…things that can be replaced in time.  Our home withstood the storm so we’re blessed there.

There hasn’t been much news on the adoption front.  We’re currently waiting to see if things are going to pick up at CCAA.  Hopefully they’ll get back on track.  We’re still hopeful and praying for a January referral.  Let’s face it; it’s time to get specific in our prayers…JANUARY!!!!!  I know it will happen in God’s timing and will be perfect, but it doesn’t always feel that way.  It’s very hard to know that Emma Grace is alive and living in China right now, needing a family.  We’re here, needing her to be part of our family so why does the process have to take so long?  If you figure it out, please let me know.  My good friend, Linda and I talk about this a bit and I try not to dwell on those thoughts but it is so true.

Yesterday, the boys and I were in Target getting some Christmas shopping done.  I was walking toward the electronics department and I passed the baby department.  I saw a tiny red velour sleeper that said “Baby’s First Christmas”.  Talk about meltdowns…I had one!  I started crying and thinking about her being in the world and not being with us for her first Christmas.  It hit me like a ton of bricks.  Luckily, since Blake & Dylan were with me I was able to straighten up and get it together.  Sometimes it just gets very hard to wait.  I don’t know what they do in China for Christmas, but I’m pretty sure it won’t be celebrated in the orphanage so I guess we’ll have to make next year her first Christmas.  I’m sure it seems pretty sappy to some of you but it’s what I felt at the time.

The boys and I are getting ready to go to Birmingham for a few days.  My aunt Linda, along with others, has been working very hard on a baby tea for our family.  We’re very excited and grateful.  I never expected anything like this when we started our adoption process.  I just assumed we’d buy everything we need.  It truly is a blessing and I’m sure I won’t be able to thank you enough.  It will be a very nice visit and the tea on top of it will be an amazing experience.  Everyone is working so hard on it, we fell very blessed.

Here’s a bit of a funny story.  I got the idea of my DTC email list to practice with my baby carrier to get used to the weight of the baby.  It sounded like a good idea so I bought a 20 pound bag of rice.  I’ve put it in the carrier and worn it around the house.  Of course the boys made fun of me.  Then we started calling it the baby.  Eventually we called it Emma.  One night, while we had no electricity after the storm, Blake called me into the nursery.  He had put “Emma Grace” into the crib.  He said she was sleeping!  Now it’s a joke to move the baby around.  Currently she is sitting in the highchair and they even drew a face on her.  I’ll post a picture.  We really need to get a baby soon….we’re becoming crazy here!

Emma Grace now has godparents!  Linda and Keith Bellinger have agreed to the job and we couldn’t be happier.  They are very special people and we’ve gotten so close in the year that we’ve known them.  They have two wonderful sons, Steven and Scott as well as seven dogs!  Now I know why we moved to Palm Beach County.  If we hadn’t, we wouldn’t know the Bellinger family and that would be sad.  Rodney always says that Linda and I must be long lost sisters because we’re so much alike!  We both love to shop, homeschool and be with our sons.  We spent lots of time together.  I haven’t had a close friend like Linda since I left high school. Keith and Rodney are both hardworking men and good fathers they are a lot alike, too.  We were talking at dinner one night about the future.  We all feel sorry for the Emma Grace’s first date…he’ll have to go through her three brothers, the two Bellinger boys, Keith and Rodney!    As soon as I get a picture of them I will post it so you can all see Emma’s second family…she is one loved little girl already!

I now have a cd that Dylan made with songs that I love.  Most of them pertain to adoption in one way or another.  Here’s my current favorite:

Swept Away
By Geoff Moore

We would say your name
A hundred times a day
Like speaking words in faith
And with a mixture of
Hope and fear and trust
We prayed for strength to wait
And dreamed of how we’d feel the day
You’d be in our arms and…

Swept Away
Caught up in our love
Home to stay
You’ll never be alone
You’ll be amazed
At how much you are loved
Life will never be the same
When you’re swept away 

What once was just a dream
Is now reaching up to me
And I hold her in my arms
Father thank You for the way
You held her all those days
That we had to be apart
And now I see the impossible dream
Is holding me and I’m… 

Swept Away
Caught up in your love
Home to stay
I’ll never be alone
I’m amazed
At how much I am loved
Life will never be same
I’ve been swept away 

Swept Away
Caught up in our love
Home to stay
I’ll never be alone
I’m amazed
At much I am loved
Our lives will never be the same 

Swept Away
Caught up in our love
Home to stay
You’ll never be alone 

You can hear part of the song here:
http://www.worshipmusic.com/ffd32586.html
Click on Swept Away