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Baby Sarah's "Bai Jia Bei"

Dear Family and Friends: As many of you know, we are adopting a baby girl from China and our dossier is logged into China’s database. Currently, the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) is taking approximately 14 months to match babies with their forever families. We hope to receive our referral and travel in summer 2007, though it may take longer. We have requested to be matched with an infant girl as young as possible and have chosen her American name to be Sarah Lyn (Chinese names to come with referral). To welcome and celebrate a new life, a tradition exists in the northern part of China, to make a Bai Jia Bei (100 Good Wishes Quilt). It is a custom where friends and family contribute squares of cloth along with their wish/prayer for the baby. The quilt is said to contain the luck and energy from everyone who contributed a piece of fabric. We would like to create a 100 wishes/prayers quilt to give to our daughter when we bring her home from China and we would like to have your love and prayers included. There are two pieces to contribute: FABRIC - Choose a machine washable, 100% cotton piece of fabric. It can be new or used (from a meaningful piece of fabric). Cut a “fat quarter”. (An idea for a shortcut is to go to your local fabric store and look for "fat quarters". These are pre-cut squares of fabric specifically for quilts-no measuring and cutting required!). WISH - This is the fun part. Send us a note (no bigger than 5 ½ by 8 ½) with a good wish/prayer/blessing for Sarah Lyn and a scrap of your fabric (glued to the paper). Your wish can be simple or elaborate, handwritten or typed. It can be something you wrote or a favorite poem, lyric, bible quote, or anything else that strikes your fancy. Please remember to sign your wish and include your city and state. These written wishes compiled in a scrapbook and it would be wonderful to link a blessing with a piece of fabric in the quilt. (If there are any scrapbook lovers out there-here's a chance to show off your skills). If you have more than one person in your family who would like to participate then please feel free to send more than one quilt block and wish. Remember, we need to get to 100 wishes (or more) so the more the better. Children are welcome to be contributors to this project as well! If you do not have our mailing address, please email us at adoptionwait-baijiabei@yahoo.com. We know you all have very busy schedules, but we hope you will be able to help us create this special keepsake. This will be so incredibly meaningful to us as well as to Sarah as she gets older, especially since it incorporates a part of her Chinese heritage. Sarah's Family

Status quo......Ugh!!

Today wasn't the day to read the Rumor Queen's website. *sigh* Based on "status quo" we could be waiting THREE MORE YEARS unless a baby just lands in our lap. GOD I WANT TO BE A MOMMY!!! I WANT TO HOLD MY OWN BABY IN MY ARMS IN THIS LIFETIME!!! I DON'T WANT TO BE OLD EITHER!!

Praise You In This Storm

Praise You in This Storm words by Mark Hall/music by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms I was sure by now, God You would have reached down and wiped our tears away, stepped in and saved the day. But once again, I say amen and it's still raining as the thunder rolls I barely hear You whisper through the rain, "I'm with you" and as Your mercy falls I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away. Chorus: And I'll praise you in this storm and I will lift my hands for You are who You are no matter where I am and every tear I've cried You hold in your hand You never left my side and though my heart is torn I will praise You in this storm I remember when I stumbled in the wind You heard my cry to You and raised me up again my strength is almost gone how can I carry on if I can't find You and as the thunder rolls I barely hear You whisper through the rain "I'm with you" and as Your mercy falls I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away Chorus I lift my eyes unto the hills where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth I lift my eyes unto the hills where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth Chorus, Thank you, Amanda for showing me this song!

Ladybug Tea Parties

To feed my cravings for little girly things, I bought this from a toy company in Canada. I had it shipped to a friend who lives in Alberta and she will ship it to me. It was worth it to do that b/c I caught the tail end of their "Free Shipping" sale. I can't wait for imaginary tea parties!!

Drooling over the latest referral batch

Once you start down the path of adoption, many in your circle of family and friends lead you to other ppl adopting and/or going through the same issues you are. One blog that I have been directed to on more than one occasion is: http://thenakedovary.typepad.com/ She received her referral in the latest batch and has shared this moment with all her online friends/fans. I have to say she is one gorgeous baby. If our ladybug is half as cute as this ladybug, then we're in for a lot of knee cracking when she hits puberty. Anyway, this blogger has waited a long, long time to be a Mommy and today she finally got a face to put with a name. Now she has to make it through "travel authorization" and "off to China". I wish her the best!!

Infertility Alphabet

Contributed by Lola Anderson Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you. Matthew 7:7 Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Joshua 1:9 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with Thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2 Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. James 4;8 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice. Psalm 55:17 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life John 3:16 Godliness with contentment is great gain. I Timothy 6:6 He that abideth in me, and I in Him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without Me ye can do nothing. John 15:5 In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust. Psalm 31:1 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged; condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned; forgive, and ye shall be forgiven. Luke 6:37 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Jude 1:21 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have; for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:2 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen Hebrews 11:1 O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good; for His mercy endureth forever. Psalm 106:1 Pray without ceasing. I Thessalonians 5:17 Quicken us, and we will call upon thy name. Psalm 80:18 Rejoice in every good thing which the Lord thy God hath given unto thee... Deuteronomy 26:11 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth Colossians 3:2 They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live; and let me not be ashamed of my hope. Psalm 119:116 Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you. John 16:23 With God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26 Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it... Psalm 127:1 Ye shall seek Me, and find Me when ye shall search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion... Psalm 128:5 Scriptural references are from the King James version of the Bible

Empty Womb

I had a certain picture Of how my life would be. But I forgot to ask my Lord What He had planned for me. Just one life to fill my womb, All my dreams leaned toward. But idle waiting no one serves, And least of all, the Lord. How precious still the things I have I'd somehow lost sight of, God did whisper to my heart, "Hold dear those things I love." My heart did break to let it go, This certain path I'd planned. But in its place, He gave me life New purpose from His hand. When it seems that hope is lost, The Quiet too much to bear, He comes to me and comforts me And says, "Child, I'm still here." He wipes the flood of tears away, Brings newness to my soul. Then takes away the shame I feel And somehow makes me whole. Never have I walked so close That I could call Him "Friend." He drew me nigh, right to His heart And let me glimpse within. I thank the Lord for emptiness Where life still does not grow For oft' His richest blessing, On the surface, does not show. He may return what I've let go, Or just want me to see: "You may not have just what you want, But always, you'll have Me." ©2006 Bethany Christian Services

And time slooooooows down....

CCAA only got through a couple of weeks of referrals. They are only through July 13, 2005!!! We are only two months in and I'm already going in sane. I'm gonna be certifiable by the time we actually get my referral info. The men in white coats will be dragging me off as my husband travels to pick up our daughter. Please, please God, help CCAA move faster. Please!!!

TWO months since our LID...

....only 10-16 months left to go until we get our referral!!

Nursery, Bathroom, & Waiting Jar Fluff!!

MIL went with us to look at paint chips and fixures for the bath and the light downstairs. I'm glad we asked her to go, she really had good points about some things. I can tell, though, that she and I have different ideas on colors. Which should surprise me since she's an autumn and I'm a summer. So she gravitates toward warmer colors and I gravitate towards cooler colors. Anyway, here are the paint colors we selected today (subject to change, of course). Baby's Bathroom Paint Chips with Curtain Paint Chips with Counter Top Paint Chips with Floor Tile The shower curtain I originally wanted is no longer available. So I grabbed this (which I like better) so I don't run into this issue again. The wall color is going to be the bottom yellow (Banana Split), though I like the middle one (Morning Sunlight) better. But I figure since Keith hasn't been given too much of a choice in color schemes, I could bend on this one. We are going to refinish the vanity and replace the fixtures. We've picked out brushed steel and silver fixtures. The cabinet color will either be the top blue (Sea Sprite) or the third one (Little Pond--Keith's choice). Baby's Nursery Paint chips with theme quilt I like all the blues except the top one (Madras Blue). I'm not sure which of the other three I'll use just yet. I'm leaning towards the bottom one (Planetarium). The other two are close seconds (Ocean View & Seven Seas). Waiting Jar I changed the jar we will be using for the Waiting Jar. I think one is more realistic as far as what we'll fill up. The other was just too big. Stage 1 - Application to Adopt to Homestudy Stage 2 - Homestudy to DTC Stage 3 - DTC to knowledge of LID Stage 4 - LID to Referral (as of 7/08/06)

The Marvin Comic Strip Trivializes China Adoption!

This is one of my favorite comic strips and I'm am just at how Tom Armstrong has protrayed China Adoption in his comic strip over the last week or two.The kids are cute, realistic and humorous. The adults are the ones I take issue with: 1) She doesn't tell her family until just before she leaves for China, 2) she asks her sister to tell her parents, 3) the actresses/figure and china trade comments push the envelope, 4) You don't just adopt a 2 mo from Shanghai (babies a held for 3mo b4 they are adoptable and you fly into Beijing) and 5) you are required during your homestudy to list your options for child care AND what you'd do in the event those options aren't available for any given reason.

Nursery fluff!!

This is the quilt that my MIL found at a garage sale. It's going to be the nursery colors and theme. The blue back ground has bumble bees, daisies, and ladybugs. I also have Boyd bears that I've collected over the years. So I'm going to do the bottom half of the walls in that blue and the top half white. I haven't decided if the chair rails will be white or red. My accent colors will be red and other colors that might go with the decor as it develops.

Moving at a snail's pace...

China Center for Adoption Affairs (CCAA) updated their website that they have matched babies to dossier logged in through June 28th, 2005. LAST YEAR!!! It took them a MONTH to get through TWO WEEK'S worth of dossier's. At this rate, it *will* be 18 months before we get our referral. Patience is so hard when you've wait soooooo long. We're still praying for a "Christmas Miracle", so please keep praying that the dossiers before us get faster referrals as well.

Our "Wait Jar"

We were given this idea by someone, who has been through the adoption process, for something to do while we wait for Baby Sarah to come home. Each color represents a stage in the adoption journey and each glass stone represents each day we waited. We will continue to drop stones in until Baby Sarah arrives home. We are currently in the "LID to Referral" wait and using iredescent light blue glass stones. We are hoping to *not* fill the jar, because that will mean that our daughter came home sooner than anticipated.

New Start.....

Thanks to spammers, I had to creat a new blog to continue our journey to China. The old link is ourlittleladybug.blogspot.com . You are welcome to lurk over there, but posting comments have been disabled.