Bald For Brighton

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This is one of the ladies from LadyBugsNLove that helped me get my last update and wonderful photo's of Jia.
You can read more about her and her adoption story HERE.

A Soldiers Faith

TGIF - Today God is First... so in keeping with that, I wanted to share a story a soldier recently shared with me. One I feel is totally blog worthy and one I want to post here so I may go back and read it time to time. Here it is...

Occasionally when one of the doctors get behind in our office, they will intercom me and ask me to go back to the exam room and finish up the chart and bring the patient out for glasses, rather than them making the longggggg walk up to the optical area with the patient.
Well one of these times, I was able to get in on the end of the conversation between the doctor and the patient. This patient had been a soldier, and Dr. T was thanking him for his service. The man said "So many things I fought for back then, people don't even care about now." Immediate Discount in his future! In all seriousness, I still get tears just thinking about it.
For some reason I was flipping through his chart as his name didn't sound familiar to me and he was a new patient to us. I noticed on his Patient Information Sheet what his wifes name was. Then it hit me!
Jack has the most wonderful and kind Aunt and Uncle ever. His Uncle passed away last Halloween and he is forever missed. Anyway, they had best friends that I had heard about pretty much everytime we visited with them. The kind that are there for you, through thick and thin. The kind that are like family... perhaps even closer at times. The kind of friends you have laughed with, shared joy with, overcome fears and triumphs with, the kind you mourn with. You get the picture... Lifelong friends.
This man was one of the friends! So I introduced myself, although, I'm sure we'd met in the past. Sometimes you forget! So in the midst of trying on glasses and such, we had the best conversation. He asked me if I'd heard about the time that he and Uncle J. were in Japan and I said I didn't think I had. He went on to say that he was in the Marines... (I think) and he was stationed in Japan. He had went to a popular hang out and decided to leave and head back to his quarters. As he was telling the story he said he could still remember the scenery of the walk... he was headed up an incline and he saw this tall lanky dude coming at him. He thought to himself it sure resembled Uncle J. but he was in the Navy, so surely not.
But guess what! It was! He said both of them, given a choice, would've chose to see their wives, but God knew what they needed. They needed their friend. The one who knew how the other feels, the one that can sympathize, the one going through the same struggles. He told me... That's how I know there's a God. From that night. Stuck in Japan. Away from his family. Feeling lonely. Feeling sad. God sent him his best friend.
How great is our God to pull that 'ole Navy ship into harbour at the exact place where the Marines were, 1/2 a world away, put these two friends on the exact same street at the exact same time! Only God...
TODAY! God is first.

Ugh...

Okay, not what I wanted to hear. But God bless my China co-ordinater... she's on the ball!
I finally broke down and sent her an email regarding our TA... or lack there of. She had already checked on it for us. Here's her response....

Dear Joy, thanks for your patience. (I loved that part!) Guess what, I did check with CCAA through our China liaison yesterday about your process. I knew it would be very hard for you to wait. CCAA indicated that your paperwork is currently with the main office from which the TA is issued. They did not tell when the TA will be mailed out but confirmed that yours is there for sure. I personally believe CCAA is on-hold from sending out TAs right now but we did receive a batch of TAs on 5/8/09. So let’s keep our fingers crossed with hope.

Guangdong is one of the few provinces that stopped taking the adoption appointment for now. I’ve learned a few weeks ago that one family was quarantined in the White Swan Hotel because they arrived in a flight where a Swine Flu case was confirmed. IF, your TA comes in, we will contact the Guangdong provincial office and US Consulate to check on their schedule no matter what. Fortunately, your fingerprints and CIS approval are both in good place from being expired anytime soon. I’m very sorry I’ll be in touch soon

So there ya go. She did tell us to go ahead and send Jia a 2nd care package, so I'll be doing that ASAP! I'm hanging on.... I reminded myself this very morning that I cannot see the future, but God can. He has a plan and His own timetable. He will not fail me and I have no reason to be discouraged. The wait is unbearable, but so far, I'm able to take it one day at a time and get through.
Check back next week though when I still do not have my TA and see how I am!
Prayers Coveted.... JMS

WE DID IT!!!!

WELL I SURVIVED GRADUATION!!!! MAY I HAVE MY TA NOW???? PLEASE!!!!

After much craziness and stress... graduation is now behind us!

I think God knew I couldn't deal with graduation knowing I had my TA and needed to be packing for China... and He's probably right. So I think this will be the week! Purely speculation... but bring it on! Now I'm ready!

I paid for professional photo's of Jadeth getting his diploma, so I set back and enjoyed the ceremony. I'll post those when we get them!

Here he is lined up to get his diploma and giving my dad a high 5 as he walks by!

The reception was so awesome... and crazy! I realized at the end we hadn't even taken pictures! We didn't even get one together with his cap and gown. That's a little sad, but we enjoyed ourselves so much we just didn't even think about it.

Here's Jack, Jadeth and I. Jory and Jacen were off playing and we didn't even get a family photo! Jory and Jacen were SO good the entire day! I didn't ever have to get onto them. I just couldn't have asked for better behaved boys.... that day anyway! :-)

Oh The Place's You'll Go!

Jadeth at his cake table...

Here's the cake! I worked so hard on it! I think it came out great! Many people asked me where I ordered it from! Oh, and can you spot the ladybug? A little self induced good luck!

I had a lady come up to me and whisper... "Who did your cupcakes?" I was so proud to say... "I DID!"

And here's the biggest hit of the day... CAKEBALLS! I was serving cake and someone came up and asked for one of the famous cake balls! Seriously! 1/2 an hour into the reception and word had already gotten around!

Thanks to everyone who showed up, sent a card, said a prayer, paid a visit... now and for the last 18 years. You are much loved and appreciated! Please keep Jadeth in your prayers and he takes this giant leap forward and decides what to do with his future!

This summer will involve working at the pool and trying to decide on college.

Some Catch Up!

I told you things were going to get busy around here! Here's a bit of what we've been up to!

Last Saturday we helped Little Miss Avery celebrate her 1st birthday! She was entirely adorable and really enjoyed her cake!!!

Jadeth had an FCCLA awards banquet where he was recognized as the chapter president and also FCCLA Member of the Year! Woo Hoo!

This is Jadeth and his lovely friend, Michelle!

This is National Library Week at Jory's school and the librarian asked the local businesses if they would send someone to read to each class in the Elementary.
I was fortunate enough to read to Jory's class! He didn't know I was coming so it was fun to see his face!

Here's Jory's classmates...



And here's a clip of Jacen's band class playing the Fight Song for our school!