Halloween Day

All the Kindergarten classes got to dress up in their costumes today and parade through the school. I had to help Jory get into his and was able to get up stairs in time to get a couple of shots! Once again, every one just adored his costume!

You just don't see homemade costumes anymore!

Halloween night was wonderful! The weather was perfect for trick or treating. But Jacen thinks he's too old and went to a school dance. Jory had been invited to a Halloween sleep-over at his friend Jakes. We told Jake we'd come after trick or treating, but Jory was so excited he just wanted to get there! He didn't even want to trick or treat. Jake lives in a Cul-de-Sac, so after Jory got there, they just went to Jake's neighbors.

Jack and I didn't know what to do with ourselves! The first Halloween in a long time when the weather was great and none of our kids wanted to go trick or treating. So we went out for dinner! Long time since it had just been the 2 of us!

Here's Jory as a Bullrider!

This is Jory's teacher, Mrs. Shuler. She went by so fast, I barely got her picture!

This is my good friend Cindy. She's the PTO c0-president and is such a good mom! Cole is her son that Jory plays with... he's the pirate! ARGH!

We wen to my mom and dad's to trick or treat them and I made Jack pull over so I could get a picture of the moon! Very Halloweenish!

Once we all got home Halloween night, Jadeth and Jacen went to snap this shot of the 1st Baptist Church in Trenton. This is where Jory went to preschool. They thought the fog was neat looking. It's sort of eery!

My Mom's Hibiscus

Halloween

Jory was a bull rider for Halloween! We made this same costume for Jacen when he was this age. It was such a big hit and got soooo many compliments, so Jory wanted one too! Our church did a live walk through of the 'miracles of Jesus' for Halloween. You went in groups and stopped at each station, watched their little skit then they gave the kids candy.
It was the neatest thing ever! We stood in line for almost an hour before we got to go through! So many kids attended and got to hear about Jesus! I only have a few pics of the night...

This is Jesus at the well with the Samartin woman.

This is our friend Thomas, playing the part of Jesus and he's telling the kids about Lazarus. All of a sudden, Thomas yells "Lazarus COME FORTH.....!!!"

And Lazarus comes out from the door behind us getting quite a fews gasps and squeals!

This is near the end... seeing the empty tomb.

And finally, "Well done my good and faithful servant!"

What joy it will be to hear those words some day!

This is Jory on the way home! Totally pooped! Jacen went, but he's 'too big' for trick or treating. He and some friends played on the playground. Whups... I mean 'hung out' on the playground, they would never 'play'! Sheesh!

PA!!!!!!

We received PA today. This is Pre-Approval that CCAA (China Center of Adoption Affairs) acknowledges that they received our LOI to adopt Wen and they give us 'pre-approval' pending our dossier and final approval! One more step to our daughter!

Say No!

Fun Day!

Today Jack had to work so the boys and I went to the Missouri Day Parade. We ended us sitting with Mandy and Andy. I just love them! Anyway, the skate park was closed today to get ready for the skate demo tomorrow, and Jacen HAD to skate! A few weeks ago a friend of ours from Bethany said they had just put in a new skate park at the park there. So we headed there stopped to get Grandma on the way!
It was a really fun day and I enjoyed seeing the park where we used to have our family reunions and the ball fields where I used to play in school! I, of course, snapped a few pictures of the day... enjoy!

Jacen on the slide....

Jory on the slide... I love his hair in this picture.

Jory getting a drink... love this picture as well!

Jory and Jacen in front of the bridge. Neither of them wanted to sit still long enough for this picture! Imagine that!

OUCH!!!!

Today Jack and I had more hepatitis shots... I had my 2nd A and Jack had his 2nd A & B! So I'm all done and Jack has one to go! We went to the desk to pay and the lady asked us what we had got, I said 2 A's and a B. She thought it was funny!

So anyway, one more thing checked off our list before we can travel to China! Who Hoo!!!!

Jory turns 6

Jory's birthday was October 9th, but we had his party today, the 12th. Uncle Rob is a truck driver and gone all week, so we simply must have the party when he can be here! It's just not a party without him!
Jory invited a couple of friends over, Cole & Jake, and the rest is just family. He had a really good time though. Mom and dad came through with the RC dirtbike he wanted! Every morning while he's eating breakfast and watching TV he starts yelling... "MOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!!! Come here! I want this for my birthday!" Do you know how hard it is, once you hear your child screaming, stop what you're doing, get in the other room and see what's on TV before the commercial is over? It's like finding your cell phone in your purse before it stops ringing. Well, in my purse anyway! So one morning I finally made it in time and seen the RC dirtbike on TV! Lordy Lordy! It looked cool! So when Jack and I went to KC to see Fireproof opening night, we swung by ToysRUs and got one! Jory totally loved it!
Here's some pictures from the party! Enjoy....

Jory and his friends blowing out 6 candles!

Jory all smiles! Love that grin!

The R/C dirt bike he wanted so badly!

Jory, Jake and Cole playing with the dirtbike..

Fireproof... Again!

Jack and I went to see Fireproof again tonight! It's now in our area and we only had to drive 30 minutes to see it! It's just so darn good! I hope you go see it! Anyway we snapped a picture of the two of us about to head out on our 'date'! I don't know why we both seem to be smirking rather than smiling, but anyhooooo....

Praise God!

We officially sent our LOI today!

LOI

Today we officially sent our "LOI" or letter of intent to adopt Gang Qiu Wen! We are thrilled beyond words that we have found our daughter and are so in love with her! Details to follow...

God is soooooooo good!

Okay - a lot has been happening and I'm going to need to go back and fill in the blanks at some point, but here's what's happening today! I've been trying to get a SW from CC to call me for a couple of weeks now. She wouldn't answer her phone or return my messages. Last week alone I left 4 messages in 3 days! I want to be firm, although it's against my nature, but at the same time, I need this lady to approve us to adopt. So I can't make her mad! It's been tough.
Also last week, I found out we may need to re-file with the CIS for an I800A... this is something new and going from theory to implementing it has been a nightmare. It's taking families 6 months or more to get this. I did NOT want to wait for this! But since our homestudy is being updated to approve us for SN's our agency was afraid we may have to re-file with the CIS. Well, let me ask you... have you ever tried to get a hold of a real live talking person within the Department of Homeland Security? I did actually get ahold of one last week, but she knew absolutly NOTHING. She told me I would have to schedule an appointment at CIS and just ask that question in person. Ugh. That would mean more time off work, travel 2 hours and then I may or may not get an answer to our question.
So, praise God for the amazing people he's put in our lives! I contacted our old SW and she had just had a similar situation. She was also able to give me an email address for the lady that handles IA cases at the KC office! WOW! I emailed this lady on Friday and asked my question, not sure wether or not to expect an answer.
Last week, was the first time in a long time I broke down and cried. It seems everything is just taking soooo long and I can't get the answers I need, it's so frustrating.
This morning, I spent some time on my knees before coming to work. Once again, I knew I couldn't work this out. Once again, I knew my Heavenly Father was just waiting patiently for me to give back to Him what I had taken out of His hands. I was trying to take back control and ran into a brick wall at every turn. Only He can do the impossible, or rather me... only through Him. When I checked my email this AM I not only had a response from the lady at CIS, but a very postive one at that! We won't have to mess with this I800A mess, we just simply need to send our homestudy update to her and she will do what's necessary to let CCAA know we're approved to adopt SN's. Then when I get to work, the social worker I"ve been trying to reach called me! She called me before I could call her again this morning! She had postive news as well! I was sitting at me desk and hollored Hallelejah! God is so good and all along He's had this adoption planned out. His timing is perfect. He does care. Why do I keep forgetting that?
How blessed I am to be a child of the King!
Eternally and Unconditionally His... JMS