Win an Autographed Copy of Silent Tears

Click the link below to find out how you could win and autographed copy of Silent Tears by Kay Bratt.

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Happy Valentines Day!

Jory wanted to make his own Valentines this year with our dog Zoey.

Here's what he designed on Picnik.

And of course, Jia wants to do EVERYthing Jory does...

so here's her design!

Happy Valentines Day

We LOVE,

Because He first LOVED us.

5th Anniversary....

2/5/07 was the date we were 'logged in' with the CCAA (China Center of Adoption Affairs) and we 'officially' joined the loooooonnnnnnggggggg line to adopt from China!

Five years ago!

This button below shows that currently families that were logged in 8/15/06 and before are matched with their children.

We would still be waiting.

Here are some images from the CCAA Matching Room and if you'd like to read more about how the process works visit this blog here.

                      (click to read)

I am so very greatful that God had Jia pre-destined for our family.  There's no way I could survive waiting that long!  In fact... I blogged about how miserable I was getting during the wait here.....

JourneytoJia - Hannibal or Bust 7/25/08

(click to read)

When I went to the China Adopt Talk (aka Rumor Queen) website to get this information... I got to looking through some of my old posts.  Just 4 days before my 'I'm so miserable' post I had this conversation with an unknown lady on a forum that thousands of people post on from many many different countries.

She was reviewing the file of a little girl.  A little girl that we inquired about but were told that she was already being considered by a family.  We would be next in line to see her file if they decided not to proceed with adopting her.

So off to Hannibal I went.  And what a great time I had!  You can see all that in the archives on my blog.... but let me fast forward for you....

JourneytoJia - September 2, 2008

(click to read)

And as they say... "The rest is history"!!!

You can read all about our Journey to Jia by visiting the archives on the right... towards the bottom.... It starts in July 2008.

God is GOOD.

2011 Part 2

July was our annual trip to the cardiologist.

As far back as when we were reviewing Jia's referral file, her heart diagnosis was VSD and pulmonary stenosis and the left side of her heart was enlarged.  The VSD is small, only 4mm.  We were told by a Cardiologist that reviewed her file and by our cardiologist that see's her now, most likely the VSD would close on it's own... no surgery would be necessary.

You can imagine our delight!

Then last year I took her to her annual visit on my own. 

Dr. G said the pulmonary stenosis was possible causing some issues, keeping her heart enlarged on the left side.  If it didn't change by her next visit (2011) he would want to consider surgery.

Well this momma didn't want surgery!

So what else was there for me to do except begin to storm the Throne Room!

And ya know what....???

At this visit... where's she's looking absolutley adorable in her pink and yellow...

The Dr. G said he didn't believe she had pulmonary stenosis after all!

I can't remember all the technical jargon he spilled, but that narrow valve, causing the left side of her heart to be enlarged... not there now.

He told me what they were seeing that made them give the diagnosis... why it looked like that all those years in a row.  But I think they are pretty smart doctors.  I'm betting it was there....

and now it's not!

If I had know that this was going to be one of the last times I seen Jacen on a skateboard before he would decide to go redneck, I'd have taken more pictures!

Jacen and Jory both raced their new 4 wheelers at the Trenton Fair...

This is Jacen fighing for the lead....

Jory jumping a hill....

Happy 4th of July!

**AUGUST**

Jia gets a 'big girl' haircut before starting school....

 the new 'DO'

This is Jia and Megan in China together.  We shared our 'Gotcha Day' with the Walz family.  The girls are from 2 different orphanages, but from the same city.  And we pretty much hung with Megans family everyday in China and kept in touch since.

In August, we had the opportunity to see Megan and her family again while they were vacationing in Ozark.  It was amazing to see these 2 together again!  They have both grown and changed and talked our legs off!  What a sight to see!

the whole gang!

Jacen went out for Football for the first time to!

**SEPTEMBER**

Jia is really learning to 'pose' for the camera!

Jory played soccer for Green Hills

I made my 3rd wedding cake

Jadeth got Jory and I tickets to see the Sporting KC kick some behind at the new Livestrong Sporting Park!  LOVED IT!!

**OCTOBER**

We spent a fun day taking family pictures

Jory turned 9

We bobbed for Apples

He got an autographed shirt of his favorite driver

There was an egg toss....

And no boy party is complete with out throwing some cow chips!

Jia won the behavior award at school

Pumkins were carved....

And we enjoyed a great evening Trick or Treating....

**NOVEMBER**

Jory sang in the Christmas program put on by his school.

Ge-Ge even come from Lawrence to watch!

Jacen attended an MU game with his girlfriend and family

Jia's dance class began their season by performing at the local Nursing Homes

Thanksgiving was a real treat this year!

We were so blessed that our cousins were able to join us!  We don't see them nearly often enough, but the kids didn't waste any time getting re-aquainted!

Jia and Molly were 2 peas in a pod!  Jia still talks about Molly all the time.

(even now, she's sitting beside me and whining about wanting to clean her room up and have Molly visit her)

**DECEMBER**

Jacen turned 15 and wanted to go to Lawrence and see Jadeth & walk Mass St. for his birthday.

I made Jace and Darrian make his Cherry Cheesecake... his fave.

I began really practicing with my camera... spent the month of December trying to nail Bokeh with the tree up.  I don't know if I ever nailed it, but I did end up with this shot of Jia that I love!

Jory and Jia seen Santa!

It was Christmas Eve at Grandma Mona's that poor little Jia met the first person that wasn't entirely enamored with her.  Little cousin Wyatt only wanted to play with Jia!

CHRISTMAS MORNING

Jacen wrapped  duct taped my present

The kids got their puppy Zoey for Christmas...

So here's the entire crew!

And finally, Jacen got a 'new' set of wheels!

It's a project truck that he and Jack are working on for when Jacen turns 16.

Well, that's a wrap!

God has indeed been good to us and 2012 is already shaping up to be a great year!

Jeremiah 20:9

 But if I say, “I will not mention his word
   or speak anymore in his name,”
his word is in my heart like a fire,
   a fire shut up in my bones.
I am weary of holding it in;
   indeed, I cannot.