Back to school (better late than never..right?)

So, I'm a little behind on our end of summer/back to school adventures. (I wonder why??!!) I couldn't let this year go by without saying that the boys, Lola Joy and I have all transitioned well back into the routine. We are soo close and SOOO enjoy our summers together, so back to school for us is ALWAYS an adjustment. This year, God has really prepared our hearts and we all transitioned fairly easily. To God be the Glory! We are so blessed! Brennan is in 5th grade this year. His teacher has been teaching for 33 years. She is a mentor to so many including myself. So, he is doing great! Bryson is in the 2nd grade and is also super blessed to be with such a lovely, experienced teacher. These teachers rock! Yay!! We prayed all summer for the boys, their classes, and their teachers! God is good! Lola Joy got right back into the swing of going to Momaw's and is working puzzles, playing, and enjoying the time alone with Momaw all to herself. (not for long!)

Brennan Douglas

Bryson QuinnBryson and his teacher
Um..well, no pic of Bren and his teacher. Doug said I wasn't allowed to take his pic in front of his friends this year or I would get him beat up. :-( So, it'll have to come another time. L:-)

And...Miss LJ

** We had a wonderful weekend. We packed our suitcases and began checking all of our lists and checking them twice. We are so worried we might forget something important. Although Doug has two kidney stones, we are still Giving God the Glory and are focusing on this journey He has prepared for us, knowing He will work it all out. Pray for Doug as he has surgery tomorrow morning to have his stones broken up. Sunday night we took the kids on a picnic and then came home and let them run around in the water sprinkler. LJ was naked..HILARIOUS! It was just what we all needed...time together. Looking so forward to Lily Hope joining in on all of our craziness. So thankful for your prayers!

Blessings,
Julie

Happy Birthday Gu Jia Tong!

Oh my heart completely aches today knowing my sweet baby girl is in China on her first birthday in an orphanage. She was the first thing I thought of this morning..and is the last thing on my mind this evening. The only comfort I had today was knowing she was being held by her Heavenly Father who promises to be a Father to the Fatherless. What better company could she have than Him and the sweet Angels that I believe surrounded her and celebrated her today. Oh how I longed to be there when her little almond shaped eyes opened to smile and say, 'happy birthday, sweet baby!" I wished that I could pinch her sweet little rosy cheeks. I longed to snuggle up next to her and smell her and kiss her little feet. But, I know HE did. I am so looking forward to making up for lost time with her. Doug texted me today and said,"" Happy Birthday Lily! I texted back and said, "I know" :) :(..then he texted back and said.".that's exactly how I felt..happy yet sad"..I cannot wait to show her what it feels like to be loved...but until then...

Thank you Jesus for holding our little princess in your arms. Thank you for hiding her in the shadow of your wings, and for keeping her as the apple of your eye. Calm her every fear, wipe away every tear. Heal the hole in her heart for her birth family and fill it with Hope, Trust, and the ability to love and be loved by us. amen.

Lily, I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always...as long as I'm living my baby you'll be!
Happy 1st birthday!!!!!!!
Momma
Lily,
"The Lord your God is with you, He is MIGHTY to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."
Zephaniah3:17
Momma

8 days til we leave for our journey to China for our HOPE!!!

It seems so surreal to be typing this. Still in a dream-like state, but moment by moment, day by day, we're getting closer to being able to go and meet our daughter. This emotional ride is WILD let me tell ya! It's beginning to sink in to the boys that we will not be with them for over half of the month of September. They are having little moments of sadness and crying here and there each day. :-( (breaks my heart!!) Little Lolee has no idea what is about to happen, and we're just praying and casting all of our cares on the Lord. We know He cares about every detail of this trip and has orchestrated it all up to this point and will continue to do so for us through our lives and into eternity. Shew, what a relief!

Our flights are booked, itineraries are made. Shopping for the trip is pretty much done as well. Packing will begin soon, as I know these last basically 7 days will fly by. We have such a wonderful family to help with our three children we're leaving behind. This time we will be able to skype them, which will be wonderful..if we can get through it without crying. :-) (When we were in Ethiopia we didn't get to talk to them on the phone at all. We were only able to email them.)

So, right now, we truly covet your prayers. Please pray for our 3 children here in the U.S. Pray for our little one in China, that God will prepare her heart and ours for what is coming..and allow her to accept us as her forever family. Pray for safe travels and miracles. Adoption is a miracle. We're still so blown away that our God would allow us to be a part of this amazing journey.

Blessings,
Julie
Here's a sneak peek at our Journey to China:

Sept. 1- Leave for China- 11:21 a.m.
Sept.2- Arrive in Beijing, China 11:10 p.m. (China time..they are 12 hours ahead of us!)
Sept. 3-Tour Beijing- Visit Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, etc.
Sept. 4- Great Wall and Ming tombs
Sept. 5-Depart Beijing for Nanjing (where Lily lives!!)
SEPT6- GOTCHA DAY!! Go get Lily at 2:00 p.m. (2:00 a.m. our time!;-)
Sept 7-Paperwork / bonding
Sept. 8-Optional Half Day tour (Happy birthday to my niece Morgan)
Sept. 9- Wait for paperwork to be processed/ bonding
Sept. 10-Fly into Guangzhou...stay at White Swan Hotel
Sept. 11- Lily's physical :-(
Sept. 12- Free time, rest, shop.
Sept. 13- Consulate Appt.
Sept. 14- Take our oath at Consulate
Sept. 15- Receive Lily's Visa
Sept. 16-Fly to Hong Kong
Sept. 17-COME HOME!!!!! Depart Hong Kong 9:15 a.m. and arrive in Louisville airport at 4:39 p.m. Friends and family are welcome to join us!!!

But as for me, I will always have HOPE; I will praise you more and more!
Psalm 71:14

WE GOT OUR TA!!!..China here we come!!!

I have never been so happy to see these two letters in my life!!! YAY!! We got our travel approval today!!! This is our official invitation from China to come and get our baby girl!!!! Our agency emailed us and asked us if we were 'available' to travel September 1st or 2nd...hmmm..ummm..well...let me think about it...

YES! YES! YES!!!

We are now officially waiting for word on our exact Consulate Appointment and our travels will be built around this appointment. They are expecting us to leave around Sept. 1st or 2nd. (I certainly hope so..we sort of have our hopes up at this point..to say the least!) We've had a whirlwind of emotions in our house. The boys were totally rejoicing one minute, then bawling the next as we have decided not to take our 3 kiddos...(This decision was NOT taken lightly and we've shed many tears over it already, but feel it is best considering every detail.) We now ask that you cover us in prayer. Every detail of our trip. We've seen God moving in amazing ways..oh how I wish I could share it all and will share some stories soon, but for now..YAY, we got our TA!!!

Updates coming soon..we hope!!!

Blessings,

Julie