Lifebooking

What a task and one I dreaded! I am not a scrapbooker, but each of my bio children have a baby book so I am determined that each of my adopted children will have a lifebook. Lilly's was completed in the summer before we travelled for Ellie. Ellie's . . .well, Ellie's was not even started until today. I had been filing papers away since our paperchase for her, but never, ever started because I knew I needed hours to make any headway. Today was the day. I warned David that I was locking our bedroom door for . . .well, hours!! And I did.

4 hours later - I kid you not, it looks like a lifebook and not a folder stuffed with papers. It is not complete yet, but it is now doable. Lots more writing to do as well as pictures to place in the photo pages - a much more manageable task. Then, I'll be done - with Ellie's. As for Hudson's. . .his is now in the manila folder that once held Ellie's. And his may get done in, say, 2012?

Time to Smock

Ellie wearing her dress that I smocked for her homecoming. This was right when we walked in our home for the 1st time with Ellie - Sept. 25, 2008


After our ordeal with Lilly in China, David and I were exhausted so we have very few good homecoming pictures (although a friend took some good ones, I couldn't find them for this post!). Again, Lilly is wearing her dress that I lovingly smocked for her. This was taken May 23, 2007 at the airport - right before we departed for a nearby hospital where Lilly was admitted for pneumonia, heart failure, and possible asthma - all related to her unrepaired VSD.


March 11, 2010 Hudson in Baotou SWI waiting on his family! Come on Artcilce 5 & TA! Won't he just look precious in his blue romper below?


Being a girl who loves tradition, I knew I needed to smock a cute romper for Hudson to wear home. I just started last night and will be sure to post the finished product when I'm all done. I have never waited this late in our journey to start so there may be some late nights - nighttime being the only time I have to smock!

One quick note about our tee shirts for sale: A new design has been created and I love it! It says on the front "How Do You Reach 147 Million Orphans? One At a Time". . .Don't you just love that? All those folks who probably mean well when they tell me "You know you can't save them all." "There will always be orphans in the world." Well, I can't wait to wear this shirt just for them!! Check out the new design at www.adoptionbug.com/bryant

Celebrating Another Birthday!

Happy 9th Birthday, Fulton!


Fulton loves all sports but baseball is "his love" so a baseball cake was in order!


Since we homeschool, our children don't get wrapped up in too many fads. However, the Silly Bands craze has struck my children! Fulton received a pack from his sister and was so excited!


An early morning "Happy Birthday" hug from Lilly!

ADOPTION UPDATE:
Tessa at NVC was exactly right - we did receive our NVC letter today which we promptly scanned and sent to our agency. On Thursday (only delivered on Mon. and Thurs.) our DS230 will be delivered to the consulate in Guangzhou and then we wait about 2 weeks for our Article 5. Lord willing, we should be travelling in June - hopefully early June!!! I am so thankful to our God above for allowing us to adopt another precious child of His. I am so thankful that He chose us!

One More Baby Step!

Give Me a "C"

Give Me a "A"

Give Me a "B"

Give Me a "L"

Give Me a "E"

What's that spell? CABLE!

What's that mean? much longer answer required!

It means we are one more baby step closer to Hudson. I tried emailing NVC all day but only received the automated response. I finally gave in to my desire to KNOW and called at 9 tonight (they are open to midnight for those of you who may need to KNOW in the future). Tessa at NVC was so helpful and shared with me that we were cabled yesterday, April 15! More importantly, the letter - you know the one that determines when we can take the next baby step to wait in the next line - Article 5 line that is - was outprocessed yesterday as well. I am hoping and praying Tessa is right. about. that.

Pampered Chef Fundraising

As you many of you know, we have been fundraising during this, our 3rd adoption, to help raise funds specifically for Hudson's orphanage, Baotou Social Welfare Institute in Inner Mongolia. Right now we have raised $4,100 of the required $5,100 orphanage donation. My cousin, Sheri, is hosting a Pampered Chef party to aid us in our fundraising for Hudson. It is easy to place an order online, and your purchase will go towards the fundraiser.

So if you find that you need a little something for your kitchen or perhaps you would like to purchase a gift for someone - like Mother's Day, weddings, birthdays, or graduations. Please take a moment to look at the online catalog. Here are the quick and easy steps to shop and order:

Go to www.pamperedchef.biz/nowyacookin
Click on "Shop Online" at the top of your screen
On the next screen, enter "Sheri" or "Adoption Fund"
Once Sheri's party appears highlighted in blue, click on "Sheri" or "Adoption Fund"
Now you are ready to shop!

Thanks so much for considering a purchase. Remember, after the party total reaches $600 (online orders included), our "Adoption Fund" receives 10% of the total!

Thanks! And don't forget that we are still selling cute tee shirts as part of our fundraising efforts. Go to www.adoptionbug.com/bryant to look at the designs. Adult and children sizes available! They will make great gifts as well!

I800 Approval

Happy to report that I just spoke with our officer at USCIS -

WE HAVE OUR I800 APPROVAL!!!!

Now we wait again! So many new steps to the Hague :(

Happy Resurrection Day!

We have had a wonderful Easter, and we hope you have as well. After church, no one was in favor of a picture - except for Mom of course so this was as good as it got. . .I'll take it!



It takes a great deal of effort not to mention patience to get a good shot of our 6 blessings. Since it is time for our homeschool yearbook, we gathered the kiddos for a group picture before heading to our church's Easter Egg Hunt yesterday. This one was by far the best so into the yearbook it shall go!.


Hard to believe that Tuesday will be 2 weeks since we received our LOA for Hudson. We have yet to hear from our I800 application, but we are hopeful that we may be approved by the end of the week. This week is our Spring Break from homeschool and I have some major projects to accomplish - organzing closets - bringing in the spring/summer clothes and moving out the winter clothes that won't fit next year. . .yeah, one of my least favorite jobs! Plus I need to start making Ethan's room look like Ethan and Hudson's room so I hope to move some toddler toys and books in there this week and make room for Hudson's clothes - now that I can't wait to do : ) We are really getting excited about Hudson's arrrival yet I know it is still at least 8 weeks away so I'm restraining myself from feeling too much - well I'm trying anyway.

News and More News

Not only did we get an update on our sweet boy and 3 new pictures, we also received

OUR LOA!!!!

We received an e-mail this morning saying that our LOA had been mailed and should arrive at BAAS on Wednesday. We received another surprise this afternoon when we opened an e-mail from BAAS saying our LOA actually arrived TODAY!! Day 61 since LID.



We are so thankful and have been lifting up our prayers of thanksgiving all day.

The update on Hudson was wonderful and had so much information compared to the one in November. He sounds like he will fit in just perfectly with our brood! Here is a glimpse into the personality of our little boy:


"He loves to play with toys and the alphabet puzzles. Sometimes he climbs
onto a furniture without toys on it like a little monkey. He can feed
himself with a spoon. He can put toys with different shapes into two different bowls. He knows the names of all the children in his room, and
can say their names. He can put on his own shoes. He has a relatively
strong personality. "

Now, we mail off a bit more paperwork and wait for a few more steps that I really don't understand because it is new - thanks to the Hague. I do know we should meet our son in the next 8 to 12 weeks. That means I have alot to do!!!

Kids Got Talent

Our local home school support group hosts a "Talent Night" each spring. This year was our family's 1st year of participating. The display of God -given talent was impressive.

Shelby and Fulton both played piano pieces. This is Fulton's 1st year of lessons,and we are so proud of his hard work. He enjoys playing the piano and did great at his 1st "Talent Night".

Shelby has taken piano for 5 years. She worked very hard to play Fur Elise by Beethoven in its entirety. She has progressed so much this year with her new teacher. Unlike her mother, Shelby actually enjoys practicing. She sits down at the piano numerous times each day to play and practice her pieces. Hopefully she will stick with it and use her talent all of her days to glorify God.



Katie sang "A City on Our Knees" by Toby Mack. She has never taken voice lessons, but she did amazingly well. In my book, she would have done an amazing job even if her singing had been atrocious. Just to stand on stage - alone - and sing. Her Mama sure doesn't have courage like that - not now or ever!



Our Littles wanted to display their talent as well - a little "BIBLE" with sign language was the act. Ethan was struggling with wanting the spotlight all to himself. This was after he had already sang 4 solos for us. We had a little word of prayer with him about pride and selfishness.

No word on LOA. Tomorrow is Day 60! Surely we must be close. We have not received any updates on Hudson either although we hope and pray for one soon.

Please pray for Isabelle: recently adopted from Kunming, where Ellie is from. ISabelle had heart surgery over 2 weeks ago and is still hospitalized. She has recovered well from the surgical procedure itself, but now she is fighting a bacterial infection and will require about a week of IV antibiotics. This family is precious and I know they are worn out from this ordeal. Please say a prayer for Elaine, Phil, Isabelle, and their other 4 girls, Torie, Michaela, Anna Grace, and Sarah Mei who are having to survive all this time without having their mom at home.

Exciting News!

Did anyone think for a second that maybe we had our LOA??????

Nope, we are still waiting for that, but we do have some exciting news from the home front. . .
Lilly is reading! She has learned all of the letter sounds over the last year. Since I don't have a lot of free time on my hands (can we say "understatement"), I had not been working with her on reading. Last week I spoke with a long time homeschooling mom, and she reminded me that her 3 children all were reading at 3 1/2. She encouraged me to work with Lilly - in a very relaxed way. So one night after dinner, Lilly and I sat at the kitchen bar with magnetic letters. Talk about effortless! She started reading those 3 letter, short vowel words like "cat, sat, pot, mat, bat. . . It was so easy compared to my 4 older kids. A little positive peer pressure may be just what big brother Ethan needs to motivate him to try a little harder with his own reading!

Wait - there is more. . .

Not to be outdone by her older sister (by only 11 months), Ellie starting saying "I want to read" the night that Lilly and I worked with those magnetic letters. We practiced a little that night and then tonight she read her 1st book. Way to go Ellie!