Fingerprint Appointments Received!

I went out to check the mail yesterday, Monday, July 21st around 3:30 p.m. I could not believe my eyes! There were 3 separate envelopes from Immigration Services with mine, John's and Jeremy's name on them. We have fingerprint appointments for next Wednesday, July 30th in Northern Virginia. I called our adoption agency and my bubble was burst just a little when Ky told me that they were issuing fingerprint appointments prior to the home studies being approved. This is different from the last adoption but it does get one more thing off of the "to-do" list. Apparently, once the home study is approved, and I am told it make take a couple of amendments as most families are having to do them with the new Hague requirements, our I797C form can be issued without having to wait for the appointment.

Another thing off of my "to-do" list is gifts for the folks while we are in China. I struggled with this last time as I wanted to give them something from the USA and not made in China. I ended up having my mother make embroidered pillowcases and dresser scarves. She was working on making me sets for this trip also. I won't be taking my mother's pillowcases and other items to China as I will give what I have to my children as it will be the last things that my mother made with her hands that my children will have. I can not bear to part with them except to give them to my children and/or nieces and nephews. A dear friend remembered me mentioning that I was struggling with what gifts to take and she purchased packs of gift cards that are made locally in Charlottesville with lovely scenery and historic buildings that are in Charlottesville and the surrounding counties. It is a great gift idea and very generous. Now I don't even need to think about what gifts to pack for the trip! I am blessed with many wonderful friends.

I am including the most recent picture of Abigail. She has been to the market! I got back pictures that I had taken in June when John Anthony was home for mom's funeral so I am including a couple of them also.

John & Melissa Celebrate Their 4th Wedding Anniversary and the Little Ones Have Dentist Appointments

"This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

It is hot and humid in Virginia! Anyone that knows me knows that this is my least favorite time of the year. I love the outdoors and these days it is too hot to take the boys out during the day. Still no news from USCIS regarding our home study and fingerprint appointments. We faxed a letter off to Senator Webb this past week in hopes that he can help us. I also sent an e-mail to the Hague Unit at USCIS asking about our status and letting them know that Jeremy returns to college on August 10th and it will be difficult for him to return home for fingerprinting. It probably won't make a difference but it can't hurt to try.

John and Melissa celebrated their 4th wedding anniversary this week (July 17th). Happy Anniversary to them!!! Where have the years gone???? They spent several days in Sun Valley, Idaho and I am including a picture of them on a ski lift at the top of Bald Mountain. They will be traveling to Oregon later in the month for vacation and I am hoping to receive pictures so I can also include a couple in the blog. The next time we will see them will probably be after Abigail is home with us and our family will be a total of seven!

Shane had his first dentist appointment on June 30th. I know I should have taken him sooner. He was a very brave boy and did not cry at all. He sat very still and let the dentist check out his teeth, take x-rays and polish them. He has several cavities and he had his second appointment yesterday, July 18th, and again he was great. He is quite the trooper and has become a very good patient. He has a dermatologist appointment on July 28th has he has a skin rash that our family doctor is unable to clear up. He has his third dentist appointment on August 7th which should wrap up his fillings. I don't have pictures of him but.......Abigail was also seen by the dentist and I have a picture of her and it is included. She is very blessed to receive such good care. I am also including another picture from this month that I REALLY like. How cute is that??

As I stated earlier, Jeremy returns to college on August 10th. Each year is gets a little easier but it is still hard for us and Shane will miss him very much. I just turned in some pictures that I had taken the "old fashion" way but did order a CD so I should be able to post a picture of my three boys together that was taken when John was home in June for mom's funeral.

Not a day goes by that I do not miss my mother and Shane continues to talk about her. He has an excellent memory and I hope by seeing her pictures and talking about her frequently that he will have some memory of her as he grows up.

I hope my next post will be good news about the adoption process moving forward but we have to wait and see what the Lord has in store for us.

The Summer is Moving Fast

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalms 46:1

It is now July 1st and our I800A was sent over a month ago to USCIS. I have been in touch with the Hague Unit in Missouri and as of Monday of this week they were working on documents received 05/28/08. They received our documents on 06/10/08 as they were sent to the Fairfax office first and then forwarded to the Missouri office. The wait is hard. It is made easier by the knowing that Abigail is having a good summer and is healthy and happy. New Day posts new pictures on the web-site frequently and she is busy with birthday parties, trips to the Wildlife Park, and other activities. We received our monthly update for her and it said that she is very talkative and a happy child. It blesses our heart to hear these things. We also received a small package from New Day with a complimentary gift of a note pad and in it was included a worksheet that she colored and she wrote her name on it. The "small things" mean a great deal to us.

Shane is also having a good summer and plays hard! One of his favorite things to do is for he and Nicholas to put on their Batman and Superman capes and run around the house pretending to be the characters. It is a noisy activity as the breast plates have Superman and Batman sayings and are activated by pushing on them. I try to encourage them to go outside and run around with them on. He also loves to ride the four-wheeler with Andy and Nicholas. I am trying to discourage him from swimming in Sharon's pool as the chlorine makes his eczema worst.

Jeremy is working full-time at UVA for the Summer and rides to work with Sharon and I and we are enjoying spending more time with him. He seems to be having a good summer and all too soon he will be returning to college for the Fall semester.

I am truly still in shock from losing my dear mother. It has been 4 weeks now and I still can't believe it. I miss her terribly. Our family continues to pull together and we try to be strong as she would want us to be.