My 46th Birthday and No News from China

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." III John 1:4

Well it is January 22nd and as I celebrate my 46th birthday, all is quiet from China. Our LOA was dated 12/30/08 so we really thought that we would have our travel approval by now. I need prayer for patience! The final leg of this journey is going really going slow.

I must admit that I started the day feeling sorry for myself and longing for news that we would be traveling to China soon. My day was brighten by Nicholas showing up at 8:00 a.m. with a miniature cake with candles! It continued to get brighter when I discovered a birthday card that John had left me on the kitchen counter. The phone started to ring about 8:30 a.m. with "Happy Birthday" calls with my mother-in-law, then Jeremy, my sister and her children, two friends called, etc. Believe it or not between the phone calls, I have managed to get laundry and other things done around the house!

The highlight of the day came when Federal Express stopped in our driveway and delivered me 36 beautiful roses! They are from my two grown sons and my daughter-in-law. What a lovely surprise! I am such a blessed woman! I am including a picture of me and my lovely flowers.

Abigail is having a grand time preparing for Chinese New Year and I am including a picture of her. The picture of Shane with the dog was taken by Mandy. He has had the dog since he was at New Day in China and would not part with it for the first couple of days after we picked him up at the Beijing airport. He likes to take it down from his shelf that it is in room and play with it from time to time.

John Anthony agreed to participate in a project for Danielle, our niece, and I am including several pictures of him that were taken this week. It looks cold in Boise! We are going to Lorene's for dinner tonight so I had better pull myself away from the computer and get back to housework. Hoping to update soon with news from China!!!