Friday, June 26, 2009

Mainly Photos






































This week has been full, with Jared starting the week at boy scout camp (then returning home less than 48 hours later with a nasty bug that has laid him up all week), Anna doing her mornings at Kids on Campus, me hosting my dear friend Rebecca and her son, Sam, for a few days while they are in town, and Tom and me attending several functions--wedding, farewell dinner, and residency graduation on base. It has been full and fun, but I am happy this afternoon to have a little down time at home!


Here are some recent photos of the kiddos, including some of Anna at her last swim meet for the summer, Jared and Lilly playing at home, and Lilly outside the Officer's Club on base by the Bay.


Thankfully Lilly is back on track with sleeping and contentment, and except for typical parenting challenges of parenting a 3-year-old (well, and a 12 and 9 year old too!), life is very very good.

Thanks for reading!
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7 comments:

Dani said...

Love the backpack photo! LOL

June 26, 2009 at 8:08 PM
Jaime said...

LOL . . that backpack photo had me too!

June 27, 2009 at 1:23 AM
Paula Hannah said...

I love the look Lilly is giving Jared - what plan are they 'hatching' for Mom and Dad? Aunt Pauls

June 27, 2009 at 10:01 AM
Unknown said...

I am really missing our travel group..You have a great group of kids!! Thanks for the update

June 28, 2009 at 3:05 AM
Cristy said...

Amy,

Yes Gianna had VEPTR surgery, but the newest version VEPTR II that is supposed to do the work of 2 rods, so less incisions and less skin coverage issues. Is that what your daughter is having? Where is she having surgery?

I'd be happy to talk to you about this, feel free to email me at gnc86@yahoo.com

Blessings,

Cristy

June 28, 2009 at 5:15 PM
Kris said...

Great great pictures Amy!! I love the backpack one too! Lilly looks amazing :0)

July 2, 2009 at 11:19 PM
Traci Brunner said...

That backpack picture is just adorable. She has become such a happy little girl!! :)

July 16, 2009 at 2:21 PM

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Why Adoption? Why China?

I'm sure that many of you, when you learned that Tom and I were pursuing adoption of a little girl from China, wondered "why?!" We may have taken some of you by surprise, and we thought it might be nice to share some of our thinking about this journey we are undertaking.

Adoption is something that, even from the earliest years of our marriage, we talked about as "maybe someday." The idea of adoption is appealing to us for many reasons. As Christians, we are adopted by God as his children through faith in Jesus. Adoption allows us to provide a child with the needed love, warmth, and financial resources we have been blessed with as a family. Finally, adoption allows us to add to our family at a time when our biological children are old enough to be more self-sufficient, and we are in a position financially to be able to welcome a child into our family in this way. What we hope to gain is an additional family member to love and learn from, and an opportunity to share the joy and love of our family.

We recognize that an adoption will bring unique parenting challenges to our family--especially since we are considering a child with special needs--and it is likely to put unique stresses on our family in a variety of ways. We are grateful for Tom's medical knowledge and for the great medical coverage we get through Tom's Air Force career, and we look forward to providing a forever family for a child whose medical needs might make it more difficult for another family to take on.

Finally, why China? My love for China, the Chinese language, and the Chinese people made China the natural choice. It was never really even a consideration whether to go with a domestic adoption or international; China was simply the natural choice that we immediately pursued, especially since there are so many children in China that need a forever family.

Chinese Word of the Day

The Time in China

When Love Takes You In

Our Adoption Timeline

  • Travel Dates--11-26 March
  • Swearing In Ceremony at Consulate--25 March (Lilly's 3rd Birthday!)
  • Consulate Appointment (CA)--24 March
  • Travel Approval (TA)--19 February 2009
  • Received Letter of Approval (LOA)--22 January 2009
  • Received Pre-Approval (PA)--25 November
  • Submitted Letter of Intent (LOI) to adopt An Xiao Xue, soon to be named Lillian Joy Xiao Xue, 1 November (logged in at CCAA 21 November)
  • Referral Call from CCAI asking us to consider An Xiao Xue's profile--31 October
  • Dossier Log-in-Date (LID) 3 July 2008
  • Dossier to China (DTC)--June 27 2008
  • Dossier Submitted to CCAI--June 2008
  • Fingerprinted at USCIS Jacksonville--April 2008
  • Application Approval ("We're Pregnant!") January 2008
  • Submitted Adoption Application and 3 References--December 2007
  • Requested Application from Chinese Children Adoption International (CCAI) --November 2007
  • Decided to Investigate Agencies--October 2007