Information about Lydia.....

When we got all of Lydia's medical stats, we sent them to her doctor right away to make sure that she was a healthy child. Doctor called us on Monday night to go through all the medical information and Lydia looks like she is in good health! Yea!

Since we received doctor's approval, we sent our referral acceptance to our agency yesterday and they received it today! They will then send it to China.

In a couple of weeks, we will have some travel information nailed down and some updated pictures of Lydia! As soon as I get that information...I will post them on the blog!

By the way, we also found out some wonderful information on her that orphange sent us:
>Lydia loves to play with other children and her favorite toys are dolls
>Lydia likes to be spoken to one on one
>Lydia is active and outgoing
>Lydia likes to sing and laugh

First, we had prayer, then we gave her a name, then we were given a picture, and now a we know of her personality....we just love you Lydia!

In case you were wondering....her name will be ...Lydia Zhu Li Super
(Zhu is pronounced joo and Li is pronounced lee--like "Julie")

Ahhhh.....the Smokies......

John and Sophia at Abrams Falls

Smoky Mountains

John Dick hiking away

Me and my hiking buddy-Joanna

The victorious hikers who climbed Mt. LeConte

We did a short hike with the kiddos at Porter's Creek

The victorious hikers conquering the mountain

Referral celebration dinner

Beautiful Abram Falls

Hiking we will go...a hiking we will go..hi-ho the merry-o, a hiking we will go!

The top of Mt. LeConte. Yea! They made it!

The Bold family and Joanna at Abrams Falls

John and I at Abrams Falls

Doesn't this look like some scene from Lord of the Rings? It was taken on the Mt. LeConte hike.

The gang at Bear Camp Grill--yummy country breakfast!

Nothing like having the mountains, some great hiking, wonderful food and amazing company over a long weekend getaway. What a great way to celebrate the coming of Lydia.

These are just a few pictures taken from our sweet getaway.

Need I say more? Enjoy!

Details about the call.....

I have had many people ask me about the details of "the call". I wish I could have recorded the whole morning. It was simply amazing.

Well, we read on RQ that morning that it could be Tuesday, September 2nd or 3rd. I immediately called John and told him the news. John wasn't going in until later that morning so we wondered if we did get the call...what time would it be? I quickly emailed our family coordinator at our agency to see if she had heard any news. I heard no response. I kept my cell phone on me at work...just incase. Of course, the day after a holiday at the bank is pretty busy. So, needless to say, I was slammed. As I was waiting on several customers, my phone rang. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and the number on my phone was from our agency. I started to sweat because I couldn't answer my phone in time before the vm would pick up. After the customers left and I heard my phone "ding" when a vm message was completed...I told my co-worker that I needed her to come into my office while I take this call. I told her...This might be it!

Christina comes running over to my office, I call the agency...not once, but 5 times! It was busy! Finally, I got through. I asked for our family coordinator and she got on the phone. The first words she said to me was, "You have been waiting for this call for the past 3 1/2 years!" I replied, "ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?!?!" Thankfully, Christina was in the office with me trying to calm me down. I started to break out in a cold sweat and needed to sit down. :) She asked me if I had pen and some paper handy. Yes...I did, but who was going to write this down for me as at this point I could hardly hold a pen (I was shaking like crazy!). Our family coordinator began to tell me some details about our daughter. I was in shock. I had to keep asking our coordinator to repeat the spelling because I just couldn't write! She must get that a lot?!

After the call, I immediately called John. Thank goodness he didn't go into work early--otherwise, he would've missed the whole thing! I called John and told him we got the call..he was like, "What?!" I then told him all the information we had about our daughter. We prayed and next thing I know, we have pictures being sent to us via email. Oh, the great things about technology! I downloaded her picture and there she was. Zhu Li Ying. What a precious gift from God! I immediately sent the pictures to John. We cried. At this point, I totally needed a hug from my husband. He said that he would try to come by the office on his way to work. The last picture is that hug that I was wanting. Don't I have such a sweet husband?

From there on out, I went screaming throughout the bank..."I got her pictures! I got her pictures!" I think everyone was in shock too! I was proud Mama. As a teller, I have to make sure I have my head on straight...especially since I count money for a living! So, since my head wasn't on as straight as I anticipated, I left work with this glow about me...thinking of my daughter...Lydia...she is so beautiful..if I must say so myself.

After I left work, I spent the rest of the day on the phone with family and friends. It was a good thing I left work--I would've been completely useless.

So, we are on the last leg of the tour.....ALL thanks to our God for getting us here. Thank you Lord for picking out the most perfect daughter for us.

We are on our way Lydia...it won't be long now....

One moment can change your life forever......

After 3 1/2 years....

John and I introduce to you our daughter....

Name: Zhu Li Ying

DOB: 04/16/2007

From: Guangxi Province

Currently located: Xingye Welfare Institute

She is walking, sitting up on her own, crawling and currently has 6 teeth.

Once we get her measurements translated, we will send out that information also.

Give thanks to the Lord for He is good.......

Absolutely Overjoyed,

Mama and BaBa

HAPPY SEPTEMBER!!!!!

Hello folks,

Well, we made it to September! John and I were planning on going to Ohio this weekend, but with our crazy schedule, we decided to take a day off to chill out. We will be seeing Grandma in a couple of weeks. Doctors are saying that after two months, her health will start declining.

On another note, we have been reading on the Rumor Queen site that 3 Eurpoean agencies are stating that 2-9-06 is the cut-off. Yes, that means that we will be in this batch!! We may be hearing some news within the next couple of days.
HOWEVER, we are not going to be anxious about this news. Our pastor has been going through the book of Matthew lately and he just so happened to land on the end of Matthew 6. Ya know, that great passage about not being anxious, but trusting God. Our anxiety is telling the world that we do not trust our Lord. If you have some time, I highly recommend listening to it. If you go to www.communitypca.org and on the right hand side of the screen you will see Sermon Series. Select "Do not be Anxious." Good stuff...simply good stuff.

We will certainly keep you posted..thanks!

Wow...the end of August..

I can't believe that the end of August is here. I truly thought that it was going to go at a snail's pace. Well, it didn't. :)

In the next couple of weeks, we should be hearing some adoption news. We are hoping and praying for GOOD news of course. News that would make us very happy. News that would tell us who our daughter is. I mean, I'm not being picky....am I?

On a sad note, we just found out that John's grandma has Multiple Myeloma. It's not looking too good for her right now. We are going to visit her over the weekend. She not only is suffering from this awful disease, she also has Alzheimer's. It's pretty bad. Everytime John's mom mentions his name, Grandma thinks he is still in grade school. Grandma is also the last living grandparent on John's side of the family--just so sad.

At church, we just finished a study on Ecclesiastes. Wow. Very timely. I highly recommend reading A Table in the Mist: Ecclesiastes Through New Eyes by Jeffrey Meyers. Good stuff.

If you think of it, please pray for John's family. Hopefully, I will be able to get some pictures of Grandma to post on our blog soon.

Happy Birthday John!

Tuesday, August 19th was John's 33rd birthday! We celebrated by grilling out steaks, brats, and veggies on skewers. It was a fantastic meal!

This picture was taken outside in our backyard.

Happy birthday John! May the Lord bring many more!

Love you!