Christmas morning

Christmas morning
Originally uploaded by dileob

Joyous Christmas at home.

What do you do when it's 30 degrees and foggy outside?

New pictures of Yu Lei!!

I have had a wonderful friend in Tiffanie, who lives in Nanchang. Earlier blog pictures were from Tiffanie. In those pictures there was a lovely family from Sweden who has a daughter from Xinyu Welfare Institute. While waiting for our adoption I e-mailed this family and Maarit was so kind to send more photos and a bit more information on him. She isn't the first to say he has a will of his own! But, for that I am thankful. He needs that to survive in the orphange. Here is what Maarit said,

"We did meet Yu Lei when we visited Xinyu SWI, he seemed to be a lovely boy. He held on to one of the assistant directors and followed us around the SWI and were allowed to do that.  I wish I could tell you more about Yu Lei but there is not so much more to say, what we saw of him he seemed happy except when he were not able to go with the director and us any more. He looks healthy, our girls noticed something with his hand but I did not see that. I guess that you will have your hands full when you get him home and that your life will change a lot. He seemed to have a will of his own".

Nutcracker Performance

Eva performed in the Eugene Ballet Company's performance of the Nutcracker. She and her ballet academy friends were the children at the Christmas party. We had the daunting job of creating ringlets in Eva's hair.

Look at how lovely they came out!

Look how lovely she looks!

Eva did a beautiful job in all her many roles.

Lydia just started ballet a month ago and we were not planning on her being in the Christmas performance, but her ballet instructor insisted she show up Saturday night to perform with her classmates. Lydia had a great time. And what an incredibly beautiful redhead.

Eva was lead angel for the younger girls. These are not her curls. She had to wear a wig for the angel part. She was a redhead last night and wore the black wig tonight. I love that red wig.

Christmas Carolers

Went for a morning run with a directive to Lydia to work on her math and instructions for Eva to finish a bag she is working on for a Christmas order. Returned home to find the sewing machine wasn't running properly and crafts, once again, got the best of Lydia. Meet our Christmas carolers.

Christmas, crafts and cold!

 

Leo and Simon hung lights this past weekend and did a beautiful job. Simon took some artistic photos I just discovered on our camera.

We crafted the entire weekend and on into the week. The dining room table is still in a bit of a daunting mess, but things are getting done, packages sent, cards made with only a little bit left to do. Lydia often wanders off and comes back with her own creations.

Last week was freezing here in Oregon, literally. The kids took this after Simon skated on the pond and cut a chunk out to photograph. Amid the news that this adoption is taking sooooo long we now have to go through the time and expense of the fingerprinting process for Meggie, who is turning 18 in January, our pipes froze. Fortunately Leo discovered it right away and we had him out there with a blow dryer to the pipes!

And so our adoption saga continue on. We just have to believe God's plan is bigger and better than our plan. We had hoped to be there and back by Christmas, but we still don't have an approval letter from China. I have gently been nudging our representative these last three weeks and yesterday received word that our dossier has been sitting in China. Unbeknownst to our agency they had to put in a number to process it but apparently don't have the number??? Sound completely confusing and unconventional? And now a bit of a set back as we hustle to get Meg's fingerprints approved.

That is where we are. Frustration and a dash of disgust is the reason I have not been updating the blog. But I'm better now as we move toward Christmas. Everyone is healthy and God is faithful!

Weekend Update

I contacted our agency last week and they could not get an answer on "the status of our case". We have been waiting now 102 days for our Letter Seeking Confirmation or Letter of Acceptance. Whichever one comes we'll sign. Hopefully today we will get some information. At this point, though, we have to work around Meggie's ACL surgery and Chinese New Year in February. What I thought could be December will now probably be March travel to pick up Yu Lei. Thought my update should include one of our most recent pictures of our little guy. What greatness at the end of the wait!

Made some stockings for the kids to replace the too small(stocking passed from child to child when they were babies), too narrow( nothing fit inside), too angelic(the big boy was O.K. losing his gold angel stocking), and added a stocking for Yu Lei.  Note: our old, old house has no fireplace

And Eva keeps sewing!

Help Eva earn her airfare

Here are some of Eva's bags and some new, fun material we picked up last weekend. It's all heavier fabric in weight and durability. Some of the photos are just the material which she will make into bags. If there is some material and a specific size bag you'd like just e-mail us. These bags will sale for $10.00-$15.00. She has done a tremendous job keeping up with requests of friends and family. If anyone is interested just let us know.

 

Scroll down for more bags.

Seven years with our precious Lydia. Happy Gotcha Day!!!

Referral Picture received Oct. 2, 2002

Two years later

                                                      Four years later

Lydia today at 7

Meeting our amazing girl!!!

We are so incredibly blessed to have Lydia in our lives. God made a perfect match!!

Happy 15th Birthday Simon!

Happy 15th Birthday Simon!
Originally uploaded by dileob

 

Simon is such a great kid! He is fun, sensitive, kind, clever and creative. It has been such a joy to parent him. Growing up in a house overrun with girls has kept him in line. He has learned to be smooth. God has truly blessed us with the birth of Simon. We love you!

So much excitement, but, where's our LOA?

Lydia's very first gymnastics meet and she did terrific!

We are certainly keeping busy but can't help be anxious.We are 86 days into the wait for our Letter of Acceptance.

There is plenty to do while waiting for an International trip to occur, such as fun gymnastics meets! But, I'm sad to think Yu Lei will be turning 5 without balloons and a banner and lots-o-kisses. But, I truly believe God's timing is perfect.

More good news. The big kids got excellent mid-term grades and Meggie is working hard on college  and scholarship applications. Friday she got notice that she is one of 2200 who made it into the semi-finalist run for 300 coca-cola scholarships. It's a good one to get. Come on Megs!!!