Chinese New Year Celebration

Elle had a special friend from church over this morning and I enjoyed the company of her mother. We made cookies and played games while six inches of snow dropped outside. Huge, fluffy flakes coated all the trees - it's beautiful!

Due to the tremendous downfall, Eric's work let out early and he was home by the time the kids woke up from their naps. After a quick snack and change of clothes, we headed downtown to the art museum for the annual Chinese New Year celebration.

We saw dragon dancing, calligraphy demonstrations, a yo-yo performance and ate Chinese food. We also bumped into some friends from our adoption playgroup.

The dragon dance was fun, but loud! Zane was more than terrified and Elle got a little overwhelmed when one of the dragons decided to make her the object of his affections in front of a couple hundred people. The crowd cheered and said, 'He likes you! He likes you!' Elle wasn't as enamored.

The kiddos had a great time and we enjoyed the festivities. Elle said that the dumplings were her favorite part of the evening...they were good!!

There's a video below...been having problems with Blogger's video working or showing a double image...sorry!




Elle practicing some of her Chinese vocabulary.

Project Chosen

Jeanette, a China travel friend of ours, has launched Project Chosen. She decided to take the entire month of February and feature a family a day who has experienced the miracle of adoption.

It's a God moving mountain miracle when some stranger from the other side of the world places YOUR baby, that you've never touched or smelled but really know, in your arms for the very first time - it's just incredible! And then on top of all that goodness, we've had the privilege of seeing, up close, God do that same BIG stuff in about 30 other families. Reading these real life stories feels like being up close to another of God's mountain moving miracles!

See what God has done through the miracle of adoption at

China bound & Travel site

Our tickets are purchased and we’re China bound this Thursday, September 3. We appreciate your continued prayers for safety, health, and our union with Zane on Monday, September 7. Thank you for your love and encouragement through our adoption journey.

This will be my last post here until we return from China. We have a travel site and will be posting our journey there. You've probably received an email with those details. If I happened to miss you, email me and I'll give you the link.

“Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.” Ephesians 1:4-5 (The Message)

Travel Praise

Our travel is confirmed for September 3-17 and we have tickets! We received an earlier consulate appointment allowing us to return on the 17th, so we'll be able to make the surgeon appointment on the 18th. We appreciate all the prayers that were offered - God answered and supplies all our needs!

If you were here right now, you'd hear...

Elle: China 5 days. I so happy!

Mama: I'm soooooooo happy too!

We've decided to fly into Beijing (had kicked around the idea of flying into Hong Kong) and opt out of a day of the regular tour (that we did last time) to go on another adventure. I'll post more about that when we get confirmation.

Today we are doing chores, cleaning, finishing last minute projects, laundry, etc.... Packing will probably start tomorrow. Right now, most of what we're taking is just all piled up - ready to be placed in its spot.

We are praying over Zane - his protection, preparation, peace and our union on Monday, September 7. Can't wait!!!

"When a woman labors, she has a hard time, there's no getting around it. But when the baby is born, there is joy in the birth. This new life in the world wipes out memory of the pain." John 16:21

God says YES!!!!!!!!!!!

We have TA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "Like cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a distant land." Proverbs 25:25



Excuse the food in Elle's mouth. :) It's a little somber - but we had already got all our screaming and jumping around out and were pretty exhausted by this point! :)

While we were screaming, 'God says yes, God says yes!' and jumping around, Elle stops to confirm that indeed there will be fruit and oatmeal in China. She's been asking me this several times a day as she's a bit concerned about the food situation - I tell you, a daughter after my own heart, she is! :)

The word is that our agency received an "extremely large number of travel approvals"! This is so exciting - praising God for all the good news to families waiting and looking forward to hearing the details!

We are scheduled to leave next Thursday, September 3 and returning the 16, 17 or 18 -- this is to be determined at this point. Our agency will request our CA (consulate appointment) today and we'll hear back from China within 1-3 days before booking tickets.

Praising God for this good news and still shaking with excitement! We'll keep you posted!

Typhoon Hits Fuj*an

A typhoon hit Fuj*an's coast today...some damage and one death from what I've read. Zane's orphanage is quite a bit inland, so don't believe they would have been affected.

'In F*zhou, capital city of Fuj*an province,' (and where we will be staying during our time in Fuj*an) '34 domestic flights were canceled and 20 delayed because of unfavorable weather conditions. The city also suspended most passenger bus services.'

We pray Zane and Gut*an SWI are well and that this typhoon won't delay our safe travels.

Elijah

We are overjoyed to introduce to you our nephew, Elijah (soon to be) Wolfe (but already officially in our hearts)! Elijah's story on this side of the world has been a level the mountains, break down gates of bronze, cut through bars of iron-type miracle! (Isaiah 45:2-3) Eric's older brother, Chris, and family first saw Elijah's dimpled (Yes, a Wolfe indeed!) face when they began sponsoring him through Phillip Hayden Foundation in June 2007. Since then this handsome boy has come through very difficult surgery and has had a healing from the Great Physician that has opened the doors for him to find his forever family - Enter: the Chris Wolfe family! You can read more about these treasures and riches that proclaim the power and goodness of the Lord at Wolfes Home.

We love you Elijah and can't wait to welcome you home! Love, Uncle Eric, Aunt Kate and Cousin Elle

Chinese Dragon Boat Festival

Eric's older brother and family came over for 24 hours. There was a Chinese Dragon Boat festival on Saturday that we all thought would be fun to do together. It was a hot, steamy day; the dragon boat race was canceled because the creek was too high and we missed the dance performances because we didn't get there when it started and then ate our food in the hot shade while the remaining two performances concluded. It was nice to be together, but the event didn't quite live up to our expectations. I was glad we got to share a meal together the night before with both Eric's brothers and families and celebrate Michaela's 12th birthday. An impromptu outing to a marble factory before the Chinese festival proved to be the highlight of our field trip. Being together and having connection is always more valuable than any event so we're grateful for that. We did get a few good pictures out of the adventure.

Elle is so proud of her cousins and loves to be around them. She tries to say their names and does pretty well calling Benjamin, Benj and Johanna, Jo. We too are very proud of our nieces and nephew and think Michaela is growing up into a fine young lady. She is of course just ever so pretty with her blond hair, blue eyes and dimples, but her inner beauty matches with a character that reflects Jesus' heart. She was so helpful this weekend in meeting the needs of the younger ones and ready to lend a hand in the kitchen with all the cooking. She was like a sous-chef, taking my orders and executing them perfectly! Happy 12th Michaela - we love you!

Uncle Trouble, Aunt Kathy & Jaden

Uncle Trouble, Aunt Kathy and Jaden are travel friends from China. We got to experience the joy of adoption together and have a connection that will last a lifetime. Since October 2006, we have just chatted from time to time on our travel Yahoo group. So you can imagine how excited we were to see them in person again when we heard they would be passing through and staying with my brother and sister-in-law (also China travel mates) for a few days.

Stan, aka Uncle Trouble, has a heart of gold, but we wondered how Elle would take to him. They arrived late the night before, but when Kathy and Stan came upstairs the next morning, Elle leaped into their arms. She could see their hearts and maybe...maybe she remembered our time with them in China! This family was a blessing to us in our China adventure and continue to bless us with their sweet, Christ-centered spirits.

They came bearing gifts - beautiful dresses and teddy bears for the girls, Ami and Elle. Jaden, their daughter, is oh so cute and just growing up into a lovely little girl. It was really special to see the three girls together. We enjoyed our short visit and treasure the time we had again with them.

Here are some pictures from our weekend with the cousins, Stan, Kathy and Jaden. You'll notice some wet ones, as Elle and the kiddos enjoyed running in the torrential downpour one evening! Too much fun!