Signing off stateside...

Well, folks, this is it! The kids are finishing up watching Idol (you know..priorities) and then we will spend time together praying and talking about the next two weeks. I'm already emotional thinking about it. I have been for days. But its finally here and I'm so thankful even through the sadness. They will be well cared for. I'm not worried. I'm just going to miss them so much. But I'm excited about the time Brian and I will have with each other and Adiah. ADIAH! Can you believe it? We're finally going to get Adiah! The bags are packed for the most part. So tomorrow about 4:45 am we'll leave for the airport. Stink, that's early! And from this point until we return I will be posting on The Road To Adiah (if for some reason that link doesn't work its http://www.theroadtoadiah.blogspot.com/). If you think about it please pray for all of us as we're apart and things are changing. And pray for Adiah as EVERYTHING is changing for her.
So I guess I'll see you in China! Praise God for all of this. Its for your glory, Lord! All of it!

This is what we're taking. 2 checked bags, 2 carry on's, 1 back pack and 1 briefcase. Can we do it?

Brian installing Adiah's car seat this afternoon. It was an Olympic event in and of itself!!

This is why I love my agency....

From our travel coordinator at America World.

“For he will command his angels concerning you to
guard you in all your ways.”
Psalm 91:11


Dear Travel Group 132,

The day you have long been waiting for has finally arrived! You are about to meet your precious child face to face! The America World staff shares in your joy as this day quickly approaches.

Like most incredible life experiences, your trip to China will be both amazing and challenging. As Paul encouraged the Romans, so we also encourage you with this verse: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
(Romans 15:13)

Please know that you will be in our prayers throughout your time in China. We look forward to talking with you upon your return, and hearing all about your trip. May God bless this final chapter of your adoption process!

In His Love,


Kristen Hussa
Travel Coordinator

TA, Plane tickets and Tshirts...oh my!

Today our TA arrived along with our plane tickets and our America World tshirts. I know I've said it a million times but this is real!! Do you see that ticker over there? Today was action packed! I'll expand on it more after we return from China but lets just say the Lord is so good! We also had a conference call with our travel group and my head was spinning afterwards. But I've now decided that there isn't much more I can do to prepare. Tomorrow I will do last minute errands (aka get my nails done, Helleeeewww!, take the cats to the vet, etc.) So I'll check ya tomorrow!!

Adoption Itinerary

We have our itinerary!! Kristen at AWAA just emailed us and told us exactly what we'll be doing. So here is the where, when, how, and we all know the why! In case you were wondering....oh and China is going to be 13 hours ahead of us (currently 14 hours but after daylight savings then it'll go to 13)


Adoption Itinerary

March 12-26th

*Wednesday, March 12th Depart for Beijing

*Thursday, March 13th Arrive in Beijing

*Friday, March 14th Beijing Tour: Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City and Hutong tour(lunch and dinner included-cuz I know you wanted to know that!)

*Saturday, March 15th Beijing Tour: The Summer Palace and Great Wall (lunch and dinner)

*Sunday, March 16th Palm Sunday church service(lunch included); Late afternoon flight to Hefei!!

* Monday, March 17th Gotcha Day! Meet Adiah Hope LoLiang Woods(yeah!!)

* Tuesday, March 18th Civil Affairs Appointment

* March 19th-March 20th Paperwork, Sight-seeing, and Shopping(my favorite!)

* Friday, March 21st Flight to Guangzhou

* Saturday, March 22nd Medical Exam and Paperwork Party

* Sunday, March 23rd Easter Sunday church service and shopping

* Monday, March 24th Consulate Appointment

* Tuesday, March 25th Pick up Adiah's Visa

* Wednesday, March 26th Depart from Guangzhou; Depart from Beijing

Arrive Wednesday, March 26th at 4:09 pm at DFW airport!!

Snow day...take 2(for real this time!)

Do I live in Texas? I thought I did but then days like this make me wonder! I knew bad weather was predicted but you know....life goes on. So I was out and about running errands for the trip to China and I came out of Target and it was starting to snow again. Quite a bit of slush on the ground so I think to myself "self, you need to get home toot suite"(my sister loves it when I say that). By the time I get back to where I live the snow is almost blinding. And it is accumulating fast on my windshield. And the traffic!! So smartie pants Amy decides to get off the highway and take the back road around my neighborhood to get to my house. Not smart. There are lots of hills back there and I almost didn't make it up one. Right about then my sister, Sara, calls me and tells me that she heard they are closing the schools in our district. That we needed to go pick up our kids. So that is what I did. Right at the same time as every other parent. It was a lovely time. By the time I parked, walked up to the school, got the kids back in the car and home I was soaked! But the fluffy white stuff was calling my kids names so we bundled back up and headed out for some snowball fighting, snowman making fun! We're in now and I think its supposed to keep snowing over night. We've already gotten 6 inches maybe more since around noon. I'm pretty sure we won't have school tomorrow but you won't be hearing me tell my kids that just quite yet. The craziness that happens....you know what I mean! But then just like Texas it should be back up in the 70's by next week.


The view from my front porch

Trying to pose for a picture. The snow was slapping them in the face because it was coming in sideways.

Snowball fight!! This ended in tears because *someone* hit *somebody* in the face.

Mr. Snowman-we made him all from "nature". His mouth and nose were berries and his eyes were leaves. Oh, Natalie took her hat off and gave it to him. She was freezing...

Snow day.....

Well....sort of. Last night large flakes began falling from the sky and the kids just KNEW it was a blizzard! Sorry to disappoint! They were so sad when they realized that school was actually NOT cancelled this morning. But they did enjoy it a little before school. The things that make kids happy!

Emily, Ridge, Kenna, Natalie, and Cullen. Kenna and Cullen are our neighbors who live across the street. We walk to school with them every day. They have another one. Camden. But he was MIA.

Kenna and Natalie discovered this thick sheet of ice on top of some really NASTY water in a drainage area next to their house. They were so excited! Can you tell?

Ridge lending a hand.

They were so enthralled with the ice. Hey! What about the snow!! Seriously........

We have travel dates AND plane tickets!!!

Holy Cow! What a day! First of all before I say anything I want to say Praise God for the way he has taken care of this whole thing for us! My sister, Sara, got some fabulous news today too! Congrats Sara, Matt, Hollyn, and Noah!!

OK! We have concrete travel dates! We actually get to leave on March 12 instead of March 13th. Better prices for the tickets. We leave at 7:30 am and we return on March 26th at 4:09 pm. Can you believe this? I'm still seriously in shock! That's like....NEXT week! We will get Adiah on March 17th and our Consulate appointment is March 24th. I just got off the phone with our travel coordinator and she purchased our tickets for us. So its done! We're going.........I have so much to do. Thank you, Jesus.

He really did learn something this year!!

So tonight I am reading Ridgedon a story in bed. It's a new book. One we haven't read before. I think he's almost asleep but I'm trying to cherish these last few nights before we leave for China so I keep reading but kind of rushing through it. When out of no where he says "Mom. You need to pay attention to your periods." I kind of laughed but then I thought...he must hear that alot! And he knows what it means when you DON'T pay attention to your periods. Success!!!! I'll have to tell his teacher tomorrow. Then I was praying over him, again, thinking he was asleep. When I finished and turned to walk out of the room I hear him say...."Boy... that was a long one tonight." I love my kids!

We're backwards!

Ok, I'm not sure how I did that but all of my posts are in reverse order! Stink! So scroll down and read the one about the shower first and then work your way up from there.

Look at all of the things that Adiah got! She is one loved little girl!!

More pictures from the shower

The quilt my mother in law made for Adiah! So beautiful!

Me opening gifts with lots of little helpers!

Natalie, me, and Emily

Me and my sister, Sara

Praying over us!

Shower for Adiah

Proverbs 18:24
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Yesterday was such a fun day! I don't even have enough words to say how thankful I am! My sister (Sara), sister in law (Gina), Britney, Lorisa, and Chelsea hosted a shower for Adiah. Its was the most beautiful shower! Chelsea offered to have it at her home and it was so beautiful! I love your house, Chels! Such cute decorations and yummy food. It was Asian themed so we had Asian Chicken salad, shrimp won tons, egg rolls, fortune cookies, fruit, and cake! But more importantly I was showered with love from friends and family. We started the event with a little eating. As Lorisa said...I love shower food! Then I opened gifts with the help of my girls. Adiah is ready to go! She got so many wonderful gifts. Stroller, high chair, blankets, books, clothes, and on and on! My mother in law, Carol, made the quilt for Adiah's room. We picked the fabric out together several months ago. Pinks and browns. It turned out beautiful! My mom also gave me an Asian painting made by a man from China. Its made on rice paper and its so beautiful and special! We then ended the shower with a prayer time. My friends and family all gathered around me and my girls and I can't even tell you how overwhelmed I was. Poor Natalie had snot dripping in her hair! Sorry! Just a little conditioner! Thank you sweet friends by the way you bless my life daily! I'm honored to walk through this life with you!!


Me and the hostesses....Chelsea, Lorisa, me, Sara, Britney, and Gina

My girls helping set up....

The cake! It says...Welcome Home, Adiah!