New Pictures and an Update

I sent a care package a few months ago by way of the post office.  It contained all the typical goodies:  a shirt, a photo album of the family, a toy, some snacks, a stuffed puppy and a couple of disposable cameras.  I also included a translated letter to his foster family.  I pray that it got there.

     I wanted to send another package and this time I sent it by way of Red Thread China.  Ann, a sweet Chinese lady, took very good care of my package.  I chose the pajama package and she took me a couple of the pictures of the actual package.  Here’s a picture for your enjoyment.  It’s okay if you laugh, the Shrek pajamas made me laugh out loud.  That is so unlike anything in the world that I would EVER pick out.  I’m not much on character clothing. :) But if it’s your thing, you’re gonna love these!!

The best part about using Ann is that she calls and requests an update from your child’s orphanage as well as pictures.  She said the had not heard anything back from them but had hopes that she would soon.  A couple of weeks later, this is what I got in my email.

Dear Amy :
Below is yang heng hong`s measurements :
height :90cm
weight :13kg
head :48cm
chest :52cm
feet :13cm
Have a wonderful day,love,Ann

He is about Alyza Kate’s size.  I have to say I was very disappointed that I didn’t get any pictures.  A few minutes later, I check my email again and saw a separate email from Ann.  It’s title was “pictures”.  I opened the email and began to tear up.  Our little guy is growing so very much.  This had made my day.  It also happened to be my birthday.  Happy Birthday to me.  I couldn’t have asked for a better present.  Enjoy the updated pictures of sweet boy…

View Full Album

Thanks friends for checking in on us.  We couldn’t be more excited about out little guy coming home.

T-Shirt Clearance Sale

Hey friends!

We've gotten word that we should be traveling to China to bring Isaiah home by the end of July...only two months away. Jadyn asks no less that 10 times a day if we can go get Isaiah. Obviously, there's a lot of excitement in our home.

As you know, we sold tee shirts in the winter to help save this orphan. We want to say thank you to all who donated to the cause by purchasing a tee. You have no idea how much that means to us. I love seeing them around church or town. I always think, wow, that's a great t-shirt.

This is our third adoption in three years. We didn't actively try to raise funds for the first two & we were amazed at how God provided. We were once again reminded that God always supplies the resources to accomplish what He calls us to do.

As we knew He would, God is also providing the resources to bring Isaiah home. One way He's providing is through those of you who bought Serve One or Save One Tee's or dresses that Amy has made. So, we can't say thank you enough.

If you didn't get one, but would like to have one now that summer is here, we're making it easy for you. We're having a clearance sale. You can now buy one Tee for $20.00 or two for $30.00. If you want one, just see Amy or contact me or her on our Facebook page & let us know. You can also see the dresses she makes on her Facebook if you're interested.

Here is a rundown of what shirts we have left:







Gray Save One shirts - 4 larges (sold out of all other sizes)
Blue Serve One shirts - 2 smalls, 8 larges, 3 XL and 1 XXL
Silver Ladies Save One - 1 small, 10 larges, 10 XL
Black Ladies Serve One - 4 smalls, 8 mediums, 10 larges, 11 XL
Black Long Sleeved - 1 XXL and 1 medium (These are $15.00)

We've got some funds left to raise before we head to China in July. We would LOVE to sell out of these shirts. If you would like a shirt, please let one of us know. And now, you can see what you have to choose from. Shipping is included in the price if you don't live here!!

Thanks for helping us bring the little man home.

Where We Are

Here is just a quick update of where we are in our adoption. As you know, we received our LSC from the CCAA in China. We quickly signed it and overnighted it back to our agency so that they could get it back on it's way to China.

We are also required to submit another form to USCIS which is called an I800. We submitted the I800A along with a completed homestudy and some other documents and were approved to adopt Isaiah. Now we have to submit an I800, which is a 10 page application, along with a complete copy of Isaiah's referral packet and a couple of letters from our agency saying that this information is true and correct and that we have completed our Hague training. So, in other words, we have submitted another form to get an approval of our approval. Make sense? No, it don't to me either.

But, that's the hoop of the week that must be jumped through. So, we are jumping away. We submitted that form last week and it is taking about a month for this approval. Next step is then our Travel Approval which will be issued through the CCAA in China.

Please pray that this happens quickly and that the person who has received this very important piece of our paperwork will work efficiently and smoothly.

I'll keep you updated and let you know when we get this piece of exciting news.

Thanks for checking on us and for praying.

A Mother's Day Reflection

This is a reprint from a post that I did on May 13, 2007. It was Mother's Day and we celebrated it in Chongqing China.

2 Mothers, 1 Gift - May 13, 2007

OK, I'm laying in the bed feeling guilty because I didn't make more of an effort to get some pictures posted, I did try - really I did, but I was just SO exhausted. After I got Jadyn to sleep, caught a few winks and woke up with you on my mind. This is the best that I can do until she is wide awake tomorrow. This was a risk, snapping pictures of a sleeping baby, what was I thinking?

Let me just answer those questions rolling around in your mind. Yes, we think she is absolutely beautiful. She is truly a treasure and "Bao" means treasure in Chinese. We were deeply saddened by the conditions of the orphanage. This is one of the better facilities in China, but still it is an orphanage. And we were reminded of this with our visit. We were somewhat shocked back to reality. There were times all four of us were sobbing. The boys hearts were truly broken to know that she spent the first year of her life here. They will come away from this trip forever changed. And that was our goal.

She is still pretty somber, although, we are seeing a little personality. She has begun to play with her toys a little, self feed from our hands (love those Gerber puffs) and seems to be letting her guard down. No smiles on camera yet. Maybe tomorrow. She has on her "gifted" pajamas because what a gift she is. She is truly beautiful. What a day it was, life changing at the very least. We will forever be connected to a family in this part of China. The family that gave us the gift of our daughter. Whether I can look out the hotel window and not realize that they are just over the hill, or they are somewhere many miles from here in the countryside, I will truly be forever connected to the woman who carried, gave birth to, and loved my child enough to give her a chance. When I look deep into her eyes, I can't help but think of her Mother on this Mother's day. The joy, elation and excitement of one Mother is paralleled by the pain and sadness of another Mother. One that I will never know. But, on this day, there is a Mother who prayed for another Mother and praised the Father above for the connection that the two of us will forever have. The connection sleeping soundly just a few feet from me. Our daughter Jadyn Grace BaoJun Hood. Truly a treasure.

And yes, in case you are wondering, that is MY bed she is sleeping in. I just didn't have the heart to put her in that port-o-crib. Not quite soft enough in my book. Pat's sleeping well in the other bed. ;)



Happy Mother's Day!

LSC/LOA!!!!!!!!!

Just got a call from Karen, our social worker with Heartsent! She just received our LSC (Letter Seeking Confirmation). This is the piece of paper that we check the box that says YES we want this child, then we sign it and send it back to the CCAA!

We have some immigration paperwork to complete and send in. PRAY that it is processed QUICKLY! She said that it was talking about a month. Next step is the TA (travel approval) which is taking about 3 weeks or so after that! So, reality is, we could be looking at...


wait for it...






JULY!!!!!


I need to get that little man home! Thanks for praying friends.

Some Great Fabric Choices

Just in case you are interested. I have a few more fabric combinations that will make some super cute dresses.

Here is the first one. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this fabric. It's called art gallery fabric.







Got enough fabric for one dress.



Here is the next set. It's the cupcake fabric, but with a vanilla background. Believe me, the green polka dots make this the cutest dress EVER!





And finally, this is another great set. It's perfect for all you purply lavender people. It is BEAUTIFUL fabric and will make a beautiful dress.



So, there you have it. Some more choices for these super cute dresses. I am sewing quite a bit, as I have time. I LOVE making these dresses. The prices are as follows:

Dress $30.00
Any embellishment - add $5.00 (ribbons, ric rac, applique etc.)
Monogram or name - $6.00

I am working on getting this information to a separate blog. Thanks for your interest and if you would like to order a dress, just let me know.