Jadyn's Quilt

Here is the quilt that goes with Jadyn's bedding. I still have a little work to do on the bumper pads and they will be finished also. I had them made, but I have to add some extra ties on the sides to help them to stand better. Everything matches so well and I love it.


The mural is almost finished, one more visit from Roseanne will do it. I narrowed the mural down quite a bit and made a few changes. Roseanne is now painting the curtains to look like the real curtains on the window and it looks so good. I am so excited about it. It is all coming together. Here is a picture of the mural at this stage.





And finally, here are all of Jadyn's friends waiting on her to come home.

The View From Down Here-Lesson 1

You asked for it, so here you go. What have I learned during this long journey of adoption? A journey, that I might add, that is not over. We are still traveling that road and looking for a place to rest. Sometimes, we need the rest more than others. Sometimes, we find ourselves running and other times we are simply dragging our feet. What a journey it has been!

From the time that we began this journey almost two years ago, I held onto a picture in my mind of Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus while everything else is going on around her. That is precisely where I have found myself and how I have coped with the increase wait times, the disappointments along the way, and quite frankly, the thought of my daughter being in an institution in China and my inability to get to her. At the feet of Jesus, that is where I have stayed. Never before in my life have I ever been forced to rely on Him so much. Isn't that exactly what He wants us to do? So what's the problem? How hard can it be to completely and fully rely on Him? How hard can it be to trust Him completely? How hard can it be to sit at his feet and focus on Him, rather than everything that is going on around me?

It's hard, very hard. At times, I have found myself, sitting at His feet, yet looking at the giant that I was facing. The giant of increasing wait times, etc. It was during those times, I realized I was no longer focusing on Him, but the other things and they were huge from where I was sitting.

One of the verses that God has repeatedly given me during this time is this...

"For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." Isaiah 41:13

From where I am sitting, it's looking pretty sweet right now...

I See The Moon and The Moon Sees Me!

I got up Saturday morning and one of the first things I do is look out the front door to "check the weather" as my Dad use to do. My eyes immediately were drawn to this beautiful moon that was shining so bright in the daylight. The picture does not capture how bright the moon really was. You could see the surface colors and it was so vivid. So many times throughout this journey I have looked at the moon and it is one of the few things that links us to Jadyn right now. As she is in China and we are on the other side of the world, it's the same moon that shines over both of us. When I see it in the daytime, my mind always thinks that maybe a very loving nanny is walking Jadyn outside to see the moon. She points and shows it to her and they look at it, just a few seconds and at the same time that I am standing on my front walk in my pajamas, looking at the moon and thinking about my little girl. Maybe a stretch, but somehow it give me such a peace. I really needed to see that daytime moon Saturday morning and I thank God that He put that moon in the daytime sky just for Jadyn, her nanny and me. I see the moon and the moon sees me...

How I Am Feeling Today

Today is one of those days where my emotions have been "running crazy". Here is my post from the babyjellybeans site that pretty much sums up what I am feeling in my heart...

When I think of the whole process, it overwhelms me sometimes with raw emotion. I don't understand why God chose for us to be in this place, at this time, but He did. And for that, I will be forever be grateful. It is so hard to describe how you can love something so much that you have never seen, felt, smelled, touched or held. Hmm, much like my love for God I would say. We are in love with a child we have never seen and that boggles the mind. How can I love something so deeply that I have never seen? That, my family and friends, is the overflowing of the love of God in my life. It is a love that is so real it consumes you, yet so tender, you just want to share it with the world. Isn't that what it's really all about. Sharing God's love with the world. When I think of the complexity of it all, it always leads me to the God I love and His grace. He has chosen to entrust us with this gift of undescribable love in our hearts. A love that can only be placed there by the Creator. Wow.

October 13, 2005 - The New Cut-Off

The CCAA has officially revealed the new cut-off date. The website was updated tonight and they managed to get through October 13, 2005!!! This means they are in October and it is SO good to finally see that month on their website. Now, what's next? I'm glad you asked. WE ARE!!! This leaves us in the position to almost be a shoe-in for the next batch of referrals!!! This sounds unbelievable to me and I think that reality is beginning to sink it. I guess you could say that I am pretty much a wreck!

My sweet friend Becca gave us this plate for Jadyn's room and I think it pretty much sums it all up. "We prayed for this child and the Lord has granted us what we aked of Him". From the very beginning, Jadyn Grace Hood has been bathed in prayer. We don't have too far to go now. Continue to pray daily for Jadyn, her birth family, her health, her country and her new parents who are so anxiously waiting for this baby girl. We are almost there Jadyn!

Coming Soon - What I have Learned

I am attempting to put together my thoughts on the lessons that I have been taught over the past two years and even beyond. I am going to post some of the things that God has taught me during this very difficult time in hopes that someone, somewhere may benefit from those lessons. So, stay tuned for the real truth, some of which is pretty and some of which is not so pretty.

When you gotta go, you gotta go!

I ran across the picture and it just cracks me up. What a great and creative angle. It really sums up how I feel right now. I have been somewhat preoccupied yesterday and last night after reading a thread of the Bethany Board about attachment. I keep going over and over in my mind, what if I don't get it right, what if I miss something, what if Jadyn has attachment issues that I don't recognize, and every other question rolling around in my head. I guess you can say that I feel like I'm "freaking out" on the inside. For those that know me well, you know that I wouldn't show it on the outside. Is this normal to feel this way coming down to the wire? I have waited so long for this and I just don't want to mess it up. I read of severe attachment issues and I read peoples blogs that say their issues are very minimal. I think that it is safe to say that all instutionalized children have suffered a break in the attachment cycle and will have some issues and I recognize and believe this, but I can't help but be worried about missing something. Maybe I just need reassurance, maybe I just need encouragement, maybe I just need to use THAT bathroom at the Great Wall!

Anyone for Sushi?

For those of you that know me well, you know once I have something in my mind there is no stopping me. I will drive 500 miles just to find one thing. Well, one of my most recent missions has been the Great Sushi Set Search of 06! I saw this "Melissa and Doug" wooden sushi set on line and felt in my heart that Jadyn "must" have one. It was way too much on line so I began my hunt. I had a few shops that I knew that sold Melissa and Doug toys but I kept coming up empty handed. Just when I had resolved that I was going to "have" to pay that ridiculous price, I found it at the Peanut Gallery in Murfreesboro. Woo Hoo! It is so cute. The sushi rolls velcro together so you can put the together and then "cut" them apart to serve. The chopsticks have velcro on the ends of them so you can easily pick the "sushi" up. It also has a bowl of soy sauce, wasabi and ginger slices. It really is too cute for words. Guess you can tell that it don't take much to excite me these days.

Fun with Addie!

Just before Christmas, we got the priviledge of keeping Addie Mei for Dick and Leslie. She was a blast. I told Pat that we must look ridiculous as we sat in chairs (all three of us, Pat, Zac and myself) just watching her eat in her (actually Jadyn's) highchair. Can you imagine? Oh well, here are a few pictures from the night that I am just now blogging. What a great time we had. It was a true joy and she loves egg nog. I don't think that they served it back at "the home" :)

A Little Bummed!

Well, the new cut-off date is 9/27/05. I really had hoped for the rest of the month, or at least through the 29th of September, but no go. I am not at all surprised, but I guess a little disappointed. This means that we will probably not get our referral until sometime in February or even into the first or March. I don't look for the next cut-off to go much into October. Even though there is more days in this batch, this is still considerably less LID's that they have previously been processing. I am still searching for the lesson that God is teaching me!!!!!

What do I Know?

Nothing, absolutely nothing at this point. I am still diligently praying that 9/29 is included in this batch that is due to hit the states today. We need it to and we need it to BAD!!! Keep on praying. This is HUGE for us. There are conflicting rumors, but it's not looking too good right now.

Happy New Year!

Yes, I know that I'm a day late, that is usually how it works for me. But, here's hoping we hear some wonderful referral news today. There is a European agency that has already confirmed that their 9/27/05 people are in. We REALLY NEED for this batch to go through the end of September. Get busy praying! More later as the excitement unfolds! Just a thought, what if we get a call today and our LID has been changed? Stranger things have happened you know! :)

Stop the Madness!

Things continue to be crazy in the world of adoption. There have been several families who had LID's past 9/8/05 who have received their referrals in the last batch. I have seen one as late at 9/15/05. Talk about a surprise. How wild would that be? I really think that we are on target for February. However, there is a slim chance that we could get ours in January. This has been a crazy process and just think, the fun is just beginning.

CCAA Update

Well, here you go, hot off the press. We're through September 8th. Not where I expected to be this month. I'm pretty disappointed, but, not much I can do. We are getting closer, inch by inch.

No news is... No news

Nada, zilch, nothing. Lots and lots of conflicting rumors (I emphasize the word rumors)that are pointing to a million different directions. Once again, we are up in the air. We'll just have to wait and see for ourselve when referrals arrive. Oh, and the rumors about the arrival of referrals are all over the place too. So, the moral of that story is "don't pay attention to rumors". Right?

No news is good news? Right?

Happy Monday! It's the beginning of a brand new week and boy was it hard to get out of bed this morning. I don't even think that I set the clock last night. I can't remember. There is nothing new on the adoption front this morning, we are all waiting not so patiently for any bit of rumor that comes our way.

I am praying that we know something soon and if you need something to pray for, pray that all of September is included in this next batch of referrals. Now, that would be excited. Maybe they are still matching and we just haven't heard yet because of that. One can dream!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wow, what I am thankful for? The list goes on and on. I am thankful for my wonderful husband, who is my best friend. I am thankful for our boys. I am thankful for the little girl who waits on us in China. Our life is getting ready to be turned upside down. We can't wait.

So, today, as I reflect on Thanksgiving past, and look forward to future Thanksgivings, I pray that now, as our daughter sleeps somewhere in China, that God will warm her heart today, whisper our voices in her ear, and hold her in His arms while she sleeps. We love you Jadyn, sleep well sweet daughter, we will come get you soon. For you, I am forever thankful.

Hey, we got one!

There is a great rumor on RQ this morning. I woke up to some exciting news. She says that there are some agencies that are saying we will see either all or almost all of September in this next batch. Now that's exciting! Pray that it happens, although, I am not getting my hopes up. I have been on that roller coaster before and it's not a fun ride.

Yesterday, all my troubles seem so far away!

Yesterday was the 13 month anniniversary of our LID. We were actually logged in for 13 months. WOW, that is just hard for me to believe. I can't help but think that good news is right around the corner. I can't wait to find out about the next batch of referrals, which by the way, there is no rumors floating around about at all.

I really might have my expectations a little high, but who knows. I think we will see sweet Jadyn's face the end of January. Yep, that's what keeps me awake at night (see the posted time) and that's what motivates me during the day. The thoughts of seeing her sweet face. God, love on her today and she waits for us in China.

At Last! Can I Get an AMEN!

Ladies and Gentlemen: We have a cut-off date! The CCAA website is updated and they have processed through August 25, 2005. This is pretty significant. According to the word on the street, August 24th was a HUGE day of LID's so to have gotten through this day alone is BIG. And, besides that, they got through one more day past it. I'll get a little information later (like when the sun comes up) that will let us know exactly how significant. Until then, I think I will go back to bed and try to sleep a little tonight, just because it's dark outside and that is what NORMAL people do this time of the day.

Can I get an AMEN!!!