Memorial Day Fun at the Park

After our cookout on Memorial Day, most of us went to a nearby park.  It was sunny and warm, after three weeks of rain.  Lots of fun was had!

Tessa on the swings.

Caylie and Tessa. Yes, my 6-year-old fits in a toddler swing!

Caylie, Brittany and Tessa having slide races!

Keelan and one of his boards.

Sisters

Uncle Brandon and Daddy Brad with Tessa.  I'm sure they were paying complete attention.

Cute face girl!

Jim and Caylie

Brittany learning(?) to skateboard.

Jim and me

Caylie and Keelan.  She liked that little horse.

Sweet baby girl.

Wheeeee!  (A roller coaster??)

Hmm. . . 

Two Years

Two years ago today, this little girl was brought to us in a hotel in Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.  She was scared and she was sad, but God has been healing her heart since that day.   She has learned to trust and to love.  She is beautiful and happy.  We love you, Caylie JiuChang.

  You can read about that day HERE! 

On another note, God is working in our current adoption, as well.  The website that I wrote about in my previous post is finally up and running again.  We are officially in the final stages of our wait to bring Samuel XuDi home!

Adoption Setback - Please Pray

We are at a standstill in our adoption process.  All the steps have gone as planned until now.  We are at the stage where we need to fill out an online form to apply for Samuel's immigrant visa.  This is called the DS 260.  However, the website - belonging to the U.S. Department of State - has not been working for the last nine days.

 Everyone who is at this stage in their adoption process is now being held up because of this.  People are writing their senators, contacting government agencies, and doing everything they can to get someone's attention, but still nothing is fixed.  It is completely unacceptable to me and soooo frustrating!

I just want to go get our boy!!  It makes me crazy to think that something so simple is keeping me from doing that!  I want to hug him and love on him and bring him into our family.  But I can't.  Not yet.

But the thing is, God knows.  He knows all that is at stake, not only in our adoption, but in so many others.  He knows the hearts of all involved, and He is working everything together for our good and for His glory.   Please pray with us that whoever is in charge of fixing this thing will know exactly what to do, and do it quickly.  Pray that this problem will be resolved and families can bring their children home.