1 Year Family Anniversary w/Sterling

Today is 1 year that Sterling brought us blessings & joy!

We are abundantly blessed!  How quickly time has passed.  Our once timid, withdrawn and shy little boy has blossomed into one who enjoys other children and his friends, doesn't let his lack of speech stop him from communicating with others and lights up a room with his smile and laughter! 

The orphange wouldn't believe he is the same little boy they once knew...the little boy they suspected as having autism and had never spoke a single word, baby-like in many ways and able to wear 18 month old clothing at almost 4 years old.  Fast forward today, he's grown 6 inches and gained 10 lbs,

We are blessed beyond words!!

Forever Family Day- 11/23/09

Trouble posting additional pictures....stay tuned, more to come!!!

Showers of Blessings

I will send down showers in season; I will send down showers of blessings. Ezekiel 35:26

This is a strong truth for our family.....our adoption has shown to be one blessing after another, right up to the very end of our waiting......

We've been praying since the start of Miao's adoption to meet other families adopting 13 year old girls.  God allowed these prayers to be fruitful, this past July, when receiving an email with the subject line-"searching for Texas family adopting Huang Miao."  I was left speechless when viewing the email.  It was a family reaching out to us.  Their daughter, who was adopted last October, is friends with Miao.  They learned about us through Miao.  This was our first connection with a family adopting a 13 year old.....but one step better, they had met our daughter and both girls are friends!

Once we started corresponding with this particular family, we quickly connected with 3 other families also adopting older girls from the same orphanage as Miao!  We emailed one another throughout the summer and continued while 2 of the families (recently) traveled to bring their daughters home.  That left 2 of us still waiting....well, to our wonder, we are now traveling at the same time!  YES, we will be in China with our new-found friend, adopting our girls together, at the same time!  We have the blessing of meeting in person and hanging out together during the stay in China. 

The blessings don't stop here. 

The last family we met through email is a family also adopting a 13 year old daughter AND, lives right here in the Houston area!!!  We will have the blessing of living near another family with  a 13 yo from China AND.... we are traveling at the same time!!!!

Our prayers have been fruitful......we are thankful for the shower of blessings that continue to rain down on our family...GOD IS GREAT...ALL THE TIME!

Thanksgiving-A Special Meaning For Us

Thanks be to God, for He gives us the victory through Christ Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:57

Thanksgiving will always hold a special place in our family and have an extra special meaning. 

It was Thanksgiving Day, 2009 when as a family, we shared our first Thanksgiving with Sterling! The very same day, we received approval from China (PA) to move forward with the adoption of our beautiful daughter, Miao! 

Now, fast forward exactly one year-Thanksgiving 2010 and we are departing on Thanksgiving day for Guangzhou, China to bring our beautiful daughter home! 

Yes, Thanksgiving will always be a blessed time for our family!

Giving Thanks-Celebrating Thanksgiving

We Have Much To Be Thankful!!

This weekend has been non-stop, but today, we set aside a couple of hours to celebrate Thanksgiving as a family.  Last year, we celebrated Thanksgiving in Nanjing, China and this year, we will be in-flight to Guangzhou, so we decided to celebrate early!  Justin and Elizabeth joined us making the day complete.  We were together as a family and have much to be thankful. 

Thanksgiving-Luby's Style!

Sterling's 1st Thanksgiving at Home

Sterling & Dad having fun!

Big Brother & Elizabeth

Our Boys-25 & almost 5!

Christmas Angel

A Whirlwind Week!

It's All Coming Together!

Sorry we haven't posted.  It's been a whirlwind week and obstacles trying to slow us down. 

We received word on Monday morning at 11:25 that our TA reached the adoption agency.  By Tuesday morning, had confirmation of our consulate appointment, (ie: US Consulate Appointment or better known as CA) and flights by lunch time!!!!

 Earl was on the phone with Continental booking flights by lunch time Tuesday.  After 2 hours and 40 minutes later, (yes, no exaggeration) our flights were booked!  Earl had proactively reserved a hotel room several weeks ago, so it was only a matter of confirming the exact dates with the hotel. 

China has several events taking place that are causing hotel rooms to book quickly.  We didn't want to be forced to delay our travel should the TA arrive during one of the events, so Earl proactively reserved a hotel room for several weeks.  

We are booked at the Hyatt in Guangzhou...not on Shamian Island.  We didn't want to pay the astronomical prices and sleep on hard beds at the White Swan and besides, we prefer to be at a Western based hotel and Earl has elite status at the Hyatt, given all the business travel he has done to China.  The Hyatt was a better fit for us.  Last year when we were in Guangzhou with Sterling's adoption, we were at the Marriott, also off the island and it was only a short taxi drive to Shamian Island.  Shamian Island is where the visa photo and medical clinic is located.  Most adoptive families prefer to lodge on Shamian Island and at the White Swan or Victory hotel.

We've been working with our agency's travel contact to secure a guide/translator for our adoption related appointments and to schedule time at Miao's orphanage for a visit and a visit to Safari Park.  (Safari Park-where one may feed the animals-like baby tigers-and pet them--I'm looking forward to this)  We've been going back and forth because the price was MUCH more than we anticipated and the itinerary had extras we didn't want or need and didn't have a couple of items we requested.  Long story, short, we are moving forward with our agency's requested guide, removed the "extras" that were added and working behind the scenes to schedule the 2 items we want but not able to schedule with this particular company. 

NOTE those adoptive parents reading our blog: be prepared, this part of the adoption isn't discussed very often and when it is, the pricing isn't shared...the estimate our agency provided was WAY off...way off.  Any adoptive parent that wants to know more details, we will gladly share!  Contact us.  Wish we had known this earlier in the process and had not been caught off-guard.   Either way, we now have a guide/translator to help get us through the adoption process at the CCAA, The US Consulate and our daugther's passport & visa.  YEA!!!!

Blessings to All!
Earl & Sharee

TA TODAY!!!!

Isaiah 43:5-I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.

Blessings Shower Down
After all the prayers and wait, our TA arrived,  TODAY!!!!  Our agency received a total of 9 Travel Approvals and multiple LOA's.  It was a great start to the week for many families.

One last step before we book travel.  The Consulate Appointment or better known as the CA. 

We must have a Consulate Appointment before we travel.  We requested December 7 or 8 as our first two preferences.  If we get one of these appointment dates, we will be flying out either Thanksgiving day or the day after. We are thrilled to be so close to bringing Miao home and home in time for Christmas!!! YEA!!

The Polar Express Train Ride

GREAT Way to Kick-Off The Holiday Season!

There is a train ride that runs from Palestine to Rusk, Texas that has runs year around with different themes.  This time of year it's the "Polar Express" and it is a fabulous experience for any family! 

The theme is the storybook & movie, "The Polar Express."  The train ride starts off with hot chocolate and snacks served to everyone.  The servers are dressed in chef outfit, just like the movie and they dance around and make the children laugh.  Once all snacks are passed out, the story is read over the speaker while children follow along in the book. 

The train stops at the North Pole, decorated with lights, Santa and his elves.  Santa boards the train and it starts once again for the return ride back to the train station.  Santa visits with every child on the train.  The train ride is a little over an hour and, I failed to mention, everyone is encouraged to wear their pajamas. Fun, fun, fun!!  The return train ride is very festive, with everyone singing Christmas Carols.  If you happen to live anywhere in Texas, it's worth the drive!  We drove almost 3 hours and we plan to do it again, next year.

Sterling was in HEAVEN throughout the entire ride.  He was in complete awe over the train.  He has a facination with trains..as with most every little boy.  He shrilled with excitement when the train made it's grand entrance, steam, whistle and all!