Boo!

BOO!

Happy Halloween from us to you!

Enjoy my favorite recipe for pumpkin seeds.

Much love,
Blessed Mama

June Date

Adoption involves a lot of waiting!  To help pass the time, I planned 12 dates for my husband and I.  Some are goofy, some are sweet, all are inexpensive (many are free).  So far we have enjoyed our adventures, in our August date, September date, October date, November date, December date, and January Date, February Date, March Date, April Date, and May Date.

Still no final decree.  As far as we know, we have officially waited in this stage longer than any other family in the recent past.  So for the last month, we have lived with "we could be leaving this week," and felt quite heartbroken when that was not the case.  Weekends have been especially difficult, since we know no news will arrive (the courts are closed).  This past weekend, we spent some time recharging for another week of hope and expectation...with a date night! 

And who doesn't love a good breakfast in bed?  I mean really, it combines two of the best things in the world!  Well, that was exactly what I planned for our June date.  It may have happened a little late, but here's the card.

This date was inspired by this blog post, and, of course, has our own personal spin on it!  I think it might be hard for you to read this card (unless you have a big computer screen), so this is what it says: 

We hope you enjoy your stay in the luxurious suite of Winter Dreams.  Retreat to the fantasies of a winter romance in another place and time.  Deep, rich tones of green and brown will surround you as you enjoy your chilled grape juice, compliments of your Innkeeper.  Winter Dreams will keep you snug and cozy tonight.

Savor the warmth of a complimentary massage.

We invite you to partake in a relaxing and intimate evening gourmet meal, “breakfast for dinner” style!  You will be summoned by romantic music and the aroma of a delicious eggs, toast, grits and bacon. 

Once you are here, you won’t want to leave this relaxing retreat.  May all your Winter Dreams come true...

By this time of year (ie June, when this date was planned for), my husband is usually missing the crisp air of fall and cool breeze of winter, so I tried to create the feeling of a wintry bed and breakfast with this card.  Another tweak you might have noticed is that this date, even though it is bed and breakfast style, was planned to be at night!  I am notoriously slow moving in the mornings, while my husband is out of bed bright and early, so I figured this would be a good compromise.  

For our meal, I made breakfast burritos and they were delicious!  It was a much enjoyed, though somewhat delayed, "June" date.

Much love,
Blessed Mama

A Giggle and a Smile

A Giggle:

We may not be related by blood...

but I think we are going to fit together pretty well...

Levi

Me

 A Smile:

Another family joined in Taiwan

 

May your weekends be filled with giggles and smiles of your own!

Much love,

Blessed Mama

Since we have been waiting, these beautiful families have formed!

July 2011 Babies: 
A Referral Story 
Another His Hands Family Created! 

August Baby: 
August His Hands Baby 

October Baby:

Movin' On Up 

November Baby:

A November Cutie  

December Baby:

She'll Be Home For Christmas

January 2012 Baby:

My Mom's Favorite Baby goes Home

April Baby:

April Baby

June and July Babies

Babies

September Babies:
September His Hands Families

October Babies

Another sweet (re)union

Another sweet (re)union

Sigh...these posts make me SO happy!!

Remember Levi's buddy Beckett (the one on the far left?)

More pictures of the "3 Musketeers" here

Well, he is now with his forever family!  

 

His big brother is also adopted from Taiwan.  And this link leads to their blog.

His mama has been so sweet and been giving me lots of little updates on Levi...like the fact that he is already eating cereal.  Yes, cereal!  I suppose I am going to need those bowls and spoons sooner than I thought!

Hopefully very soon...come on final decree!

Much love,
Blessed Mama

July 2011 Babies: 
A Referral Story 
Another His Hands Family Created! 

August Baby: 
August His Hands Baby 

October Baby:

Movin' On Up 

November Baby:

A November Cutie  

December Baby:

She'll Be Home For Christmas

January 2012 Baby:

My Mom's Favorite Baby goes Home

April Baby:

April Baby

June and July Babies

Babies

September Babies:
September His Hands Families 

The Next Time I Do This

{I wrote this Thursday as I was packing, and meant to post it Friday.  Then, I came down with the most terrible stomach bug!  Feeling better now, whew.}

The next time I pack a bag, it will be for Taiwan.

The next time I board a flight, I will have a lot more luggage.

The next time I stay in a hotel room, it will be louder and busier.

The next time I take a trip, it will be to Taiwan.  

And to this face.

So this {aka, this past weekend, whoops} weekend, I suppose I should enjoy this business trip, these adult conversations, this quiet room all to myself {which I enjoyed a lot more of than I thought I would...since I got so sick}.  Because very soon, life is going to look a little different.

And I am so excited!

{Please join us in prayer that the final decree comes TONIGHT!} 

Much love,
Blessed Mama

Asking the Godparents

Meet Levi's Godparents!

Our lives are filled with wonderful, loving, generous people.  This couple is one of them.  Of course, I couldn't ask them to play such a special role in Levi's life in just any way!  When I saw this, it sparked an idea...

{from here}

So, the front of my cards looked like this...

And the back like this...

They read:

Will you be my Godfather?

Will you be a role model?  Will you encourage me to stay strong in my faith?  Will you take me fishing, camping, and shooting?   Will you make sure my parents’ final wishes are followed, should something happen to them?  Will you talk with me when I have questions about adoption and identity?  Will you comfort my parents when I go to college?  Will you teach me how to kick a soccer ball?  Will you be there on my wedding day to calm my nerves?  “Italians have a little joke, that the world is so hard a man must have two fathers to look after him, and that’s why they have godfathers.” Mario Puzo

Will you be my Godmother?

Will you be a role model?  Will you encourage me to stay strong in my faith?  Will you send me a cute card on my birthdays?  Will you make sure my parents’ final wishes are followed, should something happen to them?  Will you talk with me when I have questions about adoption and identity?  Will you please tell my mother when she dresses me in something embarrassing?  Will you also tell her that I am capable of driving a car when I am sixteen?  Will you be there on my wedding day to calm my nerves and tell my bride she’s beautiful?  Most of all, will you love me as you will your own children, through the good times and bad, the easy times and tough times, and remind me that through it all, I am always loved?

We put the cards in the mail, waited a couple days, and soon heard from some excited Godparents! And we couldn't be happier.

Much love,
Blessed Mama

Pumpkins and Mohawks

We received our first decree back on Wednesday, September 26, and that weekend, I purchased this outfit.

I thought it might look nice with the Mohawk that Levi has been sporting lately.

{no, his hair was not shaved...it's just growing that way!}

Praying, hoping, and dreaming that this month I will be able to put the two things together.

No travel news yet!

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

And so, I will endeavor to do some good this week, as we wait for God's perfect timing.

Much love,
Blessed Mama

October's Pictures

It sure is hard to wait for a final decree when you get pictures of a face this cute!

I hope to be sharing some good news soon!  It's been over two weeks since our first decree.  Happy Friday!!

Much love,
Blessed Mama

The Travel Shower

On Monday, I invited you to my blue baby shower.  Today, we will be enjoying my "Travel" baby shower!  Remember Heather, who designed our beautiful baby announcement?  Well, together with my friend Kylie and my mother, she threw a shower for me that I will never forget.  You might not forget it either! 

The two beautiful ladies who brought it all together

Food from around the world

She named the "airline" after me!

 

Instead of cards, everyone brought Levi books

Leaves of Love fingerprint tree as "check in"

Favors were little bags of nuts...in a suitcase, of course!

My mom, who flew in for the fun

Bunting from the shower, now in Levi's nursery

The invites for the shower were gorgeous boarding passes.  I'd post it here, but it has too much personal information ;-)  Heather does some beautiful design work, so if you need invitations, decorations, or other paper products, shoot her an e-mail at: hmgmcguire@gmail.com

Much love,
Blessed Mama

P.S. No final decree news yet...hopefully this is the week!

Blue Baby Shower

I have been blessed with several beautiful baby showers recently!  And honestly, I have been putting off blogging about them.  Each one has been so lovely, so loving, and so special to me that I cannot find the words (or the time) to share the sweet stories.  So, instead of telling you each beautiful detail, I am just going to show them to y'all.  Enjoy yourself as a virtual guest!  Welcome to the "Blue Baby Shower."

There was SO much delicious food!  Cupcakes, dips, chips, punch...

Spoiling Levi (and me) rotten

The wonderful girls who put it together

This was really sweet...each attendee wrote a message to me, my husband, and Levi for upcoming milestones...like the first day of kindergarten, first date, high school graduation, etc.  Some are funny, some are sweet.  I love it!

Thank you to the ladies who made my blue shower so special, especially Megan and Andrea!

Much love,
Blessed Mama

P.S. No final decree news yet...hopefully this is the week!

Birth Mother Gift pt.2

So, in addition to the locket...

  ...we ordered one more gift for our birth mother: a beautiful bilingual bible.

Taiwan's writing system is "traditional" Mandarin, while all of China uses "simplified" Mandarin.  So, as you can imagine, it is MUCH more difficult to find items with the traditional lettering, especially with an English translation.  So, when we ordered the the "Traditional Hardcover" version of the book we weren't sure how it would look.  We are so pleased with it!  Half of each page is in English while the other half has the translation.

My husband and I will be praying with this bible until we travel.  We will be underlining passages that we find comfort and encouragement in, on the English portion of the page.  Our hope is that when Levi's first mother receives this book and sees our markings, she will skim over to the corresponding Mandarin, out of curiosity, if nothing else.  Perhaps these words will bring her comfort too.

If we are unable to give this to her, we will keep this book as continue to pray, giving it to Levi when he is older. If we are able to give this to her, we will order two more and underline the same passages that we marked in hers (perhaps in a special colored pen or highlighter).  One copy, we will store away, for when Levi is old enough.  The last copy, we will keep, as our own special copy representing this special tie between us, and continue to read, pray with, and mark passages within it.

We also ordered Levi his first bible off this website!  My husband is actually the one who selected it, because it reminded him of his own childhood bible.  We got this one, and it is also beautiful in person.

(note: Levi won't actually be able to read Chinese, obviously!  We hope to enroll him in some language classes once he is old enough, so that he doesn't lose this part of his culture.  I want him to at least be familiar with the writing, growing up seeing it, so the characters do not seem so foreign to him).

With the purchase of the bible, our shopping for Levi's first mother, this special, special person in our lives, is complete.  Now we pray that she will be willing to meet us so we can thank her in person.  Hopefully soon!

Much love,
Blessed Mama