Nothing yet...

Well, we have not received the call yet. No pictures, no nothing. UGGGHHHHHH! I've waited 18+ months, so what's a few more days, right? NOT!!!! I want to see my baby's face! If we don't hear anything tomorrow, then it will be next week before we know anything. As soon as they contact us and we get pics, I'll post them, I PROMISE! This baby has no idea how many people are waiting to meet her. How funny!!!!

It Looks Like they made it to Nov 7th!

Well, it is with very mixed emotions that I post this today. It looks like the cut-off for referrals this month is Nov. 7th, which means WE MADE IT IN THIS TIME!!!!!!!!! Oh my God!!!!!! However, it is with a heavy and sad heart that I don't think our friends, the Hartnett's will be included. We wanted to travel with them so badly, but that is not God's plan, I'm afraid. I wish it could be different, but it's not, and I know there's a reason. We may not understand it today, but will understand it someday. There's a reason. I've dreamed of this time for so many long months, that I can't hardly believe it has arrived. We actually made it in this month. We should see Karsynn's face very, very soon. As soon as I can, I'll post pictures...that is if I can remember how to even turn the computer on after seeing that sweet face. Keep praying!!!!!

Could this really be the week?

Well, it is officially Tuesday morning in China. I can hardly believe that this may be the week that we finally put a face with a name that we've been dreaming of for so many months. I can hardly wrap my mind around the thought of receiving "the call" saying that we have a daughter. This journey has been so long, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. There are so many things we've missed out on that pregnant parents go through, but there are also so many things that we've experienced that others will never know the feeling of. I can't say whether one or the other experience is better...just different. I don't anticipate hearing anything form AHH until at least Friday, but it could very well be next Monday or Tuesday, too. Hopefully, Rumor Queen, an adoptive families website lifeline, will begin to hear some rumors from other countries this week. She rates her rumors from R1 (not very reliable) to an R5 (very reliable source and rumor). So, we're right now at an R3 that this will be a larger batch of referrals than we've seen in months past. YEAH!!! Our prayers may actually be answered this week or next. We'll keep you posted! Keep praying!

Troy and I

Troy and I at the baby shower at my school. This is the first picture that I can actually tell I've lost 35 lbs. YEAH!!!! My 3-4 miles a day is finally paying off.

Our 2nd Baby Shower!

Well, we had our 2nd baby shower today at Mt. Sterling Elementary, and I cannot believe how generous everyone was. They have already begun to spoil Karsynn rotten. The cake was beautiful! My friends who threw the shower for me went with a Lucky Ladybug theme. My heart melted when I saw the beautiful decorations. Enjoy the pictures. I have the best friends a person could ever ask for. I'm not sure how I would have handled this 18 month wait had it not been for them. They will NEVER know what they mean to Troy and I.

Our 1st Baby Shower at CMS!!!!!

It was so nice to be the "mommy to be!!!!" Everyone at Troy's school was so very generous. We had the best time, and we received so many things that we didn't already have.

15 Days and counting down!!

My heart can't handle much more of this wait! 15 days until we see our daughter's face, or at least we hope!!!!! Rumor has it that they may make it as far as Nov. 16th. OH MY!! That would be a welcomed surprise!!!!

19 Days to Go...

Only 19 days until the end of May, so we are that much closer to seeing Karsynn's face for the first time. The first rumors are out on the Rumor Queen website, and the earliest rumors lead us to believe that CCAA may do more referrals this month than they've done in the past several. This rumor cannot be substantiated, but someone states that they will get to Nov. 15 or 16???? Could this really be? I would be absolutely thrilled, for our good friends, Steve and Alese would be traveling with John and Nila and Troy and I. I just know that things will work out. Until next time...

We're next...I just feel it!

Where in China is Karsynn H.?

Ok, so today we received an email from a couple different people at our agency, and they really think we'll be in this next batch, at the end of May. So, here are my predictions, and I hope this is the last time I have to make predictions:

May 30-June (first week)-Referrals will be issued for Nov. 2nd-Nov. 12 LID's ***Nov. 4th!!!***

Travel usually occurs somewhere between 5-8 weeks after receiving referral, so, with that being said:

Travel to China: Last week of July or first week of August (hopefully July!!!!!)

I cannot believe that we're so close. This is going to be the longest month of my life. I'm already crossing off days on the calendar. Keep sending up prayers!!! There are so many families waiting for their children, so please pray for them, too.

November 1st is the Cut-Off Date

I am heartbroken to announce that we did not make it in this time...AGAIN. I'm not sure why Troy and I have had such a long and difficult wait, but I know that there must be a reason. They referred babies from Oct. 26-Nov. 1st and we are Nov. 4th. So, who knows what will happen next month. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

The End of Another Month...

Well, here we are at the end of another month, so we can expect referrals any day now. I don't know what to anticipate, but I'm certainly hoping for more than two days like last month. I'm not going to get my hopes up to high, though. As I said in my last post, God has the ultimate plan, so what will be will be. Keep praying.

Sammi

I hear you God...

Ok, so with the devastating news last week that CCAA only did two days worth of referrals, I was really heartbroken. Being human, I began to second guess whether or not our daughter was actually in China. I began to question whether we were really listening to God speak to our hearts or whether we just thought this was what we were to do. So, as I went to bed I said a simple prayer. I prayed to God to send me a sign to let me know what we were supposed to do. I left it at that. I planned to use the next couple of days clearing my mind and repairing my heart from the discouraging news. Well, God spoke to me quickly. Out of the blue, over the next two days, I received a cute bath towel with a huge ladybug (a symbol of goodluck in the Chinese adoption community) on it, a board book about Chinese adoption titled, "I Love you Like Crazy Cakes," a book titled, "Are you my Mother," and a Little Golden Book about adoption titled, "A Blessing from Above." Ok God, you have my attention. I knew at that point that we were doing what God had planned for us to do. I also realized that good things come to those who wait. So, with that being said, we wait and try to wait patiently. I know that God has the perfect child chosen for Troy and I, and I know for certain that she is in China. We will go when God is ready for us to go. For those of you who came bearing gifts, we thank you for assisting God in answering our prayers. He works in mysterious ways!

Yet another disappointment!

Well, CCAA finally updated their website. They only did two days worth of referrals. They only made it to 10/26. I am in shock. This is the least amount of days they've ever referred before. My heart is broken. I just knew that this was our month. I'm not sure what to think from here. Things are even more up in the air than we originally thought. I'm so crushed. My spirit is low, so please pray that we receive good news soon. Thank you all for being so patient with both Troy and I. I know this whole long process is confusing to all of you, but trust us when we say that it is almost as confusing to us. The only difference is that we know the process inside and out, so we knew this long wait was a possibility.

Pray for Good News this week!

Well, as we prepare to go to bed on this Easter Sunday night, we hope and pray to wake up to good news tomorrow. I pray that the many rumors we've been hearing over this long weekend aren't true. I pray that referrals come this week and they did make it to us (11/04). We'll let you know something as soon as we know something. Please pray!

It's NOT looking good for 11/04

Well, rumors are beginning to surface on Rumor Queen, but they are all over the place as far as the cut off date. Some agencies have contacted clients stating that they received referrals through 10/26, which is only TWO DAYS!!! UGGHHHHHHHHHH! A few other agencies have reported six days worth of referrals, which still doesn't get to us. A Helping Hand was closed today in observance of Good Friday. They won't open again until Monday morning. So, I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens next week. As bad as my heart wants it, I just don't believe that we're in this time. I'm not sure why China did so few days, but it makes me physically ill. We hoped beyond hope that this was our month, but I guess God has a different plan for us. Please pray for God to give Troy and I patience and lots of it. As we get closer, the wait gets harder. I think it will be easier when we have her pictures and know that she's waiting. We know she's waiting for us now, but we still have a name without a face. I need patience. I need to be able to look at this in a positive way right now, because God knows I feel so many negative feelings. I have to remember that my plan is not God's plan. He holds that Master Plan. Karsynn simply isn't ready for us yet, as hard as that is to swallow. Until next week...

Updated Pics of my Niece, Shelby Elaine

Isn't she a cutie???

It's been awhile...

I found a pic of our first ultrasound, and I thought I'd attach it to the blog again. Enjoy!

I Wonder...

Here is a map of the Provinces in China. I wonder which Province Karsynn will come from? I'd love to hear your predictions. I predict she'll be from southern China, I'm going to say Guangxi. Let me know what you think.

The Anticipation is Killing Me!!!

Ok, so I stayed as busy as I could yesterday painting our family room downstairs. All day long, up the ladder, down the ladder, tape off baseboards, tape off ceiling... You get the picture. Karsynn was on my mind every single minute. I couldn't sleep at all last night. Was I just so tired from all the painting or was it something else? Here we are, it's 9:15 A.M. on Monday morning, our first day of Spring Break. Where am I? Sitting here glued to the computer hoping and praying for any little bit of news. Are we in? Did they make it to 11/4? AAHHHHHHHHH!!!!! I'm going crazy with anticipation. I'll keep you posted as to what happens today. Troy and I are praying for "THE phone call" today from A Helping Hand. If the call comes, then we'll drive to Lexington and pick up her pictures. I'll post them later today, that is if I can remember how to turn on the computer and log on. Please pray!!!!!!!

Rumors are "Flying"

Well, according to the latest rumors on Chinaadopttalk, AKA Rumor Queen, at least one agency believes that both 11/04 and 11/05 are in this batch of referrals. Again, this is simply an early rumor, so I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high. We should know something Monday, at least by Monday afternoon, if, in fact, referrals were mailed on Thursday, as reported. If not, then we may not hear anything until the end of the week??? After such a long wait, I'm afraid to believe that our time has come. The best thing is that we know that God has had the ultimate plan for our lives since the day we were born. I, for one, never believed that I'd ever be an adoptive mother traveling halfway around the world to pick up my first child, but here I am. We give God all the praise and honor that He so graciously deserves. All we can do now is pray and wait. Will we get "the call?" Tune in to find out...