We've Moved!

Yesterday we saw Samantha's face for the first time! What an incredible little girl we have been blessed with! She is just perfect! We have decided to move our blog to wordpress to allow us to password protect some of our postings. Please email us at chkkbcs@gmail.com if you would like to follow our new site. We truly appreciate each and every one of you who have followed our journey and offered your thoughts, prayers and encouragement along the way. We are truly blessed!

*VISIT OUR NEW HOME*

Interrupting This Break......

TO WISH CHARLEY A HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Yes, another birthday in the Field household. When you have a big family, it seems that someone is always having a birthday! Today Charley turned 35! Unfortunately, he didn't have a super fantastic day. Last Friday he hurt his back playing softball on our men's church league. He took an ambulance ride to the ER, and here we are a week later and he is still in a lot of pain and can't do much of anything. It is looking like this will be the norm for him for the next month. No work and no play! But, after being cooped up all week, we managed to meet our good friends Cheryl & Sylvester (who are also adopting from Vietnam and are also DTV the same day we are) for dinner at our favorite Japanese Steakhouse and we had a great time!

Taking A Break

I have decided to take a break from blogland for a while. There is a lot going on in the world of Vietnam/US adoptions and I would prefer not to get into all of that here, as I am committed to keeping our blog a happy place. Please pray for us on this journey and pray for the US government, the Vietnam government, all of the famlies involved and most of all, the innocent babies who have no voice in this mess.

Pics From Our Vegas Trip!

Birthday Wish!

We are back home from Vegas. We had a GREAT time, even thought we didn't strike it rich while we were there. I have lots of pictures to post of our trip but I haven't gotten them downloaded just yet.

So, today is my birthday. Charley and the kids made me an awesome birthday dinner (steak, garlic smashed potatoes, corn on the cob, grilled zuccini & a crisp salad with homemade ranch dressing). It was delicious! Charley bought me flowers & a new COOLPIX red camera. We have an awesome camera, but it's really big and I have been wanting one of those little tiny ones that are easy to take on the go! I had it with me the whole time in Vegas and LOVED it!

OK, now it's cake time and I have a wish to go make!!!!

GET-A-WAY!!!

Charley and I are going to Vegas! We have really been looking foward to this trip. It is an all expenses paid trip for Charley's work, sponsored by GM (General Motors). We will be going to the GM banquet on Monday night, but the rest of our time there is OURS! We are so excited to have some time away from it all. I'll be sure to update with pics while we're there!

*Adoption Update* We are still waiting for our referral and are hoping to hear news soon!

Little Sprout!

We have a tree!!! Our "Linh tree" has sprouted and is about 3" tall! We really enjoy watching it grow. It is a beautiful reminder of our precious little Linh.

Happy Birthday Bradley!!!

Happy Birthday Bradley! It sure is hard to believe he is 10 years old!!! Amazing how quickly they grow up! Bradley got an electric guitar for his birthday and he is ready to JAM!!!

HOPE Defined

Hope Defined: To believe or trust. I looked up the word "HOPE" in the dictionary today. There were several meanings listed, but the one that was most meaningful to me was "To believe or trust." When we began our adoption journey over a year ago, things were going smoothly and quickly. Never did I imagine that we would still be waiting to see her face. As I continued to read through the meanings of "HOPE," I paused at the last one. It stated: hope against hope - to continue to hope and believe although the outlook may not warrant it. Back on January 25th, when we saw Linh's picture for the first time, our journey came to life! We were filled with hope. We believed. We trusted. It is so very painful to accept that Linh will never come home with us as she has made her way home to our Father in heaven. But we haven't lost hope. I guess you could just say that now we "hope against hope."

I Confess....

I've been shopping again! (You are all so surprised, right???) I just couldn't pass up this new line from Baby Gap. So tropical & fun!

Day 400 & Another New Look!!!

Once again, a blog make-over!!! A big THANK YOU to my very talented friend Jenna for giving our little space on the web a fresh new look! Now we are ready for our referral! I have bought everything on my list for travel, everything (and way more) that a baby could ever need, we have all the plans together for our kids when we leave for Vietnam, and we even have a great new blog look to announce Miss Samantha!

Today marks 400 days since we began our adoption. Is that possible? Actually, I guess the question is, can I possibly survive another hundred or so days before I finally hold Samantha in our arms? YES, I will survive, but patiently??? Hmmmm, probably not (OK definitely not!) Hopefully it won't be long before we see her sweet face. We know that day will be bittersweet, but we also know that Linh is in heaven with Jesus and we know that Samantha is the child God intends to come home with us. We can't wait to see who that little person is!

Sweet Angel Linh

I have been working on this post for days now. There just doesn't seem to be adequate words to honor the life of our precious angel, Linh. As the days pass by, the pain doesn't fade. She was so much more than a picture to us. She was, and is, our daughter. We love her and she will always be a part of our family.

It has been four weeks since she made her journey into Jesus' arms, and although we are devistated by the loss, we have peace knowing she is in heaven and that we have the promise of seeing her someday.

Things are moving along again. Many families have received referrals in the past few weeks, and after speaking with our agency, we know a referral is in the near future for us too. It is such a combination of so many emotions when I think about accepting a new referral. No baby will ever replace Linh. When we received her pictures, we instantly knew she was our baby. Now I get lost in thought, wondering if we will feel the same way when we see pictures of our referral. I'm sure we will, but it's hard to imagine that when we loved Linh so very much and our hearts ache to have held her in our arms. We know that God had a plan for her short life and we know that God has a plan for us and for the baby He has chosen to make the journey from an orphanage on the other side of the world, into our hearts, our arms, and our home. Please pray for our journey as we continue on.

No More Counting

Today is exactly 6 months since we were DTV. As most of you know, our road took a sad and unexpected turn two weeks ago when we got the news that the baby we were matched with passed away. We are still moving foward in hopes that the child God has for us will be in our arms eventually, but there are not any timeframes to count up or down to anymore as we really don't know when the news will come. Our agency is guessing it will take 2-4 months to be re-matched with another baby. Being we are open to special needs and toddlers, it could be sooner, but with the uncertainty of international adoption, it could just as easily be later. We truly have no idea, but what we do know is that we are trusting the Lord and continue to follow the path He has layed before us. We are on a journey to our daughter and we know she is out there waiting for us.

On a happy note, a few families from our agency have received referrals (a big congrats to Jenna & Ed on the referral of their precious daughter Ella as well as Derek & Tiffany on the referral of their adorable little son Mason!) Also, several families have just received I600 approvals and will be traveling to bring their children home from Vietnam very shortly. Congrats to all of you and safe travels! It is wonderful to finally hear lots of good news!

Following the Path

Where do we go from here? This is a question that we have had to give some serious thought. We have decided to continue down the path that God has layed before us and follow His lead as well as our hearts. We still believe that our daughter is in Vietnam and we must not give up. We are back on the "waiting for referral" list and have also let our agency know that we are very open to special needs children as well as toddlers. Please pray for Vietnam adoptions in general as things are not going smoothly. Many babies have passed away and many more are still sick. Visa's for the babies are not being issued in a timely manner and some are looking like they will not be issued at all. It is a very sad situation and we ask for your prayers.

Remembering Linh

A very special "THANK YOU" to my dear and amaizng friends Jenna, Julie & Susan for this gift to our family. Yesterday afternoon, we received a "Seeds of Life" tree via FedEx. It is a kit to plant a tree in memory of someone special. This was such a thoughtful gift and we will treasure the memories of our sweet Linh as we watch her tree grow. Also, another very special "THANK YOU" to Cheryl & Sylvester for the angel. It is on our mantle and reminds us of Linh each time we pass. The frienships we have formed on this adoption journey is incredible. I am so blessed by each of you!

Thank You & Bless You All

WOW! There really are no words to explain how loved we have felt by all of you during this difficult time. The prayers, cards, gifts, flowers, memory tree, phone calls, kind words & visits are appreciated beyond measure. God has truly blessed us with an amazing family, friends & community. It is all of you who have gotten us through this devistating time and we thank you and love you all!

Happy Birthday Cody!!!

Cody turned 9 on Saturday! It's hard to believe he is 9 already, where does the time go??? Even though it was a very sad weekend in our house, grieving the loss of our little Linh, Cody had a great birthday. Granny came down from Okalhoma and made him a cake, we went out for lunch & dinner, and he got an awesome gift - a drum set! (I will try to post pics of that by this weekend on our family blog www.fieldbunch.blogspot.com) Maybe someone will buy me some earplugs for my birthday!

Greater Plans

We recieved this in an email today and it really touched my heart in our time of need.
"God had even greater plans for her. He sovereignly and lovingly chose to adopt her Himself, and now, you are right – she IS with Jesus."
We want to thank you all for the many thoughts and prayers they mean so much to us now.
God Bless,
Charley

Our Little Angel, Linh

On Friday, January 25th, we learned of a little girl named Linh. Linh was diagnosed with Hep. B and was therefor considered a special needs baby. Our family decided she needed a home and a family just as much as any other baby, so we began working with our agency to bring her home. We learned this morning that she passed away from Pnemonia at a hospital in Hanoi. Although we will never hold her in our arms, she will always hold a special place in our hearts.

A Year Ago Today

A YEAR AGO TODAY...

A year ago today, we began the journey of a lifetime. From day one, we truly believed that God set us on this path. As the journey continues, that belief is confirmed. We have met so many incredible people along the way who have become great friens. We have learned so much and grown in our faith as we face the ups and downs of this amazing journey. We know that each day we are closer to the little girl whom God has chosen to be part of our family and we long for the day that we will finally see her, hold her and share the rest of our lives with her.

23 Weeks DTV!

HOPE

TRUST

BELIEVE

*HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY*

Tet, The Year of the Rat/Mouse & 22 Weeks DTV!

Today is the start of Tet, the Vietnamese New Year. Celebrations in Vietnam are in full swing as they begin the YEAR OF THE RAT/MOUSE! I look foward to celebrating Tet with our family next year. Samantha will be here and we will head to Dallas to experience a taste of the biggest celebration in Vietnamese culture! This year I will celebrate by.....hmmmm......maybe shopping???

Shopping Day With Charley!!!

I know you are all just on the edge of your seats, waiting to hear how my shopping trip with Charley went on Saturday. Although he may not admit it, I really think he had fun shopping for our little Samantha! First we went to breakfast and "talked adoption" while we ate. Then it was off to Babies R Us. We decided on an adorable stroller & infant carseat/carrier (love the polka dots!) We also picked up bottles, pacifiers and a few other baby necessities. Next was Costco (boring). Lastly, BABY GAP (I know, you're shocked!!!) To all of you who participated in my gift card shower, THANK YOU! I had so much fun shopping!!!

10 YEARS!!! & 21 Weeks DTV

Today is a very special day! Charley & I are celebrating our 10th year anniversary! We are going to dinner tonight at our favorite restaurant, Texas De Brazil. If you have never been to a Brazilian Steakhouse, you are missing out! THEN....Charley has agreed to go baby shopping this weekend. We will be shopping for a stroller/infant seat, bottles & a baby sling/carrier. I have already picked out the stroller/infant seat, but I would love to hear feedback on baby slings/carriers as I have no idea which one to buy. We are thinking about the Ergo or a Baby Bjorn. I'd love your thoughts and opinions!

I just had a knock on my door. A special delivery for me!!! What beautiful flowers from my amazing husband! I can't wait to see what the next ten years bring! I love you Bubbie! (That's his pet name, I never call him Charley!)

20 Weeks DTV

Today marks 20 weeks since our dossier went to Vietnam. Today I received an email from a friend with the picture of this stone. The email said "Hope - Trust, Believe." After speaking with our agecny, it sounds as though our referral could happen at any time. I'd like to think that means it will be very soon, but the reality is that it could still take another month or two. At this point, I choose to hope, trust & believe that this is all in God's hands and all in His perfect timing.

4 Things....

4 Jobs I've Had:
1. Commercial Sales at Builder's Square
2. Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance Rep.
3. DirecTV (Complaint Department)
4. In Home Childcare Provider

4 Movies I Watch Over & Over:
1. Santa Claus (1, 2 & 3)
2. A Guy Thing
3. Any Disney Movie
4. My Best Friend's Wedding

4 Places I Have Lived:
1. New York (Long Island)
2. Oklahoma
3. Arizona
4. Texas

4 Shows I Watch:
1. Adoption Stories
2. Most Food Network Shows
3. College Football (Does that count?)
4. American Idol

4 Places I've Been:
1. England (Many times)
2. Mexico
3. All of the East Coast States
4. Soon I'll be able to say "VIETNAM"

4 People Who Email Me Regularly:
1. Lindsey
2. Jenna
3. Julie
4. Dana

4 Things I Love To Eat:
1. Mexican Food
2. Asian Food (Chinese, Japanese & some Vietnamese)
3. Salad
4. Cheesecake

4 Places I'd Rather Be:
1. In Vietnam bringing home Samantha!
2. On a hot, white, sandy beach
3. On vacation anywhere with Charley
4. SHOPPING!!! (for Samantha, ofcourse!)

4 Things I Look Foward To This Year:
1. Getting "THE CALL" from our agecny to tell us about Samantha
2. Traveling to Vietnam to meet Samantha
3. Bringing Samantha home to family
4. Being a complete family (or starting the adoption process for #6!!!)

4 People I'm Tagging:
1. Dana (www.thegiftofmaiafaith.blogspot.com)
2. Cheryl (www.oursophiarose.blogspot.com)
3. Kathy (www.kathyirwin.blogspot.com)
4. Megan (www.littlemissmya.blogspot.com)

All Good Things Must Come To An End.

Notice how skinny this pitiful little piggy bank looks? Well, that's about what our piggy bank is looking like, and this time Charley is putting his foot down. It's time to fatten up the piggy bank, which means NO MORE SHOPPING! So sad. But, on the brighter side, this is all for a good cause....getting Samantha home. We are hopeful that our referral is coming soon and things will start happening. I have to believe we are getting close!

19 Weeks DTV

Today it has been 19 weeks since our dossier left for Vietnam. Although I really have no idea when we will get "THE CALL" to tell us about Samantha, just lately I have felt that it won't be much longer. (I really hope I'm right!)

It looks like we will be traveling in the warmer weather, so I couldn't resist this swimsuit and matching sun hat.

100th Post & New Look!

Well, this is my 100th post on this blog! After seeing the crafty work of other people's blogs, I decided I would commemorate my 100th post with a new look! My great blog buddy, Jenna, did the make-over, THANKS JENNA, you're the best!

18 Weeks DTV & Spring Shopping Already!

Here we are....18 weeks DTV! Yesterday was an exciting day in "adoption land" a few families received referrals and I600 approvals. A BIG CONGRATS to all of those happy families! I hope things keep moving along and we see more referrals and approvals soon!

Well, although it is just the beginning of January, the stores are filled with adorable spring clothes already, even swimsuits! Now that I am pretty sure we will be traveling to Vietnam is the warm weather, I have started picking up a few spring outfits. I couldn't resist the funky flowers!

4 Months Today (17 1/2 Weeks) - Counting It All!!!

So, now I'm counting weeks AND months! Sometimes it seems as though time is flying by. Other days (like today) it seems we have been in this adoption process forever. Today marks exactly 4 months since our dossier went to Vietnam on September 7th. I really thought we would have our referral by now and be planning our trip to bring Samantha home. When we switched agencies, most families were getting their referrals around the 3 month mark. But in the world of international adoption, there are always bumps and curves in the road. We are hopeful that we will hear news soon, but it does seem that "soon" in my book and "soon" in the world of adoption hold two totally different meanings! We're hanging in there (retail therapy works wonders, but you'll have to wait til the 18 week post for the latest outfit as I don't think Charley would appreciate me commemorating any more milestones in that way!)

17 Weeks DTV & New PJ's!

OK...did you ever see a cuter cow or piggy than the one on these jammies??? Yes, Baby Gap sucked me in again!

So, here we are, another week down for the count! The latest update I got from our agency said she hopes it will be VERY soon! That's encouraging. It has always been soon, but never before has she said VERY soon!

Happy 2008!

Happy New Year to all!!! Well, 2007 was a good year. It is the year we began the journey to our daughter in Vietnam. I am a little sad that we didn't get to see her little face in 2007, but we know 2008 will be the year we will learn who she is, see her picture, travel to her country and finally hold her in our arms and be her forever family! So, CHEERS to 2008, it's going to be a great year!

16 Weeks DTV (and to add to my collection!!!)

Well, here we are....still counting!!! To be honest, I was a little sad that there was no Christmas miracle referral for us. I was really hoping we would get "THE CALL" right before Christmas, but I guess little Samantha isn't ready just yet. I am really enjoying my 11 days off. I've done some shopping and some cleaning/organizing. I couldn't resist this little sweater and matching hat from Gymboree! If it weren't for having my two boys with me, I probably would have bought more, but my boys HATE shopping! (Like father, like sons!)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

MERRY

CHRISTMAS!!!

Well, no Christmas miracle referral, but God has blessed us with a wonderful Christmas. We spent the day as a family. My parents came down from Oklahoma and Chraley's dad was here too. The kids got lots of cool stuff (the WII is the favorite). Now I get to enjoy the next 7 days off and we look foward to all the wonderful things that 2008 holds!

And to our little Samantha in Vietnam, Mommy & Daddy are coming soon. We are sad that we couldn't have you here with us this Christmas and hope you are warm & cozy and being loved until we get there!

Tis The Season! (for shopping)

As we get even closer to the day we have Sam in our arms I am troubled with the idea of shopping! Christmas is almost here and the shopping still is not done (as if Heather is ever done). I dont usually post, the few times I have they were erased almost immediately but I had to comment on the whole "each new week holds new hope/new outfit" philosophy my wife has here lately. Somedays I am ready for Sam to be here as much as Heather is, but today I had a thought. If my wife is shopping for Samantha this much now how much more will she shop after she is home? Heather just walked through the door with TWO new outfits (I guess this makes up for last week) and a very special rubber ducky picked out by Cody just for Sam. So here I sit after 304 days since we started and 15 weeks since DTV impatiently waiting and at the same time dreading the lonely nights sitting at home while my wife and new daughter are out and about shopping, shopping, shopping, shopping, shopping, and yes even more shopping. I sure hope Samantha likes to Shop! Merry Christmas everyone!

15 Weeks DTV!

Yes, I am still counting away the weeks from DTV to referral. With each week that passes, I feel as though I have accomplished something! Can you believe another week marked and no new outfit to commemorate the milestone??? Maybe I will come across something while I'm finishing my Christmas shopping this weekend. Besides, I have to get Samantha something for Christmas, even if she isn't here yet, right?

300 Days Ago.....

We officially began our adoption journey! Sometimes it feels like it was just a few weeks ago, and sometimes it feels like it has been years! When we began our journey, I never dreamed that Samantha wouldn't be here for the holidays this year. I thought I'd be buying cute little clothes and toys to put under the tree with her name on them, but it just wasn't time yet. (Make no mistake, I am still buying, it's just going in her closet, not under the tree!!!) I truly believe that God has chosen Samantha to be with our family and it is all is His timing that things will fall into place. Maybe it will be a few more days or maybe it will be a few more weeks. It's possible that it could even be a few more months, but I really feel like it won't be much longer. However long the wait is really doesn't matter. What matters is that we will someday hold the child who God has created to be with our family.

14 Weeks DTV / New Spring Outfit!

OK, so how could I resist this one??? I couldn't!!! (I need to stay out of Baby Gap!) Well, here we are, 14 weeks since our dossier went to Vietnam and only 11 days til Christmas. There is still hope that we may get our Christmas miracle (referral) by Christmas, but it is beginning to look like it will be January. I hate it when Charley is right!!!

We've Been DTV for 13 Weeks and There's 19 Days Left to Hope For....

.....OUR CHRISTMAS MIRACLE!!! We have been officially waiting for our referral for 13 weeks, and YES, I am still hoping for a Christmas miracle! We are really hoping to see her sweet face before Christmas, but there are several families still waiting with DTV dates before ours. As one of the staff ladies at our agency always says - EACH NEW DAY HOLDS HOPE!

FRIENDS & FOOTBALL

We went to San Antonio for the weekend to watch the Sooners *WIN* the NCAA Big XII Championship game. To see more pics from the game and the Riverwalk go to (www.fieldbunch.blogspot.com)

December - The Month of Miracles!

It's hard to believe that it's December already! Only 21 Christmas shopping days left. I better get busy!!! The Christmas season is such a magical time of year and as we celebrate this wonderful season, we are hopeful that this month will bring the miracle of Samantha! Several families with our agency received their referrals over the past few days. A big congrats to those happy families!!!

The Votes Are In!

Thank you to all who voted on our "When will we get our referral" poll. It was fun to see all the guesses! To those very optomistic 6 people who voted for November, I'm sad to say that November has passed and we have yet to see any trace of Samantha yet. To those 18 Christmas spirited people who voted for December, I'm right there with ya, hoping for our Christmas miracle! For those 11 people who voted for January, you all are Charley's biggest fans! And, lastly, for those 12 of you who voted for February, I hope you're a month or so off!!!

12 Weeks DTV!!! (and things are happening!)

Today marks 12 weeks of waiting since our dossier went to Vietnam. With each week that passes, I wonder how many more weeks I will have to wait before I get to see her sweet face. BUT...things are happening! A few more families with our agency received referrals yesterday and today. (If you are one of those families and you are reading this, A BIG CONGRATS TO YOU!!!) I am soooooo ready for it to be our turn to get "THE CALL!"

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree...

We spent most of the day Saturday & Sunday decorating the house for Christmas. The kids did a great job getting all the ornaments on the tree. For more pics, see our family blog at (www.fieldbunch.blogspot.com)

11 Weeks DTV!

Another week closer! If only I knew how many weeks I'm counting to!!! From talking to others who have completed their adoptions, they say the wait from referral to travel is the hardest wait, but I think waiting on our referral will be the hardest. Day after day I wonder what she will look like, how old she will be and what province she will come from. I've convinced myseld that I'll be patient once we finally see her little face, but time will tell!

THANKSGIVING!

Some of the things I am thankful for:

* Our Lord & Savior

* Our Family

* Our Friends

* Our Church

* Our Home

* Our Health

* To Be On This Incredible Adoption Journey

* My Blog Buddies

And truly, the list goes on and on. Above is a picture of our four children and their Granny & Papa. We spent the day at their house in Oklahoma. I am so thankful for my parents and the special relationship that they have with our children. We are so blessed!

Baby Gap Fun - Thanks Jenna!

My GREAT blog buddy, Jenna, sent me a friends & family discount card, so how could I have resisted this??? It's a good thing I had so much fun at Gymboree last week & Baby Gap this week becasue Charley said, "NO MORE SHOPPING!" Oh well, it was definitley fun while it lasted!!!

TEN WEEKS & COUNTING!!! (VOTE)

IT"S BEEN TEN WEEKS SINCE WE WERE DTV & YES, I'M STILL COUNTING!!! With each week that passes, I wonder what Samantha will look like and when we will finally get to see her sweet face! I'm hoping for our referral by Christmas and I feel like that's a good possibility, but Charley thinks it will be January. What's your vote? (See poll on right, be sure to vote!)

GYMBOREE FUN!!!

Well......here's the damage done at Gymboree's big sale! If there's anything that can put a smile on my face, it's a great deal, and wow did I get a really great deal on these little outfits!

Cheer Up Cake!

My great friend Michelle and her sweet little girl Allegiance (one of the little ones I have at my in home daycare) brought me this mini lemon bundt cake wrapped in cheer! It was delicious - lemon cake is my favorite! Thanks Michelle, you always know how to help me look on the brighter side of things! Here's hoping things will look up in the Vietnam adoption world! We are so ready to have Samantha here with us!

9 Weeks DTV & GYMBOREE SALE!!!

Today we have been DTV for 9 weeks! (I prefer to count weeks verses months as it seems to go a little quicker that way. To me, 9 weeks sounds better than 2 months, bigger number!!!) The past two days have been a little rough in the Vietnam adoption world and I won't go in to all the details, but please join me in prayer for ALL of the families that are in the Vietnam adoption process, especially the families who are in Vietnam right now. They need your prayers.

On a lighter note...starting today (and ending on Sunday, Nov. 11th) Gymboree is having a 30% off Circle of Friends sale (this includes regular & clearance). Coupon is required for discount on in store purchases and a code is required for online purchases. Email me and I can email you the coupon if you need one! HAPPY SHOPPING!!! (Yes, I'll be going tonight...pics of the dammage tomorrow!)

I got in trouble.

Most people didnt even see the picture of Heather I posted last night and like I thought she would delete it before anyone could. But since she has commented that I never post anything I thought that I would post this!
(Charley, LML)

8 Weeks since DTV & Cute Dots!!!

8 weeks since we were DTV and waiting for referral....how many more to go, that is the question. I think the waiting would be easier if we knew how long we have to wait to see her sweet face. The wait hasn't gotten any easier, so I continue to buy cute things to keep myself entertained! Here is my latest purchase. I can't resist the dots, they do me in every time!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Happy Halloween! Can't wait til I have my "little pumpkin" in my arms. I can't wait to dress her up and take her Trick or Treating next year! It was soooo hard seeing all the cute little costumes.....so.....I caved. I found the cutest little piggy costume at Baby Gap and when it went on clearance, it had to come home with me!!! It's 12-18 months, but if it's not the right size at Halloween, I'll be sure and put it on her when it does fit! I love piggies! Samantha has piggy pajamas, a piggy blanket and lots of stuffed piggies. I'll have to do a "piggy post" some day when I have nothing else to write about and show off her piggy collection!

7 Weeks Ago...

We were DTV (Dossier To Vietnam). I have to admit, those 7 weeks have gone by fairly quickly for me. Most families with our agency wait an average of 3 months from DTV until referral, in which case, we could be half way through this wait. BUT....there are also families who have waited as long as 5 months. We know that it is all in God's perfect timing, but it sure would be nice to know when that is going to be!

Nothing much planned for this weekend. Maybe a little retail therapy and maybe I'll do a little work in Samantha's room. I still have quite a few things to hang up on the walls, but I have to get Charley in there to help me. If I wasn't waiting on him, it would already be done :o)

Mood Change...

Well, I have nothing new to write about. No exciting news, no cute new outfits, nothing! BUT, enough of that pitiful puppy, here is my new adoption mood! Or, atleast I wish I could sit back and soak up the sofa & some blueberry muffins for a while.

This Is My Mood Today

This face is a pretty accurate expression of my day.

Patience Dust

OK, I am having an impatient day - IMAGINE THAT!!!! So, I decided to sprinkle my blog with patience dust and see if that works! But don't worry, I have a retail therapy day planned for Saturday just incase it doesn't work!!! No news in the adoption world, but we are hoping to hear something soon!

Baby Shower For Cheryl!

Today I hosted a baby shower for Cheryl, a great friend of mine who is also adopting a baby girl from Vietnam! (www.oursophiarose.blogspot.com) The shower was a surprise, and we pulled it off! We gathered at The Green Bamboo, an authentic Vietnamese restuarant here in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The food was delicious, the gifts were adorable, and a great time was had by all!

One Month

Today we have been DTV for exactly one month! It's still hard to believe that we aren't still wrapped up in the heaps of paperwork! It is definately nice to be able to sit back and wait, not running the rat-race of the paper-chase, but it sure is hard just WAITING on THE CALL!

To Keep Me Busy...

Well, nothing new or exciting this week, yet (each day holds hope). To keep myself busy, I started my packing list! WOW! What an undertaking!!! So far it's 5 pages long. I wonder how many suitcases it would take to get all 5 pages in there??? I'm sure it would be more than what Charley will let me bring! So I guess instead of coming up with more things to add to the list, I'll be thinking of what I need to take off the list! I know that even the thought of making a packing list right now is a little premature, but atleast I know I'll be READY when that day comes. Back to day dreaming for now!!!

Finding Joy in the Little Things

I am here to tell you, the WAIT, WAIT & WAIT SOME MORE" is NOT easy. I struggle everday to let ten minutes go by without an adoption thought crossing my mind. BUT, now that I can rest assured with our new agency, I am learning to find joy in the little things. I received the first square for Samantha's quilt in the mail this week from the Frank family (http://www.blessingsfromvietnam.com/) along with a beautiful prayer for Samantha. What a blessing it is to have met such wonderful and supportive people on this amazing journey to our daughter. I also received my Amazon book order this week. Cherie's book "After Sorrw Comes Joy" is amazing! My nose has been in this book every spare minute I have. EVERYONE should read this book. FALL! My favorite season. I got out my fall decorations and the house smells of pumpkin spice and it is looking like harvest time! Although we have mostly summer weather here in Texas, I am thankful to experience a little bit of fall, winter & spring. The summer heat brings lots of fun activities, but the fall & winter bring me so much joy! Lastly, I had to make a quick run to Super Target after church last night for ziplock bags and a loaf of bread. Some how I ended up in the baby section (imagine that!!!) and found the neatest thing (see picture above)! After speaking with several people who have adopted internationally, the #1 reccommended toy to take for playtime at the hotel is beach balls and other inflatable toys. Of course I had already purchased a cute little girlie beach ball as soon as the pool toys hit the Toys R Us shelves, but to my delight, I came across the Safari Roller by infantino. It is an inflatable toy that has a jingling ball inside, and when you roll it, it rolls back to you, promoting movement and crawling. Are you excited yet??? I am (incase you couldn't tell, it doesn't take much to excite me when I'm baby shopping!) What's great about inflatable toys is that they pack great. Everyone keeps saying "PACK LIGHT" and that will be hard for me as my packing list is already pages long and we're not even close to travel time yet, but every day we are one day closer!

Good Books

Who loves a good book? I do, I do!!! Speaking of books, I ordered some books from Amazon the other day. To tell you the truth, I don't even remember all of them that I ordered, but I know for sure I bought the book that Cherie Clark wrote, "After Sorrow Comes Joy." After all the buzz about it on the PLAN yahoo group, I decided it is a must read. Does anyone have any great adoption books (for adults or children) they'd reccommend? I have one that I read for the first time 5 years ago. Since then I have read it another two or three times. It is an amazing book titled "The Strength of Mercy." If you are interested in reading it but have a hard time finding it, let me know and I'll let you know how to get a copy. You won't regret the time spent reading this book!

100 Good Wishes/Prayers Quilt

As you know we are adopting Samantha from Vietnam. Before deciding on Vietnam we researched several other countries to adopt from, one being China. In researching China adoption, we learned about a tradition in Northern China called the 100 Good Wishes Quilt. I thought this was such a cute idea. What a special gift for any baby born anywhere!
Here is a little info:
To welcome and celebrate a new life, there is a tradition in the northern part of China to make a Bai Jia Bei, or 100 Good Wishes Quilt. It is a custom to invite 100 people to contribute a single square patch of cloth. The 100 patches are sewn together into a quilt that contains the luck, energy, and good wishes from all the families and friends who contributed a piece of fabric. The quilt is then passed down from generation to generation.
At this time I am asking you help us with our quilt for baby Samantha! It will truly mean alot to us (and someday to her) if you participate.
Below is some info, if you wish to participate:
Select a fabric that is meaningful to you.
100% cotton fabric is best, as it washes and wears better.
Fabric should measure about 12" x 12"
Please include a wish or prayer from you along with your name on a seperate piece of paper, index card or note card....whatever works for you.
Email me chkkbc@msn.com and I will email you our address to send it to!
THANKS SO MUCH! This will give me something meaningful to work on while I W-A-I-T!!! Also, I am a scrapbooker, so I will be putting all the written wishes & prayers in her lifebook/scrapbook!

We are DTV (Dossier To Vietnam)

WE ARE DTV!

For those of you who know what that means, YES, we are doing the happy dance! For those of you who may not know what that means, let me explain: ALL of the stacks and stacks of paperwork along with chasing documents and getting them notarized that has consumed our time and our minds for the past six months, it is ALL DONE and ALL in it's way to Vietnam! So exciting to finally reach this point! So, now what? Now we get ready to WAIT... WAIT... WAIT and WAIT some more for that phone call that will give us the VERY HAPPY news that we have been matched with our daughter. Oh how I long for that day!

I've Been Tagged...

I have been tagged by Jenna at http://www.babystoll.blogspot.com/ and here are the rules of this tag...

* You have to post these rules before you give the facts.
* Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name.
* If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had.
* When you are tagged, you need to write your own blog post containing your own middle name game facts.
* At the end of your blog post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag.
* Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged & to read your blog! of this tag...

My middle name is Lynn - short, should be easy!!!

L - LOVE to shop!!!
Y - YES...I'm STILL in the middle of the adoption process & YES, I am still impatiently waiting!!!
N - Never seems to be enough time in a day, days in the week (and so on) to accomplish the many things on a working mom of 4, and soon to be 5, to do everything I want (and need) to do!
N - Now it's my turn to tag 4 people. If you've already been tagged, You're already done!

I'm tagging:
Jennifer @ http://www.journeytoholly.blogspot.com/
Sue @ http://www.macklisfamily.blogspot.com/
Jillian @ http://www.johnandjillian.blogspot.com/
Leigh @ http://www.ourquiverfull.blogspot.com/

HAVE FUN!!!

FedEx Arrives/Dossier Authenticated!

Our dossier has arrived back from the Vietnamese Consulate in San Francisco! It has been AUTHENTICATED and is ready to go to VIETNAM, get translated and be logged in with the DIA (Department of International Adoptions). The paperwork in FINALLY over - YAY!!! Once our dossier leaves for Vietnam, we are officially considered "WAITING" for the referral of our little girl. We are so excited about the next step of this incredible journey!

3 Day Weekend!

We are so happy with our decision to change agencies as our new agency is amazing! They are so quick to answer emails & return phone calls and they genuinely have care and concern for their clients. The joy and excitement of our adoption journey is back in our hearts. I plan to spend some time working on Samantha's room this weekend. (3 days with nothing much planned - YAY!) Although her room is painted, fully furnished w/bedding & curtains, and her closet is full of clothes, I have not done anything in the way of decorating. There is NOTHING on the walls yet. I hope to change that this weekend and post pictures soon! (Speaking of the closet full of clothes, I had to post a picture of my latest purchase from Baby Gap...does it get mcuh cuter that brown w/pink polka dots??? I couldn't pass this one up at the clearance price of $6.99!)

A New Chapter...

Well, as I've said before, I don't want to harp on the negative details of what's been going on, but long story short, our agency was not being truthful and things were not going well for all involved. Late last night we made the decision to part ways with our agency and switch to a larger, more reputable agency called PLAN (Plan Loving Adoptions Now). So, today starts a new chapter in our adoption journey. Samantha, we know you're out there....we're coming! Although we are a little frustrated to have to make this change so far into the process, better now than later as things were headed downhill quickly. We are so blessed to have such a wonderful group of supportive friends that are right here with us in this adoption journey and I will be forever greatful of all your support (you know who you are!) We feel very confident with PLAN as they have an awesome reputation with ALL of their clients. To Jenna, Cheryl & Julie, I am praying for you all and I just know everything is going to work out for the better. Hang in there!

A New View!

OK, I have not been posting all the "specifics" of the issues we've been having in this process as I want this blog to remain a happy place! But, I have to admit, there have been some information out there that has caused us to have concerns to say the very least. SO...I have decided that I've had all of that funk I can stand and I am going to devote myself to prayer for the situations at hand and trust that God will reign here and all will work out. I decided to "cheer-up" my little spot on the web with some brightness. I liked the way it looked before, but I needed a break from black!

Dossier to Vietnam Consulate!

We are sending our documents via FedEx to the Vietnam Consulate today to be authenticated. Our original plan was to send them off last week, but there were a few minor complications along the way, however, they will be headed out today. If you are following our adoption journey, we ask for your prayers at this time as our agency is having some issues getting their official license complete is Tay Ninh, and that is the province where Samantha will be from.

Happy To See Mr. FedEx Again!

Today the FedEx man delivered two envelopes from the Texas & Oklahoma Secretary of State offices. All of our dossier documents have their "official seal of approval" and will be on their way to the Vietnamese Consulate in San Francisco first thing tomorrow morning! Yeah, one more step to cross off our list! DTV... I can almost taste it!!!

Dossier to Secretary of State!

Well, today we are sending our dossier off to the Secretary of State to get it authenticated. It is a good feeling to finally get it off my desk and out of the house! BUT...the real relief will be when we are DTV (dossier to Vietnam). My goal was to be DTV by the end of July, but July has come and gone, so now I am hoping we will have that accomplished by the end of August. I'm also hoping we hear some news on referrals REALLY soon! That would be awesome!

Long Boat Key Island Beach, Florida

We spent a wonderful weekend on Long Boat Key Island Beach in Florida with our two boys! It was a great little gettaway (but could have been a few days longer!) We stayed at a beautiful Hilton resort. The boys loved every minute of the sandy beach and the pool & hot tub. It was their first time to fly and their first time to see the ocean.

As for me, I loved every minute of it! Two emotional moments - 1) I looked out across the ocean and thought of Samantha waiting for us in an orphanage and wished she could be with her family now. 2) Walking off the plane and watching families greet loved ones, I couldn't keep from longing for the day that we are stepping off the plane with Samantha, greeting her siblings, grandparents & friends. That day cannot come soon enough!

To see more pics of our gettaway, visit our family blog @ www.fieldbunch.blogspot.com

Another New Month

Can you believe it's August already? It seems like yesterday that I was posting on July 1st! I was really hoping that July would bring great news of referrals as well as being "Dossier To Vietnam." But July is gone and our dossier is with our agency being reviewed. I received an email last night stating I would get a list of things that are wrong with it today. What now??? Sometimes I wonder if all of our paperwork will ever be right! Maybe August will be the month for BIG news! Still hoping!

I171H IS HERE!!!

I'm so happy to report that our I171H arrived today! YEAH!!! Now onto the next step!

A Little Disappointed

Well, my mailman just came. No I171H :( I was really hoping it would have been here this week. Oh well, maybe next week. Let me rephrase that....it better be next week!!! I am leaving in about an hour to pick up my cousin Dawn from NY at the airport. We don't get to see eachother that often, but we always have such a great time together. That'll help pass time as we continue to WAIT WAIT WAIT. The day is still early, maybe Julie & Jenna will end the week with some great news. I keep hoping!

A Special Birthday!

Today our oldest daughter turns 14! It's hard to believe we have a 14 year old (as well as a 12, 9 & 8 year old) and we have a toddler on the way! It truly seems like yesterday that our four "big kids" were toddlers! We have read many books and articles on preparing for an adopted child. We have educated ourselves on attachment & bonding, developmental delays and all that comes along with an adopted child. But........does anyone out there have any suggestions on books to prepare older children for the adoption process. I'm hoping there is something out there on their level. We have done our best to talk about all the possible issues our little Samantha could come to us with and how we will love her unconditionally, but it would be great if there was a book they could read as well. All comments and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated!

Generous Donation For Tiny Toes!

Thanks to everyone who spread the word about ROBEEZ Heart & Sole donation program! I received my box full yesterday. Thanks Robeez for this generous donation! We can't wait to get to Vietnam and deliver them to Samantha's orphanage! (For info on their donation program, visit www.robeez.com and follow the links to "Heart & Sole."

A New Week

Friday we found out that our paperwork had arrived at the CIS office and they are working on our I171H. We are hoping that means we will have it in our hands this week. ALSO....our agency is expecting referrals any day now - SO EXCITING!!! I am hoping and praying that Julie & Jenna (#1 & #2 on the referral list) will get the news they have been waiting for and finally put a sweet little face with Lovey & Ella!!! Although we know that this is all in God's timing, we also know that things are starting to move along in the Tay Ninh province and referrals should start coming in!

Pitty Party Over!

Ok, the I171H pitty party is over! Chin up.....movin' foward! We now have the documents they've requested and they are certified and on their way to me via FedEx overnight mail. I will FedEx them overnight to CIS tomorrow and our social worker thinks we should have that stinkin I171H by the end of next week - fingers & toes crossed!!! We plan to sit down this weekend and go through all of our documents AGAIN, double & triple check every last one of them and have it ready and waiting for that final piece of paper. Hoping and praying that there will be no more issues with our paperwork so that we can move foward!

I171H - BUMMER!

Just as the mailman pulled away, I ran to the mailbox (this is routine for me the past few weeks) and to my MAJOR excitment, there was an envelope from USCIS. Overwhelmed with happiness, I ran in the house to take a picture of this beautiful piece of paper to post on this blog, and then came the let down..... one of the documents we submitted was not "good enough" for their likings. SO, now I have the task of getting this document re-done and re-submitted so that I can WAIT again for this stinkin I171H! This disappointment calls for some major retail therapy this weekend!

The Faces of Orphans

I came across this picture on a Vietnam Orphan Relief website. As I look at their innocent little faces, my heart aches for the lonliness they express. Although I have peace knowing that I can make the difference in the life of an orphan child, it is heart wrenching knowing how many orphans will never know the love of a family. Please join me in prayer for the orphan children in Vietnam as well as the orphans in every country, including right here in America. They are all God's children, He hears their cry.

Long Time, No Post!

Well, I guess it really hasn't been that long since I posted, only a week. It seems like forever, yet I have no important milestones to tell about. No I171H, no more decorating done in her room and I don't think I've even had any "retail therapy" this past week! I am however hoping to have BIG news to post about this coming week. Maybe referrals, maybe an I171H, you never know, but good things are about to happen, I just know it!

What Will July Bring???

Another new month! What will July bring??? HOPEFULLY lots of great things! Our I171H would be really nice, and my goal is to be DTV (Dossier to Vietnam) before July is over, referrals for all my "blog buddies" who have been waiting and waiting, and safe travel for all who are making the amazing journey to Vietnam to bring their little ones home!

Cute Jammies Too!

Last week I found cute slippers, this week.....even better......lots of Baby Gap jammies, and the best part.....they were on mega clearance! (For all you shopoholics out there who LOVE a great deal, if you go to the Baby Gap store, all their sale items are an additional 25% off, but only for a few days, and not on the online store.)

I171H Update... 2nd Posting

I heard back about the status of our I171H. Looks like it will be another 2 weeks until it's arrival. :( If nothing else, we will learn patience through this process!!! Today is exactly 2 years that we have lived in our new home in Texas. Those two years have flown by, so hopefully the next two weeks will breeze by also, but only to lead us to our next wait!

I171H Update...

I spoke with our social worker who did our home study and she is going to call the Oklahoma City CIS office this afternoon and find out what's going on as there are people who have been waiting 6+ weeks and they were given a 3-4 week time frame (as were we). I was really hoping to get our passports as well as our I171H back this month and be DTV (Dossier To Vietnam) in July. I guess it could still happen. All in God's time, I have to keep reminding myself of that. I just hope this wait doesn't turn out to be anything like the passport drama!!!

The Cutest Slippers!!!

Check out Sam's new feeties!!! I just couldn't resist, and clearanced for $6.00, what a deal! Does it get any cuter than this???

Still Waiting on the I-171H

We continue to wait (IMPATIENTLY) for that I-171H! Hoping & praying that it will be here by the end of this week. If it's not, our social worker who did our homestudy said she will check on it for us. This is the final document we need to be finished with all of our paperwork and complete our Dossier. I would start stalking the mailman if I thought it would do any good!

For all of you who do not know, we had an addendum written to our homestudy stating that we would accept a child 0-30 months. Originally we requested a child 0-12 months as we were told that toddlers would not be availible. Our agency is now working with a new orphanage that should have toddlers as well as infants. Currently, we are the only family with our agency requesting a toddler, so we could have our referral shortly after submitting our dossier. It is so exciting to think about who she might be, how old she will be and what type of personality she'll have. We just can't wait for her to be a part of our family!

A Great Book

This book was recommended to me by a friend who adopted from Vietnam. It is an excellent book to have for your child as they grow up and are able to learn about their adoption. It is filled with lots of great pictures and is written on a child's level of understanding. You can purchase this book at www.tapestrybooks.com

Favorite Blankets!

This special blanket was handmade with love for Samantha by her Granny (my mom). It is just beautiful. All of Granny's babies have had a special blanket made for them. This is something I will treasure forever and save for them when they get older.

Piggy Blanket

This is my other favorite blanket, so far! It is so unbelievably soft and cuddly and I just love little piggies! I think this one will travel with us when we go to Vietnam to bring her home!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all the Dad's out there! A few thoughts I've had today: This time next year, Charley will be a Daddy for the 5th time! We have been blessed with four amazing children and Charley is such a wonderful Dad to them. I cannot wait to see him touch the life of our "soon to be" little girl from Vietnam. There is something so specail about a father/daughter relationship. I just cannot help but thing about my Dad. I was adopted and I thank God every day for the family He placed me in. Although I was adopted, they are my family, they are my parents and I love them and respect them for all they have been to me growing up, for all that they are to me now and for all that they are to my children. Adoption is such a beautiful thing and I feel so privelaged to be on this adoption journey. My prayer for our little Samantha is that she will feel as loved and wanted as I feel by my parents who welcomed me into their lives & hearts! I love you Mom & Dad!

The FedEx Man Gets a Hug!!!

WE HAVE PASSPORTS!!!!! I think the FedEx man was a little surprised by my enthusiasm, so I explained our situation & he replied, "I've had deliveries for several people doing international adoptions in my 7 years of doing this job, you guys are by far in your own league when it comes to excitement over an envelope!"

PASSPORTS HAVE BEEN MAILED!!!

Our passports have finally been mailed and we should have them today or tomorrow!!! Now we are just waiting on our I171H approval from CIS! We're getting so close!

High Hopes!

Well, I talked to a rep at the passport center and the expedite phone request was granted! Right now that means we will not have to go to New Orleans for the expedite appointment. But the rep did tell me that although the request was granted, that is still not a guarantee. It is scheduled to be delivered by Fedex overnight mail next Monday and we are hoping all will go as scheduled, but we're not cancelling our New Orleans appointment til those passports are in our hands!

CRAZY Passport Update!

Well, if this whole passport thing wasn't crazy enough, it has gotten crazier! The Houston office does NOT have any availible appointments, so I spent another 2 hours on the phone trying to schedule an appointment at a different regional office. Finally, we have an expidite appointment in New Orleans on June 20th @ 9:30 am, so it looks like we will be flying out of Dallas at 6:30 am! We are still keeping our fingers crossed that a miracle will happen on Monday and they will have taken care of it from the request we put in over the phone, but the chances of that happening are very slim. I will post the outcome of all this chaos on Monday evening.

Passport CRAZINESS!!!

The title of this post says it all! We applied for our passports on Friday, March 16th and were told we would have them in 6-10 weeks. Well, tomorrow will be exactly 12 weeks, so I decided to call the National Passport office and find out what was going on. After waiting on hold for over an hour, I have learned that it will still be at least another 10 weeks, if not longer. Although we need the passports to travel, we need them NOW as they are one of the required documents to be submitted as part of our dossier. Without our passports, we cannot recieve our referral. With the new laws, anyone traveling to Canada, Mexico or the Carribean via plane is now required to have a passport and they are extremely back-logged. We filed an expidite request and will find out on Monday if they granted it. If not, we have two options - #1, Go to the expidite office in Houston (which is a 5-6 hour drive from here) or #2, WAIT 10+ weeks. Option #2 is NOT an option for us. We are ready to move foward! So, please pray for Monday to hold good news, if not, we're off to Houston!