Yi Mei's Playroom

Gina came over to help me paint the playroom.  Now Yi Mei has a bright room to express her creativity.
I can already envision herpainting, drawing and playing dress up.  I think this will be her favorite room!

Little dresses and such

I have been up all night putting away Yi Mei's clothes.  My friend Nancy's sister has donated the most beautiful sun dresses.  I have been waiting all week to go through the boxes!   I also picked up some wonderful clothing from Joy today.  The clothes originally came from a Prairie Star family and it is all name brand clothing that I could never afford.  All the jeans have these adorable embellishments and the leggings have matching tops.  It purposefully waited until Saturday evening to unpack my treasures.  As I put the clothing away, I dreamt of Yi Mei in all these fabulous outfits.  She really is going to be a stylish girl- just like her mother.

A Very Special Day

It was a day I will never forget!  Bette, Gina and Genene hosted an event to celebrate Yi Mei.    It was the most perfect day.  Genene planned some wonderful games.  My favorites were guess the Chinese word and pin the bow on Hello Kitty. 

Bette ordered these darling bite-size cupcakes in pink and lime green. Gina was had everything decorate so nicely, also in pink and lime green The girls had everyone bring a hair bow as an entry ticket.  Yi Mei will have plenty of fun hair accessories. 

 Yi Mei received some very personal gifts such as children's books from Debby, a stuffed labrador pup and darling knit cap from Genene and a portrait sitting from Sue- gifts that I will always treasure.  Amazingly, Jennifer  managed to pick out the exact outfit that I have selected for my registry.  Kim got Yi Mei a little lap top to help her learn English and Bette/Kathy got her the portable DVD player for our long trips to Chicago.  I was thrilled that Wendi and Jenny were able to join us all the way from Topeka.  Jenny and Wendi are hand designing a Jenny Lu piece of art for Yi Mei. 

Yi Mei, you are so loved already!

Garage Sales

I made $500 from a two day garage sale this weekend and I am wiped!  God is good!  Even the rain was not a hindrance.  Tim's amazing  four feet signs also helped!  Having Tim help with the sale was a great blessing.  Once again, I an in awe of how everybody has their own unique gift offering.  Thanks to Neil and other friends,

I think I am addicted to garage sale shopping. Due to my own sale, I had to take a break and my weekend just wasn't complete.  I have had more fun garage sale shopping this month!  I have already got Yi Mei two bikes, a jogging stroller, a kitchen along with table and chairs, a crib and highchair, numerous toys and a fabulous learning game system. My favorite purchases have been the dress coat, party dresses and shoes that I have found.  Each weekend of sale shopping has produced a lovely treasure.

A Night to Remember

I am too excited to sleep tonight.  Thanks to my very thoughtful and amazing friends Sue, Kim, Kathy and Leslie, we were able to raise $2500 dollars toward Yi Mei's adoption.  To be honest, I was very nervous about the fundraising event.  It is very humbling to ask for money, even if it is for such a worthy cause.  If ti weren't for my friends faith in what God could do, this event never would have happened.

I will never forget the generous outpouring of love and support that I received tonight and all through the week.  Five of my coworkers came to support me tonight, which meant the world to me. Patti's sister that I don't even know, Gina's cousin that I have never met and a stranger that Suzann met- all contributed. Then there was Wendy who could not make it but enclosed a check in my favorite book, " I Love You Like Crazy Cakes". One of my dear friends who wants to remain anonymous offered gave me a blank check and asked me to pray about the amount.  Her faith in God's provision inspires my own faith. I know there will be days that I will feel overwhelmed by the financial and emotional challenge of parenting, may I always remember tonight- a testimony that God can do more than I could ever ask or imagine.

Everything is coming together in the most beautiful way- a tapestry of love being woven around me.
I was extremely touched by two offers to hold a fundraiser for me.   friends . My friend Kathy is taking two weeks off to travel to China with me.  I can't imagine anyone else other than mom that I would rather have with me. During a prayer time at church, someone had a picture of God enlarging my heart through this adoption process.  Through many years of disappointment, some arteries had become clogged  and my heart was not experiencing a life flow.  I can already feel my heart enlarging through the extravagant generosity of my friends. 

What I love most is seeing how each friend has something uniquely special to contribute to this journey.  Bette Jayne and I worked on Yi Mei's photo book this weekend.  I will send this book to Yi Mei when I receive my official Letter of Acceptance from China.  The book will be read to her by her caregivers to prepare her for adoption.  I took pictures of her bedroom, school, neighborhood kids, new mother, grandparents, uncle and of course, Freedom.  I can't wait to send her the book.  Thanks to Bette and her scrap booking talents, I love the way the book turned out . 

My Darling Daughter

Upon opening my email today, I found the most delightful surprise.  China sent me an update on Yi Mei's health along with three new pictures.  Yi Mei has grown so much!  The pictures I received upon match were taken at two years of age.  She is now three years and four months.  I had to laugh that the orphanage had her sit on a plastic reindeer for the photo shoot.  She still has her cute round face, but is much taller. Her orphanage is actually quite lovely on the outside- a lush tropical setting.  Based on the appearance of her clothes, she seems to be well taken care of.  This greatly reassures my heart.

Yi Mei, I long for the day we will meet.  Seeing you in these pictures makes me realize how much I am missing out on.  How I wish I could have been there as you took your first steps and said your first words.  I have so many things I want to experience with you- decorating our Christmas tree, reading stories together, trick or treating on Halloween, watching you blow out your birthday candles just to name a few.  You are so beautiful and I can feel God's love for you.  I know you must be very special to His heart, as he selected you from all those children in China to knit you into His family.  You are already so special to me- my love grows stronger for you each day.