Where oh where is our LOA??

I feel like singing this every minute of every day.  We have been waiting 60+ days since we were given our pre-approval for Eli and now 3 months since our dossier was logged into China.  The LOA is the Letter of Approval, saying we are approved to be Eli's parents.  It also gives us a little better idea of when we may be able to travel to bring Eli home. 
I've said this before, but patience is not something I am good at and adoption is a true test for my patience.  All I know is that there is a little boy in China who goes to bed by himself every night, who doesn't even know that he has a family that prays for him every day and cannot wait to bring him home.  Please pray that we will get this LOA as soon as possible. 

While waiting I was able to create this.  I hope to have it printed for his room.

Puzzle Update - Can you help us complete it?

First of all, we would just like to say "Thank-you!" for all of the support we have received so far for Eli.  Your prayers, encouragement, gifts, donations and bracelet orders have been wonderful!!  We are well on our way to raising the funds we need for our required donation to Eli's orphanage.  Wanted to give an update on our puzzle fundraiser.  Several pieces have been donated.  Here is the puzzle so far and what the pieces look like.  Just a reminder ... for every $10 donated, we will put your name on the back of a puzzle piece.  The puzzle is a picture of Eli and our hope is that this will help represent everyone who helped bring Eli home, which he will be able to see one day.  There is a link to PayPal on the right of the blog where you can make a donation if you would like to.  Some people would rather not go through PayPal, which is fine.  We can accept checks/cash through the mail or if we see you as well.  We have never done a fundraiser and feel awkward asking for help, but we figure this is about as good a cause as any.  We are so anxious to bring Eli home and cannot wait to show him the love that every child deserves.  We appreciate your support!

 

 

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G Weekend!!



We love to explore and take little day trips when we can.  Our falls are usually very busy with soccer and Tae Kwon Do.  Aidan's games are normally on Sunday afternoons and Keenan's games are normally on Saturdays, so getting away and doing anything is sometimes impossible during these months.  We love it and wouldn't trade the fun the kids have . . . and I am totally one of those crazy soccer moms, but when we can, we do really enjoy getting away for some family time.  This Saturday was one of those days that we had nothing planned, notta, nothing.  So he packed a picnic and drove a little over 2 hours away to Hocking Hills.  We had never been to Hocking Hills but had heard a lot about it after we moved to Ohio.  Within minutes of getting there, I heard Aidan say, "This is so awesome!  Thank you so much for bringing us here!"  We were blown away by the beauty we saw and the weather could not have been more perfect.  We explored the gorge and a couple of different caves.  We saw a few waterfalls and hiked through some amazing fall foilage.  There are cabins to rent around the area and we hope to come back sometime when we can stay a night or two.  There was a lot more to see and we can't wait to come back.  The kids have not stopped talking about our day there.  I feel so blessed to be their mom. 

 

Here are some pics from our day to Hocking Hills.

 

Family Pic

 

The kids holding up the rock

 

Michael and the kids on the rock bridge

 

Keenan in front of the lower falls

Another great pic of Keenan

The trio 

 

Upper falls

LuLu came on some of the hikes with us

 

Bella and the beauty of Hocking Hills

Scenery Pics of Hocking Hills

 

 

Aidan