Friday, December 28, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
TRAVEL APPROVAL!!
We are sooo excited that our travel approval came today! We were totally not expecting it because AWAA offices are closed. Apparently a some guy Ryan went into the office and while he was there a package was delivered and our TA was there!!! Also our friends Kyle and Angie's TA was there too! Congratulations Hendrens! It'll be soon now!
He wasn't able to answer any of our questions because he doesn't work with the China program. He called the Asia coordinator and asked her what to do and she said to call and try to set a CA date with us. The dates they gave to pick from where Feb. 4TH or 5Th or Jan. 28Th or 29Th. I was a little disappointed it wasn't earlier in the month, but I'll take anything in Jan! So it looks like we'll probably leave Jan. 17Th! Three weeks from today! Which would mean getting Noelle on the 21st!
He also said that she was a beautiful little girl.....does that mean they sent an updated picture of her? I forgot to ask.....I'm so stupid sometimes.
We'll be celebrating tonight! Keep praying for all of us please!
Love, Tonya
He wasn't able to answer any of our questions because he doesn't work with the China program. He called the Asia coordinator and asked her what to do and she said to call and try to set a CA date with us. The dates they gave to pick from where Feb. 4TH or 5Th or Jan. 28Th or 29Th. I was a little disappointed it wasn't earlier in the month, but I'll take anything in Jan! So it looks like we'll probably leave Jan. 17Th! Three weeks from today! Which would mean getting Noelle on the 21st!
He also said that she was a beautiful little girl.....does that mean they sent an updated picture of her? I forgot to ask.....I'm so stupid sometimes.
We'll be celebrating tonight! Keep praying for all of us please!
Love, Tonya
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
This is Tonya going on and on about Noelle's name...
....actually this is us practicing our video uploads for when we are in China getting our baby!!!
Yes, here it is the day after Christmas. We've been having a wonderful time this week with our families just relaxing and hanging out. However, our hearts are with Noelle far away on the other side of the world. Hopefully, when AWAA opens back up on Jan. 2nd we will get some wonderful news about our TA!
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Monday, December 24, 2007
This is not what will be happening for us tonight....but very soon!
Twas the night before leaving when all through the house not a
creature was stirring, including my spouse.
The luggage was packed and repacked with care in hope that our
daughter would soon find us there.
No child was nestled or snug in our bed, she slept that night in her
orphanage bed.
And Mama in her kerchief with luggage in sight had just settled our
brains for a long sleepless night.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the
bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash, tore open the shutter, and
threw up the sash.
The sun on the grass and the newly formed dew gave promise of morning
time to bid our adieu.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a yellow airport
taxi and our friends we hold dear.
With a little old driver, so lively and pip, I new in a moment we
start our big trip.
More rapid than eagles, from our cities we came, and we whistled and
shouted and called them by name: Albuquerque! Dallas! Phoenix!
LA! Hong Kong! Beijing! Guangzhou today!
From the Great Wall of China to the Province of Guandong now dash
away…dash away…dash away ALL!
Like treasure from heaven in our arms they did place, our precious
new daughter tears fell from our face.
So up to the hotel room with our child we flew our new bundle of
joy "We have presents for you."
Then, in a twinkling, I heard from the door "Paperwork to do!" I
heard myself "MORE?"
Like rain from the heavens when hurricanes fly tears just like
raindrops fell form our eyes.
We bathed her and dressed her from her head to her toe with ribbons
and dresses and a giant hair bow.
A bundle of clothes we had that were to big or to small we sent to
the orphanage to be shared by them all.
Her eyes- how they twinkled!
Her dimples, how merry!
Her cheeks were like roses, my nose red as a cherry!
Her beautiful smile was drawn up like a bow, and both of her parents
seemed to give off a glow. A stamp of her foot and a print from our
thumb made a family of us the adoption was done! Passport and Visa
then the Consulate Visit.
Our paperwork done? Afraid that it isn't.
The paperwork workshop we held in the hall when finished a sigh came
form us all.
A wink of an eye and a twist of a head soon gave me to know we had
nothing to dread.
He spoke a few words, went straight through our work double checked
our documents then turned with a jerk.
He wanted to know "was this the daughter we chose" and giving a nod;
up from his desk he arose.
They gave the approval, we gave a loud whistle, and away we all flew
like the down of a thistle. They heard us exclaim, both me and my
wife: "Blessings to all and to all a good life!"
creature was stirring, including my spouse.
The luggage was packed and repacked with care in hope that our
daughter would soon find us there.
No child was nestled or snug in our bed, she slept that night in her
orphanage bed.
And Mama in her kerchief with luggage in sight had just settled our
brains for a long sleepless night.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the
bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash, tore open the shutter, and
threw up the sash.
The sun on the grass and the newly formed dew gave promise of morning
time to bid our adieu.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a yellow airport
taxi and our friends we hold dear.
With a little old driver, so lively and pip, I new in a moment we
start our big trip.
More rapid than eagles, from our cities we came, and we whistled and
shouted and called them by name: Albuquerque! Dallas! Phoenix!
LA! Hong Kong! Beijing! Guangzhou today!
From the Great Wall of China to the Province of Guandong now dash
away…dash away…dash away ALL!
Like treasure from heaven in our arms they did place, our precious
new daughter tears fell from our face.
So up to the hotel room with our child we flew our new bundle of
joy "We have presents for you."
Then, in a twinkling, I heard from the door "Paperwork to do!" I
heard myself "MORE?"
Like rain from the heavens when hurricanes fly tears just like
raindrops fell form our eyes.
We bathed her and dressed her from her head to her toe with ribbons
and dresses and a giant hair bow.
A bundle of clothes we had that were to big or to small we sent to
the orphanage to be shared by them all.
Her eyes- how they twinkled!
Her dimples, how merry!
Her cheeks were like roses, my nose red as a cherry!
Her beautiful smile was drawn up like a bow, and both of her parents
seemed to give off a glow. A stamp of her foot and a print from our
thumb made a family of us the adoption was done! Passport and Visa
then the Consulate Visit.
Our paperwork done? Afraid that it isn't.
The paperwork workshop we held in the hall when finished a sigh came
form us all.
A wink of an eye and a twist of a head soon gave me to know we had
nothing to dread.
He spoke a few words, went straight through our work double checked
our documents then turned with a jerk.
He wanted to know "was this the daughter we chose" and giving a nod;
up from his desk he arose.
They gave the approval, we gave a loud whistle, and away we all flew
like the down of a thistle. They heard us exclaim, both me and my
wife: "Blessings to all and to all a good life!"
Friday, December 21, 2007
I was just was thinking about my baby spending another Christmas in an orphanage without her family.
Merry Christmas by Third Day.
There's a little girl trembling on a cold December morn
Crying for momma's arms
At an orphanage just outside a little China town
There the forgotten are
But half a world away I hang the stockings by the fire
And dream about the day when I can finally call you mine
It's Christmas time again but you're not home
Your family is here and yet you're somewhere else alone
And so tonight I pray that God will come and hold you in his arms
And tell you from my heart I wish you Merry Christmas
As I hang the tinsel on the tree and watch the twinkling lights
I'm warmed by the fire's glow
Outside the children tumble in a wonderland of white,
Make angels in the snow
But half a world away you try your best to fight the tears
And hope that heaven's angels come to carry you here
It's Christmas time again but you're not home
Your family is here and yet you're somewhere else alone
And so tonight I pray that God will come and hold you in his arms
And tell you from my heart I wish you Merry Christmas
Christmas is a time to celebrate the holy child
And we celebrate his perfect gift of love
He came to earth to give his life
And prepare a place for us
So we could have a home with him above
It's Christmas time again and now you're home
Your family is here so you will never be alone
So tonight before you go to sleep, I'll hold you in my arms
And I'll tell you from my heart, and I'll you from my heart
I wish you Merry Christmas
There's a little girl trembling on a cold December morn
Crying for momma's arms
At an orphanage just outside a little China town
There the forgotten are
But half a world away I hang the stockings by the fire
And dream about the day when I can finally call you mine
It's Christmas time again but you're not home
Your family is here and yet you're somewhere else alone
And so tonight I pray that God will come and hold you in his arms
And tell you from my heart I wish you Merry Christmas
As I hang the tinsel on the tree and watch the twinkling lights
I'm warmed by the fire's glow
Outside the children tumble in a wonderland of white,
Make angels in the snow
But half a world away you try your best to fight the tears
And hope that heaven's angels come to carry you here
It's Christmas time again but you're not home
Your family is here and yet you're somewhere else alone
And so tonight I pray that God will come and hold you in his arms
And tell you from my heart I wish you Merry Christmas
Christmas is a time to celebrate the holy child
And we celebrate his perfect gift of love
He came to earth to give his life
And prepare a place for us
So we could have a home with him above
It's Christmas time again and now you're home
Your family is here so you will never be alone
So tonight before you go to sleep, I'll hold you in my arms
And I'll tell you from my heart, and I'll you from my heart
I wish you Merry Christmas
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Another quilt for Noelle's crib
Trying to pass the time while waiting for our TA I made another quilt for Noelle's crib.
It does match nice with her new curtains!
It does match nice with her new curtains!
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Look at what we got today!
Remember the picture of Noelle sitting in the potty chair that Mike found on the Internet? Well, he emailed the guy and told him we found our little girl on his site and emailed her referral picture to him. So this afternoon Mike got an email from this guy and he said he remembered her and that she was a cutie and sent additional pics of her! What a blessing!
Please join with us in prayer that our Travel Approval comes so we can go and bring her home!
Day 20 waiting for our TA.
These were taken June 2, 2007. She is almost 8.5 months old here.
Please join with us in prayer that our Travel Approval comes so we can go and bring her home!
Day 20 waiting for our TA.
These were taken June 2, 2007. She is almost 8.5 months old here.
Monday, December 17, 2007
WE HAVE OUR VISA'S!
Now that we have our visa's we are just waiting for our travel approval. We are so praying it comes today....day 19!
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Friday, December 14, 2007
Noelle's baby shower!
Thank you so much Angel for the fun, beautiful baby shower! It was a huge blessing and just what I needed after a week of sitting by the phone waiting for it to ring. It was so pretty and cute! I loved all the decorations with ladybugs and the cake was so pretty. :) I appreciate all the hard work you put into it right down to the fortune cookies with scripture in them....that was so cool!
Thank you so much Nina for driving so far (over an hour) to come to the shower it was a blessing to have you there! Love you {hugs}
Thank you Bruce for bring Sue :) I know you both work hard all day and also had a long way to come, but I'm so happy she could be there! I love you Sue ;)
I can't forget my mom and sister-in-law Sandi :) I'm so happy you were all able to come. The food was yummy! Love you both!
OK, I can't forget to thank Daddy Davis and Mom Davis! Paul drove an hour to Jen's house to help with the boys so Bev could come to the shower. Thank you so much that was very sweet of you. Jen is Mike's little sister and is expecting her 3rd baby and is on bed rest because she has been having contractions and little Hannah only weighs a little over 4 pounds. Bev has been helping out with the boy so Jen can stay off her feet. I love you guys! Jen I wish you could have been there :) We'll have to have a play date when we get our girls!
Enjoy the pictures....
OK everyone....I want you to know I do know how to spell. I see some errors on the captions...here's an example "so didn't sheree" it should say, so did sheree! Anyway, I'm not feeling to hot today and I'm not in the mood to down load these pictures for a 3rd time so you'll just have to forgive the mispellings :)
Love ya! I found another mistake...The purple sweater is from Nina! She made it for Noelle :)
Thank you so much Nina for driving so far (over an hour) to come to the shower it was a blessing to have you there! Love you {hugs}
Thank you Bruce for bring Sue :) I know you both work hard all day and also had a long way to come, but I'm so happy she could be there! I love you Sue ;)
I can't forget my mom and sister-in-law Sandi :) I'm so happy you were all able to come. The food was yummy! Love you both!
OK, I can't forget to thank Daddy Davis and Mom Davis! Paul drove an hour to Jen's house to help with the boys so Bev could come to the shower. Thank you so much that was very sweet of you. Jen is Mike's little sister and is expecting her 3rd baby and is on bed rest because she has been having contractions and little Hannah only weighs a little over 4 pounds. Bev has been helping out with the boy so Jen can stay off her feet. I love you guys! Jen I wish you could have been there :) We'll have to have a play date when we get our girls!
Enjoy the pictures....
OK everyone....I want you to know I do know how to spell. I see some errors on the captions...here's an example "so didn't sheree" it should say, so did sheree! Anyway, I'm not feeling to hot today and I'm not in the mood to down load these pictures for a 3rd time so you'll just have to forgive the mispellings :)
Love ya! I found another mistake...The purple sweater is from Nina! She made it for Noelle :)
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Still waiting for our TA
We didn't get a call yesterday and haven't heard anything yet today. I'm pretty sure this Thursdays out of the question, but I would LOVE to get a call and get everything scheduled for next Thursday the 20th!!! What an awesome Christmas present that would be!!!
I have everything packed and went through the house and cleaned everything!
Mike sent me a cute picture of Robin and her friend Abby when they were 8 years old. She looks so little, she's a cutie! I wonder what Noelle will look like when she's 8.....I wonder what Robin will look like when Noelle is 8....she'll be 21!! Boy is that a sad thought :( They sure don't stay little very long.
I have everything packed and went through the house and cleaned everything!
Mike sent me a cute picture of Robin and her friend Abby when they were 8 years old. She looks so little, she's a cutie! I wonder what Noelle will look like when she's 8.....I wonder what Robin will look like when Noelle is 8....she'll be 21!! Boy is that a sad thought :( They sure don't stay little very long.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Care Package Made It!!
Label/Receipt Number: EB25 3661 598U S
Guaranteed Delivery Date: December 10, 2007
Status: Delivered Abroad
Your item was delivered in CHINA PEOPLES REP at 4:00 PM on December 10, 2007.
It appears that our care package was delivered to Noelle's orphanage in Fuzhou, Jiangxi Province. We are praying that the workers there will make sure that Noelle receives her teddy, blanky, rattle, and photo album/teether thingy with our pictures in it.....and that they will take lots of photos with the 2 disposable cameras we sent.
Guaranteed Delivery Date: December 10, 2007
Status: Delivered Abroad
Your item was delivered in CHINA PEOPLES REP at 4:00 PM on December 10, 2007.
It appears that our care package was delivered to Noelle's orphanage in Fuzhou, Jiangxi Province. We are praying that the workers there will make sure that Noelle receives her teddy, blanky, rattle, and photo album/teether thingy with our pictures in it.....and that they will take lots of photos with the 2 disposable cameras we sent.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
This post is dedicated to our oldest daughter.....Robin, also known as Bob_D.
Robin's sweet aunt Pam was reading our blog and was feeling sad for Robin because most....well....all our posts seem to be centered around Noelle and her adoption. She doesn't want Robin to feel left out and sad :( So I have dedicated this post to our eldest daughter Robin, AKA BoB_D. We have added a slide show of pictures taken this year. Robin wants to say a little something....brace yourselves you never really know what random thought is going to come from her :) (it's the age)
It's all yours Robin......
OK!! First of all I would like to say that I REALLY hope my grades go up so I can go to China with my WONDERFUL parents. Second, I would like to thank all of my fans out there (waves). Third, I just want you all to know that if you follow your dreams, you to can be like me. THANK YOU AUNT PAMMY!! Also, my favorite letter of the alphabet is "y", my fave body part is the bellybutton, and my FAVORITE item is the AMAZING... (takes a DEEP breath) ... the ...
GLOW STICK!! |:]
(I'm suber uber random. Just so you know) Toodles!! BoB_D.
If you would like, you can check out her blog by clicking on ROBIN
It's all yours Robin......
OK!! First of all I would like to say that I REALLY hope my grades go up so I can go to China with my WONDERFUL parents. Second, I would like to thank all of my fans out there (waves). Third, I just want you all to know that if you follow your dreams, you to can be like me. THANK YOU AUNT PAMMY!! Also, my favorite letter of the alphabet is "y", my fave body part is the bellybutton, and my FAVORITE item is the AMAZING... (takes a DEEP breath) ... the ...
GLOW STICK!! |:]
(I'm suber uber random. Just so you know) Toodles!! BoB_D.
If you would like, you can check out her blog by clicking on ROBIN
Update on our TA!!!!
Dear Tonya,
Your Referral Acceptance was delivered to our liaison in China, and was then hand delivered to the appropriate department at the CCAA on Wednesday. They have likely already begun the processing for your family’s travel approval (TA)! Please let me know if you have any other questions about this process. I hope you have a great weekend!
Blessings,
Lauren Barnett
Asia Family Coordinator
Special Needs Coordinator
Your Referral Acceptance was delivered to our liaison in China, and was then hand delivered to the appropriate department at the CCAA on Wednesday. They have likely already begun the processing for your family’s travel approval (TA)! Please let me know if you have any other questions about this process. I hope you have a great weekend!
Blessings,
Lauren Barnett
Asia Family Coordinator
Special Needs Coordinator
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Update on Noelle!
We got our questions about Noelle answered this morning!!!
She is NOT walking! I'm very happy about that!
She weighs 18.7 lbs, she's 27.2 inches long and she has 2 top teeth and 4 lower teeth!
We have a feeling she was weighed and measured with clothes on so we are guessing about 1 pound less than these measurements. Either way she'll be wearing 9 months clothes!
Can I just say WE ARE SO EXCITED TO BRING HER HOME!!!!!! PLEASE COME TA!!!!!!
She is NOT walking! I'm very happy about that!
She weighs 18.7 lbs, she's 27.2 inches long and she has 2 top teeth and 4 lower teeth!
We have a feeling she was weighed and measured with clothes on so we are guessing about 1 pound less than these measurements. Either way she'll be wearing 9 months clothes!
Can I just say WE ARE SO EXCITED TO BRING HER HOME!!!!!! PLEASE COME TA!!!!!!
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Monday, December 3, 2007
I guess you just never know what you're going to find on the world wide web. The other day I was checking out the website of a relief organization named "A Child's Right". As I went through the photos of their past projects of 2007 I began to get excited as I noticed that one of their projects was installing a new drinking water system at our daughter's orphanage. As I began clicking through the photos that they took while they were there I said a quick prayer in hopes that I might spot Noelle. Boom!....there she was just as plain as day! Her sweet little arched eyebrows made it unmistakeable. What a wonderful surprise and treasure that was to us that day!
To check it out go click here and click on China 2007 (upper right hand of the 4 projects) and find your way to photo number 171. I can't link directly to the photo because it's in a flash player. No clue how to do that. All of these photos are excellent!
PS. Bamboo potty chairs....how cool!!! I want to build one of those.
Mike
To check it out go click here and click on China 2007 (upper right hand of the 4 projects) and find your way to photo number 171. I can't link directly to the photo because it's in a flash player. No clue how to do that. All of these photos are excellent!
PS. Bamboo potty chairs....how cool!!! I want to build one of those.
Mike
SNOW, SNOW, SNOW
School is cancelled! It just started snowing a few hours ago so it doesn't look bad out there YET! They are forecasting 12-18 inches of snow! I'll post pictures throughout the day for those friends of mine who never see snow.... like Tina in CA :) The second picture I know is not very pretty...but it will be fun to watch it disappear as the snow piles up!
Mike is going to head to the post office around 8 to mail Noelle's care package. Please pray with us that it gets to her. We won't know until we get there to pick her up.
My brave husband headed out into the snow storm and mailed the care package! He called while he was out and said it was very slippery and that he felt a little like Pa Ingalls ;) Poor guy is forced to watch Little House with his wifey and daughter. Anyway it should get there by next Monday and the orphanage does have to sign for it. At least we'll know it made it there.
It's 2:30 and here are some pictures of the storm...
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