We are Pre-Approved!



This week is ending with some happy news. Love Without Boundaries has arranged for Charli Grace to receive an eye exam in China. We also got our pre-approval from the CCAA. I don't have a cute photo to go along with this post, so enjoy the happy pandas.

Pre-approval is basically a confirmation that we have been matched with our daughter and are free to proceed with the adoption. Our next step is having our home study cleared by DHR in Montgomery, then it is off to the CIS office in Atlanta. From there our dossier goes to the Chinese Consulate in Houston, then to China. So there are quite a few steps in between Charli and home. Pray with us that our files will be given favor at DHR and CIS. We are going to petition for our home study to be expedited through both offices. My greatest wish is that we can bring her home before her 3rd birthday.












Love Without Boundaries is having their 5th annual Born in My Heart Art Auction. All proceeds from the auction go to healing orphaned Chinese children in need of heart surgery. They have done so much to help our daughter and hundreds of other children. Visit their auction and bid on one of their beautiful items. It will make your heart feel super happy.

"Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4

6 to 12 Hours

That's how long it was supposed to take to assemble our new swing set. Granted we had some serious ground prep to do first. Everyone in the family pitched in. Daddy-O, Poppa, Uncle Chuck and Mommy were on the ground and assembly crew. Grandma, Grandpa, Anna, and BeBe were on babysitting and clean up duty. From start to finish the project took 4 days, but WOW was it worth it!

A Few New Pictures

We have been blessed with an abundance of pictures of little Charli. Emily, her HTS sponsor, sent me these today. Her personality really sparkles in each photo.

We've decided on the Chinese middle name MingZhu, which means "bright pearl." Charli Grace is certainly our "priceless pearl."

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he found one priceless pearl, he went and sold everything he had, and bought it." Matthew 13:45-46

My Little Brother

My mom and dad brought home a sweet little golden doodle today. (That's a cross between a golden retriever and a standard poodle in case you didn't know.) Isn't he beautiful?

Think Daddy likes him?


Pebbles isn't so sure.

Lately I've been on a mission to find the perfect doll for Charli. None of the pictures I've seen of her Half the Sky class have any dolls in them. (They have lots of great developmentally appropriate toys. I just haven't seen any dolls.) She may not have had a chance to have a doll of her own. So I want to get her something kind of special.

My criteria for the perfect doll are: 1. It should be age appropriate for a toddler. 2. It should be soft and cuddly. 3. It should have similar features to Chali.

I never noticed until now, but it is impossible to find baby dolls with Asian features in my area. Thank goodness for the internet. The search has been narrowed down to 3 candidates:


Fisher Price Little Mommy




Corelle Calin Yang



Lee Middleton Itty Bitty Nursery Baby


Help me decide. Vote for your favorite dolly. The poll will close at the end of the week. The winner will be added to Ming's growing toy collection. Heck, they will probably ALL wind up in Charli's collection, but a poll will be fun anyway. Be sure to leave a comment and let me know what you look for in dolls for your children.

Freedom from Pull-ups!

It's been a long process, but Big C is officially out of diapers. I was beginning to think we were going to have to pack a diaper bag for Kindergarten. Some wiser and more experienced moms told me to calm down. He would go when he was ready. Boy were they right. We established a rule that we wear underwear at home and Pull-ups only at preschool. C quickly decided that going to the potty was better than the alternative mess. We started off with a few accidents, but it has been smooth sailing for 2 weeks now. Now we are in underwear 24/7. I am so proud of my big boy!

Speaking of freedom: I had jury duty last week. I knew that I would need to bring along a fairly mindless, but portable project in my knitting bag. I grabbed up some blueberry Cotton-Tots that I had in my stash for Tater's Cotton Cardi. By the time the judge dismissed us I was finished with the yoke. I found the adorable blue sunhat at Tuesday Morning on one of our long lunch breaks.

Glaucoma makes bright sunlight uncomfortable, so I've been collecting cute hats for Charley. I think I may be developing a habit here. Kim has her hairbows, I have my sunhats.