Wordless Wednesday-- Princess Edition

Our Nightly Entertainment

This was too funny. Almost as funny was watching little JuJu laugh at herself as she watched the video.

The Monday before Thanksgiving....

(I really needed to be reminded of these things this Monday morning.)

EVERYDAY IS THANKSGIVING

Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings, thank you, Lord, that I can hear. There are many who are deaf.

Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long as possible, thank you, Lord, that I can see. Many are blind.

Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising, thank you Lord, that I have the strength to rise. There are many who are bedridden.

Even though the first hour of my day is hectic, when socks are lost, toast is burned and tempers are short, my children are so loud, thank you, Lord, for my family. There are many who are lonely.

Even though our breakfast table never looks like the pictures in magazines and the menu is at times unbalanced, thank you, Lord, for the food we have. There are many who are hungry.

Even though the routine of my vocation(job, life) is often monotonous, thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to work. There are many who have no job.

Thank you, Lord for the friends and special times that touch my life in so many ways. There are many who are not so lucky.

Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day and wish my circumstances were not so modest, thank you, Lord, for life.

Author Unknown

H/T to Michelle

The Next Step

Yesterday we received our 797 Provisional Approval for little Joseph. While I know this is the next step in our paper chase to travel to Joseph, I am still not sure it brings us any closer to determining travel dates. Our next set of paperwork was sent off last night to Guangzhou and we now wait-- again. This wait though, is the most variable. We really need it to go quickly if we want dh to have traveled and be home with Joseph by the time baby is born. If this wait is slow, we will be faced with some tough decisions. Do we postpone his trip so he can be here for the birth? Do we send him anyway, knowing Joseph needs to be home? We can only pray that God's will be done. He is total control of this timing.

My sister has been back in the hospital with some complications. Please keep her in your prayers. I know it cannot be fun to have to spend weeks at a time in the hospital. I also know it would be especially difficult to have to spend Thanksgiving there.

Friday Food For Thought

The Mother Theresa Edition

If you are discouraged it is a sign of pride because it shows you trust in your own power. Your self-sufficiency, your selfishness and your intellectual pride will inhibit His coming to live in your heart because God cannot fill what is already full. It is as simple as that.

Try to put in the hearts of your children a love for home. Make them long to be with their families. So much sin could be avoided if our people really loved their homes.

When you look at the Crucifix, you understand how much Jesus loved you then. When you look at the Sacred Host you understand how much Jesus loves you now.

Be humble and you will never be disturbed. It is very difficult in practice because we all want to see the result of our work. Leave it to Jesus.

A Response to Questions about Joseph

Joseph is currently 19 months old, he is about a month and a half younger than Juliana. There will be about 21 months between him and his baby brother, we are still deciding on little brother's name. The update we received said he is not quite 25 lbs and about 31 inches. This is actually a little bigger than Juliana. Receiving those measurements reminded me I really need to get moving on getting things together, especially for dh's trip to pick him up. I am close to an expert on little girl clothing, shoes, and accouterments, but the boy thing is a whole new world.

Joseph was found when he was a few months old. He was taken to an orphanage in the province of Henan. His cleft lip and palette made feeding him very difficult and he was soon sent to a foster home in Beijing that was better equipped to deal with his special need. He has been at this foster home for over a year now, and seems to have received absolutely wonderful care. At the end of October he had surgery to repair his cleft lip, which seems to have been very successful. He will have to have his palette repaired once he is home.

Because Joseph is in a foster home, it will be necessary for him to return to his original orphanage before he is placed with us. Dh will have to travel to his province (Henan) after he arrives in Beijing. Then the orphanage workers will most likely bring him to dh. Dh is planning to visit his foster home in Beijing, even though there is a good chance he will not be there. We do not know the timing of his transfer back to the orphanage, but would appreciate your prayers for him in the coming months. I can't imagine how difficult it will be for him to leave the only home he has known to return to an orphanage he cannot remember, only to turn around and be placed with a family he has never known. All this for such a little fellow.

Wordless Wednesday-- A New Picture of Joseph