GOLD for Shawn Johnson

Coah Liang Chow and Shawn Johnson

WE LOVE THE OLYMPICS!!!

Our Tivo has been very busy the past week recording all the competitions.

It is particularly special to us this year, because they are in Beijing!

However, our favorite gymnast won a GOLD medal!!! We love Shawn Johnson! We are so thrilled that she got her GOLD!

We are also proud for Coach Liang Chow! We so wanted him to have GOLD in Beijing (his hometown)!

To be honest, I hate that this part of the Olympics is over!

Isaiah 40 : 31

Isaiah 40 : 31

"but those who HOPE in the LORD will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint."

THANK YOU, JESUS!!!

Isaiah 63 : 2-4

"I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and Your glory.

Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You.

I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands."

OH MY GOODNESS!!!

I have to share this INCREDIBLE, WONDERFUL NEWS!!!

At 8:30 this morning I received a phone call from the USCIS!

YES!!!!
Saturday morning and the USCIS officier is calling my house!!!

I was so in shock that I could barely talk!

The USCIS officier said, "I am very sorry that you have not received an appt. for your fingerprints. I thought I had handled all the cases from March. I have scheduled your appt. for Sept. 2nd."

HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD?!?!!

HE IS SO AWESOME!

What an answer to prayer!!!!!!

Thank you for all of your encouraging words and prayers!

I must also thank Senator Richard Shelby and his staff.

I called them Thursday evening. They immediately responded to our concerns about the fingerprints and USCIS.

So, we are scheduled for our appt. and HOPEfully it will not take long to receive our clearances. I am sooooo thrilled right now that I have been jumping and running all over the house!!!

Just having a moment

Today... OK... the past week, I have been having a moment.

"Moments" are times in my life when I burst into tears at the smallest things or become crazy angry (once again) at the smallest things. These "moments" started when we began the adoption process with HG. (I had a LOT of these special times during our 22 month wait for our Bundle of Joy! ) Usually, I cry, pray, buy something, read the Bible, or go for a walk until the "moment" passes.

So far with SH's adoption, I have only had 2... maybe 3 episodes. I believe that is really good since we started the process in Dec. 2007. With the delay of my fingerprints, I was calm. With all the paperwork, still calm.

But now... I am NO longer calm!

NOW, I am fluctuating between the crying and anger! The reason for my frustration stems from the INS. It is really the USCIS. We sent our BIG check and paperwork in March. Our homestudy was delayed (NOT because of our TRULY, AWESOME social worker ) because of the fingerprint issue. So, the homestudy was sent in June.

HOWEVER, we have STILL NOT received our fingerprint appt with the USCIS. HOW CAN THIS BE?!?!

I have e-mailed and called (multiple times) the diligent workers at the USCIS. Unfortunately, I have received NO response (except a generic e-mail that assures me someone will be in touch with me in 2-3 business days).

So, what do I do?

I have a MOMENT!

Through all of this, I try to remember that EVERYTHING fell into place PERFECTLY with HG's adoption. I know that there is a BIGGER reason for the delays. I know that God is in control. I know that He is taking care of SH. She is in His hands.

I know this.

But, I am having a MOMENT.

So, after crying and the anger (none of which is directed at anyone around me), I decide to pray and go shopping.

HG and I walk into a store and head to my favorite department...Children's Clothing!

As I walk down the aisle, I see pajamas. They do not need pj's because my mother has already supplied 8 sets for each girl. But, I am drawn to the rack.

There they are... 2- size 3T Monkey PJ's!

In that MOMENT I realized that my Heavenly Father saw, heard, and felt my pain.

One of my fears is that SH will be a year older when we arrive in China.

I am believing that SH will be home in time to wear these pajamas.

When I took the PJ's upstairs to the girls' closet, I saw a plaque someone gave us during HG's wait.

It has a scripture on it.

Isaiah 43:5

"Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west."

Once again, HE heard me. HE saw my heartache. He knows I need HOPE.

HE also reminded me of our daughter's name.

Sarah Hope's name came from a scripture.

Hebrews 10:23

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for HE who promised is faithful."

Faith.

That is what I am working on.

This is a picture of my mother's faith.

She made HG a stocking back in 2006. She recently finished SH's Christmas stocking. She brought by last week and said, "I am sowing seeds of faith."

Hebrews 11:1

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

HE knows.

And, just now I looked up from the computer to see 2 ladybugs climbing up the wall.

HE cares, even about the little things that mean soooo much to me.

HG's Surprise

Today, HG received a BIG surprise!

It was something that I had been planning for a while.

One of the doctors that I work with gave me his daughter's old balance beam and gymnastics mat. He brought it by today.

HG screamed when he walked through the door!

She has not stopped playing on it!!!

When she first stood on the beam, she asked, "Mommy, can I turn a cartwheel on this?"

"NO, BABY!"
She thinks she is ready for the Olympics. LOL!

The following are pics of her tumbling and stunts on the beam.

Cartwheel
"TA DA!"
Just being silly!

Time for a break!

The Olympics :)

The Olympics in Beijing!
How incredible is that?!?!?

I am so glad that China has opened itself to the World!

The Opening Ceremony was unbelievable!!!

The creativity and symbolism were magnificent!

I hope that the World will see the beauty of the Chinese people and their culture.

This is HG practicing her "TA-DA" for the 2020 Olympics.

**Tom, thank you for the shirt! I appreciate you thinking about HG while you were in China!**

First Day of School Celebration

When I started going to school, my mother always had our "First Day of School Party." She planned this so that I would not dread going to school.

We would go out to dinner and eat dessert (a very BIG deal).

When we returned home, we would open presents.

It was always such a great day for us!

Well, I decided to do this with our family.

HG did not start school, but Greg started back.

So, we decided to take him to dinner!

HG and her Daddy eating a cannoli.

(Not as good as the ones Melissa makes!)

HG makes this face quite a bit when she doesn't like something I say.

She already looks like a teenager! LOL!

Our Beautiful Girl

Trip to the Fire Station

HG loves to see Fire Trucks!

We decided to take a special trip to the Fire Station!

Hannah and Sadie went with us on this special day!

No waiting!

These girls want to drive that truck!

HG said the truck was "very dirty."

We talked about the firemen and women putting out fires.

HG said that "only girls drive the truck. Boys can't do it." LOL!

Sadie sitting in the truck while Hannah and HG pretend to drive.

After this trip, HG decided she wants to be a fire woman instead of a pumpkin patch. I think we are making some progress! LOL!

The Bowheads :)

Aunt Miki and Uncle Ray came over to play with HG. HG loves to fix hair!

The Bowheads!

Aren't they beautiful?!?!?!

Uncle Ray, you are awesome!!!!