Our LSC has arrived!

Just had to let you know that our Letter Seeking Confirmation has arrived in Regina and should arrive here tomorrow or Monday!  I am so excited and amazed!  I, along with many others had been praying that this step would be expedited...thanks for praying!  And thank God for answering quicker than we anticipated!  Once we sign the LSC we will FedEx it back to Regina and then it will go to China.  Then we can begin making travel plans!  I just can't keep the smile off my face!  This was the last hurdle we needed to cross in regards to the problems I mentioned a number of weeks ago.  I will praise my God and thank Him for his goodness!

Update on Raina

We sent a care package to Raina consisting of the following items.  We also got some more information.  We now know that Raina is in GuiYang city, something that was not in our documents.   We also know that the SWI is willing to cooperate and send us updates (something the SWI in Beijing is know to not do).

I was very excited to also get a photo. . .until I saw it was only of Raina's feet!  Argh!  I love little feet, but what I really wanted at this point was an updated photo!

We also received an update on her measurements.  I'm not sure if these numbers are accurate, but they appear to be within an acceptable range.  (When we got an update on Malia's measurements they were not accurate at all.  I went with my gut feeling and bought clothes accordingly, and they fit her perfectly!)


Raina is 72cm's tall.


Weight:8.4KG.

feet length :11.5cm.

chest 47cm

head:44cm

teeth: 3(up)3(down)

We were also told that the director was wanting to schedule surgery for Raina and would like our input.  I would prefer to have the surgery done in Canada.  I can't stand the thought of Raina having surgery without us being there to comfort her and to ensure that her needs are met.

Fretting....

I am worrying today.  Not that there is any recent news causing me to worry.  I'm just worried!  I'm asking everyone I know to please pray.  Pray for peace for Martin and I.  Also, please pray that all the paper work for Raina's adoption will miraculously be expedited.  I REALLY need to have her home...she is too young and vulnerable to be without her Mama and Papa!  Thanks!

First Day of Preschool

Today was Malia's first day at preschool.  She will be attending 2 days a week, afternoons only.  She was very excited and talked about it everyday for the past few days.  She was a little nervous and one day she came to me and said "Teddy doesn't want me to go to preschool."  I told her that her teddy could gladly join her.  She then went back to Teddy to reassure him that he could join her and all was well!  Malia insisted on wearing a dress and packing a notebook.  She settled in quickly. . .I only stayed for the first 15 minutes.  She had a great time and her teacher, bless her heart, understood almost everything Malia said.  What a sweet lady!  (Most people have difficulty understanding Malia and it is so nice when someone understands her) When we came home she walked in the door and said, "I have no homework today, Mom!" 

I, on the other hand, didn't fare so well!  I spent the first hour worrying and wanting to call the preschool to make sure Malia was OK.  I managed to distract myself by heading to town to run some errands.  My baby is growing up WAY too fast for my liking!

Corn on the Cob

I have yet to serve something harvested from the garden that Malia does not like.   She likes potatoes, peas, carrots, beets, kohlrabi, cukes, beans,strawberries, and raspberries, but her favourite is corn.  She amazes me every time she eats it. Even though she does not have her 4 top teeth she somehow manages to bite off every single kernel.

Family Pictures

We had family pictures taken at our place a while back. The gal that took them was fun to work with and even Martin was relaxed! That does not happen very often! We bought the CD which allows us to print and edit as we please. Here are a few of my favorites.

Strawberry Pie

The boys had a 4 day weekend and so we went strawberry picking. It was not a planned event, but we all had to go to town for an appointment yesterday and decided, spur of the moment, to pick some more strawberries. The intent was to pick 1 or 2 pails so that I could make a pie and some jam. . .and we ended up picking 4 gallons. We have been enjoying everything from strawberry milkshakes to strawberry pie. I make strawberrry pie only once a year. It is a family favorite and very simple to make.

Yulin, from FOI, left for Beijing today caring a package for Raina. She offered to take a package to China and mail it to Raina from Beijing provided the package was no larger than a tissue box. It is amazing what actually fits into such a tiny box. The first thing I did was buy the largest tissue box I could find! We filled it with a disposable camera, a TY puppy, a photo album, a toy, a small blanket, and pictures the kids drew. I'm hoping and praying that her foster family will take many pictures. I had not sent a care package so far, hesitating because of some unforeseen problems that arose on Wednesday, August 18. There is a small chance that the whole adoption could fall through. I finally concluded that even if that happened, Raina would still enjoy the gifts and hopefully feel the love that overflowed from the package. I try not to think about this horrible possibility, but can not deny that it is constantly in the back of my mind. To say I am not stressed would be a lie, and yet I am also at peace. I know God is in control and ultimately everything will work out as he has planned! That is where I find peace...knowing my God is fighting for what is best for us and for Raina!

On a different note. . .
We are planning to take Malia with us when we travel, but plan to have the boys stay home. They know this is what will most likely happen, but would really like to join us. They clearly remember the incredible moment of first meeting Malia and would like to meet Raina in China as well. The kid to adult ratio is just not feasible. Three kids to two adults worked...four kids to two adults would be next to impossible! I am worried about where the boys will stay while we are gone. We have had several people offer to care for them, which is wonderful! But...I know our kids...they would do so much better if they could be at home with someone coming to stay at our house. I REALLY wish the boys had a grandparent or grandparent figure that would be able to stay with them. This has been my prayer for months, even though humanly speaking it is an impossibility.
These issues are of great concern, however, I find comfort in Ephesians 3:21-22. "Now to him who is able to do IMMEASURABLY more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen!"

Peaches and Strawberries

School started last week Thursday, and I thought my life would become a little less hectic. That has not happened. Fall canning is at its peak and I have been working like a mad woman. I canned 100lbs of peaches for a grand total of 84 quarts. I still have 4o lbs of peaches in my cold storage waiting to be made into jam, although some will be for breakfast, snacks, and lunches. Yesterday my sister Eve and I went to the Strawberry Ranch south of Saskatoon. I had not been there since I was a teenager. I normally pick my berries at a local strawberry farm, but one shut down and the other was flooded this spring. I had hoped my relatively new strawberry patch would produce enough fruit this year, but over half of my plants died due to the harsh winter. In about an hour we picked 11 pails. . .5 for Eve and 6 for me. I froze 5 pails and the other is for fresh eating. Malia had fun eating berries, and was sticky and dirty by the time we finished.