OOT!

Not the three little letters we are really looking forward to, but I'll take 'em!  Today we were Out of Translation!  This means that our dossier is moving along the line towards that much anticipated LOA! 

Please continue to pray for quick processing and God's provision.  Blessings!

Black Friday Deals!

Crack of dawn early...wicked cold...millions of people...long lines...sold out products....all for the profit of large corporations that sometimes use my money for things I do not agree with!  

So this year I am shopping a little differently!  We are choosing to give our money to a cause near and dear to my heart this year...yep, you guessed it...adoption.

Below are some people and businesses that I will be supporting with my purchases, and I invite you to do the same.  There are some pretty neat things available.  Please check them out!

Handmade hairbows, flower clips, and other accessories that are sure to DELIGHT! 

www.ladybug-delights.blogspot.com

Aprons, kids' clothes, purses, bags, scarves http://www.scarletthreads.org/wired-hearts.html

Thirty-One www.mythirtyone.com/35081 

 

Scentsy https://blessedx7.scentsy.us/Scentsy/Home

 

Handcrafted jewelry by a fellow adopting mom http://www.designedforhope.com/

 

Jubilee's Jewels  http://jubileesjewels.com/grace-john-14-18-bracelet

The funds raised from the links below will go directly to bringing home our son, Mycah!  And you can also just click on the buttons on the side bar.....on your right!

Restaurants.com gift cards - Get a $50 gift certificate for $20! 

http://coupaide.com/deal/saylor-adoption-fundraiser/

Adoption Bug T-shirts   http://www.adoptionbug.com/saylorpartyofsix/

Olive Tree Promise - something for everyone! http://saylorpartyofsix.olivetreepromise.com/

And of course...if you are shopping on-line at Amazon, please go through our link!  

http://www.amazon.com/gp/holidaytoylist?&tag=sayparofsix-20&camp=212705&creative=403941&linkCode=ur1&adid=01REA906HMW11WX8784K&&ref-refURL=http%3A%2F%2Fsaylorpartyofsix.blogspot.com%2F

So shop in your PJ's this year, and save your time and gas money!  When you are done shopping, share this blog post with people you know by using the share buttons on the side and know you will be helping bring kids home into their forever families!  

Adoption friends...feel free to add your fundraisers in the comments, or message me and I will add them.  There were some blog posts I couldn't find when I wrote this! 

Happy Shopping to All!!!

L-I-D

We finally have a Log-in Date with the CCCWA (China)!  Not only that, but we were pleasantly surprised to find out that we were logged-in on November 1, 2012.  That means we are already 18 days in to an approximately 55 day wait for LOA (Letter of Acceptance).  Those are the next 3 little letters we are waiting for that will mean China has officially approved us to adopt Mycah!  We still have not heard about our request for a medical expedite.  That could significantly cut our LOA wait.  

Many of you know that my dear friend, Cindy, is in China right now to pick up her 2 beautiful kiddos.  It has been quite the roller coaster of emotions to watch them walk this part of their journey.  If you haven't seen her blog, you can click HERE to read their story.  Please keep them in your prayers as they will start their long trip home on Wednesday and will not arrive until late on Thanksgiving Day.  

Knowing that she is only about an hour away from Mycah is kind of weird to think about.  She did find out that his orphanage is a smaller one and mostly deals with domestic adoptions.  I am hoping this means that the caregiver to child ratio is relatively small.  It is also a Half the Sky orphanage.  They do an INCREDIBLE work in many SWI's throughout China.  I am hoping that Mycah has been able to participate in their program. We have had conflicting reports as to whether or not he attends "school."  I guess we will find out for sure in a few months!

Speaking of his SWI, we received an update this week as I mentioned in my last post.  They sent us some new pictures and measurements as well as some more information about his likes and his personality.  

• He has become more outgoing and active.
• He greets the orphanage staff politely.
• He can say his name, age and gender.
• He can write simple numbers.
• He can "sing and dance at the same time."  That made me smile!
• He can also "draw and sing."  Apparently he likes to sing??
• He likes to play Red Light, Green Light.
• He likes to play with his own socks??  Alrighty then!
• He likes to "play balls, sands, and play with water."
• He likes to be held by people he is familiar with. (This is a really good thing!)
• He can feed himself.
• He helps put away the chairs when they are done eating.
• He can say many sentences (Cantonese) such as "I want to go play on the playground" and "I must pay attention in class" and "I must listen to mom."  Ummm...I am thinking he may have a lot in common with a certain cute 8 year old that I know very well??
• He has had no major illnesses or hospitalizations recently except for catching a cold once.

But let me tell you, there is NOTHING an adoptive parent loves to see in their email inbox more than an email titled "More pics."  And here they are!

Mycah would be the one giving the photographer the "stink eye"for taking pics while he is getting dressed!

Making his bed with a friend.  Although I wish my big kids would do this more willingly, it does make me a little sad to see my 4 year old having to do it?

Art time

Stick a leaf on the wall time??  That's all I've got for this one!

Fly your trash bag kite time!  He looks like he is loving it.  This is actually the biggest smile we have ever seen from him!

No, this is not a little girl in his SWI...it is Mycah.  

The first thing Darrell said when he saw his clothes was "That's gotta stop!"  I can't wait to put him in shoes other than pink sandals!

Prayer Requests for this week:

1.           China finds favor and approves our expedite request
2.               Mycah stays healthy while we wait to go get him
3.               The grant application we are sending out this week gets approved SOON!
4.               We would trust in God's timing and provision for this adoption

"I will not leave you as orphans.  I will come to you."  John 14:18                  

Am I Really Thankful?

Yes, a very common theme every November.  Facebook is now full of people thanking God for their families, their friends, their jobs, their pets, their homes, their stuff.  And we are all truly blessed!!  But now this year is different for me.  At church this month we have talked about thankfulness.  How do you know you're thankful?  A thankful person...

1. is content.
2. is joyful.
3. is humble.
4. is forgiving.
5. is patient.
6. remembers.
7. is generous.
8. lives with a sense of anticipation.

Last week we talked about the first four, and I much enjoyed the discussion.  Tonight we started with #5 and pastor pretty much read my mail for the rest of the night!  Patient...really God?  Don't you know I have a child I've never met, on the other side of the world, who is in need of medical care, and I have heard NOTHING about our progress in 3 WEEKS?  Only the sound of crickets from China, I tell you!  And I need to be patient?  That's apparently what James 5 says.  Patient.

Then #6...Remember what the Lord has done.  When was the last time I dwelt on all the times God met me in the past, kept my family together, kept my kids healthy, and provided for us every step of the way?  Why is it so much easier to focus on the needs of the present?  Has God ever let me down before? 2 Cor 2:14

Then #7...Generous.  Lord, really??  Have you seen our paychecks go from 3 to 1?  Did you know it is more expensive to live in DC than it was California?  Have you seen what airline tickets to China cost now?  I filled 2 Christmas shoeboxes last year, so can that count for this year too?  I have my own kid in need!  It seems thankful people want to be generous, because they know they are merely stewards of what they have been given.  And since God is the source, we are free to be doers of HIS work without the worry of "if" we will have enough to do the job.

And #8...live with a sense of anticipation.  Not fear of how this whole thing is going to work out financially?  We are talking a GOD-sized number here you know!  Not anxiety over whether my boy will stay healthy until we get him home?  He is not being treated for a life-threatening disease, remember!  Anticipation...because with God all things are possible!  Luke 18:27

So through tears as we sang "Great is Thy Faithfulness," I made a choice!  I choose to be truly THANKFUL, including patient during this LONG adoption process, because I know God is in control.  I will remember how God has kept me and my family and always provided for us, so I do not have to worry.  I will be generous, because I want to bless others as God has blessed me!  And I will live with anticipation that God will write a beautiful ending to this adoption story, so that all who hear it will say, "Great is Thy Faithfulness!"

So as I am running over all of this in my head and surfing mindlessly on the computer, up pops an email...with sweet pics of my little boy, whom I've never met, on the other side of the world!

 

And I am truly THANKFUL!

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!  His faithful love endures forever!"  

I Chronicles 16:34

Gifts worth giving!

Check it out, folks!  Christmas is coming, and we have partnered with Olive Tree Promise in an effort to continue our fundraising.  They have something for EVERYONE on there.  Whether you want clothing, jewelry, hair accessories, art, or the opportunity to send donated items to ministries in need, this site has it.  It even has the super cool "Superman was adopted" t-shirt especially for my BFF!  She is adopting Superman, by the way, and you can read more about him here and his new sidekick, LadyBug! 

Pure cuteness, I know!  Please keep them in your prayers, as their entire little world will be rocked in only 5 short days!


But after you read about them, please stop back by our blog and click on our Olive Tree button!  A portion of every purchase goes into our adoption fund.  Spread the word and share our link!  We have a boy to bring home!!


Happy Shopping!

Orphan Sunday

This Sunday is Orphan Sunday, and all of November is National Adoption Month!  There are many resources available, both printed and digital, for you to share with your friends, family, and church!  I know that not everyone can adopt a child, but we are all instructed to care for the orphan!  This website (and others) gives you ways that you can help.

Check it out at www.orphansunday.org or click the button on the right of the blog.

Don't procrastinate, folks!  There are 147,000,000 kiddos who need someone to stand up for them!  Will you??

Click to watch the Orphan Sunday 2012 video.

Need a tax write-off??

There have been some who have asked about a way to get tax credit for their donations to our adoption fund.  And I FINALLY have an answer!  You can click here to check out our AdoptTogether profile page.  I have left the Chip In at the bottom of the blog for my iTutoring students, and if you want to still use that, you are welcome to do so.  However, if you can get a tax write-off from AdoptTogether, then why not??  It appears very user friendly, and the button on the side will remain there until our goal is met.  Sometimes it is hard not to get anxious about the need, but I also know that this is something God has called us to do and He will provide.  Whether that is through tutoring students, donations, grants or mysterious large bundles of cash left on my doorstep (not advised given my neighborhood, so please ring the doorbell if this is your plan!), I know that HE ultimately has it all in control.  Our update request for cute pics and current info should go out tomorrow, so check back soon for that post!

URGENT prayer request:  Our dossier (code for "1 ton of paperwork") should arrive in China the next day or so.  Our letter requesting that they expedite our paperwork for medical reasons is in that package.  Please pray for FAVOR and quick processing so that we can get our son home ASAP!

Signing off before Sandy takes our power again!

D - T - C !

D   T   C  !

Yes, the teenager was nearly mortified to pose in front of people at the 

Smithsonian National Zoo that he will never see again.  

For anyone not familiar with all of the acronyms associated with China adoption, that means "Dossier to China!"  Today was the day that 5 months and 10 days worth of paperwork was completed and sent to China!  I am excited, but it is kinda like finishing the last exam of the semester and not being able to relax quite yet...the reality of being finished hasn't had a chance to really sink in.  So although there will be a form or two here and there, the bulk of our paperwork is now finished.  Thank you to everyone who has written references, chipped in, gone with me to drop off/pick up paperwork in DC, and/or put up with my occasional whining overwhelmed state in recent weeks.  

The reality of our growing family is starting to set in.  Last week I actually went clothes shopping for Mycah.  There are now several very small shirts, pants, footie pj's, and jackets hanging in my closet that make me smile every morning when I walk in there.  He even has a few of his own toys that are not hand-me-downs from his brothers and sister.  

Hang in there, handsome boy!  We will be there soon!

Prayer requests for this week:

• Mycah's health
• Quick LID (log-in date with China)
• Quick LSC (China's approval for us to come get him)
• God's financial provision for us to complete this adoption

And the iPad goes to......

The Matelings played a huge role in my life during my Middle School and High School years.  I don't know of too many crazy brave people that would have packed out a 15 passenger van with Middle Schoolers every spring for years and taken them to Walt Disney World as a reward for a year of hard work!  Those were truly EXCELLENT times ;-) and these are truly special people.  Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Mateling for always being so supportive no matter what stage of life I am in.  

We also drew a name for the Adoption Bug t-shirt.  The winner has been notified.

Thank you to EVERYONE who has prayed, posted, blogged, and chipped in!  We couldn't do this without you.  

Buckle up...here we go!

Due to Mycah's adrenal insufficiency, we requested from USCIS (immigrations) a medical expedite.  I was able to send a wonderful letter from a sweet doctor friend detailing to them the reason and urgency of our request.  There are SO many orphans who would benefit from coming home sooner than later!  Like ALL of them???  So although I was hopeful and knew I had to try, I was also being realistic and trying not to expect too much.  We received an email yesterday stating that our request had been APPROVED and Mycah's paperwork will be expedited!  Praise be to God!  I cannot explain why we have been blessed with this, but I am ever so thankful that we have.  

So one day next week I will be making another all day DC trip to authenticate one last piece of paper and hope to catch the State Dept and the Chinese Embassy all in one day.  This is important since I really HATE navigating the DC Metro system alone and would like to only do it once and not twice!  After that and a LARGE agency payment (yikes), we will finally be DTC (dossier to China).  

I am not really sure what the time line is after that.  There are so many variables involved!  But looks like January MIGHT become my new favorite month!  So, again, we covet your prayers!  Please pray for...

1. Mycah - that he stays healthy and continues to receive good care from the nannies while he waits
2. Paperwork - that our papers continue to move quickly through all necessary agencies:  WACAP, China, USCIS
3. Finances - Expedited means FASTER!  Ok, so you already knew that!  But that also means that we no longer have several months to save, but only a few!  I am sure it is no secret how big of a financial obligation adoption is.  But I know a God who is BIGGER!  Please pray that God would grant us an extra dose of patience and faith as we wait on Him to show us the next step.

We should be receiving an update from the orphanage soon.  Hopefully it will include valuable medical information as well as adorable new pictures!  Also, after our papers reach China, Mycah will be receiving his first pictures of his new family!!!  So now I am off to find some flattering pictures that accurately portray this family who can't wait to love on our little boy!

                                                

SO CLOSE!

Well, the majority of this paperwork is SO CLOSE to being done!  I have said several times of late that being pregnant was so much easier than going through this adoption!  I realize more and more every day how much of this process is truly out of my control. This is hard for some of us overly-controlling people people who like to have a small part in what is going on!  So verses like, "Cast all your cares on Him..." in 1 Peter 5:7 are sometimes difficult to live.  So I try to remember other verses like Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you (Mycah included)...plans for good and not disaster...a future and a hope."  I know He cares for Mycah  and has a perfect plan for this whole process.  Praying my patience and faith catch up with my knowledge.

So far, we have had all of our documents (dossier) notarized, county authenticated, state authenticated, US Department of State authenticated, and they have now been dropped off at the Chinese Embassy in DC.  What's left??

• pick up papers at the Chinese Embassy
• mail to placement agency for review
• have fingerprints done
• wait for I800A (immigrations) approval
• have approval document notarized and authenticated
• mail to placement agency 
• agency conducts final review and then we are DTC! (dossier to China)

After all that has been done already, this doesn't seem like much at all.  However, relying on other people to do their jobs correctly and efficiently is the difficult part.  Let's face it...when you have someone as cute as this waiting for you...

                           

                                                                         ...patience can be a little hard to come by!

So I choose to rest in the fact that ultimately I am relying on God.

"Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name."    

                                                                                     Psalm 86:11

Click here for info on the iPad giveaway

Lots of prayers, please!

When I first saw Mycah's file, I had NO idea what CAH was.  Since our journey to make him our son began, I have been trying to make myself more knowledgeable about his disease.  It isn't as easy as one might expect since this is not as prevalent as other conditions and diseases.  But I have found a few websites and made a couple of connections with parents of children who also have this or similar adrenal insufficiencies.  Those are proving to be invaluable resources.  However, with this expanding knowledge of CAH, I find fear trying to creep in.  Not a fear of IF we can parent him, but a fear that we may not make it to him in time to prevent more serious effects of the disease.  I know fear is not of the Lord, so perhaps I should term it "extra motivation"!  After chatting with a fellow CAH parent over the weekend, we have decided to ask for a medical expedite.  These are often not granted by China even for the seemingly sickest of kids, so I am aware that we may not be successful.  But, like my mom says, "The worst they can say is no, right?"  And what kind of parents would we be if we didn't try to provide him with the care that he needs?

So this is what we need prayer for:

1.  The Johns Hopkins doctors will review his file, even       
     though is is not a patient yet (no insurance for Mycah until he is    
    "ours").

2.  Either the Johns Hopkins doctors or another doctor will write a   
     strongly worded letter about his need for immediate medical 
     treatment.

3.  We will have favor with all parties involved (Drs, Senators, 
     immigrations, China, our agency).

4.  All processing and paperwork will be done quickly.

5.  God would continue to financially provide so that finances do 
     not slow our process!

6.  God would continue to keep Mycah safe and healthy while he 
     waits.


The fact that God has allowed Mycah to live for 4 years and 2 months without having treatment for this disease is incredible already.  I know that God has a special plan for this little guy, and I am humbled and excited to have the opportunity to parent this little miracle.  Thank you all for your prayers.


PS...Thank you to those who have entered our iPad giveaway!  We are inching closer and closer to our goal!  If you haven't entered and would like to, please see my last post.  

Would You Like an iPad??

As many of you know, this adoption is a leap of faith for us in many ways.  One of the biggest being financial.  Becoming a one income family after our move has made this seem like an unmovable mountain at times.  I have even questioned the timing of this whole process.  It seems like it would have made a whole lot more sense had God lead us through this after Darrell is finished with school and I have a job again.  In church a couple of weeks ago, Pastor reminded us that God's ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9) and His timing doesn't always make sense to us.  We discussed the MANY times in the Bible that God did not "make sense" to His people...Moses, Joshua, Noah, Naaman, and Mary are probably with me on this one!  But looking back on their lives, and even to the milestones that we have reached during our adoption journey, God has always proven himself faithful!  But that being said, I know that He still requires us to be wise and do our part.  So our family is trying to be creative with ways to raise and save money.

So let me introduce you to the New iPad!!

  

And it just MIGHT have your name on it!!  

We will be having an iPad giveaway to help bring Mycah home.  Below are the details!

$5 gets you 1 entry
$20 gets you 5 entries
$100 gets you 50 entries

Reposting on FaceBook or your blog gets you up to 4 free entries!

(one repost per week...make sure you tag me or message me so I can credit you!)

The winner will receive the New iPad!

9.7" Retina display with Multi-Touch™
Dual-core A5X chip with quad-core graphics
5.0MP iSight camera and FaceTime® camera²
1080p HD video recording
Up to 10 hours of battery life³
Also available in white
iOS 5 and iCloud® camera⁴

One other lucky winner will receive their t-shirt of choice

from our Adoption Bug store.

The giveaway begins now and will go through Wednesday, October 17th.  You can donate using the Chip In button on the right side of the blog (some mobile browsers will need to choose to view the Full Site in order to see it), or by using the good old fashioned check book!  Make sure and include your name and "donation" when you give using the ChipIn button.  

Please spread the word folks!!  This is such an incredible device!  Even if you aren't an iPad kind of person, I bet it would make you a super cool Santa!!:-)  And most importantly, it will go to a great cause!

Mycah Ryan Junbin Saylor

Some Days Are Hard...

And the last couple of days have been just that!  Our adoption paperwork seemed to be sailing along, and I was sure we would be done with our home study and entering our immigrations wait very soon.  Although meeting our son would still be months away, these milestones at least help me to feel that we are making progress - getting closer to Mycah.  And at church on Sunday, there were so many little things said that seemed to confirm that this journey of faith was truly a work of the Lord.  Then came Monday.  It seemed that for every paperwork step forward there were 2 steps back.  Incomplete physical forms, questions about our personal lives, the feeling we were getting the runaround from our social worker.  

So this post is a request for prayers, folks!  There is a little boy in China who needs medical care and a family.  We have exactly 2 months and 3 days left to get our dossier (a MASSIVE amount of paperwork) to China before we risk losing our pre-approval for Mycah, and he becomes available to other potential families.  I know that "if he is supposed to be with our family", this will work out.  I know that God is not surprised by this slow down in progress.  I know that God has a perfect plan for our family and for Mycah.  I know that all of this is totally out of my control and that worry does not change anything.  I know that I serve a compassionate and sovereign God. I know that God always proves himself faithful in my life.  BUT...this week is H.A.R.D.

Please pray for favor, timely processing, provision, and peace this week.  This mommy aches to be on the way to get her son. And I desire even more that God be glorified in this situation and in our family.


"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid."  
                                                                                                                                        John 14:27

Our Boy Who Waits....

Isn't he the cutest!!!

Several weeks ago, another adoptive mama received her travel dates to get her little girl from Mycah's orphanage.  She so graciously offered to ask about him when she got there.  Often during orphanage visits, this is not allowed.  So I tried not to get my hopes up.  However, not only did the staff bring him out to meet her, she was allowed to take pictures and video!  During this time we found out that he is attending school now (maybe learning Mandarin?).  He looked very healthy and seemed to be a little shy.  He said nothing, but smiled and made his "peace" sign that seems very popular over there.  I will be forever grateful to Sheryl and Andy for letting us "see" our son and for letting him know that we love him!  This was very kind of them considering all they had on their plate that day with their new little Lucy!

This is his teacher.  He seemed very comfortable with her!

The orphanage was apparently very clean and had a friendly staff.  For that I am very thankful!  However, at the end of the day, an orphanage is not a family.  And so I press on with this "paper pregnancy" with hopes of having him join our family as quickly as possible!  Please continue to pray for favor and for quick processing!  This mama wants her big boy home!

Seasons Change...Ugh, Again???

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:"  Ecclesiastes 3:1

This is a lesson that apparently is taking me a long time to learn.  It seems that God has been trying to teach me this lesson for at least 8 years now.  Or maybe that's when I started hearing it?  But just because someone hears something does not guarantee that they are listening.  Kind of like..."Take out the trash!" or "Clean your room" or "Stop aggravating your brothers!"  I know my kids HEAR me.  After all of our medical ear issues, I have the audiology reports to prove it!  But listening and obeying...well there's another issue altogether.  I know this comes as a shock to most, but I kind of like things to be predictable and familiar.  Couple that with my extreme loyalty issues and my slight desire to feel like things are in my control, change isn't always so welcome in my life.  So when I read things in Proverbs like "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and he will make your paths straight," I tend to get a little anxious.  When seasons started changing for me after Nathyn was born, I was reluctant.  But God proved himself faithful.  Then a couple years later we were assigned to an Air Force Base in California.  I was reluctant again.  After all, didn't God know that Travis was the LAST base listed on our "wish list" of assignments??  But again, God proved himself faithful in an exceeding abundant kind of way by blessing us with church, school, and friends...who are now family:)  And yet again in June, I found myself facing another change of season.  Knowing God's faithfulness many times in the past, why in the world was I still resistant to this change?  Why couldn't I trust that God has things in control even when I do not?  I knew this was leaving friends, church, school...familiar and comfortable.  Not to mention that this would take me out of a classroom that I loved so much and away from people that I could not imagine being without.  And even scarier...HOMESCHOOLING my kids, which I have adamantly said I could/would never do!  (After all, that puts me SOLELY responsible for my kids' education.  That, to me, is a very scary thought.)  Having few no other acceptable educational options for my kids here, I gave in.  So why am I so stinkin' surprised that God is proving himself faithful for the millionth time?  

What an awesome week, and what an awesome God!

One week down...8 months to go!

 

Just a Peek!

As I am supposed to be making a birthday breakfast right now for our oldest, I don't really have time to blog!  However, I couldn't help but post one short video of our youngest, which we received today from a traveling family.  What a blessing!!!

Oh, paperwork...HURRY UP!

The Day I Had Been Dreading....

And now it is over!!!  Our "home visit" by our social worker that is!!  I have no idea why I was so worked up over it?  I mean we have nothing to hide in our home, my bathrooms were clean, our children are well-behaved (most of the time??), we had already met the lady before and I am pretty sure she liked us?  But the thought of having her come and make notes about our house, draw out room dimensions, interview our kids (ya never know what #3 is gonna say!)...well, I was VERY nervous.  So I am glad to say that she came, she interviewed, she commented about Zachary's eyes, we exchanged loads of papers, she left, I put a big check in the mail, and it is OVER!  Now here's to hoping she writes this home study quickly so that we can jump through the next hoop - the I-800A for USCIS (immigrations).  More paperwork, but no more home visits!

Sometimes I get pretty paperwork weary, and the thought that we still have more to do can get overwhelming.  When I get tired of this "paper pregnancy", I try and remember the big picture...our son is waiting for us!  And one thing that is helping me maintain perspective this week is reading the blog of another family (check it out here) whose "Gotcha Day" is tomorrow!!  To make it even cooler, they will be visiting their daughter's orphanage in a few days.  Their daughter has been in the same orphanage as Mycah!  She will be asking to meet him and take a few pics for me!  I SO hope they let her.......

And Here's the Birthday Boy!

When we initially sent our birthday care package through Red Thread, Ann emphasized several times that I would have to be patient in receiving the pictures and reply letter as our orphanage is usually slow in providing these things.  BUT!  This weekend, we already received a few pictures and a response from Mycah to the questions we sent in the letter!  

So...behold 4 year old cuteness!!!

I'm not exactly sure that he was liking the song they were apparently singing?  Or perhaps he is self-conscious about the snazzy birthday crown?  Using my sequencing skills, I think the following pictures are in order?

Although it appears that all the birthday "stuff" is there, I can't help but notice there's a smile missing from his little face.  So I wonder...does he just not understand?  Does he not enjoy being the center of attention?  Did they drop the "you have a family now" bombshell before they cut the cake and his little mind is reeling from the possibility??  Whatever the case, I so hope that birthday number 5 brings a smile to his handsome face.  

We did receive answers to some of our questions.

1.  Do you feel like a big boy now?                 Yes, I think I am a big boy.

2.  What is your favorite thing to play with?     I like to play toys.

3.  What is your favorite color?                      My favourite color is yellow.

4.  What is your favorite movie or TV show?   I like "Pleasant goat and  big big wolf"

5.  Do you like dogs?                                       I like dogs.

6.  Who is your favorite friend?          My favorite friends are Li yatong,

                           Gangyang and Wang yaying. 

7.  What is the first thing you want to do when you come to our house?  

 I want to play with brothers and sisters.

8.  What language does Junbin speak?               Cantonese.

I think that number 7 is my favorite answer by far:-)  

Please pray for Mycah as he now waits for a family that he knows is coming, and pray for us as we continue on this journey!