The Calm Before The Storm

It has been quiet around here lately. Don't let that fool you. There is a sense of excitement in our house. We are starting to plan out our trip. It looks like a few days in Hong Kong and a few days in Beijing before we go to the province where Alison is.
We are next, and we know it. I can't speak for Lisa but I am starting to get down right giddy. Our impending referral is on my mind constantly. Literally at all hours. I am finding it hard to go to sleep at night and when I wake it it is the first thing on my mind.
Work is making it hard for me to get my mind off it. Literally, everybody in the company stops me in the hallway and asks if I have heard anything? They are all supportive and full of well wishes. It is good to know that I work with a group of people that are genuinely interested in my endeavor. I promise to bring Alison to work one day and let everybody see for themselves that it was worth the wait.
We are expecting to hear from Villa Hope the week of July 4-9. I am sure there will be a quick trip to Birmingham that week as we will not be able to wait for the mail. I promise to post a picture to this blog as soon as I am literally able to. I am sure that the time between referral and travel will go by fast. It will be filled with visits from family and friends, baby showers from church, friends and family. Lisa and I are looking forward to all of it. As of today, we have not packed a single thing. We are notoriously bad at packing for trips. We usually just wait until the last minute and then throw everything we can think of into a suitcase. I know that we will actually have to put some thought into it this time. We need a list and time schedule. Maybe that is something I can work on over the next week or so.
I just keep going back in my mind that there is a little girl(s) half way around the world in China right now just waiting for Lisa and I. I can't explain the feelings I am having. Overwhelming Joy!
Happiness way beyond explanation.
On a side note, Tomorrow 6/23/10 is our 21st wedding anniversary. We have decided to keep it low key this year and just go out for a nice dinner this coming Thursday. I think a toast will be in order for more than one reason this year.
Happy anniversary Lisa. I love you more and more each year.

Blue Ridge Railway: Blue Ridge, GA

May 29th we went to Blue Ridge Georgia to ride the train.
The trip is a 26 mile round trip from Blue Ridge to
McCaysville, GA / Copperhill, TN

The train has 2 engines; One on each end of the train.

We had a very nice time.

But, It wore us out!

We went with Russell's parents

Richard & Pat.

The altitude got the best of us.

Still Hanging Out.....

Just like this frog that has been

HANGING OUT

at our house....

We are still Hanging out here too.

The referrals have come and it looks like

the CCAA only got up to the 21st.

We really wanted it to be the 24th or 25th.

This wait has been so hard.

I know it is almost over, but being this close

and it is still taking so long...

Make the wait even MORE horrible.

4 years!! When 2 years ago when we found out that

our wait was more than likely going to be 4 years...

I thought...NO WAY! They wouldn't do that to anyone.

Well, They did. And we are STILL WAITING.

I know Alison is going to be worth the wait.

I can not wait to have her in our arms.

I just wish it would hurry along.

I have TRIED to be so positive through all this,

But I am about to have a mental break down.

I wish the people on the other side of this wait

could see what they are doing to us that

have to go to adoption just to have children.
I know We are THIS close.

But this seems like it is NEVER going to end.

Alison, We are so ready to come get you.

8 more days!!!

I hope we get your picture soon sweetheart!

Mommy & Daddy LOVE YOU SO MUCH!