Adoption Update

We have finally decided on a name for sweet girl! When discussing what we should call her, we wanted to honor both our family tradition of naming our children after people we love and her Chinese history by using a name with the same meaning as her Chinese name. We have decided on:

Laura Catherine

Laura is in honor of a sweet family who have been dear friends to me for the majority of my life, and to Robert since he met me. I love that famous quote about friendship: "A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words." Truly, this precious family is that to me and so much more. Catherine is in honor of her Chinese name, Jing, in that it shares the same meaning, "virtuous". I imagine we will call her Laura Cate...much like we call her sister Rachel Beth. Andrew, however, has said he will call her "Cookie". 

We were blessed to receive an update on our girl today and she is doing well! She and her sister will be able to share clothes for sure. Their sizes are similar. Her orphanage said she likes to play outside and likes sleeping with a blanket. She is standing and walking with support and can say a few words. We cannot wait to get her home! 

I was also so excited to meet a fabulous doctor last week! Those who know us well know we have been having a hard time with finding a doctor here in Tampa. I took Rachel Beth to a new ENT last week (she had an ear infection even with her tubes!) and we really connected with him. He was fantastic with Rachel (first time she hasn't screamed her little lungs out in a doctor's office in a long time) and he chatted with me about Laura's palate repair after we talked about Rachel's ears. For the first time since we moved here, I left feeling completely confident in our medical care and I am so thrilled to have a good doctor to see Laura when she gets home. This was one of those worries that I knew I needed to not stress over, but I was having to lay it daily at the feet of Jesus because I was nervous about bringing Laura home and disliking all the doctors I had met! This doctor, and his equally wonderful nurse and staff, are an answer to many prayers. 

Our paperwork for Laura Catherine has moved from China to the U.S. government and we are awaiting approval. We are praying to travel at the end of September/early October, but that would involve the U.S. working faster than usual. We are so glad that travel is out on the near horizon and we will have our baby home soon. 

Last Days of Summer

We only have two weeks left until school starts. I can't believe the summer is almost over. We have had a summer of change with our move to Florida and the adoption excitement. It has been such a wonderful summer! Whether we were off exploring our new beaches 

Fort Desoto Park 

Watching the storm blow in at Caspersen Beach

or staying at home setting up train tracks in the kitchen, 

we were always having a good time together! So often I get the passer-by's saying things like "You have your hands full!" or more negative things like "I bet you can't wait for school to start." But, truthfully, my children (and my husband) are my favorite people and I treasure my time with them. We have so much fun together! I will miss my big boys when they head off to school!

Registering for school. 

In two weeks we will navigate through more change as William and Andrew start school at the local public school. The boys are anxious about the new school but Robert and I are hopeful that is is going to be a great year! I have been praying daily for their teachers and for their little hearts to be brave as they head into a new classroom, with all new faces. William and Andrew are best friends to each other, so just the spending of the day with new children and not each other will be something different for them. Although I will miss them, I am confident this will be a great year and am excited to be involved in their school community. 

We have lots of fun filling up our last two weeks of summer! Before we know it, the first day will be here!