SCHOOL IS OUT!!! SCHOOL IS OUT!!!

Friday night was graduation!  It was a busy, busy long day but great!!  I had to give an AP test in the morning and then I had to pack them up and get them in the mail.  Then I had to work on failure notices.  We had to be at the un air-conditioned EXPO center at 2:15 for graduation at 4:30.  Then I had to wait around until the 8:30 graduation of CODY!!!  I left the house around 6:45 yesterday and got home about 10:30 last night.  Dexter took the day off to be with Lucy but the long night was hard on her.  She was not let's just say - easy - at graduation.  It was long, hot and boring.  But  my dear, sweet Cody is a high school graduate.  I am so proud of him and ashamed to say I don't have any really good pictures.  They were in a dressing area before and afterwards I was so tired and Lucy was acting difficult so I didn't take any pictures.  No one should have to sit through 2 high school graduations in one night but I lived.  I have to do it again next year for Logan!!!

In adoption news, we have a fingerprint appointment for June 13th.  We are trying to decide if we are going to walk in early or just wait for our appointment.  It is in SC instead of NC.  It is about an hour closer but still about 3 hours away.  Moving right along.....

Happy Mother's Day to all!!

It doesn't matter if it is your first or your 20th, Mother's Day is special. So, happy, happy Mother's Day to all.  Parenting is the most intense thing that I have ever done and by God's great design, the most important.  Obviously, God designed our lives to based on relationships.  And I am so blessed and honored to have a parenting relationship with Lucy.  We learn together and laugh together. I am so sorry that her birth mom is missing it all.  Adoption should not be the first choice.  It is a last resort.  We have been so blessed by adoption but in our blessing comes the greatest loss of someone's life.  That is never something that should be celebrated. So today, as I celebrate Mother's Day for myself, I morn the loss for someone else.  We have an amazing child and I am so happy to be her MOM and I humbly say thank you from the bottom of my heart to a complete stranger that I have one of the most defining, intense relationships of my life.   Happy Mother's Day!!!

I-800A.....

Our I800a was mailed yesterday.  So now we wait for fingerprints..... UGH.  I hate this part.  We now go to South Carolina instead of North Carolina.  It will cut about an hour off of the trip.  Why oh why can't there be an USCIS in Knoxville??? We have entered the hurry up and wait portion of the process.

Homestudy Approved!!!

We are approved and our I800A will be mailed the end of the week.  Before, I mailed everything.  This time the agency is doing it.  Lifeline is an amazing ministry.  If you get a minute check out their webpage. They are doing great things in China and lots of other places.  Major thing checked off!!!  I am excited.  We will now be waiting on the dreaded fingerprinting appointments. :(

Homestudy - Check!!!

We are finished with our home study!!!  We sent it to Lifeline yesterday and hopefully they will approve it on Monday.  The next step is the I-800A.  Last time this didn't take that long but apparently it is taking longer now.  We will see.  This is the part where we have to go be fingerprinted.  Last time we had to go to Charlotte.  This time we have to go to South Carolina.  It is right outside of Greenville.  It should take about 2 hours instead of 4.  That's good anyway.  We are checking things off!!! Starting to get excited........

Concert Love!

If you have ever done something that brings pure delight to your child you know that there is nothing better in the world.  Dexter and I did it!  I have never seen the excitement that we saw at the Fresh Beat Band Concert.  I have the cutest video of Lucy when they first came out.  I can't seem to get it to work right.  I will get it fixed so you can see it.  It almost brings tears to your eyes to see her having that much fun.  Ok maybe just mine but you will get it!  

Today is the day!

For 4.5 months Lucy has waited. Today is the day. THE FRESH BEAT BAND CONCERT!!!!!!! We have had the tickets since November and we gave them to her in her Christmas stocking. She is very excited and I have to say so am I. I can't wait to see how she reacts. Pictures will follow!