Lauran Joanna

We have decided on her complete name! We had to have her complete name to fill out paperwork that was needed after getting the LOA....so it was time to be decisive! As you can see Lauran is not spelled the traditional way.

The reason behind the spelling of Lauran's name has to do with my oldest, Nathan and his attention to detail! The cute story is that Nathan noticed when we were adopting Megan that his brother Ryan's name and his name both ended in 'an'. So he said that the baby's name should also end in 'an'. I just thought it was so cute he noticed that and since Megan was the only 'an' name already on the list we decided that was the one! We wanted to continue with that theme because I smile every time I think back to that conversation with Nathan. It is so "him" to notice a detail like that! I decided I wanted it to be spelled with the 'an' though, not just sound like it ended in the 'an'...even though Nathan said he was fine with it either way!

We decided on Joanna for two reasons. I was looking through names and Joanna means "gift of the Lord". Also, My moms name is Joan Ann...so it is sort of a version of her 2 names. Lauran will be my Mom and Dads 12th Grandchild! Holy Moly! Number 11 was born 2 days ago to my sister Keri.....Cutie Addison Mae! She is a little peanut at 6lbs 2 oz. I can't wait to see her next weekend!


Addison Mae

Happy St. Patrick's Day

If you are intersted in knowing more about St.Patrick and why he is honored each year, please read this post on a blog I follow! http://www.nihaoyall.com/2009/03/st-patricks-day.html

Megan's 3 year Gotcha Day ....and more:)

Thursday was Megan's 3 year Gotcha day! I can't believe it has been 3 years since adopting her...AND next month we will be adopting again! We celebrated by going out to dinner with the kids and going to Build-a-Bear. I wanted to make it a family day! The boys are not so much into the build-a bear thing so they opted out and decided to buy books at Barnes and Noble instead. My boys are too big for bears.....WHAT? How did that happen?

Anyways, this was Megan's 1st trip and she LOVED it! It was a fun day!

As we are getting closer to going to China part of me is freaking out a bit. I am feeling a little overwhelmed lately. Another way to say it is that I am feeling a little bit unequipped. There have been quite a few days lately I have felt over my head as a mom. Not just tired, but parenting challenges that just make me feel like I am clueless. I start to doubt God's plan, that maybe he mad a mistake in picking me to adopt or parent at all for that matter! Even though my head knows God didn't make a mistake and that he will equip me to do this, my heart has not been on board! Anyways...I prayed for God to help me not feel so overwhelmed and he used the following passage to remind me that He is my source of strength and I was trying to do it on my own....again :)
Isaiah 40:28-31

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

LOA...Check!

Thursday we received the great news from our agency that the LOA (letter of approvals)were here and it is now officially in our hands! This puts us one step closer to traveling. It came right when expected too, which is always good news! In 3-4 weeks we should have out Travel approvals (the next coveted piece of paper). Once we have that then our travel dates will be confirmed. We are still on target to traveling at the end of April!

Megan asks for a Bible...but not any bible will do :)

Megan came into my room the other day, after playing in her bedroom, and out of the blue said she wanted to buy a bible. She has several bible story books we read but I had not bought her an actual bible yet. (Something about the thin delicate pages and 3 and 4 year old hands). She didn't just want any bible either...she announced she wanted a princess bible. I was confused as to how she knew this existed. I, of course, have seen the girly pink ones with the princess crown and glitter but have not shown them to her( a bit over priced I thought)I asked her how she knew about the princess bible...if someone at church had one..but she seemed confused and started to talk in circles...so I dropped it. She kept asking though so I said we would go to the bible store and buy one. So I did...and yes I indulged her in the over priced princess themed bible. It was more glammed out than I even remembered...with a big rhinestone clasp and all. Of course we needed the pink, furry, bible purse to carry it in also! Now however, I need to drive home even more now, that she is a princess of the King Jesus, and not just a princess who can get what ever she wants...LOL