This week has been so full of "new" things. Wade and I started out the week with downloading our Travel Packet II and getting back into the swing of the old "paper chase" :) We found ourselves on our knees praying, signing papers, getting them notarized, faxing, withdrawing $ from the bank, praying some more, shopping for care package goodies, emailing responses, phone calling for confirmation before mailing, mailing, praying, researching, meeting fellow travelers, 1 hour phone conferencing, praying and most of all - giggling all the way around town!
We are soooooo excited and can't believe it is finally here! Blayne, Paytn and Haydn are showing their Graycn's pictures to everyone who will pay attention :) She is so loved! Today after school, we were driving and talking about all the specific things we have individually been praying for in regards to her over these last 37+ months. It was so cute to hear each of them rattle off such details - everything from hugged and kissed to full and happy to fun and gentle to feisty and sparkly! I shared with them some of Daddy and Mommy's prayers for her: that she would be sensitive to others, a bright light in a room, someone that makes others smile and feel comfortable, a gentle leader, confident, humble, know how to love and receive love - giggle from the bottom of her toes - our prayer is that she fully enjoys the life that God has given to her and that everyone around her finds her joy contagious! The kids were so cute and quiet - I looked in the mirror at the 3 of them and Blayne's eyes were sparkling. I winked at him and said "God has gathered together all of those little details and wrapped them up with a beautiful bow that is labeled "Graycn" - He has been listening to each of us, and has perfectly built her for our family and while He was doing that in her life, He has been doing this same process in each of our lives!"
Love to each of you - please pray that our package makes it to Graycn and that the nannies are willing to take pictures of her first home. We probably will not be able to visit her orphanage, so it would be nice to have these photos for her when she grows up.
The Godshall Girls...
"gg" is sooooo kissable!
The World's Cutest Kids!
Pumpkin Shopping!
Graycn was just itching for Haydn to let go of her....she was ready to just "squeak" (squeaky shoes) her way from one pumpkin to another!
The BIG chair at the pumpkin patch
The poor people in line behind us thought we would NEVER get all 4 people to stop moving and to look at the camera at the same time!
Soooooo big!!!!!!
Graycn loves to twirl in circles and then runs at you with her arms down and back :)
One of Mommy's favorite photos!
All dressed up for church.....Paytn LOVES the "job" of getting sissy ready :)
Surrounded by LOVE!
Oh my goodness.....Wade and I walked into our house (excited and exhausted) ....we were met by the most overwhelming sight we have ever experienced! Our home was filled with "love letters" from our friends, our co-workers, our neighbors.....I remember feeling so confused when I walked in and saw faces of people all over my house.....and then all of a sudden I realized who they were ..... and why they were there ~ we have never felt so loved!
Welcome Home!
Jenny, Kathy, Karen and Rachel....THIS was AWESOME!!!!!!!
Love that kept going...and going....and going!
I found "love letters" in my cabinets, drawers, pantry....I had "surprises" for days!!!!! We had no idea we could be loved so much...WOW!!!!!
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Our Beautiful Chinese Princess
Look at this gorgeous outfit from "Aunt" Sha-nay-nay and "Aunt" Ramsey!!! My heart was so full as I put her in that special outfit! I just loved telling her about the "hug" she was wearing!
Our little "exclamation point"!
We refer to Graycn as being the "exclamation point" to an already AWESOME family!!! We are so excited to bring her home so we can all be together!
"Sisters"
It is said that girls from the same province call themselve "sisters" regardless of whether they have a friendship connection or not. Our Graycn and her sweet Gracey have such a tender bond. They seem to respond to each other differently than with the other "sisters" :)
"Red Couch" ~ brings such "emotion" to the girls!
Doesn't Graycn look concerned about her Gracey?
Dominos.....
"It's all fun and games until one baby cries and slides"
"Chenzhou Girls"
Graycn's China family! :)
"High-Tech" hearing test!
read the blog entry to get more info on this photo :)
2/3 of Daddy's Girls :)
Graycn is the talk of the travel group ~ she seems to have the best "seat" when touring her land of birth!
Mama's Girl
Graycn is just "chillin" in her "mom-made" carseat!
Oh No..... Another "Kissing Bandit"
When you say "kiss, kiss" Graycn will lean in to kiss you :)
So Tiny~ So Exhausted!
Graycn is so funny! She likes to fall asleep all snuggled up in a "nest" of things :) Look at how little she is in comparison to the little snuggly blanket next to her! the jammies she has on are 6-12 (she is 8.5 mo) ~ they are baggy on her :)
Sealed with a kiss.....
as far as we were concerned....the adoption was complete before we even laid eyes on Graycn! (a fellow adoptee caugh this on camera, we had not seen Graycn, but knew she was in the building!)
You just can't get much more comfortable than this!
we are in "hog heaven"!!!! EEEEeeeeeee!!!!!
~Settled in~
Graycn is clean....full.....warm and absolutely AMAZING!!!
Graycn and one of her Chezhou girlfriends~ Grace Lynn
we have become so close to these families already! We are loving getting to know the Harts!
Bringing our Graycn home to our "home away from home"...
getting her off the bus and taking her into our room to independently take care of her was an AWESOME feeling! She will be "officially" ours tomorrow....
Mama's snuggle bug!
Graycn is so touchy-feely and huggy....I am just loving that!
Daddy's newest little girl!
Pay~Pay.....do you think you can share your daddy with this little bundle? :)
The wait is over!
And it was well worth it!
Home away from Home......
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!! Doesn't g~g's "first" night at the Godshall look promising for "sweet dreams!" :) ~ it's been "ruffle-ized"!!!
Getting ready for Graycn's "delivery" :)
looks so sweet....but a little lonely.....
Graycn's "stash"
bottles...formula....cheerios....toys.....books....and lots more!
a "baby bed"!!!!
notice Graycn's sweet crib right by our "Lucy & Desi" beds! :)
Our 2nd Gas Mask found on our 1st night in Changsha!
We were at a "Western Style" chinese restaurant for dinner tonight, and we look up and see a gas mask on the wall of the room that the 30 of us were eating in.....hmmmmmm.....1 gas mask/30 people??? The odds are NOT in our favor! I told the table not to worry...I had my "inhaler"! :)
Gas Mask.....that's right.....I said "gas mask"!!!!
oh my word! We opened up the closet to put our things in the safe, and look what was "waiting" for us.... a genuine "chinese gas mask"!!! We both looked at each other and said, "I think China might be a little more dangerous than Memphis, TN!!!!!" (Sorry Gambrells!) - notice there is only 1.....wonder who can run the fastest to the closet?? hmmmmm!!! :)
LUGGAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
it seems to just keep multiplying! ;)
our chinese cuisine on the flight
notice the "pork" sticker in the right corner......poor Dr. Rauf would be STARVING in China!!!! ha! :)
Chenzhou Girls' mamas & babas
the "intimate" 11 families leaving from Hong Kong to Changsha (the capital city of Graycn's Hunan Province)
Jumbo Floating Restaurant
This is the largest floating restaurant in the world. It is capable of seating 3,100 people! That would be a lot of food!!!!!!
HK Skyline
the building in the back on the left is still being built and will be the tallest building in the world! The building to the right of that (with a "chopstick" on top) was apparently in the most recent Batman movie.
Overlooking Victoria Peak, Hong Kong
There are 9 islands behind us, but you cannot see it with the haze from the weather.
the Regal Hong Kong Hotel
You know it is a nice hotel when you turn on the tv and it is has a personalized message for you!
CCAI guides for Hong Kong
Patrick (the tall one) will lead our tours
our personal "United Airlines extra ammenities" historian
This is the family we traveled 15 1/2 hours with. Read the blog for some fun details of how they made the LONG trip seem shorter!
One of Wade's "carry~on" items!
we had so many people ask us where our baby was....we had fun answering them with "she is in China!"
"Flat Stacy" ~ on her way to China......
Poor "Uncle Freshy" had no idea he was taking Flat Stacy to the airport too.....Flat Stacy is a school project for Paytn...you may see her popping up periodically throughout our journey :)
"It's Hot Time" ~
a "Childer's family" tradition! ~ Yee haw!
Dropping off the kiddos....
First Stop: Nanny and Papa
American "Chinese Food"
eating our last chinese dinner without our little china doll at our side!
Graycn's stuff ~ way too much for such a little bundle
1/3 of our 500lbs to stuff into our (2) 40lb suitcases.
Sitting all by herself!!!!!!
We are so grateful for the orphange God has placed her in... Graycn appears to be right on schedule!
Oh......couldn't you just eat her?
Our hearts are just leaping for joy!!!! As Paytn would say...."we just couldn't imagine loving her any more than we already do!"
Our "nosey" little g~g.........
She look so strong and healthy!
"Hi Guys!"
Looks like Graycn will fit right into our "social" family!
Graycn is getting so big!
updated photo taken on 1/5/09. Her hair is growing and look at how strong she is!
Being adopted myself, I wouldn't say her orphanage is her first home, but rather a "lay over" until she travels to her real home with your family. Regardless, I really hope that everything works out with the package and you get wonderful photos of your little bundle. Hopefully no more baby mug shots! I am looking forward to reading and following your exciting new chapter in your life. Best of luck.
ReplyDeleteAimee P
congrats holly, i loved hearing your story the other night at work, i will keep your family in my prayers!
ReplyDeleteHolly, I am so excited for you guys. I can't wait to meet Sweet Graycn. By the way your blog looks great, I know you said you had been working on it for a little while. Congrats again!
ReplyDelete