My name SAVED us $200

Eldon at Gold Rule Travel had to start all over with booking our flights.  This time he decided to throw in my middle name to help with the "fictitious name" thing.  So now, Summer Mary Spitz and Dave Spitz have flights to EE and they are $200 cheaper that the tickets that were cancelled!!!!!!!  Wow, God is Good!!!!!

Yipppeeeee!!!!  We leave December 19th and get to our destination on December 20th at 1:10 pm!!!!!

Oh Isabelle - Mommy and Daddy are getting so close sweet girl!!!!!!

Thank you GOD!!!!!!!!!

Summer Spitz

Okay I know my name is a little different and I had thought until TODAY that I had heard everything when it came to my name.  So many jokes over the years - it has actually become kind of fun having a different name.  Then I married Dave and added "Spitz" to the fun and that just brought on a bunch of new jokes.  And again, I thought I had heard them all.  Well I was wrong!!  We made our travel arrangements last week and I was waiting to hear back from our travel agent with Golden Rule on a few things.  Well I never thought I would read this:

I had a most annoying surprise when I checked your booking just now. The

airline has canceled it because of "a fictitious name". It's German, of all

things! I shot off an email to Lufthansa and told them that your name is

not fictitious, and I'm waiting to hear back from LH.

 

How about that?  They don't believe that Summer Spitz is my name and they cancelled my reservation??????  Uh Oh!!!  I should explain that this was the last seat on a flight for December 19th and there were NO flights on December 18th.  Oh My!!!!  Have I mentioned that this adoption business is one bumpy ride?  I think I have!  Anyways I don't care how bumpy it is - I am going to hold my daughter soon - Bring on BUMPY!!!!!
 
Please GOD work your magic!!!!!

Just So Super Excited!!!!

I am just so excited that I am going to hold Isabelle by the end of the year!!!!  It is really real!!!!  We are going to meet our DAUGHTER!!!!!  Wow!!!!

Honestly, We are so BLESSED!!!!!  And I am so very Grateful!!!  But (sorry I had to have a "but") - I so wish that we would be able to meet Lyla too!  I wish we just had a small opportunity to tell her how much we love her and how much she has changed our lives.  I want to Thank HER so bad!!!!  I want her to know that she not only saved me but she saved Isabelle too!!!!  I would love to tell her how much we want her home and how we think about her constantly!!!  I would love her to know that I wouldn't leave her side for a second if things had been different.  I want her to know how proud I would be to be her Mom.  

Guess Where I Will Be On December 21st?????

Anyone???????

Oh my - I can't even believe I am about to type this honestly.  Dave and I will have the pleasure of going to an appointment on December 21st at noon to get a referral for OUR DAUGHTER!!!!!!  We will get to meet Princess Isabelle and hold her before the end of this year!!!!

Okay, I am so out of my mind with excitement right now that my mind is frenzied (is that a word?)!!!!

I was in the grocery store when my phone rang - I looked at the number and it was Brigitte - My heart stopped before I answered - I was certain she probably had bad news and our dossier was rejected.  Boy, was I wrong.  She said "what would you like to be doing on December 21st".  Well, I just cried and Thanked GOD!!!!!  I thanked Brigitte too of course!!!!! 

I wish there was a word to describe how I am feeling but I don't think one exists. 

Thank you so much everyone for all your prayers - WOW!!!!  The power of prayer is something I can't even comprehend but am Forever Grateful for!!!!

Guess this will be the BEST THANKSGIVING EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I Love Thanksgiving!!!!

I Just Love It The MOST!!!!

For the last 6 years I have had the absolute pleasure of cooking Thanksgiving dinner with my son Conor.  We  just have the BEST time.  I look forward to it every year!  Conor is almost 16 and our relationship has some ups and downs that is for sure.  BUT - in 2 days - it's just us in the kitchen with no stress - just us having FUN.   We get up early and just cook, talk, bake, laugh and BOND!!!  In addition to the Bonding - we make one Good Looking Spread and it is Super Yummy too!  Conor is known to bake an apple pie to die for!!!  Oh my, I can not wait to have some of that pie!!!

I am so BLESSED and GRATEFUL for this boy that I am honored to call my son.  I sure LOVE  him so very, very MUCH!!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving To All Of You!!!! 
I hope it is WONDERFUL!!!!!!!

2nd vote - week of December 14th

Oh my, it was posted today that the 2nd vote is scheduled the week of December 14th.  Now, according to other families that have traveled recently - they usually travel about 4 weeks after submission.  So since we were submitted on November 11th our SDA appt (again just according to what I have seen) would be around December 11th.  So the week of the vote!!!  Oh boy - this is some crazy stuff!!!  The post did mention that it is very late on the agenda - so maybe it wont even be read.  Oh please, please PRAY this to be true.  Or, please even better of course would be that they just waited until after all the adoptions go thru - WOW that would be something AMAZING!!!  And you know what?  It's all GOD's plan!!!!!!   HE can do AMAZING!!!!! 


I can't believe a date can have me in such a frenzy!!!  I'm telling you - I am wound a little tight these days. 


I just need Lyla & Isabelle home with us!!!  And all the other beautiful angels home with their forever families!!!!!  And for Sweet Tripp to be pain free!!!  And Beautiful Ella Grace to EAT!!!  And for Jenn to get the state police clearance to EE ASAP!!!  So many more NEEDS and all just as worthy!!!! 

PLEASE GOD

Dave & Owen

I was just browsing through my pictures and I can't HELP but share this one.  Look at Dave looking at Owen with all the LOVE in the world.  Is that not just the most perfect picture of LOVE between a Father and Son????  I am so BLESSED!!!!! 

ADOPTION ROCKS!!!!!!

I don't know how to make the picture bigger so you can see what I am talking about - but if you double click the picture it will enlarge.

Pray, Pray, Pray!!!!!!!!

A very scary truth!


My Dear friends the Lococo Family  http://hope4everychild.blogspot.com/ are leaving today for (sorry can’t say) to adopt a beautiful little girl named Jenny. They know that this upcoming 2nd vote to close adoptions could affect them. The truth is they could meet Jenny, Jenny could meet her Mom and Dad and then BAM – the vote could stop them from adopting her. Can you even imagine the fear? Meeting her, hugging her, kissing her and then just “sorry – you have to go back to the USA without your daughter”?????? And how about Jenny???? She gets to meet these wonderful people, she finally gets to feel the LOVE of having a Mom and Dad and POOF – they are gone. Are you kidding me???? Reece’s Rainbow has a lot of families in this same situation. I am just so sick for all of them.


Please pray for the Lococo family – Please pray for all the families in the same situation. Please continue to pray for all the precious children this vote could impact.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank you!!!!!

Christina - Thank You!

Christina and her family LOVE Lyla so very much!!!  Look what they were sweet enough to do and share with me:

Lyla just has to feel all the LOVE being sent her way!!!!

PLEASE GOD, KEEP HER SAFE

Father, please kiss her sweet cheek from all of us - Thank You!

Wow - Donation!!!!!

Oh my Goodness - I was so super excited to see that our family sponsor page went up $90!!!!  Thank you so very much to the gracious soul that donated!!  We are so GRATEFUL!!!!! 

I have to be honest - we have not done anything at all to help raise money for our adoption.  We did send out letters in the beginning but then we started to hit some bumps.   The truth is we are scared - scared that we just might not be able to bring sweet Isabelle home.  I promise I am trying so hard to stay positive but this is a situation that we just have simply no control.  It is so hard not to steer this boat right where I want it to go, I have had to rely on Faith, Hope and lots of Prayer!!  We do need some help financially - of course we do - just like all the families in our shoes do.  It is our plan to take out a loan - it sounds awful to take out a loan for your daughter - it really does.  But we have no choice! 

So if anyone else out there has a few extra dollars they would like to send our way - just click on Isabelle's button on the left side of our blog and Vavvvvoooooommmm - you will be taken right to our family sponsor page.  Believe me, I know times are hard and I know the Holidays are right around the corner - so we are so happy to just have your prayers too!!!!!

Thank you AGAIN for all the Amazing support!!!!! 

Post from Julia Nalle

This is just so well written, I couldn't help from taking it right from Julia's blog:  http://www.covenantbuilders.blogspot.com/

A few weeks ago I posted about a vote on a bill that would put a moratoriam on adoptions in Aaron's former country. The bill passed once, but needs to pass a second time before it goes to the President and is signed into law. If the bill stays as it is written then adoptions in that country will come to a screeching halt. I've heard a lot of differing information, advice, thoughts etc. about when the second vote will take place. It is very possible that the vote will take place next week. Thanksgiving week. Some say November 22 and some say November 24. Some say it will not happen until spring. Only the Lord knows when that vote will take place. It is an extremely serious matter and we need to be praying hard that this bill will either not pass or that the wording of the bill changes so that adoptions, especially the special needs adoptions, will not be hindered. Consider the following:

Next Thursday is the LAST day this year when that country will be accepting dossiers until the end of February. This is a normal process that takes place each year. Those families who are not submitted in the next two weeks will have to wait until early next year for submission.
If the bill passes and if it is signed as it it currently written:

Then those families who have been racing against time to get their dossier to that country by the cut off date will find all their work to have been done in vain.

All the families who are currently in that country and have met their child BUT HAVE NOT HAD COURT will be sent home.

All the families who have bags packed, plane tickets in hand and are ready to walk out the door to go get their children will not get to go.

All the families who have had all their paperwork submitted over there and are just waiting for a travel date will be left hanging.

All the families who have mailed their dossiers and are praying they will be accepted either this week or next week by the agency that processes adoptions will not be submitted.

There are about 30 Reece's Rainbow families in the above situations. 30 families who are hoping to bring home over 40 children. FORTY. There are over 40 other families who are working hard on their paperwork in order to be submitted early next year. We are talking over 100 SPECIAL NEEDS children who have families right now willing to sacrifice everything to get them home.

It is a battle. A spiritual battle that needs to be won. Four years ago these children were hidden from society. They were unwanted. They were dying in their cribs. Alone. But God has raised up an army of loving families who want these kids. They want the unwanted ones. They are shocking the orphanage directors, the nannies, the doctors and the social workers. Each time one of the 'least of these' is selected, they are making a powerful statement to the powers that be in this country and others that these little ones have value. They deserve life, love and families. They don't need to be discarded at the hospitals. They can grow and learn and thrive. Hearts are changing and the powers of darkness are not pleased. It is a spiritual battle. As the church is waking up, realizing its call in this forgotten realm, the battle lines are being drawn.
Pure and simple - we need to pray. We have on our side, a Mighty God. He is the One who has called the church to action and He is the One who is leading this battle. I have in my house the sweetest little guy because God placed it in on our hearts to GO GET HIM. Our call did not end when we walked off the plane. One child whisked out of darkness is not enough. We need to battle with the rest of the families who are fighting against the odds to get these children out. They have been called by God and we need to stand with them in prayer that NOTHING will prevent them for fulfilling His plans.

Pray church. Pray that the bill either doesn't pass or that it is reworded. Pray that God will continue to move in the hearts and minds and souls of each and every orphanage and institute director. Pray that the doors of these places would be flung open and that the church would be able to march inside. Pray that through the testimony of every single family who goes over there, that the system of discarding the special needs children would come to an end. Pray. Pray for the vote. Pray for the people God has put in place who are working around the clock to address the issue. Pray for the families. Pray for God's peace to reign in their hearts as they journey in this unknown. There are numerous other families who are trying to adopt in Aaron's former country who are also deeply affected by this vote. They are not Reece's Rainbow families but they are just as much in need of our prayer covering. We know many in this group and we agonize with them also. They too desperately need our prayers. This vote affects thousands of children stuck in a very harsh system. Pray not only for the families, but for God's call for you. Pray for discernment as you wrestle with whether God is calling you to adopt. Pray hard, church.

Those who are unable at this time to rescue a child, you are not off the hook. You are called to support the families who are going. You are called to GIVE. You are called to be an encourager, a supporter. You are called to pray. So pray.

I could of never said this better - Julia is Amazing with words - I admire her so much.  Her fight for her son Aaron was an intense and very scary journey and now she still continues the fight for all the little ones still waiting!  Julia is obviously an ANGEL sent to SAVE!!!!!

Wow - Carson Has A Family!!!!!!!!!

I am so super excited to announce that sweet CARSON has a family!!!!  Oh My Goodness - I am just so thrilled!!!!!  Tracey Sharp worked so hard to advocate for Carson and her work has surely paid off!!!  Good Job Tracey!!!!!

One of the wonderful ladies that follows my blog sent me an e/m this morning that Carson had a family!!!  (Thank you Bambi!!!)After reading that e/m -  I got right on my knees and Thanked GOD!!!!! 

Then today I got this e/m and this was the intro: 

 Hi! My name is Karrie and I am going to be Carsons new mommy :)

Took my breath away!!!!  Now, that is one heck of an e/m to get!!!  

The Cannell Family doesn't have a blog set up yet but they are working on it.  I will post it as soon as it is ready.  Then we can all follow and support this wonderful family!!!!

Yippppeeeeee - This is a GOOD DAY!!!!!  Thank you FATHER for helping the Cannell family find their son!!!!

Happy Birthday Lyla

LYLA is 1 Today!!!!!

Happy Birthday Sweet Princess - We Love You So Very Much!!!!!! 

When this journey started the plan was to have you home for your 1st Birthday.  The plan was that you would have your 1st Birthday surrounded by a family that loved you very much! 

The Plan Did Not Turn Out The Way We Planned Sweet Girl

 and

I am so very sorry!!!!! 

Comments!!!

With my family gathered I just read all the comments on this blog!  We were all brought to tears.  We are all amazed, we can't even believe that so many care so much about Lyla, Isabelle and our family!  And we have never even met!  I hope every person in this world gets the opportunity to  feel the LOVE and SUPPORT that we feel tonight.  It is something so HUGE and we are so grateful.  For all of you who take the time to check our blog, for all of you who take a moment to pray for us and our girls, to YOU we are forever grateful. 

Your comments lift us up, remind us of what LOVE can do, remind us of what GOD WILL DO!!! 

And Sandryte, your comment is so very honest!!  Thank you!!!  Yes, we do get very mad at this situation for sweet Lyla.  I do NOT understand and I am not sure I ever will.  My brain and heart can't comprehend it either.  But no, we do not have any anger for the birth parents.  We do not know the situation, we do not know why Lyla was left in the care of an orphanage.  Life  in EE is so very different.  In this country, 90% of women terminate a pregnancy if they know that the child has Down syndrome.  Can you believe it???  90%!!!!  So at least Lyla was given a chance at life - or at least that is how I look at it.  No, it has not been a life that I would wish on anyone BUT at least she was given LIFE!!  I can't imagine giving up a child - I can't at all - BUT I do know first hand how appreciative I am that Owen and Sara's birth parents did. 

Well friends it has been one emotional day - and it was such a Blessing to read all the comments and end the day with that!  Off to bed - off to Pray - off to dream of the two little girls we LOVE very much!!!! 

Thanks For Everything and May GOD bless you as you have all BLESSED us!!!!!!

Today

I was going to give a rundown of today but then figured, why? It is over!!! The bottom line is the document needed in Eastern Europe is on its way via UPS. According to UPS it will get there on Monday. Never in a million years did I think that things would work out the way they did today. I mean everything went so smooth – well except for trying to find a parking place down town Buffalo, NY. That was a big pain in the you know where, but if that was going to be the toughest issue– then I better not complain too much about it! Thank you GOD for making everything work out just PERFECT!!!!!

Thank you so much for all your kind words and prayers for Lyla!! It means the world to us!!! I just know she must feel all the LOVE being sent her way – I know it!!!
My wonderful friend Patty sent me this today:
My mom's church recently held a Mass specifically for children that were lost through miscarriage, illness, or abortion that are now in Heaven. Father Pat spoke during the homily on how he truly believes that when these children are in need or nearing the end of their life here on earth that Our Lord, the Blessed Mother and the angels are loving and protecting these children. I truly believe this too. I think it is reassuring to know that Lyla and all the little treasures all over the world who are in need of comfort and care are being watched over by our Heavenly Father. Lyla is loved so much by you and your family and the rest of us who have come to know her through you.
Thank you Patty!!!  It is the BEST feeling in the world to know and be reminded that sweet Lyla is surrounded by LOVE. To have the Blessed Mother with her – Oh my, just AMAZING!!!!!!

Lyla

Our sweet friend Tracey was able to get us an update on Lyla.  Tracey - Thank You So Much!!!!  She didn't know how to tell us but Lyla is not well.  She is in ICU and her little heart is just not functioning as it should.  Our little princess has not gained any weight and is very tiny!  They don't believe she will ever leave ICU until she goes to HEAVEN!

Poor little Lyla - all alone just suffering with her little heart.  I pray that JESUS will not allow her to suffer much longer.  She has fought for so long, she must be so tired. 

We Love This Little Girl So Much!!!!!  Please GOD - HELP HER!!!!!!!

Dossier issue

So my heart sank when I got an e/m this evening that our dossier has an issue.  One of the certifications has "August" written over "July".  This is a super HUGE "NO NO"!    They could pull our dossier out of submission for this.  See in New York state before you can have a document apostilled you have to have the notary certified in the county that they are licensed.  Only a few states require this.  So, I never even checked the certifications because it wasn't a requirement of EE just New York State.  I figured if it passed for Apostille then it was fine.  Boy was I wrong!!!  Such a stupid mistake - I can't even believe it!  Our state-side helper, Brigitte has been a GOD send to work with thru all this.  I am so blessed to have her on our side!!!  Wow!!!  I think I would be having shock therapy right now if it wasn't for her!!!

So tomorrow I will do everything I can to have it re-done and sent Express to EE. 

Please Pray that this all works out.  I honestly can't even believe it! 

Bumpy ride this is for sure.  Today was the BEST day and tonight is pretty darn yucky!!! 

Ok, GOD - I'm on my knee's begging again - Please, Please, Please let this all work out so we can bring home our daughter.  PLEASE!!!!!!!!!

November 11th, 1925

85 years ago on November 11, 1925 a little girl was born in Jamestown, NY. Oh My – am I grateful for that day!! That day the mother of my husband was born, Almarie C. Spitz. Dave describes his Mom as the hardest working woman he has ever known. He is so PROUD of her and he LOVES and MISSES her so very much! Almarie went to Heaven on April 26, 1993, this day Dave lost so much! His Mother meant the world to him!!! Sadly I never got to meet Almarie but her spirit is very much alive in our house as my husband recalls so many fond memories. I sure wish our children were able to meet and be loved by their Grandma!



I will be forever grateful to this woman I have never met. It is because of HER that Dave is the incredible man he is today . He is my dream come true!!! I promise that you will never meet anyone more dependable or dedicated. It is an absolute HONOR just to know him – not to mention the True Blessing it is to call him my husband. As a Father – Oh My – What can I say? How can I ever explain the LOVE that this man pours out to his children. I Thank GOD for this Man – I thank GOD for his Mother!!!


I can’t even imagine how proud and excited his Mom must be in Heaven. Watching everything he does and everything he perfects. Watching him Love his children and his wife! Watching him make every day the Best it can be! Wow – she just has to be the proudest MOM in HEAVEN!!!


And is it a coincidence that we were submitted to adopt her granddaughter on her Birthday??? I think NOT!!! Almarie wanted a piece of the action and she so deserves it!!!! Thank You Almarie!!!!

Submitted, Submitted, Submitted!!!!!!

Okay, BREATHE, BREATHE, BREATHE

Yeppers - We were submitted today to bring home the most beautiful little girl - Isabelle!!!!

I am so flipping out with excitement - I can't even tell you!!!  I really think I could throw up - but this is a good throw up - a super excited Holy Cow kind of throw up!!!!  The BEST kind of throw up.  Sorry, enough about throwing up!

Our super de-duper state side helper, Brigitte just called to give me the news.  Okay, so she is definitely my new BEST FRIEND.  Love you Brigitte so much!!!!

I can't thank all of you enough.  Honestly, the support, encouragement and prayers have been such a BLESSING!!!!!!  I am in Awe, I am overwhelmed and I am so Thankful to GOD!!!

Best Call Ever!!!!!

Oh My - I am so excited - I said I wasn't going to post this tonight but I just can NOT help my self.


We were at Wendy's eating and my cel phone rang - it was a long distance number that I did not recognize.  I was so nervous to answer!!  The lovely lady on the other end introduced her self as Bridgette from Reece's Rainbow.  I gulped.  She said "How are you?".  I said "I don't know (with question in my voice)".  She said "I have good news".  Not sure what I said at this point but she said she received an e/m that our facilitator was hoping to submit us and 4 other families tomorrow.  She told me that our name was first on the list of family names.  Okay - so now I am crying but trying not to look like a big huge fool in Wendy's.  Then I realized she said "hoping".  So I asked "so are you thinking like 95% chance we will be submitted tomorrow?"  Bridgette said "yes, 95%".  Well that is good enough for me to share it with all of you!!!!  WOW!!!!!  I am freaking out with excitement - I can hardly sit still enough to write this e/m.    Bridgette said she will call us tomorrow as soon as she gets the e/m  on who has been submitted.  And then, I can really celebrate.  WOOOOO  HOOOOOO!!!!!!


Sweet Isabelle - We Love You and We are Getting Closer and Closer to bringing you home FOREVER!!!!


Thank you GOD so much - our dream is so close to coming true!!!!  WOW, WOW, WOW!!!!!!!!

Lyla

Our Friend Tracey  http://adozenreasonsandmore.blogspot.com/ - who is adopting Kullen and is in EE right now is going to ask how Lyla is.  Lyla before going to the hospital was in the same orphanage as Kullen.

I am so excited and hopeful that we will get an update!!!!

Thank you so much Tracey - this means so much to us!!!!!!

Oh My - Do We Love This Little Girl!!!!!! 

HOPE

A quote from Andrea Roberts, the director of Reece's Rainbow:

"I understand the feeling [of being] powerless, but I also know that The One who knows every single EE orphan by name is NOT powerless. So, I am going to keep praying and ask Him to convict the hearts of people in EE that can make some noise and stop this from happening."


I read on another family blog that the vote is going to take place 11/24/2010.  One family who has a date was even advised not to buy her plane ticket until after the vote.  I have also read that Reece's Rainbow is working with 70 families right now and over 100 orphans that this could potentially threat.

Andrea couldn't of said it any better - let's all pray and ask Him to convict the hearts of people in EE that can make some noise and stop this from happening - PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!!!!!!!!!!

Scary Yucky Stuff

November 3, 2010 the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE posted this:

The legislature (where Isabelle, Lyla and so many other orphans live)  is in the process of voting on a bill that would suspend all intercountry adoptions from countries without bilateral agreements with Eastern Europe, including adoptions from the United States. The bill passed a first reading and vote, but must still pass a second reading and be signed into law by the president. The second reading could take place in the next few weeks. If the bill passes the second reading, it may be signed into law as early as the end of 2010. The draft bill appears to include suspension of all adoptions in progress. The Department  will post updates as information becomes available.

Please, Please, Please Pray for all the Waiting Children that this bill will not pass!!!!  Think of the devastation - Oh my it is unbearable!!!!!  All those beautiful treasures just waiting for a Family - this can NOT pass!!!!

PLEASE GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sweet Baby Elle

Heaven has called another EB Princess HOME!  Sweet Baby Elle now has her wings and is pain free.  She is able to now rest comfortably in our Fathers arms!   

Please pray for her family, as I can't even imagine the pain!!!!!!!

http://sweetbabyelle.blogspot.com/

Love this Girl!!!

I just want to show everyone how absolutely BEAUTIFUL this little girl is!!!!  I can NOT WAIT to be her MOM!!!!!  I can NOT WAIT to get her out of that crib forever.  I can NOT WAIT to meet my daughter!!!!!

I Love You Princess!!!!!!

Thank You Denise and Ella!!!!

This is Ella Grace, a Sweet Princess who lives in California. 

Please visit her blog:  http://sweetellagrace.blogspot.com/.  

 BEWARE:  She will STEAL your HEART!!!!

Her beautiful Mom Denise left a comment on my blog about 2 months ago and she has been an amazing support ever since.  Thank You Denise!!!

For a Mom with so many things going on she still takes the time to make others feel special.  AND, you will notice on her blog that her daughters are always dressed to IMPRESS.  Well now Isabelle can join the Dress like your a Diva club too!!!!!  Look what Denise and Ella sent for her:

Included was a beautifully hand made card - OH MY I need to step up my game!!!!!!

Thank you GOD for bringing so many AMAZING people in my life. 

Please Father, Heal Sweet Ella Grace!!!!!

Honesty

It broke my heart that we were not submitted.  I got the news at work and I held it together pretty well.  And then I got in the van to go home and lost it!  I was definitely having a pity party for my self.  I wanted to call someone but who????  Who could I call and just cry, cry, cry????  Who would understand????   I felt like no one understands - no one can possibly understand the desperation.  I LOVE this little girl and there isn't a thing I can do to help her.  Most people just don't get it - they can't get it.  They can NOT at all understand how we can love these 2 girls so much.  "How can you love someone you haven't even met", "why are you going thru so much to adopt when you can just adopt here", "don't you know all the kids that need a family in our own country", "why do you just set your self up for heart ache", "Can't you just be happy with what you already have".  AAAAAAGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!   Not being submitted is just a "what ever" to them.  But what about Isabelle - what about her????  This is just more time she spends all alone in a crib.  Just waiting, waiting for NOTHING because for 2 years of her little life NOTHING has changed.  She only sees the bars of a crib and the 4 walls of a room.  THAT IS IT!!!!!  And here we are - A family that wants desperately to Love and Care for her and there isn't anything we can do for her!  Yep, it is a tough road this international adoption but I promise this - When we bring that beautiful princess HOME - it will ALL BE WORTH IT!!!!!!  And here I am complaining to all the people that understand and know every ounce of what goes in to this.  And know how desperately these children need our help.  I am definitely whining to the wrong people!!!  You guys all GET IT - I just wish more people around me would get it - just one would be nice!!  Okay - enough of my pity party!!!

I got home and Owen wanted to watch Barney ( this is no surprise), his favorite episode is "bugs".  So they sing "I'm bringing home a baby bumble bee".  Owen had to be the bee, see:

Then Sara put on her "love bug" costume because that was the closest costume to a second bee we had and she has to get right up to the camera when I take her picture

And here they are, my two precious bugs

So we sang the song about 27 times

And that's all it took - I found my smile real quick.

We referred to Isabelle tonight as "Belly Bug", we need our Belly Bug to come HOME!!!!!

Nope - Not our week

We were not submitted today!

Haven't heard yet

Thanks so much for all your thoughts and prayers for our submission today - Oh My do I hope it all pays off.  Bridgette, my AMAZING state side helper hasn't heard anything yet - she has been so good at keeping me updated. 

So please keep the prayers coming!!!!!!

I will post as soon as I know - either way!!!!!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!

Love this Poem!!!

An Orphan's Prayer


Each night before I go to bed I fold my hands and bow my head Praying for a family and the day she will come for me I ask God to watch over my friends at the orphanage, The place that I call home Wishing we find families and rooms of our very own. I finish my prayers and climb into bed Hoping that God heard what I said. My prayers usually turn out to be my dreams at night Hoping she will be standing there when I wake to the morning light. One very special morning, I will hear their call, I jump out of bed and run down the hall! Is it her, Is it her, is that why they've called my name? Running I hear them shout "It's her, it's her, she finally came!" Have all my prayers been answered, have all my dreams come true There she is in front of me, Oh Mama! Oh Mama!! Is it really you?


"Yes, it is my darling, I've come to take you home," "I will love, protect and cherish and you will never be alone." Mama looks at me so differently a look so new to me, She touches me so gently, just as I dreamed it would be. As I look into her eyes I watch them fill with water, She embraces me and whispers, "I love you so my daughter". She takes my hand and I hold it tight, I will never let it go, I hold with all my might. Hand in hand we walk together, No one needs to speak; we know this is forever. And through our journey when we finally meet each other, She will have found her dream and I will have found my mother.

Please GOD let us be submitted today!!!!!  Let this poem be true for Isabelle and ME!!!!!

Heaven Sent!!!

I love my friend Christina so Much!!  I will never ever be able to put in words how much this woman means to me.  I have never had a better FRIEND!!!  Thank you GOD for bringing this Angel in my life at just the most perfect time!!!

Look what was on my porch today - all the way from Switzerland!! 

A book and cd for Owen, Sara, Isabelle and Lyla

Switzerland Nursery Rhymes

Tissues - For me - for all the emotions when we are in EE

Christina's husband Christoph made these - YUMMY!!!!!

Treasures for Belle

A Beautiful handmade hooded towel and 2 precious shirts for Belle

And then some delicious chocolate from Switzerland - honestly it is the BEST chocolate EVER!!!

When I have opened each of the boxes she has sent - I am overwhelmed with LOVE!  I wish I could explain it - it is just sooooo very special.  She includes little notes with each gift and each note is decorated or on a piece of paper the shape of a heart. 

When we get an update on Lyla and it is more certain we will be able to bring her home I will share pictures of a box Christina sent a while back.  It was full of handmade gifts for Lyla!  Do you remember the picture I posted of the shrine Christina set up for Lyla?  Where she would pray for her to find a forever family?   Well in that picture you can see a vase full of fresh flowers.  She had dried the flowers and put them in a breathtaking handmade purple little box.  Let me show you:

Isn't it just amazing that the flowers in this box are the same flowers from Switzerland that were next to Lyla's picture - where Christina would pray for a forever family for Lyla!!! 

You can't deny GOD had something to do with all of this!!!!!!

Fingers crossed - check, Toes crossed - check

Yep, if I think it will help us get submitted this week - I will do it! 

We continue to storm Heaven for Lyla - I wish we had an update to share with all of you but unfortunately we don't.

And Beautiful Belle - well, we are friends with a family who is there NOW.  Same orphanage - isn't that great??  We so hope to get a little update or even better - maybe a picture!!!!!!  Maybe they will even get to whisper in her ear and tell her that her Mommy and Daddy are coming!!  Maybe they will be allowed tell her that her family loves her so very much and can NOT wait for her to come HOME!!!!!!

Please Father - wrap your LOVING arms around Lyla and Isabelle.  Please KEEP them safe!!!!!!

I love you girls!