No News

Just a quick note to say there has been no news....only that there will soon be news. Chad has two more nights and one more day in China, and then he will be on his way home to us. My two H kids have strep throat, and my two C kids are at school. Will today be the day?

Natalie Kate and Pennsylvania

I am an auntie....again! This weekend the kids and I traveled with Mom and Dad to Pennsylvania to meet Natalie Kate, my newest niece. My sister, Laura, moved to PA after she married her sweet husband and his three boys almost one year ago. We had a great time with cousins, the go-cart, and seeing the most beautiful fall colors I have ever experienced! The only thing that could've made it better is to have Chad with us. He is sleeping in Shanghai right now while we're doing life at home. Oh, how we miss him!

Adoption news is sketchy, but we have heard our child has been chosen and has had medical testing! We hope to be holding a picture of our baby next week at this time (or shortly thereafter). Stay tuned for the big news. I won't be able to post the picture here, but you can certainly stay posted by checking this blog. It's hard to believe we will soon lay our eyes on this child whom we already love so much. Soon, soon, soon.

Today's a Gift

Our C-Man turns 9!

Birthday Party after football with half the family. (First party canceled because of H1N1.) Agh!

H and C having some fun in the yard

H with his famous mustache from flavored water

Chad and C enjoying some swinging time

Don't you think I'll be a better post-adoption blogger than pre-adoption blogger? I don't post because I think tomorrow will be the day with big news. So I might as well wait until then to post. We have had no big news, but we do know big news is looming closer with each passing day. We are expecting to lay our eyes on our child for the first time sometime in the next two weeks, Lord willing!

I considered making a paper chain to count the days until October 12, but I have decided against it. Counting days can be fun and therapeutic, but I've determined to live and enjoy today. No more wasting time, pining over what will be, but trying desperately to enjoy all the blessings of today. "Yesterday's history, tomorrow's a mystery, and today is a gift. That's why it's called the present." Not sure who said that, but s/he really had some things about life figured out.

Would you pray for our family that we would experience peace as we wait? Would you pray that our referral would come before Chad leaves for a two week trip to China? Please do....and while you're at it, pray for that little boy or girl in Rwanda whose last name will soon be Spore.

Play-Doh

On Day 10 of Mommy and H's Wild Adventures, we finally broke out the Play-Doh. The mess was big, but it did buy me quite a bit of time. The kitchen floor needs swept anyway, I said to myself.

H has been such fun. He often just stops what he's doing and says, "Mommy, me wuv you."

And after that, I can't quite find it in me to correct his grammar.

Approval and First Day of School

We are so excited to announce that this morning we received our approval from the Rwandan government to adopt a Rwandan child! We also sent three kids off to elementary school this morning, one in each wing of the school. We are praying they will shine the light of Christ's love in each wing of that building! It's a wonderfully joyful day at the Spore house. We could possibly be traveling to Rwanda around Thanksgiving time. Stay tuned.....

What's Worse?

Blogging About Nothing or Not Blogging About Something? Since we haven't had anything to report on the adoption front, I've been hesitant to post. I keep thinking, "Surely this week will be the week we'll hear of our approval. I'll just wait to post until then." Lest we all look back at this waiting time and think we did absolutely nothing but wait, I guess I should document some of the last month and a half's events.

Papa Randy and C taking a break from fishing

Aunt Meg and Uncle TJ, the fishing dynamic duo

The Spore Four

Spore and Bailey Carriage Ride

We've had birthdays for Chad and H, a trip to our favorite vacation spot, Backbone State Park, our 13th anniversary, my Mom and Dad's 40th Wedding Anniversary, a trip to KC for little Alea's first birthday party, Vacation Bible School, the beginning of football for C, and back to school shopping. Phew...(gotta love those run-on sentences).

With school starting Thursday, I'm realizing how much our lives are going to change. Our little C will go to kindergarten this year! She is so ready, and I know she will enjoy her days immensely. It is little H and I that will have some major adjustments to make. We are going to miss her (and the two bigs) so much! I'm not sure I even know how to fix lunch for just one kid. With whom will he play while I make beds, take my shower, and do laundry and dishes? Does this mean I'm really going to have to get the Play-Doh out more than once a month?

Blessed Beyond Measure

Chad and I experienced a blessing beyond measure this morning at church. We knew our little Church of Promise family had been receiving love offerings for our family during the month of June. We knew that our little Church of Promise family has a heart for our family's mission. We knew that they love us. We had no idea that God would use our little Church of Promise family to present us with well over $2000 at church this morning for our adoption! Praise God for this family. We are blessed.

Another blessing has been the arrival of our fundraising t-shirts. The Braner family adopted beautiful Gabby from Rwanda and are in the process of bringing home Jean de Dieu from Rwanda. Because of their deep desire to help place orphans in forever families, they have come alongside our family to help us design and sell t-shirts to raise funds for our adoption. We feel incredibly blessed to have them selling our shirts at Kamp Kanakuk Colorado and facilitating internet sales through annidesigns.com .The shirts have a map of Africa with the word "Ibyiringiro" (the word for "hope" in Kinyarwanda) across it. Many thanks to those who have already purchased shirts!

The blessing of living in the United States of America has not been far from our minds this weekend. We enjoyed time with Gram and Papa and lots of friends. We rode rides, watched and participated in parades, entered a bar baking contest, watched fireworks, and ate lots of good food. We worshipped God freely with our church family this morning. We were challenged to pray for our country and to do the tasks to which God calls us. We have truly been blessed beyond measure.