Kids Dove Hunt

Usually my dad has a dove hunt the second weekend in September - generally our anniversary weekend.  This year we didn't have any doves (not sure why, maybe the hurricane?) so dad decided not to have it.  Ward had really been looking forward to the hunt, however, so on Sunday morning Ted took all the kids on a "kids-only dove hunt."  The birds were all safe and the kids had a great time.

 Sam was dressed and ready to go.  He refused to take off this outfit and even wore it home!

waiting for the birds . . . notice Sam's "gun"

Ward and Ann Park had fun exploring the field

CHEESE!

Brilliant

I know that God gives everyone talents and that you sometimes have to search a lot to find yours.  I somtimes think that I am not using the correct talents that God has givne me, but that is another post entirely.  Heather Swanner, my photographer, is certainly using her talents.  She is brilliant with a camera.  She came down to the farm on Friday to get pictures of the kids.  She has been taking pictures of them at least once a year since Ward as 15 months old.  And she just gets better and better. 

I haven't seen all the pictures - just a sneak peek on Facebook and her blog - but they look amazing.  I'll link to the slideshow when she sends it to me, but check these out:
http://www.heatherswannerphotography.com/blog/  It takes a little bit of time for the images to load, but the wait is worth it!

Nine years

Nine years ago today I was waking up a little hung over from a fun party the night before and with a perma-smile on my face because I was going to marry my best friend that night.  And this morning I woke up to a kiss on the forehead from that great man as he left for Bible Study and was then greeted by three huge hugs from the kids we have had together.  Pretty amazing morning already, huh?

More on Vladivostok

So I have been studying up on the city where we our daughter will come from and where we will travel (and stay for about a month!) on this journey.  I thought that I would share a little of what I have learned:

Vladivostok is a capital of the Primorje region. It is the largest city of the Far East Russia. The city was founded on July 2, 1860 and has a population of approximately 659,000 people. It is the end of Trans-Siberian Railway which goes from Moscow to Vladivostok and stretches for 5779 miles. Geographically Vladivostok is actually closer to San Francisco than to Moscow! It is situated not far from Russian-Chinese border and North Korea. Vladivostok spreads along the coast of the beautiful small bay and occupies different islands. The beauty of nature and convenient geographical position played a leading role when the city was founded. Vladivostok (sometimes called the Lord of the East) is best known as the home of the Russian Pacific Fleet.  The winter climate is cold (by Alabama standards!) with average January’s temperature of 7F, and summer climate is nice but humid with June’s temperature of 68F. It is always humid due to the ocean, so during winter it feels colder than it shows on thermometer.

So that is just a little snapshot.  I am reading a lot of other families's blogs and hearing about their journeys.  I have such a peace in my heart and soul knowing where our daughter is coming from and where we will be travelling.  I know that we have a long wait ahead of us, but am comforted to know that we have passed this huge hurdle. And I know that the time will fly by  . . . not like I don't have anything else going on with Ward, Ann Park and Sam!!

Registered!!!

We are officially registered in Russia!  And we got Vladivostok!  For those who are not up on adoption-speak, that means that all our paperwork is in and approved (still has to go through the Russian judge, but that is much later) and we are now officially waiting for a child.  And that child will come from Vladivostok.  Vladivostok is a port city on the Pacific, yes, Pacific, Ocean.  (I didn't know Russia touched the Pacific Ocean either but it is just that big).  For a visual, here is a map:

As you can see, it is a pretty far ways away from what I think of when I think of Russia (i.e. Moscow, St. Petersburg).  So far, that the best way to get there is to actually fly to Seoul, South Korea (and there is a direct flight from Atlanta to Seoul so we are in business!).

So now the real wait is on.  What is for sure is that she is born (so start praying people!) and that we can be matched with her any day.  Most people wait about 6 months though.  The process of matching goes like this:  (1) kids are placed in the orphanage and put up for adoption for whatever reason; (2) they are placed on the adoption registry for whatever region they are located; (3) they have to wait 6 months on the Russian-only registry - but kids aren't adopted by Russians generally because of economics and culture (unless a family member steps up but that most likely would happen before they are placed on the registry); (4) then, usually after about 8 months of being "orphaned" they are placed on the international adoption registry for the region.  And that registry is updated daily.  

I am so excited to get to this point.  One very important step closer to holding my daughter in my arms.  Now I need to celebrate!

Frustration and Friends

I haven't posted in a while.  Sorry, but this is mainly out of frustration.  We have still not heard anything from Russia and we are close to having our documents there for 60 days.  It is supposed to take 30 days to get it translater and then to be registered.  I am frustrated beyond belief and can feel tears well up when I think about it.   I am truly learning the virtues of patience and trust.  I know that I cannot do anything about it and have to trust that God is in control and has our daughter in the palm of His Hand.  By the way, we are pretty confident that she is already born, which gives me the chills.  It also makes my heart hurt to think about how she is living right now - is she cold? hungry? lonely? wet?  I am praying for Guardian Angels in the form of kind caretakers and all others she encounters.

One of the ways I am coping with all this frustration is prayer, but it is also by being with my family and close friends.  We have been having a great time the past couple of weekends down at the lake.  Two weekends ago we took one of our favorite families down to the lake - the Holmes family.  They are Ward's godparents and we are godparents to one of their twins, Turner.  The other twin is Sam, and they also have a son, Bennett, who is almost the exact same age as our Sam.  To say that there was trouble in the air is an understatement.  The pictures say it all:

The three amigos

Roar!

Bennett driving the boat

Sam and the cooler

Ted taking the younger two kayaking

Ward and Turner

Sam

Ann Park was a little shy around the camera . . . 

Sam kayaking

TUBING!!!

one twin was always saying FASTER!

All 4 were in the tube at this point but I didn't get a good shot of all 4.  

Ann Park kinda hid in the back, but she had a great time - even if she was the only girl!  She held her own!

Labor Day weekend

We generally spend Labor Day weekend at the lake.  Mom and dad had an after rehearsal dinner and wedding to go to so they were there for one day but then it was just us.  Ted's family was supposed to come down on Sunday for the day, but the forecast called for rain, rain and then a little more rain.  And the weatherman was actually right - it rained and rained and rained and rained.  So we locked up and came home.  We all went to Bryan and Lynn's house and the cousins had a blast.  Sam may have been the biggest hit of the night though.  He has gotten so funny and does the funniest things.  And, of course, he loves the reaction of laughs he gets.

kids at the lake before the rain began

Shannon and Matt Fagan (for those who don't know, Shannon is the oldest of the Holt cousins and she is like 3 year younger than me.  She and her husband love to call me Aunt Shannon!)

Katelynn (8) and Ann Park

Sam saying "cheese" while eating an apple

Carson  - Shannon and Matt's oldest

Ward and Wilson

Sam has taken to wearing his rainboots EVERYHERE.  Fashion statement.

all the cousins - well this isn't all of them, but most of them under the age of 9

Ward and Ann Margaret

Katelynn with her birthday cupcake/cone.  We celebrated the September birthdays and the kids LOVED the cupckaes inside the cake cones.

Sam showing his "big eyes."  He has been squinting whenever we say "cheese" so we told hi to give us big eyes.  This is what we get now.  It was a hit and you can see from the pictures below that he ate it up!

Ann Park loved her cupcake . . . well maybe just the icing!