Sam's Referral Pictures

These are the first pictures of Sam I saw on the website of AWAA.

He looks so sad and shy, at first I passed by his picture because I thought I could not handle another shy child. But the Lord brought us back to this little guy and we are so happy He did. Our love for him has grown during this wait, we can't wait to bring him home to be a part of our family.

When? That is the question

I want to be ready to go at the drop of a hat. I've shopped, we have our Visa's, I've ordered the crisp 100's, all the luggage is out, I have lists, a first aid kit, instruction sheet for Ruth and am just plain ready to go. Getting the dogs boarded quickly might be difficult. It could be wishful thinking, but I have a feeling that we could be leaving in early August.

But I may still have some lessons in patience and trust to learn. So, what am I going to do for 2 -4 weeks while I wait.

Joy Mingled With Sorrow

We are very excited and happy to announce that we received our Referral Acceptance Letter on Monday morning!! This means we are one step closer to bringing home Samuel.
Unfortunately we don't know how big that step is. The next thing we are waiting for is Travel Approval, we turn in our signed Referral Acceptance Letter then our agency mails it to China then the China Center of Adoption Affairs(CCAA) double checks with the orphanage to make sure Samuel is still available for adoption. Then they issue Travel Approval this could take anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks, big window there, so we continue to wait but know that we are a little closer.


The sorrow comes from learning that my dear Uncle George passed away Tuesday morning in Palm Coast, Florida. He had been battling Pancreatic Cancer for a number of months. I just found this out about a month ago. He was, I believe, 83 years old. Father George was a retired Catholic priest who loved the Lord. Here is a fitting testimony of his life from a dear cousin it speaks well of the man he was to all of us:

It is hard thinking of you leaving this earth and not having the opportunity to see you again - nor for my kids to have one more time to hear you talk and laugh (they love your little snorkle when you laugh) and play monopoly - and play the piano.

All of this reminds me of how thoughtful you have been over the years with all of us in your extended family, and how you have so often provided for us in tiny, but impactful ways. You have embraced us all so openly and without exclusivity or prejudice or judgement - and with such empathy. You kind of just show up - through the mail, or a phone call or a package - in small ways to say you were thinking of us and you are hoping all is well. And you always understand how busy we all are - (rather deplorable isn't it - how crazy busy we all are - and how we don't take the time to call or say thank you or respond - many times) But you are always very forgiving and understanding. Thank you for all you have done for me through the years, and for always understanding.

A few times this last week, I have even been envious of you - going on - having lived a full life - now ready to meet - face to face - God - to and for whom you have been betrothed, so to speak. This is cool too. Wow!! I know being with God is going to be wonderful. He is what keeps me going - He is what keeps my heart expanding and what keeps me from being engulfed by my SELF-defeating ways, and frankly, from quitting and going to live my own selfish life. I love God - and my love for HIm keeps growing. And I notice when I concentrate on receiving His love and being satisfied with Him, I can miraculously love everyone around me more; He is indeed my strength, my hope and joy. In Him do I put my full trust! And He provides, and is faithful, and I am learning that He longs to give us our heart's desires - which end up really being HIs heart's desires - cause He knows what is best for us.

Uncle George, I am praying that this last trek of the journey is a peaceful one and that you are already feeling God there with you - close - very close to you. I pray that although, the veil is there - between earth and heaven, and between your face and God's, I pray you feel HIs Grace, HIs peace, HIs love for you and HIs awesome presence and intimacy. This i pray for you now - today. Thank you for your life Uncle George - for your love for God, the Trinity, for your prayers throughout the years, for your faith in the one true God. Thank you for offering for me to buy Aunt Nancy's Home down there. Thank you for being faithful. Thank you for being my uncle and always reaching out. Goodnight Uncle George.



Uncle(Father) George with my niece and nephew Lydia and Charlie in front of his home in Florida.

Ma Fang Zhou Video

For Ryan

Auntie and Ruthie

Ruthie the Asian Quaker girl in the whaling museum

Lydia and Anna at Children's beach on Nantucket
in their matching sweatshirts before we washed and shrunk Anna's

The Mason Girls

My dear eldest son wants more pics and an update. Here you go Ryan :-)

These pics are from our getaway to the cape...My sister and I and all the little kids took a whirlwind trip in the middle of June. It was great to be on the cape! I enjoyed the wonderful salt air, the cool nights, a walk on the beach, pizza at Craigville Sub and Pizza, linguine with clam sauce and a trip to Nantucket on a rainy day with a visit to the whaling museum, a great beach day in Sandwich, ice cream at Four Seas, nostalgic drives and a trip to the Country Store. One of these years we'll get to spend an extended time on the cape taking our time to do all of the above. It was a lot of fun and I'm grateful to my sister for including me in the trip.

The update on the adoption is that there is no update, I was hoping to receive our Referral Acceptance letter this week which would mean we are very close to traveling to bring Samuel home. At least a couple of families from our agency received theirs but ours so far is no where in sight.

Independence Day

When John Adams was elected a representative from Massachusetts to the congress, Which was in session in Philadelphia, it required his first prolonged separation from Abigail, his wife of 10 years. The Adams had four children and lived outside of Boston, in Braintree, from where Abigail wrote the following letter on August 19, 1774

The great distance between us, makes the time appear very long to me. It seems already a month since you left me. The great anxiety I feel for my Country, for you and for our family renders the day tedious, and the night unpleasent. The Rocks and quick Sands appear upon every Side. What course you can or will take is all wrapt in the Bosom of futurity. Uncertainty and expectation leave the mind great Scope. Did ever any Kingdom or State regain their Liberty, when once it was invaded without Blood shed? I cannot think of it without horror.

Yet we are told that all the Misfortunes of Sparta were occasiond by their too great Sollisitude for present tranquility, and by an excessive love of peace they neglected the means of making it sure and lasting. They ought to have reflected says Polibius that as there is nothing more desirable, or advantages than peace, when founded in justice and honour, so there is nothing more shameful and at the same time more pernicious when attained by bad measures, and purchased at the price of liberty.

I want much to hear from you. I long impatiently to have you upon the Stage of action. The first of September or the month of September, perhaps may be of as much importance to Great Britan as the Ides of March were to Ceaser. I wish you every Publick as well, as private blessing, and that wisdom which is profitable both for instruction and edification to conduct you in this difficult day.-The little flock remember Pappa, and kindly wish to see him. So does your most affectionate

Abigail Adams

We would do well in this day and age to take to heart what Publius said about peace. How easy it might be to love peace to the point of neglecting any means to make it lasting and to unknowingly slip into servitude to a government that wishes to take away our precious liberties. Thank God for our founding fathers who being convinced that liberty was our God given right took the steps to make it lasting. How blessed we are to live in a country where our liberty is secure, yet we must still be vigilant to protect that freedom.