Away We Go

Having trouble posting- we will try again later. The link to our Story of You site is http://www.thestoryof you.net/SamuelRay.html.

Rainy Days, Packing, and Excitement

So Sweet

Just hanging outMarching to the rain
Is it still raining????

We finally got some rain this past week (back to warm and sunny today) and we were really happy to have an excuse to stay in our jammies all day! The kids just hung out reading, watching TV and bugging each other. I tried to get some packing (ironing!) done because we are leaving on Thursday - yes, this Thursday! The grandparents are coming to take care of the little ones left at home, while us big kids GO TO CHINA! The wait has really gone on for so long, that we are now scrambling to get it all together. I am trying to have us ready to go back to school before we leave because it will start back the week after we come home. We are getting our back to school haircuts, shoes, books, etc. so we don't have to try and get it all done jet lagged with a new son who has never even seen a car seat before! We got all of our travel meds, snacks, and yes, new suitcases and in a little over 36 hours, the limo will arrive to take us to the airport. We will post to The Story of You (another thing I can finally scratch off my To Do List) - I emailed her all of the info today and we should have a link by tonight. Without the link you go to The Story of You and click on In China Now (that will happen after we leave of course) and then click on Samuel Ray. You can email us from that site. It will link to our Yahoo email account because we know we can access Yahoo from China. We would love to get email from you while we are there. When we traveled for Emma and were feeling tired, overwhelmed and homesick, it was great to have words to read from our friends at home. You will never know how much it means! I will also try to update this site as well, but I know blogger can be persnickety at times - especially in China. We really appreciate any and all prayers - we are praying for a hedge of protection around every aspect of this trip - travel, nerves, health, anxiety over leaving little ones at home, our transition with Sam, his anxiety and fear of the unknown, jet lag, and on and on......We cannot wait to be home and post pictures of Sam with his new family!

We Were Starting To Think This Day Would Never Come......

It's Official - We received our TA today!! Thanks be to God for only His timing is perfect! Our agency has requested for our travel to be from July 26-Aug 4th. We will know tomorrow if they got their requested consulate appointment which is what really determines when we travel. We are so excited!!! I notified Russ by text message on his phone because he was at the endodontist having a root canal. Maybe our celebratory dinner will have to come later this week! :o) We are all jumping around doing the snoopy dance. For the past week, I have felt as if my feet were bolted to the floor - like I could not pack or move forward with anything until our TA arrived. It has been a strange feeling, and I finally feel free - no longer on pins and needles, but able to plan and pull my packing lists back out. I am hoping that we will really find out our exact travel dates tomorrow. There was a chance, as we got closer to the start of the school year (first day of school is August 14th), that one of us might have to stay home to get the kids registered and ready to go. I had to turn it over to God and try not take it back (which is always the hardest part) - that everything would work out the way it was supposed to. As you can see from the picture above, our little Sam has truly grown up into a boy before our eyes as we have waited for him. His mommy (and daddy) cannot wait to give him a hug!! We are hoping for more good news tomorrow!

A Really Funny Coincidence

We were eating lunch on my birthday on our way home from the beach at my favorite little local hangout, The Coastal, in the sleepy little fishing town of Panacea, Florida. Coleman spots a pink Coastal can coozie for sale on the counter and goes with Russ to buy it for me for my birthday - really sweet. I can always count on Coleman to look for ways to make my day just a little brighter. He surprises me with it, and of course Miss Emma wants to have it. I hear her saying "sticker" while I am hugging Coleman for being so thoughtful. I turn around to find this:

My Beautiful Emma

How Many Pictures Did I Take????

Jack is holding the moon in his hands
Robbie is tall enough to touch the moon
I took this picture of the boys in the dark as they were walking back

Well, I am hoping to finish up our Beach Trip so that I can move onto all of the things we have been doing since we got home. I love to take pictures and have a room in our basement where I keep all of my photos (pre digital camera) and have a desk and tables to scrapbook and do all sorts of crafty things as well as wrap gifts and just get away. It is decorated in a Beach theme - I will have to go down there and take some pictures of it to post - but first I need to download all of my cameras (yes, plural - I have one for every occasion). For now, enjoy the rest of the pictures from the beach.

The Traditional Kids' Photos

Every time we go on vacation, I always "warn" the kids that one night we will take pictures on the beach and that they need to show their best smiles. They always indulge me because they know it is one of my favorite things and how much it means to me. I love taking photos - especially when I have such beautiful subjects! Emma loves to get her picture taken so I can always count on her to be a good sport! ;o)

More Beach Pictures!!

Coleman on the Boogie Board

Jack is always looking for something to catch.....


Robbie thinks he is as BIG as his brothers!

Playing Yahtzee with Mamna

Coleman was so sweet with Robbie in the water and stayed right with him, always reminding us that he earned his Swimming Merit Badge at Boy Scout Camp and was certified in Swimming/Lifesaving. You can really see how much they resemble each other!

Sweet, Sweet Robbie

Brothers

4th of July

We spend every 4th of July with my family celebrating my grandfather's birthday. This year we celebrated his 88th (!!) Birthday. We really enjoy visiting with our family, cooking out and eating good ole homemade ice cream. We came home and watched fireworks and enjoyed the freedom our country allows us. It just doesn't get better than this!

Emma On The Beach

I just can't believe that this precious creature is my daughter!

More of the Bathing Beauty