5 Generations

Friday we laid my husband's uncle to rest. The girls went with us and this is the first time they have been at a funeral with an open casket. The only girl who I took close enough to see in the casket was ZoraLin. We didn't step right up to the casket, but viewed from a 10 foot or so distance. Zora had many questions which I answered as best as I could for her 7 year old mind. Most of these were probably common questions, "Why is he in the box?" "Why are his eyes closed?" "If he isn't really in the box, where is he?" "Why will they bury his body?" "Where will they bury his body?" "Why wasn't PopPop in a box like that?" "Why did we bury PopPop in his overalls?" "Why did Uncle Don have to go be with God?" Then at the cemetary were the questions, "Where is the hole?" "Why are all these flowers out here?" "How will they get the box in the ground?"

When we returned to the church for dinner with the family we had a pleasant visit with family we had not seen in a while. (It is always sad when funerals are a time to see each other and catch up.) Mark and I had the chance to hold our grandson! The girls got to see their big sister and we all had the fun of visiting with the girls' Great Grandmother...also known fondly as Grandma Great! It was also the chance to have a 5 generation of VanCamp photo taken. That opportunity does not come around very often! Grandma Great will be 98 years young in June and her great, great grandson was born November 4, 2009...which coincidently is big bro's birthday!

To work or to blog.....

That IS the question! I like to schedule my days at work in a row so for X number of days I have the same routine. Get up, go to work, come home, go to bed and repeat. So for the last four days that has been my life. However, during that time life continues to revolve around here. Things that have occurred this week. We are DTC!!! For those of you who have no idea what those three letters stand for...that is Dossier To China! Now the real wait begins. Average wait from DTC to LID is 1 to 2 weeks. LID means Log In Date. Again the wait starts. Then comes LOA...Letter of Acceptance. Do you REALLY want to adopt this child that you just spend the last 8 months or so looking at her photos, sending her care packages, dreaming of having her here at home with us, etc.? Well, her name has become a common use in our house. We talk about Tessa JiXing all the time. It is almost like she is already here with us. BTW, she is smiling at us from the fireplace mantel!

So now while we settle in to wait a little longer....my next dilemna is. How am I going to incorporate her name in my tattoo?? Of course she will want to be added! Jordis asked me all the time why her name was not on there! So I am taking suggestions! Please leave me a comment or email me with any reasonable suggestions!! As this wraps around my ankle, I have to put four views of the tat here. WARNING!! For those of you who are squeamish about these things....please look away!






RaeAnne is on the front of my ankle, the around to the outside is ZoraLin and the butterfly with the fairy dust. Kendalan is on the back side...pushing me on! And Jordis Li rounds on the inside. So....where to put Tessa? I have thought maybe put her name on my foot with a chain linking her to the other girls? Add leaves to the exsisting flowers and put Tessa's name on one of the leafs? Of course my favorite idea....start another chain around my leg and add three more names!!! Mark doesn't think that will happen!!!

Please leave suggestions!!

It's out of our hands.

Bet you thought you would see photos of our lovely sunflowers?!!! Nope, just the proud Baba-to-be!!

Our dossier is on it's way to our agency facilitator. We hope to be DTC by next friday. Of course, the paperwork does not stop here. There will be more to gather, authenticate and take to China with us. The count down will begin again once our dossier is logged in. It only took us 42 days for our I-797 approval to come. Seems that is right there in the average time frame.

More CNY celebration

Last night the girls and I went to Washburn University to the Topeka Chinese Association/Washburn Exchange Students/FCC gathering. It is always so fun to see the University exchange students. They are so beautiful and I find myself looking at them and wondering what our daughters will look like when they are that age. Daddy was under the weather and missed out on some really good food and entertainment. We also had the chance to visit with some of our FCC group that we had not seen for a long time! The kids are growing WAY too fast!



Daddy took a couple of photos of the girls and I before we left. RaeAnne always wants a "funny" photo pose of us which her sisters are not always excited about. Bet you can tell who wasn't excited!



My girls were thirsty and when no one offered to re-fill our water glasses, they all of a sudden became fans of drinking warm water. It is especially fun when it looks like you are drinking tea!



Just before the final entertainment for the evening they had a drawing for prizes that had been donated for the occasion. ZoraLin won a cute Santa ornament, Jordis and Kendalan each won a $25 gift certificate to a new Chinese massage place in town. Guess who thought they lost out on that deal? However, I think Mom and Dad will enjoy the prizes!

Love Without Boundaries

This wonderful organization has helped so many children in China. We have a copy of both the first and second edition of the Love's Journey Books. Our girls are in the second edition. If you are interested in buying a copy of this book for $5. please follow this link; Love Without Boundaries. We so hope that they will create the third edition of this wonderful book.

Favorite poses in our house...

Since everyone received a Nintendo DS, these are some of the favorite positions I find the girls in. No..they don't get to play them all the time..so they do make up for lost time when they can!

Happy Chinese New Year!

We spent a great day celebrating Chinese New Year with a wonderful bunch of families and their children!