"BEDTIME STORIES"

I was invited to friends for supper tonight. After dinner and after taking our Dukoral vaccine, Shauna gave me an easter present for Ava...included was this cute little piggy....that when squeezed "oinks" quite loudly!! Also included in the gift was this book called "Stone Soup"

Shauna insisted that she read it to me before her bedtime....so I got cumfy under the covers with her chinese lanterns hanging above us and quite enjoyed her story telling abilities....she will make Ava a very good "Acting" Jie Jie!!

FLOWERS AND CONGRATULATIONS FROM MY GOOD FRIEND!!!

One of my very best friends, Mary and her kids came over today to pick me up for lunch...we were heading out to our favorite eatery...East Side Mario's.
When they walked in the door Matthew handed me this lovely card congratulating me on my adoption and Paulina handed me this gorgeous bouquet of two dozen long stem pink roses....aren't they just beautiful!!!!

I decided that because there were so many I'd separate then into two vases, the large one to put in the living room and the smaller one to put on the shelf in my bedroom beside Ava's referal pictures...and I hung two to dry to put away as a keepsake for Ava.

Well we couldn't get out of the house to head for lunch until all three kids; Paulina, Nicole and Matthew tryed out Ava's "ball castle" in the play room....I get the impression they like it.....what do ya think???

Now Nicole, my goddaughter didn't arrive empty handed...she came bearing these little white socks for Ava....I guess she tryed to put them on earlier in the week and finding that they were too small insisted to her mother that she should bring them to Liz's house for "Ava"....and has pestered her mom every day since, wanting to know when they would next see Liz so she could bring the socks for Ava. How cute is that!!!!!!!

Ava's "white socks"......passed on with LOVE!!!!!

SINGLE WAITING MOMMIES DINNER

I must say I had a great evening last night. A group of single waiting mommies that I met online met for dinner for the first time. We are all in different stages of our adoption process but all share the same goal...to bring our babies home!

We met at the Mandarin for dinner and spent the next four hours eating, chatting and laughing!

The four of us are pictured here, back row; Catherine(Catherine's Chatter), R(our mystery mom-to-be) wishes to remain anonymous for now as she doesn't have her referal yet and hasn't told alot of people about her adoption plans. In the front row are myself and Cari(Journey to Jordyn). Sheena, another online friend was to meet us also but unfortunately got lost and arrived late and when she ckecked with the hostess they somehow had lost Cari's and my name that we had left with them. As none knew what the other looked like even walking through the restaurant didn't help....so sorry we missed you Sheena....our next dinner is on May 12....and now you have this pic of what we look like.

Looking forward to meeting you at the next dinner...maybe I'll bring Ava....I'm sure I'll have lots of offers to entertain her!

Thankyou Catherine for so generously bringing

everyone this lovely ladybug mug....I just love it!

I'm looking forward to the next mommies in waiting dinner on May 12....but I will no longer be a mommy in waiting....will have to bring Ava along!!

THE LADY BUG FAIRY HAS VISITED AGAIN!!

I got home Thursday night and a surprise package was waiting for me....the ladybug fairy has struck again!!
In the package was this beautiful ladybug T-shirt for Ava!! I have a pretty good idea who the "gift fairy" is....?Emilie? She is my most likely choice....as she is my most dedicated and official ladybug apparel staulker!!! Way to go Emilie!
Thankyou...Thankyou...Thankyou!!!
Also included in the package was this little purse with ladybugs on it and a little scrapbook inside with sheets of ladybug stickers....how cool is that....Ava will love it.
Thanks again Emilie for being so thoughtful.

MY TA (TRAVEL APPROVAL) ARRIVED!!!

TRAVEL APPROVAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!







When I got home today there was a message on my answering machine from my agency saying they had received my TA (Travel Approval) today from China. In Canada we actually call it the "Notice of Coming" but is essentially the same thing. This is the final piece of paperwork from China that I needed before my agency could actually make travel arrangements for me to go to China to bring my daughter home.
I am so very excited, happy and very overwhelmed right now. It is getting so "real".
I have been waiting so long and now that I am this close I 'm getting very nervous and scared.
I keep telling myself....breath....breath....breath!

FINDING AD!!!!!

FINDING AD

I got this email from Brian Stuy (www.research-china.org) today.

I have located your child's Inner- Mongolian finding ad. It is a photo ad, which includes a nice picture(much earlier than most referal pictures), her chinese name, her age, when found, where found, and a short description of her clothing, appearance or other information.

We are having a difficult time locating other adoptive families from Inner-Mongolia; if you could please let other Inner-Mongolian families know about the availabililty of these ads, we would really appreciate it.

I am so excited about this...just had to share it!! Will post the picture when I receive it.

My Ava is 22months old today....what a great way to celebrate.

POST CARD IN THE MAIL!!

I received this post card in the mail this past Friday. It was sent to me from Amy in Germany...her blog, "Catching Butterflies" is on my blog links. Amy held a contest on her blog on her March 9nth post...stating that she would mail this post card to the first person who could give her 5 new travel tips....quess who won? I think it's the first thing I've won in my life. Isn't it a beautiful post card? I was surprised it traveled so well...not a crease or bend in it...I think I'll frame it and put it in Ava's room. Thanks Amy.

BEAUTIFUL CHINA!!!!!!

DREAMING OF YOU...AVA!!

DREAMING OF YOU

Somewhere there is someone who dreams of your smile,

And finds in your presence that life is worth while,

So when you are lonely, remember it's true,

Somebody somewhere is thinking of you.

~K. Blackburn~

AND I WAIT.....AND WAIT.....AND WAIT!!!

WITH HEARTFELT THANKS!!

I would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to everyone who has thus far contributed to the building of Ava's "100 Good Wishes Quilt".

MORE QUILT SQUARES AND WISHES FOR AVA!

Quilt Square # 38

This pretty ladybug fabric was sent by my Aunt Janet and Uncle Frank,
from Sheneboro, Quebec.

Their wish is an Irish Blessing:

May your thoughts be as glad as shamrocks.
May your heart be as light as a song.
May each day bring you bright happy hours.
That stay with you all year long.
~Love, Janet & Frank~

Quilt Square # 39

This bright and cheery fabric with turtles on it was sent by my
cousin Anne-Marie from Ottawa, Ontario.

Her wish is an Irish Blessing:

May Your
Troubles Be Less
And Your
Blessings Be More
And Nothing
But Happiness
Come Through
Your Door.
~Love, Anne-Marie~

Quilt Square #40

This fun "Bob the Builder" fabric was sent by Patrick, my cousin
Anne-Marie's son.

Patrick's wish:

"Can we build it?"...."Yes we can"

~Love, Patrick~

Quilt Square # 41

This fitting airplane fabric was sent by Jim, my cousin Anne-Marie's
husband, the arospace engineer.

Jim's blessing reads:

"THE SKY IS THE LIMIT!"

~Love, Jim~




Quilt Square # 42

This lovely flower and heart fabric was sent by my online blogger
friend, Kim from Michigan.(Her blog is The Seventh Diamond on my
side bar)

Kim's wish:

Dearest Ava Grace,
Our wish is for you to always have a true friend standing beside you.
With Much Love,
The Girvin Family
Saranac, Michigan.

SPRING!!...BRING IT ON!!

HAPPY SPRING!!!!!

BEAUTIFUL PICTURES TO SHARE!!

Click on the pictures to make them bigger....you'll be able to see the little fawn better!

HAPPY ST. PATTY'S DAY AVA!!

ALL TUCKERED OUT FROM A DAY OF CELEBRATING!!!