Fly Fishing??

We had a great week in Vail. The only problem.....not much snow. My boys did ski, but conditions were not great. It snowed Tuesday night, so Wednesday was a pretty good day. I don't have any ski photos, because the adults decided not to ski. We enjoyed shopping, long lunches, watching football, and spa treatments. Mike and the twins did find a great way to spend their afternoons. The "sort of" not so cold weather (sunny, at least) allowed them to suit up, and indulge in their favorite pastime - fly fishing! Only in Colorado, could you ski the mountain in the morning, and fish the streams in the afternoon. We have a few more ski trips planned, and I'm sure there will be plenty of the fluffy white stuff by then.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my family, near and far, and to all of my friends, old and new. I have so much to be thankful for. So many things, so many people, so much that is seen and unseen. My heart is so full. I wish you all much happiness as your family counts their blessings.

Ski Trip

No this is not me. But this is where we are spending Thanksgiving! The only problem is, we need snow!! So hopefully, in a few days, that will be me! Well, not exactly, because I prefer the groomed blue runs. Now my boys, they are a different story. They have been skiing since the age of 3, and they are fearless! No matter what, it will be a great time with family. Bring on the hot chocolate and the hot tub!

One Year LID!

Wow, today is our 1 year LID anniversary. It feels like longer, probably because we started paperchasing in spring of 2006. When we were first LID, I thought we would be a lot closer to a referral by now. I remain hopeful, though. I can't help but feel like this is a milestone. In hindsight, the past year has gone quickly. I do not know when this wait will end. I am slowly getting used to the idea of not knowing. I have complete faith that Lilly is known to God, and one day, she will come home. My life is blessed with Mike and the boys, a supportive family, and the most wonderful on-line friends, who understand and encourage me. There is a lot of living to do, and I look forward to what the next year will bring. It most definitely will bring us closer to Lilly. She is my first thought upon waking, and my last thought before sleep. I will hold her in my heart, always, and one day hold her in my waiting arms.

Hair Bows for Lilly!

Look what came in the mail today...bows for Lilly! My sweet friend, Terri, made these herself, and even personalized them. She is so talented, and they are so beautiful. Terri belongs to my November06 LID group, and we decided to do our own little hair bow exchange. She and I both have boys, so we are having fun, learning how to do these "girly" things. Thank you so much! I will cherish them, and I know Lilly will love them, too.

Weekend Getaway

We are heading up to the mountains for a weekend getaway! This is one of my favorite place in Colorado. The Ritz Carlton at Bachelor Gulch is a luxury resort in Beaver Creek. It sits at the base of a ski hill, (the mountain is not yet opened for skiing), although snow has already fallen. Mike and the boys will bundle up from some "chilly" stream fishing. We'll enjoy some hiking and soaking in the outdoor hot tubs. I may even treat myself to a massage at the spa. Life is good!

Lilly's Swing Set

When our twins turned 3, many years ago, we constructed this swing set. It saw many years of fun, but lately has sat alone and ignored, as they are now 13. This past weekend, William and Peter decided to give it a little TLC. They oiled it, tightened screws, and blew all the leaves that had gathered under it. When I asked them about their sudden interest in the swing set, they said, "we are keeping it nice for Lilly". Oh, how I love my sweet boys! I think they will be wonderful big brothers. I have to wonder though, how many more seasons they are going to find themselves "keeping it nice"....

CCAA Update

"The CCAA has finished their placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were registered with our office before Decenber 8, 2005."

Well, they are finally referring December 2005 families.....Let's hope CCAA can get through December 2005 quickly (relatively speaking), and move into 2006 LIDs.

Congratulations to all the new mommies and daddies!

We've started a blog!

I have decided to create this blog, so family and friends can easily follow our journey to China. I will update with the latest news from The Chinese Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA), and some random postings from our busy life with our three teenage boys. When we started this process, in spring of 2006, we had no idea the wait would be this long. Our official log in date (LID) is November 14, 2006. We are keeping busy, enjoying life, and thinking about the day Lilly will come home. It is a long journey for sure, but we have no doubt it will be worth every single moment.