Packing and Playing and Praying, Oh My!

I have been meaning to post updates on the boys for weeks, but at the end of the day my to do list is still  mile long and blogging is yet again at the bottom.

We had a fun and furious June and 4th of July week. It was full of little adventures with the kids, LOTS of adoption paperwork and figuring out where we are in the process. I did an Aqua Bike (kindof like a triathlon without the running), we went camping and had a garage sale and built bunk beds....and then all of a sudden it was time to start M's school and our summer vacation was at an end. The second week of July! But that's how it goes when we know we will need to take a few weeks off while we are in China and when we get back, as well. So second grade is going well so far; fast and furious and we are having fun with it. But I do feel pretty distracted sometimes with so much to do to get ready for Judah and Josiah.

Our Article 5 pick up is scheduled for this coming Monday, which means that IF we get Travel Approval in another week we could be heading to China on August 2. I would LOVE that. The sooner the better, but I know God's timing for us is perfect and He is in control.

But I just can't wait to meet our boys!! I miss them without even having met them. It all feels so surreal, and yet, with that to-do list, my time feels very urgent and that meeting them is a reality. I have bought diapers for them this week, and bibs and formula and cleaned our bottles (Josiah still takes four bottles a day at 28 months). I packed their clothes and tooth brushes, several toys and their blankies. It is getting REAL.

I only have so many days to pack and organize and prepare and make freezer meals and ....

And only a few more weeks with just our family of four. It feels like a mad rush and yet, I really need to slow down, sit with the kids and read, play, and take them for McDonald's ice cream. It will all get done, I tell myself. And what doesn't get done doesn't really need to.

I am praying I spend this time well, and God uses it. I am praying this time goes quickly, and also that we savor these days, too.

It has been so very encouraging to see how much our friends and family love us and love adoption. Your generosity has been incredible and we are so humbled and grateful. THANK YOU for blessing us through our LifeSong for Orphans fundraiser, the garage sale, and with gifts at a shower for the boys. It all means a VERY great deal and we certainly don't deserve it. But our boys do, and we love that you are serving them and us.

This afternoon my dear friend Katee and I baked up 8 dozen AMAZING cinnamon rolls to sell tomorrow morning at church. Katee is one of my favorite people on the planet and has a bakery, Red Crow Bakery. She sells every week at the Farmer's Market and is just a phenomenally talented sweet-maker. I am so excited for tomorrow! 

And my sis made these to sell tomorrow too! They are $8 a piece. And I could  be persuaded to mail them too, I suppose : )