WOW. We were fortunate enough to be a part of the FTIA (our adoption agency) Family Reunion Picnic last Saturday. This was an opportunity for families brought together through adoption to meet up with their travel groups and reconnect. There were also families there who were adding additional members to their families, and couples just like us waiting on their first child!

Just try and wrap your mind around 2,000 people from all walks of life and from all different countries. There were children from China, Vietnam, Russia, Azerbaijan, India, Guatemala, and others, I'm sure. The children were beautiful! We were just so excited to eat, watch the children play on the carousel, play games and putt-putt, shop at the vendors, and just be a part of something so big and so cool. We pray that we're home from China to take Abby there next year!

We also got a chance to hang out with some of the local adoption group people, and meet our June DTC group. These are the people we'll probably travel with! It was great to put a face with the names on the message boards.

I just want to thank God for providing these opportunities to see just how much adoption is a part of building families. GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME!

Finally, vacation

So just over a week ago, Tony and I got to go on a LOVELY vacation. We could have went anywhere in North America for our last kid-free vacation and we chose Gatlinburg, TN. Not only did we choose Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg, we chose the EXACT same cabin we stayed in the year before. If we could do it all over again, we'd choose the exact same vacation spot.

We had a great time just hanging out together, shopping, mini-golfing, site seeing, and auto touring through the mountains. I just LOVE spending time alone with Tony and so this was a perfect getaway. Everyone keeps telling us to soak it up, soak up every minute we can before we bring Abby home. They (and you know who you are) say that everything changes once you have a child, so sleep in, spend time alone, and read. Well, we did all of that on vacation and it was perfect!

The pictures I posted are of the wild turkeys that were outside of our cabin (neat huh?) and the view outside our front door. This also happens to be the view we would see when we woke up and sat up in bed. The windows were perfectly placed!

Anyway, thanks for the advice and we'll continue to enjoy one another as husband and wife, before we switch roles and become mommy and daddy! (I know we'll enjoy one another that way too!)

Adopting Rupert?

Ok, so we're really not adopting a guy named Rupurt (sp?) but last Saturday, we went to a "Waiting Families" meeting with our adoption agency FTIA and the coolest thing happened. After the meeting (no new news by the way) we were driving through Indy with Robby and Allyson and came upon one of the coolest guys ever....Rupert. Do you remember him? He was the guy who won on Survivor. He wore the tie dyed t-shirt. Big bearded guy. He is also the guy who has given most of his time and money to children's charities. What a cool guy! Anyway, the picture I attached is one JUST BEFORE he turned and smiled and waved at me, well, us, but I prefer to think me. Anyway, thought it'd make a cool post. I'll post more on our vacation later :)

Congratulations!

We want to send a big CONGRATULATIONS to Allyson for passing her Praxis teaching exam! We knew you could do it girl! Just think, a few more months, and that's it....you'll be done, and working for the rest of your life! Hahahaha!

Really, you deserve the best with all of your hard work! CONGRATS again!

We love you!