Christmas is Coming!

Are you ready? I don't mean all your shopping. I have really been trying to keep my focus on Jesus this year. That's what Christmas is all about. We have been trying to spend more time as a family really talking about Jesus' birth and what that means to us. Thanking God for His precious son that has Saved us from an eternal death. Remember to take time each day to remember what this season is all about.
I have also been trying to make lots of memories with the kids. We have made gingerbread cookies, Christmas tree cookies and homemade ornaments for their friends. It has been such a sweet time. Can't wait to spend the next few weeks snuggling them up in our nest.

Happy Birthday Ethan!!

Ethan turned 5 yesterday!! I can't believe this sweet boy is now 5. Wow! How time flys!
Ethan you are a special gift from God. You are full of Joy and have a special spirit about you. I can't wait to see all the plans God has for you. We love you sweet boy!!

Happy Birthday Anna Kathryn!

Today you are 2 years old sweet girl! We have prayed for you and celebrated you today. Oh how I wish you were here with us but we will have many birthdays together soon. I think about your birth mom today and pray for her too. I know she must think of you often just as I do.
My sweet friends gave me a shower on Saturday to celebrate your upcoming arrival. It was perfect, such a sweet blessing from my family and friends. Anna you are loved by so many people already who don't even know you but they have been praying for you and can't wait to meet you. Most of all you are loved by your creator and heavenly Father. He formed you and knows every hair on your head. I pray Gods protection, peace and love surround you daily. We can't wait to bring you home.
I will try to post some pictures of the shower. Thank you all my sweet friends and family. We are so blessed to have you in our lives.

Happy Birthday Matthew!!

Friday Matthew turned 7!! I can't believe 7 years ago I gave birth to this sweet boy. We had a campout birthday party with a few of his friends. It was great! Tiring but great. The boys all sleep in the tent, all night.
Matthew also lost his first tooth on Saturday. Wow! He's growing up right before our eyes.
Matthew you are a precious child of God. You are strong and courageous. Can't wait to see all God has planned for you.
Love you sweet boy! Momma

BIG NEWS !

We are so excited to announce the newest addition to our family.
Anna Kathryn Birdsong

We have officially been matched and pre-approved to adopt our little girl. Yay!
We are rejoicing and praising God for sweet Anna Kathryn!
She's 22 months old with a repaired cleft lip and palate and absolutely beautiful.We can't wait to bring her home. We have pictures and would love to show her off just ask us!
We are now waiting on our (LOA) letter of acceptance which typically takes 40-60 days. There's still lots of preparations and paperwork to be done but we are so much closer to bringing Anna home. We expect to travel later this year or first of next(this of course is my expectations and I know we will get her in God's timing)

Please join us in prayer for Anna Kathryn.
Pray for God's spirit to surround her and give her peace and comfort.
Pray God begins to prepare her heart and mind to join our family.
Pray that she is receiving love from her caregivers daily.
Pray for her health and that she continues to grow healthy.
Pray for super quick processing of all our paperwork that is still to come.

This momma wants her whole family here for Christmas!
Thank you all for all your sweet words of encouragement, prayers and financial support!! We love you all!!

Summer Time!!

Oh, how I love summer time!! I've been trying to post for weeks but have had major blogger issues.
Boys are officially out of school and it's Hot outside! Summer is definitely here. We have been busy with baseball, which both boys love playing, swim lessons, and just lots of family time. Hope to post some summer pictures soon.
Update on the adoption front- our dossier went to Ch*na on May 13. So we are still in the waiting phase. Can't wait to see our baby girls precious face. All in Gods time.

WE MADE OUR T-SHIRT GOAL

T-shirt sales are over. Yay!! We met our goal of 50 tee's. Actually we went a few over 50.
Thank you all for supporting us by buying a tee from Wild Olive Tees. The funds raised will help off-set the cost of some of the fees we will being paying on this journey to our daughter.
It has been pure JOY to work with Wild Olive Tees. Precious ladies..
I love all the tee's they have on their site.
Sorry for not posting lately. We have had a lot going on.. and I've had problems with my computer and blogger lately.
I plan to update everyone soon.
Preparing for this special time, during Holy week, the week my sweet Savior died and rose for me and you.
Take time to prepare you heart for what Jesus is saying to you this week.

Psalms 34:8
Taste and see the Lord is good: blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.

Birdsong's Adoption Tee's Fundraiser

We are so excited to announce our adoption tee fundraiser. These precious tee's are beautifully designed. LOVE, HOPE AND FAITH. I love the Faith one because that's what this journey is all about. Having Faith to follow Jesus, having Faith that he will provide on this journey, having Faith that he will connect us to our daughter.

CLICK ON THE BUTTON ABOVE OR THE LINK BELOW. REMEMBER TO USE OUR FAMILY CODE: BIRDSONG0305. TYPE IT IN THE COUPON BOX WHEN CHECKING OUT SO WE GET CREDIT FOR THE SALE.

We have three tees that are included in our adoption fundraiser : Love Others, Hope and Faith. The adoption tees page can be found at http://store.wildolivetees.com/adoption-fundraiser-tees-c6.aspx

You may also want to put our name(Birdsong) in the comments section when checking out too.

We will be selling these tees from Saturday, March 5th to April 4th. Just 4 short weeks. This is a simple way to help us bring our little girl home and spread God's word.

We love you all and thank you in advance for helping us on our journey to the Daughter of Our Hearts.

MORE PAPERWORK OUT OF THE WAY

Today I was able to take most of our paperwork to the secretary of state's office to be authenticated. Yay! One step closer to China.
We found out we could possibly get a referral in March or April if all continues going good with our paperwork. Wow!
That really blows my mind.. All this waiting... praying... waiting...and praying some more.. I can't wait to see our precious little girls face. I know God is guiding us to her. I feel HIM daily. I pray for her daily. Even our sweet boys pray for her daily. They ask about her daily, make her things(artwork) daily. They even want to share some of their toys with her..(that's saying alot since they don't want to share with each other)
I know we will still be waiting once we get our referral, (lump in throat) but I know we will be so many steps closer to holding her in our arms and bringing her home forever.
I just continue to claim the verse in Hebrews 11:1- Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

I know God is guiding this journey of adoption. We are Trusting Him! and Waiting on HIS timing.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY'S

okay- I'm a little late with this post. My wonderful hubby's birthday was on January 31, also the day we got our email/text from the USCIS. :)
We celebrated with a homemade birthday cake, the boys helped make for their dad. I don't have a picture because my batteries were dead in my camera. We had a wonderful time celebrating Mike's bday. I won't share his age... because it might let you know how old I am too.

Also wanted to wish my precious sister-in-law Dawn Happy Birthday! Her's was this past Saturday!!
I love Birthday's just not mine which will be happening this summer. Yikes.

We have been a little stir crazy with all the winter weather we have had the last month. Snow days- when there's no snow is no fun when your kiddos are home and it's too cold to go out and there's NO snow. This weekend we did enjoy some sunshine:)

Our First Fundraiser for the Daughter of Our Hearts!

This is one of our dear friends Smitty, he is a self proclaimed "chef". He loves to cook and does a great job at it. He helped us raise money for our daughter by teaching a class on how to make Yummy Tiramisu and Creme Brulee. Oh these desserts were divine.
Some of my precious friends came and learned how to make these delicious desserts while donating money for our adoption fund. If you know me well, you know I LOVE to cook. So this was right up my alley.. cooking, eating and socializing with some good friends.

Here's a picture of my friends, Ginger, Kathy and Ginger's daughter Grace and Ruby Caroline. I think we all had fun and enjoyed ourselves.

I can't thank everyone enough for coming to support us on our journey of adoption. I am always blown away with how God provides for us along this journey. It may be a prayer from someone, a phone call, a donation or just someone saying how happy they are for us. God has provided so many confirmations along the way and I'm sure HE will continue to confirm that HE has a precious little girl for our family.

It isn't a coincident that this Sunday's sermon was about Caring for the Fatherless. God has been speaking to us directly each week at church, confirming HIS plan for us. What a blessing!

LOTS OF ADOPTION INFO

This past Saturday, I was able to attend the International Adoption Clinic's seminar on the Joys and Challenges of International Adoption. Wow! This group of professionals are an awesome resource for anyone thinking about adopting or once you do adopt. I was so amazed at their knowledge. What was so great about this team (MD, OT, ST, Family Therapist) almost all of them had adopted or worked in an orphanage at one time. The clinic is in Birmingham, AL.
Well worth the drive to get great care for our little one once she first gets home.
So glad God has provided us with a wonderful resource for our little girl before she comes home and after.
It was a great day, there were families there that were adopting from all over. It is so good to see God working in the lives of people you don't even know but you know you have a special bond with them. One that God put there.
If you have questions about adoption this is a great resource. They had so many answers to alot of my questions and concerns.
Can't wait to get to know them all better once our little one is here.

WAITING

As we are patiently waiting. Waiting to complete our home study, dossier and all the other paper work to complete this adoption process. I am reminded today that God can use me in my waiting. He is using me while my faith is growing, deepen of my spiritual roots and to reach out to others.
Is God calling you to something outside your comfort zone? Don't tell HIM no. Reach out for his hand today, HE will walk with you, guide you to what HE has planned for you. Your calling may not be adoption, but it could be. Spend today listening to what God is saying to you.
Today our church is encouraged to have a day of fasting and prayer. I am praying for our sweet precious little girl today. I know God has HIS hand on her today. I am praying for you, that God will touch your heart today, open your mind today to live your life for HIM and only HIM.
Our GOD is amazing. HE loves us so much. Don't tell HIM no any longer.
He is waiting on you today.