What's in a name?

Ok. So since we started this process, Steve has been calling her Ping.  Why? I don't know. However, he felt she needed a name and bc I couldn't bear to give her a tangible identity back then, he gave her the name Ping. Also through this process, others have known her as Joy. I knew we wouldn't actually call her Joy but Le-the Chinese name for Joy. Last summer I think we came to the agreement that we both liked Lola Le. HOWEVER... after seeing her, we knew she wasn't Lola. Tu Qian Ai is her given name-pronounced "two chin eye" and I wanted to keep at least part of it. Steve knew Emma Kate was my Granny's name and was my "girl" name before we even had the boys.  I agonized over her name and spent  much of my prayer time thinking about her name.  Steve called me a week after we saw her and told me "her name is Ai-Le Kate"-pronounced eye lee. I loved it instantly! I spent that weekend still in prayer over it and had total peace about it, even after realizing we were pronouncing Le a little differently than the actual Chinese word. So with all that said and without further ado... Ai-Le Kate Wright

We're having a toddler!

The last day of Christmas break I took Luke and 3 friends to play at kidcity. We stopped to get an Icee on the way home. 11:53 AM we were getting in the car and I could hear my phone ringing. I assumed it was Steve but as I got in the car and looked at my phone I saw Denver,CO and I knew...I frantically corralled the boys and yelled at them to be quiet bc I was taking a very important call. All I know is the car was or at least seemed silent the entire time I was on the phone. I answered and was told they had a file they wanted us to look at and asked if we wanted to see it. Duh! Of course. She proceeded to tell me about this little girl for over 4 minutes and all I heard was a slightly clearer version of Charlie Brown's teacher. I immediately called Steve and told him he had to come home right away!!! 45 minutes later and we open her file. Actually Steve took too long coming home so I had to sneak a peek at her picture! Even Steve was in awe and kept saying she was perfect! I quickly began sending her file to my "team of experts" however for me that was merely a formality. She was already planted in our hearts.  Monday morning our good friend Paul, who was reviewing her file as well as consulting his colleagues, called me. Paul confirmed what Steve and I already knew...she was perfect and she was ours!!!

The Waiting Game

Only it is definitely NOT a game! It has almost been 3 months since our LID. All my hopes were in the fortune cookie I got many months ago assuring me I "will have full contentment my summer's end." School starts in 2 days, summer is officially over and no referral. If that fortune was from God then I was looking to the wrong thing for contentment. Obviously that was the case anyway but seeing how I am the type of person who wants everything to happen yesterday, I know my test is in the wait...trusting in Him...depending on Him...living today...not worrying about when or how or what will come...
Thank you Father :
for being patient with me even in my impatience
for being faithful even when I have doubts
for giving me confidence to trust in you, knowing you are in control

               

Signed, Sealed, Delivered

A lot has happened over the last 6 months. Originally I thought I would go back and blog 
for each specific detail but the thought of that stressed me out so I opted to give a synopsis
instead and then move forward from here. If you've adopted before, you'll understand and
if you haven't, you should be thankful for the condensed version. Our homestudy took MONTHS longer than expected. of course our social worker says this never happens. Although i have been in panic mode, Steve always, ok most of the time, knows just what to say. He told me God has already picked out this baby and it doesn't matter if it takes a little longer because she will still be there waiting for us. I know he is right. I just pray she is comfortable and loved. Friday at 11:02 AM, I
received an email from my agency friend and Dossier specialist, Sarah, stating our dossier
had been checked-in, meaning our agency had just received our complete dossier. I know
that was a terribly long sentence but sometimes I don't have the energy to edit my blogs.
Let the record state, however, that I am, like my BFF Allison, a grammar Nazi. I am not
 an eloquent speaker like she is AND I use similar sounding words interchangeably and
incorrectly. Even with that being said, I DO do it with correct grammar! Anyway, back to
the story. From this point our agency has 9-11 days to thoroughly inspect our paperwork
 for missing pieces, have it translated into Chinese, and get it signed, sealed, and delivered
 to China. Come on, I know you're now singing it too! I'll keep you posted! Even though
we know each step has totally been in God's hands, now there is nothing else for me and
Steve to do except wait for THE phone call, keep saving our pennies, and pray!
Please pray with us!

DONUTS! GET YOUR DONUTS! And some other stuff while you're at it!

Yesterday, our Sunday School class hosted- is hosted the right word?? Anyway- a GARAGE SALE FOR JOY! I have never seen so much stuff including a boutique of designer clothes, courtesy of Kelly's closet. The kids even sold donuts and o.j. I'm actually shocked at how many people bought cold donuts. Speaking of cold, it was freezing with arctic blasts of wind but it didn't keep anybody away. Of course, for the mere drama of it, the girls wouldn't tell us the total until Sunday at church-over $2,500. Over the next week almost another $1000 was donated to the cause. I've seen these people in action before, the hands and feet of Jesus to anybody and everybody, so I wasn't surprised by their service and generosity. However, we were most definitely humbled and grateful that the blessing was directed towards us.  

  

What Happens in Vegas Hopefully Doesn't Stay in Vegas

We mailed our marriage license today to have it authenticated by the Chinese Consulate for Nevada. I had no idea it had to go to a different embassy but because we were married in Vegas, it can't go to the Consulate in Houston like everything else. When we had our marriage license certified by the Nevada Secretary of State, it took six weeks before it was returned to us. I actually was worried our marriage was only legal in Vegas (I've watched too much TV in my life).  I hope this doesn't take 6 weeks because I was hoping our LID (log in date) to China would be the end of January.

Can we have another serving of paperwork,please?

We received our home study last night and due to Santa Claus, have not had time to review it. It just gets us one step closer to getting our Dossier in China and in turn one step closer to bringing our baby home!