We love Ming!

Over the past few days we realize how Ming was meant to be with us from the beginnning. Our chance was very slim to be matched with her because so many people are switching to Special Needs due to the long wait for an infant. Our caseworker mentioned that we are the only one of her families that have been matched with a SN child because it is so competitive. So many people have applied for several SN children and have never been matched. We only tried once and found our daughter. We love Ming so much already and eagerly await her arrival.

Today Mike and I took 1/2 day off to work on the adoption paperwork. It was pretty cool to see Ming's letter of intent because half of it was in Chinese. Ming has no idea that she has parents and this point and won't for another 2 months or so. Once we have our offical letter of approval, we can sent photos and a few items to Ming at the Beijing City Children's Welfare Institute. I'm sure she'll be sooo happy to see photos of her parents, pets and new home! I can't wait!

It's a girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We have been matched with a beautiful 10 year old girl named MING!!!!!!

She is from China and now we start to process to bring her home. We hope to travel in 4 - 6 months. WE ARE SOOOOOOOOOOOO happy!

Why Ming? After learning that there is no end to the long wait for a healthy baby AND may not receive a referral for another 2 1/2 years from now AND experiencing heartaches with the domestic adoption, we decided to look into older Chinese adoptions. We found Ming on A Helping Hand's website (A Helping Hand is our parent agency) on 1/13/08. We turned in our application on 1/22 and received the good news on 1/24!!!! We are truly meant to be together and are so happy things turned out the way they did. It was worth all the tears and anxiety. Now it is a mad dash to finish paperwork, update everything and get our ducks in a row ASAP!

Ming is so precious and is absolutely beautiful. She is absolutely perfect! We will not post a photo of her on our blog until she is legally in our family. More information will be posted as it comes........

2007 in review

LOCKS OF LOVE -

Before Mike cut the hair....quite long, eh?

Holding the ponytail of 12 inches!

Finished product - not too bad

Mt. Elbert with Boys & Girls Club Backpacking Club

San Luis Peak - we took the photo just below because it was too cold!

2007 turned out to be a fairly good year. We kept very busy building and moving into the new house, Mike opening his log furniture store, expanding the store to a new location, visiting with family, traveling to Chicago for the holidays, waiting for the Chinese adoption, getting ready for the domestic adoption and Tara making sure the Boys & Girls Club grew in a very positive direction. I know life will be even more busy with kids, but I must say that this has been one of the busiest years yet!

Updates on domestic adoption: We've been referred a couple of times now, but have had to decline for various reasons. At first we felt really bad, but we need to make sure that we provide a safe environment for our infant Chinese adoption. Our social worker has been very supportive and we've learned this is common. We are currently waiting our third referral. If something happens - we'll post it here.



I am looking at my 2007 goals and decided that I did not do a very good job.


Donating hair to locks of love: Completed 12/31 see photos above


Hiking 2 14ers - Completed San Luis Peak and was only 1/2 to the top of Mt. Elbert, but bad weather came in and we had to decend :( Next time! Photos above


Hiking/snowshoeing at least 250 miles - did not complete. I completed over 160 miles in hiking and walking in 2007, but lost track after Oct...


Visit 3 museums - didn't go to one. I did have plans to go Denver Nature & Science museum twice with the Club, but the trip was canceled due to various reasons.


Get another tatoo - I didn't, but Mike did. I decided that I won't get another until each adoption is complete


Spa day - I stayed at a lovely JW Marriott Spa in AZ this summer, but it was for work and all the times were booked. I did go to a couple of hot springs, but that doesn't count. At least this March my mom and sister(s) are getting together for a spa girls weekend.

Autumn Moom Festival - educated myself a little about it, but didn't celebrated it


Find the perfect pair of jeans and buy 2 - I completed this twice. I bought two early winter of 2007, but then lost a little weight so I found another two during this Christmas Holiday.


I'm not sure what my goals will be this year because there are so many variables!

Only time will tell!