AND THE WINNER IS.........

Click here to watch the recorded drawing !  Congrats to the winners.  We hope the iPad is a blessing to you.  Thanks again to all of you who brought tiny bits of hope to Pearl!



Thank You

Here on the eve of the drawing for the ipads, I have some people to thank. 

First of all, to the dear families who donated the ipads:  Wow.  We are still just blown away by your generous offer.  Thank you so much.  We know you have given out of your love and concern for this precious little girl named Pearl. 

To our family member who donated the tickets - Wow - we love you and we know you love Pearl.

Next, to all of you who took bundles of tickets to sell.  Wow..  We are blown away by your willingness to take your time to sell tickets for us.  Although we really know it wasn't for US, it was for Him and this little girl that He loves so much.

Lastly, to those of you who purchased tickets.  Wow.  Whether you spent $2 or $100 we are so grateful.  Every single ticket we sold represents a bit of hope.  Hope for Pearl.

2500 little bits of hope.  Yes, we sold 2500 tickets.  In the beginning we questioned whether or not this was way too big of an amount for us to sell.  Then we were reminded that God is no little God.  He has all of this under control.  He knows where every penny we need will come from.  He is good.  And HE Loves our Pearl even more than we do.  We trust Him.

Christmas is Coming!

We spent our day getting things in gear for Christmas.  I used to LOVE Christmas decorations, but now I find myself dreading the whole process.  Everything I put out  will inevitably occupy more of my precious time being put away.  I know - I'm a scrooge sometimes.

I'd just rather spend my time sipping cocoa and snuggling on the couch with my kiddos. 
I did manage to get the tree up - the kids did the decorating.  We also hung the stockings and the greenery on the porch lights. 

Lainie did her job of putting out the manger.  Can you tell she's been to kindergarten this year?  All of the onlookers at the manger are standing in perfect little rows.

We also had two Christmas Card photo sessions.  One for each side of the family.  The picture taking itself isn't all that fun, but the memories it captures are priceless for years to come.

Hope your Christmas is getting geared up - I'm trying not to rush through it so that we can be closer to having Pearl home.  Daily I have to tell myself to live in the present rather than letting my thoughts be consumed with the when and how and other details of our pending adoption.  Some days are easier than others.

At last we are.....

Those of you in the adoption world know what a HUGE step this is...  The rest of you .....  well, just know it is a huge amount of work off my plate.

iPad Raffle Update:  We have about 50 tickets left.  I'll leave the payment link on the right until all the tickets are gone, or until November 29th.

Oh no. She is growing up!

Lainie lost her first tooth.  I just can't stand it.  I can't ignore the fact that she isn't a baby anymore.  Why do I want to keep her little ?  Maybe so I can protect her from any and everything that will cause her pain.  She will have enough to process about her beginnings without having any other sadness.  I just want to keep her little, and safe, and happy.  Reminds me of this Taylor Swift song.

Your little hands wrapped around my finger
And it's so quiet in the world tonight
Your little eyelids flutter 'cause you're dreaming
So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light

To you, everything's funny
You got nothing to regret
I'd give all I have, honey
If you could stay like that

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple

I won't let nobody hurt you
Won't let no one break your heart
No, no one will desert you
Just try to never grow up, never grow up

You're in the car on the way to the movies
And you're mortified your mom's dropping you off
At 14, there's just so much you can't do
And you can't wait to move out someday and call your own shots

But don't make her drop you off around the block
Remember that she's getting older, too
And don't lose the way that you dance around
In your PJs getting ready for school

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple

No one's ever burned you
Nothing's ever left you scarred
And even though you want to
Just try to never grow up

Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room
Memorize what it sounded like when your dad gets home
Remember the footsteps, remember the words said
And all your little brother's favorite songs

I just realized everything I have
Is someday gonna be gone

So here I am in my new apartment
In a big city, they just dropped me off
It's so much colder than I thought it would be
So I tuck myself in and turn my night light on

Wish I'd never grown up
I wish I'd never grown up

Oh, I don't wanna grow up, wish I'd never grown up
Could still be little
Oh, I don't wanna grow up, wish I'd never grown up
It could still be simple

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple

Won't let nobody hurt you
Won't let no one break your heart
And even through to you want to
Please try to never grow up

Don't you ever grow up
(Never grow up)
Just never grow up

Dossier Is On Its Way!

This would be a picture of my dossier leaving my hands.  Relieved and nervous all at the same time.  Now we begin a new phase of the waiting game......

Faith

I imagine that Faith is the most prevelant theme in every family's adoption journey.  Here is a chance for you to have this beautiful Silpada Fatih necklace (complete with mustard seed) and help an adoptive family in the process.  Now is a great time to purchase it for someone special as a Christmas gift.

All profits from the sale of this necklace will go to bringing precious Tulah home.  And, if you buy the necklace by December 11, your name goes into a drawing for a $100 Silpada gift certificate.  Hop on over to the Hatley Home to make your purchase and read more.