A Thankful Thanksgiving

Together for the 1st time.

Naveia in her coke bottle glasses. She is so happy. We will be getting her some cutzie frames and lenses that are non-magnified. I Love this little girl. Too Cute.....you have to admit he is the cutest little thing.

The pictures say it all. I was praying for a picture of her in glasses and them together. I am Thankful for these little blessings. And to top it off Taiwan wrote us this message "It seems that the siblings could travel at same time." Your continued prayer to bring them home together is working. This would be a BIG blessing. I am keeping the faith that God is going to make this happen. Please continue to pray for this. Super Happy Thanksgiving.

National Adoption Awareness Month

God called me as a teenage girl, to adopt a child. Going through the adoption process has opened my eyes to the huge need (143 million orphans). I only hope that we can use our testimony to help others see the NEED. What is God's calling for you in caring for the orphan? Is it to sponsor an orphan, donate items to meet their needs, or give finical help to a family called to adopt? Is it to pray for, advocate for or foster the orphan? Is it to take a mission trip to serve orphans or are you called to adopt?

I wanted to download this video, but I am not having success. Go to YouTube to see this touching video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y9OGli2qGs

James 1:27 "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you."

Follow these website for opportunities to help.

1. http://www.nationaladoptionday.org/2009/index.asp
2. http://www.showhope.org/
3. http://www.projectcarecase.org/index.html
4. http://www.letsrebuildthewall.org/index.html

Court Hearing Scheduled

We received word today that our first court date is scheduled for December 2nd for Naveia and December 25th for Kai. This was bittersweet news because it has been our prayer to have them home before the end of the year, and now that will not happen. I had assumed we had already had Naveia's first hearing. However, we felt blessed to finally receive some news! I am overjoyed to have dates for the BOTH of them. It seems to our continued prayer to bring them home together is getting closer. If we get to bring them home together it is looking like sometime in February, hopefully closer to the 1st. It's completely out of my hands. I cannot even begin to describe to you how hard this process has been. This has been the longest and most challenging journey of our lives. In the end it will all be fulfilled in God great timing. The months to come are going to be filled with great anticipation for the arrival of our children. We also recieved our November UPDATES : Kai seems funny and very intelligent for a two year old. He speaks full sentences and uses the potty. One time while on the potty he asked "get me the newspaper" and then proceeded to "read" it. Ha ha another funny guy. He has a foster sister that lives with him. So he is getting good practice at being a little brother and not an only child. He is very attached to his foster mother. When they told him he was going to be placed with us. He said "mama not go to America, I not go either". Please be praying for his transition and the grieving he is going to have to go through. Makes me so sad. Naveia seems very outgoing and creative. I learned that her new foster family also speaks Vietnamese and that she is picking it up very well. She will have English to add to her list of spoken languages soon. She has a younger foster brother that moved-in in July. So she is getting good practice being a be sister. It sounds like the two of them have a love/hate relationship and she initiates of most fights. She will scold him loudly and stomp her foot. However, when he needs comfort he comes to her and she gives him hugs. No new pictures yet, but they say they are on there way.

Good Wishes

Today my good friend Amanda threw us a surprise party for our adoption. We were truly surprised. John thought he was coming to a surprise party for my birthday (which is two weeks away). I had no idea what it would be but thought something was up when John said he needed to come to the church to move something heavy. Deb G. helped decorate in an Asian theme and made some delicious appetizers. A few of our friends and family where there to bless our adoption with good wishes and prayer. We feel so fortunate to have such a loving church family. We have so many things to be thankful for, but right now I am so thankful for the generosity that so many of you have shared with John and I as we prepare to bring our children home from Taiwan. The donations and words of encouragement have meant more to us than you can imagine.

Deliveries

Our documents were delivered in Taiwan, Monday at 12:46p.m.! With all the paper work behind us our part is done, now we just need to sit back and wait. I have lots of things to keep me busy. We just had our basement dry walled...So I think I will be painting walls and trim for the whole month of November. I also have books on adoption I want to get finished up. And with all the Holidays to come, I think the time will fly by. We sent our 2nd care package out. I got a two for one deal. I filled half the box for Naveia and the other for Kai. John made a DVD of us, taken from our home videos. There is one for each of them. And I wrote each of them a letter in a card and had it translated. I hope this brings them joy and hope for their future.

Happy Halloween. From Gypsy and Mario.