Just Read Below...... (Please)

So today at exactly 11:01






We got an email








While eating in Bojangles
(We had to get some shots at the Dr. this morning hence the Brunch)








That would forever change our day





and life







It had just become 2010 in China










Pretty Special







Because






that email




said something even better

















Woo Hoo!!!

Here is a video just so you can see some Anna Grace cuteness.... (:


We leave on January 19 and come home on February 5!!!!
We will get Andrew on January 21!!! woo hoo!

Continue to pray and please pray for our safety and health!

Not Long.

In Three Weeks
a lot will happen
we will go back to school
(ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh)
we will pack(!!!!!)
we will celebrate a NEW year.
even though,
this year has been pretty a-m-a-z-i-n-g,
if you ask me



and







God Willing.





We will be....





On my favorite place on Earth.....





Where Two of my Sweet Siblings are from......




China.






Yeahhhhh Bay-beee
(for sound effects--hehe)





and not only will we be there





BUT





We will be in the presence
(Not going to say Holding because,
Well I am not sure about that)





of





dun dun dun dun






Andrew Hudson!!







(oh and you can get excited because you will see his face!)






Can you hear the Angels Singing?





No, most likely not.






But you can probably hear us.






We are truly excited to be able to bring this sweet boy home







and absolutely CANNOT WAIT!






Well, We can






But







We don't Want to






but





we have learned many things on this journey.....







it is not always about what you want








but








what GOD does







and









we also learned









that








what He wants








is always better
(:

Just to clarify....
No,
we have not gotten a TA
No,
we have not gotten a CA
Yes,
we are trusting God
Yes,
we have been told of possible dates
Yes,
we should be home by the
Chinese New Year
according to our agency

But Regardless,
Please, Please, PLEASE continue to Pray!
(I know you probably hated the way I posted this......if so let me know, Please)

Before......

the
Chinese New Year




We will be home



From China




With a sweet little boy soon to be named Andrew




Oh what a happy day that will be!





Can you imagine our excitement?





Keep Praying



Because in about a month or less



WE WILL BE IN CHINA

Pictures of Andrew's Future Siblings

Here is a collage of some pictures we took yesterday (:

Merry Christmas!!

*click to enlarge*

Article 5, Baby!

I think that sums it up!! Our sweet little Article 5 is finding it's way to the CCAA (: Can you say Praise the Lord?!?!
Here are my Mom's facebook status'
Yesterday @ 11:57pm
Praying now that God will intervene and press it upon someone's heart to sign our Article 5 and notify our agency that it can be picked up---I will be sure to give ALL of the Glory to Him for all that HE has done to bring Andrew home! Thank you Lord for hearing our prayers!
Today @ 4:09
How GREAT is OUR GOD!!!! Just got word that our Article 5 was signed and picked up-WOO HOO! He is faithful and answers prayers! I am so grateful for what HE has done!!!! Now all we need is our Travel Approval!

Now tell me! How Great is our God?!
Praying for a speedy speedy speedy Travel Approval!!

WE ARE GOING TO CHINA.....SOON!

I love you...

Dear Andrew,

I have not met you and you don't know who I am but I love you. I dream about you. I pray and prayed for you. You, my sweet little brother are my dream come true. I can't wait to see you and your soon to be little sister together. She is so excited. I am hoping and praying you know we are coming. I pray your little heart is prepared for us and all these new things to come. I pray that God can give you a peace, a peace that when you see us you know that we are your family. The people who will always love you no matter what. We will always be there for your birthdays and to celebrate with you. We already love you so much more than you will ever know. You are the child that because of Anna Grace I begged for and spent two long years praying for. But will be so worth it. I truly can not wait to see you and hold you for the first time sweet boy! I hate we will not be there with you for Christmas but soon. so soon we will hold you and love you and let you know you have a family!
I love you so much and have not met you yet.....but soon my Andrew, soon I will not only have met you but will be able to hold you.
I love you, a bushel and a peck, and soon a hug around the neck!
Sissy

All I want for Christmas is.......

You!

That sums it up all I want. To be able to see our sweet Andrew's face and be able to love him and let him know HE HAS A FAMILY!
Really if I could fly to China and just hold him for one day and love him and let him know we are coming to bring him home, It would make my heart burst with joy.
Then I would grieve when I had to leave so it's probably best we not do that and just wait.
My heart aches to have him home. We aren't complete without him. Something is missing and it will always be missing until he is home.
I know this is all in God's timing and PRAISE him that it is but I still want him here.
This entire adoption is in God's hands. He formed Andrew and created him to be the perfect little boy he is and he knew what Andrew's life was going to be.
He KNEW he would spend 4 Christmases without us but he also KNEW he would have a family. A family who is going to love him constantly and never ever leave him. God knew the plan for this precious little boys life and knows what is to come. Thank God for that. I am so blessed and I can not wait for Andrew to be here. Oh what a glorious day that is going to be! I can not wait!
Keep Praying because there is a chance that we could be
IN CHINA A MONTH FROM TODAY!
{Clarification: NO set date :: we just pray....very hard and a lot!}
ooh goodness that gives me chills!
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE Pray!!!!!!

"He knows my name He knows my every thought He sees each tear that falls And He hears me when I call"

{such an amazing song.}
Here is a song we heard on the way home from my Nana's house the other night. I wanted to cry. This could be Andrew.....



All I Really Want For Christmas

Well, I don't know if you remember me or not
I'm one of the kids they brought in from the home
I was the red-haired boy in an old, green flannel shirt
You may not have seen me, I was standing off alone

I didn't come and talk to you 'cause that's never worked before
And you'll probably never see this letter, anyway
But just in case there's something you can do to help me out
I'll ask you one more time

All I really want for Christmas is someone to tuck me in
A shoulder to cry on if I lose, shoulders to ride on if I win
There's so much I could ask for, but there's just one thing I need
All I really want for Christmas is a family

Well, I guess I should go ahead and tell you now
If it's really true about that list you have
Somehow I always seem to end up in a fight
But I'm really trying hard not to be bad

But maybe if I had a brother or a dad to wrestle with
Maybe they could teach me how to get along
And from everything I've heard, it sounds like the greatest gift on earth
Would be a mom

All I want for Christmas is someone who'll be here
To sing me happy birthday for the next 100 years
And It's okay if they're not perfect or even if they're a little broken
That's alright, 'Cause so am I

Well, I guess I should go, it's almost time for bed
Maybe next time I write you I'll be at home

'Cause all I really want for Christmas is someone to tuck me in
Tell me I'll never be alone, someone whose love will never end
Of all that I could ask for, well, there's just one thing I need
All I really want for Christmas is a family


Tears Yet?
Yeah me too.

New Design

I redesigned the blog as you can all tell to get into the Christmas spirit and the fact that we are getting closer to Andrew!!!!
Let me know what you all think about it (:
It is looking like in 54 days we will have Andrew!!
Praise the Lord!
Continue to Pray!!
{{There is NO SET DATE but we are trusting in God and believing this goal will be reached}}

Awaiting You

As of today we have been waiting 5 months and 2 weeks for Andrew to come home. That is 181 days or 22 weeks. I so wish we could just jump through a few weeks and be right there to get Andrew.
SO wishing we could be in China for Christmas. How awesome would that be? But sadly I don't think it will happen.
We really are praying to receive an update of Andrew. Praying, Praying, Praying. It has been 8 months since we saw a picture (well an updated picture) and we would love, love, love one. As anyone in this process knows getting a picture makes the wait a little easier. just a little bit. I want him home. now.
I know this is all in God's perfect timing but the wait is just so hard.
Hope you all had a great thanksgiving!
We are especially thankful this year because this was our LAST Thanksgiving without Andrew!! yayy!

Here is a video I made of our journey to Anna Grace and Andrew......

The Journey.... from Ashton B. on Vimeo.

enjoy....

i800 Provisional.....

It should be in our hands tomorrow!
Praising the One who controls everything in the world. (:
Have a Great Weekend!
Continue Praying!!
(i know i have posted the picture before but I love it)

Thank you!!

Huge Thank you to Tanya!!


I love the quilt square and the paper! BEAUTIFUL!! Thank you so much!!

Adoption is an amazing thing where you meet SO many amazing people! (:

{If you would like to send Andrew a quilt square please email me!}

Again thank you so much! It means so much to us and one day will to Andrew!!

Andrew's 100 Good Wishes Quilt

I have a huge favor to ask of you all. As many of you already know we are in the process of adopting our sweet boy from China. A tradition in china is a Bai Jia Bei or 100 Good Wishes Quilt, we plan on creating a Bai Jai Bei for Andrew. We made a 100 Good Wishes quilt for Anna Grace and want to do the same for Andrew!

Here is some history about the Bai Jia Bei or 100 Good Wishes Quilt:

“To welcome and celebrate a new life, there is a tradition in the northern part of China to make a Bai Jia Bei, or 100 Good Wishes Quilt. It is a custom to invite friends and family to contribute a patch of cloth with a wish for the baby. Part of the patch of cloth goes into the quilt for the baby, and the other part of the cloth can go into a creative memory notebook with the wish for the child. The quilt contains the luck, energy, and good wishes from all the families and friends who contributed a piece of fabric. The quilt is then passed down from generation to generation.”

What we need is a 7”x7” square of washable cotton fabric. The fabric can be anything you would like, maybe something that represents adoption to you or something special for Andrew. (Honestly ANYTHING is fine!) Along with this piece of fabric we need a 2”x2” piece of the same fabric attached to a piece of paper that you have either written or typed a wish for Andrew (either is fine!), this can be something personal or a favorite poem, song lyric, quote, bible verse, etc, but it should have a special significance for you. Remember to sign and date the paper and also include your address. This paper will go into his scrapbook and be cherished forever.

If you would like to send a quilt square for Andrew email me at dancerabr@yahoo.com! I would love for anyone to send one! Thank you!

Here is some information that might help you......

• His name is going to be Andrew Hudson
• His room is knights and castles (not that it matters)
• We love the cars theme but ANY fabric will be so cherished!
  

Again thank you all so much!

Introducing......

..........................................................................................






the room....... Not just any room but Andrew's room!
(If I so had you thinking it was Andrew I apologize
heads up you can't see that until China (: it's worth it)

So here are the pictures of Andrew's room! Did it take me long enough?? On second thought..... don't answer that

the room!

His special Jaguar....first toy (:

the closet

closet again and TV

Closet/TV/Toy "Box"

The bed!

So here is Andrew's room! Enjoy!

The Stork Landed!!

We received our LOA today!! Yippee!
and
We mailed our paperwork off today!! Yippee!!! Praying for a speedy TA!!
We are getting closer!!! ahhhhhhh (: this is too exciting!

{Oh and by the way this is my 40th post (: not bad eh?}

It is almost here!!

We just received this email!!

Dear Families,

Your LOA packet is being overnighted to you and you should get it tomorrow before noon.

Yayyy! Thank you Jesus!

Dear Sweet Andrew,
Today we actually got note that they were sending our LOA to us! We are so excited! We are coming soon sweet boy soon! You are almost to us! Hold on just a little bit longer!! Your forever family is coming!!
We love you!
Sissy

Now onto my favorite song as we wait......

While i'm Waiting

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Takeing every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

I love this song. So encouraging.
Have a Terrific Tuesday!

Some very exciting news to share.....









It came!!! Amen! All in God's perfect timing!!! We are soo excited!! Now the wait for TA begins!
We are on Cloud 9!

"Praise the Lord, all you nations! Let all people of the world praise HIM!!"

57 Days Awaiting Andrew...

He has been waiting for his Forever Family for..... 1,185 Days

Once he is in our arms I know this wait will vanish but waiting to hold him is the really hard part!!
Praying for good news SOON!!

"The vision will still happen at the appointed time. It hurries toward its goal. It won't be a lie. If it's delayed, wait for it. It will certainly happen. It won't be late." -Hababkkuk 2:3

Almost Wordless Wednesday

We are coming Andrew!

Dear LOA,

Please come soon! We want our Andrew HOME!! (: Tomorrow or Wednesday would work!! We need it ASAP.... We are going CrAZy!

Andrew's Story
On May 1st, 2009 (2 years to the day we saw Anna Grace's face for the first time) My Mom looked at our Agency's SN list. She clicked on the last number on the list and she immediately fell in love with a beautiful little boy. She hurried to my Dad's office and showed him his picture. Again he fell in love as well. They sent the agency an email requesting his file....Within 30 minutes they had emailed us back saying there was a list and he would most likely have a family. We were crushed. So we just kept praying that he would have a family and God's will would be done. On June 10, 2009 we received an email from our agency saying that we were the next family on the list. We immediately started praying. We asked God to Shut the door if it was not his will. He never did. EVER. Every time we would say "Well if this happens we will say Yes" . It always happened. ALWAYS. So completely God. On Monday June 15, 2009 we sent an email to our agency and said "Yes" we would LOVE to adopt __________ (insert Chinese Name) Oh my I was so excited!!! I was going to go back to China and be able to be blessed with another sibling AGAIN!! To celebrate we went out to eat Chinese at our very favorite restaurant! They were also excited for us and translated information for us! Ooh how happy I was! For 2 weeks I was singing "I am getting a brother ; I am getting a brother!"
The excitement of this has not worn off and I doubt it will!

************************************************
Room Pictures are coming!
(I PROMISE soon! I know you all
are ready to take my head off!)
We have not
completely finished
the room yet and I want
you to all see it completed!
To pass time ::
Take guesses on what
the theme of the room is!
*************************************************

"As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country." -Proverbs 25:25 Come On LOA!! We are ready to bring Andrew Hudson HOME!!!!

The Big 4-0

Today is day 40 of waiting for LOA! So maybe just maybe 10 more? Maybe less?

Here is my letter to the wonderful LOA People:

Dear People-who-control-LOA's,
Please send us our LOA soon! We have {im}patiently been waiting for this very special document for 40 days now. Just so you don't think we are crazy here are some things that happened in 40 days:

• Noah was in a flood for 40 days (and nights)
  
• A month and 10 days have passed
• Progress reports come out.
• We got a little more stir-crazy
• 300 or more hours were spent hitting the "refresh" button on the email
  

So as you see 40 days is a long time.
Do you have any idea how many times it is possible in a one day time to check your emails and Rumor Queen? it. is. a. lot. Do you know what it is like to have your mother dash to the phone any and every time she hears it ring just in case it is you telling us we have this form? I doubt it .To end this let me make one last request, when you get this I would like to have this paper the next day. It will help everyone in this big beautiful world. I can also promise your job will be made much easier once this document is in our hands.
Your {im}patient friend,
Ashton

I know this special little boy will be sooo worth the wait, but this is going to kill me! Please hurry LOA!

As always please pray for Andrew and our family!

****************************************************
Ok next post, I promise will be of Andrew's room!
SO stay tuned!!!
***************************************************

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

-Romans 8:28

Just so Ya Know......

We have been waiting 36 days of waiting for LOA! (But who's counting anyways?)
(ME ME ME ME ME!)

Praying we have 15 days or less left!!

Hey, I can pray can't I? (:
Please continue to pray for Andrew and our family as we prepare to bring home this wonderful blessing....

"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
-Matthew 21:22

*************************************************************************
Stay Tuned! Pictures of Andrew's room coming up next!
You will love to hear the long story to go with it
(Well long for me is a few paragraphs maybe less)
*************************************************************************

Just a little Cuteness





Oh who am I kidding? Is she not precious? Here are just a few pictures of Andrew's Mei Mei!

Hope you are all having a great week!

For Andrew (and Anna Grace too!)






I made this for Anna Grace and Andrew the other day. I am getting a shirt with China on it and it also has hearts where Anna Grace and Andrew are and were! I am so excited! Have a GREAT weekend!

Do you know what today is?

No not it's not a birthday
No we did not get LOA... yet
No it is not a picture of Andrew.

(I know, I just ruined it! I wish I could show you all his sweet little face. Soon I hope! Gives you a good reason to pray we travel sooner! just kidding.)

So what is it.......... hmmmm




It's the First day of Fall and Day 22 of waiting for LOA! Let's hope we have 22 more left and we can have it in our hands! Have a great week!


Sorry for the boring post. I figured I needed to post something.......

Wait for the Lord; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.
-Psalms 27:14

Waiting.....{still}

Well we are still awaiting Mr.Andrew and it is hard! I don't remember Anna Grace's wait that much, I was 10-11 at the time. Even though it was a 2 year wait and well we have only been waiting for Andrew for 3 months. Although it feels a lot longer than that because I prayed for so long for him! Maybe..... (: I am kind of at a loss as of what to post about since we are just waiting so warning A LOT of nonsense and rambling will most likely go on around here until we get some news. (Gives you a good reason to Pray LOA comes quick huh? lol.) All kidding aside PLEASE pray! (: Hope everyone is having a wonderful week.

"Once our eyes have been opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know, and hold us responsible to act."
-Proverbs 24: 12

Hugs,

12 Days

Well today is day 12 of waiting for LOA! Praying we only have 2 more sets of 12! (Pray that with us!)

(taken Thursday)
also check out
ashtonsmeimei.blogspot.com
for updates.

Princess Blog Designs
As most of you know I design my own blog and have a blog designing website. When we started the adoption for Andrew I wanted to find a way to raise money to help bring him home. I thought this would be the perfect way to do it too! I am offering many things other than blog designs. Here are my prices and pictures of things I have already designed.

1st timers- $30- You will get a personalized header, background, and you can have sidebar pictures (3 is what is included. to add more it is $2 for each additional picture).

Returners- $25- I will redo your blog like you had it before with a new header and background

Signatures- $5- This will be a signature at the bottom of your posts that will match your design

Photoshopping- $5- I can do almost anything to a picture and make it look great! (adding special things to your photos (enhancing them- b/w- Sepia- etc.) and doing about anything you ask for.)

Collages- $10- Pretty much scrapbook pages online that can easily be printed out!! These are great for almost anything! (sizes can be 12x12/ 8.5x11/4x6/5x7/if you need a different size just let me know :] ) I do most of my pictures of Anna Grace in collages like this.



Birth, Adoption, Christmas, and Birthday Announcements- $15- I will design an announcement with your pictures and wording on it. I will email you the design and it can be printed out easily. Just like the collages. (:

If you want a design you will email me first @ princessblogs@yahoo.com. Then you will tell me what you want and I will make your blog look magical! Same goes with photoshopping and collages. :) Once you are pleased with your design, you can make payment through PayPal (As for paypal make it payable to mommieofaa@yahoo.com- this is my mom's account so that she can help keep up with my designs)

Guess What we Got??


Yes!!! Yippee!! We are so thrilled!! Thank you Jesus!!

Have a blessed weekend! I know we will!!

Please Pray we can get a speedy LOA!!

Waiting.....

Well as of today we are still waiting on our LID. We are trusting God through this and believing this is all in his hands. Isn't that just awesome? I mean we don't have to worry because it is all in his hands. I am just so in love with that thought! How much better could it get?
Please as always continue to pray for Andrew and our family.
Have a great week!
Leaving you with this amazing verse.

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

3 VERY Special Letters.....




Today we got our DTC!! Woo Hoo! Huge prayer answered!! Now we are praying for a speedy LID and then LOA!!

We are coming sweet Andrew!! We love you sweet boy!

YAHOO!!



It came! It came!! Yay!!!! We are soo excited!!! we went to Columbia today, got the papers authenticated and they are off to Carol and then to our agency!! Yes! Our Paperwork is done! We are done!!! Yes!

WE ARE GOING TO CHINA!!!! YES! (sooner the better!)