Our Exciting News

I can finally share our exciting news!

It's a 

We can't wait to get her

We already love her.

But her mother and father are especially ready for her to be home.

Our daughter, Jessica, and her husband, Ryan, are adopting a little girl from China.  We have been anxiously awaiting the official OK to share the news and they finally got it.  They are looking to travel to China hopefully in April.

Our little Claire.

How sweet that my grands are bookended by my grand girls.  Elizabeth is the first born and dearly loved granddaughter.

She is followed by Benjamin, Cooper, and Jackson.

Each a delight in their own special way, and I often say, as I watch them at play, I know why God gave me 2 girls.  Boys are ACTIVE and LOUD.  I do love every minute though, even when they wear me out.  Each of my boys is so different from each other, and they are so different when you can get them in some alone time.  Together, well, watch out!

And, sweet little Claire will probably be my last.  We can't wait to meet her!

Laura and I had a shower for her {and her mom, Jessica} last Sunday.

I struggled with an Asian theme, but it all came together.

{I know the tablecloth is a little big}

My centerpiece was bamboo {which was also the prize for the game we played] and some little lanterns I found at Pier 1 and some Chinese blocks that I gave Claire for Christmas.

I already had the bamboo flatware and it was perfect for this theme.

The kitchen table held this centerpiece.  Our theme also included hearts because we used that favorite adoption poem:

Not flesh of my flesh
Nor bone of my bone,
But still miraculously my own.
Never forget for a single minute,
You didn't grow under my heart,
But in it.

Jessica made that cute map of China and I stole borrowed it.

And, finally, the favor, made by Laura.  The cookies were darling ~ and now Jessica has a cookie cutter in the shape of China!  We wanted to tie chopsticks to the ribbon, with out the wrapper.  But when I undid the package and saw that the chopstick holder had Oh! Happy Day! inscribed on them, we had to leave the wrapper on, because it is a VERY HAPPY DAY for our family.

{are those not the cutest cookies?  

my girls do not get their talent from me, not a crafty bone in my body ~ or baker either

notice the little heart at the bottom of the cookie?

that's where Claire is waiting for her mama to come and get her}

Our menu was almost entirely from Costco.  They have some yummy Asian food, orange chicken, egg rolls, wontons, etc.  We all enjoyed our little taste of China.

We can't wait to get our hands on that little girl.

She is very loved and we are so lucky to have her in our family.