Ladybug Fun And Other Surprises!

Karmen, Lisa & Carole (in the back) Mary & Julia
Ladybug Friends!
From Jennifer
Sweet bows from Pam

I ABSOLUTELY love my ladybug group! The woman of that group are phenomenal! I hope that one day I will be able to meet each and every one of them! This weekend I was lucky enough to meet up with Karmen again and to finally meet another ladybug Carole! I met Karmen in the fall when her and her husband Greg sang at a neighboring church. They are extremely sweet people. When we met then we talked about going baby shopping in the future. Carole was picking up her sweet daughter Julia when I met Karmen.

We finally made plans to meet and what a great day it was. I have been so stressed lately and this was exactly what I needed. Karmen and Carole along with Carole's sweet daughters Mary and Julia met me at the mall for some shopping. We had such a great time actually talking face to face rather than over a computer. I don't think there was one quiet moment the whole day. After shopping we went to lunch and I was impressed by how good Carole's girls were. We talked forever and the girls just colored and kept themselves busy. Very impressive!

We have vowed to get together again soon and spend more time together! I knew before how special these woman are but now I am just blown away by them. Carole is proof that there will be a happy ending and Karmen who has endured so much these past few years is just an inspiration to me! I don't think she realizes how special I think she is.

Us ladybugs had a fun Spring Bling Swap. We were to get hair bows or caps. Pam had me (again ;-)). She got Diana the sweetest bow with her name on it plus two smaller bows. I can't wait to see Diana wearing her "bling". Thank you again Pam for your generosity and your friendship!

I was in another swap from another group and Jennifer got Diana two cute rompers and a beautiful jewelry box! She composed a poem that brought happy tears to my eyes. I have been so lucky to have been a part of some great activities as we continue to wait for our daughter.

Enjoy the pictures!

18 Months Down....Who Knows How Many More...

I had originally started this post on our 18 month LIDaversary and couldn't muster up enough enthusiasm to actually write anything good or bad. 18 months of not knowing is tough. Its even tougher knowing I have no idea how many months I have left to wait. For whatever reason I believe that 2009 is our year. I won't begin to guess as to when but something tells me it will happen in 2009.



I want to believe that things will change after the Olympics. I want to believe that there will be a speed up. I want to believe that after the spotlight is off China they will start to refer these children at a quicker pace. I am not living in a fantasy world that it will speed up and we will have Diana before the end of the year. I just hope it will become a little more predictable. There are 281 LIDs between the last LID referred and our LID. I just want to have SOME idea as to how much longer we will wait.

When we took the boys to Disney in 2006 we thought it would be the last "big" vacation before we got Diana and had to start making little trips again. We then went to San Antonio last year. Again hoping it would be the "last trip" as a family of 4. We are now planning a mini getaway for Dave and I this summer and then our "last trip" to Disney (shhh don't tell the boys yet) this fall to celebrate our 1oth wedding anniversary. I hope and pray the only real trip we will be making in 2009 will be to China go get Diana.

We will wait no matter how long it takes but there are days I wonder if it really will happen. I am an optimistic person by nature but how long can a person stay positive without any positive feedback? I just continue to hope and pray for my little girl who I already love so much. I think that's why this is so hard. We already love her and just want her home.....