I Need Ideas

As I begin thinking about our trip and our first meeting with Wilson, I realize I don't have the slightest clue what toys to take for him. What about snacks? I've heard other families take cookies or some other kind of snack. I've heard that certain toys are a big hit and others aren't. Wilson is 2 1/2. Give me some great suggestions. Please!!

My Face Hurts

From looking like this all day:

BECAUSE OUR FLIGHTS ARE BOOKED!

Not only that, but our very dear friend has a wonderful husband who travels the world all the time. And because he is so wonderful, he used his frequent flier miles to book our travel for us. I can't even begin to describe how blessed we feel right now.

Counting down the days!

New Donation Box

Our very pretty Reece's Rainbow donation box had to be taken down. For a wonderful reason, I might add. Too many families had donation boxes and the server crashed. Do you understand that? That means, so many children are finding homes that the website couldn't keep up. So, in an attempt to keep the Reece's Rainbow website up and running, all adoptive families have been asked to use Chip-In for the time being.

We currently have $2669 in our grant fund. The chip-in to the right will donate to Reece's Rainbow. All you have to do is specify the Wooddell family and the donation goes directly to our fund. Or you can just use the picture of Wilson on the left to be directed to our Family Sponsorship page on the Reece's Rainbow website.

I hope that cleared up any questions you may have had. Or are you even more confused now?

"God Changed Me"

In a world where people are less and less tolerant of anything "different".

In a society who would like to "do away" with people with special needs.

In a place so full of evil and hatred of people who make one feel uncomfortable - lives a man who knows with all his heart the joy that can only come from a unique extra chromosome.

A man famous for his coaching abilities on major football fields across America.

Listen to what Coach Gene Stallings has to say about his son who was born with that magic extra chromosome.

So Behind

Why I ever thought I would be a better blogger for this adoption, I don't know. There are times when I enjoy blogging and times when I dread it. I've been dreading it for a while now. Not because I have bad news or anything, but when I have a few minutes to write a blog post, I just don't WANT to. So, for my lack of updates, I sincerely apologize.

So much has been happening lately. Last week, Mike and I mailed our I600a, got our state fingerprints done for our background check, had all of our documents notarized, and mailed in our application for visas. This week, I drove down to Austin with the kids to have our documents apostilled (it's like certifying the certificate is certified) and then overnighted them to our placement agency. The documents were received and should be shipped to Eastern Europe today.

Wednesday we were told our first trip will be April 16-23. Did you know that is only 3 weeks from tomorrow? I'm getting very excited! Because on the other side of 24 hours worth of travel, this little guy waits for me:

Oh, and we've decided on a name, but that will have to wait a little longer.

Abundantly Blessed

The love, support and generosity that has been shown to us in the last few weeks completely overwhelms me. Each time our FSP donation amount increases I am brought to tears. But that's not all. Let me share with you some of the other ways people have blessed us.

My sister is hosting a Thirty-One party for us.

My dad, as you know, is hosting a puzzle fundraiser.

A blog friend of Ginger's has started a book sale fundraiser to help bring Wilson home.

A beautiful young lady at our chuch has taken it upon herself to sell more Bring'm bracelets than we can make. (just kidding, we are filling the orders, but our fingers hurt!)

One of my mother's friends has offered to donate a portion of the proceeds from a Tastefully Simple party. And this after she emailed everyone in her address book asking them to donate in one way or another.

Two young sisters from our church donated all the coins they have been saving for a vacation.

But here's the one that gets me: one of the previously mentioned sisters, a sweet 7 year old, decided she needed to do something to raise funds for Wilson. So she went into her mothers fabric stash, cut scraps of fabric into squares and sold them at her neighborhood park for $.25 each.

Yep, moved to tears.

My Neighbors Think I Won the Lottery

I GOT IT!!

My passport arrived in the mail today, shortly after receiving an email from the state department notifying me that it was on its way.

I literally jumped up and down, telling the kids "I got it!" "It's here!"

Then I tried to call everyone I know and NO ONE answered their phone. Do you know how frustrating that is? Come on people. Don't you know you are supposed to be waiting anxiously for my call?

Things are getting really close now. Just a few more documents to sign, notarize, and have apostilled. Then we wait for the visas that we were told to put a travel date of April 15th on.

Did you hear me?

APRIL 15TH

Gotta go get some documents signed. WOOOHOOO!