Maybe the Lady in the Moo Moo was right?

Monday we went to work on the new house. As we were walking up to the front door one of the kids spotted this huge hawk in the oak tree above us. The picture doesn't do him justice he was at least 18" tall. And if you look closely you can see a squirrel tail hanging over the branch. He was very regal and majestic and sat there for quite some time with his prey.

When our friends the Davis's went to Petsmart to adopt a cat the lady doing the adoptions told them they could not let the cat outside.(she sits there every week in her moo moo gown and slippers) They asked why and she said "Oh, you never know, an owl or hawk might swoop down and take it away"

We thought this was quite humorous. But, right on moo moo lady this hawk could have easily carried off a kitten. (Maybe not the Davis's cat Texas, that cat is so big a tow truck might have a hard time) Hopefully Izzy and Webster are big enough now to fight over this hawk once we move in.

HEY WEST LAKE, WESTLAKE

All season I've been wanting to take the kids to a high school football game. But with soccer on Saturdays we just haven't been able to. Well last week, Mom called to say that our High School is undefeated and in the Playoffs. The Westlake Rams were 12 - 0. So Friday night we bundled up and headed to the stadium. At half time the score was 0 - 0. This was truly a high energy, high impact, highly attended game. It was FUN and Fast. By the end of the game Westlake had taken over and played great "smash mouth" football.(I read that in the paper this morning) The final score was 27 - 0. RAMS WON! They are now 13 - 0. They will play Patterson, LA next Friday and if their streak continues they will head to the LA Superdome in New Orleans for the High School Championship game.

We had a great time reminiscing and seeing lots of familiar faces. I kept expecting to see Carla, Kim and Rachel walk across the track in their cheerleader skirts. I then kept checking the 3rd quarter clock to make sure I was back in the band stands after our half-time presentation. It was a little smack in the face when I realized those memories were so fresh and are at least 15 years old. Another slightly hard realization is that I taught the quarterback when he was in the Two year old class at Mother's Day Out! (Ouch!)

I did see my friend Kim on the sidelines. She gets special privildges and all since her dad is the Head Football Coach and has been for a very long time. I was just as happy for their family I was for the players.

Can't wait to see what happens next Friday night!!! Only, I guess I'll just need to hear about it!

Piggy Back Bloggin'

Last Sunday my friend Gayla and I babysat for our friends who have 9 month old triplets. I would love to post pictures here but there are 2 things to consider here:
#1 I didn't take my camera
#2 Gayla has done such a wonderful job posting it on her blog
so just click here and you can see the pics
http://thedavis4.blogspot.com/

Boy Blue

Little Boy Blue

come blow your horn, the sheep's in the meadow and the cows in the corn...

WAIT!!!! Where's your horn? So this year's Nursery Rhyme parade went off without any tears (see http://dswalling.blogspot.com/2006/11/little-miss-muffett.html) if you have forgotten the spider incident of '06

However, Little Boy blue did not like the cardboard horn that his mother got up an hour early to make for him. So, I guess his teacher thought you wouldn't really know what character he was unless he had a little sign to hold.

He was fine holding the sign, I would have liked to have seen my horn displayed but at least there were no tears. I am learning how to pick my battles. This one was not worth winning.....Just look at that smile

Another step closer

Monday morning I mailed our Homestudy to the INS office. We are now waiting on a fingerprint appointment.
After our finger prints are cleared we will be issued a FDL (Favorable Determination Letter) After we recive this letter we can mail our Dossier off to China. Then we will move on and wait yet again. The hardest thing about this process is waiting on other people. The Houston INS office has a fairly good track record with processing papers in a timely manner so we hope it won't take to long.(Please pray that it will go quickly)
We also recived an update on Ty's physical growth. Looks like he is going to be a big boy. Right now he is the same height as Mia and weighs 7 pounds more than her. The update also says that he knows how to unwrap candy, can turn a TV on with a controller, knows how to move a stool over to climb, and doesn't like to share. But really people what two year old does like to share?

The funniest thing to us is that it says he is "fond of quietness" Every once in a while when things really get jumpin' over here, David and I look at each other and say "fond of quietness"
Adjusting to the noise may be one thing but the thing that worries me the most is that the report says he HATES the camera and Cries when he sees one. Oh, people this could be BAD!!!! Because as Zane said it so eloquently "OH NO!, Mom what are you gonna do? You're all about the Scrapbooks"

Lost N Found

We have been missing our orange and white cat, Webster since Halloween night. We didn't worry about him at first because he has gone prowling for a day or so then returned. But this time he has been missing for Four days. So, last night I made some signs with his picture and about 2 a.m.(After David finished watching the Dallas Cowboy game on Tivo) David went and taped them up around the neighborhood.

When I went to bed I was very worried about the cat. I just wanted to know what might of happened to him. I was concerned someone might have picked him up and taken him home while out trick or treating. So I prayed!! I admited to God I felt a little silly praying about my lost Cat but in the Bible it does say to take EVERYTHING to God.

So this morning after the kids left for school my neighbor who drives the morning carpool called to tell me they had spotted Webster on the drive to school. Zane had gotten out of the car and tried to capture him but he squirmed away. So, Mia and I took off down the street to see if we could spot him as well. We snooped around in a few people's yards(hoping no one would call the cops) and then finally we stood still and quiet for a little bit and he walked around the corner of a house. I called his name and he ran straight to me. I picked him up and carried him home. When we got in the house he ate for 15 minutes straight. Then went upstairs and laid down, he slept for Seven hours. He was dirty and his fur was very damp, so I don't think anyone had taken him in. Here he is catching up on some much needed rest.

All day I have been thanking God that he answered my prayer. I've also had several thought about the Prodigal Son. Funny how a cat can teach Biblical lessons.

Mia is practicing her new "Santa" look. As we have been shopping lately I've started saying the oldest line in the book- "We'll have to tell Santa you want it." I guess she's having flashbacks to last year's visit to see Santa and every once in a while she will get very quiet and ask if she HAS to sit on his lap in order to get toys. I think she's looking for a loophole in the system.

However, after much contemplation one day she announced that this year she would "Try to sit on his lap, but she may just need to sit on the bench beside him"

Oooooh! this girl is Smart!

Too Cute to Spook

Heading out for Trick or treating is Darth Vader, Hannah Montana, Star Wars Clone Trooper and a Pink Kitty.

We're Pre-Approved

We're pre-approved not for a new Visa, Discover or Mastercard..... But to adopt Ty. The DHL package arrived at the office in Oregon this morning and Tiffany called to let me know the good news. This letter basically states that based on the information we sent, China will allow us to adopt and we can proceed as planned. Now we will finish getting all of our papers(dossier) together and submit it to China ASAP.
The exciting part of this it that we were told it may take from 6 - 8 weeks to receive this PA(pre-approval). It only took 3 WEEKS!
We can also now request updates on how Ty is doing and we can send him care packages until we arrive. It may take a long time to get an update but we can ask because the Chinese governement considers him OURS!

AWANA

Ever since we moved here we have been involved in AWANA club. This year Mia is able to be in the Cubbies program. Every week the kids have bible verses to memorize and recite to their leader. Mia even has a weekly verse. It has been a wonderful way for the kids to learn scripture. It's even helped me to learn many verses, plus last year Zane had to learn all the books of the Old Testament. Which I am fairly sure I knew at some point but I am now current on them again.

Contentment

I was sorting through some pictures for my upcoming Scrapbook Retreat Weekend and found this picture I don't remember taking. Is that not two perfect looks of contentment?

Future Make up Artist

Can I just say, she had never been more pleased with herself.

BOO!

Last night we got "Booed" About 8:30 the doorbell rang. David went downstairs to see who might possibly be at the door at this late hour. (I of course was hoping it was someone with a cashier's check ready to buy the house.) But, anyway when he got to the door there was no one there. Only an orange pumpkin bucket, full of Candy and a note saying we have been "booed". The good kind too, Snickers, Reese Cups, Twix, etc. Our Boo phantom spares no expense. Here's the Boo bucket now, less than 24 hours later. You can see with 4 kids and 2 adults who think they're kids, the candy doesn't last long. We're hoping for a "Boo"fill later next week.

*disclaimer* Daddy you can quit worrying about the candy being tainted I have a real good idea who my Boo phantom is, (Just think wife of the furniture man)

Because we all need something funny....

Soccer Season

Soccer season has begun and this year we have 2 players on the field. Trent is playing for the Jr. Tigers and Kaylee is playing for the Lady Mustangs. Both of them really enjoy playing. And we enjoy watching them. I enjoy the game from my folding chair and David enjoys watching while coaching on the sideline. Trent even made 2 goals last week.

The process

Some of you have asked how the adoption process goes for a SN child. So here is the best I can explain it.
1. Accept the referral (child is pre-identified)
& Sign with the agency that has his file
2. We send a Letter of Intent to adopt this child to China (1 week)
3. China Sends back a letter of Pre-Approval (6 -8weeks)
4. Submit our Dossier(paperwork) to China (as soon as Pre-approval returns)
5. China sends back a Letter seeking Confirmation to make sure you still want to go through with the adoption (12 - 17 weeks)
6. We say YES and then they send a Travel Approval (2 - 4 weeks)
7. Travel to China to complete the adoption (2 weeks in country)

Total time for the process 9 - 13 months.

Currently we have completed steps 1 & 2. We are now waiting for our Pre Approval (#3) and are working on our dossier(#4) The social worker is coming to our house this evening for our last meeting so she can write our homestudy.

Even though we have already adopted from China we have to do all the paperwork again. (Seems like they could dig up the old file but we follow their rules)

Slidin'

A friend of ours took this picture of Trent at his birthday party. I think this pictures sums him up quite nicely.

Because humor can sometimes lead to me in overdrive

The other morning I went through the Starbucks drive through. (The fact that Starbucks even has a drive through is a wonderful act of kindness) I ordered my usual Tall White Chocolate Mocha. (When Mia sees a coffee cup on a dish towel or something she asks if it is a Chocolate Mocha? So, you now know how often we frequent the establishment.
So the lady in the building says, " OK one Triple Veggie Mocha?" Quickly I begin scanning the board for something "VEGGIE" because this just really doesn't sound like something a Star. would make.
Then it hit me that OH she's being funny. I tell her yes, you got me that will be all.

We exchanged money for coffee and while driving away I realize that I have been given not a Tall but Venti size cup and I check my receipt and have a triple shot of espresso in my drink. (The young man preparing the drink apparently heard the Triple Veggie and thought Triple Venti)
Well, it was to late and to much trouble to go back through the drive so I drank it anyway.
It tasted the same but can I just say that I was in overdrive all day and into the wee hours of the morning. (Me in overdrive is a somewhat scary thought, especially if I am talking)
Lesson learned here is that when you are in need of a cleaning marathon or all night study date a Triple Venti White Chocolate Mocha is what you need to order.

"I thought China only adopted Girls?"

Great question thanks for asking...... Here's my take on the situation......China does adopt girls primarily. Because of the one child law the older generation places more importance on male children so girls are abandoned more. However, there are many boys available for adoption in China. Sometimes the child may be perceived to be small or weak, have some type of birthmark, or sickness. In these cases the birth parents will abandon the child. (Yes, abandon) We are not talking, going to the local adoption agency and telling them you can't take care of your child and want a nice couple to raise it. It is illegal to place a child for adoption in China. So the alternative is abandonment. The children are literally left until someone finds them. Usually a police officer in the early morning, near daybreak. But back to the boy issue.
In China if an orphan is not adopted from the orphanage they are given what is equivalent to an 8th grade education. Then the child is sent to work or put out on the street. Tradition has it that young people will marry only those in their "class". So, a girl left in an orphanage will at least have the hopes to one day be a wife. In a country where there is a severe shortage of women there's a good chance all the girls will be married regardless of "class" and education. However, in a country with this type of situation an orphan boy has no chance of ever making it past a menial job and likely won't marry because he has nothing to offer a wife without an education or family.
So, yes China does have boys available for adoption. There are several you can take a peak at on the agency web-site. www.allgodschildren.org click on adoption and then waiting children

Here he is

Due to some agency rules I've had to take the picture of Ty off the internet. If you would like to see him email me and I'll send you the picture. dszkwalling@kingwoodcable.com

We have some exciting news to share. We are in the process to adopt another child. We will likely be returning to China next summer to bring home a sweet little boy. He is currently two years old and is 11months younger than Mia. So by the time we travel he will have just turned three. His name is Tao Yun and we will likely call him Ty. Ty was born with a cleft lip and palate but was surgically corrected last year. He is considered Special needs because of this fact. Most China adoptions take about 2 years now, but because of his special needs classification we will probably be able to adopt him in 9 - 13 months.

Since the day Mia was placed in our arms we felt strongly that we would adopt again. We really weren't sure when or how but lately God has really shown us that the time is now. We are being obedient to His call and the way all the circumstances just keep working out leads us to a place where we know this is ordained by God. Just one quick example is that before we knew his Chinese name we had decided that we would like to name him Ty. And then when we opened the email with his medical information we noticed that his name is Tao Yun. I don't think there are mere coincidences where God is concerned.

We look forward to introducing the newest member of the Walling crew to all of you next summer. All the kids are so excited and can't wait to see him.
Please keep us in your prayers as we go through the next few months of paperwork. With this type of adoption everything goes a little faster and we pray that it will go lightning fast. The sooner he can come home the better