Shopping With a Purpose

Emma used to just be a name. Now Emma has a face (and very little hair) and we are super close (like in the next couple of months) to bringing our girl home!!!!!!! My sweet friend Courtney is hosting a Noonday Collection trunk show where a portion of the proceeds will go towards our adoption expenses. If you aren't familiar with Noonday, they are an amazing company that empowers impoverished artisans around the world. The products they sell are gorgeous and what is better than helping provide sustainable income for people all over the world AND getting some beautiful pieces of jewelry or other accessories along the way? Our party is next Thursday, October 9 at Courtney Layson's house in Madison. Let me know if you need directions! You can check out the pretty things in the Noonday Lookbook. Just go to www.leslieleon.noondaycollection.com

If you are not able to attend the party, no worries, you can just go to that site starting on the 9th, pick out what you would like and at checkout, put "Nelson Family Adoption" in the trunk show field. We so appreciate your support as we get ready to bring Emma home! So, go "shop with a purpose", help artisans around the world, make one less orphan...and knock out your Christmas shopping!!!!!!

A Few Things

Since receiving our referral last week, we got started on the mound of paperwork that came along with it.  We mailed in our intent to adopt Emma and were told we would receive our Letter of Acceptance (LOA) sometime in the next few weeks.  Well, 5 days later, we got our LOA!!!! That is CRAZY fast but I'm not complaining!!!!  As much as I whined and groaned about how long our Dossier had been in China, it was amazing to see that although it seemed as though nothing was going on, our paperwork had been on the move and helped to expedite this part of the process.  Over the past 2 days, I have been up to my eye balls in what appeared to be a never ending pile of documents.  Luckily, I sent off our signed LOA and our I-800 (immigration papers to bring Emma in the US) today.  We also were able to begin the visa application process.  We've been busy!!!!  Now we will wait on the approval of our I-800.  After that, we will file 1 or 2 more documents and wait for our TRAVEL INVITATION!!!!! Woo Hoo!!!!!!

This past weekend, we went to Columbus to celebrate J's Meemaw's 95th birthday.  All three of Meemaw's children were able to be in town, 2 grandkids, and 4 little great grands were in attendance.  I don't think Meemaw liked all the attention one bit......=)

All 5 Nelson grandkids!!!!!!

I think Nana enjoyed having all her grands under one roof for the weekend too!

And in completely unrelated news, here are a few snaps from school.  I love that EK is there with my mama and I love that she has made some precious friendships as well!

Beautiful Baby Girl

This week, we saw a picture of our baby girl for the first time!!!! One might think that in the 17 years that I have been praying and thinking about adoption I would have thought about what I would actually say when the day finally came that I got to see my baby's face.  Well, I was ill-prepared and am completely at a loss to adequately articulate all the feelings and emotions that have flooded over me this week.
  

Monday night was a "Match Night."  These have started to happen more frequently, so I really didn't think much about it on Monday.  The China team had informed us that we would be notified if we received a referral and if you didn't hear anything, it was safe to assume that you did not receive a referral.  There was no phone call or email on Monday night. Bummer, but with it being our 12 match night, I was starting to get used to the feeling.  

Tuesday morning, Walker and I were on the way to the church for Bible Study when my phone rang.  I didn't know the number but answered anyway and heard our case worker from the China Team say, "Good morning Wesley!  How would you feel about a referral?"  Um seriously??? I was like " I would LOVE a referral!"  She talked for a couple of minutes and all I heard was "girl" "17 months old" and "repaired cleft lip."  I wheeled into the church literally on 2 wheels as she said she was emailing me the file right then.  I was shaking like crazy and called J 5 times before he answered.  Oops.  He was in a meeting. We got Walker dropped in the nursery and I ran up to Bible Study to tell them I would be a little late.  J and I went down the hall and opened up all the referral documents and started to read about the most precious little girl.  Y'all, I CAN NOT WAIT to show you her picture because she is seriously beautiful.  I could not help but get emotional as I read the details like "chubby cheeks," and "loves biscuits and baby dolls."  We then sent her file to our medical team for their evaluations/recommendations.  They checked things out and gave us the green light to proceed and submit our formal intent to adopt this sweet girl!!!!  There are many things that still have to be done before we can bring her home, but we are hopeful that we will travel sometime around the first of the year.  

We are just overwhelmed by God's goodness and how present He has been throughout this entire process.  He has been so faithful and it is truly a blessing to be a part of this story.  Tuesday was my Mammaw Jones' birthday.  A day that was going to be tough in the wake of her recent death turned out to be a day of joy in celebration of our Emma.  How cool is that?  His timing is pretty amazing!!!  There are MANY ups and downs as you go through the adoption process but the picture of redemption that adoption paints is just beautiful.  We are so thankful that there will now be one less orphan in the world and we CAN NOT WAIT TO BRING EMMA HOME!!!!!!  

This and That as Seen Through the iPhone

Here is a little recap of our week.  We celebrated my mom's birthday with some yummy Lost Pizza.  The kids made her cupcakes.  Walker opened the container while we were in line and dumped them all out on the floor.  Yum.

EK and her BFF Annie were dressed alike at Sunday School.  Too much cuteness.

Walker had a little wildlife encounter while we went to check out a vegetable garden plot with a friend. He loved the horses.  I'm thinking he may need a trip to the Buffalo Park in Tupelo.

Miss Priss got her school pictures back.  I think her little uniforms are about the cutest things ever.

Bless sweet Walker.  He brings home a painting everyday from school.  It is always green and it always resembles this masterpiece.  He is so proud.

The kids think the photo booth in the youth center is a pretty fun way to pass the time.

Pockets...check.  Cowboy boots...check.  He is well on his way to being a big boy!

They want to be like the big kids so badly!

We were very spirited for school on Friday!

And how could I NOT acknowledge the MSU victory over LSU last night.  It is hard work being a State fan!  At least we can out victorious this time, but seriously I could have done without the last 5 minutes of that game.  I do not appreciate the gray hairs I now have because of it!

Probably A Little Weird

So, I am not exactly sure if this is PC or not, but since we were (mostly) all together at Mammaw's funeral, the camera made an appearance. And let's be honest, how many times are we together in REAL clothes as opposed to our favorite comfy clothes????

Walker spent a few days in Columbus so we were able to do all the things we needed to do without his "help."  So thankful for the Nelson's willingness to keep the wild man for us.

Not that we loved the circumstances by any means, but it was a treat to get to see Jordan for a little unexpected visit. We can't wait until Christmas when she, Ross and the puppy will be home for a few days!!!

 And finally, thank you Apple for keeping these little people entertained!!! Sweet little cousins.

Celebrating a Life Well Lived

Saying goodbye is tough and this week, my family had to say goodbye to our sweet Mammaw Jones.  I am beyond thankful for the assurance we have in Christ that although we had to say goodbye on this side of Heaven, we will one day be reunited.  One of the pastors at the funeral described her as "simple goodness," and I love that.  She was a humble, kind, loving, and servant minded lady with some mean cooking skills.  She and my Papaw set such a beautiful example of what a Christian marriage should look like and I am so thankful for their witness to many others.  To be honest, I was worried as to how my Mammaw would make it when my Papaw passed away 9 years ago, but she proved us all wrong.  She was strong, and although I know it was lonely (and incredibly quiet) without Papaw, she continued to live in their home until she went in to the hospital this past week.  That's pretty incredible.  It makes my heart smile to think of the reunion they had on Sunday.  I consider myself very blessed to have had special relationships with all 4 of my grandparents and I am forever impacted by each of their lives and their legacies.  

Little Pats

Since the day that cheerleading camp ended in July, Ella Kate has been looking forward to getting to cheer at a real football game.  Her time finally arrived on Friday and she could not have been more excited.  Not only would she get to cheer at the game, but she also got to be a part of the afternoon pep rally.  I mean really, does it get any better????

Walker was so proud of his big sister and grinned and waved at her the whole time.

The weather became a bit questionable so Kay Kay was able to sneak away from the kindergarten to the pep rally without her students.  My kids were pretty pumped about that since they could have her all to themselves!

My people are pretty precious.

Luckily, the rain cleared and the game went on as scheduled.

Ella Kate got to stand in the spirit line while the football team ran onto the field and then she cheered the first quarter on the track with the big girls.

Thankfully, Walker was corralled a little easier this game with the help of 6 adults!  Back up is a must when attempting a game with this little guy!

She loved every minute!

I would like to think that Walker was just really interested in something exciting in the game, but I'm afraid this face was made only after realizing there was a fire truck behind the field.

The girls performed a dance, several cheers, and the fight song at halftime.  They were precious and Ella Kate had the best time.

I'm very thankful for the cheering section that my girl had too.

It's pretty awesome to live in the same place as these folks!!!

We had a fun night together cheering on our favorite cheerleader and the Patriots!

Tailgating--Madison Style

For the first time in years, we did not get season tickets to MSU football.  With the stage of life we are in, it's just too hard.  It's hard to wrestle Walker under normal circumstances for more than 3.2 seconds. The thought of throwing in 60,000 friends in a confined space makes me nauseous just thinking about it.  On top of that, Sunday is a work day for J (obviously) and getting home at midnight or later makes for a really tough start to the week.  So, all that to say, we will be enjoying this football season from either our own living room, or my parents living room.  Although we missed hanging out with our friends, it really was nice to get to watch the game in dry clothes and put the kids to sleep in their own beds at halftime!!!

We did dress in our game day finest for breakfast with Papaw and then headed over to my parents to "tailgate."

 We had a costume change once we got to Mom's house.  EK thought this was more appropriate for game time. =)

 Walker is obsessed with his jersey too.  He wore it for Maroon Friday and I had to wash it that night so he would have it ready again.

It was a different feel for sure to be cheering from the couch, but honestly, it was just about perfect...a huge Bulldawg win, yummy food, and plenty of things to keep my kids occupied so I could actually watch the game.  Counting down until we get to do it again on Saturday!!!