Survey Time!

We expected to have our t-shirts ready quite a while ago but it's been more of an adventure then we had expected.

But, we're almost there!  Here's the design:

front

back

In case you can't read the verses around Africa, they are:

• "Father to the fatherless, defender of widows - this is God, whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families." - Psalms 68:5-6
• "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

We are planning to sell the shirts on Etsy.com for $20 (plus shipping), with proceeds going toward our adoption expenses. We'll provide more details when the shirts are ready, but we need your help! Would you please take a few seconds and complete the poll below to give us a general idea of which sizes we should print in the first run?  There is no obligation to purchase but we are trying to gauge interest and size preferences.  Thank you for your help! 

What size t-shirt(s) would you order? (check all that apply)
	Youth XS (2-4)
	Youth S (6-8)
	Youth M (10-12)
	Youth L (14-16)
	Adult S
	Adult M
	Adult L
	Adult XL
	Adult 2XL
pollcode.com free polls

Waiting for you in California

To our little girl,
Last weekend we made a visit to California, where your mom & I grew up.  We were able to catch up with family,

friends,

and of course, enjoy some delicious food.

Oh, and I made some time for 18. You would've been proud of me, I didn't play THAT poorly. Mom's not a golfer, but maybe you'll humor me and give it a try with me someday. I wonder if you're a righty or a lefty...

One of the moments I'll hold dear was the lunch I got to share with Jeremy, Dana, and this precious little girl, Olivia:

Olivia was born just 7 weeks ago with Full Trisomy 18 (T18). That means every cell in her body had three 18th chromosomes instead of the usual pair. Typically speaking, the complications this third chromosome can cause include low birth weight, high amniotic fluid, congenital heart defects, underdeveloped brain, etc.  Most babies with T18 do not live beyond a couple days or weeks, but Olivia was a fighter day in and day out, but took her last breath yesterday.

While I write with a heavy heart for Jeremy, Dana, and family, I am grateful for the time I had with them last week, and the opportunity to meet Olivia.  I am thankful for the way they've encouraged me in our adoption process and their perspective during a situation I can not really comprehend.  I know that the few moments they had with Olivia were precious to them, and they'll cherish those forever. We are praying for them as they grieve the loss of their baby girl, while also thankful to God that she's no longer suffering.

It got me thinking about you, our little girl. You're getting older each and every day, and I wish I could have you here with us.  I know God has a plan and has a timeline that may not be my preferred timeline, but the selfish part of me craves information about you, new pictures, etc.  Days of your young life are flying by, and I want to be experiencing them with you, loving you here in your home with your family, not in an orphanage on the other side of the world.  But alas, it is all out of my control, so I'll stick to praying, and thinking about all that I hope to experience with you someday soon.  We are patiently waiting for you each and everyday.

Being in California, enjoying double-doubles (don't worry, you'll enjoy one someday) and spending time with our family and friends, I couldn't help but reminisce about all of the places that I enjoyed as a child and/or are places that hold some significance in my own life.  I look forward to future visits to California, to experience some of these with you.

I can't wait to see you on our first trip to Disneyland, meeting Mickey Mouse and riding rides.

Or to show you the various places that served as the backdrop for significant events in my relationship with your mom, my beautiful wife - the pier where I told her I loved her for the 1st time, the beach where I asked her to be my wife, and the place where we got married.

Or showing you where you'll someday go to school, The University of Southern California, where I first met your mom. :-)

I can picture us laughing as you first experience the ocean and the waves chasing you back up the beach. What precious memories we will share.

We anxiously await the day we get a phone call notifying us that we've been cleared to travel to bring you home. We're moving as fast as we can to get all of the paperwork done so that day will arrive as soon as possible.

We're also excited that your Uncle Todd and Aunt Beth are adopting as well.  They will be welcoming a little boy or girl home from another part of the world in the future.  We are so thankful to be going through this journey with them and our other friends in the adoption process.  We pray for them all and for the children God has for them.

We pray for you every day and can't wait to get more information about you.  We are learning a lot about patience and faith each day in this process.

We love you so much!