What are you thankful for?

Although we don't have her home, we are sooo thankful for the many faces of Dillen... enjoy!

this is her... "I've been caught!" face

this is the... "I already know how to do it!" face. You just hold it to your ear and talk.

this is her... "Daddy, please?" face

and her "but, why?" face... i just want to push the babies in the swing!

the exhaustion from being so cute!

Ribbons and Bows!

So we've been trying to keep ourselves busy, and not think about the looming holidays. This year has been difficult because of this lengthy process, and the amount of money spent. If we complete our adoption in 2008, we will be able to get some of our money back in taxes this coming year... if we don't, then no money. We have applied for loans and grants, and with the slipping economy things seem to be tight for these nonprofits, and for us. So we have decided to get crafty. I have never been much of a girlie girl, but crafty? I love! So in the next few weeks, you will see some of our handy work as a feeble way to raise money to bring Dillen home. All money received from our crafts will go directly to our adoption expenses and bringing home our baby girl. If the Lord blesses us with an abundance of money, we will spend 100% of it on bringing these children home or providing necessities to those children in need. I will not put a price tag on our crafts. If you wish to purchase any of our creations, you can send me an email (rushbrookemyers@gmail.com or b.myers@learningrx.com) with your address and I will mail, or drop off your order. Chris will also continue to list items on ebay. I have a few pictures of some hairbows that I have made. If you have a particular size or color scheme you are looking for, let me know and I would be happy to email you more pictures. Thanks!

Another weekend

Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks. And God's peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.... I have learned to be satisfied with the things I have and with everything that happens. I know how to live when I am poor, and I know how to live when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of being happy at any time in everything that happens.... I can do all things through Christ, because He gives me strength.

-Philippians 4:6-7, 11-13

Oh what a trip!

Most of you know that the Blackwell family has recently returned with their little guy Zane. Chris and I will be making plans to head north for a visit, and I'll take some pictures when we are there. Although they came home with their boy, you don't know how their trip REALLY went...

On arrival to HCMC, Teresa became ill... and stayed sick throughout most of the trip.

Daniel lost his father while in Vietnam, he also lost a lot of time away from school (he's taking classes over the Internet), and almost 25lbs because the food was so bad. He apparently tried to live on Oodles of Noodles. Daniel, if you are reading this i think you could make a lot of money writing a diet book... How to live on Peanut Butter and Oodles of Noodles for One Month. I'm sure we've got a before and after picture!

There seems to have been an accident back at home while they were away, resulting in a possible broken bone for one of their other children.

While they were caring for Zane before they had their adoption ceremony, he fell in their hotel room. His eye was almost swollen shut and he has a large bruise on his face.

After leaving HCMC and flying to Hanoi the Blackwell's realized that Zane's shot records were still in HCMC.

As they were travelling home through Hong Kong, they were informed that none of their luggage made it on the plane, and Zane had to have is temperature taken because of the recent outbreak of the Bird Flu!

The sickness continues on the plane, this time it's little Zane with vomiting and diarrhea.

Once landing in LAX, they were informed that they were not on the next flight and would have to wait until the next morning to come home.

After talking their way onto that flight, their seats weren't together and the Lord blessed Teresa with a lovely lady (who was travelling alone) that refused to switch seats so that Daniel could sit with his wife and kids.

What an adventure! When you learn all the facts, aren't you just glad they made it home? We can't wait to see them and their precious son! Welcome home Blackwells!

Experiencing God's Patience

I joined a Bible study a few months ago at our church. It was a women's group of about 30 or so, that was going to study the One Month to Live book. I thought... well I've only got to give it a shot for six weeks and then I could throw my hands in the air and say, "I tried Lord!" I had already decided to never get involved in church again. Attending is one thing... invisible entry and exit, but actually getting involved? Finding people that will pray with you and for you, recognizing the lady two isles away because just last week you prayed for her father or mother... I just didn't need it.

So I went, partly to pacify a friend, partly because I wanted God to fail me once again, and partly because I was curious. I loved it. It was like reconnecting with a friend that you once knew. It was exactly what I needed in my life to live in this waiting, this year of nothingness, the moments of depression, it was everything I needed it to be. So for that God, I thank you. I tell about this group of women because we just started a new study... it is called Experiencing God's Peace. I decided that before i can experience God's peace, I should try to experience God's patience....

We received an email from the in country facilitator yesterday... he informed us that they need more time. There are some issues with Dillen's life story. I will post about our journey, and about how we miss our girl, and I will post news on travel, but this new information is for her to tell when the time is right. Pray that God gives us His patience.

And now they come home...

We are so excited to welcome Zane home from Vietnam to the freezing South! We heard from the Blackwells that all went according to plans in Hanoi and not only will they be home this week, they will be home Wednesday morning! We are so thankful! Lets pray for safe travels for the four of them and that they make that connecting flight in Hong Kong, they only have 40 minutes or so.

Lets also hope that we hear something about our adoption. Although the facilitator has told 2 families to send things to Vietnam by way of us next month, our adoption provider has no knowledge of when we should travel. They tell us "this is just the Vietnam experience." If you are in the process, you should know.... this is not normal. As always, we'll keep you updated.

To get you through...

There is no news to report. We once again tried to contact our adoption provider without a returned phone call or email. Even if they don't have any news to share, it would be nice if they attempted to keep in touch with us, or tell us that they don't know anything about our case. It would be nice to know that they called Vietnam, and tried to get an update about our case. If it wasn't for them, we would not have Dillen, and for that I am thankful. I am also grateful that we have met a few wonderful families that will always be in our lives. Other than that, we have no intention of ever working with our agency again or recommending our agency to anyone. So to get you through another weekend, here she is....

G&R for the Blackwells!!!!

We are happy to report that the Giving and Receiving Ceremony went off with out a hitch! The G&R began Thursday morning at 7:30 and they were already in Ho Chi Minh City in their hotel by 4:30pm. We are so glad that the Blackwells will be on to the next step before heading home. They have taken so many sweet pictures of our girl and even some video, that we can't wait to see. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers as they continue to travel through Vietnam with Zane. They will have a few medical appointments in HCMC and then on to Hanoi for his official passport. We are hoping to get news about our adoption soon. The facilitator in Vietnam seems to think we will be travelling next, but we haven't heard anything from our agency in over a month now. We have given up hope that Dillen will be with us by Thanksgiving and hoping to have her home by Christmas. Thanks for all your prayers and support.

Tea for Two and a Province Leader...

The Blackwells had a strange request Wednesday morning... Tea with the Province Leader. This was unexpected because no other family that we are aware of has been asked to tea with the leader. They reported that he was a very nice man and ended the tea with a "Congratulations, your Giving and Receiving Ceremony will be at 7:30 tomorrow morning."

Woohoo! They will be on their way out of the province by Thursday afternoon, some time Wednesday night our time! I'll post pictures of the ceremony as soon as it happens!

Really? A scheduled G&R?

Apparently the Blackwell's have a scheduled G&R for Thursday. Thouc is very sure that it will actually happen this time. Lets keep our fingers crossed for that G&R so they can travel back to HCMC, on to Hanoi and back to the US by the end of the week next week. We are so grateful to the Blackwell family for the pictures they have sent of Dillen and the time they spent with her. They truly have loved on our little girl!

Special Prayer

I just got back from a girls retreat in TN. About 25 or so ladies got together this weekend for some much needed R&R. It is so hard to be away when we get daily news from Vietnam from the Blackwells. I didn't have cell phone reception or a computer! Unfortunately Daniel's father passed away on Friday while they were there in Vietnam. They were unable to come home and be with their family for the funeral. Please keep them in your prayers as they try to finish this adoption as quickly as possible and get home to be with their family. Although they took their youngest daughter to Vietnam with them, they have three children at home and a son-in-law that need prayer and support as they deal with this death without the support of their parents by their side.

Still no G&R

I feel like this blog gets a little repetitive with words like waiting and no news and no G&R. Not just repetitive, but down right depressing. So here is the good news... Today when the Blackwells left the baby home for the night, it was the first time that Zane cried out for his family. It was the first time that he realized that he is supposed to be with them and not watching them leave as they go back to their hotel and wait for their G&R. He is starting to feel like part of them now, his comfort coming from three people that he has only seen for five days. As this process draws out longer and longer, I think of Dillen and the attachment issues that she may have or the possibility of developmental delay, speech delay, etc. But as i read Teresa's blog, and realized that in just 5 days Zane has realized he has finally found his family, I stopped. She is perfect, in every way for our family. She is already one of us. I know that not everyone is meant for this road, but those of us that are can truly understand when someone says that their child was born in their heart. Dillen is a special little girl, and we are one lucky family to welcome her home when His timing is right.

The Continued Surprises

I thought it was a fluke the first time i got a call from Vietnam, but after the second and the third, I realized that we are truly blessed to be in this process with the Blackwell family. They continue to ask about our case daily. Poor little Thuoc in Vietnam, I'm sure he's never heard English like the English that comes out of Pacelot South Carolina! They are collecting tons of miscommunication stories! They still have not been given a Giving and Receiving date. They are hoping for Thursday, because nothing happens on Friday in Vietnam. If they don't have the ceremony, the big debate will begin... where to spend the weekend. They will either stay in the province at their hotel where no one speaks any English, or travel back to HCMC with Thuoc. Lets pray for the G&R this week!

The only update they can give us is that Thuoc said that we would be the next to travel. He continues to tell them that the "Myers will travel next month, one month late." I don't think that will be this month, but hopefully we can be there by her birthday...

Pictures!!!

We got a frantic call last night from Vietnam... "something is wrong with your email and it won't let me send pictures of your girl!" What?!? That is our luck. We did receive some pictures, so we'll post them as they come. These should be the last pictures of Dillen we get before travelling to Vietnam. Notice I said, should be... not will be. You never know these days!

Can you see my teeth?

Small Update...

The Blackwell family is still having Internet problems but they were able send a new post. Here is what they had to say about our girl...
"Daniel is absolutely in love with Dillen. We all are and she is the sweetest baby girl. Her skin is like porcelain and beautiful doesn't begin to cover it. Daniel keeps saying her pictures do not do her justice. The nurses had on the pink dress you sent her with the pink rose buds on it and every time we would look at her they would smooth it out and shake their head yes. They wanted us to know they love that you sent your baby girl clothes. She can stand for about 2 seconds on her on but then plops down and just laughs. She is a thumb sucker like Zane and to be so small she can hang with the big boys. She loves to be held and whenever they put her in her crib she wants Chloe to get in there with her."
Wishing we could be there...

What?!? No Internet?

I can report that the Blackwell family arrived in the province and met their son for the very first time on Sunday afternoon. Zane was much smaller than expected, wearing 6mth clothing (he'll be 2yrs old in February) and feeling a little under the weather. He warmed up to them quite well and played for a few hours with Chloe in their hotel room. I got the phone call from Vietnam on Sunday morning. That's right, i said phone call. As my phone was ringing, i was staring at it trying to figure out what telemarketer was calling at 8am on a Sunday morning until i realized that all those extra numbers were country codes... it was Vietnam! It was soooo good to talk to my friend so far away, in the land that I dream of nightly. She held our girl, but did say that our Dillen, will be a daddy's girl. She said that she only wanted Daniel to hold her. She constantly reached for him. You can imagine Chris' delight when he heard that. I spent some money on the cutest girly wrap carriers to carry that kid all over Vietnam, and she's going to want Chris the entire trip! I don't think you could give Chris enough money to sling Dillen around his body and pose for a picture (no offense Jodi, but i did pick some girly fabric).

Anyway, we don't have new pictures yet to post, because the Internet was not working in their fancy hotel in Vietnam. $32 dollars a night might get you a VIP suite with a separate family room, extra bathroom and morning breakfast, but no Internet? I know it is killing you all, but soon enough we will post some new pictures... Until then enjoy one of Dillen and Zane from September... Also remember to pray that the Blackwell family has their Giving and Receiving Ceremony very soon!

One Post Away!

The Blackwells arrived in Can Tho and are only hours away from their son. They met Thuoc, the Vietnamese man who facilitates our adoptions, at 9am to begin their trip to Can Tho, took a water ferry for part of the way and safely arrived at 2pm to their final destination of the day, the Kim Tho Hotel. Tomorrow is THE big day. They will travel to the floating market in the morning and then to the Hau Giang Baby Home where both Zane and Dillen have spent their time waiting on us, their families, to bring them home. Like us, this has been a long road for the Blackwells. Their Journey to Zane has had many road blocks and after a year and half, on the third corner of the track God surprises them with another hurdle. Daniel's father had a stroke Thursday night here in the US. Pray that the Vietnamese will process their adoption quickly so that they can get home and be with him as he recovers. He is paralyzed on the left side and can not speak.

Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. Proverbs 8:34

Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till He has mercy upon us.

Psalms 123:2