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February 9, 2006
Dear Sianna,
Lets see…no word on Daddy’s prints still…I think it is safe
to assume that we should receive our 171H form in a few
weeks!!!! <sigh of relief> Again…we don’t want to celebrate
too soon. So I am still cautious!
Your daddy and I spent last weekend getting the basement
ready so that we can have guests stay down there…if needed.
We had to do this because once we start on your room…we
won’t have a guest room….so yes…that was our first step in
getting your room ready!! I decided that I am going to just
wing it and go with my gut. I feel confident that if I just
listen to my heart…the whole thing will come together. I am
just going to think of you…happiness….comfort….family…and
little bit of girl power…and I am sure it will be AWESOME!!!
Your grandma Patton bought us this huge book for my birthday
on China. This book has the most amazing pictures of your
culture!!! You are so lucky to be coming from such a rich
and unique background. I was amazed at how different…and how
the same we all are! I have just gotten lost in those
pictures trying to study all that I can. I can not wait to
go to China and soak up everything I possibly can. Maybe one
day you and I can go back to China. Your choice either way!
So you may be wondering why I named you Sianna. It is
actually not a common name. I looked it up on the internet
and less than 150 girls were given this name between the
years 2004-2005. I heard the name “Sienna”…which is a
color…and I thought…I love that…however when I said Sianna
out loud…it just was perfect. As a matter of fact it is the
ONLY name that your daddy and I both adored equally! I did
not know the meaning of the name until just recently…and
once I heard it…I had chills all over.
Your name means….. “God is Gracious”
I don’t know any better to put it!!! But your life with
us…and us with you…is because of the Grace of God! It is
just amazing to me…and I am happy you will have that with
you always!!!
Your middle name, Yvonne, is your grandma Patton’s middle
name! I have always loved that name and felt that it carried
with it some serious pa-zaz! To know your grandma Patton is
to know Pa-zaz!! She is one of the most important, creative,
fun and interesting women I have ever known…or will know.
And for you to have her name….well I hope it keeps you two
connected forever!
Well I guess that is it for now! I am missing you more and
more every day!!! You’re always in my heart and always on my
mind!!!
Smiles and laughter,
~Mommy
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February 10, 2006
Dear Sianna,
Well its 7:15 pm…and your daddy is on his way to your grand
parent’s house to get me some flu medicine…mamma is SICK!!!! I
will be fine though…just running a bit of a fever…but I am
just going to drink lots of water and demand some serious TLC
from your dad! That is the one good thing about being
sick…your daddy is # 1 at making you feel better!
Nothing is really happening with the adoption…just waiting
waiting waiting! I did however come up with a time line of
events since we have started the process. I didn’t realize how
much we had done until I put it all together. I did try and
give an estimated time for the things that we still are
waiting for. I guess my best case sinario is getting you in
December. I realize this is all in God’s hands…and I am ok
with that. However, I hope it is in God’s plan that you are
with us this Christmas!! It was just so difficult this past
Christmas…but it made it better to know that it would be the
last Christmas without you!
Well the dogs are barking up a storm right now. I think once
one starts the other has to just because… You will fall in
love with these furry little things! Ok they are not so
little…but they are gentle and loving…and they are going to
LOVE YOU!!!!
Well the fever is kicking in…so I really better go and rest.
Love you ooodles and ooodles!!!!
~Mommy |
February 12, 2006
Hey Little One!
It is 11:35 pm on a snowy Sunday! We got our first real
snow yesterday and it looks like it will keep going until
tomorrow morning. I don’t really mind the snow if I don’t
have to go anywhere…and today…I am doing a whole lot of
nothing
Well Granddaddy has come through! The medicine worked and
the fever is gone and I feel brand new! I can assure you
of this…if you are ever sick, this is the best family to
take care of you!!! I remember as a little girl when ever
I was sick, dad would go and grab his “black doctor
bag”…as much as I knew, it contained the worlds best
medicine because whatever he did…I always felt better. And
of course my mom would shower love all around me…so no
matter how bad you felt…you felt better with them around!
Your daddy and I will do the same for you!!
Sianna, along this journey we are taking…I wanted to tell
you about some people who have really touched me. My first
encounter was while I was in West Virginia. I had to
gather all of your paperwork for our agency and mail it to
our social worker. This was very emotional for me because
it was one of the biggest steps we had taken. I went to
the post office and waited patiently in line….a “older
gentleman” asked to help me….I told him I need this folder
over nighted, stamped, sealed, and sent whatever way was
going to ensure it made it! He asked, “Do you mind my
asking what is in here?” I began to tear up…and I said,
“My life!” I went on to explain that it was your paperwork
and it had to make it to our social worker…and I was
nervous to let it go. He took the file from me as I was
still holding onto it….and I began to cry. I am not sure
how many people were in that post office that day….but he
leaned towards me and asked, “Can I pray for you and
Sianna?” I looked up…and nodded my head. At that moment,
this man who has no clue as to who I am…said the most
amazing prayer I have ever heard! He prayed for your
comfort while you were waiting…he prayed for our paperwork
to make it to our social worker…he prayed for your health
and happiness…he asked God to cradle you throughout this
entire process….and when he was done…I had forgotten where
I was…and all the people in the post office began
clapping! It was a blessing in the greatest sense!
The day your father and I got married…it truly was the
happiest day of our lives. One of the easiest decisions we
made for our wedding was who would be the photographer.
When your Uncle Will and Aunt Debbie got married was the
first time we had met him. We actually had a lot of fun
just watching him work and enjoyed his personality. Once
we actually saw his work…it was no surprise that he is the
best photographer there is!! Little did we know that we
would encounter him 4 years later, during yet another
pivotal moment of our lives. He and his family were in the
process of also adopting a little girl from China!!! Well,
they have since brought their daughter home and I must
say…she is the cutest thing in the world!!! I followed
their journey in China through their web site…which is
actually the reason why we made this one for you! I have
had a lot of questions and confusion during this process
and his wife, Susan has been a true blessing for me. She
just surfaced during a stressful time and has offered so
much encouragement and support for us. She has been our
“beacon”. I can’t wait for you to meet them…and to meet
their little Elizabeth!
God works in amazing ways…through amazing people! As I
stated…we wanted to create a place for you that we can
communicate with you and feel your growth throughout this
process. I chose to work with Joe and Jennifer, the ones
who created this site, because of what they did for our
wedding photographer. I contacted them and spoke with
Jennifer over the phone…we have only talked once over the
phone…the rest of the time through emails. During our
phone conversation she just wanted to know a little about
your daddy and I. What did we like? What did we do for a
living? What were our hobbies? What were our interests?
Our thoughts of you….So on my way to Knoxville, TN….I
proceeded to tell Jennifer all that I could about your
daddy and I. Her voice was soothing…her input…was right
on! We were two spirits…connecting. Well so began the
process of building a place for you. Over the next couple
of months…we emailed back and forth with ideas and
suggestions. But at some point….Jennifer and Joe…just knew
without even really asking…they just started creating
things on the site that were amazing and perfect. I can’t
explain it. One day…I was looking through some other sites
on their web page and I found one for their daughter….they
had also adopted a little girl from china…and her name is
Adrienne. I read about their journey and they are just an
amazing family. And she is too cute for words!!! Well they
finished the site…and here I was…sad that it had ended
because I enjoyed the contact I had made with Jennifer.
Well one day…a bad day…I had just had enough…I was so
frustrated and I had emailed Jennifer with your letters to
update the site…and she emailed me back with a personal
story of her own. It's not that others around me had not
tried to help me to understand…but Jennifer had the
words…that settled my fears…and calmed my emotions. I have
saved her email…so that you can one day read it. My
point….these are everyday people…making extraordinary
influences during this process. And for that…I am so
thankful…and humbled!
Sianna…I just can’t tell you enough how much you are loved
and cared for right now...God is watching over us all…and
bringing people in our lives to help get us through
this…and to you! I know he is going to put you in the care
of the right people until we get you! And he will protect
you and guide you until he hands over that responsibility
to us.
Loving you more everyday,
~Mommy |
February 26, 2006
Hey Little One!!
Lets see it is 7:44 PM on a Sunday. Your daddy and I
just got back from a weekend in Charlotte North Carolina
for….a Fly Fishing Show! Yes…I spent an entire weekend
around men who live and breath for tying flies, long
casts, rod building, fish stories, lectures on “secret
hidden spots” on the river, and books galore on how to
catch the “big one”. Your dad was in HOG HEAVEN! I did
not have a bad time…I actually enjoyed seeing the child
in your dad come out…I just took a supportive back seat
and allowed him to do his thing…until the second day…
After hours and hours of walking around the same
booths…and waiting for a drawing that we both entered to
win a rod that was well worth over 800.00….I turned to
your dad…and said…I love you…but this has got to end! He
laughed and I think snapped back into reality and
realized that I was in fact his wife…and not a fellow
fly guy. In all honesty, it was a great time…but there
is just so much a girl can handle in one weekend! So
anyway…I am back home.
I have not written as much this month…it is has been an
extremely stressful and busy month. I quit a nasty
habit…which we can talk about when you are older…<grin>
and started a new habit….exercise!!! Work is driving me
crazy…but that is nothing new. And of course we have
been waiting for the next step to take…for YOU! This
Monday…will make 45 days….the 45th day is when we are
SUPPOSED to receive your I17H form….I do not expect it
to be there though….but I do expect it to come soon!
Rumors are flying that the adoption process is speeding
up….I will wait before I bite into that one.
I have good news on your room….I found your bedding!!!!
Once I saw it….it was immediate joy! It is perfect…and
unique! Finding the bedding was huge because that really
helps to guide the rest of the room! Your dad LOVES
it…and it is NOT pink! <grin> But not to worry…it is all
girl!! It is very calming, crisp, bright, unique,
gentle, exciting and charming!!! I CAN NOT WAIT TO GET
STARTED!!!!
<sigh> Ok….well your dad is wanting to re-cap the
weekend….will it ever end?????
Loving you all the way to the moon and back!!!
~Mom |
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