Where has the time gone????

December 6th, 2011- Gotcha Day- the day and moment I had waited on for so long!

She was so, so sad and hurt when they first gave her to me, I so wanted to just take her pain away but knew that God would soon wash away those tears.


I did get a few smiles and she started to warm up to me before we left.


2 months later at 15 mos old, she is a happy, expressive, fun, sweet little girl that has overjoyed her new family!

It has taken me a while to get around to an update. Since I boarded that airplane November 30th for China, it has been a whirlwind! We have had a crazy, busy time getting into routines, teething, colds, many doctor's appointments, her first surgery and me getting back to work. I wouldn't trade it for anything!

Gotcha day was so bitter sweet; this day that I long for and prayed for many years to come, filled me with such joy and as the saying goes, " my cup truly runneth over" on that day. But it was a day of sadness, pain, and fear of so many unknowns for my baby girl. She loved her caretaker so much and I could tell that she was so well cared for, another answered prayer and I am so thankful. It was really hard on her at first and there were a whole lot of tears, but by the end of the day there also many smiles. She has just done so great and has not looked back since. It is as though she has been with us forever.

Madie is so smart and amazes us each and every day. I can't believe that she has learned so much in the 2 months she has been home. She repeats everything we say and has learned so many new words. She LOVES music and and will just sing and dance all the time. Sometimes she does things and I just think- how in the world did she know to do that! She is growing by leaps and bounds and really needs to slow down. She is filled with such joy and has a personality that will knock your socks off. She absolutely adores her daddy, brothers and the dogs! They are all a lot fond of her too!

The journey to Madie was so, so, SO, SO long, but to be on this side of God's plan for our family is amazing and wonderful. To be obedient and remain faithful is so hard sometimes, but too see just how perfect she is with our family and to know that she was hand picked by God to be with us, just overjoys my heart. I would do it all over again to have just her. I know that there will be things to overcome in her lifetime, but I know that when there are valleys and tears, we will just look ahead to many more days of happiness. Now I just need to get back to serving, and praying for whatever God has in store for our family next. It is so easy after such a long, hard trial to sit back and not want to jump back in, but I am praying to do just that! Hopefully it will not be as long for an update:)

Love and blessings to all,

Tammy

Bye to Guangxi on to Guangzhou....

We left Guangxi on Friday and headed to Guangzhou. I enjoyed seeing where she was from and how the people live. I did not get to go to Laibin the city she was born, we had to stay in Nanning to finalize her adoption. Guangxi is such a beautiful place and we really enjoyed the warmer weather. Cindy our guide was really sweet and cute as she can be. The people were so nice and really intrigued with us. They would follow us around and take our pictures. It was really bitter sweet to leave, knowing Madie was leaving the only place was born and will probably not be back for many years. Our first airport and flight experience was not good. We went through the security and they took her from me and it was down hill from there. It was way too much for her and she got an upset stomach right before we boarded. We finally got to Guangzhou and we love it here. We have really enjoyed the hotel and the city. Our guide Shiyan is wonderful and I am so thankful for her. We enjoyed the Folk Art Museum and it had amazing art with unbelievable talent behind it and very pretty. Today was our Consulate Appointment. I took our oath and she is official in every way! No more paperwork!!!!! That makes me very happy:) We also enjoyed Shaiman Island today and did lots of shopping and got some really neat gifts, mostly for Madie of course! Madie is doing great. Thanks for all the prayers - I have definitely felt them. She is bonding well and I am loving all the kisses and smiles. She has a bit of a temper and it rears its head when she gets hungry (my girl loves to eat) or if she gets tired:) She is so beautful and so smart and funny. We have one more day here and then it will be off to her forever home and to meet her daddy and brothers and family! I cannot wait, they are going to fall in love instantly! Please continue to pray for traveling mercies and that she does well on Wednesday when we leave. I am really nervous about our big travel day:( We will leave the hotel at 6 am to head to the airport and then we will fly to Shangai where we will have a 6 hour layover before our 14 hour flight to Chicago, then onto Nashville -over 24 hours of travel time/layovers is going to be hard on her. Here are some more pics of this week!

Mommy and Madie

My big girl! She is walking really good! She gets a little wabbly,

but amazing how well she gets around

Beautiful Smile:)

She made a friend at the White Swan Hotel

So Cute! There was a Chinese guy standing

beside me and he laughed and laughed and got

the biggest kick out of her glasses

Our awesome travel group and new friends! It is hard to

get all the kiddos looking ahead-we have had

a lot of fun together!

We left Guangxi on Friday and headed to Guangzhou. I enjoyed seeing where she was from and how the people live. I did not get to go to Laibin the city she was born, we had to stay in Nanning to finalize her adoption. Guangxi is such a beautiful place and we really enjoyed the warmer weather. Cindy our guide was really sweet and cute as she can be. The people were so nice and really intrigued with us. They would follow us around and take our pictures. It was really bitter sweet to leave, knowing Madie was leaving the only place she was knows and was born and will probably not be back for many years. Our first airport and flight experience was not good. We went through the security and they took her from me and it was down hill from there. It was way too much for her and she got an upset stomach right before we boarded. We finally got to Guangzhou and we love it here. We have really enjoyed the hotel and the city. Our guide Shiyan is wonderful and I am so thankful for her. We enjoyed the Folk Art Museum and it had amazing art with unbelievable talent behind it and very pretty. Today was our Consulate Appointment. I took our oath and she is official in every way! No more paperwork!!!!! That makes me very happy:) We also enjoyed Shaiman Island and did lots of shopping and got some really neat gifts, mostly for Madie of course! Madie is doing great. Thanks for all the prayers - I have definitely felt them. She is bonding well and I am loving all the kisses and smiles. She definitely has a temper and it rears its head when she gets hungry or tired:) She is so beautful and the smart. Today was our Consulate Appointment. I took our oath and she is official in every way! No more paperwork!!!!! That makes me very happy:) Please continue to pray for traveling mercies and that she does well on Wednesday when we leave. We will leave the hotel at 6 am to head to the airport and then we will fly to Shangai where we will have a 6 hour layover before our 14 hour flight to Chicago, then onto Nashville -over 24 hours of travel time/layovers is going to be hard on her. Here are some more pics of this week!

Madie- Green Mountain Park

Today was a great day! Madie was soooo good today. Her personality is shining and it is just what I thought it would be. She is so full of laughter, and get ready because she has a smile that can make you fall to pieces! I am so in love with her. I just hold her and look at her and can't believe I have her. We went to Green Mountain Park here in Nanning and it was so beautiful. Full of beautiful flowers, green trees and water. I think Madie enjoyed her time outside walking around. We leave her tomorrow to head to Guangzhou and I must say I am ready because I will be closer to coming home! I really miss my boys and I can't wait to see them and for them to meet Madie. Enjoy some of todays pics:)

Oh how I love this sweet face!

We have Madie!!!

After the long wait I now have my beautiful baby girl! We got her yesterday and I cannot tell you how emotional it was. I thought my heart was going to melt when they walked in the room with her. The orphanage director and her foster mom brought her. I am so thankful that she was very loved and very close to her foster mom. When they handed her to me she screamed for 10 minutes or so and then calmed down and started to play after they left the room. It was so heartbreaking to see her hurting. She is amazing and hung in there like a trooper yesterday. It was emotionally draining for her. Last night at bed time it was very hard she screamed for a while. finally she just wanted in the baby bed with her blanket and she rubs her face with it while I patted her to sleep. She slept all night and let me say today is a new day! She has played and laughed and give me tons of love! She is very loving and full of personality. I signed our papers and she is officially Madison Rose Lilan Comer and an orphan no more. I thank God for my precious girl- I cannot imagine my life without her in it. Now for what everyone wants! I am having trouble uploading pictures so I will tag them in facebook.

Tammy

Delay.....

Well the last 24 hours have been unexpected and very tiring to say the least. We arrived at the Beijing airport yesterday at 4:50 am to leave for Nanning to get Madie. The fog was so dense all the flights were cancelled or delayed. After 18 hours in the airport we boarded our plane last night at 11:30 to then sit on the runway until 1:30 am to de-ice the plane. We just arrived in Nanning and it was 5:00 am. Our guide Cindy told is that we have to meet her in 2 hours to go meet Madie! I am so unbelievably excited. I guess we will be running on adrenaline today. Let's just hope that she sleeps:) Yesterday was a complete let down and so terrible! I am getting her things ready now to go and meet her. I will post pictures of us together FINALLY hopefully tonight. Please pray for us. More soon:)

Tammy

Beijing

The last couple of days have been great! It has still been very cold, today coldest yet. Saturday we spent the day at the Cloisonne Factory and the Great Wall. It was an awesome trip and the wall is so unbelievable and beautiful. I must say that it was a little steeper climb than we expected, but we made it! We took a cable car part of the way up and then climbed the rest of the way. For lunch they took us to a restaurant where we were served some interesting, very authentic Chinese food. We did try as much as we could, but it is just not like the Chinese at home! Today we went to Tinnamen Square, Forbidden City and the city of Hutong. Me and Missy thought we had gotten left at the square, but luckily they retrieved us! Forbidden City was a very huge place and very beautiful. It was built in 1407 during the Ming Dynasty by the Emperor. I can't imagine something like this place being built that long ago. We then went to Hutong which is a small area of Beijing and we took rides through the narrow city streets on bicycles, which our guide Daniel called our Mercedes. He was quite funny and we enjoyed his tour. It was very humbling to see how the people here live. They do not even have restrooms in their homes, they have community restrooms, that he said have not been there long. I cannot say enough how much we have enjoyed our travel group. Especially the Valentines who live in our hometown and go to our church. It is crazy we had to go 8000 miles away to meet them. For those of you who know them and go to our church, the next time you see Darren, just approach him and say, "Brad, can we touch your enormous calves and take your picture?" He has been quite the celebrity around here, along with everyone else. We definitely stand out in the crowd. One last thing that has been quite the adventure are riding on the streets with the other vehicles. The laws of the road are only "guidelines" they are not the rule by any means. They drive absolutely crazy and LOVE to honk their horns at everything and anybody. You take your life into your own hands when crossing on foot. It has been a great experience and just way too much to catch it all in such a short time. Missy has been a great travel partner and we have had a ton of laughs so far. Tomorrow is Madie day. We leave the hotel at a bright and early 4:50 am to go to the airport and head to Guangxi/Nanning City. I expect to have her by early afternoon. I am so excited and thank God that this day has come. Please pray for us and pray for Madie and that this transition is as easy as possible on her and that she will start to bond with me very quickly. Pray that we all stay healthy and safe while traveling. I don't think I will be getting very much sleep tonight! I will try to post pictures of Madie soon:) Enjoy a few pics from the last couple of days!

Hutong Bicycle Tour
Emperors quarters at Forbidden City

One of the buildings at Forbidden City

Me and my partner in crime Missy/Forbidden City

Memorial at Tianneman Square

Beautiful view at the Great Wall

Us on the way up!

We are still breathing!

We are finally in Beijing!!!!

After a very lonnngggg 22 hours at airports and on airplanes we arrived in Beijing at 12:30 am Friday morning Beijing time. It was a good day today. We got to meet with all the families and get to know each other today a little bit. There are a total of 7 families with our group. They are all wonderful and it is so great to have this group while we are here. It was freezing outside today. The temperature was 28 and we got a little bit of snow. Tonight we went to an awesome acrobat show. It was simply amazing to see what they could do! I am very worn out and tired today. The time difference has gotten me a little now, hopefully after a couple of days the jet lag will ware off and and we will adjust to China time (just in time to come home, LOL). Tomorrow is the Great Wall and Cloisonne factory- other than it is going to be very cold, I am really looking forward to seeing the Wall. Just two more days until we leave for Guangxi where Madie is. I cannot believe it. Even though I will enjoy touring this part of China, my heart is in southern China. My life will forever change on Monday and I cannot wait! I hope to post some pictures tomorrow after we get back from our big day. Good night, time to get some much needed sleep!

Tammy

TA and Birthday Surprise!!!!

What an AWESOME, long awaited day this has been! I went in to work to find an email from Ann with pictures of Madie's birthday party! Oh how sweet she is..... I turned into mush and cried for hours! Lunch time came around and we received our Travel Approval and we leave for China Wednesday, Nov. 30th.. just 19 days- ahhhh!!!! I am beyond excited and so thankful to all my friends and family for all of their love and support of the last 3 1/2 years. God has been so faithful to us and we are so blessed beyond anything we could ever deserve. I give him all glory and praise! I believe he will do amazing work through Madie and my boys!

Blessings,

Tammy

Update Pictures Received in July

Here is an updated picture we received in July- she is 7 mos old here. She is absolutely gorgeous and boy does that smile melt this mama's heart! I can't believe she is already 12 mos old now! We cannot wait to see some new pictures hopefully next week! I think I am caught up on the blog as much as I can. Come on TA! I am ready to hop on that plane!

INTRODUCING!!!!

Wei Li lan

{Madison Rose Li Lan Comer}

Born: November 9th, 2010

Province of Guangxi

Currently at: SWI Laibin City-Xingbin District

Catch Up!

Our baby girl is in Southern China - Guangxi - City of Laibin




Well - it has been so long and I am absolutely terrible at keeping up with this blog! So much has happened since October last year. After much prayer and discussion we decided to switch to the special needs program in China. We started the paperwork which took us till June to complete due to the restructuring of the program with our agency and new requirements from China. Our agency told us they expected us to get matched within 6 months from the final conference call we did with them on June 24th. We were matched on the following Monday when the new list come out, June 28th with a beautiful 7 month old little girl from Guangxi Province in China! We were instantly in love from her. It has been a whirlwind since then. We received our Provinical Approval July 6th and then had the terrible, horrible, 72 day wait for our LOA {letter of acceptance} that arrived on September 9th. This is China's official word that she is ours! That was such an exciting day. We then had to file our I800 with the USCIS here in the US and that was approved on September 23rd, just 2 weeks later. Our paperwork then had to be sent off to the US Embassy in Guangzhou and we were cabled on October 5th and it was then picked up on Wednesday, October 26th and sent to Beijing to the CCCWA. That is where we are now- 10 days into our Travel Approval wait. I was so hoping to receive that today! I think we will get it next week. Our travel group with our agency is scheduled to leave on November 30th so I have been praying really hard for us to get this. God has been so faithful through this whole journey- I know that he will continue if it is his will. Each step has been harder than the last. I just really want my baby girl to be home. Her 1st birthday is November 9th - next Wednesday! I am so sad that we cannot be there with her to celebrate. We are sending her a birthday cake through Ann of Red Threads. She is going to try and get us pictures of her party with her friends and caregivers. She was not able to get an update or pictures when we sent the last care package last month. I just know she has changed so much and it saddens me that she is growing up without us! Just 25 more days until we board an airplane- God willing! I don't think I am going to sleep much between now and then. Pictures to come:)

Update

They have now sent referrals with LID May 18th, 2006. I am very anxious to see if anything changes after we get out of May 06 LID's. The numbers have dropped off so much because of the wait. It is very sad that people are pulling out of China to go to other countries, but it has also opened the door for many special needs children to find their families. I have big, big hopes that it is going to speed up and we will have our Madie home soon. It would be a prayer answered if it happened by the end of next year! I can't believe it has been over two years that we started the process. It has gone by fast, but I just want this wait to be over! Sometimes I think it is more than I can stand. God has gotten me through this far and I know he will give us the strength until she is in our arm. Lord, please let us go and get our little girl.

I Love you Madie! Mommy

Three of the most handsome guys I know!

Summertime!

The CCAA has now placed babies for LID's through April 26, 2006. I was so hoping it was going to be into May by now. My heart has been so heavy the last two days. I really want my baby girl to come home:( It was 2 years ago on June 24th we sent our preliminary application to our agency. I can't believe it has been that long already. At times it feels like it is creeping by and other times it feels like it is going really fast. This is not easy, but I know God will get us through and oh how sweet it is going to be the day we see her face!

This is my favorite time of year! I love the sun, cookouts and beachtime! Me and Justin went to Ohio for a family reunion last weekend with my mom and dad, brother and his family. We had a good time. Corey is busy with ball tournaments and Father's day is this weekend. So busy, but I love it:)

I am so looking forward to vacation! We leave for Florida on July 3rd for a week. This is a much needed vacation for all of us:) Hopefully we will escape the oil spill. That is such a said situation. The ocean is one of my very favorite places and it breaks my heart that millions of gallons of oil is out there. I pray that it is fixed soon and they can start the long clean up process.

Hopefully there will be better news to update from China in a couple of weeks. They should send referrals again around the 7th of July.

Tammy

More Referrals and Update

The CCAA has now updated and sent referrals through April 17, 2006, which means they processed 6 days of LID's since last update. This is good. I hope that things continue on an upward pace. I really am at peace knowing that God is going to bring her home soon. Tommy thinks she is coming home next year. I hope he is right! We were logged in 1 year on the 26th and it really went by fast. I went to the blogs of other families getting their referrals and I just get so excited to think about our story that we are going to get to share with everyone. I have to admit it is really hard all at the same time. I know that I shouldn't, but I get so jealous with everyone getting their babies. I am so happy for them and their little ones that are getting a family. They have waited so long and stayed faithful just as I have to! We will get there and when I do, I just don't know if I will be able to contain myself.

The boys are doing great. Justin is getting so tall and Corey is just becoming a man. I just can't believe he graduates in 2 years and Justin will be in high school next year. Where is this time going? I wish I could turn back time some days and just see them running around the yard playing ball or riding the "gully gully gull" (four wheeler) or the "tactorrr" (tractor). I am just beyond proud of them. They are so sweet and I love them more than they could ever know. Their smiles just make everything better when the day is not so good. I cannot wait to see the plans God has for them.

The basement is almost done finally! We just have to do the ceiling and carpet. I still have not started on Madie's room and I am ready now. Corey is excited to have his own space downstairs. It will be really nice to have a big family room to hang out in. (That is if the boys allow me down there in their man cave)

Madie - You will be home before we know it and it will not be a moment too soon. You have already been with me in my heart for years, but me and your daddy cannot wait to hug and kiss you and tell you we love you a million times.

Good News!!!

I am so excited. The CCAA upadated the box today to say that they have now reviewd through April 2009, which means we are through the review room, our is March 26, 2009! They did a whole years worth of reviews since the last update. That is such a relief to know that we are good to go. This has been such a trying, emotional week. I have had several sleepless nights just laying their with Madie on my mind. I really hope that this all is a sign of good things to come!
This verse has given me great peace this week. I cannot wait to see God' s plan for us unfold! Getting closer my sweet Madie!!!!!

Ecclesiastes 3 9-15
9 What does the worker gain from his toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.

Update

China has now placed referrals for log in dates through April 11th, 2006 and have reviewed through April 30th, 2008. At least we are out of MARCH!! They did 7 days of referrals which is really good and my prayer is that it continues at a good pace. I really,really want to bring home our little girl.

We will just keep praying:)

Tammy

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am so thankful for my family and the many blessings God has given me. It has been a great year so far. I am a bit sad all at the same time because we are missing our little Chinese princess Madie. I can't wait until she is home spending the holidays with her family. I am still waiting for something big to happen with the CCAA. I don't know when she will be born and when she will be home, but it will be the perfect time, I am sure of it!

I decorated the house yesterday and today, not quite as many decorations. I am going out of town for a couple of weeks, so I scaled back a bit. I cannot wait to shop on Friday, but I will not shop as long since I have to leave. The rest of this year is going to fly by!

CCAA Update- Dossiers reviewed through February 29,2008.

Update

Well they have sent referrals out for this month. They have now sent referrals out through March 28, 2006. I really was hoping they would be out of March 06! They have reviewed dossiers through December 31st, 2007.



I was reading a blog today and it was really eye opening. This couple have waited 4 years for their little girl and was talking about how through these 4 years they have grown and how much their marriage had grown. How God takes these times of wait to mold us into who he wants us to be. I really thought about in just the last year how much things have changed in my life. The things that I want in my life now are so much different from the things I desired a year ago. I hope that during our wait I can just continue to be quiet and listen. I pray that our family grows and can step out and do bold things for Christ. While I wait I will just continue to serve, love and seek his will.



Tammy



I love you Madie! Praying you will be home soon:)

Review Room Update

Well they have now reviewed dossiers through Oct. 31st, 2007! That is two more months, moving right along. Hopefully this is a sign of good things to come. I am still praying for that miracle!

For those of you who are not familiar, once your dossier gets to the review room, they go through your file and make sure everything is ok and that they do not have questions. If they don't, you are then moved to the matching room, where they match you with your child. Getting through the review room is a big step. Maybe we will be through the review room by the end of Spring 2010. Hopeful!