No Match for April

Last night was the round of April Matching. While Ryan and I (and the girls) were so eager and excited for news of referral for the long awaited monthly matching, turns out we need to continue to wait. There just wasn't a baby that was meant for our family.

It will happen for us! It just didn't happen this month. Continued prayers that mid-May brings us closer to our China baby.

Log In Date!!!!!!!!!!! And April Matching date

Amen!!!!!!! We have our official Log in Date of April 21, 2011!!! This means the CCAA in China acknowledged our dossier and has it logged into their system! It also means that we are eligible for babies who have been recently added to the shared list. We are soooooooo excited!

AND, the next round for April Monthly Matching is set for Monday night on April 25th!!!!!!!!!!! So once again we wait for the magical night to come and hopefully we have referral!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Easter Everyone!!! HAve a great weekend!

Happy Birthday Baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good Morning Birthday Girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gabriella turns 8!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Big sister celebrated her birthday last night and had her family birthday party at our house!! It was a beautiful night for a party!!!!!Blowing out candles........................................Have a happy birthday lil' Gabriella!!!! We love love so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This morning we are leaving for the lake to have another birthday party!! We're going to go to a movie and out for birthday dinner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Tooth Fairy Visits

....................................One wiggly tooth.................................

Last night after Jocelyn and I went to Kindergarten Round-up at HRS she decided it was time to pull out the very wiggly tooth! She was nervous...but determined that it was coming out!!! Either that or swallow it in her sleep.

Mommy was the one to win over her trust and was able to pull out the tiny little tooth!!!! This morning the Tooth Fairy come and graced her presence with fairy glitter, $1.00, and a gift!! The very first tooth is very special!! So of course, the tooth fairy bring a gift!

Adoption News for March

March Update: We were not matched with a referral for the month of March. The monthly matching was on March 21st from the China WIC "shared list." Our adoption specialist did not find a match for us that "fit" our family. More waiting.... Our adoption agency will only place children atleast 12 months younger than the youngest child in a home. We are waiting for a baby that is atleast 12 months younger than Ahnya with some minor correctable/special needs. For now, we wait for the middle of April to roll around with another round of matching. Hopefully, April will be the month! Until then we pray that God will bless us with a baby when the time is right. I ask for your continued prayers.

Good bye Lake Minnewaska...Hello Reno

The Schlenner Family has a new lake home!! Grandpa Bob and Grandma Peg have decided to upgrade and get a bigger lake home to fit all the grandkids. So, good bye Minnewaska...hello Lake Reno!!!!! On Friday, April 1st we move into this beautiful 4+ bedroom log home on Lake Reno.

We can't wait for the warm spring weather to furry up and get here!

Happy Gotch'a Day Gabriella

Today is Gabriella's Gotch'a Day Celebration!!!! Seven years ago today Ryan and I pledged to the Orenburg Court in Russia that we would be Gabriella Yulia Hopes parents and forever love and care for her! We went to the baby orphanage where Gabriella lived for 11 months and took her out of there as quickly as we could. It was one of the best days of our lives and forever changed our lives!!!!!!!!!!! Gabriella was 11 months old and 11 pounds when we left the orphanage. Tiny, sick, malnourished, and very weak.

Gotch'a Days are BIG events in our house. Almost bigger than a birthday!!!!!!!!!! The morning begins with breakfast in bed and stories of her Gotch'a Day. Then I prepare a cultural Russian meal for dinner, and we wrap the night up with videos of our travels to Russia.

Happy Gotch'a Day Gabriella! We so happy we Gotch'a!!!We love you!