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when east meets south

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Counting it down

I know! I have been… well, NOT here! And not on my usual blog patrol either. Sorry I just haven’t had time to check in with everyone, I am missing you guys. It’s gone from crazy to absolutely insane around here. So much stuff (good stuff but big stuff) coming up. I’ve started my own little countdown….

TWO days until my oldest kiddos come home for the holidays!! Tori and Zach will be coming in on the 20th… it’s going to be the best (and the craziest) Christmas ever. I can’t WAIT!!

THREE days until we have our family pictures taken! Yippeee! If you’ve ever had a family picture taken, you know I say ‘Yippeeee’ in jest. Truly. BUT we are having these done ‘professionally’… so I might be sayin’ yippeeee when I see the result ๐Ÿ™‚

SEVEN days until CHRISTMAS! And NO, I have not gotten all my Christmas shopping done. But I am savoring this time, anticipating the joy of our Savior’s birth. What doesn’t get done just won’t get done. And that’s okay. If you are usually on our Christmas card list, before you get offended, Christmas cards are one of those things that won’t get done this year. As in all things, my excuse is that I have a lot of kids. That and the fact that my paltry efforts at capturing a picture worthy of actually paying to have printed on a card were, sadly, in vain.
I am, however, considering sending out New Years cards, depending on the results of our upcoming photo session.

And….

……. drumroll, please…….

EIGHT days until I leave for CHINA!!!!! Yes, this IS a surprise. We thought we’d be leaving sometime in January. I am so excited that I will be able to travel with my sister to adopt her precious Cole!! And yes, she is in the process of setting up a site with Joe and Jen, so if you’d like, you can follow along! The link will be posted sometime before we go, promise ๐Ÿ™‚

So put another log on the fire, it’s gonna be a crazy end to 2008!

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12.18.08 · Uncategorized 22

Comments

  1. Lisa Cairney says

    December 18, 2008 at 2:03 PM

    Yay! Can’t wait to follow Stef and Andrea’s Excellent Adventure to CHINA!!!! And give those big kiddos big hugs from their Ohio posse….we love you! Don’t sweat the cards….we won’t take you off the list. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  2. Rebecca of "China, Baby!" says

    December 18, 2008 at 2:21 PM

    WHAT? WHAT?? WHAT???????????????

    EIGHT DAYS until you leave for China????

    (Picking myself up off the floor)!

    OH MY GOSH! You must be flipping out excited! You & Andrea will have SOOOO much fun, and I can't WAIT to meet Cole through the 2 of you!

    FREAKING OUT! I love how quickly they are getting her there!

    xoxo

    Reply
  3. Tish says

    December 18, 2008 at 2:32 PM

    wooooohoooooo! love that countdown!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  4. Dita says

    December 18, 2008 at 2:35 PM

    I can’t believe you said 8 days until you leave for China!! You must certainly be wigging out for SURE.
    Christmas cards? Oh, I’m in the school of thought that New Years Cards are soooooooo much nicer (especially since I can’t get that perfect picture either!!!) Do what you can and spend some time just enjoying all the kiddos.
    I am so excited to follow the Journey to Cole!!

    Reply
  5. julia and andy says

    December 18, 2008 at 3:12 PM

    Stephanie,

    Here’s a little tip on your upcoming family photo shoot…

    Save yourself a ton of money and a big headache by considering having your photo printed in black/white or sepia. I do this all the time b/c it doesn’t matter if your girls are wearing purple and pink and your boys are wearing blue and green and one of your little ones might be holding something like a lollipop (which may have oozed all over their shirt or face and is probably still not the same color of anyone’s shirt!) or special toy (to keep them from running away or totally losing it!). In the world of black/white/sepia it all turns into a wonderful picture. Really. And, for the record, I swear it makes me look 15lbs thinner! julia.

    I was looking back at old photos I have stashed away (back when I used real film and always ordered doubles…just in case!?) and found the sweetest picture of my three kids under the Christmas tree. I had them all dressed in their cute Christmas outfits. Perfect plan…terrible pics. But the black/white ones I printed are adorable. Even though my one year old boy literally had (a stuffed) baby Jesus in his mouth and the girls hair was all fly-away and yucky. The difference is amazing, really.

    Reply
  6. Nicole says

    December 18, 2008 at 3:17 PM

    YEAH YEAH YEAH!!! HUGS my friend!
    ๐Ÿ™‚
    -Nicole

    Reply
  7. Amy Rankin says

    December 18, 2008 at 4:11 PM

    Back when I had loads of little kids (my oldest 3 are big enough to really help out now) and ended up with pneumonia one Christmas…I just saved my Christmas card list and sent out Easter cards instead. The kids looked awesome in their Easter duds and it was a much more relaxed time of year to be getting photos made and writing out cards. So it worked great for me, too! Try it!
    Have a wonderful trip…I’ll be following along!
    Amy in Alabama

    Reply
  8. Andrea says

    December 18, 2008 at 5:12 PM

    WOW!
    That is incredible news.
    What a Christmas gift.

    Andrea

    Reply
  9. Mom 2 six says

    December 18, 2008 at 6:17 PM

    Can I come and grab my little guy? If you swing by the CCAA tell then to send our LOA !
    ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  10. Leslie says

    December 18, 2008 at 6:57 PM

    WOW! 8 days! Oh my! You know, the Christmas card deal can be stressful. I got some done but I cut the list way down this year and used postcards to save on cost. I do love the photos you took of the children while tree shopping though! My SIL did a New Year’s card one year and they turned out very cute. HAVE A MERRY Christmas!

    Reply
  11. Miss Anna B says

    December 18, 2008 at 8:14 PM

    Oh my!! Wonderful and crazy!! A perfect combination. So glad the kiddos are headed home soon ๐Ÿ™‚

    Eight days till China…wowee!!! I have a teeny tiny itsy bitsy favor I want to ask of you. Can I ask??? Huh, huh, can I? (say that like a three year old) ๐Ÿ™‚ cuz, you like, have NOTHING better to do right?

    Reply
  12. a Tonggu Momma says

    December 18, 2008 at 8:32 PM

    On the eighth day of Christmas, their aunt gave to them… a cousin!

    Reply
  13. Anonymous says

    December 18, 2008 at 9:11 PM

    Why is Zach away? I know Victoria is in college, but I don’t think your son is, unless he’s a super genious. ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Ann

    Reply
  14. carolinagirl says

    December 18, 2008 at 10:02 PM

    Amazing news! That is just so awesome! I can’t wait to find their site on myadoptionwebsite…ours is http://www.myadoptionwebsite.com/journeytoemma

    Reply
  15. Michelle says

    December 18, 2008 at 10:04 PM

    OH MY!!! That is big news!! I can’t wait to follow your sister’s journey. You two are going to have such an amazing time. And hey, leaving the day after Christmas means you don’t have to clean up all the paper, bows, boxes, etc… Major side benefit, eh?

    Reply
  16. Suz says

    December 19, 2008 at 2:11 PM

    There are always Chinese New Year Cards. I did that the year that Julia came home and they came out very nice. I even put in a picture of Julia under the Christmas tree.

    Happy, happy travels!
    Suzanne

    Reply
  17. Heather Thompson says

    December 19, 2008 at 9:19 PM

    I too am preparing to leave to get my little boy in China (26th-10th)! I hope we meet since I’ve been following your blog for quite some time:) Congrats and have a wonderful time!
    Heather (FL)

    Reply
  18. Karen says

    December 20, 2008 at 12:08 AM

    How exciting you get to travel with your sister to China! I look forward to following her journey.

    Happy Holidays!

    Karen

    Reply
  19. Donna says

    December 20, 2008 at 1:35 AM

    Awesome, can’t wait to follow along on your trip. And, I love your attitude…what doesn’t get done just wasn’t meant to get done, no guilt thank-you-very-much. ๐Ÿ™‚
    Donna
    http://www.handsful.com

    Reply
  20. Fliss and Mike Adventures says

    December 20, 2008 at 6:43 PM

    It has been a while since dropping by… sorry but I see you have the same problem… I am so busy with work etc – at least it will make time go a little faster until we get Shauna…

    Reply
  21. Anonymous says

    December 21, 2008 at 3:39 AM

    Wow Stefanie!!!!! I am so excited for you and your sister and Cole!!!!! Cannot wait to follow along!!!!

    Ann (Lizzie’s Momma)

    Reply
  22. Heather says

    December 23, 2008 at 4:24 AM

    I’m so excited for you — and I’m green with envy. Can’t you tell? Enjoy evey moment!!

    Reply

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I'm Stefanie. Wife to one, mom to 13. Occasional blogger and t-shirt maker. Wannabe photographer and exerciser. Constant grace-needer and orphan advocator. more
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