Sierra with her favorite baby while sitting in her favorite chair. Sierra being held by Kate along side Corey, Brandon, and Billy at Corey's National Honors Society Night at EP High School.

Sierra loves her Uncle Jimmy!! The sit and spin can be so much fun especially the music!! My tigger can do so many tricks!! I love it when he can stand on his head. My Aunt Linda from church gave that to me!!

Sierra loves to play with dishes and her puppy and she loves her friend Emily and her Aunt Dawn!!!!

March 29, 2006....We continue to have problems with our picture page. I might need to have my son help with it...he understands computers better than me. For the time being I will try to add pictures to the blog. Enjoy!!

March 27, 2006 Yesterday was our one month anniversary since Sierra's Gotcha Day and today is our one month anniversary since we offically adopted her. It seems as if she has been here forever and it also seems as if all the time in China just happened. She contiues to be doing well. She loves to make others laugh. She is such a blessing in our lives. We are so honored to be able to be her parents. After all the delays and hills and valleys........YES I would do it again to bring her home again!!!!!!!!!!!!! To those of you that I have not seen since this wonderful advent in our lives trust me I will be visiting. Matter of fact I was planning on visiting my wonderful school family in Manito on Tuesday the 28th....as long as weather is not a problem. Doctor's office visits and other appointments are now behind us with the extra time for Sierra to see where mommy works and to meet all the wonderful people who supported for her to come home!!!

March 24, 2006....Sorry I have not posted for such a long time!! Anyone who has had a new child in the home understands the adjustment to scheduling!!! Everything continues to be going good. She loves her big brothers Brandon, Corey, and Billy and she has even to become adjusted to her pet cat and dog. She does not want to be around them yet but will tolerate them being around. She is saying more and more English words daily and she is begining to be so comfortable in her home. Yes, I am no longer in her room at night. We bought her a sound machine and that helps her sleep at night and nap during the day. With the five inches of snow we received on Tuesday, Sierra got to see snow for the first time but would not touch it. She kept saying "Snow". We have a scheduled date for her surgery. It will be done on April 20, 2006. Two days after her first birthday here in the states. Well, at least she will enjoy her birthday and baptism without pain!!! Well, please keep her in your prayers that she remains healthy for her surgery day and that the surgery goes without any complications. Once again we are so blessed to have such a great family community!!

March 13, 2006 Well we made it home in one piece. We finally got in the door at 2am on Friday morning!! Almost a 36 hour travel time!! Our flight was delayed two times in Chicago. We left 2 1/2 hours after original plan. Well, it kinda fit the entire process of adopting Sierra with delays and pauses in the paper work! Well all that is behind us now! I have to say Sierra was awesome the entire time!!! She slept on the long plane ride and she did great on the other two plane rides. When we got on in Guangzhou's she did get a little upset. She was tired and does not like small places. I first thought this will be a long day but as soon as the plane started going she was fine. She did wonderful in the airports. Even when we had to wait 7 hours in Chicago. I was so proud of her!! She was even getting us to laugh when we wanted to scream seeing the delays keep being put up there for later and later!! I do have to say I feel very blessed to call her my daughter!! Well, she is doing great with her new home just one major problem! She is terrified of her pet dog and cat!! She is slowly getting use to them but we still have Socks(our dog) in the basement most of the time and Pouncer(our cat) in Billy's or Brandon's room most of the time. But hopefully they can be in the main house very very soon for a longer period of time. She is sleeping pretty well. We are still sleeping in her room which helps her alot. She is begining to pretend with her baby dolls and her kitchen set. She is starting to say words in English. She knows a few signs. She is such a happy little girl. We will continue to down load new pictures and keep this post also updated!!! Thanks again for all your support!! Sierra and the rest of her family appreciates it!!!!!!!!!!!

March 8, 2006, njjgjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjffkjjjfjffffffffffffffffjfffjjffkfkkkuruuururrruruuttuuuuuuuutntjjtjttccjgjgjjjjgggggggjgjj This is a post from Sierra telling all of you that she cannot wait to meet each of you and that she is very thankful for all your prayers and love during the last 11 months. She wants to tell you all that she loves you and that she will be home soon!!!!!!!!!!!

March 7, 2006..Well we finished our last step today! We were sworn in at the American Consulate! We were suppose to do that tomorrow but they moved up the date because there is a very special holiday tomorrow! It is a woman's holiday in which all the women get to go home from work at noon and the men finish up the days work and this includes in schools. So all you female teachers out there can you image having only the men teachers and I guess principals taking over the school for the rest of the day. They would probably be watching a lot of movies that afternoon. Well, in hearing the good news of the appointment being moved up we thought we could go home a daily early but no. Well, tomorrow will be a day of packing and finishing up shopping(which is important) and taking more pictures!!!!! I cannot wait to see you all in two days!! Counting down the minutes until Sierra comes home with us and we are in the USA again!!!!!

March 6, 2006....Sierra's first day at a zoo. We went to visit the zoo in Guangzhou. It had been raining but turned out to be a pretty nice day. She loved seeing the animals. We were a little concerned because while shopping we ran into a couple cats and she freaked out. So we weren't sure but all went well. We did a lot of shopping today!! That is always fun especially with the prices being so cheap!! We are wondering now if we are going to have enough suitcase room. We might need to go shopping for a new suitcase too!!! We want to thank all of you who are emailing us or leaving comments it means so much and it gives us such support while we are a half way around the world from all of you!! Thank you for all your prayers, too!! Believe me they are being felt!! Sierra continues to be doing great. She is actually starting to bond with Mike. She is sitting with him on his bed while they watch TV together!! That is a huge step. She keeps looking for me to make sure I have not left but at least she is sitting with him. We continue to miss you all and Ms. M please tell all my family at MWCP I said hello and that I miss everyone too!! Please also tell the boys and the one beautiful girl in your room I miss them soooo much and I cannot wait until they each get to meet Sierra!!!!!

March 5, 2006....Our first Mass with our daughter. Yes, it was all done in Chinese but wow it was such an emotional moment when receiving the host. The church building was very small but standing room only. Father Terry we need to work on that to have standing room only at every 11:00 Mass!!! The people we so nice and welcoming!! Just like our family at St. Ann's. It was hard not to understand the words but we gave it all up for the WATCH going on this weekend at St. Ann's. We hope as WATCH touched us that it is touching others. We know that we would not be here in China with our new daughther getting ready to bring her home if it wasn't for WATCH. What a huge step of forgiveness, longing for more, cleansing, and love that it brought Mike and I, especially me. We are learning more and more about our daughter daily. She truly loves music especially christian music. Watch out St. Ann's band...she is going to love to hear all of your God given talents!! I know we miss hearing you!! Woke her up with it this morning and she woke up in a great mood with smiles and charm. We finally have gotten WCIC on the interent. It is so great to hear something familiar and helpful. We just got her to take a late afternoon nap with it too. She did fuss but went to sleep. We are learning her needs very thankful for that!!!!! Oh I learned something today. In Chinese traditions and beliefs, if you have a bird poop...yes I said poop on your head it means good luck. On our way back from Church, yes you got it...I was hit. One of the families from our group went to church with us and the husband is Chinese and told me that it means I will receive good luck. I thought with it happening right after Mass, how awesome!! A double gift this morning!! Yes, I wiped it off immediatly. Baby wipes are good for many things!!!! We had our group pictures done today! Check them out in our photo album...the links are below. Sierra is wearing her first dress!!! What a beauty she is!!! Once again I cannot wait until she meets her family at St. Ann's. She has so many cousins, aunts, uncles, grandmas, and grandpas!!! She is so blessed and so are we!!! We miss you all!!!!

March 3, 2006We finally have pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The websites to go to is:
We checked into our pictures (10/26/06) and it was not our picture album that we started so I had to delete the addresses. I do have all the pictures and when I get time maybe I will update all the different blogs and add the pictures to the correct blog. I will let you know with a new blog when I do that......sorry about this!!!
For the rest of week and new ones to be added daily!!:
Enjoy and if you have any problems or comments please post!!
We love you and she is so beautiful!!! Enjoy!!

May 3..Another day in China but the exciting news for Mike is we had lunch at McDonalds...I know he broke the number one wrongs during lent(not having meat on Fridays) but we figured he has done that for over a week so he in a way has fasted prior to most Catholics. But I have to say the good little cradle Catholic in me had a fish sandwich but as our family knows for me to eat McDonalds is almost like a no no subject since I began weight watchers but I have not eatten much since we have been here and my pants are all falling off so I figured I can use the extra calories. Well, we found out that Sierra loves ice cream and french fries. She will do very in our family when it comes to eatting. She has opened up more and I will have to say that my house will need to be over hauled if you know what I mean. She loves to search into everything!!!!!!!!! She continue to try to say new words. She loves to collect things and put them in bags or containers. It is so cute. She was in the playroom playing in the little kitchen. I cannot wait until she gets home to play in her own little kitchen. I have to say today is the most beautiful day of all. No rain and it is around 60-70 degrees. The sun is shining and it is so awesome. I would love to bottle this weather and bring it home with us. Well I am going to attempt again the pictures. I am so sorry for not being able to share this.......there are so many....even with her laughing!!! We found out some great news today!! We got the times for Mass on Sunday!! We will be attending at 8 am due to the fact we have a camera shoot at 10 with the travel group on the famous red couch!!

March 2, 2006 Today we visited the orphanage! What an emotional day it has been for all three of us. To see the place in which Sierra has lived for the past two years. To meet the "other" ladies in her life. To have her not want to come to me after being with her aunties. To have her cry when we leave. It broke my heart. We left the orphanage and the director took us to her finding spot. Another emotional place and always will be. It was at a park in the city. As a mom I think how can someone leave her child and then as a mom but maybe for a better life. We will never know but we will know that we will give Sierra the best life that we can give her. After going to dinner with the director at the orphanage, Sierra really opened up. Chatter box like her mother. I would love to know what she is saying. But those SLPs out there would be proud of her ability to sign more and to already say the word car. Looking at cars all the way to the motel was her great entertainment!! I am going to play around this computer tonight so maybe I can get the pictures up!! Thank you again for all your prayers and support. We miss you all and love you all!!!!!!!!!!