The Fanning Four

About 20 years ago I became an official "band nerd". I remember being in elementary school and walking from our house to the high school on Friday nights to go see the football games. In reality though, I was there to see and hear the band. I couldn't wait until I could be a part of it. I would dream of being one of those uniformed teenagers out there marching around. Call them nerds if you wish, I thought they were the coolest people ever. I couldn't wait to march in the band. Ironically, when I started band in the sixth grade I chose one of the only instruments that isn't used in marching band. The oboe. My family didn't have a whole lot of money at the time and my Mom had a clarinet and an oboe left over from her days as a "band nerd". So, those were my two choices. I chose the oboe. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Twenty years later, I still love the oboe. I love the sound. I love the melodies we get to play. I love a good r...

Just a few Bethy quotes to brighten up your Wednesday. I also threw in a picture from our recent Disney trip. When discussing what to do yesterday afternoon Bethy says: "Momma, there's two options, pet store or pool." Couting in the car- "1, 2, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 18, twoteen. Haha, that's a funny color." In a public restroom, she exclaims loudly, "Momma, there's too many people peepeeing in here." "I looooove broccoli. I not like it though."

Bethany never drank formula so we never learned how to mix up bottles. Tom and I were discussing this yesterday and he said, "Maybe we should practice. Kind of like, 'Ok, here's your son, now feed him.' " Anyone got a can of Chinese baby formula sitting around I can practice with? I sure hope someone in China tells us what to buy or else our little guy may end up drinking seafood flavored gatorade from the local Chinese Wal-Mart. On a related note, we had some watermelon flavored coca cola from China at Epcot Saturday and it was delicious. We took a picture so we can try and find it in China. Perhaps Caleb would like some of that? ; )

Got a call from our agency that our Article 5 was issued today. I had hoped it was issued earlier in the week but it's done and that's all that's important. Article 5 is just a letter saying we've completed all the necessary steps. So the Chinese adoption officials now have all the necessary paperwork. Now we're in line to be issued travel approval. It's basically a letter that says that we can come and adopt Caleb. We're still on track to leave last week of June/first week of July. I could be ready sooner if we are given that option. I've seen people get travel approvals in 9 days. I have seen some people wait close to two months. Average wait is three weeks. The next few weeks will be nerveracking for sure! Like waiting to go into labor!

There's this guy that has a noodle restaurant. The restaurant sells all kinds of noodles with various toppings. Sounds interesting and probably very yummy. The noodle guy is Todd. I don't even know where he lives. I can't pronounce his last name. I've seen his picture online. He called me last night. My heart started beating fast when I heard him say "Hello, this is Todd". We had friends over but I excused myself to the other room. That's how excited I was to talk to him. Why would a happily married woman be so happy to talk to a random guy she found out about online? Noodle guy moonlights as a China adoption travel guru. They say he finds tickets for way cheaper than other travel agents. The force is strong with the noodle guy. So, Noodle Guy and I had a heart to heart about the reality of summer China travel. Let's just say, they better give me an extra pack of peanuts and the WHOLE dang can of soda not just half! Reality of airline prices...

I went shopping at Target the other day and the lady checking us out said, "Looks like someone is going camping!" Or to China to bring home our son..... And then she asked for my license- because of all the meds I was buying. That would have been some camping trip!

I got the flu the first week of April and pretty much kept going- housework, laundry, adoption paperwork. I just kept pushing through. So, God gave me a redo and struck me with the plague this week. Well, it was a virus but it might as well have been. Bethy had it earlier in the week only she had a rash from head to toe with her fever. I had a sore throat that felt like thousands of tiny men were stabbing me in the throat every time I swallowed. I could hardly talk my throat was so swollen. I had a fever that Tylenol barely touched. I missed my orchestra concert- that's a post for another day.... I could do almost nothing but stay in bed. But that was then, and today is a new day. Bethy and I went on a beautiful walk this morning and I'm feeling great! We should get notice of our article 5 letter this week (hopefully tomorrow). What's the article 5?- it just says "Ok, everything's in order for the adoption. China- you can tell them to come get Caleb." So...

I wonder what Caleb thought last week when he got the package we sent him. Did he have any comprehension of what our letter meant for him? What did he think when he saw our pale skin and was told these people would be his new family? What did he think when he heard my voice singing to him in a language he doesn't know? What did our house, pool, family, etc. look like to someone who has only known the walls of his orphanage? Do you know what I keep thinking about? I keep thinking about what it would be like if someone came and took me to a hotel where people who looked, sounded, and smelled nothing like me starting hugging me, kissing my head, and talking to me (think strange alien invasion). I imagine someone translating and saying, "This is your new family. You'll be with them forever. They love you." Then these strange people take me away from the only people I've ever been close to. They give me new clothes, keep talking to me in a way I can't understand,...

Imagine you're sitting in a beautiful Moravian church on a gorgeous spring afternoon in North Carolina. You are there to celebrate the marriage of your loved one. The bride is stunning. The groom is handsome. A perfect day! Everyone begins to sing a hymn and the sounds of praise fill the air. And then you see it. A half naked Belle doll. You know, the girl from Beauty and the Beast. Belle, wearing nothing more than her skivvies is doing splits and all manner of gymnastics moves on the back of the pew in front of you. "I thought weddings were supposed to be rated "G", "PG" at worst", you think. You didn't know Belle could do a back bend while doing a split did you? Well, now you know.  Who is the puppeteer behind this wedding side show? Why, a beautiful two and a half year old girl of course. She earned her two jelly beans for sitting on her bottom and staying quiet through the whole ceremony, but no one said anything about what Belle could or cou...

A few weeks ago my mother in law stopped by with a surprise. An itty bitty caterpillar. I wasn't even sure he was alive at first because he was so tiny and hardly moved. Over the next few weeks, we watched as the caterpillar grew until he almost didn't fit in the cup he was in. I explained the process to Bethy so she knew what was coming. Over time, that little caterpillar became enclosed in his chrysalis. We saw nothing from him for a few days and we transferred him to a new and bigger home. I told Bethy how he was going to become a beautiful butterfly and she checked on him often to see how he was doing. It was exciting! One morning I noticed his chrysalis was a very dark color. Thanks to google I knew this meant the change was about to happen. When we arrived home from MOPS that morning, there was the butterfly. I excitedly brought Bethy over expecting her to be curious and happy. She took one look in his little home that we built for him and began sobbing. "I miss my...

We spent an extended weekend in North Carolina and had a really great time. We did a lot of exploring in Old Salem Here's my handsome groom and my sweet girl going to the wedding We're back into the routine of life. I play in the local orchestra and I have a concert next week so I am busy with that. It's also the end of the school year so there's parties and fun along with that. And in just a few days we'll be going to Disney for a day. I grew up in that area so we can always find someone we know that works there to get us in for free. We've got about 2 weeks until we should receive our Article 5 which is the last bit of paperwork we need before China can issue our travel approval. The suitcases will be making there way to Caleb's room for packing this week. I could be in China two months from now!