History

Saturday, June 10, 2006 10:11 AM CDT

I suppose we may have to get him a sun protecting swim suit since he likes the water so much. The sunscreen, shirt and hat kept him from getting any sunburn. He had a hard time walking on the dunes and terrain there because every step he took was so different and he couldn't pat his foot to see what was coming next. Maybe it will be easier for him with his new tinted glasses he will be getting this week or next. I think Lili has overcome her phobia of water because she was running into the waves for the first time ever. Delaney is a 'dare devil fish' in the water and I had to keep calling her to come closer in. Maybe by next visit we can see how they progress to the boogie boards. Not sure if they're that coordinated yet to stay on those things. I have a lot of other shots of Daddy and Seth building sand castles. I think Daddy had just as much fun as Seth in the sand. LOL

We were fingerprinted for Hong Ying's I 600A yesterday. We're waiting for the I 171H and then we can be DTC in Sept.
Sharon & Michael

June 18, 2005 - Saturday

The girls are growing so quickly! They are eager for us to bring their little brother home from China. We're DTC for Seth-Michael now. His caring bridge site info is below.
http://www3.caringbridge.org/sc/yawen/

Laney will enter K5 this fall and LiliGrace is officially a first grader this fall!

Prayer Request: Laney will be seeing a new doctor at MUSC this month (June 30th) for more answers about the remaining cleft issues we are concerned with. She may have another surgery soon.

LiliGrace is usuing her hand well that was so bound and fused. The surgery was a success even though cosmetically, it doesn't have the appearance she wanted but it's functional! That is what is important. Also, for the first summer ever in her life, she is wearing girly girly flipflops. That was impossible before the foot surgery to correct the fused toes. We are thinking about leaving the other hand as is due to scar tissue, etc. that would form.

July 5th, LiliGrace will have been with us for a full year. Amazing what time will do to heal a heart and adjust one into a new family!

God Bless and Have a GREAT SUMMER!
Sharon T
in South Carolina

Sunday, December 19, 2004

WOW! It's almost Christmas! LiliGrace is all caught up in the Christmas lights! She participated in her first Christmas program at school ... K5. Lili and Laney even sat on Santa's lap this year for a photo!

Lili is doing so well after the surgery on one hand, foot, and skin grafts. In Jan 2005 she will return for cast change and I pray she gets to keep the leg cast off! We'll see. Not sure what they will do about the hand and cast. I hope she isn't alarmed about how her hand should look since the grafting will not be so pretty and the scars will be new. I'm just going to keep telling her what a blessing all this is and she can maybe move her fingers for the first time ever!

Merry Christmas Everyone!
May you be blessed with love, hope, peace and prosperity!
Michael & Sharon

Wednesday, October 20, 2004 9:56 PM CDT

Hi Everyone!

We're so busy these days and are somewhat beginning to have a real routine again. Sometimes keeping up with all the children, work, etc. is not so easy but we are managing. Please feel free to look at the new photos posted and please feel free to sign our guest book.

LiliGrace finally has a surgery date to repair one hand and one foot and we'll go from there about the 2nd hand surgery. Nov. 22-27 will be the estimated hospital stay. Prayers are appreciated.

LiliGrace is in K5 and has caught on to the English language rather quickly. She's doing pretty well with transitioning into her new life but at times, it is evident she's homesick for Nanjing, China.

Laney has new ear tubes and is hearing better and she's learning sign language to help her with communication. She's still in speech therapy and improving daily.

Hopefully soon I can update the site with LiliGrace's adoption process. What an experience!

Thanks for stopping by. Have a GREAT day!
Sharon for the Taylors

Sunday, August 15, 2004 5:15 PM CDT

Dear Friends, Family and Listmates:

We, Michael, Laney, Jared and I, arrived home on July 14, 2004, at Greenville, SC airport where both sets of grandparents along with cousins and Aunt Kris were waiting to meet our newest addition.... "LiliGrace" Liliana Xiyun Grace ... named for God's Amazing Grace... Supplier of our needs, "Consider the lilies..." {aka You, Xiyun} born October 2, 1998. Forever family day is July 5, 2004. Nana had balloons for the girls.... one read "All Things Are Possible With God." After the introductions and gifts, collecting luggage, we went outside to the waiting cars. While the girls had their bouquet of balloons, one somehow was released and kept rising towards the clouds in the sky, the one that read, "All Things Are Possible With God." My Mother smiled at LiliGrace and told her, "It's okay, it just means you are free ... you're home." Right before we left China, Mr. Li translated the answers written to the questions that I had asked one of the caregivers to complete so I would have her answers in writing for Xiyun when she's older. LiliGrace's Chinese name Xiyun was translated meaning "free like the clouds in the sky."

Xiyun was found at the orphanage gates in 1998 with her birthdate written on a small piece of paper that was pinned to her clothing. She's very happy, active, pretty, smiles often and loves to meet new poeple. There's nothing shy about this child!

We've had an interesting time thus far getting to know our newest daughter. We've really been concentrating on family time with all of our children at home and finding some quiet moments for Michael and I since we've returned home in July. Our biological children have really been wonderfully supportive through so many changes in the past few years, paperchasing, trips to China, saving funds and restricting spending more than usual to make all this possible for our 2 Nanjing, Jiangsu girls, 2 adoptions back to back.

We are so glad the waiting for LiliGrace is over! PRAISE GOD! LiliGrace is getting settled into her new life here with her new forever family. Oh how I wish I could speak and understand fluent Mandarin completely! She wants to communicate and does whatever it takes to get her point across. I wish everyone could hear her when she starts these long one sided discussions somedays. I purchased some children's books while in China, in both texts, English and Mandarin also in characters. LiliGrace LOVES these books! She points to pictures, etc., and I know what she is speaking of since everything is stated in both languages. Then she goes into this dramatic speech that is too cute about every picture and by then I just have to nod and say, "WOW or YES!" I have no idea what I am agreeing to here. hahaha

The first day we were home she gave me a little notebook she has been writing in. She had filled several pages with lines of Chinese characters. I thought how she was probably a good student in her Chinese classes and now she has to start all over here in the US in K 5. Even though she should be in first grade age wise, we thought the most fair thing to do is allow her to start from the beginning. When I enrolled LiliGrace in school, the teacher asked me what I wanted them to teach her to write...her given first name is Liliana and since we always use Laney's given name of Delaney out in public, like daycare, Drs. offices, etc., we thought why not do the same for Lili. Well, LiliGrace spoke up immediately and told the teacher her name is LiliGrace Taylor! So, she settled that for me quickly! Even if LiliGrace needs 2 years in K 5 to have a good foundation of the basics, that is fine with Michael and I. After all, she not only has issues with learning our language but even has to learn how to make new friends, separate from us to go with new strangers (teachers) and learn to trust we are coming back for her when school is over. She and Laney could be in K 5 together next fall. Honestly, I think that would be a great idea as these 2 girls have been inseparable ever since they were reunited in China in July! K5 is going well with LiliGrace and her teachers are very helpful with keeping us informed. We send a notebook in LiliGrace's bookbag everyday to communicate any needed issues such as transportation home, concerns, etc. LiliGrace is learning so quickly! She can already write her name in English and can identify and count numbers 1-10. She can identify about half the alphabet and is learning to write letters. Colors are coming slowly to memory but I'm not sure if its being understood. She LOVES learning shapes!

I can't express how LiliGrace's' eagerness to join our family in China has been a blessing. God prepared this little girl's heart and she really knew we were Mama and Baba. I can't even begin to understand how the waiting was for her in China knowing we were coming and it took us so long to get there due to the long paperchase, waiting for the I 171H and waiting out the one year CCAA rule on dossier submissions and then the LONG wait for travel approval. She's so bright and understands so much. She's been using her English name, Lili, from the first week in China. We've not witnessed what seems like traditional grieving for the absence of her former caregivers, not even in China, but we have witnessed the traditional behaviors of feeling abandoned, uncertainty and watching her becoming frustrated at times trying to take control of a life she doesn't fully understand yet. She doesn't want us to be out of sight for long when she's in the bathroom or shower, car, etc. Of course we expected this, trust issues must be difficult when there's no one around who can truly explain what's happening in your own language. But through it all, she laughs and smiles and still wants hugs and kisses and wants to wiggle herself onto my lap when she sees Laney is receiving affection. Laney had been guarding my lap and arms pretty well ... only seeming to have room for herself when asked to share. LOL But here for the past 2 weeks, Laney desires for LiliGrace to have anything she receives, including snacks, attention and anything else. Laney is sharing her toys willingly and doesn't feel threatened by LiliGrace's position in our family now. I truly believe God didn't choose LiliGrace just to be our daughter. He gave these two girls a very special gift.......SISTERS, BEST FRIENDS with a common heritage, with a common birthplace, with common caregivers!

Everyone remembers how difficult it was on Laney the first 3 months of her life with us and also difficult for us as we were new to adopting and inexperienced in this "older child" adoption thing. Laney was 2.5 yrs old when she arrived home from China with us. Now Laney is FOUR! Where has the time gone? She's growing up right before our eyes. What was once a timid little girl, afraid of walking into the next room alone is now an adventurous confident 4 year old that grasps hold and embraces every moment and lives everyday to its fullest!

Overall, LiliGrace has shown tremendous strength as a 5 year old that had to leave one culture and begin a life in a new place. Once she learned she could trust us, everything began to improve quickly. It's obvious she has vivid memories of her life with Laney {aka Jiang Meng} at Nanjing SWI in Jiangsu. We've been home for exactly one month and now it seems like she has always been here, like the girls were never apart. I can't say it has been all a piece of cake because in the beginning she did test the limits and pushed the boundaries every chance she could. LOL Now, LiliGrace is comfortable with new set limits and her independence is amazing. I suppose a child has to learn independence early in life when living in an orphanage. She has accepted and adores her grandparents and they adore her. There's still so much for her to learn like the dangers of traffic, pulling the dogs tail, walking through fire ant hills and things like that. She's extremely cautious around most new things and activities and if ever in doubt, she lets out this blood curling SCREAM of sheer panic and terror! Now that we know to expect it, we start to head it off before she encounters a new activity. Laney, being the good sister she is, demonstrates anything new and LiliGrace usually gives in to our requests and is learning we won't let anything happen to her if we can help it. For example, it's okay when the wind blows through your hair when the car window is down. Finally, LiliGrace held her hand up to the open window. What an accomplishment for this little five yr. old! Yesterday, she learned that pony rides are FUN! She's still too frightened to try water activities like swimming but that will come in time.

She's eating almost anything we set before her now. Her appetite is increasing slowly. Hopefully, she will begin to gain weight soon. She's wearing a 4T or 5 pants for length but a 2T fits her fanny perfectly. I couldn't completely understand the actual concept of how some of the other Moms would mention how it was so difficult finding clothes that fit their Asian children. Moms, I UNDERSTAND FULLY NOW! LOL Laney is the size of an American born child her age. Now, LiliGrace wears clothes that are too small for Laney. LiliGrace weighs 35 pounds and is 42" tall. She's so thin. She has been exposed to lead, lab values were not alarming though according to her dr (from a scale of 1-9, hers is at 3). She did receive a Rocephin injection for an infection and is now on an antibiotic since it hasn't cleared up completely. We've received an appointment date, 9-3-04, for Shriners Hospital in Greenville to evaluate her hand situation and for advised treatment, if any. This is an answer to prayers! LiliGrace doesn't view her hands as an issue so I hope she will welcome the idea of these new medical professionals and possibility of surgery in the near future. LiliGrace can do practically anything any other child near her age can do, so her hands don't slow her down.

I've learned more about the degrees of faith through this adoption and how no matter at times things contradict everything that we (I) think should be happening ... still.... He is in control and He keeps his promises! We're so thankful for everything that some dear and very special people, 2 adoption agencies and a social worker did to help us through these journeys to China, to our daughters. We've been blessed with meeting many remarkable families traveling similar paths. And it's true. God really does give you the desires of your heart.

Michael and Sharon in SC��
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/taylorfamilyupdates/
6 Blessings: Travis 17, Jared 15, Katelyn 14, Kayla 11,�
Delaney "Laney" 3, Nanjing, Jiangsu
LOI 5/20/02 PA 7-4-02 DTC 9-27-03 DTCL/LID 10-10-02
TA 12/10/02� Gotcha Day! 1/14/03� CWA��
Liliana Xiyun Grace "LiliGrace" 5, waiting in� Nanjing, Jiangsu�LOI� 6-20-03� PA 7-24-03� DTC 2-5-04� LID 4-9-04� TA 6-21-04 TD 6-30 thru 7-13 GOTCHA DAY 7-5-04 AAI

Saturday, July 17, 2004 3:45 AM CDT

We've been home for a few days now. We're enjoying our girls and getting to know LiliGrace a little better. Hopefully, soon we will post an update about everything.

For everyone paperchasing, we pray everything is going well for your journey.

Blessings,
Michael & Sharon and family

Monday, July 12, 2004 8:00 PM China time

This is our last night at the White Swan. We enjoyed our stay here so much and look forward to getting home soon. Although, leaving the girls country... as Laney states it... "This is my China, mommie!" and leaving that is bitter sweet. The ladies here in GZ are so nice to them, stop, talk to LiliGrace in Chinese and they tell us she speaks Mandarin very well to be 5 yrs old. Noone believes she's only been with us only a week.

Michael's strength has probably doubled since we have had Xiyun LiliGrace with us. He is seen many time throughout each day with one girl on each arm and walking along the street or in the hotel. The girls are loving the attention.

Okay... this has been a rough day for me. I ate something that didn't agree with my stomach or had a 24 hr virus. the vomiting and not to mention everything else has been a prt of this experience I hope to forget SOON! lol I have a feeling Jared will tease me about it for a long time. lol Thankfully I did find the phenergan and was able to take half in enough time to make it to the swearing in ceremony at the US Embassy.. lol

Everything is done and we should have our little brown packet with everything ready for Xiyun LiliGrace to fly out of here tomorrow.

The dinner tonight was awesome. by dinner time tonight I was ready to try a few more things I had never tasted before and stoipped after only a little though.. like snail, caviar (sp?) and a dessert.

Jared has been a GREAT HELP with the girls. I couldn't have had a better person with us to help take the load off when needed.. like with luggage, the girls, carrying them when it was raining, etc. We're here during the rainy season.

We should depart from here around 3:00 or 5:00 PM ..late checkout and only costs about $50 more to do that... flight leaves at 9;00 PM.

The surprise at the airport is only the girls in their outfits.. no need for another carseat at this time. lol lol Give Michael a few years for that... lol ;o)

hopefully, we will get to see Pat D tomorrow before we leave. This will most likely be my last post for this trip. Thank you all for your encouragement and your prayers that made this trip to LiliGrace possible! Every part of the wait was worth it and she is an amazing child. Just wait til you see the pictures. It's still true.. once you have your child in your arms.. all of the waiting and frustration of the paperchasing fades away forever. So everyone else just keep plugging along. Dreams do come true and the waiting will end before you know... Then you'll see this lovely city by the pearl River ans know what we mean.

LOVE,
Sharon (Mom) Michael, Jared, Laney and LiliGrace Xiyun

Sunday, July 11, 2004 10:49 AM China Time

HI EVERYONE! WE ARE LOVING THIS PLACE!

Sorry about naming the wrong river last night.. must have had Nanjing still on my mind. We are overlooking the Pearl River from the hotel room here.

The White Swan is awesome for the entire family! Looking forward to checking out the pools more closely today. Last night Michael and I had a great time at the outdoor BBQ restuarant just the 2 of us, along the Pearl Riverside and the breeze blowing eating BBQ chicken off the grill and making ice cream floats andwatching the freighters pass us by. Many tourist (sightseeing) boats also.. illuminated in the night with the city on the otherside lit up with flashing lights. How nice!
We have so much space in our hotel room and everyone has their own bed (except for Michael and myself of course). And oh the air conditioning... slept like a baby! lol
LiliGrace has really adjusted remarkably! She seems just like she has always been with our family. Everyone asks which one is the new addition because they both appear so happy. If LiliGrace knew English you'd think she has been with us for months or more. She still only chatters in Chinese and is trying to teach me her words when she sees fun things.. like the goldfish and boats. lol She likes to be called Lili and she SMILES SO BIG when she hears that, especially when we call Laney's name out with hers. She calles Laney Jiang Meng because that is how she remembers her. We also still call Laney ..jiang Meng... just as much as we call her Laney so that is nothing new.
The two girls wear the same size shoes and clothes in length but Lili is SO SLIM!! They appear as twins especially when dressed alike. Just like siblings close in age, one can't have something if the other one doesn't get it also! lol Too funny!
It's funny to see how Laney remembers the culture here... she is queen of the squatty potty. She remembered exactly how to use it and can do it alone. lol Thankfulyy, Lili knew how to use both toilets with no hestitation like Laney had the first time she had to use the traditional american toilet in the hotel room with us back in Jan. 2003.
Lili is very independent just as most orphanage children are.. although she doesn't like to be alone in the bathroom that has a door or in the dark.. I suppose that is normal for any child her age. She is most loving and kisses and hugs on me and now Michael and Jared every chance she gets. She has Jared wrapped already and he will part the waters for her and she is eating that attention up!
Well, off to look around for more shopping places. I must say again... I LOVE THIS PLACE! Everyone is doing very well and we're all looking forward to getting back home in a few days. I wonder how Sofie, the golden retreiver is? Oh and Lili does not like big animals or even statues of big animals! YIKES! lol That should be interesting when we get her home to the horses and dog. lol
And if anyone is with AAI.. in WA.... the facilitator only works with you on the official adoption appts. etc. so if you need a guide to meet you at the airport, etc. you must book that thru your travel agent unless you know someone who you can ask to meet with you. If you want to sightsee,etc. that will have to be booked thru your travel agent too unless you can find your way around here alone. Thankfully, Michael is pretty good at getting round in places and finds a way to do everything alone. Honestly, you will be fine with a taxi. just have the hotel name in Chinese for the driver to read or any other location and you can go anywhere.
I can say that Sunshine Travel (CWA in SC?NC) did a pretty nice job for the most part with Laney's adoption for us to have a guide in each city. The Nanjing and Beijing guides were awesome. these are only our opinions so take it as that... just our opinion. This time we used Delight Travel for everything. We can't complain too much about the cost and everything has worked out well as far as reservations.
Will see you all soon and much love to all!
MOM (Sharon) and family in GZ

Friday, July 9, 2004 10:40 AM (China Time)

Dear Family and Friends;

We are happy that you have been following our journey to You, Xiyun. (...her name is easy to pronounce to me finally! WHEW! lol) This is our last day here and our guide from the last trip has become an old friend and has helped us so much this trip out of the kindness of her heart. She even gave each girl a beautiful silk scarf, snacks in a beautiful silk gift bag. She (Xie Jin..aka Jane) will take us to the Sacred Avenue and Ming Tomb today and then to eat dumplings! WOOHOO! I hope the dumplings are not what I think I remember that to be! YIKES! lol

We ate in the hotel restuarant today, children eat free on weekends and one free meal with each room. The meals at the hotel are pricey.. Jinling Hotel in Nanjing. For the money. The Grand Hotel was just as nice last time and the staff may have even been more humbly nice.. if that makes sense.
Not that we are unhappy here but it does cost more than the China Hotel. And with any adoption we understand cost is a factor!!! :o) The Jinling is having TONS of construction work also and there is never a quiet moment here.

We received the documents fromt he Civil Affairs yesterday afternoon. I've never seen a child's picture look so pretty in the adoption and abandonment docs as Xiyun's (LiliGrace). We read that Xiyun was abandoned at the Nanjing Social Welfare Instit.'s gates which is a very vivid picture for me to think about as we have seen those gates twice now. She was abandoned at age 14 days old. I can't imagine a mothers grief leaving such a beautiful baby but she left her at the best gates possible for her daughter to have a bright future.

Xiyun has deformed hands (syndactyly and missing digits). I remind you of that to tell you how wonderfully she has overcome her SN even without the needed surgery. She won 2nd place for a painting on June 1, 2004, for a competition for the National Orphans Holiday. She is amazing! They even gave us the certificate at the orphanage to bring home with Xiyun (LiliGrace). She is a very beautiful child that chatters CONSTANTLY! I wish you all could have been in the hotel room last night. She sat on my back on the bed and non stop was chattering and singing like a song bird brushing my hair over and over. She LOVES attention!

Last night while Laney was asleep and Jared stayed with her in the hotel room, Michael and I walked to a few shops here on the street. Xiyun had never had an ice cream cone evidently. She was afraid of it and I pretended to lick it (but knowing we shouldn't eat that here I didn't.) I chose the cleanest I could see, looked sort of like TCBY yogurt, place to buy one and coaxed her into trying it then she lit up and found that a cone is a pretty happy thing to enjoy!

I think it's time for me to get back to the hotel room. Hoping the girls took a nap before we venture out to sightsee. Today, Lili did tell Jane, the Chinese lady, that she does remember Jiang Meng (Laney) from before and us.

9:00 PM
We just returned from a fantastic time with Xie Jin (aka Jane) our Chinese friend. this time she treated us to dinner, took us to see Dr Sun Yat-Sen's Mausol. again and Nanjing Sacred Avenue, Ming Tomb. WOW! Does that woman never sweat! lol One part we hiked over 240 stairs. The girls adored Jane and Xiyun loved having someone who could really undestand her Chinese. lol She told Jane, "She really doesn't understand us much... but she still likes us and is going home with us." The way Laney was coaxed up the and down the mountain of stairs was with Jane promising her ice cream if she completed the walk. Well, Laney thought cheating was a good way to win that one and Jared carried her some and he raced her to the top.

I think both girls will sleep well tonight! We will have transportation, a van, to the airport at 8:30 AM and will be off to GZ, then we will be home very soon! GZ part of the trip usually goes by quickly.

We had the dumplings just as I remembered although the dinner was much better than I remembered last visit to Nanjing.
LOVE TO ALL!
Mom (Sharon)
Michael, Jared, Laney and Lili

Thursday, July 8, 2004 10:53 PM CDT

Today our facilitator will or should recieve Xiyun's passport and docs to travel to GZ in a couple of days.

Today we went shopping again and ate duck for lunch and I'm not sure what else we had. Hmmm. lol

Xiyun acts like she has always been with us. She is clingy and that is understandable. She also seems very "petted"... cries if she is scolded and pouts like my mom said I use to growing up. lol She is very drawn to art and loves to draw, color, etc. She is very loving!!! Wants to hug and kiss on me mostly constantly. She is terrified of the pool but will throw the beach ball from the side to Laney in the water.

Laney and Lili are inseparable! While walking yesterday Laney asked me, "Is Lili my sister.. am I a sister too?" We've been over and over this but I suppose Laney doesn't understand the forever thing yet. Laney said, "I want to keep her and to take her home to show my Nannie and Nana and papas! lol (Like she's a toy!) lol

They are beginning to share more and thank goodness we have JAred to help referee when I go to the bathroom or shower! lol

We've been getting a lot of stares witht he 2 girls. People want to know how we have 2 girls like twins.

When I called Xiyun to come today in the hotel room.. she poited to herself and instructed me, "Lili! Lili! I think she is really likeing this family thing!

She will eat and eat, and clean her plate. She's only about 38 pounds I think. SO THIN~ Laney is 4 next month and weighs 44 pounds. Lili will be 6 in Oct.

Off to see what else we can find ehre to look at til it is time for pool fun! Lili sleeps all night long! Today she even showed me how she ties her shoes! WOOHOO! So independent. Her hands don't stop her from anything. I can't wait to see what the surgeon tells us about her hands.

Much love to all!
Sharon

Wednesday, July 7, 2004 5:12 AM CDT

I hope family and friends are checking this site. Weare having major problems accessing internet email servers..yahoo, aol, hotmail here at the Jinling in Nanjing.

We visited the orphanage today, Nanjing sWI. WOW! What a welcome!!! Everyone came to welcome us back and to meet Jiang Meng... aka Laney again. They wanted to tell Xiyun.. aka LiliGrace Goodbye. Lili is the "faorite" of the Orphanage Director Ms Wong according to what she told us. That was sweet. They gave us a special memento of the orphanage.. a statue with the orphanage symbol.. a caregiver releasing a dove into the sky with children by her side. It was very touching for them to be so kind to us.

We also have video of Mia, Taylor and Michelle's son at Nanjing SWI. Taylor really does curls! This was first for me to see with Asian children at the orphanage. Taylor looks very healthy and both girls ahve had their heart surgery. WOOHOO! Mia is very tiny. Kim, paperchase fast, Mia needs to come HOME! Taylor was very calm but Mia is timid like Jiang Meng (Laney) when we first met her. The caregivers wouldn't let me hold them but I sure did still get to get pics and got to love on them. :o)

Michelle's son is ADORABLE! We gave him a care package and so did we the girls and Debbie's son Daniel in foster care. I even enclosed disposeable cameras for Daniel and Michelle's son. If they ask... hehehe We are all int he same adoption group.. Nanjing kids and WCC. That is how I told them we knew each other.

There's so much to tell.

LiliGrace is coming along GREAT! A bit defiant at the moment but we're working thru that. She was SO HAPPY to leavve the orphanage, nothing like how Laney reacted about leaving. But at the same time it was obvious theywere very loved there. Everyone came to the windows to tell us bye from all floors as we were walking away to the taxi.

Lili is eating well and is learning to share more with Laney and vise versa.

Off to find something to eat for dinner.

LOVE TO ALL and looking forward to coming home!
Sharon and Michael
and family

Sunday, July 5, 2004 10:51 PM CDT

GOTCHA DAY!

Liliana (Xi Yun) is with Mama and Baba!

She is a Mama's girl! LOL About tme since Laney was and still is a Daddy's girl.

The orphanage staff couldn't have prepared her any better than they did. She did have a slight melt down as they told her good bye at the Civil Affairs Office and then again when she and laney were struggling over an ink pen. but she's all smiles now, except when I leave the room. God is GOOD! Thank you EVERY ONe who made all this possible and encouraged us through this very long wait to our daughter. We are all so happy!

LOVE TO ALL from Michael, Sharon, Laney, Jared and finally... Liliana (LiliGrace.. aka Xi Yun)
the rest of the bunch is waiting at home for us....
Travis, Katelyn, Kayla, you have a new mei-mei!!!!

Sunday, July 4, 2004 7:18 PM CDT

Still waiting for Lili Grace.. Gotcha Day Moment!

Pray for us!

LOVE
sharon

Thursday, June 24, 2004 10:26 PM CDT

WOOHOO! PRAISE THE LORD! We will REALLY leave here on June 30th! Hey, that is only 5 days away! We are so ready to travel. Thanks everyone for always encouraging us along this incredible journey! Lili Grace... Mama and Baba will be in you time zone and sharing your day very soon!
Michael & Sharon and Family

Flights schedule:

6/30 DL6172 (440P/607P) Greenville/Cincinnati
6/30 DL1075 (715P/843P) Cincinnati/Los Angeles
6/30 CZ328 (1159P/620A) Los Angeles/Guangzhou
(arrive on 7/02)
7/02 CZ3821 (1205P/155P) Guangzhou/Nanjing

7/10 CZ3514 (1035A/1245P) Nanjing/Guangzhou

7/13 CZ327 (900P/650P) Guangzhou/Los Angeles
7/13 DL1660 (1140P/652A) Los Angeles/Atlanta
(arrive on 7/14)
7/14 DL5314 (809A/924A) Atlanta/Greenville

Airlines codes:
DL = Delta Airlines
CZ = China Southern Airlines

Child one-way return only
(Nanjing/Guangzhou/Los Angeles/GSP):

Guangzhou White Swan Hotel, daily breakfast for party of 4, one extra bed and U.S. departure taxes.

Nanjing Jinling Hotel (Superior room):
Nanjing Jinling Hotel (room) for your facilitator:

Tuesday, June 22, 2004 3:42 AM CDT

PRAISE THE LORD! Yesterday, while I was at work, Ky called from AAI and announced that we indeed have our travel notice to come to China! WOOHOO! That is what we've been waiting so long for. Lili Grace, Mama & Baba can come to China for you now! Ky is working on getting our US Consulate appt so we can travel ASAP!

Love,
Michael & Sharon Taylor
and family

Saturday, May 29, 2004 10:00 AM CDT

Dear Family and Friends:

Thanks for rechecking our site and please visit our guestbook. The messages will be priceless for LiliGrace and Laney some day!

We've heard we may just receive TA very soon.. like NEXT WEEK! WOOHOO! I will post again when we have travel dates... CONFIRMED... maybe July 4th! Pray please! Our visas expire on July 5th! We need to be IN CHINA before July 5th or we will have to apply for a new visa for each family member.

If anyone has a waiting child in Nanjing Social Welfare Institute in Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR of China and if we will travel before you, please email us with their picture, name, SN (if any) and we will TRY to take new pictures for you and tell the caregivers that their parents are working diligently getting the paperwork completed to bring their sweetie home!

Praying for blessings to everyone who is waiting to hear some great news from a far off land soon!

THANKS!
Michael and Sharon Taylor & FAMILY

Friday, May 7, 2004 3:01 AM CDT

Hello,

Thank you for visiting our family's site and for sharing our next journey to China to bring Lili Grace home. We've had an unexpected turn of events. Our dossier's whereabouts was unkown for 8 weeks. It was not logged in to CCAA until April 9. It was sent to China on 2-5-04. :-0 Yes, we were shocked and unnerved to hear this news. We have to believe God is in full control and has a perfectly great plan for this adoption. This has somewhat delayed our travel invitation notice from CCAA in China for probably eight weeks or so and we're not too happy about that part.
Please, if you are a praying person, please pray our dossier hasreceived priority and will be processed quickly. Our little girl is in need of surgery and also needs time with her new family before school begins again in the fall.

Soon I hope to get Lili's adoption, paperchase story on the sight. It has had many roadblocks, bumps, etc. but God has seen us through it all and soon we will have our darling home with us. PRAISE THE LORD!

Thank you all for visiting and if you are interested in adoption and have questions, I probably can steer you in the right direction for some answers. Feel free to email us with questions.

Please sign our guestbook. It's greatly appreciated!

Michael & Sharon

Saturday, April 17, 2004 8:48 PM CDT

Hello, Everyone!

I truly thought I'd be posting our travel approval by now but we still don't have it! It's going to come very soon, I just know it. I am BELIEVING for all the parents waiting to hear of some good news from a far off land.. China!

If anyone is a praying person, please join us in praying for TA so we can bring Lili home.

Please, sign our guestbook! We'd love to hear from you.

In His Perfect Time,
Michael & Sharon Taylor

Monday, March 15, 2004 8:05 PM CST

We did receive confirmation that our dossier was logged in to CCAA in China. 2-24-04! WOOHOO! We were hoping it was logged in a couple of weeks earlier but we're making steady, slow progress on making it back to China to bring Lili home. Slow progress is better than no progress! Now, we are officially waiting for TRAVEL APPROVAL! YES! Ladies and Gentlemen, for our next act ....we will have travel dates to board the plane! WOOHOO! (We'll to be honest, we have to wait for that too. lol lol lol) After we have Travel Approval, then we wait to see how fast our agency can secure an appt. at the US Embassy in Guangzhou. The entire trip is planned around this one appt. Hmm.

I'm packing a little each day. We've already got some donations for the orphanage, a company even donated some cleft bottles/nipples, now that sure was nice of them! :)

Our facilitator mailed us some photos of Lili dancing in program, looks like the stage is set on the street in public. HOW CUTE SHE IS! That child is so photogenic!

Every night Laney asks me if it is time to get on an airplane to go get her Lili. She reminds me her backpack is full and ready. I just keep responding with, "No, not yet, it will have to be another day after China tells us we can. I'll be happy to see what her expression is when I can tell her, "It's time to go get our Lili!"

Laney's "pregnancy" ended earlier than expected, only 8 months of waiting until we held her in our arms. Or should I type before Michael held her in his arms. (She didn't like her Mama much at first.) Now with Lili, I'm thinking, "WILL I EVER BIRTH THIS CHILD!?! I'm ready for a C-Section!" I've been waiting to bring Lili home for over 1 year now. Little did CCAA know we would have brought Lili home in Jan. 2003 if only they allowed 2 adoptions at once. That is something I've been praying about. ;o) For now, Lili is still growing in my heart everyday and from the updated photos, appears Lili has physically grown so much too! She doesn't look like the same child I looked into the face of in Jan. 2003.

Maybe my next journal entry will be news of travel plans.

Please, sign our guest book. It's nice to hear from everyone.

Saturday, January 17, 2004 4:12 PM CST

IT IS HERE! PRAISE THE LORD! We have our I 171H!!!! Yes, God is Good! We'll be DTC very soon! Then... waiting for Travel Approval! WOOHOO! Lily, Mama and Baba will get there to bring you home one day!
Micheal and Sharon

Sunday, December 21, 2003 12:03 AM CST

We can't believe how we've been waitng for over 5 months for our I 171H to arrive and it is still not here! ARGH! :) Everything else is at the AAI (our adoption agency this time) ready to be sent to CCAA in China. Pray with us as we continue to wait for it to arrive. Senator Graham's office staff member, Patricia, has put in several requests to the Atlanta Immigration Office to help us and hopefully we will hold the I 171H in our hands very soon!

Delaney's speech is improving so much. She is amazing and so bright.

Michael and Sharon

Saturday, November 8, 2003 4:28 PM CST

We are still waiting for our I 171H from the Atlanta BCIS office. Please, pray about that. We MUST have that document in our dossier when we submit our dossier to CCAA in China.

Laney had the 2nd palate repair in Oct. 2003, her palate healed very well. Her speech is improving. We are blessed!

Please, continue to pray for our journey to our daughter, You, Xi Yun, "Lily" waiting in China. We want her home soon. We hope to send her another package soon with more pictures of us and a translated letter to her caregivers to let her know why it is taking us so long to get there.

Love, Michael, Sharon and Family

Wednesday, October 22, 2003 4:22 AM CDT

We are getting closer to sending our dossier to CCAA in China. WOOHOO! When we become DTC, we will probaly travel within 2-3 months or so after that. We are currently getting documents notarized, authenticated with Sec of State and then will mail them to Washington state for more seals with the agency taking care of those, then translation, then off to CCAA for a log in date! Hopefully, our log in date will be Jan. 1, 2004. We are still waiting on the most important document which comes from Atlanta BCIS (INS office), the I 171H. It takes many months to get this document from the BCIS office. Our paperwork and application has been submitted since August 1, 2003. The I171H allows our newest daughter the right to enter the US and be declared an immediate relative. We are very thankful for all prayers and request continued prayer for financial provision to complete this adoption and speedy travel dates. Thanks!

Saturday, August 30, 2003 2:36 AM CDT

We were pre-approved for the adoption of LilyGrace by CCAA in China on 7-24-03. Now, we just have to wait til we can be DTC and then wait for travel approval.

We were fortunate enough to have friends who took LilyGrace a few gifts from us and let the orphanage caregivers know we're waiting to adopt LilyGrace in the Spring of 2004. They also took a few pictures of her for us and as soon as I get those, I will try to upload one for this site.

Michael and Sharon

Sunday, August 3, 2003

We are PRE-APPROVED for the adoption! LilyGrace, Mama and Baba are coming to China!

We are fundraising with empty ink cartridges! If you live locally, please save those and email me, I will pick these up!

We read a quote this week and how true it is...
"How much is a child's life worth? What ever it takes to redeem it."

We also have another fundraiser currently underway, we have stainless steel cookie baking sheets that we are selling for $15.00 each. I will try to add a pic of it soon so everyone can see what it looks like.

We are still collecting frequent flier miles (United) and hope that will save airfare for some of the trip to China.

Anyone who has other great fundraising ideas, please email us with that info. God has really been blessing us with our effort to bring our daughter home from China.

Delaney's 2nd palate repair has been scheduled for Oct. 2, 2003. That is also LilyGrace's birthday.
Please, revisit our webpage for updates or email us your address if you would like to receive notices of upcoming information. Again, thank you all for your prayers, support and encouragement. Many blessings to you and your family!:o)

In Him,
Michael and Sharon Taylor
"As I have loved you, so you are to love one another. If there is this love among you, then all will know that you are my disciples" (Jn 13:34,35 NEB)."

"If there is this love among you..." what a difference it will make in the world!

Saturday, July 12, 2003 6:32 PM CDT

We read a quote this week and how true it is...
"How much is a child's life worth? What ever it takes to redeem it."

We are eagerly awaiting news of pre-approval for Xi Yun (LilyGrace). We are still planning a yard sale very soon, probably in August, as a fundraiser. If you live locally in Anderson, Greenville, Honea Path, Belton, or any other nearby city of South Carolina and wish to assist us with our adoption journey, we can personally collect any items donated. Just email us about info.

We also have another fundraiser currently underway, we have stainless steel cookie baking sheets that we are selling for $15.00 each. I will try to add a pic of it soon so everyone can see what it looks like.

We are still collecting frequent flier miles and hope that will save airfare for some of the trip to China.

Anyone who has other great fundraising ideas, please email us with that info. God has really been blessing us with our effort to bring our daughter home from China.

Delaney's 2nd palate repair has been scheduled for Oct. 2, 2003. That is also LilyGrace's birthday.

More fundraisers are being planned.. Tupperware, Mary Kay, Premier Jewelry. A couple of these will be online parties as well as catalog sales for nearby family and friends. Please, revisit our webpage for updates or email us your address if you would like to receive notices of upcoming information. This is the website for our Tupperware Fundraiser. Just paste address in the web browser.
http://order.tupperware.com/pls/htprod_www/jump?land=http://order.tupperware.com/pls/htprod_www/eparty.welcome?v_party_number=071200000066233&camvalue=eginvshop&mediacode=E0100GIE

Again, thank you all for your prayers, support and encouragement. Many blessings to you and your family!:o)

In Him,
Michael and Sharon Taylor
"As I have loved you, so you are to love one another. If there is this love among you, then all will know that you are my disciples" (Jn 13:34,35 NEB)."

"If there is this love among you..." what a difference it will make in the world!

Sunday, June 29, 2003 9:27 PM CDT

Michael and I are getting excited about our newest daughter. We will begin some fundraisers very soon such as online sales, yard sales, items listed on ebay. If there is any thing you can think of for us to try for a fundraiser or if you want to help us bring LilyGrace home by giving a donation, please feel free to email us. We're collecting yard sale items and we will be happy to drop by and pick up those items. We're collecting Frequent Flier miles also. Thank you all for your prayers and support! :)

We learned on Monday, 6-30-03, that our LOI has been logged in at CCAA in China for LilyGrace and that Delaney will need an additional surgical repair dealing her previous palate repair in 3 months or so.

Michael and Sharon

Monday, June 23, 2003 5:25 PM CDT

Today we received a confirmation telephone call that our LOI has been mailed from AAI for LilyGrace. Still we cannot submit another dossier until Jan. 04. CCAA in China has that 1 year rule. So, here starts the long wait. Hopefully, in a month or so we will have pre-approval. PRAY! :)

Sunday, June 22, 2003 11:02 PM CDT

Delaney is recovering quickly from the cleft palate repair. She begins seeing the early intervention program with the public school system this week.

Hopefully, tomorrow we will hear that the LOI has been mailed to CCAA for LilyGrace. We are actually beginning the wait all over again just as we did for our precious Delaney, just a year ago. We cannot submit another dossier to CCAA until Jan. 04, per their rules. Maybe the 2nd time around will be easier when it comes to waiting.

Sunday, June 22, 2003 3:44 PM CDT

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