How does one describe the word PROUD???

Zach & his own platoon of women!

Craig, Zach & his Grandpa Hawkins!

Zach & his proud dad!

For me there are no words. No words to describe how proud I was on Thursday, August 26, 2010 as I watched my oldest son, SPC Zachariah Anthony Michael Schrink, graduate from the United States Military basic training program at Fort Knox, KY! All I had were tears! Tears of happiness, sadness, joy, pride!The pride I felt as I saw him raise his right hand and take the oath to protect this wonderful country! The pride as I heard him chanting the SOLDIERS Creed! The ceremony was nothing short of spectacular. At most, it was emotionally overwhelming for me.  My son, my child, my baby, was now a proud member of the United States military! It will ne a moment in time that I will never forget! EVER! Please continue to pray for our military. For without these brave men and women we would not be able to lay our heads down at night without the reassurance that we will get up the next day and live our lives in a country where we are FREE to move about, work, go to school, church, anywhere our hearts desire! I LOVE you SPC Zachariah Schrink! You have always made me proud! This is just the extra iciing on the cake!

New Pics of Elijah as an INFANT!

Getting examined and hating it!!Eli with his Nanny!

We were blessed beyond measure to receive an email out of the clear blue from a very sweet lady. She had visited Hangzhou Children's Welfare Institute in Oct. of 2009. She was so kind to tell me that Eli was a wonderful child and that he was a healthy boy! She sent me 7 pictures of him as a 4 month old!!! I had actually been on her website in June and found a picture that I KNEW was my baby boy! It had never been confirmed, but a mother just knows!! A mother knows her baby! I had studied every little detail about his beautiful face, and I KNEW it was him! No DOUBTS! And lo & behold...she sent me that pic! I just can not believe how blessed we are to be chosen to be his parents! He is such a beautiful baby and I will cherish these pictures always!

BCIS in LOUISVILLE ROCKS!!!

Our journey to Eli is evidence of the fingerprints of GOD!

WOW! BCIS in Loiusville totally ROCKS! We had never been printed in Louisville and I must say I was a bit apprehensive about going ther. We had always been printed in the Indy office. We are closer to Louisville, so that is why we were scheduled there instead of Indy! We left at 6 am! Louisville is less thatn an hour from us, but we knew morning traffic would be impossible to get through and we wanted to be on time! We rolled up to the Gene Snyder Federal Courthouse at around 7:10. We were to be printed at 8! We lucked out, as there was a restaurant right across the street, so we went to have a light breakfast and some MUCH needed coffee!! We walked into the courthouse, rode the elevator up with the gentleman who is over the fingerprinting division, walked into the office at 8,  all 3 of us were printed and walking towards the elevator by 8:15!!!! They were on it! The gentlmen who worked in the office were so cordial and NICE!!!! Unlike the INDY office where they make you feel as if you are there to be printed because you are a wanted individual!!! Now, I am hoping to get approval within the week and get our dossier finished and to CHINA!!!! Again, GOD IS FAITHFUL!!!!

Elijah's hometown of Hangzhou.

I thought it was time to blog a bit about Elijha's hometown of Hangzhou! Hangzhou is located south of Shanghai, and located in the Zheijiang Province. The province is one of the richest and wealthiest in China! It is home to the National Silk Museum & the National Tea Museum. Hangzhou is known for many its tea plantations! It is also home to beautiful West Lake! I have posted some pics of the city as well as the countryside! I can't wait to get there! It is absolutely gorgeous!!