Update on Sofia

Today, our amended paperwork was mailed to China for transcription. The next step in the process is the adoption agency contact in China will transcribe all our additional paperwork into Chinese and submit it. We then wait for our "invitation for travel" letter from the China government.

Keep our family (including Sofia) in your prayers. As every day that goes by gets us one day closer to bringing her home, we need all the prayer and support we can get.

Sofia Update - June 7, 2006

Just thought we'd update everyone with the latest information we received today. Sofia's name in Chinese is Li Yi Shun. She was found in the Guang Dong Provience in the city of Foshan in the Shun De district. She is currently 13.2 pounds, 24 inches tall and all her blood work and other test appear to be normal and she's healthy.

The boys are as excited as we are. Will and Zach are carrying pictures of her around and showing everyone and anyone who will listen to them. Zach drew a picture of a panda for her today and we're going to frame it so she can see it when she's older. We've decided to name her:

Sofia Alma Li Yi Newsome.

Little Sofia

Well, what a difference a couple of days make. God has blessed us (once again) with our beautiful little Sofia. Her picture is to the right (if you double click on the bottom picture, you can enlarge it). We just got word today that she's being held for us and and we should plan to travel to China sometime in the next three to five months. (our prayer is to be with her either in China or at home by her 1st birthday - September 23).

We'll keep everyone posted on our progress and we appreciate all the calls, prayers and support that everyone has offered to us.

An adoptive prayer / poem:

I didn't give you the gift of life,
but my in my heart I know the love I feel is as deep and real as if it had been so.
For us to find each other is like dream come true.
No, I didn't give you the gift of life;
Life gave me the gift of you!

chicago trip - May 2006

Just thought we'd post some pictures from our Chicago trip. You can take the Metra rail / train from Wisconsin to downtown Chicago for $5 per adult, roundtrip - unlimited usage on the weekends and the kids, they ride for free.