As always we take a long time to update this blog. I beg that you don't loose interest! We have a story to tell and all of us hope that it changes your life! Whether you choose to adopt, to advocate or just pray for all of the people young and old in this world that need food, a roof over their heads, families.
     We spent a very busy summer. All the girls, except Kate, attended Miracle Camp in MI and came away powered with His word. It was hard! This is the first time ever that Claude and I have let any of our 12 children attend a camp. The girls did great...me? I think I did ok...in July all the girls, Claude, and I drove to South Dakota to see Mt. Rushmore, Bear Country, did a LOT of driving, dropped down to spend a week in Denver visiting our son Kris and his family. While there the other event was the girls attending Adopteen. This is a camp where there were about 110 adopted teens, both boys and girls, from China. They connected both socially and by sharing their lives. We know long term friends were made. Then the balance of the summer was spend in home school, relaxing, and a few projects.
    

And now, we introduce Lilly. The adoption agency that we use, Madison Adoption Associates, all agreed that this little girl is a "Coats" girl. My initial response (Besides Oh my this is MY daughter) was Hmmm, there are no princess's in our house.  They immediately explained that the group that took the pictures try to take away the stress of all of the paperwork and questions asked, etc and do a Makeover of sorts...a fun time. And Lilly had chose to be a princess. Lilly will be 12 March 3rd. We are going to keep her name of Lilly. For the first time ever we were able to witness our child being told they have a family. It was wrenching to not be able to be there and console her and hug her. She at first could not seem to take it all in. The photo album of family pictures and them explaining about us. Then she put her hand up to her eyes and was crying. Overcome with gladness. What a moment to always have in our hearts!

     Last year at this time Claude and I started the process to see if we could adopt a young lady that is two of our daughters best friend. I explain it that basically they were triplets. I bought a sparkly tote bag and hung it on my door in anticipation of taking it to China to give her with some goodies in it and to use on her return trip home with me. We called her Taylor. She has a presence in our home, in my office with a photo on the wall, in our hearts and heads. We were told this summer that it was not looking good in regards to getting her paperwork submitted to the adoption offices in China. We waited...and waited...checked in occasionally. I knew in my head that it wasn't going to happen. That something was stalling the file being submitted. Several months ago we were told (I do not envy the job that Diana had in telling us) that it was not going to be possible to adopt Taylor. That she aged out. Claude and I both had very heavy hearts. And still do. We also had to explain this to the two girls first, then tell the rest of the girls. Behind closed door we told this to the two girls...I hope to never deliver such devastating news again to anyone.
     Then Claude and I had to make a decision of do we use the Homestudy approval for two daughters or just stay with bringing home Lilly. We made the decision to seek a second daughter to bring home...all the while still with heavy hearts of not being able to bring Taylor. A lady approached me and said she didn't want to bother me but she thought of our family for a child she was advocating for. She shared her picture with me and when I opened the photo I was with tears. That Red Thread connection:
"An invisible red thread connects those destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstances. The thread may stretch or tangle, but never break." - Ancient Chinese Proverb

 

 This is the child that made me weep. Why? She is a daughter that we have not yet held, comforted, that has not been with us yet to know about our family. This child spent the time that the volunteers were at her SWI in TELLING them that everychild wants a family but that SHE NEEDS A FAMILY. This child repeatidly pulled the volunteers to the bulliton board of family photos of adopted children that she has seen over the years and pointed to the pictures and said will YOU find MY family? The volunteers promised her they would try. The volunteers did try! And they did find her forever family. She also is a Coats girl. Our son Kris will have to teach two more sisters the chant about We are the Coats girls, Mighty Mighty Coats girls....meet our daughter Wren.

     We have said so many times, this is the last adoption. We are saying it again. The van is full as it seats 12. The bedrooms are full. We told the people in Chicago when we were fingerprinted that if they see us again holding papers to be fingerprinted again to tell us NO.



    
    
    

I know, it has been forever since this blog has been updated. So to start where we left off is impossible so let's just start here. This is Vicky and Judy, both age 14. Best friends, forever sisters. Who are they talking to? Their best friend who is still in the orphanage in China. It kills us that she is still there, and why? Only because her paperwork has not been created and sent in to be put up for adoption. At least for now the girls can keep in touch with her on QQ (basically a Chinese Face Book) In the mean time she grows up without a family, sad, sad, sad.

Our Kim age 13 and here almost a year now. (on left) In this year she has grieved, we found she communicated with CSL instead of speaking. That was hard! She has been learning how to hear. That is hard! She is learning how to communicate using her voice. This is very hard! She is also learning about a family, she has been home schooled  this year to get caught up and do all these things. Kim is going to be streamed into public school as well as being home schooled this coming year. She loves to fish, art is a great thing but what a surprise that she loves the violin. So Kim is taking violin lessons and piano lessons on top of all the other learning.
Our Addie (on right) is 11 now and is in 6th grade. Where have the years gone? Addie is my tender heart girl, and as Penny said the other day should work for the FBI as she is our one in the house that can find anything!

 Our latest family photo, again with none of the sons in it (hopefully soon!) but it shows all are doing well. Still with smiles (some demanded, some willing...the usual family photo right?)

This past weekend we were so fortunate to have a double rainbow land over our home. The continued rain (I adopted the attitude thankfully it isn't snow) has not allowed any landscaping to be done after last years addition onto the house. The lake has filled to the point that we have to repair the dry dam and at one point the lake had filled to the point we were worried we would lose the dam. All has held though.

 Our Kate. The picture pretty much sums her up. Still busy, loves the outside, prefers wearing shorts, has joy totally yet can land with both feet right in the middle of your business and pretty much take over. Kate will be entering 5th grade this year...and going on 29 :)

 Vicky has moved out of 8th grade and will be a Freshman this coming school year.

Gracie....can I only say she is a reading machine and has such a dry sense of humor that it sets chuckles rolling out of you. Gracie will be a 7th grader this coming year and I am worried she is going to read every book published. She may have to consider becoming an author so she will have more to read.







We had sweet words sent to us this past week. Our son texted saying "I am in Baltimore, very long flight" Words we have waited a year for after he left for a tour with the Air Force and was stationed in Qater. It is best to be home, and now he is. His family will be relocating over the next few weeks to Denver for their next station of duty.
Another wonderful moment is our son Andy stole the heart of Heidi and her two children. And she said YES to the question of will you marry me. They plan on a 2014 wedding.
Eric and Chelsea are settled in with Drew and Gabby at home. Chelsea has shown the girls eyebrow care and they were even brave enough to try waxing!
Alex and Missy are enjoying the rewards of a large family, hunting and fishing and now softball season has started!
We as a family are so fortunate and we pray for favor everyday. We are blessed to have Cindy, and for the summer also Carrie. That the girls are so good in school and are maturing and learning. That our health is good and that both of our jobs allow us to do for the girls. Thank you for being patient, I will try to do better in updating! Next update will have the other girls not here in pictures!