Made the News!!

Here's an article printed in the paper in Lee's hometown!

May 1, 2006
Couple Awaiting Adopted Daughter from China
By Kristen Miller
Staff Writer, Herald Journal/Enterprise Dispatch

Infertility many times is perceived as a curse, but Lee Shelton, formerly of Dassel, and his wife Dawn, patiently await the blessings of their adopted daughter.

Shelton, son of former pastor Lee Shelton of Lake Jennie Covenant Church, met his wife Dawn at Northwestern College and were wed December of 1991.

After two failed pregnancies, and the uncertainty of a biological pregnancy, the Sheltons were presented two years ago with the idea of adoption.

They encountered a single mother who was considering giving her baby up for adoption, but later decided against it.

After this, Lee and Dawn began considering an adoption agency and found America World Adoption Association. ...

(Click here for the full article.)

Fun stuff, huh?! :)

Dawn

Some Encouraging News

Yeah!! Check it out!!
The CCAA has moved on to another month!



I'd like to share a beautiful poem with you that I found on another waiting mom's blog. I don't know the title, but the author is credited below.

As a girl I had a common dream, to be a mom someday.
My baby would have eyes of blue and hair the hue of hay.

But now my dreams have been transformed. New visions fill my head.
Now the tresses that I long to stroke are raven black instead.

And in my dreams those eyes are not so big or blue or round.
Now in my dreams they're almond shaped and colored cocoa brown.

And in my dreams my arms can stretch across enormous seas.
They reach half-way around the world and hold you close to me.

As you grow in your mother's womb, carefully knit together,
you're also growing in my heart, where you will stay forever.

And in my dreams the moment that your mother says good-bye,
I'll be right there to comfort you and hold you as you cry.

Our features may not look alike; we're different as can be.
But still I know the Father has created you for me.

And though I've not yet seen your face, or held your tiny hands,
and though we're half a world apart in very different lands,

I'll be right there to get you just as soon as God allows.
But 'til He says the time is right I give to you this vow.

I'll pray for your protection every day on bended knee.
For God to hold you in His arms, until you're here with me.

Written by: Gayle Leubecker

Tagged!

Hello,

I have apparently been "tagged" by another waiting mom whom I have not met but she introduced herself to me on email and we have been emailing each other while we wait for our girls. I am scared to give you her blog address since hers is infinitely more fun and entertaining than ours, but *sigh* here it is -- www.ourava.blogspot.com/.

Being tagged means I have to disclose six quirky things about myself. I have to narrow it down to SIX?? Here's what I came up with:

1. I CAN'T STAND IT when people don't wash their hands after a bathroom visit or before they eat. Icky disease spreaders!! I'm not a mom yet and I ALWAYS have handi-wipes in my purse!

2. I love animals so much that I will compromise my sleeping position so I don't have to move a dog or cat. I know. Don't even say anything.

3. I can't just relax and watch TV. I have to knit, read, do paperwork, or some other craft. Learned recently from my husband that running the sewing machine during viewing was a bit annoying.

4. I don't like to sit on the outside at a restaurant, movie theatre, church, etc. Also, prefer a booth at a restaurant, with my left side to the wall (?).

5. Lee says one of my quirks is that when I clean I even get bored with that. I don't finish one room and move on, I skip around. Dust one room, get bored, go do some dishes, get bored, go fold laundry, get bored. But at least I move around 'til it all gets done!!

6. No matter how hard I try I still can't see the bottom of my closet. I used to get in trouble for this growing up, but I still have the same problem!

Well, that's it. Hope we are all still friends.

Love, Dawn

One Month Down!

Hey all!

April 13th marked the first month down toward getting Olivia! If you recall, the date we were logged into the China Center for Adoption Affairs' system was March 13th!

I hope all the months go by as quickly as this one did!

Love,

Dawn

Special Video

Hi,

I encourage everyone to visit www.bringmehope.org and click on the "Bring Me Hope DVD" (7 minute version). It says "may be disturbing," but perhaps should say "may need tissues." It is very touching and worth your time!

This is not an agency, but an organization that encourages adoption and provides orphans with an opportunity to go to an Olympic camp in the Jiangxi Province of China. There are opportunities to sponsor children through the site as well.

At the very least, will you visit the site to see what great work these people are doing?

With love,

Dawn

Things To Be Grateful For...

I was talking with a co-worker Friday and she had a fresh perspective that little ole', ungrateful, eager me hadn't thought of...She said, "At least China is keeping you informed." WOW!! Really! It made me realize once again that there is always a bright side, always something positive in every situation. We are indeed being kept informed! That's good!

Another thing to be grateful for is that through this process we have made many new friends. Fred and Sandy Brennan, pictured here with two of their four kids, Jake and Zoe, have become dear friends of ours. They have been through this process and have been a huge source of encouragement and support for us. We just love them!

We'll also get to spend some time with them the week of the 4th of July in Indiana. They will be there visiting family, and Lee will be singing with the Great Northern Union Chorus in the Barbershop Harmony Society International Contest in Indianapolis. It will be our only trip until we go to China, so it's nice to have something in the short-term to look forward to! Also, spending time with sweet Zoe is somehow a comfort to us. She is SOMETHING ELSE!!!

My brother Paul also reminded me that this waiting game isn't just a test of patience, it is a test of faith. We know that's true, but it's interesting how your head and your heart like to play tug-of-war.

With Love,

Dawn