This is a basket full of blessings from my girlfriend Heather. She has been saving up to take my growing family on a shopping spree at Sams. She is a mom of 7 kiddos and chooses to bless me! I should be babysitting for her right?!?

Playing peek-a-boo with mommy... I snapped her right when she lifted the covers. I love this sweet face.

Avi Joy loves painting. Making her handprint is by far her favorite thing to do.

The ultimate flashback. I walk by and she looks exactly like our first week in VN. Ohhh doesn't that just melt your heart. Five months old in Vietnam and here at home, 2 years old.

Here is her new bag for Vietnam... she walks around the house 'practicing.'

We love our little Nehemiah. We are starting to work on his room: cleaning, painting, organizing and moving her crib into his room. She will transition to a toddler bed.

We are looking forward to our little boy shower being thrown by friends/family.

Amazing Australian Bird exhibit at our zoo. She could have fed those birds all day long!

Playing "haircuts" with Sarah Homan.

Hanging with Ian before his parents left for VN to meet his brother Drew. These two were hams together, compete crack-ups I tell you!

Avi Joy has a new doll and I asked what she wanted to name her... ON HER OWN- she said "Dori." I said, "Really? How about DoriGrace?" She said, "OK, hello baby DoriGrace!" Here she was playing "lunch" with DoriGrace.

Today, August 4th, Adam and I are celebrating our 7th wedding anniversary. The guy on the street who we asked to take our picture apparently prefers the red wall to my legs. Thank goodness my man is not a leg man, he just interested in anal-artsy-wild-prayerful-natasha.

I love you sweet baby, each year gets better than the last!
(p.s. to those who think this little black dress is low-cut, which includes myself, just know that my husband bought it for me to wear on our date (a new dress and tickets to Phantom)... so kudos to him, it is a fun 'date with your hubby' dress but not-so-much out with your prayer team type of dress, hehe.)

My lesson for the day from Beth Moore

Satan's agenda, "I have come so you may NOT have life," from Luke 8:12

Jesus' agenda, "I have come so you have HAVE life and have it to the full," from John 10:10

With LOVE,

Adam, Natasha, Avi Joy and Nehemiah

I was in Can Tho, OK!

My Very Talented girlfriend Julie Woods has a booming business called JWoods Jewelry.

She made me earrings of Avi Joy. She hand makes the ceramic tiles (all shapes) then fires your choice of photo into the glaze. She makes necklaces or earrings with all different color beads, I lOVE THEM!!!

For beautiful handmade gifts go to:

jwoodsjewelry.com

SOOO, this week I experienced something for the first time. I was having a beautiful Tuesday afternoon and noticed I needed some gas. I pulled in to the QT and began pumping away.

My mind drifted off to thoughts of Can Tho, 'What is Nehemiah going to be like? What is Can Tho going to look like? I cannot wait to go back...etc.'

I decided since I was in such a great mood I would treat myself to a hot chocolate steamer. I go inside, create my dream drink, pay, then get in my car and leave.

I hear this awful loud metal banging as I pull away.

I look in my rear-view mirror to see the pump flying like a snake gone mad.

I get out as calmly as possible, walk to the pump lying on the ground, push the handle down and place the pump back into its home.

All the while a man two stations over is laughing wildly, "HAAAHAHHAHA did you see that!!!! HahahhAHA."

I completely ignore him because I actually had a good excuse.

So to you sir, I was in Can Tho, OK!

NEW PICTURES OF NEHEMIAH

Thank you recent Can Tho travelers...

Well cared for little guy

Our sweet sleeping baby

Avi Joy plucking her eyebrows

Avi Joy is ready for a baby brother... she is such a great mommy and helper.

Dancer from Dillon's India Camp

Two peas in a pod, Avi Joy and Jaden

Getting her henna tattoo

Jynger and her daughter

I have a good lookin daddy

A scripture that really helped me get through the week: Psalm 91
With Love, Adam, Natasha, Avi Joy and Nehemiah

We have a son!!!

We are overjoyed to share that God has blessed us
with a one month old son from Can Tho, Vietnam.

His name is Nehemiah Sang Perryman

and we are hoping to travel to VN in 5-10 months.

Our first picture as a family.

A girlfriend of mine pointed out that the day we last posted (our announcement that we were choosing a new program and VN was closing) was Sunday, May 18th.

This is Nehemiah's birthday!

As all parents in the adoption world know, God truly hand-selects each child for their family and we KNOW that many obstacles were removed to bring this referral to us before the country has a shutdown.

We stand amazed!

Many questions have been asked about China. We will have a daughter come home to us from China in about 3-5 years.

Our family had a wonderful time at Vietnam camp. Please check out pictures...

PICTURES FROM VIETNAM HERITAGE WEEKEND

With LOVE,

Adam, Natasha, Avi Joy and Nehemiah

"Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants, and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace. Our barns will be filled with every kind of provision. Our sheep will increase by thousands, by tens of thousands in our fields; our oxen will draw heavy loads. There will be no breaching of walls, no going into captivity, no cry of distress in our streets. Blessed are the people of whom this is true; blessed are the people whose God is the Lord." Psalm 144:12-15

with fear and trembling

Birthday singing in A minor...




Déjà vu

A sensation that an experience has occurred before…
In October of 2005, we wrote to you that our adoption plan had changed. We were in process with Kazakhstan and the country closed (meaning they stopped processing adoptions).

We prayed and picked a new country program, Vietnam. As we all know Avi Joy did come home from VN and proved that indeed God does know what He is doing.
We have received the sad news that Vietnam is most likely closing and the chances of us receiving a referral are very slim. It is unfortunate that children will no longer be able to come home to their forever families. Families who were planning on adopting from Vietnam have to make the tough decision to change their adoption plan and this includes us as well.
We are excited to share the new plan that has been placed in our hearts.
We are going to do a US or international adoption and we are headed to China!

What?!? OK, please let us explain.

We are choosing to stay with our agency Dillon International and we are transferring our funds from VN to China. The wait for a referral for China is 3-5 years. China allows families to do a congruent adoption, meaning that while waiting for your referral from China, you can process from beginning to end a domestic or international adoption.

We started the process for China on May 23rd.
A child from our new adoption process will be our second child, then we will travel to China for our third child. We will keep you posted on our second adoption plans (country, timeline, fundraisers).

A BIG THANK YOU to all who helped us with our God’s Grace Adoption Ministry matching grant. We received news that our grant was matched and the total was over $6,000 for our adoption! We are just seeping with gratitude and are truly humbled by your giving. Thank you for taking an active part in helping our family grow!
Thank you God’s Grace Adoption Ministry, http://www.ggam.org/

Cali and Brant Hess, along with their cousin Allison Flory, hosted a lemonade stand to help raise money for baby Perryman! The Hess and Flory families live in California. They have been blessed through international adoption and desire to teach their children to serve other families just like their own! You did a wonderful job kids. Thank you!
www.brantdeveehess.blogspot.com

These are a few of my favorite things...

Playing in bed! Peek-a-boo with daddy never gets old.

Going on dates! I am a real fan of cute boys. (i.e. Ian)

Watching Elmo! We went to see him Live for my birthday.

ALL NEW PICTURES- 2008 PHOTOS Feb- May, are on our website (for sure now)
please go to http://www.perrymanadoption.com/, or there is a link on sidebar

"Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose." Philippians 2:12-13

Adam, Natasha and Avi Joy

Stuff...

Hello Family and Friends, this is a note from Avi Joy!

Our second adoption process is moving along. Hope to hear something or receive a referral around August-ish. Most likely a little boy, that means I'll be getting a little brother! We have been thinking of names and that has been so much fun.

There has been much drama surrounding the Vietnam program. Vietnam needs to sign some important documents to continue adoptions and the US is requiring DNA tests for all relinquished children. Both of these issues are causing parents to have a longer wait to adopt their child (at least 3 months longer) Sad news for all families, we are choosing to push through though.
Our goal is to be patient through the process, it helps to know that God has our little one picked out. (yea, remind my mom and dad of this after they have a referral!!)


I just called to tell you a few things about my mama...


Four jobs she's had:
1) Art Teacher
2) Waitress at Fin's Chowder House
3) Hairdresser
4) Afterthoughts (remember that store?)

Four movies watched over and over:
1. Memoirs of a Geisha!!!
2. The Wedding Date, oh DM is to die for
3. Bridge Jones' Diary
4. Mansfield Park (Jane Austins 1999 version)

Four places shes lived:
1. St. Louis, MO
2. Tulsa, OK
3. Arlington, TX
4. Vietnam for 29 days

Four shows she watches:
1. Jon and Kate plus 8 (I love it too!)
2. Project Runway
3. No Reservations
4. Intervention

Four favorite things to eat:
1. Nutella!
2. Any type of nut. Consume lots daily.
3. Cereal, Kashi Strawberry Fields is current fav
4. Taco Bueno's Party Burritos, OMW

Four things mom is looking forward too:
1. Cousin Sarah's wedding on the beach this summer
2. Speaking for over 100 people about anxiety
3. Cuddling with my daddy watching A-Idol
4. Hanging out with her girlfriend Shannon this weekend

Four things totally worth the money:
1. Origins Modern Friction, skin care
2. King size bed
3. Gas spent to go see a good friend
4. Organic Milk, tastes way better

In other news:
I am turning two on the 23rd of April. Here is one of my pictures...

I love painting like mommy

Congratulations to us! We went through all the steps to change my name to Avi Joy:
1. Adoption in VN
2. Name change in US court
3. Name change on US Social Security Card
4. Name change on US Citizenship
And last but not least
5. Filing for a name change for a US Passport

For all our pictures Feb-March please visit our homepage www.perrymanadoption.com then click Photos. Enjoy!

Talk to everyone soon,
Avi Joy (Mom and Dad too)

My mom always like to post a scripture, I don't get this one, but she loves it and says it shows the power of God...

"I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges and makes war. His eyes are like burning fire and on His head are many crowns. He has a name written on Him that no one knows but He Himself. He is dressed in a robe that is dripped in blood and His Name is the Word of God." Revelation 19:11-13

you a nasty skank

If you want to know the quickest way to feeling skanky, get a fever blister. I have had one for ten days and boy does it make me feel beautiful! Everytime I saw someone this week, went to bible study or cut clinets hair, I felt like they were secretly thinking 'ehhh girl, you a nasty skank.'

So getting past the nasty skank feeling, Wednesday was the BEST day ever. I had great conversation with two girlfriends, both are beautifully in love with Jesus and fill a longing for friendship in my soul. And my husband surprised me with a Valentines dinner, one day early to catch me off guard. (Zios to-go, flowers and a card- very rare for him and very thoughtful.)

We went on the waiting list for a referral on Jan 30th. The agency is hoping to have a referral to us by Sept or before. If not, things may change... Vietnam is needing to sign some documents to continue adoptions- if they sign, we will stay with VN, if not, we will pray about switching countries. Either way, we are in a win-win situation because we know that God sometimes redirects the journey to bring home your child. As He did in our first adoption, started in Kaz- ended in VN.

Lunar New Year Pictures: Three generations and Avi Joy with two, yes TWO Boyfriends : )

Our fun pictures from Party America! Oh it was such a riot. Please note the 'small-lips' she always does this to keep glasses on!

For ALL pictures from Christmas- Feb, please go to our homepage, perrymanadoption.com and then 2008 Photos, then Christmas-Feb. Enjoy!

Thank you for all your love and support!
Adam, Natasha, Avi Joy and waiting for baby.
"Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of rememerance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored His name. 'They will be mine,' says the Lord Almighty in the day when I make up my treasured possessions." Malachi 3:16-17

I'll confess...

OK, I'll confess one of my favorite people is Mr. Noodle's brother Mr. Noodle. Oh My Word, can one person be any funnier! I am into physical comedy, so watching Mr. Noodle try to water a plant, exercise or dance makes me crack up. (p.s. for those that don't know Mr. Noodle, he is Elmo's friend from Sesame Street.)


The second Vietnam adoption process is going very well. It has been SO much easier than the first. God is faithfully bringing in the finances and we have such great peace about the timing for travel (Maybe beginning-ish of 2009.)
We will go on the waiting list around Feb. 1 and our hope is that we will except a referral at the end of the year.
Our Gods Grace Adoption Ministry Grant met its final goal. May God bless their organization for how they have helped us... and Thank you to ALL our family and friends who helped make it possible.


Her look-a-like baby
Little Avi Joy is doing well. I recently saw a clip of Selah wanting to call herself Thu, well Avi Joy is right there with her because she will say Avi Thi, but not Avi Joy. She will say her name "Avi Thi Perryman" or she will enter "Avi Please Thi Perryman."

Passing along...
Her favorite books are:
"Mr. Brown can Moo! Can you?" by Dr, Seuss
"The Very Dizzy Dinosaurs" by Jack Tickle
"We're different, we're the same" Sesame Street, by Bobbi Kates

Her favorite toys are:
Her streetwalker hot pink lepoard-print purse
All bowls and spoons
Playing house with her baby doll

Favorite activities:
Taking showers with mom
getting together with her friends
Watching Sesame Street and dancing

To end on a dancing note (sorry so dark, but she did not know I was taping and I didn't want to distract her from shakin' it)

"Shake Your Body to the Ground" by Avi Joy

Now that the Tulsa Ice Storm, Christmas and New Years has passed the Perryman household is excited for 2008.
Some goals for the family are to take vitamins, start an adoption ministry at our church, stay active, produce more artwork and become closer to the Lord each day.

We look forward to seeing many of you at Lunar New Year Celebration and Vietnam Family Weekend!

Love, Adam, Natasha and Avi Joy
"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic prinicples of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority." Colossians 2:8-10