Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Introducing Yayan!
Our RA/LOA (Referral Acceptance/Letter Of Aceptance) just arrived today! This means two things...we can apply for our TA (Travel Apointment) in time to travel in February at the latest (and I DO NOT have to renew our home study for the fourth time) and I can finally post pictures of our daughter. If this is the first time you are checking out this blog, scroll down to my "Referral!" post to find out more details. I am in awe of how wonderful God has been to us and approaching this Christmas season with a whole new level of gratitude and understanding what it means to be loved by Jesus and others.
By the way, the first photo has been edited by my awesome brother John. I'm sure you will spot it.
By the way, the first photo has been edited by my awesome brother John. I'm sure you will spot it.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Daughter of the King
"In that moment, time stopped. It was like God was speaking to me directly, "Mary Beth, you thickheaded woman, do you not understand now that this is the very way I see you? You are this orphan! I adopted you and you are Mine! I bought you for a price! Do you see how you love this baby? That's just a faint reflection of how much I love you! You didn't have a name, and I gave you a name. You did nothing to deserve my love, and I love you anyway. You had no hope, no future, and now you are the daughter of the King! I saw it. The second she was placed in my arms, I would have fought to the death to protect her. I loved her with everything inside of me. "Do you get it now?" God was saying to me. Under the blanket, this baby wrapped in rags. She was poor. She didn't smell good. She was hungry. There was nothing about her that had "earned" my love. But I loved her powerfully, deeply, absolutely. Period. I got it.
~Excerpt from "Choosing to See" by Mary Beth Chapman
~Excerpt from "Choosing to See" by Mary Beth Chapman
Friday, December 3, 2010
Referral!
On Thanksgiving night, at 11:45pm, after a day of cooking, cleaning and celebrating the holiday, Scott woke me up to tell me AWAA was on the phone. I was so surprised (who works on a holiday? my awesome agency does) and immediately knew we were going to be offered a referral to review. A batch of referrals had come in the prior Monday and when we didn't get a call, I was bummed but very at peace. After two prior painful declines, Scott and I had finally come into this round feeling connected to each other and centered in our faith. It felt different right from the beginning and as we were given information about her we both began to realize she was the one for us. Her name is Wang Yayan and she just turned 11 months old. Wang is her last/family name and it was probably given to all the children admitted to the orphanage that year. Yayan is her given name and it means "graceful/elegant/refined" and "gorgeous/colorful". Her birth date is December 27th, 2009 and that is the most significant birthday on my side of the family being the same as my brother's, uncle's and grandfather's. She was discovered by a bridge when she was a day old and reported to the civil affair authorities who brought her to the Qingyuan Social Welfare Institute. The SWI is located in the Guangdong Province in the very south of China. We sent in electronic acceptance papers on Sat. Nov. 27th (referred to in the adoption community as the Letter of Intent or LOI) and we received the PA (pre-approval) today Dec. 3rd. Next step, waiting for the RA (referral acceptance) which will hopefully be my Christmas present. I've been a good girl! After that we can begin making travel plans and maybe, just maybe, see our daughter in person for the first time in February.
So those are the technical details. I don't even know how to begin to relate the emotional, mental, spiritual effects this has had on me. It's times like this I wish I was a writer. First, I am grateful. After 3 1/2 years, lots of effort and $$$ we finally get to see the face that makes it all worth it. That we get to have the honor of parenting this beautiful creation of God is beyond words. He is so good and I feel loved by Him as never before. Second, I am profoundly sad. Although this is exciting for us and a dream come true, this is not the case for Yayan. In her short life she has known huge challenges and loss and by us adopting her there will be even more, loss of culture, ethnicity, and racial identity. Thirdly, I feel hope. Hope that by us adopting her she will be given a better chance at a happy, fulfilling, productive life. That she will not only have her medical needs taken care of, an education to reach her potential, a group of supportive family members to cheer her on in her life journey, a home to call her own, BUT that she will be able to accept and feel love from God and others. She will be an orphan no more. I also have selfish hopes. That her arrival will effect my family, friends and community in a positive way. That her life story will reveal the heart of God to me and those around me.
"For I know the plans I have for you,"declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
So those are the technical details. I don't even know how to begin to relate the emotional, mental, spiritual effects this has had on me. It's times like this I wish I was a writer. First, I am grateful. After 3 1/2 years, lots of effort and $$$ we finally get to see the face that makes it all worth it. That we get to have the honor of parenting this beautiful creation of God is beyond words. He is so good and I feel loved by Him as never before. Second, I am profoundly sad. Although this is exciting for us and a dream come true, this is not the case for Yayan. In her short life she has known huge challenges and loss and by us adopting her there will be even more, loss of culture, ethnicity, and racial identity. Thirdly, I feel hope. Hope that by us adopting her she will be given a better chance at a happy, fulfilling, productive life. That she will not only have her medical needs taken care of, an education to reach her potential, a group of supportive family members to cheer her on in her life journey, a home to call her own, BUT that she will be able to accept and feel love from God and others. She will be an orphan no more. I also have selfish hopes. That her arrival will effect my family, friends and community in a positive way. That her life story will reveal the heart of God to me and those around me.
"For I know the plans I have for you,"declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
Monday, November 22, 2010
God Showing Up
When we first began this adoption I was so excited and optimistic. I couldn't wait to bring home a cute little baby girl and watch how the adoption impacted myself, my husband, our family, friends, church, and community. I knew the journey to her would have it's hard moments (after all I AM an adoption professional) but I felt equipped and hopeful that whatever we would face would be overcome with prayer, effort, communication and faith. Then the wait went from 14 months to 20, to 30, to 40 to now 55! I honestly never thought it would get that high and it is still growing. I was perfectly content until about the 40 month mark. Then some discouragement started to set in and fear that this might never happen. Still we pressed on believing that it was all in God's hands. Now that Colston was older we realized that, "hey, we could handle a child with a minor correctable special medical need so why not take a look at some?" Perhaps this was the way we were meant to find our daughter as it was something I had considered from the very beginning. But it has been VERY difficult. Much harder then I could have ever imagined. How do you chose which special needs you can handle? How do you know what you are looking at with each child when the medical information is meager and wrought with translation errors? How do you say "No" to a child whose very life feels like it's in your hands? How do you move on and open your heart up again when the haunting face of an orphan left behind still lingers? I began to get discouraged. This might just be too painful...but I still feel that pull, that conviction that yes, this is what we are supposed to do. I wrestled with God and finally concluded that if this is what it takes to find these children homes then I want to be willing to go through it.
This past weekend we were in Syracuse visiting Scott's parents. They had informed us of a Stephen Curtis Chapman concert going on Friday night in the area. We had already booked them for babysitting since is was our anniversary and we decided to go. I'm not a big fan of his music style but I'm a BIG fan of him. I knew that adoption would be highlighted and that there would be a strong presence of the adoption community there. We didn't have tickets and it was too late to purchase online. We took the chance that there would be some left at the door. On the way there I was praying in my heart that we would get in and that God would show up. I just really wanted my daddy to reach out to me and encourage me to let me know that He was still in this and would carry us through this hard time. As I was paying for my tickets the lady said $37 each please...which was a $9 increase from what the article had listed. Sigh. Not a big deal but I was already wondering if we should be shelling out so much for an unnecessary concert when we were saving money to complete an adoption. I handed her a $100 bill and just then a man came up and said he has two tickets to donate. The ticket lady looks at him, takes the tickets and gives them to me. I was so overcome with gratitude I started tearing up. I'm not sure if I even thanked the man properly, I just mumbled something about how appreciative I was since we were saving money for an upcoming adoption. I'm not typically very emotional (though more so this last year for sure) but I was weepy all night. I had asked God to show up and He did! Sure you could say it wasn't God, just a generous man but it really didn't feel that way to me. It felt like God saying, "Lynne, I see you. I know the storm in your heart. I care and you can trust me."
So that's where I am. In a place of trusting God and it feels right and safe. I don't know how long this journey will last but I know my father is with me. For me that's enough.
By the way, the concert was great. They are truly an inspiring, authentic and talented family. Their sons are now in a band called "Caleb" which is more reflective of my style of music. Their orphan care foundation "Show Hope" is doing some pretty amazing things so check out their site when you get a chance. We will always be indebted to them for their assistance in our adoption.
This past weekend we were in Syracuse visiting Scott's parents. They had informed us of a Stephen Curtis Chapman concert going on Friday night in the area. We had already booked them for babysitting since is was our anniversary and we decided to go. I'm not a big fan of his music style but I'm a BIG fan of him. I knew that adoption would be highlighted and that there would be a strong presence of the adoption community there. We didn't have tickets and it was too late to purchase online. We took the chance that there would be some left at the door. On the way there I was praying in my heart that we would get in and that God would show up. I just really wanted my daddy to reach out to me and encourage me to let me know that He was still in this and would carry us through this hard time. As I was paying for my tickets the lady said $37 each please...which was a $9 increase from what the article had listed. Sigh. Not a big deal but I was already wondering if we should be shelling out so much for an unnecessary concert when we were saving money to complete an adoption. I handed her a $100 bill and just then a man came up and said he has two tickets to donate. The ticket lady looks at him, takes the tickets and gives them to me. I was so overcome with gratitude I started tearing up. I'm not sure if I even thanked the man properly, I just mumbled something about how appreciative I was since we were saving money for an upcoming adoption. I'm not typically very emotional (though more so this last year for sure) but I was weepy all night. I had asked God to show up and He did! Sure you could say it wasn't God, just a generous man but it really didn't feel that way to me. It felt like God saying, "Lynne, I see you. I know the storm in your heart. I care and you can trust me."
So that's where I am. In a place of trusting God and it feels right and safe. I don't know how long this journey will last but I know my father is with me. For me that's enough.
By the way, the concert was great. They are truly an inspiring, authentic and talented family. Their sons are now in a band called "Caleb" which is more reflective of my style of music. Their orphan care foundation "Show Hope" is doing some pretty amazing things so check out their site when you get a chance. We will always be indebted to them for their assistance in our adoption.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Collecting Wishes
To welcome new life, a tradition exists in the northern part of China to make a Bai Jia Bei (100 good wishes quilt). Family and friends are invited to contribute a square of cloth along with a good wish for the baby. The squares of cloth are all sewn together into a quilt, and the good wishes are put into a scrapbook for the child. The quilt symbolizes wrapping the child in the good wishes of family and friends.
If you'd like to help me out, here’s what you need to do:
1.Choose a 100% cotton fabric that you like. It can come from a quilting or fabric store, fabric you already have, or something that is special to you like an old piece of significant clothing, etc.
2.Wash the material if it is new to let it shrink before it is cut.
3.Cut a square measuring about 8" by 8"
4.Write your wish for the baby. The wish can be your own words or thoughts, a favorite poem or quote, a blessing, a prayer, or a favorite scripture—whatever keepsake words you would like her to have from you. From these, I will compile a scrapbook for her. A picture of you or your family would be appreciated as well.
Thanks in advance for your participation! I cannot wait to introduce her to all of you and to explain how each of you helped to bring her home through your prayers and support.
If you'd like to help me out, here’s what you need to do:
1.Choose a 100% cotton fabric that you like. It can come from a quilting or fabric store, fabric you already have, or something that is special to you like an old piece of significant clothing, etc.
2.Wash the material if it is new to let it shrink before it is cut.
3.Cut a square measuring about 8" by 8"
4.Write your wish for the baby. The wish can be your own words or thoughts, a favorite poem or quote, a blessing, a prayer, or a favorite scripture—whatever keepsake words you would like her to have from you. From these, I will compile a scrapbook for her. A picture of you or your family would be appreciated as well.
Thanks in advance for your participation! I cannot wait to introduce her to all of you and to explain how each of you helped to bring her home through your prayers and support.
Monday, July 19, 2010
WC Program
As of today Scott and I have officially entered AW's "Waiting Child Program". This means that we have requested permission to review referrals of children with minor or correctable special needs. Our paperwork will remain on the "normal" track unless we accept one of the WC referrals. Adopting a child with a medical special need has always been on our radar and with the wait time up to 51-52 months and increasing a month each month for the past three years, we just feel God leading us in this direction. It took a lot of prayer and discussion to come to this conclusion because although the growing wait time is a good motivation to take a deeper look into this program, it is not a good reason to go forward with it. We ask for continued prayer as we are committed to staying united as a couple and within God's will. We always knew that the process would involve reviewing and accepting a referral but we assumed it would be a "yes" for a healthy baby. Now we have to take a real look at what our family can handle with God's grace and be willing to say "no". I know that won't be easy so we're praying that God guides the AW staff and gives us clear indication on who our daughter is. It's exciting folks.. nerve-racking-overwhelming-make-me-giddy-and-scared-and-stressed-all-at-the-same-time...but exciting.
We haven't heard much about the first Gansu trip just that it went well and they are planning another one in the fall. If the staff who went identified a child who they thought would fit with our family, they have not told us. They could have a baby in mind for us but either the paperwork isn't ready or they are waiting until they get it just to be sure she is available and ready.
On a seperate note, our current children are doing so wonderfully and we find much joy daily in raising them. It's hard for me to imagine Colston as a big brother but we have confidence he'll step up to the plate when duty calls. Thinking about three kids brings me some anxiety but after speaking with my many expecting loved ones, they all feel similiar. So it's not an adoption thing I guess and I figure I will step up to the plate when duty calls as well.
We haven't heard much about the first Gansu trip just that it went well and they are planning another one in the fall. If the staff who went identified a child who they thought would fit with our family, they have not told us. They could have a baby in mind for us but either the paperwork isn't ready or they are waiting until they get it just to be sure she is available and ready.
On a seperate note, our current children are doing so wonderfully and we find much joy daily in raising them. It's hard for me to imagine Colston as a big brother but we have confidence he'll step up to the plate when duty calls. Thinking about three kids brings me some anxiety but after speaking with my many expecting loved ones, they all feel similiar. So it's not an adoption thing I guess and I figure I will step up to the plate when duty calls as well.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Gansu June Trip Status
After much thought, discussion and prayer Scott and I decided that we will not be traveling in June to the orphanage in Gansu. I know some of you may be disappointed but it is the only decision we feel is right for us. HOWEVER, this does not mean that we will not be adopting shortly from this region. America World staff going on this first trip will be bringing back information on the children there and we have made it clear that we are ready and willing to proceed forward with an adoption if one is identified to fit with our family. This means we could still be traveling in the fall to pick him/her up. So please keep praying! Thanks for caring for us through this whole process. We have been overwhelmed by the support and encouragement all of you have given us. Life is full, God is good, we are blessed.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
BIG NEWS
Some of you may know that Scott and I were talking about applying for the Waiting Child Program and requesting to view referrals of babies with minor medical special needs. Our tentative plan was to do this around Colston's 2nd birthday in September knowing that a referral could follow shortly. On Friday we got a call from AW telling us that we've been selected to be part of a pilot program in which five families would travel to an orphanage and be given the opportunity to identify a child for adoption. The orphanage is located in the Gansu Province near Mongolia and will be partnered with AW in order to find parents for the special needs orphans who reside there. The trip is scheduled for June 20th and we need to make our decision by June 1st! There are so many factors to consider...
PROS: Serving with Scott in an orphanage would be amazing, getting the opportunity to select a child in person and bonding with her, getting way more information about her past and current life then most adoptive parents are able to do, they have very young babies available so the chance to bring home a six month old would be incredible (early medical intervention, less developmental delays, I wouldn't miss my favorite infant stage), this is most likely the fastest way we could bring a child home and having her home by September would be SO great...we've waited 37 months already!
CONS: MONEY$$$, it would add an additional 5k to our $25k process (this coming days AFTER we just made a car purchase, it was a good deal but we could've got less car if we had known this opportunity was coming) and what if we go and don't bond with a child?, it requires two 8 day trips away from Colston and Oakley instead of one 12 day trip away from them, it's a pilot program so of course we will be ironing out the kinks for AW and there are risks involved (things like the timeframes), having to prepare and pack for a trip to China on such short notice won't be easy especially for Scott since it is week 2 of camp, although it might seem cool to be able to see a large group of children and select one the reality of that is much harder, I know I've been. What we don't want to do is make an emotional decision, we want what God wants. If that is not made clear to us during the trip it will be VERY difficult.
If we don't go there is a trip tentatively planned in the fall that will be available to us. Or we could apply to the regular Waiting Child Program and wait to receive a paper referral that way. Or we could just remain on the healthy track and wait an indefinite amount of time (currently the wait is 50 months and has yet to remain steady but instead has gone up a month each month).
So there is so much to think about and so little time to think it over, we need your help and prayers. My thoughts are consumed by this decision and we want above all else to do what God wants us to do. If you have thoughts and/or words of wisdom we are open. If you could also pray that the decision we make is one we both feel at peace about I'd appreciate it too.
We love all of you and are so grateful for your support and presence in our life!
PROS: Serving with Scott in an orphanage would be amazing, getting the opportunity to select a child in person and bonding with her, getting way more information about her past and current life then most adoptive parents are able to do, they have very young babies available so the chance to bring home a six month old would be incredible (early medical intervention, less developmental delays, I wouldn't miss my favorite infant stage), this is most likely the fastest way we could bring a child home and having her home by September would be SO great...we've waited 37 months already!
CONS: MONEY$$$, it would add an additional 5k to our $25k process (this coming days AFTER we just made a car purchase, it was a good deal but we could've got less car if we had known this opportunity was coming) and what if we go and don't bond with a child?, it requires two 8 day trips away from Colston and Oakley instead of one 12 day trip away from them, it's a pilot program so of course we will be ironing out the kinks for AW and there are risks involved (things like the timeframes), having to prepare and pack for a trip to China on such short notice won't be easy especially for Scott since it is week 2 of camp, although it might seem cool to be able to see a large group of children and select one the reality of that is much harder, I know I've been. What we don't want to do is make an emotional decision, we want what God wants. If that is not made clear to us during the trip it will be VERY difficult.
If we don't go there is a trip tentatively planned in the fall that will be available to us. Or we could apply to the regular Waiting Child Program and wait to receive a paper referral that way. Or we could just remain on the healthy track and wait an indefinite amount of time (currently the wait is 50 months and has yet to remain steady but instead has gone up a month each month).
So there is so much to think about and so little time to think it over, we need your help and prayers. My thoughts are consumed by this decision and we want above all else to do what God wants us to do. If you have thoughts and/or words of wisdom we are open. If you could also pray that the decision we make is one we both feel at peace about I'd appreciate it too.
We love all of you and are so grateful for your support and presence in our life!
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
So What IS Happening?
Wed. February 24, 2010
The short answer? Not much.
The long answer...well, it's hard to explain. We've been waiting 34 months. Our paperwork is sitting at the CCAA and has gone through the review room with no complications. Now it will be passed to the matching room where hundreds of parent's dossiers are matched with hundreds of orphan's paperwork. However, for many reasons, China is moving very slowly with that process. Why? No one really knows for sure. They claim that with the loosening of the one child policy in some regions and the promotion of domestic adoption within China, there are just not as many orphans available to meet the high demand. Although this may be true, the fact remains that the CCAA only works with a few of the many orphanages scattered throughout the country. It would be very easy and cost effective for them to improve services and staffing at all the orphanages in order to get all the available orphans a chance to be adopted. I can only speculate why they don't do this.
So what does this mean for us? A very long wait with no ability to predict when a referral will come if we stay on the healthy, infant track. The current wait is 46 months and subject to go up. This month we have had to work hard to renew our INS (USCIS) paperwork and update our New York home study report. Obviously this takes extra energy and money but we still feel the Lord has us on this path and we are trusting in Him to lead us if we are meant to change our plans. So please keep us in your prayers, that our hearts remain open and our wills remain obedient.
Colston (now 18 mo.) and Oakley (almost five) are doing wonderfully and continue to bless us. Daddy and the kids are content in the wait but mommy is starting to get more emotionally engaged and desiring to hold another little girl in her arms.
The short answer? Not much.
The long answer...well, it's hard to explain. We've been waiting 34 months. Our paperwork is sitting at the CCAA and has gone through the review room with no complications. Now it will be passed to the matching room where hundreds of parent's dossiers are matched with hundreds of orphan's paperwork. However, for many reasons, China is moving very slowly with that process. Why? No one really knows for sure. They claim that with the loosening of the one child policy in some regions and the promotion of domestic adoption within China, there are just not as many orphans available to meet the high demand. Although this may be true, the fact remains that the CCAA only works with a few of the many orphanages scattered throughout the country. It would be very easy and cost effective for them to improve services and staffing at all the orphanages in order to get all the available orphans a chance to be adopted. I can only speculate why they don't do this.
So what does this mean for us? A very long wait with no ability to predict when a referral will come if we stay on the healthy, infant track. The current wait is 46 months and subject to go up. This month we have had to work hard to renew our INS (USCIS) paperwork and update our New York home study report. Obviously this takes extra energy and money but we still feel the Lord has us on this path and we are trusting in Him to lead us if we are meant to change our plans. So please keep us in your prayers, that our hearts remain open and our wills remain obedient.
Colston (now 18 mo.) and Oakley (almost five) are doing wonderfully and continue to bless us. Daddy and the kids are content in the wait but mommy is starting to get more emotionally engaged and desiring to hold another little girl in her arms.
I'm Pregnant
Friday, February 15, 2008
I'm making the official announcement that Scott and I are expecting our second baby in late September. We are VERY excited and feeling so grateful. The pregnancy has been good so far, only about three weeks of nausea (though no actually sickness) and two months of fatigue..but still much easier then what most women have to go through.
Yes, we are still going through with the adoption from China. However it looks like we have at least 2+ years to wait for our referral. With the increased wait time Scott and I prayed, discussed and sought counsel about what we should do and came to the decision of a bio baby for 2. It's important to us that Oakley have a sibling somewhat close in age and soon (they will be about 3 1/2 years apart) and I'd rather be pregnant younger then older. It's not easy on the body!
Anyways, we want to thank you all for your support and encouragement. We are anxious to see what God has planned for our family but we WON"T be finding out boy or girl until birth. Honestly we are into either possibility.
Thanks for caring!
I'm making the official announcement that Scott and I are expecting our second baby in late September. We are VERY excited and feeling so grateful. The pregnancy has been good so far, only about three weeks of nausea (though no actually sickness) and two months of fatigue..but still much easier then what most women have to go through.
Yes, we are still going through with the adoption from China. However it looks like we have at least 2+ years to wait for our referral. With the increased wait time Scott and I prayed, discussed and sought counsel about what we should do and came to the decision of a bio baby for 2. It's important to us that Oakley have a sibling somewhat close in age and soon (they will be about 3 1/2 years apart) and I'd rather be pregnant younger then older. It's not easy on the body!
Anyways, we want to thank you all for your support and encouragement. We are anxious to see what God has planned for our family but we WON"T be finding out boy or girl until birth. Honestly we are into either possibility.
Thanks for caring!
Adoption Update
Thursday, October 04, 2007
I get asked many times a week by concerned friends and family how the adoption is going. So I thought I'd post to say that unfortunately the wait time from paperwork submission to referral (photo and medical of the child the China Center of Adoption Affairs-CCAA has matched with us) is currently 22 to 23 months. We had our paperwork submitted in April which means we still have 15 to 16 months to wait. hThis is difficult considering when we orginally made our decision the wait was only 8 months but we are trying to not let it get us down. Scott is better at this then me. I think the hardest thing is for me to watch Oakley grow up without a sibling, I guess because mine were so much a part of my childhood. Anyways, the wait time could change (in either direction) and so I will continue to post if this happens but as of today we anticipate picking up our second daughter around March of 2009. Oakley will be just turning four and our China baby will be around a year. In the last set of America World referrals the ages of the children were 6 to 11 months old and then it takes a few months to plan the trip and get paperwork in order so I'm expecting her to be anywhere from 8 to 14 months when we bring her home.
The one good thing about the long wait is that is gives us lots of time to come up with the rest of the money. We have applied for a grant (and plan to apply for a few more) and I have a good fundraiser idea brewing. Please keep this aspect in your prayers...it's a strange thing to feel so strongly you are suppossed to do something and yet not have the means at present to do it. We've never taken such a huge step of faith and yet we feel oddly confident that it's going to come together somehow.
Thanks for caring!
I get asked many times a week by concerned friends and family how the adoption is going. So I thought I'd post to say that unfortunately the wait time from paperwork submission to referral (photo and medical of the child the China Center of Adoption Affairs-CCAA has matched with us) is currently 22 to 23 months. We had our paperwork submitted in April which means we still have 15 to 16 months to wait. hThis is difficult considering when we orginally made our decision the wait was only 8 months but we are trying to not let it get us down. Scott is better at this then me. I think the hardest thing is for me to watch Oakley grow up without a sibling, I guess because mine were so much a part of my childhood. Anyways, the wait time could change (in either direction) and so I will continue to post if this happens but as of today we anticipate picking up our second daughter around March of 2009. Oakley will be just turning four and our China baby will be around a year. In the last set of America World referrals the ages of the children were 6 to 11 months old and then it takes a few months to plan the trip and get paperwork in order so I'm expecting her to be anywhere from 8 to 14 months when we bring her home.
The one good thing about the long wait is that is gives us lots of time to come up with the rest of the money. We have applied for a grant (and plan to apply for a few more) and I have a good fundraiser idea brewing. Please keep this aspect in your prayers...it's a strange thing to feel so strongly you are suppossed to do something and yet not have the means at present to do it. We've never taken such a huge step of faith and yet we feel oddly confident that it's going to come together somehow.
Thanks for caring!
Log In Date 4/16/2007
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Our official dossier (adoption paperwork) Log In Date (LID) into the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) is April 16, 2007.
What does this mean? Well, I can with somewhat confidence say that the LATEST we will get a referral for a child is December of 2008. Which means that the LATEST she will be in our arms is February of 2009. I know, I know, that is forever from now. Why would anyone put themselves through such a long wait to adopt a child when there are so many other easier and quicker methods? I don't really have the answer except to say that we know it's what we're suppossed to do. We didn't know going into this that the wait would jump from 8 months to potentially 20 months, but we believe God did and so we trust it's all in His plan.
There is always a chance that the timeframe will go down but I'm trying to prepare myself for those dates so I won't be dissappointed. Oakley will be almost four by then and I'm a litte concerned she will have a tougher transition to being an older sister since she will be so used to being the only child. However, the adopted child will already be around one when we adopt her so they will only be three years apart in age, not a terrible split. We are hoping to have another biological child but I'd like to wait a year after the adoption to get pregnant, making me 34...certainitly not a big deal in this day and age but in my mind not ideal either. My other petty concern is that it is butt cold in China around Feb. and they have lots of holidays around that time that could cause further delay in travel. So what do I do with these concerns? Nothing. I give them to God and move forward in faith, asking for peace and patience when I need it. He is good and I know He will give it to me.
Thank you for those who care and read this. We cannot do this without support from friends and family.
Our official dossier (adoption paperwork) Log In Date (LID) into the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) is April 16, 2007.
What does this mean? Well, I can with somewhat confidence say that the LATEST we will get a referral for a child is December of 2008. Which means that the LATEST she will be in our arms is February of 2009. I know, I know, that is forever from now. Why would anyone put themselves through such a long wait to adopt a child when there are so many other easier and quicker methods? I don't really have the answer except to say that we know it's what we're suppossed to do. We didn't know going into this that the wait would jump from 8 months to potentially 20 months, but we believe God did and so we trust it's all in His plan.
There is always a chance that the timeframe will go down but I'm trying to prepare myself for those dates so I won't be dissappointed. Oakley will be almost four by then and I'm a litte concerned she will have a tougher transition to being an older sister since she will be so used to being the only child. However, the adopted child will already be around one when we adopt her so they will only be three years apart in age, not a terrible split. We are hoping to have another biological child but I'd like to wait a year after the adoption to get pregnant, making me 34...certainitly not a big deal in this day and age but in my mind not ideal either. My other petty concern is that it is butt cold in China around Feb. and they have lots of holidays around that time that could cause further delay in travel. So what do I do with these concerns? Nothing. I give them to God and move forward in faith, asking for peace and patience when I need it. He is good and I know He will give it to me.
Thank you for those who care and read this. We cannot do this without support from friends and family.
We Are Group 305!
Friday, April 06, 2007
After seven months of filling out endless paperwork, ordering forms, mailing things back and forth, writing checks, putting together photo pages, multiple fingerprint appointments, home study visits, trips to make copies, and many other tasks...we are finished with the US approval process and have submitted our paperwork to America World (www.awaa.org) to be sent to China. Sixteen other families submitted that week and we are known as group 305 to AW.
SO, I consider us officially expecting! I have to admit...conceiving a biological baby is a lot more fun.
Now, we wait. After the dossier (that's what the paperwork is called) goes through translation we will be given an official loggin date. Then we wait for a long time. Currently the time from loggin date to refferal (picture and medical of the child the China Center of Adoption Affairs had reffered you) is just under 17 months.
I'll be keeping everyone posted!
After seven months of filling out endless paperwork, ordering forms, mailing things back and forth, writing checks, putting together photo pages, multiple fingerprint appointments, home study visits, trips to make copies, and many other tasks...we are finished with the US approval process and have submitted our paperwork to America World (www.awaa.org) to be sent to China. Sixteen other families submitted that week and we are known as group 305 to AW.
SO, I consider us officially expecting! I have to admit...conceiving a biological baby is a lot more fun.
Now, we wait. After the dossier (that's what the paperwork is called) goes through translation we will be given an official loggin date. Then we wait for a long time. Currently the time from loggin date to refferal (picture and medical of the child the China Center of Adoption Affairs had reffered you) is just under 17 months.
I'll be keeping everyone posted!
Slowly Moving Along
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Well, I hoped to be further along in the adoption process then we are. However I'm trying to trust God with the whole timming of everything. Actually it's not that I'm obsessing about the future child, I'm just such a task oriented person that when I cannot check things off my list in a timely manner, it stresses me out. Thankfully we are nearing the end of the paperwork process for the home study (after which more paperwork is needed). Our goal is to have the dossier (the finalized collection of documents that goes to the foreign government) turned in by Jan. 1st...pretty lofty since we have not had one home visit yet. Still, I think it can be done. I WAS the China program director after all...sheesh.
I want to thank all the friends and family who have been supportive of us. I know we can not do this without all of you helping us. Even after we get her home we will still need you all...I'm a big fan of the phrase "it takes a village to raise a child." Anyways, thanks.
Well, I hoped to be further along in the adoption process then we are. However I'm trying to trust God with the whole timming of everything. Actually it's not that I'm obsessing about the future child, I'm just such a task oriented person that when I cannot check things off my list in a timely manner, it stresses me out. Thankfully we are nearing the end of the paperwork process for the home study (after which more paperwork is needed). Our goal is to have the dossier (the finalized collection of documents that goes to the foreign government) turned in by Jan. 1st...pretty lofty since we have not had one home visit yet. Still, I think it can be done. I WAS the China program director after all...sheesh.
I want to thank all the friends and family who have been supportive of us. I know we can not do this without all of you helping us. Even after we get her home we will still need you all...I'm a big fan of the phrase "it takes a village to raise a child." Anyways, thanks.
We've Been Approved
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
America World has accepted us as clients! Not that it was a shocker, I helped to write the current eligibilty critieria they use. Still, it's one more step forward.
I sat down to call some local home study agencies today and fell in love with the first and only one I called. Child and Family Adoption in Highland, NY. I just had a really good conversation with the owner and felt totally comfortable with her. Very encouraging. I guess I expected it to be tougher to locate an agency close by since I live in the woods, let alone an agency that I liked. God is good and I'm beginning to feel like this could really happen.
For those of you that don't know, a home study is required by the state for anyone adopting. Basically you fill out a bunch of forms and describe your entire life, a worker is assigned to you, you have 3 to 5 visits with this worker, and then they write a 10 page report on your family. At the end you are either approved or denied. An approval is necessary to move forward with INS and is an important piece in your dossier that you send to China in order to be approved by their government.
It's kinda crazy that a family that wants to adopt overseas has to be approved by the agency, the state, US immigration, AND the foreign government. But most couples just have sex and don't need anyones approval to do so. Not sure what I feel about this exactly...just pointing out the difference.
America World has accepted us as clients! Not that it was a shocker, I helped to write the current eligibilty critieria they use. Still, it's one more step forward.
I sat down to call some local home study agencies today and fell in love with the first and only one I called. Child and Family Adoption in Highland, NY. I just had a really good conversation with the owner and felt totally comfortable with her. Very encouraging. I guess I expected it to be tougher to locate an agency close by since I live in the woods, let alone an agency that I liked. God is good and I'm beginning to feel like this could really happen.
For those of you that don't know, a home study is required by the state for anyone adopting. Basically you fill out a bunch of forms and describe your entire life, a worker is assigned to you, you have 3 to 5 visits with this worker, and then they write a 10 page report on your family. At the end you are either approved or denied. An approval is necessary to move forward with INS and is an important piece in your dossier that you send to China in order to be approved by their government.
It's kinda crazy that a family that wants to adopt overseas has to be approved by the agency, the state, US immigration, AND the foreign government. But most couples just have sex and don't need anyones approval to do so. Not sure what I feel about this exactly...just pointing out the difference.
Adoption Application Sent
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Today we submitted our adoption application to America World. I am both excited and scared. It just seems so crazy and yet so right for us. Those of you who know me know that I like to give God lots of chances to redirect me in case I'm going the wrong way (remember my six month, no contact break with Scott?). I've been praying constantly that before we get deep into this process that He would close the door if it's not meant to be. I even took a pregnancy test before submitting the application just to make sure! We are using birth control so it would be next to impossible...sounds crazy but I figured it would be one easy way for God to redirect us if that were to happen right now (AW requires you to wait a year if you get pregnant and we won't financially qualify with a family of four). But it came out negative so I hit "submit" to our online application.
Our adoption journey has officially begun. I don't anticipate being rejected since I work for AW and know the rules of eligibility...besides they like me there for the most part.
Now I start the paperwork process....collecting birth certificates, marriage certificates, medical forms, financial forms, completing a home study, employment letters, photographs...a huge undertaking. I plan to reduce stress by keeping a list of three things I need to get done...no more, no less. Truthfully, we aren't in a rush to submit as soon as possible. We have a beautiful baby girl to keep us busy and content.
I don't think the reality of this will sink in until we get our referral (photo, biography, and medical of the child China has matched us with). BUT reality IS that she could be growing in someone's tummy right now...alive...moving around...with a tiny beating heart. That thought is too wild for me to grasp. If I reflect on it instead of feeling joyful I become a little sad, because there is a mother who probably doesn't yet know she will be forced to make the toughest, most regretable, decision of her life. Is she rubbing her pooch affectionately thinking of a name that will never be baby's? Is she taking strange Chinese herbs to try and get her longed for boy? Is she praying to her ancestors that the baby be strong and healthy and honorable? She and I are living different lives in very different cultures, thousands of miles away, yet we are both women waiting for, praying for, hoping for a child to love and teach and nurture. The same child. And in the end it will be me who gets the priviledge of being her mother, I will be blessed beyond measure and she will be broken beyond repair. My dream of providing a home for a true orphan will be fullfilled, her dream crushed. You can argue that she's the one making the choice but those of you that really know the Chinese understand the immense pressure and possible servere consequences a wife might face for trying to keep daughter against the husband's and/or grandparent's will. I pity her and I wish that no mothers were in her position and no babies ever unwanted.
I can tell already that once I meet my little girl I will regularly weep for the woman who gave her life and wasn't around to see it be lived.
Today we submitted our adoption application to America World. I am both excited and scared. It just seems so crazy and yet so right for us. Those of you who know me know that I like to give God lots of chances to redirect me in case I'm going the wrong way (remember my six month, no contact break with Scott?). I've been praying constantly that before we get deep into this process that He would close the door if it's not meant to be. I even took a pregnancy test before submitting the application just to make sure! We are using birth control so it would be next to impossible...sounds crazy but I figured it would be one easy way for God to redirect us if that were to happen right now (AW requires you to wait a year if you get pregnant and we won't financially qualify with a family of four). But it came out negative so I hit "submit" to our online application.
Our adoption journey has officially begun. I don't anticipate being rejected since I work for AW and know the rules of eligibility...besides they like me there for the most part.
Now I start the paperwork process....collecting birth certificates, marriage certificates, medical forms, financial forms, completing a home study, employment letters, photographs...a huge undertaking. I plan to reduce stress by keeping a list of three things I need to get done...no more, no less. Truthfully, we aren't in a rush to submit as soon as possible. We have a beautiful baby girl to keep us busy and content.
I don't think the reality of this will sink in until we get our referral (photo, biography, and medical of the child China has matched us with). BUT reality IS that she could be growing in someone's tummy right now...alive...moving around...with a tiny beating heart. That thought is too wild for me to grasp. If I reflect on it instead of feeling joyful I become a little sad, because there is a mother who probably doesn't yet know she will be forced to make the toughest, most regretable, decision of her life. Is she rubbing her pooch affectionately thinking of a name that will never be baby's? Is she taking strange Chinese herbs to try and get her longed for boy? Is she praying to her ancestors that the baby be strong and healthy and honorable? She and I are living different lives in very different cultures, thousands of miles away, yet we are both women waiting for, praying for, hoping for a child to love and teach and nurture. The same child. And in the end it will be me who gets the priviledge of being her mother, I will be blessed beyond measure and she will be broken beyond repair. My dream of providing a home for a true orphan will be fullfilled, her dream crushed. You can argue that she's the one making the choice but those of you that really know the Chinese understand the immense pressure and possible servere consequences a wife might face for trying to keep daughter against the husband's and/or grandparent's will. I pity her and I wish that no mothers were in her position and no babies ever unwanted.
I can tell already that once I meet my little girl I will regularly weep for the woman who gave her life and wasn't around to see it be lived.
30th Birthday Dreams
Saturday, May 13, 2006
So I turn 30 next week on the 22nd. Usually not a big highlight in most people's lives BUT for me it's different because it means I can order an application to AWAA to begin our adoption from CHINA. Yes friends, I can finally start the steps on a 6 year long dream of bringing an orphan into our home. The process will take over a year so don't expect any baby news for a long time. We have to apply, complete months of paperwork, submit the paperwork (dossier), and then WAIT. For about 11 months. Then the referral comes and we travel to China to pick her up. I say HER because we will be asking for girl, 6 to 14 months, healthy or with minor/correctable, special needs. If you have any questions about why China or why a girl or why not domestically adopt or how do you know this is God's plan for your family....ASK AWAY! I'm really open to talking about it.
Please begin praying about it (if you pray) because it will be both financially and emotionally demanding. The good side is that it won't be as physically demanding as Oakley was!
So I turn 30 next week on the 22nd. Usually not a big highlight in most people's lives BUT for me it's different because it means I can order an application to AWAA to begin our adoption from CHINA. Yes friends, I can finally start the steps on a 6 year long dream of bringing an orphan into our home. The process will take over a year so don't expect any baby news for a long time. We have to apply, complete months of paperwork, submit the paperwork (dossier), and then WAIT. For about 11 months. Then the referral comes and we travel to China to pick her up. I say HER because we will be asking for girl, 6 to 14 months, healthy or with minor/correctable, special needs. If you have any questions about why China or why a girl or why not domestically adopt or how do you know this is God's plan for your family....ASK AWAY! I'm really open to talking about it.
Please begin praying about it (if you pray) because it will be both financially and emotionally demanding. The good side is that it won't be as physically demanding as Oakley was!
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