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.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
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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