Today was something else. John sat in on a telephone conference for our trip with our adoption agency. Since we are leaving in less than one week, we needed to know details about traveling to China and what to expect. He took notes like a true Airborne Ranger.
Our flight leaves Detroit Michigan at 12 noon on Thursday the 21st. We have a special friend bringing us and another picking us up. We arrive in Beijing on Friday night at Midnight. Please keep us in prayer as this is a very long trip for Jb's back, hip and knees and my patients!
then two days of sight seeing at the Great wall of China, the forbidden city, Church ( a goverment ran Chrisitian Church) dinner at the some famous Duck restaurant and then off to Guilin City China to pick up our daughter. Just a funny note about the great wall. When we first decided to adopt from China, I told Jb as serious as can be that I wanted to walk the entire Great wall. Well, that was until I heard it was thousands of miles long. LOL!
We were told that as of today we will not be able to visit the orphanage that she was found at because of the high risk level of the swine flu but that could change over the next week or so. We were informed that the first three days with her might not be that enjoyable and we might be in for a lot of crying. oh boy!
I can not begin to explain how we are feeling right now but before logging out I have to share this. In the mist of my darkest days of worry about finances on this trip and how we were going to come up with the money needed. My husband told me that I had such little faith. I really did. In fact I stopped right then and there in my tracks and begged the lord to provide. When searching for a bible verse to comfort me I found Proverbs 3 vs. 5-6. Trust in the lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding , in all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your paths. Two months past and everytime I worried about the money I repeated this over and over.
last week Sunday I got to church. In the very back was a gift bag with a trinket in it. Sure enough it had this very verse on it. I don't know who left it for me (my secret sister) but it was just what I needed. Over the next few days the lord supplied every penny of what we needed for our trip. Talk about break down emotionally. God is good all the time!
As jb and I prepare to be parents with less than 6 days to go, we appreciate everyone who have encouraged us, prayed for us, bought Lucy little gifts, asked how things were going and loved this little girl well before they met her. I thank you from the bottom of our hearts and I truly can't wait to share her with you.
As jb went to bed tonight he told me that this little girl is going to be special in some way. He is not sure what it will be exactly but that she will be special!
We hope that you follow along with us on out trip and we will do our best to post photo's of Gotcha day and possibly a video of us getting her while we are in China!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Referral and travel approval
The last couple of weeks have been very busy. We had to send many documents to the adoption agency, take another trip to cleveland for a visit to immigration and some more waiting. We received the preapproval from China on December 1st and then the official referral from China on December 2nd. When you receive this news after waiting three years it seems like a prank but then the famous Fed Ex package arrives and poof there is the official seal from China and You Meng Ke's photo on the cover of the package.
Jb did well and waited at home to accept the package and he even took a photo of the Fed Ex driver!
As of tonight our visa's have been sent and we are just waiting to book our tickets to China. We are waiting on the Chinese goverment to give us travel approval. We have been busy learning chinese and reading up on what to expect from a toddler. It is our prayer that she will bond with us very shortly after we meet. We realize that the first couple of months may be difficult for our little one even as though it will be a joyous time for us! I have been up late or waking in the middle of the night thinking of her foster mother and father and the feelings that they might be having at this time knowing that the next couple of weeks are their last with You Meng Ke. My heart breaks for them and I wish somehow they could know that we will do our best to care for her.
Anyways for now all we have to hold on to is three little photo's of our Little Lucy. We have started to pack, get our gifts together for the orphanage and once again just waiting to book our tickets. Tonight I close that Jb and I are trusting in the lord to provide the funds we need for this trip and the adoption.
Jb did well and waited at home to accept the package and he even took a photo of the Fed Ex driver!
As of tonight our visa's have been sent and we are just waiting to book our tickets to China. We are waiting on the Chinese goverment to give us travel approval. We have been busy learning chinese and reading up on what to expect from a toddler. It is our prayer that she will bond with us very shortly after we meet. We realize that the first couple of months may be difficult for our little one even as though it will be a joyous time for us! I have been up late or waking in the middle of the night thinking of her foster mother and father and the feelings that they might be having at this time knowing that the next couple of weeks are their last with You Meng Ke. My heart breaks for them and I wish somehow they could know that we will do our best to care for her.
Anyways for now all we have to hold on to is three little photo's of our Little Lucy. We have started to pack, get our gifts together for the orphanage and once again just waiting to book our tickets. Tonight I close that Jb and I are trusting in the lord to provide the funds we need for this trip and the adoption.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Lucy called!
it was 6:30 Thursday November 22nd. My cell phone rang and it was Leah from our adoption agency calling to let us know that this a two year old girl named "You Meng Ke" that might be a perfect match for our family. Before calling us Leah told me that she prayed that the lord would make it clear if You Meng Ke would be a match.
Immediately Jb and I rushed to the Pc and downloaded all the info and photo's of her. Instantly we knew this was the little face we have been waiting three years for. Leah informed us that we had until 3 pm Friday the 23rd (@ 20 hours) to decide. Well, well, well our life changed at that very moment.
Three whole years of waiting to see her almond shaped eyes and her captivating smile. After reading the referral information it was quite clear that we are already in love with her.
First thing Friday morning we called Leah and told her to hurry up and do what it takes to get us to China to pick up our daughter!
Immediately Jb and I rushed to the Pc and downloaded all the info and photo's of her. Instantly we knew this was the little face we have been waiting three years for. Leah informed us that we had until 3 pm Friday the 23rd (@ 20 hours) to decide. Well, well, well our life changed at that very moment.
Three whole years of waiting to see her almond shaped eyes and her captivating smile. After reading the referral information it was quite clear that we are already in love with her.
First thing Friday morning we called Leah and told her to hurry up and do what it takes to get us to China to pick up our daughter!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Our next step is the matching room!
Ok this is some very exciting stuff! our next step in our adoption process is the matching room. This is when the China Center of Adoption Affairs matches us with an orphanage then a little orphan girl, who we will call Lucy!
I attached the following update from our adoption agency:
CCAA Completes Review of Dossiers from April of 2007
The CCAA has finished the review of dossiers and paperwork registered with their office in April of 2007. The timeframe for the dossier review process varies as it is based upon the number of dossiers that are logged in during the particular month that is currently under review.
What Does it Mean when My Dossier Has Been Reviewed?
Families often ask what it means when a dossier has been reviewed. The review process is when the CCAA is checking all documents in a family’s dossier. If the CCAA requires any additional information or has any questions about the family, they will contact the agency to request this information and the family will then be contacted to follow up on anything that is needed or requested.
Though the dossier review stage is most often when any issues or questions about a family’s dossier are addressed, the CCAA can sometimes request additional information once a family’s dossier is in the matching room. Though it is more rare, families should be aware that they can still be asked to provide additional information at that stage as well.
So wait! Then wait some more... then just wait!!
John and I are doing well at this point. We know it is just time. We are prepared and really looking forward to the next chapter in our life. I will keep everyone posted as we are unsure of the time frame of the referral. When the phone call and then the famous Fed-Ex package comes we probably will think it is a prank call or something.
We would like to Thank everyone who has been praying for us and who continue to ask us how things are going. It is an encouragement to us both and we look forward to the day we bring her home!
I attached the following update from our adoption agency:
CCAA Completes Review of Dossiers from April of 2007
The CCAA has finished the review of dossiers and paperwork registered with their office in April of 2007. The timeframe for the dossier review process varies as it is based upon the number of dossiers that are logged in during the particular month that is currently under review.
What Does it Mean when My Dossier Has Been Reviewed?
Families often ask what it means when a dossier has been reviewed. The review process is when the CCAA is checking all documents in a family’s dossier. If the CCAA requires any additional information or has any questions about the family, they will contact the agency to request this information and the family will then be contacted to follow up on anything that is needed or requested.
Though the dossier review stage is most often when any issues or questions about a family’s dossier are addressed, the CCAA can sometimes request additional information once a family’s dossier is in the matching room. Though it is more rare, families should be aware that they can still be asked to provide additional information at that stage as well.
So wait! Then wait some more... then just wait!!
John and I are doing well at this point. We know it is just time. We are prepared and really looking forward to the next chapter in our life. I will keep everyone posted as we are unsure of the time frame of the referral. When the phone call and then the famous Fed-Ex package comes we probably will think it is a prank call or something.
We would like to Thank everyone who has been praying for us and who continue to ask us how things are going. It is an encouragement to us both and we look forward to the day we bring her home!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Time Line for Adoption
5/06 Decided to adopt
6/10/06 attended AWAA's adoption seminar
7/06 sent in our application to America World Adoption Agency
8/1/06 Received a phone call while eating breakfast at the Cracker Barrel that we were accepted into the China Program.
9/1/08 Began filling out paperwork and collecting documents for our homestudy
*Birth Certificates
*marriage Lic.
*Passports
*Financial forms
*Got physicals
*Got the dogs vet records
*Got our well water tested
*Put up alarms on our front and back door
*put safety netting on our stairway banester
*got a Fire Inspection
*Life Insurance and Car and Home Insurance certificates
*Local Police records
*BCI fingerprints
*FBI fingerprints
*drove to Cleveland to the Dept. Of Homeland Security to get fingerprinted
10/06 drove to findlay to take a 8 hour parenting class
November to December 2006 Had 4 visits (at our house) by our social worker Terese McOwen.
Finished our Homestudy requirements on December 28th, 2006.
Mailed all of the above in and waited 12 long weeks for our approval.
*Received the approval in March 07
* Mailed all the documents to the State Dept. for a fancy seal.
* Then to the Chinese Embassy for another fancy paper
* Then made copies for our records
* Then mailed everything to America World's office in Virginia
*Lauren Barnett reviewed our Dossier (package of all of the above)
3/27/07 our Dossier was mailed to China
**I have a copy of the stops it made with FED EX and who signed for it when received in China!
4/12/07 We are officially Logged into the China Center of Adoption Affairs
then the wait!!.............
12/07 we received the Brown envelope from China (not sure why this is important but they say the form they send is good)
still waiting.....................................
6/10/06 attended AWAA's adoption seminar
7/06 sent in our application to America World Adoption Agency
8/1/06 Received a phone call while eating breakfast at the Cracker Barrel that we were accepted into the China Program.
9/1/08 Began filling out paperwork and collecting documents for our homestudy
*Birth Certificates
*marriage Lic.
*Passports
*Financial forms
*Got physicals
*Got the dogs vet records
*Got our well water tested
*Put up alarms on our front and back door
*put safety netting on our stairway banester
*got a Fire Inspection
*Life Insurance and Car and Home Insurance certificates
*Local Police records
*BCI fingerprints
*FBI fingerprints
*drove to Cleveland to the Dept. Of Homeland Security to get fingerprinted
10/06 drove to findlay to take a 8 hour parenting class
November to December 2006 Had 4 visits (at our house) by our social worker Terese McOwen.
Finished our Homestudy requirements on December 28th, 2006.
Mailed all of the above in and waited 12 long weeks for our approval.
*Received the approval in March 07
* Mailed all the documents to the State Dept. for a fancy seal.
* Then to the Chinese Embassy for another fancy paper
* Then made copies for our records
* Then mailed everything to America World's office in Virginia
*Lauren Barnett reviewed our Dossier (package of all of the above)
3/27/07 our Dossier was mailed to China
**I have a copy of the stops it made with FED EX and who signed for it when received in China!
4/12/07 We are officially Logged into the China Center of Adoption Affairs
then the wait!!.............
12/07 we received the Brown envelope from China (not sure why this is important but they say the form they send is good)
still waiting.....................................
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
15 months waiting and counting.
We have 15 plus months under our waiting belt. Many emotions and feelings about our adoption come and go. We find some days we can hardly talk about Ms. Lucy and other days our every other topic of converstion are about her. Since my last post over 12 months ago all the following have happened in our life.
Lucy's two cousins Bryce Buntyn and Keegan Plunkett were born.
The Mortgage industry has made a major turn for the worst.
Georgene got a job working for a drug and alcohol counseling center (in Paulding Ohio)
John had a mild heart attack and two hernia repairs. (he said that this makes him sound weak so I have to add that he was back to work 2 days later and sparring that same week)
we raised $1500 at our adoption fundraiser (yard sale)
We got a new puppy named Doc Holiday. Abby's new boyfriend.
& we renewed our homestudy (7/25/08) because it expired!
and smaller events like we got Lucy's crib, lots of new books, toys, cloths and our homestudy renewed.
I think at this point the rumor's are that our wait could very well be another year. I hate even imagining that it will take that long. I trust that the lord is preparing us for becoming parents. We are still optimistic and know one day looking back that the wait will be worth it!
for now we look to our support web site set up by America World for encouragement. Video's of Gotcha day and family web pages.
I leave with one thought that often crosses my mind while driving to work or waiting on line....
what will Lucy look like?!! We already love her and can hardly wait to be parents!
Lucy's two cousins Bryce Buntyn and Keegan Plunkett were born.
The Mortgage industry has made a major turn for the worst.
Georgene got a job working for a drug and alcohol counseling center (in Paulding Ohio)
John had a mild heart attack and two hernia repairs. (he said that this makes him sound weak so I have to add that he was back to work 2 days later and sparring that same week)
we raised $1500 at our adoption fundraiser (yard sale)
We got a new puppy named Doc Holiday. Abby's new boyfriend.
& we renewed our homestudy (7/25/08) because it expired!
and smaller events like we got Lucy's crib, lots of new books, toys, cloths and our homestudy renewed.
I think at this point the rumor's are that our wait could very well be another year. I hate even imagining that it will take that long. I trust that the lord is preparing us for becoming parents. We are still optimistic and know one day looking back that the wait will be worth it!
for now we look to our support web site set up by America World for encouragement. Video's of Gotcha day and family web pages.
I leave with one thought that often crosses my mind while driving to work or waiting on line....
what will Lucy look like?!! We already love her and can hardly wait to be parents!
Friday, July 13, 2007
We have officially been Logged in for 3 months!
Today our dossier has been logged in for 3 months w/the CCAA. The current wait is running about 20 months so we aren't even warmed up yet. John and I are holding on to this by little things that may sound silly to others but to us they bring us hope.
like...
*seeing 2 chinese children at CVS today when I stopped into pick up Jb a pepsi
*a friend purchased a gift for Lucy
*people asking about the adoption
* and photo's and posts on our adoption web site (support chat group)
We push forward knowing that it will all be worth it when we finally get her in our Arms.
I leave with this t-shirt saying:
Months of waiting, 20 hours on a plane, 40 hours with no sleep, holding my daughter in my arms...priceless!
like...
*seeing 2 chinese children at CVS today when I stopped into pick up Jb a pepsi
*a friend purchased a gift for Lucy
*people asking about the adoption
* and photo's and posts on our adoption web site (support chat group)
We push forward knowing that it will all be worth it when we finally get her in our Arms.
I leave with this t-shirt saying:
Months of waiting, 20 hours on a plane, 40 hours with no sleep, holding my daughter in my arms...priceless!
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