Ha! Seems like this part of the adoption journey you "just wait around" for the next step. Actually, when you think about it the whole process is "just waiting around!" You would think after 20 yrs in the Army with the "hurry up and wait" mode they tell you to be in, that it would get easier...NOPE! I think its harder. Oh well, welcome to the crowd right?! Hopefully on TUE, 3 April we will get a call that our Article 5 is being picked up. That will be exactly 2 weeks from the day it was offically delivered to the Embassy in Guangzhou.
This week has brought a cold and cough throughout our house, more rain and some snow. But most important we received an update with a few short videos of our girl! Let me just say that it took our breath away. She was adorable to begin with, but then to see her in full action and babbling a few words here and there we were able to really see who she is...and the verdict is.....we are MORE in love with her:) The foster family has done a fabulous job keeping her healthy and on track...amazing how a little love will work:)
We got our visas back this past week as well. Our 8 yr old daughter who will be traveling with us is getting more excited by the minute. Even her teachers are excited she will get to be part of this trip. Our other kids are excited for us to go too, not only to bring their little sister home, but to have their older sibling and spouse move in and take care of them. Why is is that they will behave and even clean the house while we are gone but the second we are home it's all back to normal again?! But I would rather have that, then to worry about them while we are gone. We are surely blessed to have older children who step in and help us out when we need to.
Our teen boys continue to do great. Titus is in fact doing an FFA district competition today. He won the first round a month or so ago and if he wins today he goes to state level. I think its pretty funny that a guy who barely spoke english can beat out kids who that is all they have ever known. Determination is what he has for sure! Way to go Titus.
Adam decided this past week he was going to learn to ride a bike. We tried to convince him he could do it this past summer when we got home, but I think he thought his vision was going to hinder him. Let's just say it hasn't. Along with the help of one sister, he was up and riding like a champ within an hour and only fell once. He loves his new freedom and rides as much as possible. For now he has to wear his sisters girly helmet until I can go buy him one, but he doesn't seem to mind! Way to go Adam! He has also been opening up and remembering things from his past that he didn't either remember or want to share. It's great to see healing come about. After Elizabeths adoption I think I will start to work on finding his Dad's name. He can't remember his name but he knows he was a good guy:)
Everyone else here is great, despite colds and coughs, but that is the season. Rain, rain go away!!
Well I better get off this computer and get to work around the house:)
March 28, 2012
March 16, 2012
NVC!
We got our NVC letter via email today. It was dated yesterday but not sent until today. Now off to our agency it goes, then onto China, then wait for Article 5, travel approval and we are on our way!
I love and hate this part of the journey. You know whats coming and pretty close to when, so the waiting is horrible (but knowing who we get to meet soon is worth the wait).
March and April are going to be long months!
I sure would love another picture of our sweetie!
Well, off to thinking about corned beef and cabbage - my husbands yearly Irish fix. Enjoy your weekend!
I love and hate this part of the journey. You know whats coming and pretty close to when, so the waiting is horrible (but knowing who we get to meet soon is worth the wait).
March and April are going to be long months!
I sure would love another picture of our sweetie!
Well, off to thinking about corned beef and cabbage - my husbands yearly Irish fix. Enjoy your weekend!
March 12, 2012
I800PA
Today we finally received our I800PA. It was approved on March 7th -so took 5 days in the mail to get here. I called the NVC right away and the officer there said they had not yet gotten it. I am hoping it is just in their mail room waiting to work its way to the correct office. She seems a little concerned stating that they should have already had it. So she forwarded a request to her supervisor to track it down. I of course contacted the NBC and left a message for our officer there to see if she had a tracking number etc.
If I remember correctly it took 7 days to get there last time, even though they say they 2 day express mail it to the NVC, so I won't totally wig out yet:) I will be so happy to have our paperwork past this point...then its just Article 5 and TA!!!! It would be so awesome if we traveled in early May instead of late May. I would like to miss the holidays there and be home with enough days of school left that I can get rested and into a routine before all the kids are home at the same time.
Thank you Jesus for being my shoulder to cry on while I wait not so patiently:)
If I remember correctly it took 7 days to get there last time, even though they say they 2 day express mail it to the NVC, so I won't totally wig out yet:) I will be so happy to have our paperwork past this point...then its just Article 5 and TA!!!! It would be so awesome if we traveled in early May instead of late May. I would like to miss the holidays there and be home with enough days of school left that I can get rested and into a routine before all the kids are home at the same time.
Thank you Jesus for being my shoulder to cry on while I wait not so patiently:)
February 27, 2012
I800 (not yet:(
So our I800 paperwork was mailed off and received by the lockbox on 10 Feb. I spoke with a Hague officer today who told me - since we were reusing our immigrations paperwork they had to "send off" for those old documents (that are stored in a warehouse) to consolidate with our new I800 before they can approve it. They said it will take at least a few more days before they get those documents, plus days to approve, days to mail etc...so it will be past a month of waiting for sure. I guess you wait either way. I am assuming the wait on this end is shorter than having to redo the I800a and wait for that whole process.....seriously....I know God is in charge and am grateful for that! But I would like to get it approved as soon as possible and move on to the next step:)
Yesterday my hubby was in a car accident, no worries, he is fine, a little sore but fine. It totaled our car and the other drivers car. It was her fault thankfully, but sadly she had no license or insurance and was pregnant...so I feel sorry for her and am praying she and the baby are okay (the EMTs said she was fine at the scene of the accident). Our insurance will take care of our car thankfully, but what a bummer for all involved. Good thing I still have Clifford (our big red van) to transport all the kiddos around in.
It snowed here last night - IN WASHINGTON state...this winter continues to be weird. After the 5 days of no power a month or so ago, I am not sure what to expect anymore. Global warming right!? hahahaha sorry, I just don't buy into all that.
Well off to clean the house, wash the clothes and other mundane things while I wonder and wait this week about our I800.....Have a blessed week!
Yesterday my hubby was in a car accident, no worries, he is fine, a little sore but fine. It totaled our car and the other drivers car. It was her fault thankfully, but sadly she had no license or insurance and was pregnant...so I feel sorry for her and am praying she and the baby are okay (the EMTs said she was fine at the scene of the accident). Our insurance will take care of our car thankfully, but what a bummer for all involved. Good thing I still have Clifford (our big red van) to transport all the kiddos around in.
It snowed here last night - IN WASHINGTON state...this winter continues to be weird. After the 5 days of no power a month or so ago, I am not sure what to expect anymore. Global warming right!? hahahaha sorry, I just don't buy into all that.
Well off to clean the house, wash the clothes and other mundane things while I wonder and wait this week about our I800.....Have a blessed week!
February 17, 2012
Blessed!
As we wait these last couple months (which seem like an eternity) we continue to be blessed. We were told our daughters foster family (who are not ch*nese) were suppose to go back home, but asked their employer if they could stay until we arrived to adopt our daughter! They said yes!!! We are going to work with our agency to meet the family after the adoption is over and we are on our way home (they are fostering her in a different city than she is from).
In addition to that we were able to obtain hard copy scans of her spine to determine if we would allow them to operate on her again before we travel. Our nuero guy said it was better to wait, so we have requested they wait, now we are praying they will grant that wish.
In addition to that we got an updated photo!!! Goodness she is precious!
Hopefully we will get our I800PA in the next week!
In addition to that we were able to obtain hard copy scans of her spine to determine if we would allow them to operate on her again before we travel. Our nuero guy said it was better to wait, so we have requested they wait, now we are praying they will grant that wish.
Hopefully we will get our I800PA in the next week!
February 8, 2012
L>>>>>O>>>>>>>>>>A>>>>>>>!!!!!
All I have to say is we have LOA after 55 days and I am praising Jesus!!!!
Mommy and Daddy are coming Elizabeth...soon, not soon enough, but soon:)
Mommy and Daddy are coming Elizabeth...soon, not soon enough, but soon:)
February 6, 2012
Day 53
Wow, day 53 already. This LOA is taking longer than I thought it would. Not sure why they are going slower each year but they sure are. We will obviously wait as long as we have to but man, can't they hurry up a little? Hahahahaha...
Today is sunny and warming up here in the Pacific Northwest. It makes me want our daughter home even more though; thinking about her playing outside with her brother while the other kids are at school....ahhh..the thoughts, dreams and wishes while I wait....
I have been working with my girls before school to memorize scripture. Last weeks was 1 Peter 5:7 Cast your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. What a perfect scripture for this part of our adoption journey. My 8 year old even said it helped her today. She has such a tough time Monday morning. She is a sleeper and a homebody, so Mondays are always rought starts. She said she just kept saying that scripture in her head and it made her feel better. How awesome!
Now, I do not pray for patience anymore, because as we all know when you ask God He listens and responds...so now I just pray specifially about a situation. So today I pray that God sees fit to let us have our LOA this week, not next week. So God, that is my prayer:)
Today is sunny and warming up here in the Pacific Northwest. It makes me want our daughter home even more though; thinking about her playing outside with her brother while the other kids are at school....ahhh..the thoughts, dreams and wishes while I wait....
I have been working with my girls before school to memorize scripture. Last weeks was 1 Peter 5:7 Cast your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. What a perfect scripture for this part of our adoption journey. My 8 year old even said it helped her today. She has such a tough time Monday morning. She is a sleeper and a homebody, so Mondays are always rought starts. She said she just kept saying that scripture in her head and it made her feel better. How awesome!
Now, I do not pray for patience anymore, because as we all know when you ask God He listens and responds...so now I just pray specifially about a situation. So today I pray that God sees fit to let us have our LOA this week, not next week. So God, that is my prayer:)
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