11/10/10

We finally got the paperwork from the USCIS that we were waiting on! Now, it's enroute to be certified by the state. Once that returns, we will send all of our paperwork to the Chinese Embassy in the US and they will authinicate it. When this is complete, we will send our paperwork to Holt and they will ship it to China. Once the Chinese give us a Log In Date (LID) then we can be matched! Please pray for our paperwork to make it to its final destination ok!

11.4.10

Waiting is so hard!!!!!!!!! We have been waiting since the beginning of October to hear about our approval on our finger prints! I finally called today! The US has approved us and our paper work is in the mail! I can't wait to get home and check the mail. Once that's in and we get it certified, we can send it to Holt and they will send it to China. It seems like this has been the longest process but I know next to most, it's not long at all! Please be praying for us a speedy process with our paper work and maybe we could have a picture of Baby China for Christmas!

Update!

Sorry I haven't updated in a while! Not much has been going on other than waiting, waiting, waiting! I can tell you that we got our appointments to be finger printed by the FBI. We will go on Oct. 5th. Hopefully, since we're goody two shoes, it won't take long to process that and we can be on to our next step. We will send our dossier in and it will head to China. Once we get a log in date (LID) we will be eligable for a match. I'm praying that we have a picture of our sweet little girl by Christmas!

8/11/10

We are almost done with our Dossier! If it hasn't been one thing, it's been another with getting our paper work completed and ready to send in! But today, lots happened. I mailed our Dossier fee today! Then sent off two things that needed to be certified. Hopefully, they will return soon! Then when I got home, Tony's passport finally arrived! Now I can send off for our I800 and we can be fingerprinted by the FBI. Once that is clear we will be able to send our Dossier in. This feels like it is taking forever. However, I know that it is all in God's timing. It doesn't matter how much I try to rush HIM, he always wins out in the end! This process has been a great lesson for me on focusing more on HIS ways rather than mine. Trusting that God will provide for this adoption has really been hard but I know that he wouldn't have brought us this far if it wasn't his will! He would have closed all of the doors a long time ago!

Please be in prayer as we finish these last few details and that we will be able to praise him for his timing and not try to manipulate him into ours!

APPROVED!

I talked to Holt this afternoon and.....we've been approved for the China Child of Promise program! Tony picked up our home study from the social worker this after noon and now it's time to start getting everything authinicated! I can't believe we are so close to sending out dossier to China! I'm praying that God will take care of everything (of course he will) and we can send or dossier to China by the end of the summer! Please pray that he shows favor on these next few weeks and everything processes smoothly! I will hopefully be posting more frequently since things are starting to roll!

Home Study

I will be calling our social worker this afternoon to set up a time to meet and finalize the home study! I can't believe it's finally time to send it off! I can't wait and I will keep you posted!

Fundraising is Fun...Waiting is ......

NOT! Have I already mentioned that I'm frustrated? Sorry to just jump right into it! But I still haven't seen the marriage license or the child abuse clearence come in the mail! I NEED to have this stuff to complete our home study. I know I have until the end of April, but I want it NOW! Ok...sorry to sound like the kid from Willy Wonka but come on! How long should it take?

On a lighter note, I'm going to order another round of flip flops. If you're interested, leave me a note or just let me know on Facebook. Just click here and it will take you to the site with the cutie shoes! They are $20 for the BeeBops and $25 for the college ones. Happy shopping!

A Taste of What's to Come?

So, I hear the "waiting" part is the hardest thing about adoption! But seriously? I thought people ment waiting for their baby was the hardest part. For three weeks, I've been waiting on my marriage license to come in the mail. I know you're thinking, "Tobie, don't you have a copy of that already?" And to that, I answer, "Yes! BUT they want a new copy of the license!" I know seriously! I guess my ten year old copy isn't good enough. I mean, I would want to see an old copy if I were someone! That way you know it's been a while, you know? So, as soon as that gets in...oh...and we're waiting for the child abuse clearence from Arkansas to arrive. THEN we can send off our home study! So, until then, I ask that you remember us in prayer as we continue to seek the Lord's favor in this process!

Questions...Questions...and more Questions!

Last night, Tony and I had our individual interviews with the social worker. Despite the fact that it had snowed about 5 inches the night before, we were determined to keep our appointments. So, Tony headed to meet her at her house (that was the only way she would talk to us yesterday!) right after work. They ended up talking for about an hour and a half. I met with her right after for about an hour. I left her house feeling amazing! Tony left, feeling a bit uneasy! He was concerned about some unwise financial decisions he had made several years ago. I, however, was not!

It may be hard for some people to understand, but I know that God put this in our hearts because HE wants to make it happen! I love that I'm totally learning to trust him because in case you didn't notice, we have absolutly no control over what happens in this adoption! I know...I said it! I have no control! So, I've handed this to him because it's something I just don't want to worry about! So, instead, I work hard to give him all of the glory for anything that happens!

So, back to the interview.....I learned that the social worker and I were in the same sorority....Phi Mu! Ok, not going to lie, I was pumped about that! She asked everything from whether or not I'd ever been arrested to how my little brother feels about the adoption. (btw...never been arrested! I'm a goody, remember?) I left there feeling on cloud nine and can't wait to get the home study complete!

If you are praying for us during this time, please remember to pray for Baby China's birth parents! God really got on me last night because I haven't been praying for her birth father.

And God Continues......

To AMAZE me! I'm serious! He has provided for us in so many times when He shouldn't have, but yet He does...and I continue to be amazed everytime! We have been preparing for our next round of interviews. We will meet with the social worker individually tomorrow afternoon. I'm excited because it's been a few weeks and those weeks have seemed like it's all been a dream! I'm glad to be sitting down with her again.
This weekend we hosted a gold/silver party. God decided to provide us with the rest of our home study money through this party. Thanks to a few very generous people. we were blessed with a heafty amount of money. I have been in a state of praise for the past 48 hours. Today, we started our next fund raiser. We will be selling flip flops. You can find more information here. If you want to order, let me know!
Please be praying for us tomorrow while we continue the home study process.

Made in China

I saw this pic today on the news and it just made me smile!

Everytime I see a panda, I think of Baby China. She will probably be called panda a few times around here! Brady has always been Pooh Bear, Kaden started out as Peanut but is now Squirt. And Baby China will be Panda!

This week at school, some of the kids asked if we had a name picked out. We do have one we really like but I didn't share it with them just yet!

For the past few weeks, God has really laid it on my heart to give back to the orphanage when we go. Tonight, mom mentioned that she was going to crochet Baby China a blanket. I asked her if she would make a few that I could take to donate. I think I might make a couple of quilts to take with me. I don't make elaborate quilts but my kids love them so maybe they will too! I will continue to pray about that for sure!

I have been tutoring and making some extra money for the Baby China fund. I just talked to a friend about doing a booth at the A'Fair this year. All of the money I make will go to that fund too! God has been showing off at how he's been providing money for us! I love it!

A Journal Entry

This week we embarked on the 100th day of school. According to Brady's teacher, he was asked to answer the question, "What would you do with $100?" This was his answer in his journal.

"I would make 1000 copies of it (if that is legal) and use the money to go and get my baby sister from China."

I asked him about it tonight and he said, "I was hoping there would be some money left and I could buy her some new toys!"

I know how much I already love her. How is it possible for a 7 year old to understand love like that for someone he's never even met nor is probably even born? Amazing!

You'd think.....

Yes, you would think that I am actually HAVING a baby as consumed as I have been! Tony was at church all weekend, so I took the opportunity to work on some sewing projects that I have ben putting off. I successfully made two baby slings. They are gifts. I have one that I used with Kaden, but it's blue and will need something a little more girley when Baby China gets here. I also had tons of ribbon left after making key chains for Christmas. So, I just spent a few hours making some hair bows. I was productive though, I made some for my step nephew's wife. She's having a little girl in the next few months so I made duplicates so that mom can give them to her.

We have been working on a name for Baby China. Though Baby China is cute, it would be kind of a weird name for say, a 30 year old! We have agreed on a first name that we both seem to like. We're trying it on for a little while just to see. As for a middle name, we're not sure. Both boys have names of people in our family for middle names so I would like to stick with that. On the other hand, I would like to incorporate her Chinese name in some way. We're going to wait and see what her name means in English and maybe use that. We have plenty of time so I guess I should actually finish filling out paper work before I worry about what we will name her!

Fundraising

I'm so excited to tell you about the new fundraiser we have started for our upcoming adoption! We have an e-store with the cutest TShirts in the world! All you have to do it click on the button to the right and it will take you directly to our store. A purchase of one of the four shirts on our page directly benefits our effort to bring Baby China home! I'm looking forward to seeing these shirts all over DeSoto county!

The Paper Chase Begins

It's official! We are adopting! We met with our social worker yesterday and started the process! It's hard to believe because we have waited for this journey to begin for so long! I am just so excited at what's to come in the next couple of years!

Kaden was the first to the door when the social worker arrived. He kept saying, "She bringing Baby China! She's bringing Baby China!" Then, I opened the door and he just looked at her and said, "She didn't bring Baby China!" And he turned around and walked off! I was cracking up. She came in and we introduced everyone and then the quesstions/interview began! She asked us a million questions and gave us all the information that we need to start collecting. We will go back in a couple of weeks for our individual interviews.

We have 90 days to complete the home study and get it sent off. It then heads to several different places to be "certified." Then it's approved and sent to China. Then we wait! China will extend an invitation for us to come and get our baby when we are matched and off we will go! We will spend two weeks there and then come home to the new life we will have!

We have decided to adopt a special needs baby. We will be happy to accept cleft lip/palate, asthma, allergies, or hearing imparied! I'm happy about this because we will have more options! She said the wait time would be 12-18 months but possibly less. She also said that we should put that we preferred the youngest we could get. Though We will be happy with what they give us! I would love her to be around 6 months even though I know that's not really possible!

I will continue to journal about this journey. Until then, keep us in your prayers!

God's Will

I'm sure this will be the title of many of my posts while we're trying to adopt. But today, God reminded me of his will and how trusting him completely is a lot better than trying to control things on my own.

I'm totally determined to fundraise the majority of the money for our adoption. One of the things I have decided to do is sell my old Premier Jewelry. I have tons of it from when I sold it and I never wear most of the pieces! So, I put pics of some of the ones I want to sell on Facebook and in two days I got enough commentments for $200. This is awesome because One of the first things we need to pay for is the application for the home study. It totals $250. Today, I dropped off some of the jewelry with a lady I got to church with. She shared with me that her son adopted from China and what a blessing the little girl is to their family! Then she handed me a check for her jewelry.

When I got to the bank to cash it, I realized she gave me $35 more than I had quoted her! She's so sneaky! Anyway, that, along with the money I had already collected put us at $243. Then, this afternoon, Tony was folding laundry and found $7 in the wash. I mean seriously! God stashed money in the laundry for us! So, tomorrow when the social worker shows up, we will have the $250 application fee that is due!

I've always known that God had already written a check for this adoption the moment when he put it in my heart. I know that even when times don't seem like it, I will be able to look back at this moment and know that I know that God has his hand on this entire process.

Please continue to pray with us for not only our baby but also her mother. The woman who will sacrifice everything for us to have a little girl! Please also pray that God will continue to lift up the funds for this adoption!

1/5/2010

It feels weird writing 2010! I haven't become "friends" with "10" yet, so until we get to know each other...I will be writing 2010! Now, on to the news of the day.

This afternoon I talked with the social worker we've chosen for our home study. While we haven't "officially" turned in our application, she wants to go ahead and meet with us to get the ball rolling! What? This is becoming a reality! Holy Cow!

I'm so excited. Of course I have tons of questions and we will fill out so much paper work it won't even be funny. But that's ok. It will all be worth it in the end! She mentioned to me that the home study is only valid for a year and our fingerprints for 15 months. I asked what happens if it takes longer. She said since we were going to adopt a Child of Promise (cleft) that I didn't have to worry about it taking that long. She seemed very excited to know that we already have experience in this area with Kaden and that made me feel great! And to think it "won't take that long"!!!!!!!! OMgoodness! I can't believe it!

Please be praying for us. We meet with her next Wednesday.

2010!!!!!!!!

I can't believe it's FINALLY 2010! I know, I know...it's literally been forever since I've updated this blog. I would give you a million reasons...but frankly...I haven't had much to blog about. But now.......it's 2010......and we are about to hop on the road to one of the most amazing journey's of our lives!

Let me get you up to day on our story. Two years ago, Tony and I, after many financially dumb decisions, joined a new small group at church. Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace. We were sick and tired of being sick and tired....one of Dave's famous quotes! Anyway, one of our long term goals was to start trying to adopt. Tony wanted to wait until we were out of debt completely....I was too impatient! So, as a compromise, we decided that in January of 2010, we would officially apply.

So, for two years...which then seemed long...but now is unreal it's here...I prayed for Baby China (our little nickname Brady came up with a long time ago). I prayed for her birth mother and the tough decisions she would have to make in the future. I prayed for God to comfort and bless this woman whom we will never know but will be forever grateful for her sacrifice. And I just prayed in general!

This weekend, we met with another family who is in the process of adopting their second child from China. They showed us everything from the financial papers we will need to fill out to the forms we need to go ahead and get started on collecting. When we left there, we were both so excited. Since that night, I have been praying and of course obsessing over what is to come!

Tony gets paid twice this month and on his second paycheck, we will be sending off our application. I love that he budgeted it in for the month! Thus begins the journey! I know that I know in my heart that this has been God's plan for me since I was a little girl! When Kaden was born, I didn't understand why our baby was born with a cleft lip. I knew God obviously had something in store and I feel this is the moment for that plan! We have decided that we will try to adopt a baby with a cleft lip also. I'm excited about this because the estimated wait time is 12-18 months! It's so sad that they throw away these perfect little angels but I'm grateful for their decisions!

Please joins us in prayer as we follow God across the big, big ocean to a place where so many other dreams have come true!