Provisional Approval from USCIS

We received our provisional approval today. Here are the steps we have remaining. I am sad that it looks like we aren't going to be able to travel in December after all.

1, SUBMIT YOUR I800 TO USCIS (SUBMITTED 10/05/10)
2. WAIT FOR PROVISIONAL APPROVAL FROM THE NATIONAL BENEFITS CENTER(NBC)
(2-4-WEEKS) (OURS WAS RECEIVED ON 10/23/10)
3. NBC FORWARDS YOUR I800 TO THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (ABOUT A WEEK)
4. AWAIT LETTER FROM NATIONAL VISA CENTER STATING THAT YOUR FILE HAS BEEN
CABLED TO GUANGZHOU (ONE-TWO WEEKS)
5. YOUR AGENCY WILL WALK YOUR LOA AND DS230(CHILD'S VISA APPLICATION) INTO THE
CONSULATE AT GUANZHOU. (THIS ONLY HAPPENS ON MONDAYS OR THURSDAYS)
6. WAIT FOR THE ARTICLE 5 (2 WEEKS)
7. ARTICLE 5 IS WALKED INTO THE CCAA IN BEIJING.
8. WAIT FOR TRAVEL APPROVAL.(TWO TO FOUR WEEKS)(AFTER THIS WE CAN GET A
CONSULATE APPOINTMENT).

LOA!!!

We finally received our Letter of Approval! This means that China has completely approved our adoption! YIPPEE!!! Now we are able to send her care packages and she will hear for the first time that she has a family.

Not This Month

It looks as if we are not going to get our letter of approval this month. We really are going to be cutting this close if we are to get our travel approval by November 21st.

This weekend we are having a garage sale, partly to clear away some of the clutter and partly to raise some money for our trip. Part of that "nesting instinct" makes me want to purge the house of all unnecessary items.

Updated Pictures

These are from a few months ago. We had to get them from our agency again since our computer crashed.



Ron and I think she looks mischievous in these pics. We might have another strong-willed child on our hands. Jianna is from Chongqing in the Sichuan province. The ladies there told us that they are known for spicy food and spicy women. Some adoptive parents refer to their girls as "spicy girls" and they seem to have that character.



It looks to me like someone was trying to get her to smile and she is refusing. I laugh at the lively gleam in her eye as she enjoys being uncooperative. I guess we will have to wait to see that smile.

LOA this week?

Will this week bring us our final approval from China? I hope so. Each time a Friday draws near and I realize we didn't receive it, I feel so sad. I have saved most of my holiday leave for the trip. If we don't travel in December I will still have to use it and that will cut into the time we get to take off with Jianna once she is home. I know it will all work out in the end but the waiting and not knowing is really hard.

Sometimes Veggie Tales Say It Best

Think of me everyday.
Hold tight to what I say,
And I'll be close to you,
Even from far away.
Know that wherever you are,
it is never too far.
If you think of me,
I'll be with you.

An Argument For Adopting Older Children.

I love the Love Without Boundries organization!

There are many people who say that it is wrong to adopt a child and to take him or her from the country of birth. (Ironically, the people who argue this never seem to have adopted any children themselves). This seems even more of a concern with older children who are already used to the culture and country of their birth. It is always a concern, especially with those of us who long to bring these children home with us.

In this recent post, Amy explains why it is not a negative to take an older child out of the country of their birth.

http://www.lwbcommunity.org/adoption-of-older-children

There were some things in here that I didn't know.

Back To School!

Nathan finally started back to school! He was about a week behind the other kids because of a nasty case of chickenpox or as he called them "chicken pops".

He is doing another year of preschool instead of moving onto kindergarten. His teacher recommended it because he just turned five in July. It looks like this will work out better with our trip to China since he won't fall behind if he misses a couple of weeks. Next year, he will start kindergarten with his sister!

Kudos to Daddy. I wasn't able to make it home for his first day because of the Officer shooting. :( I asked Ron to dress him cute and take photos and he did both very well!

Getting Closer!

It's time to jumpstart this blog again! We have had our dossier in China now since July 30th and it shouldn't be too much longer before we get our Letter Of Approval (LOA). Then we have the final batch of paperwork and then it is off to China! We are so hoping to get her before the end of the year.

We are starting to get all the little things around the house that we will need for two children. It makes it seems so real! We are so excited!



We have matching car seats for the Mini Cooper. There's not a lot of room back there! It makes it more real to Nathan to see places for our daughter.

Happy Birthday Nathan!

My beautiful baby boy turned five years old today! It's amazing how he keeps growing. He talks constantly now and makes jokes and sings and I just love listening to him. We are so blessed with this happy, wonderful son.

He's Gone Country

Nathan Sings ABCs.

Paperwork and Deadlines

We are working hard to get all the paperwork finished for our dossier for Ai Pei. We have our homestudy complete but are waiting for it to be typed. Our physicals are finished and our birth/marriage certificates are back.

We need to send our certificates to the state department still I think and then they go on to the Chinese Consulates.

I am concerned that we are running behind and may not meet the deadline.

I have been shopping for Ai Pei and getting things ready for her room. I can't stand the thought of not getting her!

Fu Ai Pei

We have our pre-approval!!! We are on our way to becoming Pei-Pei's family! We are so excited!



Last month we saw Ai Pei's file on the CCAA shared list. She was a little older than we were thinking for our next child but I saw that she was from Chongqing and I was intrigued. It didn't take long for us to realize she is a part of our family.

She is in an orphanage near Chongqing City which means that we were miles from her when we were in Chongqing to get Nathan! We are very excited about going back to get her!

So now I can start shopping for little girl's clothes! :)

Imagine This - Cleft Healing Home

The little smiling girl with the wild hair toward the end of the video is Lin, a girl we sponsor! I'm sure it won't be long until she is adopted.

Nathan and Kitty October 09

Happy Fall!

Nathan is back to school and he is doing better than ever! He is coming up with new sentences on his own all the time and chattering constantly. He is such a happy child (most of the time) and it is such a blessing to see him enjoying life so much.





The highlight of the season so far has been going to a riding club and getting Nathan a riding lesson. I didn't know they were going to put him on such a big horse! He wasn't afraid and had such a good time. We will be going back monthly.



We've got a camping trip coming up next month and we are busy but having a great time. We have started the paperwork for another adoption and that is always exciting and scary. Nathan tells us he wants a sister but is adamant he doesn't want a brother. I'm not sure where he got that idea but he is a ladies' man at school. :)

Road Trip!

We took Cedar and Aspen to Indiana to deliver them to their new parents. It was a long journey but the puppies did very well. Here, Cedar enjoys some snuggle time with Nathan while on the road. Nathan does very well on road trips.



Aspen got a little jealous so he had to get on Nathan's lap also.





The puppies' new parents are a lovely young couple.

Nathan 3yrs8months

Happy Spring!

We wish all our friends and loved ones a Happy Spring and hope your Easter is blessed!

Afternoon At The Park

My sister Jennell came up to visit with her boys Daniel and James. We went to Nathan's favorite playground and enjoyed the nice weather.

Nathan's First Circus

We took Nathan to the Shriner's Circus. It wasn't very mentionable as far as circuses go but, hey, it's for charity. Nathan mostly enjoyed the pony ride and the elephants. We always enjoy going out as a family.

Merry Christmas!

Our Family Dinner Photo



Passing dogs were scooped up to be in the photo and they didn't appreciate it one bit!



Our Christmas Morning Photos