Now What?

That's what everyone keeps asking. Now what happens? We have PA, and now the work intensifies. We have six months to get our completed dossier--including immigration approval--to China for a full review. Here's what I have to do for paperwork:

• birth certificates--ordered and waiting on delivery
• marriage certificate--ordered and waiting on delivery
• divorce certificates--ordered and waiting on delivery
• financial worksheet--done, just need notarization
• employment letters--waiting on Mike's
• medical clearances--done, and will be notarizing tomorrow
• criminal history clearances--done
• other state clearances--ordered, waiting on Mike's
• Homestudy--waiting on the final records above and then a final draft will be issued
• CIS--waiting on Homestudy to apply.

It's just a waiting game now. I wait for the documents to arrive, send them to the homestudy agency, and then apply to CIS once the homestudy is finalized. After CIS mails us our approval letter, we load it all up and mail it to ASIA. They translate and authenticate it and send it to China. Once China receives it they review it and issue a confirmation letter and then travel approval. That's the TA you'll be reading about in a few short months.

While China is reviewing our dossier, I will be applying for my travel Visa to China, and getting the house ready for a little girl. God is so good!

PA!!!

PA! PA! PA! I can't believe it! China approved us for LilyBeth! I'm so excited! We are going to be parents again.

LilyBeth's name

Ever since I was 10 or so I have wanted to adopt a little girl from China. In my mind her name was "LilyBeth". I don't know why I chose that name--I certainly didn't know anyone with the name, and still don't. But that was the name I gave her. Now, on our third adoption, we are finally planning for a little girl from China and her name will be "LilyBeth".

Today, I decided to Google the name. I've never looked it up before; sure I've looked up "Lily", "Beth", and "Elizabeth", but never "LilyBeth". To my delight, I learned that the name is a derivation of the Hebrew name "Elisheva", which means "God's Promise." Imagine my delight!

God put this little girl in my heart thirty years ago, and after two previous adoptions, we finally feel like God has called us back to China for a little girl. And if God is willing, we will have her next year....and her name will be "LilyBeth".

Could it be?

Oh my goodness! I saw the most adorable face today. A little 16-month old girl!

I have sent in our request for pre-approval. It's in God's hands now.

Choose to SEE!

I am almost finished reading Mary Beth Chapman's book, Choosing to See. Of course as an adoptive parent, I am ravenous for true stories of adoption. I remember watching the news in 2008, when I learned that Maria Sue Chapman had been killed in a tragic accident. My heart grieved for this family. I remember praying with our children that God would protect and heal the Chapman family. To be able to read Mary Beth's book is an opportunity to see how God worked through this family. Maria Sue was just one of millions of orphans in this world--but she found something many children never do--a loving home. She only lived for five short years, but brought so much life and hope to her family in that short time.

I think about how many times I get asked, "Why are you adopting again?" by family and friends. The answer is so simple that it amazes me how many people don't get it--because there are children who need a home! Children who are fearfully and wonderfully made in God's image. Children who won't learn about Jesus or His love for their precious little life, unless they are given a family.

We are ALL orphans! God has adopted us into His family. We didn't do anything to deserve this blessing, yet He gives it to us unconditionally.

How can we be so selfish? How can we NOT help these children. If you feel called to adopt--step out in faith and pray about it. If you want to help, but don't feel called to adopt, then help someone who does want to adopt. Donate time, money, prayers, hugs. If you don't know someone who is adopting, Google it! You will find tons of agencies and foundations that will be happy to give you a tax deduction in exchange for a small donation. The money raised goes to help people adopt, to care for orphans waiting for homes, and to help pay for medical care for the children who have no families.

How would you feel if you sat alone in a crib all day with no one to hug you, or smile at you, or tell you that you're special? Some of the children did know love once, but for one reason or another they were abandoned, or relinquised to orphanages. They need to know they are loved and are precious to someone. So if you can find room in your heart, please consider adoption.

Sorry--but I really had to vent! And since no one reads this but me, I figure I can vent anything I want to.

And a picture of our crazy kiddos:

The Old Switcheroo!

Haying rake in the woods of upstate New York

Bo--such a handsome boy

Just a nice picture in New York


So, we had our homestudy just about finished when suddenly....our agency told us we no longer qualified for China! What? I take antidepressants--very low dose, but still--and AGCI said that's a disqualifier. I asked about waivers, after all we are looking for a waiting child, but they said no. I asked about other Asian countries' programs. AGCI said they can't work with us for 3-4 months. We were devastataed to say the least.







So after mourning our loss for a whole 20 hours, I started calling and emailing and researching other agencies and countries. I really believed that China was no longer an option. Then, I learned from three different agencies that we COULD get a waiver for China! Praise God! We had to shuffle things around a bit, but we ended up going back to ASIA--the agency we first spoke with. So far it has been smooth sailing. We have our contracts in, our homestudy is done, and now we are just waiting to have the dossier packet together.







I wondered what God was teaching me in that lesson, that was so painful. Then I realized that I am selfish and impatient, and I should have stuck by my original decision to leave AGCI. They are not a bad agency, just not right for us this time around.

Long Time, No Post!

We've been so busy getting things moving in the adoption world, I haven't had time time to update the blog. Here are a few photos to show what's up in our house.

Here's our recent birthday boy! So cute. he was so happy to have a party for him.




And the birthday cake, decked out in tractor attire! Check out those massive bales of hay!



Here's our handsome boy, Thomas. He is so excited to get a little sister from China, and is saving his pennies to put toward a plane ticket to go with me.



Here's Grace, looking very serious as she demonstrates her newly-acquired cycling skills. She showed me that she knows how to ride with only ONE hand!

And Sam--looking exactly like his Dad here!

And finally the update:

We signed our contracts with AGCI, completed our adoption education classes and are expecting to have our homestudy completed by October 30th! Once it is done and approved, we will be able to accept a child from the shared China list of kiddos with special needs!

Next up is the dossier (ugh!). This means mega amounts of paperwork and money. We know this will all come together, and just pray that each day is productive. God is good and will provide.