I was pretty disappointed that we did not receive our referral yesterday, but after a good cry I felt a bit better. Well...let me tell you...yesterday afternoon it was proven again that there is always someone in a worse situation than you find yourself in.
Referrals were reported to be through June 6. One agency had 19 families who were June 6 LID. They celebrated most of the day that their referrals were on the way. They laughed, they cried, they called family members, they took their kids out of school for a special celebration day. About 4 p.m. they received an email from their agency saying, "Oops! You are June 7 LID. Sorry for the mistake." This means that they will not receive their referral this month after all.
So...putting this into perspective, we were actually blessed to learn right away that our LID date was not in this batch. A good cry would not be enough to console me after celebrating all day & calling family. What a terrible thing to have to call people again to say that it wasn't true after all.
Today we look at our delays & frustration & disappointment and say, "The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad." Psalm 126:3
Be assured that if God takes longer than you wish, it is only to make the blessing all the more precious. ~Unknown
"For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless." Psalm 84:11
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
No Referral Again
Referrals are in for this month and do not include us. They stopped at June 6 and we are June 9. There is no guarantee that we will be in the next batch. It seems like there would be, but since they are doing smaller and smaller batches, we can't get our hopes up too much.
We know that God is in control and that He knows what He is doing. We are closer than ever. Still, I am bummed. Maybe next month....
On the bright side, we had a P&PP on Saturday. That's a Paint & Pizza Party! Five friends & family members came to help us paint the upstairs hallway, new bathroom, and Jade's room. Oh, they are so pretty! We still have finishing touches to do, but we're almost finished with the painting. A friend is coming back to paint Chinese calligraphy on the bathroom wall as a border. It is going to be so nice. Check back soon for pictures of our progress!
We know that God is in control and that He knows what He is doing. We are closer than ever. Still, I am bummed. Maybe next month....
On the bright side, we had a P&PP on Saturday. That's a Paint & Pizza Party! Five friends & family members came to help us paint the upstairs hallway, new bathroom, and Jade's room. Oh, they are so pretty! We still have finishing touches to do, but we're almost finished with the painting. A friend is coming back to paint Chinese calligraphy on the bathroom wall as a border. It is going to be so nice. Check back soon for pictures of our progress!
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Another Good One
“Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.”
- Unknown
- Unknown
A Wonderful Quote
Be assured that if God takes longer than you wish, it is only to make the blessing all the more precious. ~Unknown
Friday, April 14, 2006
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Pictures of Jade's Completed Closet
First, we begin with the mess! Jeff can only do this kind of work on Saturdays, so between them, I threw all the supplies in the closet. What can I say??? I had to be able to walk in the room!
So, here's the finished closet. Didn't Jeff do a great job?!
I love the versatility of the shelving system - we'll be able to adjust it as she grows, but for now, it gives us a bit of storage room.
The first thing I did was put stuff on the shelves! It just made me SMILE to look in there!!
Then I pulled out clothes that have been handed down to us and a few things we've bought and filled the closet up. (Elizabeth, close your eyes...there's a lot of pink in here!)
Okay, there are a few items of clothing that I have purchased. It's just so hard to resist all the cute clothes!!
Ruth, look between the shelves. See the yellow afghan you made for Jade? It's sitting there waiting to wrap her up!
So, now what? Well, you see, when we were working in the bathroom & closet, all the stuff stored in there was thrown into Jade's room. So now we need to clean it out, paint the room, and put only the baby stuff back in! Here's the starting point. I'm already tired just looking at it!
So, here's the finished closet. Didn't Jeff do a great job?!
I love the versatility of the shelving system - we'll be able to adjust it as she grows, but for now, it gives us a bit of storage room.
The first thing I did was put stuff on the shelves! It just made me SMILE to look in there!!
Then I pulled out clothes that have been handed down to us and a few things we've bought and filled the closet up. (Elizabeth, close your eyes...there's a lot of pink in here!)
Okay, there are a few items of clothing that I have purchased. It's just so hard to resist all the cute clothes!!Ruth, look between the shelves. See the yellow afghan you made for Jade? It's sitting there waiting to wrap her up!
So, now what? Well, you see, when we were working in the bathroom & closet, all the stuff stored in there was thrown into Jade's room. So now we need to clean it out, paint the room, and put only the baby stuff back in! Here's the starting point. I'm already tired just looking at it!
Friday, April 07, 2006
Cats Guard the Changing Table
I said in my first post that I was going to insert a photo of our cats on the changing table, but I never did it.
So...here it is! Jack is on the bottom and Baby is on the top.
Chinese Adoption Terms Explained
Abbreviations
CA = Consulate Appointment
CAWLI = China Adoption With Love, Inc. (Our agency)
CCAA = China Center of Adoption Affairs
DTC = Doccier sent to China
LID = Log in Date (When we entered into China's adoption system.)
PTAG = Parents Travel Advisory Group
TA = Travel Approval
USCIS = US Citizenship and Immigration Services
Terms
Doccier - All the documents collected for international adoption: our autobiographies, homestudy, personal references, medical reports, criminal history checks, fingerprints, etc.
Referral - A baby matched to a waiting family. When a referral comes for us, our agency will call us & make an appointment for us to come to their office within the next 48 hours. At that appointment, we will be given a picture of our baby, her medical history, her age & approximate date of birth, and her height & weight.
Waiting Family - A couple, with or without children, or a single person who is DTC & LID.
CA = Consulate Appointment
CAWLI = China Adoption With Love, Inc. (Our agency)
CCAA = China Center of Adoption Affairs
DTC = Doccier sent to China
LID = Log in Date (When we entered into China's adoption system.)
PTAG = Parents Travel Advisory Group
TA = Travel Approval
USCIS = US Citizenship and Immigration Services
Terms
Doccier - All the documents collected for international adoption: our autobiographies, homestudy, personal references, medical reports, criminal history checks, fingerprints, etc.
Referral - A baby matched to a waiting family. When a referral comes for us, our agency will call us & make an appointment for us to come to their office within the next 48 hours. At that appointment, we will be given a picture of our baby, her medical history, her age & approximate date of birth, and her height & weight.
Waiting Family - A couple, with or without children, or a single person who is DTC & LID.
Our Adoption Journey
October 2004
- Theresa said, "I think I still want to adopt a baby." Jeff said, "Let's go for it!" (That was easy!)
- Theresa called MAPS (Maine Adoption Placement Services) and signed us up to attend their informational meeting in Portland.
- We attended that meeting and were amazed to learn that most international adoptions are less expensive than domestic (within the U.S.) adoptions...and they take less time!
- We began to consider China for two reasons: it can be done within 2 years and you are guaranteed a baby.
- We wondered how we could swing a $30,000 adoption, but knew we wanted to do this and decided to find a way.
- While searching the web about Chinese adoption, Theresa ran across an agency, AmericaWorld Adoption Agency (AWAA) in Virginia. She was impressed that they are endorsed by Steven Curtis Chapman who has adopted 3 children from China through them.
- We learned that it was "only" $20,000 to adopt through AWAA, so we decided to use them for an agency.
- We sent our application, paid the application fee, and sent the State of Maine money to do a required criminal history investigation.
- AWAA informed us that China has a policy that one must be cancer-free for 18 months before they can adopt from them. Since Theresa was only 6 months out, our adoption was placed on hold. This was our our first delay.
- Theresa tried to raise some money for the adoption by getting a part-time job as the receptionist for our town hall and participating in a local craft fair.
November 2004
- We went to Cape Cod for a long weekend. Theresa had previously "met" Gina from the Cape on her gastric bypass support group on Yahoo Groups. Gina often wrote about their two daughters adopted from China. We contacted her and her husband & made a plan to meet while in Cape Cod.
We loved meeting Gina & Alan & their two daughters! The younger girl is named "Jade!"
Gina & Alan explained how the China adoption process works and showed us papers & pictures from their two trips to China.
When Gina & Alan spoke of the yearly Chinese New Year parties by their agency & the yearly reunions they have with their travel groups, we realized that it would not be possible for us to attend such events with an agency in Virginia.
- We contacted CAWLI to change agencies and learned that the cost of adoption through CAWLI was $16,000, including all of our travel, 5-star hotels, & some meals in China. (The other agencies did not include that in their cost.) If you'd like to take a look at it, CAWLI's website is www.cawli.org.
We were very impressed with CAWLI, and really liked the idea that they are owned by a Chinese woman (a former lawyer in China) and only do adoptions with China. They are a small agency with 3 employees in addition to the owner, Lillian Zhang.
- Theresa hosted a craft fair.
December 2004
- We officially signed with CAWLI to adopt a baby girl from China. We requested a healthy infant 12 months old or as young as possible.
- The Portsmouth Herald wrote an article on us. You can read it at http://www.seacoastonline.com/2004news/12102004/maine/53077.htm.
- Theresa participated in a craft fair, then hosted her second craft fair.
January 2005
- We began the homestudy process with our social worker.
- We applied for, and received, our passports.
- Theresa's doctor took way too long to send her medical report. And he did not follow the directons, so it had to be redone twice! This was our second delay.
- While having lunch at the Weathervane, we received a call on our cell phone from our agency stating that they were concerned that China might not accept a person having both cancer & depression. This was a frightening thought! We worried for 3 days!
- CAWLI had Theresa's medical report translated & sent it to the CCAA. They assured CAWLI that they would accept her after all! Whew!!
February 2005
- We drove to USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) in Portland (1 hour north) to be fingerprinted.
- We read books & watched movies with anything having to do with China. This is required by China so that we will have a fairly good knowledge of China's history & customs.
March 2005
- Our homestudy was completed!
To be continued....
- Theresa said, "I think I still want to adopt a baby." Jeff said, "Let's go for it!" (That was easy!)
- Theresa called MAPS (Maine Adoption Placement Services) and signed us up to attend their informational meeting in Portland.
- We attended that meeting and were amazed to learn that most international adoptions are less expensive than domestic (within the U.S.) adoptions...and they take less time!
- We began to consider China for two reasons: it can be done within 2 years and you are guaranteed a baby.
- We wondered how we could swing a $30,000 adoption, but knew we wanted to do this and decided to find a way.
- While searching the web about Chinese adoption, Theresa ran across an agency, AmericaWorld Adoption Agency (AWAA) in Virginia. She was impressed that they are endorsed by Steven Curtis Chapman who has adopted 3 children from China through them.
- We learned that it was "only" $20,000 to adopt through AWAA, so we decided to use them for an agency.
- We sent our application, paid the application fee, and sent the State of Maine money to do a required criminal history investigation.
- AWAA informed us that China has a policy that one must be cancer-free for 18 months before they can adopt from them. Since Theresa was only 6 months out, our adoption was placed on hold. This was our our first delay.
- Theresa tried to raise some money for the adoption by getting a part-time job as the receptionist for our town hall and participating in a local craft fair.
November 2004
- We went to Cape Cod for a long weekend. Theresa had previously "met" Gina from the Cape on her gastric bypass support group on Yahoo Groups. Gina often wrote about their two daughters adopted from China. We contacted her and her husband & made a plan to meet while in Cape Cod.
We loved meeting Gina & Alan & their two daughters! The younger girl is named "Jade!"
Gina & Alan explained how the China adoption process works and showed us papers & pictures from their two trips to China.
When Gina & Alan spoke of the yearly Chinese New Year parties by their agency & the yearly reunions they have with their travel groups, we realized that it would not be possible for us to attend such events with an agency in Virginia.
- We contacted CAWLI to change agencies and learned that the cost of adoption through CAWLI was $16,000, including all of our travel, 5-star hotels, & some meals in China. (The other agencies did not include that in their cost.) If you'd like to take a look at it, CAWLI's website is www.cawli.org.
We were very impressed with CAWLI, and really liked the idea that they are owned by a Chinese woman (a former lawyer in China) and only do adoptions with China. They are a small agency with 3 employees in addition to the owner, Lillian Zhang.
- Theresa hosted a craft fair.
December 2004
- We officially signed with CAWLI to adopt a baby girl from China. We requested a healthy infant 12 months old or as young as possible.
- The Portsmouth Herald wrote an article on us. You can read it at http://www.seacoastonline.com/2004news/12102004/maine/53077.htm.
- Theresa participated in a craft fair, then hosted her second craft fair.
January 2005
- We began the homestudy process with our social worker.
- We applied for, and received, our passports.
- Theresa's doctor took way too long to send her medical report. And he did not follow the directons, so it had to be redone twice! This was our second delay.
- While having lunch at the Weathervane, we received a call on our cell phone from our agency stating that they were concerned that China might not accept a person having both cancer & depression. This was a frightening thought! We worried for 3 days!
- CAWLI had Theresa's medical report translated & sent it to the CCAA. They assured CAWLI that they would accept her after all! Whew!!
February 2005
- We drove to USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) in Portland (1 hour north) to be fingerprinted.
- We read books & watched movies with anything having to do with China. This is required by China so that we will have a fairly good knowledge of China's history & customs.
March 2005
- Our homestudy was completed!
To be continued....
Thanks, Cookie...er...Marion!
My Aunt Marion sent this encouraging verse yesterday.
MAY THE GOD OF HOPE FILL YOU WITH ALL JOY AND PEACE AS YOU TRUST IN HIM, SO THAT YOU MAY OVERFLOW WITH HOPE BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. Romans 5:13
MAY THE GOD OF HOPE FILL YOU WITH ALL JOY AND PEACE AS YOU TRUST IN HIM, SO THAT YOU MAY OVERFLOW WITH HOPE BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. Romans 5:13
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Ain't It The Truth!
He who dies with the most toys is still dead.
I just saw this on an email from a friend and I like it so much better than the alternative. I have always disliked the bumper sticker that says "He who dies with the most toys wins." What matters when we die is that we know Jesus as our Savior. It is my prayer that you do.
There is a song that I keep hearing on the radio lately. Every time I hear it I cry for people I love who do not know Jesus.
Here are words to the song. If you'd like to hear it, here's a link to it. (I'm not crazy about the picture that comes up, so if you don't like it, close your eyes and listen. It's worth it!)
http://www.soundchasermusic.net/sc59/songswf/song4005.html
Untitled Hymn (Come to Jesus)
Weak and wounded sinner
Lost and left to die
Raise your head, for love is passing by
Come to Jesus, Come to Jesus, Come to Jesus and live.
Now your burden's lifted
And carried far away
And precious blood has washed away the stain
So Sing to Jesus, Sing to Jesus, Sing to Jesus and live.
And like a newborn baby
Don't be afraid to crawl
Remember when you walk sometimes we fall
So Fall on Jesus, Fall on Jesus, Fall on Jesus and live.
Sometimes the way is lonely
And steep and filled with pain
So if your sky is dark and pours the rain
Then Cry to Jesus, Cry to Jesus, Cry to Jesus and live.
O, and when the love spills over
And music fills the night
And when you can't contain your joy inside
Then Dance for Jesus, Dance for Jesus, Dance for Jesus and live.
And with your final heartbeat
Kiss the world goodbye
Then go in peace, and laugh on Glory's side
And Fly to Jesus, Fly to Jesus, Fly to Jesus and live.
Fly to Jesus, Fly to Jesus, Fly to Jesus and live.
- Chris Rice
I want that song played at my funeral. I want it to be the last thing everyone hears from me. Come to Jesus and live.
I just saw this on an email from a friend and I like it so much better than the alternative. I have always disliked the bumper sticker that says "He who dies with the most toys wins." What matters when we die is that we know Jesus as our Savior. It is my prayer that you do.
There is a song that I keep hearing on the radio lately. Every time I hear it I cry for people I love who do not know Jesus.
Here are words to the song. If you'd like to hear it, here's a link to it. (I'm not crazy about the picture that comes up, so if you don't like it, close your eyes and listen. It's worth it!)
http://www.soundchasermusic.net/sc59/songswf/song4005.html
Untitled Hymn (Come to Jesus)
Weak and wounded sinner
Lost and left to die
Raise your head, for love is passing by
Come to Jesus, Come to Jesus, Come to Jesus and live.
Now your burden's lifted
And carried far away
And precious blood has washed away the stain
So Sing to Jesus, Sing to Jesus, Sing to Jesus and live.
And like a newborn baby
Don't be afraid to crawl
Remember when you walk sometimes we fall
So Fall on Jesus, Fall on Jesus, Fall on Jesus and live.
Sometimes the way is lonely
And steep and filled with pain
So if your sky is dark and pours the rain
Then Cry to Jesus, Cry to Jesus, Cry to Jesus and live.
O, and when the love spills over
And music fills the night
And when you can't contain your joy inside
Then Dance for Jesus, Dance for Jesus, Dance for Jesus and live.
And with your final heartbeat
Kiss the world goodbye
Then go in peace, and laugh on Glory's side
And Fly to Jesus, Fly to Jesus, Fly to Jesus and live.
Fly to Jesus, Fly to Jesus, Fly to Jesus and live.
- Chris Rice
I want that song played at my funeral. I want it to be the last thing everyone hears from me. Come to Jesus and live.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
My Encouraging Song for Today
Just keep your eyes on Him
Don't take your eyes off Him
You keep your eyes on Him
And He'll give you peace
He'll give you peace
He'll give you peace
- Ray Hildebrand
Don't take your eyes off Him
You keep your eyes on Him
And He'll give you peace
He'll give you peace
He'll give you peace
- Ray Hildebrand
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