Progress is Good!

I began this blog nearly six months ago, primarily because "someone" in my life likes to know the details - and lots of them!  This person shall remain nameless, but my mother-in-law knows who she is.  (Love you, Mom!) So, this post is full of those details.  They may not interest most people, but I know she will enjoy them. Perhaps it will also serve to take a bit of the mystery out of the process for someone else.

We've had nearly two months of just waiting around for our paperwork to make its way through the system.  Since our initial immigration forms in November, there has been very little paperwork.  Hmmm.....it wasn't over yet!

As we get closer to the long awaited LOA (Letter of Acceptance) things are changing.  Suddenly our agency uses Priority mail to get papers to us.  They indicate we should process them quickly so they are back at the office and ready to go when our LOA arrives.  I like that - QUICKLY!  There has been very little "quickly" in this whole process.

Ethan and I spent roughly six hours last night on this latest paperwork.  We began with the USCIS Forms I800 (not to be confused with Form I-800A that we filed earlier) and I-864W. Form I-800 is the Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative. It's to get approval from USCIS to adopt the children we are matched with specifically. 

I-864W goes to USCIS along with the I-800 application. According to China Adoption Online  "When a person is immigrating to the United States, USCIS wants to make sure that the new immigrant won't be a burden on the US welfare system. To do this, they require new immigrants to be 'sponsored' by an existing US citizen who will provide for them financially until the new immigrant can become a US citizen.

"However, with adoptive children, the situation is a bit different. They don't need to be sponsored they will be automatic US citizens. So Form I-864W is just saying that the immigrant that will be coming to the US is an adopted child under 18 and thus doesn't need a sponsor."

These forms will be mailed by our agency the same day that our Letter Seeking Confirmation (LSC), or Letter of Acceptance (LOA) arrives at the agency. Most people call it the LOA.


Again, according to China Adoption Online current wait times for LOA depend on a lot of things!!

• It depends somewhat upon your agency, although no one has ever been able to prove this for sure.
• It depends on whether you accepted your referral before or after you received your Log In Date (LID).
• It Depends on the time of year (whether there are holidays during your wait, or other CCCWA closures).
• It depends on whether or not the CCCWA requests more information from you after reviewing your dossier. Doesn't happen often, but once in awhile it does!

Currently, families are waiting anywhere from 30-70 days for LOA, with 50-60 days being probably the average.

Once the LOA comes and the immigration papers are sent, their current average approval time frame is around three weeks.  Funny how my life is currently dominated by the stats of the number of waiting days and weeks, and the current adoption acronyms connected with the process!

Along these same lines, we completed the "Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration" for both Abigail and Jennifer.  It is on this form that we specify the American names that they will be given to go along with their Chinese names that they are also keeping.


We also were required to sign and date each individual sheet of information we have received about the girls.  There were forty-nine papers for Abigail but only half that for Jennifer.  We aren't sure why Abigail has so much more documentation, though some of it is accounted for with updates we've received on her.  We have yet to get any additional information about Jennifer.  Hopefully we'll have our requested update soon with some new photos and some of our questions answered.

Tonight we need to have several forms notarized, one confirming what information we received for each girl, a form for each about their vaccinations, and the "Agreement for Referral Acceptance and Post-Adoption Services," which is a contract with our agency.  

So, there you have it.  This latest flurry of paperwork has to mean we are making progress, and progress is good!  I cannot wait to have my girls home!

Speechless...

Just a few days ago I was telling you how we'd gotten a rather large agency bill (sooner than expected) and how I knew God was going to be faithful to this call, to provide for this latest need.  And that it was going to have to be a "God thing."  Wow, I had no idea!

This past week we've had total strangers donate to our Reece's Rainbow Family Sponsorship Link.  While we get periodic updates on the donations, we are only given the names.  RR isn't permitted to give us contact information.   So Donna, Joseph, Jen and Morgan, I have no way to send you a thank you card, but if you happen to be reading this, please know that we are touched by your generosity.  We appreciate it so very much.

On New Year's Eve we did a call out on Facebook for the Puzzle Fundraiser.  We ended the night with an additional 58 pieces sponsored.  We were very thankful, but alas, still far short of the amount needed for this bill.

On New Year's Day, out of the blue a friend asked, "How much $ do you need to meet this next bill?"  The conversation ended with "We are sending a check tomorrow for (the entire amount) your need should be met. GOD. Is so good ALL the time. We love you for loving God's children."

Wow!  So totally unexpected. So far beyond anything I had even dared to ask God for!  He knew the need and moved on the hearts of His people.  Celeste and Paul, you took a load off our shoulders, and we are amazed, astonished, and in awe at the goodness of our God!  

So, instead of fundraising efforts for the next couple of weeks, we can concentrate on the contracts and immigration papers for our girls!  Thank you to everyone, whether it was sponsoring a $5 puzzle piece on up to taking on the remaining balance of the bill.  Your involvement is so appreciated.  I have no words. Thank you, on behalf of our sweet daughters, for your support.

Wow, here we go!

I got the biggest packet of information from our agency - ever!  Initially it was pretty intimidating since it was so huge.  I quickly came to the realization that it was actually only HALF the amount because there is one copy for us and one to return to the agency.

The next thing I noted was that MOST of the information was stuff that we already had read - like medical reports, developmental notes, photos, etc., that we just need to initial so they can prove we did, indeed, receive the information.

BUT, the stuff that we do need to attend to is really important!  And the immigration forms look pretty hard.  These are our OFFICIAL referral papers, our immigration and visa forms, and (gulp) a bill for our final agency fees, international processing fees, visa fees, post placement translation and transmittal fees, etc. etc. Yeah, it is big.  And no, we don't have it.

On Friday I shared on this blog how God has these things under control.  He has shown His faithfulness over and over through this process of adopting.  I'm drawing on those experiences big time now.  This bill is due in three weeks, and honestly, I have no idea where the funds will come from.  There is no time to receive grants before these are due.  It's going to have to be a "God thing" for sure. Our family is currently brainstorming ideas for raising funds, so stay tuned!

In the meantime, we have about 160 puzzle pieces left.  We'd love to get this thing finished and glued down.  If you'd like to sponsor a piece, (or several!) you may do so using the puzzle fundraising widget to the right and down the page a bit.  Pieces are sponsored at $5 each.  We plan to frame it in double glass so Abigail and Jennifer can see the the back too, with the names of those who helped to get them home in this way.

The end of the year is nearly here.  If you itemize your taxes and are contemplating a charitable donation, we'd be honored if you used the Reece's Rainbow donation button - Lanz Girls Grant.  All donations to their homecoming through this organization are tax deductible.

Thanks for your continued prayers for us.  We are really making progress and HOPE to have our girls home in 3-4 months!

A special thanks to those who purchased bracelets!

You may remember the alarm I felt not that long ago when our septic required unexpected work, and the funds we had saved for a particular agency bill were gone.  I'm doing a happy dance today for how God works out the details.

Many of you know that we had partnered with The ApParent Project in selling upcycled paper bead bracelets.  They trickled out of here a few at a time, and I was afraid we would have to return at least half of them.  I REALLY believe in what they are doing and it was a major DO NOT WANT TO RETURN them issue for me.

Shortly before Christmas, things kicked into high gear and we sold every single bracelet!  We could have actually have sold a few more had we had them!  I am so happy to tell you that with the bracelet sales and some Christmas money that we were given, the agency bill due TODAY has been paid.  AND just as exciting really, we were able to contribute $960 to ApParent Project through their portion of the sales!

Thank you to everyone who purchased a bracelet.  It REALLY made a difference - to us and to families in Haiti.

Closet Fun!

Look what I did today!  I've never had so much fun sorting clothes and organizing a closet.  I was given a huge box of clothes by a good friend whose daughter had outgrown them.  I honestly had a lot of fun sorting them, hanging them up, and getting things ready for Jennifer and Abigail's homecoming.  It somehow makes the waiting a little easier to be able to actually DO SOMETHING for them.

Great thing about these hand-me-downs (besides the fact that they are super cute free clothes!) is that they're sizes 4, 5, and 6. My best guess from the last measurements of the girls are that we are looking at current sizes of 4 and 5.  Jennifer is six months older than Abigail, and a little bigger.  BUT, even if I'm wrong, I can easily swap out to a 5 and a 6.

It is so fun to see these little clothes hanging in there!  My husband jokingly asked me tonight (in my giddiness) "What's the deal, you never had girls before?"  (These are daughters #6 and #7!)  But don't let that fool you.  He was nearly as silly over it as I was.   

Contemplating what to say...

So here I sit on Christmas night reflecting on the holiday. I loved having most of our family home for a couple of days before Christmas, and being able to go visit with our son this evening.  The entire holiday was a little "off" though.  My thoughts are never far from our two little girls who are a half a world away.  I want them home!

We are at the point in this process that we will soon be able to communicate with them.  Once we get our LOA - Letter Of Approval (which is estimated to be 4-6 weeks from now) we will be allowed to send a letter, photos and a care package. 

We spent most of the driving time this evening discussing what photos to send, and what to say in the letter.  I think we've pretty much decided on the photos, but what does one say in a letter to six-year-old girls to announce that we are their parents?  What evidence can we present to assure them that we love them and will take care of them?  What can ease their minds that they will be coming to a good place, especially when it is so far away and different from anything they have ever known?  If you think of us, please pray for wisdom that we'll know what to say.  And please pray for our daughters whose lives are going to change in every possible way.  This is going to be very scary for them, and my heart aches at that thought.

We are OOT!

Just heard from our case manager that we are OOT - Out Of Translation!  Here is what she had to say: "Just a note to say that your case for both girls switched to In Process on the CCCWA’s website today. Our understanding is that means they have translated your dossier and are moving your case to the next department! Congratulations! This doesn’t necessarily mean we will receive your Letters Seeking Confirmation any faster as it’s more dependent on LID, but it is a good sign that things are moving along smoothly!"   YESSSSSSS!

On another front, we solved one problem last night.  Our girls are both diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, with their lower limbs affected more than their upper limbs.  They both have some issues with walking, with Jennifer being dependent on a walker at this time.  We have been wondering how to handle the probable long walks at the airports. 

I found some small carry-on luggage with wheels on sale on Amazon last night.  The "Trunki" is made by Melissa and Doug, and I've always been impressed with their products.  These are bags that the girls can sit on, then either scoot themselves around as if they were on a riding toy, or be pulled with the attached webbing.  We ordered little saddlebags for them also which will not only pad the "seat" a little more, but gives storage pockets for their crayons and small toys.  What a great find!  Now let's hope they don't have any balance problems.  (smile)