Hard Copy LOA!

That oh so important document arrived!  This is formally called the "Letter of Seeking Confirmation from Adopter."  Many refer to it as the LOA - Letter of Acceptance.  And YES!  We accept!  We have already signed it and scanned it back over to our agency.  

Today they will file our i800 paperwork to get the approval of USCIS to adopt Sonnet specifically.  It then goes on to the National Visa Center to begin the work on her immigrant visa.  These steps usually take about three weeks.  We are so thankful to be down to these last few steps before travel!

Matched and LOA issued!

On the heels of beginning steps to expedite the remainder of this process our dossier file figuratively caught on fire!  On Tuesday we got our medical letter.  On Wednesday we found our dossier was out of translation.  On Thursday it was matched to Sonnet's file.  And today our LOA was issued! 

I don't know what all went on this week, but we saw prayers answered big time!  We are thrilled to be moving on to the next step with USCIS next week to get things lined up for Sonnet's immigrant visa.  We still have a lot of progress that needs to be made funds wise, (and thankfully not much time to do it!) so please pray with us that some of the grant organizations might move on our behalf in this coming week.  Thank you!

We got word from our agency yesterday that our file has moved out of translation and into review.  We're hoping this means we have our official approval from China by the end of the month.

In the meantime, concerns about Sonnet's heath continue.  Our agency is attempting to medically expedite the remainder of our process.  Hold on tight.  Things could get crazy around here!  Please keep our tiny girl in your prayers.

School year winding down...

The three younger kids and I have enjoyed going to a once a month class this school year.  A different country is featured each time, and we learn more about their location and customs.  They are also treated a music experience, food, and an art experience from the country.

This month we did Thailand and our art was shadow puppets.  The concept is that you cut detailed designs in the puppet and stand behind a curtain through which a bright light is shining.  The light then shows the designs in the puppet onto the curtain. 

The kids first had to brainstorm a concept for a puppet show, then create the characters they needed to perform it.  Since Tikvah's birthday was this week birthdays were on their minds.  Many of the children ran with a cat as one of their characters since the staff's examples they had made included a cat.  So wallah.  Their story was that the cat was having a birthday party.

I had to help them behind the curtain, so unfortunately I didn't get a video of their performance.  It was a little song of "Happy Birthday" and that was it, but it was super sweet.

If you'd like to see the concept acted out, here is a Youtube video that shows a  Thailand shadow puppet demonstration.

As we near the end of our school year and reflect upon what we've learned I'm overall really happy about how the year went.  Homeschooling these kids is the right thing for them.  They are learning and thriving, and I'm so fortunate to be both their Mama and their teacher.

We have a name!

Our dossier officially went to "in the process of translation" on the 19th of April.  It is agonizing to sit and wait for news that the file has progressed.  Perhaps this is a good time to reveal "Susy's" name. Most of you likely realize that the English name on an adoption file is one that is assigned by an agency. Our Little Miss has been advocated for by the names Susy and Zuza, though she has never been called either of them. We have debated for literally months as to what her special, meaningful, chosen just for her name should be and have at last decided! Introducing Sonnet, which means "little song."

We've had no word for a couple of months concerning her health status, and this mama's heart feels as though it can't take it much longer.  By all indications she is quite malnourished. Please pray with us that she is doing ok, and that this longer than usual process will speed up now!  Thanks.

Spring Baseball Season

The spring baseball season has started, and a certain four children are SUPER excited to be back on the field!  This photo was taken following their first game.  Want to see why?  Check out the video below where they get to play.  It is such a special time for the kids and the parents too!

Or see the short video of the league HERE!

Works of Art that benefit two ways!

I'm excited to offer these beautiful necklaces, bracelets, pins and fabric hair flowers sent from China by my friend David Wang. David used to work for an organization that provides services for persons with disabilities. He worked with a group of designers who help people with intellectual and physical disabilities, and also people in poor villages to get more incomes via the jobs they can do with making handcrafts.

Five years later, some of his friends still work on their ideas. Some of them own their own shops that sell handcrafts designed by themselves, but manufactured (sewing, painting and braiding by hand) by lower income villagers or physically disabled people. These job opportunities are important for them, since it may be their only chance to have income.

David hopes to partner with adoptive families and other charities to provide these handcrafts as fundraising opportunities. His friends are excited too, and have helped him contact resources, so most of the handcrafts are from his friends or the friends of friends. It is not only a fundraiser for Susy's adoption expenses, but also the opportunity to help handicapped and underprivileged persons in her native land.

This package is composed of two categories of handcrafts which are porcelain pieces and cloth flowers. He selected the most representative handcrafts from China

The porcelain pieces are handmade in the Capital of Porcelain, Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province. The porcelain pieces are hand painted and then fired in kilns. Following local villagers braid the strings for the necklaces and bracelets. They depend on this income through the braiding jobs to lift their living standards.

Twenty-six minority nationalities originate from Yunnan Province. Yunnan bears the most beautiful handcrafts with their own features. The hair bands with cloth flowers are a special kind of handcraft from Yunnan Province. These flowers are all sewn by minority women from such as Yi, Miao, Dai and Bai nationalities who otherwise may not have income. Some contain embroidery, some bead work, others have little bells, but all are exquisite works of art!

The price of each individual piece is posted on Susy's Facebook fundraising page. (Links are below.  You don't need a Facebook account to view or purchase.)  Comment on the item(s) you want to purchase.  Please add $3 postage (to US only) for the first piece and $1 for each additional piece. Payments should be made via Paypal to Grant4Susy@gmail.com

Handmade Porcelain China Necklaces 

Porcelain Pins and Bracelets 

Handmade Cloth Flower album 

Especially for Children, Necklaces, Bracelets and Pins 

Thank you for taking a peek!