Well our prayers have been answered once again. The adoption officer with the US Citizens and Immigrations Services that our paperwork was assigned to was absolutely wonderful. Once our paperwork hit her desk, she turned it around the same day and returned it to us via overnight package. This made it possible for us to send all of our official paperwork (Letter Seeking Confirmation for Chelsie) to our placement agency. They received our information this past Friday; turned it around the same day and sent it to China. What a blessing!
Now that China has our paperwork we have moved to the "Travel Phase". The first part of this phase is called travel approval; this is where China approves us to travel to their country. Our placement agency has told us that this step in the process can take 2-8 weeks. Once the travel approval is received, the second part of this phase is where our agency will make our appointments with the Civil Affairs Office and the US Consulate in Guanzhou. These appointments will dictate when we will travel to pick up Chelsie. Stay tuned we will keep you posted.
Thanks for all the prayers,
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Happy Mother's Day
WOW what a special day! I received my first Mother's Day card from my daughter. The card is absolutely beautiful, my favorite colors - pink and purple.
The verse inside the card is written on flower printed paper, folded in half showing pink on one side and purple on the other. After reading the card and tearing up (did I mention that is was signed "To my Mommie, Love Chelsie"); Jeff told me there was something else in the card. I couldn't tell but tucked inside the fold of the flower printed paper was a note from my baby girl (I think she had a little help from her daddy). While trying to read the note the tears were rolling down my cheeks!
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| Note from my baby girl. (Click to Enlarge) |
Okay, so now that you have seen the note, you see that our little one now has a name. We have tried out many names, tossed several around and even thought we had settled on one, but that was not the case until this weekend. Our daughter will be named Chelsie Ann Lindsay. Her middle name Ann is after her maternal Grandmother.
Also, today we were invited to the home of our niece and her husband for Mother's day lunch. Oh my goodness what a lunch! We had steak, potatoes with cheese, broccoli, rolls and fruit salad. Then for dessert...homemade peach cobbler with homemade vanilla ice cream. Can you say YUMMY! On top of all the wonderful food and great visit, my niece gave me a sweet Mother's Day card that yes made me tear up again.
Such a special day! Happy Mother's Day to all Mothers.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Thank You and Paperwork Update
First and foremost, we want to let you know how much we appreciate each email, blog comment, text message and facebook message. The love and support each of you have shown us warms our hearts. We had hoped to be able to respond to each one, but have not had the opportunity. Please know that we have read each and every one. We have also saved all of them to share with our little one some day.
Some of you have asked about posting comments on our blog. Please feel free to post as you do not need a log in to do so. Simply type your comment in the Comment Box and under the pull down arrow beside "Comment As" click on Anonymous. If you comment as anonymous, we ask that you please put your name in the comment box so we will know who has commented.
Paperwork Update
On Monday of last week we received our updated home study. On Saturday we received the letter from our placement agency stating that the home study contains all components required by the Hague Convention. Earlier today, we sent these documents overnight along with copies of all prior approvals to USCIS requesting an update on their approval to adopt and bring a child into the US from China.
Please pray that the USCIS Officer will review and re-approve as quickly as possible. Pray for patience for us as well as it is so hard knowing that our baby girl is sitting there and we are sitting here waiting all because of paperwork.
The photo below gives you an idea of all the paperwork we have had to complete and keep updated since 2007. Because we both have only lived in one state, have no children or other adults living with us, and have minimal records and documents that have to be checked and supplied; our paperwork is considered simple compaired to some of our fellow adoptive parents.
Some of you have asked about posting comments on our blog. Please feel free to post as you do not need a log in to do so. Simply type your comment in the Comment Box and under the pull down arrow beside "Comment As" click on Anonymous. If you comment as anonymous, we ask that you please put your name in the comment box so we will know who has commented.
Paperwork Update
On Monday of last week we received our updated home study. On Saturday we received the letter from our placement agency stating that the home study contains all components required by the Hague Convention. Earlier today, we sent these documents overnight along with copies of all prior approvals to USCIS requesting an update on their approval to adopt and bring a child into the US from China.
Please pray that the USCIS Officer will review and re-approve as quickly as possible. Pray for patience for us as well as it is so hard knowing that our baby girl is sitting there and we are sitting here waiting all because of paperwork.
The photo below gives you an idea of all the paperwork we have had to complete and keep updated since 2007. Because we both have only lived in one state, have no children or other adults living with us, and have minimal records and documents that have to be checked and supplied; our paperwork is considered simple compaired to some of our fellow adoptive parents.
No Hill for a Climber! We appreciate all of your support.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Where Our Daughter Has Been For The Past 16 Months
We thought we would take a post and tell you where our daughter has been for the past 16 months.
She is in the southern part of China in the Guangdong Province. Guangdong is on the South China Sea coast and the provincial capital is Guangzhou. The literal translation of Guangdong is "The Eastern Expanse".
The Guandong Province is divided up into 21 prefecture-level divisions. The prefecture-level divisions contain 121 county-level divisions and these county-level divisions contain 1585 township-level divisions. She is in the southern most district know as Zhanjiang City prefecture-level division. This area of China has a tropical climate with the yearly average of 78.8 (F) for the high temperture and 70.2 (F) for low temperture and they receive an annual precipitation of 59 inches.
In the Zhanjiang City prefecture-level division, she is in Lianjiang City (considered one of the county-level divisions)
Within Lianjiang City there is the Lianjiang City Social Welfare Institute. Our little one has been at this orphange since her birth.
At this orphanage they have a Baby Building. In our previous post, in the picture of our little one's hair that looks like her dads you will see the railing on this building behind her.
Below is a video from 2009 of the front gate and front courtyard of the orphanage.
Blessings,
She is in the southern part of China in the Guangdong Province. Guangdong is on the South China Sea coast and the provincial capital is Guangzhou. The literal translation of Guangdong is "The Eastern Expanse".
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Update On Our Baby Girl and Pictures
Today we received updated information on our little one. There has been little change in her size. She is still at 16.5 lbs, although her height, head and chest increased by about 1/2 inch each. She does have 4 teeth now and her foot size is 4.7 inches. We learned that she has not had any surgeries to correct her cleft lip or palate and that she has slight deformity of both outer ears but her hearing is not affected. They tell us that "she has good imitate ability" and "when see strangers or in a strange environment she will cry".
Here is a current profile picture of her hair - does it remind you of anyone you may know? (I have to say she is her daddy's daughter!)
We are so honored that God has placed this little one in our care. It truely is a blessing to call her our daughter. Please continue to pray for all of us as we are working hard to unite with her and bring her home.
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| December 2011 - Those eyes are what stole our hearts! |
She wakes up at 6:30 am, takes a midday nap at 11:30 am and goes to bed at 9:00 pm. She has her meals which consist of milk powder mix and rice flour, 4 times a day at 7:00 am, 11:00 am, 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm. They also tell us that she likes to be held, so we hope she likes to cuddle.
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| December 2011 |
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| April 2012 |
We are so honored that God has placed this little one in our care. It truely is a blessing to call her our daughter. Please continue to pray for all of us as we are working hard to unite with her and bring her home.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
The "Stork" Arrived
This is not the typical stork but it is the one that delivered the official Letter of Confirmation from China approving adoption of our baby girl.
We are so excited to be at this step in our adoption, however, our home study and US Citizens and Immigration Services (USCIS) paperwork are due for our fourth update. We are unable to return the form to China until we receive the updated USCIS approval. Please pray our USCIS case worker will be able to review and return our approval in a speedy manner.
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| "FedEx Stork" |
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
We Have News to Share!
Today - we were able to let our friends and family know the great news!
Hello friends and family,
We hope our email finds you all well. We have been blessed and want to share our good news. As you know we have been in the adoption process for many years. In February we felt urged to complete paperwork with our placement agency for a special needs child; were told that it may be 4-6 months or longer before they may have a child for us. But the good Lord had a different plan! One month to the day our agency sent us a referral of a baby girl. Her paperwork was updated in December of last year and listed below is what we know about her.
Her Chinese name is Lian Yin Qing (pronounced Ching) and she was born on 10/11/2010. She has a unrepaired bilateral cleft lip and palate. At 14 months she weighed 16.5 lbs and was 27.5 inches tall. They tell us that she is shy, timid and quiet but energetic and is fond of playing with toys especially blocks. She is close with her caregivers and gets along well with others.
We are sending a request for updated information and pictures. We haven't decided on a name yet and are hoping to travel in June/July to bring her home. We will let everyone know as soon as we have new details.
Things happened so fast that we are still caught up in the whirlwind but we are so excited. We have waited for her for many years and we know that she is perfect for our family.
Blessings,
Hello friends and family,
We hope our email finds you all well. We have been blessed and want to share our good news. As you know we have been in the adoption process for many years. In February we felt urged to complete paperwork with our placement agency for a special needs child; were told that it may be 4-6 months or longer before they may have a child for us. But the good Lord had a different plan! One month to the day our agency sent us a referral of a baby girl. Her paperwork was updated in December of last year and listed below is what we know about her.
Her Chinese name is Lian Yin Qing (pronounced Ching) and she was born on 10/11/2010. She has a unrepaired bilateral cleft lip and palate. At 14 months she weighed 16.5 lbs and was 27.5 inches tall. They tell us that she is shy, timid and quiet but energetic and is fond of playing with toys especially blocks. She is close with her caregivers and gets along well with others.
We are sending a request for updated information and pictures. We haven't decided on a name yet and are hoping to travel in June/July to bring her home. We will let everyone know as soon as we have new details.
Things happened so fast that we are still caught up in the whirlwind but we are so excited. We have waited for her for many years and we know that she is perfect for our family.
Blessings,
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