Counting our Blessings and Having Faith: Some Vacation Pictures

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Some Vacation Pictures

Hi all

We just got home froma week long camping vacation. We had lots of fun and even got our family photos taken. I'm so glad to have new pictures of us all together with Sammy. We have come so far this summer as a family. Sammy is happy as a clam, a complete stinker, talking a blue streak and so resilient. I am so proud of her for making it through those first rough months when we(I was)were trying to figure out how to be her parent. Caitlin is as always the best big sister. Sam visited the cleft clinic in mid July and we discussed the two surgeries she may need in the next couple years to further enhance her speech and align her face structure properly. For now she is the picture of beauty. Enjoy the pictures.

Yours Truly
the fam of 4

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Our Travel Itinerary

Oct. 1-Leave the USA for Beijing, China.
Oct. 2 Arrive in Beijing & Tour Hope Foster Home
Oct 3 & 4 Tour Beijing
Oct. 5 Leave for Zhengzhou, Henan, Samantha's birth Province
Oct. 6 Walk to the Registration Office to receive Samantha
Oct. 7 Meet with the Notary Official from Jiaozuo City Welfare Institute
Oct. 8 Rest, Relax, Shop and Tour
Oct. 9 & 10 paper work and touring
Oct. 11 Leave for Guangzhou
Oct 12, 13 & 14 Rest, shop, tour and paperwork.
Oct. 15 Consulate appointment...almost time to go home!
Oct. 16 Still hangin' in Guangzhou.
Oct. 17 We're coming home a family of 4!!! Fly to Hong Kong, then to USA... Home Sweet Home

Adoption Timeline

May 9, 2007 We sent our application to CCAI today.
May 16, 2007 We were accepted by CCAI today!
May 26th, 2007 We sent in our first agency fee.
May 29th, 2007 Home Study application and first fee sent in today.
May 30, 2007 We received our Dossier Guide today. It's almost 50 pages long!
June 5th, 2007 Risk Counseling completed with our Home Study Agency.
June 6, 2007 We applied for our passports today and ran all over for our Police Reports, Marriage and Birth Certificates... What a day!
June 19th, 2007 Another Counseling session our Home Study Agency.
July 17th, 2007 We met for our last counseling session today with FTA. We are trying to get our Homestudy done before the 31st when the USCIS fees increase.
July 15th, 2007 We received the draft form of our Home Study today. It is strange to see your life spelled out from anothers point of view, all in ten pages.
July 27th, 2007 I drove to GR to get our Home Study and mailed it out to the USCIS. Also had several documents certified at the Sec of State Office of the Great Seal and paid Home Study second fee.
August 17th, 2007 I had my fingerprinting done today for our I 171H immigration form at the Department of Homeland Security office.
August 21st, 2007 Pat had his fingerprinting today. Another trip to Sec of State for certifying documents.
September 5th, 2007 We sent in our Medical Conditions checklist today. Basically it details the type and severity of disabilities we feel we could handle. Many disabilities are considered much more debilitating in China than they are in the United States.
September 7th, 2007 Paid our Home Study Post Placement Fee today.
September 10th, 2007 We sent the bulk of our documents to the Chinese Consulate in Chicago today. Takes 9 days to get them back.
October 5th, 2007. We FINALLY got our I 171H in the mail today. Our last official document.
October 18th, 2007 Sent our I 171H to Chicago today. How long will it be this time?
October 21st, 2007 We had our extra passport pictures done today. What a waist of money. I'll take them for our travelling.
October 23rd, 2007 We got our I 171h back from Chicago today. Unfortunately I did the form wrong and it has to be resent.
October 24th, 2007 Re sent I 171H to Chicago.
November 6th, 2007 Our I 171H made it home 13 days later.
November 7th, 2007 After countless trips for notorizing, certifying and sealing our documents- We are finally done with our Dossier. Its on its way to CCAI. We had to pay our second agency fee and China's first fee as well.
November 21st, 2007 Our Dossier has been in Colorado since the 8th of Nov. We got the email today that it was sent to China. Complete, translated and DONE! Now we are waiting to get out Log In Date- the official date by which the Chinese Center for Adoption Affairs tracks our Dossier.
November 26th, 2007 Our Dossier arrived in China today. Now we wait for the Log in Date.
November 28th, 2007 We got our LID today. Amazingly fast.
November 29th We switched from a girl only prference to either. Now it is out of our hands. We can;t wait to get the call.
May 12, 2008 We Re filed our MCC today for girl only once again. That is how we started this journey and we have felt pulled back in that direction since being unable to accept a prior referral.
June 12, 2008 We have a referral!
June 17th, 2008 Our Letter of Intent went to China today for the second time. Its first trip was for translation.
June 26, 2008 We waited nine days for our Pre-Approval which is the first official acceptance of our intent to adopt Samantha.
August 20, 2008 LOA Letter of Acceptance
September 2nd TA and September 5th CA

Kisses in the Wind- a poem about adoption

I hold you in my heart and touch you in my dreams.
You are here each day with me, at least that's how it seems.
I know you wonder where we are... what's taking us so long.
But remember child, I love you so and God will keep you strong.
Now go outside and feel the breeze and let it touch your skin...
Because tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind.
May God hold you in His hand until I can be with you.
I promise you, my darling, I'm doing all that I can do.
Very soon, you'll have a family for real, not just pretend.
But for tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind.
May God wrap you in His arms and hold you very tight.
And let the angels bring the kisses that I send to you each night.--- Unknown

Counting our Blessings and Having Faith

Steven Curtis Chapman and New Hope (Sammy's Foster Home) Unite to Open Maria's Big House of Hope

The Waiting Child Video from LWB

Heartbridge Healing Home at New Hope-Sammy's Foster Home!

New Love Without Bounaries Video

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Some Vacation Pictures

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Kisses in the Wind- a poem about adoption