Thursday, December 28, 2006

Our Adoption Timeline



Hey everyone! Well, today I sat down and looked back through the journal that I am keeping for Rebekah and jotted down dates that follow us through the whole adoption process. I was amazed at how much time has passed since we first decided to adopt internationally. For two years prior to this decision, we were working with the Department of Social Services to adopt a baby/toddler and/or to be a foster parent. We never got a child. We finally realized that maybe this was not the path that we were supposed to take to find our baby so we talked about adopting internationally. I called SEVERAL agencies, got packets of information, and we began to choose which route we wanted to take. Here's our timeline:

*June 30, 2005: We decided to adopt internationally.
*July 5, 2005: We called Carolina Adoption Services in Greensboro, NC for an information packet about China and Guatamala adoption programs.
*July 14, 2005: Carolina Adoption Services talked to us about the programs and when we decided to go with the China Adoption Program,they referred us to their sister organization, ABC Adoption Services in Roanoke, VA.
We called them for an information packet and application.
*July 18, 2005: We mailed our application to ABC Adoption Services
*August 14, 2005: We met with our Social Worker, Chasity Dickson, for the first time at the ABC Adoption Services offices in Roanoke, VA
*August 15, 2005: We sent off forms to do our DMV Checks, and state police background checks
*November 12, 2005: Our social worker, Chasity, visited our home for the homestudy.
*November 14, 2005: Doug's physical and immunizations
*November 18, 2005: Susan's physical and immunizations
*December 3, 2005: Training in Greensboro, NC on International Adoption with Carolina Adoption Services
*December 4, 2005: Our final homestudy interview with the Social Worker in Roanoke,VA (ABC Adoption Services offices)
*December 5, 2005: We sent a letter with the Christmas cards explaining the 100 Wishes Quilt and asking friends and family to please help us with
this project.
*December 26, 2005: Susan receives her renewed Passport!
*December 27, 2005: We mailed off the I600A ($685 fee) to INS and documents to Richmond, VA for state authentication. Doug even got us our own FedEX account for all of the mailings we have to do.
*January 10, 2006: OUR HOMESTUDY IS FINISHED!
*February 3, 2006: We got our fingerprinting done with INS in Charlotte, NC
*March 12, 2006: Received our I171H!
*March 23, 2006: Took passport photos for our dossier
*March 24, 2006: Received the last two documents from Washington, DC that had to be authenticated by the state department and the Chinese Embassy. We rushed over to Office Max and made three copies of our entire dossier and mailed two to Sabrina in California so she could send one to CHINA!!!!!
*March 27, 2006: DTC (Our dossier was SENT TO CHINA!)
*April 1, 2006: "China Experience" Cultural Program in Norfolk, VA at the Chinese Pagoda. We met our China Coordinator, Sabrina Chang, from California, and the China Adoption Coordinator for ABC Adoption Services, Carol Galvins. We also went to Carol's house that evening for a potluck dinner and
program by Sabrina about the whole China Adoption Process. It was very informative and we met other couples that are in the various stages of the adoption process.
*May 16, 2006: We bought a rocking chair for the nursery.
*June 9, 2006: We joined the online March 2006 DTC Yahoo Group (The Marching Pandas)which has been a great online support group of other families who are adopting from China and had all sent their dossier to China in March.
We signed up to trade 100 Wishes Quilt fabric/wishes and to participate in the "Secret Pals" program. This is a GREAT group!
*June 16, 2006: Bought a stroller
*June 17, 2006: Registered at Toys-R-Us and Walmart
*June 20, 2006: Received our "Brown Envelope" from the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou,China with papers we will need when we travel to get the baby.
*June 24, 2006: Bought lilac paint to paint the nursery and a rug. We also assembled the crib!
*June 29, 2006: Received an autographed copy of the book, "A Quilt of Wishes," by Teresa Orem Werner (about the 100 Wishes Quilt)
*July 24, 2006: Received our first surprise package from our March 06' DTC Secret Pals!
*August 14, 2006: Received our second surprise package from our Secret Pals!
*August 19, 2006: We painted the nursery and hung the curtains!
*September 16, 2006: We received our third package of goodies from our dear Secret Pals! They are so awesome!
*October 13, 2006: Susan finished the 100 Wishes Scrapbook (we're up to 79 wishes!)
*October 15, 2006: Received the fourth package of surprises from our Secret Pals!
*November 10, 2006: Doug received his updated PASSPORT!
*November 12, 2006: Received the fifth package from our Secret Pals!
*December 16, 2006: Bought an ornament for the tree (Chinese Barbie) in honor of our future daughter and so that she will know how much we were thinking about her even before she came into our lives!
*December 25, 2006: HOPEFULLY our last Christmas without our baby!
*January 5, 2007: Our 9 month "LID-iversary" and we received a box of goodies from our wonderful Secret Pals (from the March DTC Yahoo Group)
*January 15, 2007: Updated our physicals for the updated homestudy we have to do in the state of Virginia. Got the good results on January 23, 2007!
January 24, 2007: Went to the Hatcher Center in Blairs, VA to give them the fabric that I picked out for the rocking chair pads for the nursery. It should take about a month before they have it ready.
January 24, 2007: Received the January Goody box from our Secret Pals. The theme was "The Chinese New Year" and they sent plenty of goodies to enjoy for the celebration.

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

100 Wishes Quilt Squares! Still going.....



Just thought I'd let y'all know that we're still collecting fabric squares and wishes for the 100 Wishes Quilt. I hope to get this made in a couple of months at The Hatcher Center in Blairs, Virginia. They employ disabled/handicapped people with the most amazing talents! I went by there in October and fell in LOVE with the place. They will sew my 100 Wishes Quilt for a good price and do a much better job than I could ever dream of doing! They are also going to make the rocking chair seat and back pads for only $15.00! I picked out the fabric and just have to run it by next week for them to do that. They do AWESOME work and I can't wait to get the 100 fabric squares so I can get that to them! We would LOVE to have one from you if you haven't sent us one yet! Email me if you need our address!

Little Lamb for Baby Rebekah!


Hey everyone! This is one of the things Doug gave me for Christmas for Rebekah...it's the softest baby lamb! Isn't he cute???

We survived Christmas!


Hey everyone,
Well another Christmas has come and gone and WE SURVIVED not having our baby yet! YOOHOO! Now we can focus on new goals, resolutions, and hopefully a "speedy" referral and trip to China to get our baby girl! As much as I love Christmas, this year was hard. I tried to just focus on enjoying the holiday with Doug as a couple and not think about China, but at some moments it was very difficult.
Anyhow, so what are your New Year's Resolutions? I need to sit down and make a list of mine and then maybe I'll share some here. Others will be private.....hahahahaha.
Thanks to all of you who called and sent emails of encouragement! Oh, by the way, the picture is of Lambchop (one of my presents since I love puppets and have persuaded Doug to get me a few for the baby's room!) hahahaha.....once a kid, always a kid, right?

Sunday, December 24, 2006

Christmas Eve








Well, here we are at yet ANOTHER Christmas Eve and no baby in our home. I must admit that it really hasn't hit me until today. Last year, we were so looking forward to this year and sharing our lives with our baby and then here we are with NO baby and things being soooooooooooooooooooooooooo slow in China. We're trying to be patient and stay busy but the holidays just have a way of making you feel so nostalgic and "family-oriented" so we miss being able to share Christmas with a little one of our own. I pray that this will be the last Christmas without our Rebekah and may Heavenly Father keep her safe and in the hands of those who will love her and take care of her until we can as her Mommy and Daddy. Merry Christmas to all of our family and friends.....keep those prayers coming on our behalf. We truly appreciate them! Here's our tree this year and some other Christmas decorations in and around our home. The Chinese Barbie ornament was one we found at Hallmark and put it on the tree in honor of our future baby from China. We were surprised to find it! One picture is of our kitty, Savannah who LOVED to lay on the presents under the tree!

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

8 Months Down.....How Many More To Go????


Hey everyone! Actually yesterday was our LID-iversary. We have made it EIGHT whole months since our Log-In-Date with the CCAA. We're wondering how much longer it will be. It's hard but we're trying to stay focused on positive things and getting stuff ready for when we DO actually travel to China. Thanks for all of the words of encouragement, emails, and prayers on our behalf.

Sunday, December 03, 2006

Kitty Photoshow!

Ok y'all, I'm practicing using all of this "technology" so that when we do get our baby, Rebekah, I can add cool stuff about her. For right now, you all just have to endure more pictures of our furbabies! hahahahahaha