Lost LOI

We got the news I just knew was coming. CCAA lost our LOI. We had been pushing our agency to check on it and they said CCAA said to be patient. Well, I think we were alittle too patient. Now 3 months were just wasted. We didn't need to rush to get our dossier done. It will be at 2-3 more weeks before we get PA. So goes adoption. I was really hoping to start painting Grace's room. Guess we will put that off too. I really wanted to have PA before we did that. The good news it is still possible to travel this summer if everything else goes smoothly.

Sometimes I think things like this happen as a reminder that we aren't in control. We can do everything as quickly as we can but if it isn't in God's plan then it isn't going to happen. We got the message now hopefully it will be in God's plan to sail smooth from here. Grace needs a family and we need Grace.

Pictures of the Longyan

Here is a picture I found of the city around the orphanage. Grace has probably been on these very streets. There are also a couple more pictures of the orphanage. I found out that there are 60 families waiting for children in the city right now. We are so fortunate to be getting Grace. There are no kids in this orphanage, as soon as they arrive a foster family is found for them. The kids are taken care of very well.

Lonyan Xinlou Social Welfare Institute

After 3 months I finally found a little information about Grace's orphanage. She is in a foster home but this is the orphanage sponsoring her. It appears to be 10 hours from Fouzou. I doubt we will be travelling there. It seems there is no current information from anyone adopting from there. In the past the orphanage director escorted the child to the hotel. In our case, that would be best for us too. Above is a picture of her orphanage.

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!

Happy New Year, Grace! We wish you were home. K, J, Z and I went to a Chinese New Year party, yesterday. We ate Chinese food, Chinese candy, and saw lots of Chinese dancers. Z can't wait to come to China and get a real Chinese yoyo. He thought they were really cool! Next year we will take you to the Chinese New Year party. It will mean so much more with you with us. K thought it was really cool that on New Year's Day you aren't suppose to wash your hair or clean the house. He thought we should abide by that, too.

No news on PA. Don't know if it is possible to hear anything this week or not. Unless it was sent last week I believe CCAA is closed all week.

Still Waiting

I can't believe we are still waiting for PA. It has been 75 days now. I never thought it would take this long. And to think I stressed out and drove people crazy to get our dossier completed quickly. Our dossier has been finished and sitting at the agency for 2 weeks now. Where is our PA?

Will this be the week?

Will this be the week we recieve PA? We all hope so. Our dossier is sitting in Utah waiting to go to China. All we need is that one simple little document that says we have preapproval to adopt Grace. Then off it can go to China before the Chinese New Year. Wouldn't that be grand?

I am posting another picture that I have previously posted of Grace. This little girl needs to come home to her forever family.

Dossier in Utah

Great news! Our dossier arrived in Utah, today. Of course, then I get an email about some documents they need that they should already have. You can't call them in the afternoon so I get to worry about this until tomorrow. I know it is in God's hands but I just don't think I can take having to redo any of the paperwork. I just want to bring Grace home.

I am attaching a picture of all of us that I included in the dossier.

Dossier to Utah

Our dossier is finally headed to Utah. Thank goodness! What a great feeling to know we have it completed. Now come on China give us PA. We need to come and get our little girl.

Will Tomorrow Be The Day?

Will we get PA tomorrow? You never know, we might. Will our authenicated dossier be on the way back to us? You never know, it might. These are the two things we are waiting on now. We really want PA. Now we are told we will get a PA and I don't think our dossier can be sent until we get it. Now that our dossier is almost finished it is really important for our PA to come. Plus once we get PA and our dossier is logged in we can send a package to Grace. We have already planned some things that we want to go to her.

I decided I needed to repost Grace's picture. It is too far down the blog. We need to remember the cute little girl this whole process is about. Isn't she adorable?

January 26,2007

Just realized I never posted that I did get the dossier out Friday to the Assistant Stork. No news is good news, right? I assume it is now at the Chinese Consulate. Hopefully we will have it back at the first of next week. I am attaching a picture of D putting it in the Fedex box. Thank goodness it appears it is all right.

Grace, we are on our way.

4 days in NYC

It is amazing what 4 days in NYC can do for a person. Gives you a whole new perspective... you appreciate the kids more... realize all this is out of your hands. God is in control, just do what you can and let him take care of the rest.
All our paperwork appears to be in order. No news from the stork. CHI says it looks good. We should have our authenicated dossier back next week. I just need to get the pictures in order and we need to get our passport photos taken. Hopefully we will be sending the dossier to CHI next week. I sure wish we would get PA. It concerns me that we haven't gotten it yet. Everyday, I hope for the call even though they said we may not get it. I just envision ours getting lost(I have heard of this happening many times). Goes back to God is in control, right?