We Are Getting Close to a Travel Date!

Our next big step in this process is called TA "travel approval" from Ch*na. We expect to receive TA at any time now. Usually TA comes between two and four weeks, so we will be in our second week on Tuesday, November 6. They have been coming quickly so we could receive TA this coming week. YIKES! We should be traveling by the middle of November. If there is a delay then it will be at the end of November. Our travel date, however, is contingent on when we receive our Consulate appointment. This we will receive after we receive TA. Anyone else confused? We do hope to be home with Mia and Anna by Christmas, but we will most likely miss Thanksgiving with our family. We will have to have our turkey for Christmas this year. We are also hoping to post while we are in Ch*na, but some families have had problems with this since Ch*na blocks internet activity. We will try and use a VPN and hope all goes well. Any advice for our trip would be greatly appreciated at this time!!

One For The Books!

We have been waiting for what they call Article 5. This process usually takes two weeks with no exceptions. We had a representative from our agency drop off our paperwork at the US consulate in China on September 26. China had a holiday during the first week of October and all official offices were closed for 8 days. This delayed our Article 5 by a week. Our representative went to pick up our Article 5 and he was told that they did not have it ready yet. They needed to have the family (us) contact them directly because we were adopting two children at the same time. Just to give you a little background on what we received as directions when you get to this part of the process from our agency - it went like this: NOTICE: The US Consulate-Guangzhou advises that adoptive families should NOT call or email them to check on the status of the Article 5. Contacting the consulate may result in a significant delay or decline in issuing your paperwork. 
We asked our agency if this has ever happened before and she told us that she had never heard of it before. We also asked several other people who have adopted from China and they told us the same thing. Well I was urged by our agency to email the consulate and ask them what the delay of our paperwork is and what we can do to help. It is their Friday so we are hoping they respond with something positive. Just another bump in the road on our journey. Please continue to keep us in our prayers. We are still hoping to travel sometime in November (note to China: of this year).

Our DTC "Secret Pal" Strikes Again!

We just received a very special gift for Mia and Anna from our DTC Spring/Summer "Secret Pal" and her daughter. They sent us two handcrafted drawstring bags each with two hair clips to match. These are absolutely adorable and I know Mia and Anna will love them. We will be sure to take them to China with us and have the girls take them when we go shopping. These little bags are perfect for shopping trips and can them be carried like a backpack. The girls can be hands free and still be able to carry their own purchases. Sometimes when parents go to China to bring home their child, the first things they receive from their parents are the first things that are theirs alone. They don't "own" anything that they can call their very own. A lot of times the parents will bring a bag filled with items just for their child. Something they can call their own. These bags will just be another special item that they can call their own. Thank you again to our "Secret pal" and her beautiful daughter. May God bless you and keep you safe!

Waiting for Article 5 and then TA (Travel Approval).

Like all International Adoptions, we are almost through the mountain of paperwork. I don't want to discourage anyone who is considering adopting so I will say this much; you do a lot of paperwork, but it is over the span of a year or so. About a month ago we sent in our I-800 and was recently approved. Once we have this approval then the I-800s for both girls are sent to the National Visa Center to be entered into the "system". We then receive the NVC letter (or in our case an email) with a .pdf attached. We forwarded this to our agency and they send it to their representative in China who hand delivers it to the US Consulate in China. Now we wait for Article 5 for both girls. This is just one step before travel approval. I can't believe we have made it this far in the process.

The problem now is that China has a holiday and all the government offices are closed from October 1 through October 8. This will delay our Article 5 by 1 week. It usually takes two weeks to receive Article 5 so we are anticipating a three week wait.

We are still hoping to bring home both girls by the end of November but with this delay we may not make it. Anna's birthday is November 26. She turns 9 years old. We are hoping that she doesn't have to spend another birthday in China knowing she has a family waiting for her.

We ask that you keep us in your prayers. We thank all of you who continue to keep us in your prayers. We wouldn't be where we are today without the help of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Our thanks and praise to our Lord and God now and forever!

More Photos of Mia!!

We received more photos of Mia and would like to share them. The email said that her best friend, Chu Benjie, is being adopted this week by an American family. We will have to find out where she is so they can stay in contact. They also said that Mia is very happy to be coming to America soon. We sent her and Anna a care package that will be delivered by the end of the week. We are hoping to have our "10 Questions" for each girl answered. We asked if Mia already had an English name. Anna's English name is Anna so we kept it. We also know that Anna's favorite colors are pink, yellow, and blue. Her favorite foods are grapes and a Chinese fruit called lichi. I will have to look for these. I do know that the Chinese store carries them.

Mia's Best Friend, Benjie, and Mia

Update is here for Mia!

We just received the update on Mia today. What a wait it has been. They sent us two photos and also a three page report on her. She is doing well and is healthy. She likes being outdoors and doing activities like mountain climbing, playing in the park, and dancing. She gets along well with her classmates and teachers. It says she likes toy cars and rag dolls. It says that she is cute and quiet. We love the information and the pictures. What a smile!!

This Month's Secret Pal Gift!

Our Secret Pal just sent us beautiful handmade hair bows, one for each of the girls, Mia and Anna. This will be the first of a two-part gift. I can't wait to see the girls wearing the beautiful bows. It seems hair bows, ribbons, headbands, and clips are making a huge comeback. Our Secret Pal reminded us that sometimes the girls in orphanages have their hair cut very, very, short either due to lice or it is easier for the caretakers. This will help the girls feel a little more like they fit in when they get to America. This is a very thoughtful gift. Thank you so much for such a sweet gift!