First Week

It's Friday morning here in Kunming. We leave tomorrow morning to go to Guangzhou. I think everyone is ready for a change of scenery. The sick babies have had to get IV's everyday and the parents days are tedious getting them hooked up and waiting while they finish their medication. Mia seems to be better today. We had given her Benedryl to clear her congestion, but I think that it was what made her very cranky. So we're just giving her something for her fever and the anitbiotic the Dr. here gave her.
The hard part of hotel life here is getting food. No one speaks english and even though there are several restaurants in this hotel, no one wants to serve the americans. Yesterday we found a Thai restaurant but when we asked to be seated they said "follow me" and took us to an elevator, pushed the down button and said "goodbye". We have had so much MSG that our heads are woozy. This afternoon we visit a park by Green lake. This should be a good outing for us. The bus rides even a short distance takes hours because of the trafffic. Please pray for the sick babies. If they don't get a clear ticket from the Doctor, they will have to stay longer. The parents are just wanting to go home. We miss you all.

Here I Am!

Mia ran fever early this morning and is congested, and fussy. We've been in the room all morning so we've had a little time to practice our walking. This afternoon we're supposed to get out and sitesee. Maybe even go see some of the children's finding spots.
We miss Michaela terribly! I can't believe it's just been one week since we've been gone. Yes, we are homesick! The trip is unbelievable but hotel life gets really old especially when you can't speak the language. It's pretty hard to just stroll the streets here. Hope everyone is well. Mia is learning so much so fast. I know she will love Michaela! WE MISS YOU!

View of the countryside-Yunnan Province

Thursday

It has been a tremendous day in so many ways. I'll have to give you the brief version because internet time is rare.
First, Mia is warming us so much. She still prefers Mike, but she is loving on me and even said "Ma Ma". We went on an adventure today in the Yunnan provence countryside. We were on a cramped bus for 1 1/2 drive to the famous wonder of the world, "stone forrest". It's a vision kin to the Grand Canyon. The countryside was a site I'm so glad we got to experience. We ate in a little place amoung the mountains. I'll have much to write about this area. I would love to upload photo's of the silk embroidry factory - the children that swarmed the bus, the small farms, the food, the poverty.....It's so much. But do know how much today was to us because Mia is really starting to love us. She's truly 18 months old - her coordination is good and I believe she'll be walking before we get home. She is very smart and cute, but she does know how to throw a fit!
I must hurry - Thank you all so much for responding. It is definitely a world away from Mississippi. One more week to go!

Daddy's Girl!

Wow! I finally get a moment to post and I don't know where to begin. First, the "gottcha" day was crazy. Last night was just a little tedious but she soon settled in a slept all night until about 5:30. She slept, but I did not. The room was cold and we were instructed to keep them bundled and warm. I was afraid she would smother under so many layers so I kept my hand on her and kept checking to see if she was breathing, just like she were a newborn. I could just imagine something happening to her on the first night and I'd be locked up in prison for life! This morning I went with half the group to buy supplies, while the other half went to apply for the babies passports. There are 5 babies with pneumonia and they had to go back to the orphanages hospital for iv's for an hour. While they were doing that the director of the center gave us a tour and even fed the babies their lunch of "congee". The orphanage is just like the photo I posted earlier except much more buildings are included. The colorful building is the school. We got to tour the dormatories and were impressed with the organization and the cleanliness. They are the control center for about 400 children all ages. About 100 are at the dormatory and the other 300 are in foster care in the surrounding area. Every nanny spoke to Mia and told us little funny things she does. She was living about an hour away from Kunming.
Mia is so sweet. Smiley. She loves to put on a show! I see her really warming up today. We go to a special event dinner tonight and it will be interesting to see all the babies at the dinner table. Please continue to pray that those sick babies get well soon. They are doing well considering.

The Joy That We've Been Waiting For!

(Elliott)

How beautiful my little sister is!. This two year journey is finally over just to start a new one. A new life has begun for Mia Grace Yunzhu Welford.

I know you’ve heard the stories
But they all sound too good to be true
You’ve heard about a place called home
But there doesn’t seem to be one for you
So one more night you cry yourself to sleep
And drift off to a distant dream

Where love takes you in and everything changes
A miracle starts with the beat of a heart
When love takes you home and says you belong here
The loneliness ends and a new life begins
When love takes you in

And somewhere while you’re sleeping
Someone else is dreaming too
Counting down the days until
They hold you close and say I love you
And like the rain that falls into the sea
In a moment what has been is lost in what will be

When love takes you in everything changes
A miracle starts with the beat of a heart

And this love will never let you go
There is nothing that could ever
cause this love to lose its hold

When love takes you in everything changes
A miracle starts with the beat of a heart
When love takes you home and says you belong here
The loneliness ends and a new life begins
When love takes you in it takes you in for good
When love takes you in....

-Lyrics by Steven Curtis Chapmen-
-When Love Takes You In-

Mia's Here!

(Elliott)
I was getting so nervous because Mom hadn't called me and it was 7:43 a.m. here and I had to go to class, but RIGHT when I was leaving the dorm she called.
They're exhausted. They met Mia Grace at about 12 a.m. our time last night and they stayed in this SMALL little cramped up room for about 4 hours! Several of the babies have pneumonia and have to be treated, but Mia is doing GREAT!
She looks beautiful, and now she has a thicker head of hair.
At first she didn't go straight to mom, instead she wanted dad. Mom said that Mia is still "trying to figure her (mom) out" (aren't we all Mia... aren't we all).
It was about 11 o'clock p.m. monday there when mom called me and Mia was still going non-stop.
I had trouble hearing mom with the loud burst of joyful jibberish that came from Mia!
After not-even one day she refers to Dad as " BA BA" (which means daddy)! What a blessing. This little girl's heart is already with us!


P.S. Mom has had ZERO luck posting pictures, however, a couple that is with mom and them is Nathan and Lisa. You can check out the link to their website on the right of this blog. There are some pictures ( one of which mom and Ethan are in the Background of) and Mrs. Lisa has updated her blog quite often.

Not much internet time here(the internet gets quite expensive). It takes such a long time to upload photos.
Well we fly out for Kunming at 6:30 monday morning, your sunday afternoon, and we go straight to the civil affairs office to take care of paperwork. We should see Mia tomorrow morning!!!(not 100% sure though). The flight is 3 and 1/2 hours long (this flying thing is starting to get old).
The great wall was incredible, and I went to see an acrobatic show while Mike and Ethan went to sleep ( party- poopers). Also we went to a jade factory ( IT WAS SOO EXPENSIVE!).
It's 11:48 p.m. here. Tomorrow we will see Mia.. Tomorrow Morning. My mind is racing, and we are praying so much for this long awaited day!

ONE MORE DAY

(email from Mom to Elliott,... She is having trouble logging in to her Blog site... Free thinking and being able to write about it isn't very popular in "The Republic of China.")
Saturday Feb. 3, 2007
We've had a BUSY Saturday and we are exhausted. You wouldn't believe what we've done, seen, heard and eaten today! Ethan has been great- stimulation is endless so his imagination is...well, you know Ethan - nuf said!:-) We will have a little more time at the end of our day tomorow. Today we had zero time on our own - we were out doing the entire time. Authentic everything. We ate Peking Duck for dinner. There was SOOO much food. Food just kept appearing on these Lazy Susan's. It was incredible. If I can get the computer to upload some pictures quicker - I'll come try to in the morning.

Today (Sunday Feb. 4th) we go a church service that is only available to foreigners (it's Christian, and that's why no Chinese are allowed to go). After the church service we will go to The Great Wall.

Must go and start the paper-work process. We've got a few copies and protocols to get ready before we leave here early Monday a.m. I think we leave for the airport about 6:30 a.m. monday and our flight to Kunming is shortly after that. We'll get all our paperwork done before we get Mia -so we'll see her pretty quickly I think Monday. I'll sleep good tonight, but I'll bet we'll be nervous Monday(sunday for you guys)!

After we get beautiful little Mia we should start to slow down and be able to do stuff on our own time. I pray that Mia's heart is getting prepared to leave what she's familiar with and be apart of a family that (although crazy) loves her very much. My prayers are that God has given her a sense of peace.

Beijing... FINALLY!

NO pictures yet, but they will be coming soon.
We arrived in Beijing after a 13 hour plane ride (wow, what a miserable ride)and we are pretty wiped out. Our hotel is ver nice, and we are right next to a wal-mart ( not like a U.S. Wal-mart, more like "34 flea markets in one building," says Ethan. Well Beijing is an interesting city with a ton of people.
They mentioned something about smog to us, but when we landed, it is definitely a noticeable thing. It's like a low lying cloud!
We are about to get to bed now (finally!) and we will start our site seeing tomorrow.
Tomorrow we see: Tienanmen Square, Forbidden City, and Summer Palace, as well as several factories I think!
Thank you all so much for the prayers and support, and please continue to do so as we stay here for 2 weeks.
Also pray for Michaela, she has never been away from her parents for a length of time like this. She knows that she must be a "big girl," but I know it's got to be difficult for her.

Chicago and Snow!

This is Elliott ( Katri's oldest son) and I am the one that mother has put in charge of updating her blog with pictures and such until she is able to get to a computer.

The family ( Mom, Dad, and Ethan) are now in Chicago. There flight went well from New Orleans, and they are waiting FOUR HOURS until their flight out of Chicago to Beijing! It is snowing in Chicago now ( something that doesn't happen AT ALL in southern Mississippi).
Continue to pray for their safety as they start their 13 hour flight to Beijing in just a little bit. They will get in Beijing at 1 O'clock in the morning Central time but it will be 3 O'clock in the afternoon in Beijing (MAJOR JET LAG)!!

God is good and in just a few short days little Mia Grace Yunzhu Welford will meet her family!

Kunming or Bust!

Can't even begin to describe the past two days. Absolutely came out of nowhere and took the wind right out of me...in a good kinda way. But we've got tickets and a schedule! Now the test is to see how much we can get done before Wednesday! Yes - we've got to leave for New Orleans on Wednesday night. Early flight out Thursday, February 1st. We will fly out of Chicago and go straight to Beijing (13 hours). I'll post our itenerary later.

Pray that Ethan's visa's get processed in time or we're out $1K. His passport is "supposed" to be here tomorrow and we'll turn it around and overnight it to VA to get the Chinese consolate to stamp it. I'm trying to prepare lesson plans and get my classes taken care of - Mike has the store to secure. And there's our Michaela. She's so excited and is being so brave about the whole thing. It's gonna be a long 14 + days without her. Thank you to all who are cheering us on. We feel your love and support.

Mia, here we come!

TRAVEL APPROVAL!

Just when you think you've got things figured out! I just knew I could wallow in this dreary January gloom feeling sorry for myself thinking we've got another month until we meet our Mia. Boom! The sun came out this morning. I was singing a happy tune all morning, then when I was walking back to my room from the school cafeteria, I saw Mike's truck parked in front of my building. Is someone hurt? What's wrong? Nothing - except our agency called to ask if we're ready to leave next THURSDAY! Can we do it? I don't know, but we're gonna sure try. My prayer warriors sure pack power. We should know tomorrow if we're in for sure. If not it'll be okay. All in His perfect time.

Translated Documents & Red Threads

We received a translation of Mia's growth record. It seems to have been done in October, 2006. That must have been the time her documents were submitted for International Adoption. How my mind ponders questions like who decides to pick her? Why did they select her? International Adoption makes up only a small fraction of all children available in China. We are blessed to have been given this child. She seems like a little bundle of joy and sounds like someone knew she'd fit in perfectly in the Welford's household.

During this entire process I have prayed for our "Red Thread" to be made known to us. The chinese have a saying that we are tied by a red thread to someone we are destined to be with...it may tangle, stretch and knot but it will not break. The date we felt the pull of this red thread was on November 11, 2004 at a Stephen Curtis Chapman concert. Nine months later our little Mia was born. I have been praying that God would confirm this adoption to me and He has, over and over again. When I look into her smiling face and read the pages of her growth and personality, I know she is ours and was meant to be.

Her foster family obviously gave most of these details in her report. It is said that "
The child was found on June 20, 2006 by the local people who reported to the police. After the investigation by the authoritative police station, the child was confirmed to be an abandoned baby and was brought in to the orphanage the same day. They determined then that her birthday was around August of 2005 and gave her DOB as the 2oth. She would have been 10 months old. It doesn't say how long she stayed in the orphanage before going to a foster family. The file also describes Mia is "outgoing, clever, active, cute, smiley, sociable, like outdoors, likes to be held and accompanied. Wave hands and kicks when happy. Likes to play games with other children. Gets along well with other kids. Likes to play with toys she’s never seen. Positive response to the strangers and new stimulation." I'm just going nuts to hurry up and meet her!

We are waiting for travel approval and consolate appointments and figure the likely time to travel will be the last of February and first week of March.

What we're learning

Mia may have been here at one point but we know that she is in foster care now. From what I am learning, foster care is in village- type housing surrounding the orphanage. Her surname, Guan, is commonly given to children that are found in this inner-city area by the same name. We took some of her paper-work to our local chinese restaurant to have it translated. Even though our agency is translating most of it, we didn't want to wait the extra week to find out more about her. From what we understood, she is able to feed herself and likes to go outside. Her favorite toy is a rattle. I am anxious to see if what they said about her abandonment is true. The girl seems to think that she may have been left on June, 2006. If that's true, she would have been with her family for almost 10 months of her life. The girl at the restaurant may have misunderstood this so we will have to wait for official translation. My prayer is that she is able to bond as a result of the nurturing she's received as an infant.
Our agency says we will probably travel in March. I've been on pins & needles again because of a new law regarding our Citizenship and Immigration paper. Ours expires on the 21st of this month. We can't bring back an "alien" orphan into this country without it. The new law says that we can't even get consolate appointments without it being current. We've been waiting on this renewal since the last of October and haven't been able to speak with a real person until today. I was assured by the officer that she would get it in today's mail. I pray this is so.

Maybe Mia Grace YunZhu?

Yun (Cloud) Zhu (Pearl)

I think Mike wants to call her Mia Grace. Can she have 5 names?

Announcing our Mia!

We are in love!

For unto us a Child is Given!

With this baby we are blessed!

Guan Yun Zhu
Born: August 20th, 2005
in Yunan Province - Kunming CWI- Foster Care

She weighed 22 lbs in October! (okay to all those who know their dentistry! :-) Our Family coordinator said she see's two teeth shining on the bottom - that's probably not all the teeth she has!) We will have pictures and more information to share tomorrow!

God is so good. We are overjoyed. Thank you for your prayers as you've journeys thus far with us. We covet your continued presence.

This time tomorrow

My last day at home before school starts and I've tried to stay busy. Finished packing away all the decorations and nicely tidied the house. Michaela and I dashed off for one last shopping jaunt just to pick up a few necessities and have her baby-doll "check-up" at the local mall. Anything to keep our minds occupied. While we were there I bumped into someone I've been wanting to meet for along time. We've spoken on the phone a few times. She's a veteran adoptive mom and waiting again for her third girl from China. If you believe in coincidences then it was no big deal, but for us finally to meet on the eve of referrals is a blessing to me. She was with her two daughters trying to pick up a few clothes for their waiting child. They've requested a girl around age 6-7.

I've found out from another agency that referrals had landed in Los Angeles this afternoon and people on the West Coast have started getting their calls. I expect our agency to open up tomorrow and I think DHL (the carrier) will deliver before noonish. I'll be on pins and needles by 3 p.m. I'll freak out if I've not heard anything by 5 p.m. Please pray that we won't be forgotten. I've seen alot of sad stories in the past 15 months. Families that have sat by the phone and it rings only to say the worst. It is rare, but it is possible.

But there's a God in heaven who watches out for us and I pray His love and care will provide.

Thank you to all who wait with us.

Referrals in Europe!

Are packages already at the Agency? Will someone go in and check? I return to school tomorrow.....will we get the call tomorrow?

Maybe he'll sign-off on our papers soon

...this post is taken directly from the CCAA's website - it rarely changes so it was nice to see some activity. Our friend Sheila and her husband just got back with their new daughter, Anna. They are doing great and give me hope that the wait does end in time. I pray that "Everything is indeed for the Children." New Year Greeting

Date of Post:December,31 2006　　Source:CCAA

As the light of springtime emerges gradually, it is a fresh start for all living things. With the advent of the New Year, I would like to, on behalf of the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA), thank leaders of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, related departments and fellow institutes for the concern and care you have given to CCAA, thank all governments of receiving states and adoption organizations for the sincere trust and good cooperation we have received from you, thank all circles of society for your warm support and deep-felt care to the orphans and handicapped children in China. We wish you have a harmoniously life, good health, happy family and good luck in everything in the forthcoming year. Packing off 2006 which is full of achievements and fruits, we welcome 2007 which is full of hope. The CCAA will continue to follow the principle of “everything for the children”, develop the inter-country adoption work in China towards the direction of being more consistent with international convention, being more reasonable with the reality in China, working harder in accordance with law and regulations and making a better protection of the rights and interests of children and contribute more for the orphans and handicapped children to make sure that they can grow up healthily and happily in the same world and under the same blue sky! 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Director General of CCAA:Luying 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　December 31, 2006

What's another week?!

We celebrated Christmas with everyone of our family members! What a feat to get us all home at the same time. It was the first time ever to occur and it may never happen again. We cheered with joy at the announcement of my niece's pregnancy. It was understandable that everyone is still a bit hesitant to be excited over our adoption. This wait is incomprehensible even to me. My sister-in-law so thoughtfully brought our Mia a gift for Christmas too, a chinese baby-doll. So many are scared that this may end in failure, a miscarriage or sorts. How precious is life and the relationships we build.
It was so nice to begin the Holy Day with a Christmas Eve candlelight service at our church with the pew lined with our family. The next morning was wonderfully delayed as we all slept 'til 7 and leisurely admired each others gifts. Somehow I talked the whole bunch into going to see "The Nativity" movie and even Mike's mom went along. The biggest joy was when Ethan admitted that it was really good. He's quite the movie critic.
We are in the homestretch and we've completed 16 months of this wait. Our dossier went to China on September 26, 2005. It's kind of like the re-entry story of the Apollo 13 module. If you haven't heard from us by this time next week - well.....we're coasting in outer-space. Pray that we hear soon. Holidays have our agency shut down until Thursday & Friday. If we haven't heard before the 4th or 5th I'll be nuts! Another week? God be merciful.

Hark the Herald is quiet

No, I don't feel guilty for not sending out Christmas cards this year. Every year Mike begins to sift through the ever increasing display of the yule-tide greetings, photo's and newsletters and I know he's thinking, "When are our cards going out?" Well, I refuse to be bluffed this year. In fact, I am quite staunch in my resolve to hold out on cards until the news of our referral comes. I have visions of a grand announcement in the New Year.
The heavens were silent for some 300 years prior to the coming Messiah. But upon Jesus' birth heaven burst open and out flowed The Word. His arrival was heralded in majestically. Words alone were not enough. Only the serafs and angels could do justice to this miraculous event. I've spent my entire life trying to understand His impact upon my being.
How inadequate I feel to describe our wait for this child. How empty our world feels knowing that we cannot predict the timing. We mortals love to be in control, yet our dominion is an illusion. Peace is found knowing that His love is perfect and in the fullness of time His plan will be completed. Our family is blessed to have been given this opportunity. Another life to enrich our path. God's fullness is limitless. We can not begin to imagine the things He has planned for each of us. My prayer is that, like the serafs, we reflect at least some of His splendor.

Soon a plane will carry packages from the China Center of Adoption Affairs containing the dossiers of many children already matched with a family. Once they are delivered to the different agencies, it will take several days to deliver the bundles of joy. Some agencies are anticipating referrals to come right before Christmas, some right after and some the first week of the New Year. I can hardly think of this time now without having my chest tighten and I can't imagine how I will hold up when it actually happens. If I could blow a trumpet to proclaim our delight, I would! The phones will ring and the blog will post. Stay tuned......Whenever we get the news that we have a child, the heralding will begin!

Silent Night, Holy Night
All is calm, all is bright
'Round yon virgin, Mother and Child
Holy enfant, so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

4 MORE WEEKS!

The bad news is...we missed by ONE STINKING DAY!
The goods news is.....NO MORE GUESSING. We are definitely gonna be in the next batch.
I can finally relax and know that the new year will be bringing us a baby girl.
I really didn't want to be in Bejing in the cold winter anyway.
God is Good!

FIELD TRIP!

Are we in? Stay tuned!

We are currently under an ORANGE alert. The question remains, "Will we be included in this batch?" God willing - we will know by weeks end.

Sweet relief

There were no referrals for October. How cruel can this wait get. Especially for those who had been waiting fourteen plus months. The month as the hardest month ever to get through. Even though we all have different log-in dates, we all wait together. Waiting to herald in the newest bundles of joy and waiting to see if we are moving ahead any faster in line. Referrals have typically been going out during the last two weeks of each month, but there's nothing "typical" about this wait. October came and went and we in the adoption community were on edge. So many lives wrapped up in the events to unfold. Rumors fly. Hopes dangle atop a tedious roller-coaster. November 1st was sweet relief for us all. The CCAA finally gave news and agencies began confirming - Referrals were released! I feel like a proud sister now. Our newfound friends here in our hometown now are parents to a beautiful little girl. They were logged-in with the CCAA August 16th, 2005. They hold in their hearts a ten-month old from Guangdong province. They await travel plans. This joyful realisation brings anticipation for all of us in my group logged in September 9th, 2005: Are we next?

It's a month to begin planning for the holidays. A month of reflecting on our blessings. I'm meeting so many wonderful people this side of China, I can only hope for more as we meet face-to-face in such a culture-full country. I have grown to a newer maturity. Though I can't begin to imagine what it will be like for us to finally receive our referral, it seems like a far-off dream now.....stretching farther and farther away, I'm trying to visualize it. How will it feel to finally see her face? Maybe we're next. We've hopped back on the roller-coaster ride for yet another month of ups and downs. We will either set ourselves up to be sorely dissappointed if we don't make it, or we will be swept away in joyful surprise if God intervines, OR.....we will resign ourselves to December. I just so wanted to see my baby's face before Christmas.

Quiet before the Storm

We've not had rain in over a month now. Everything is very dry and desolate. I know, October is supposed to be dry for harvest, but this is different. The weather is beautiful, calm and still. Last night there was rumbling and flashing in the distance giving some promise of scattered showers but still no relief for the parched earth.
There's a similar situation with the adoption. No news. Rumors dry and desolate. Weary parents. Just a few rumblings in the distant to keep us hoping this is the quiet before the storm. We always look forward to the end of the month to see how many referrals will be released. I'm especially anticipating this months because another couple from our hometown are expecting theirs. They've been waiting since August 16th, 2005.
Could this be the month that the flood gates open and relieve this barren land of parents? If so, we'll get to see our "little pumpkin's" face in November!

Keep on Rollin'

Oh to be in the river of "Denial" is treacherous indeed, but I've now sunk in to the 'ole black waters of Mississippi reality. We've prayed that we would have our Mia before we reached our 12 month anniversary (Sept. 9th) but that's not going to happen. Our best case scenario now is a referral in November and travel in January. There....I've said it out loud. That's been the hardest part - admitting that this process is out of our control. It's just not as simple as signing up for a cruise or tourist adventure. I could try to explain it by politics or supply and demand, but there's no one simple answer. This one thing I do feel certain about. Well, pretty certain because I've learned that at any moment China could close the doors and our daughter would be lost. But, I am going to be here until they do and we will slowly but surely inch our way to the receiving line. Wow, what a reception that will be! Just thought of the old classic song and it's put me in a mood.
"Ole black water,
Keep on roll'in
Mississippi Moon won't you keep on shinin'
Old black water,
Keep on roll'in
Mississippi Moon won't you keep on shinin on me
Keep on shinin' your light
Gonna make everythin'
Sweet Mama gonna make everythin' all right
And I aint in a hurry,
cause aint got no worries at all."

Rollin Slow but at least I'm not on "deNile"!!!

The future's not ours to see

So my prayer for all of July in July wasn't answered. But I know that God has a plan for our child. Our turn will come when it's our turn. My prayer is that I will be able to enjoy this time and be prepared for our Mia when she is delivered to us.

All of July in July?

With only a few more days left in this month, I am still praying that the CCAA will release referrals for all those logged in last July. If they will only get through more than half the month it will be a Godsend! What anticipation, what frustration, what helplessness we feel not knowing anything but bits and pieces from across the globe. Disjointed morsels of information that the CCAA has told to select individuals. Rarely any public statement.
Our family is doing well though. I try to keep the moments of insanity to a minimum as-far-as the wait is wearing on me. I'm the only one on the internet, so they rely on me to tell them what's going on. Everyday I give my husband and kids the same story, "looks like we may hear soon" or "rumors are flying the we may have all of July done in July." One thing is for certain, it took a almost a whole year of a rumored CCAA move before it actually occured. Last October or so, people heard that the CCAA was scheduled to make a physical move to another building across town (Beijing). All year long we've speculated when, where, how, what? Finally, this month, the month that the wait has reached 13 months for many, they've moved. No word from anyone, only those that are actually seeing boxes packed. Yes, it has put things behind schedule but we don't know for how long. Some families have been waiting for Travel Approval since June 28th!
Still our family is doing well. We speak more and more of Mia. Will she be afraid or calm? Will she sleep? Will she laugh at Ethan's antics? Finally, I've cleared our closet in our Master Bedroom and our dresser. Mike and I will share our walk-in in our bath and I placed two small chests in there for us. Ethan donated his toybox and I've got it and a few other things in the closet ready. Now for the crib and linens. I'm ready to start packing.
School starts next week for me and the kids go back August 7th. If we get our Mia's referral in September we will probably travel in November. Peking turkey Thanksgiving!

He's the Lily of the Valley

Today I mailed the last of my quilt squares. One of the ways we ladies (maybe even an few guys) help pass the time. It's supposed to be a Chinese tradition to piece together 100 squares given by family and friends along with a good wish to the child. So, now I have almost 100 squares from all across the country from people that are in various stages of adopting from China. The fabrics are varied, colorful, coordinated and unique. The wishes are well-worded blessings and scriptures for our family and our new child along with small remnants of the fabric swatches so we can match them to the quilt. I will put the blessings together in a scrapbook for Mia to see. This is the scripture and blessing I sent to the remaining families on my quilt swap list.
Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.” But “seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.” Luke 12:27, 31 (NIV)
May the LORD, our Abba Father, grant you peace and joy through this wait. May the God, El Roi, who sees and knows all things be with your family especially upon returning home with this little one from China. Cast all your cares upon Him for He cares for you. (Psalm 55:22)
I couldn't live a day with out Him! He's the Lily of the Valley - the Bright and Morning Star! The Fairest of Ten Thousand to my soul. Some days I just feel like singing.

A little more confident

This was announced early this morning from China and has me feeling a bit more optimistic that we'll be traveling before Christmas. I don't mind the waiting. It's just the not knowing - not hearing anything except rumors and speculation. If they told me we would be matched in November that would be fine - then we could plan. Well, this mornings referrals leads me to believe it's possible we could be referred between early September and early October and travel between November and December! Yeah!!! because our paper-work (orphan petition with the U.S. Immigration office) will have to be re-done in January. I'm excited. Now I've got to get busy. A baby's on the way.

Getting Ready for a little Girl!

I've decided to focus on the positive aspect of this wait. If there's a little girl entering our household before the year is out (yes - Lord-let it be so!) I must prepare for her. But first, I have to make some decisions! Where do I put her? Will she want a crib? Will I spoil her if I put her in our room? Will I tramatize her if I make her sleep alone? This is why I've not done this quicker. With my pregnancies it was easy - I loved preparing a nursery/crib area. Elliott was our first born and I spent many hours painting and finding just the right theme, blue and brown and teddy bears! Ethan, poor thing, came during our "famine" years, when we were struggling with our new business and lived in a small space. We made his spot in our bedroom, but still I went to lengths to prepare his spot and find the right accessories. Next came our princess Michaela! What a room plan! I even wrote about her nursery and took pictures. So what do I do with our sweet Mia? I need some advice. My first-born is now moving into a college dorm. His upstairs room will only be used for visiting, but no one wants it, Ethan loves his recently redone room. It's definitely masculine and I'd hate to try to change it so soon after we've just painted it a year ago. Michaela's afraid to stay upstairs alone and I don't think it wise to put a baby upstairs. I'd have to walk a long way at night and I'm afraid she would feel isolated. So what about Michaela's room? It's girly - and I could streamline her stuff and put a crib on one wall. But will Mia be able to sleep? Would Michaela be able to sleep? Would we have enough room for her stuff. So....that leaves Mike's & my bedroom. Plenty of room - we have an extra closet and an extra dresser. But will she become too dependent on us and not ever be able to sleep alone? This is my quandry. Can someone give me some advice so I can get busy?

Just over the Sunset

Well we're nine months pregnant and counting! Days pass and still no word from the CCAA since May 23rd. The Rumor Queen http://www.chinaadopttalk.com always has some information for me to absorb. Alot of the talk is negative and it would be very easy to get really depressed - if it weren't for the beauty of God's handywork. As I see God working - knowing that as the sun sets here - it is rising in China. Our daughter is just over the sunset.
lake at sunset

Elliott graduates #6 in class - #1 with our Family! 

Praying for a miracle

Today came the news. No referrals for our AWAA this month. The referral news came early this morning - those families logged in through June 15th have been referred. The stork will be landing before weeks end and we will begin seeing pictures of these beautiful babies. How exciting for these families. I am happy for these blessed families but for all the ones that come after - we are facing increased wait times. This month may mark the end of referrals within a years wait. Rumors are flying than it may increase upwards of 18 months. Please pray for a miracle.

Elliott's Senior trip to Mexico in April. 

We're in the Matching Room!

The China Center for Adoption affairs in Bejing has kept us (America World adoption families) on edge for 3 months now. We haven't seen any referrals since January 25th and the tension has been unbearable. This is all the information we've all been starring at, some many time a day.
"The CCAA has finished the review of the adoption application documents registered with our office before September 30, 2005.
The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were registered with our office before June 6, 2005."
This simple statement has had many in tears. For us it means that our documents have passed review (our application documents were dated Sept. 9th) and are now in the Matching phase. Yes! The next few months (I'm thinking 4) will hold our future, or should I say...Our future is in His hands.

Meet Abbie from Belgium...she is helping us during the wait. We've 'bout rubbed all the fur off her!

Ethan and Violinist from Korean Choir 

Korean Choir spends the night!

Early morning after little sleep!

Korean Choir tours U.S.

This is the second time in one year we've been able to host member of this talented and inspiring choir. Elliott, Ethan and Michaela really love spending time with and getting to know them. They actually did not sleep at all but had fun talking all night. The next morning they were like zombies but knew they were going to sleep on the bus. We, however, were pooped.

Our Sixth Month of Waiting

For the first time in many months I've got exciting news! The group before us has gotten official word from China that they are finished reviewing their documents and are ready to be matched. That means our group (September 2005) is now being actively reviewed. I know, it may not sound like much to you, but for this depressed woman it's a step forward.
Winter has never been my most productive season. I tend to burrow down and hybernate. The dreary February days have rolled on into bleak, windy and unpredicatable March. March is almost gone and our household has gotten almost comfortable with the wait. But for me it has been like silent screaming. We know that the adoption will happen, but it may take upwards of another six months. Everything I understand points to a slow-down in the next few months so I'm trying to prepare myself for the possibility of a September referral. Why the lengthy wait. From all I read it stems from many factors like; 1) the numbers of abandoned children have decreased - this is good news for the children. 2) the number of domestic adoptions have increased - this is also good news for the children. 3)the number of paper-ready children has decreased - this sounds like bureaucratic red-tape - not good for kids. 4)the increase number of people wanting to adopt from China - again, good! 5) the investigation of possible illegal baby traffiking in Hunan province - its good that there is a thorough investigation! 6) the CCAA - China Center for Adoption Affairs has been disrupted because of moving it's facility - maybe they'll speed up once their system is set up. All of these things I read about and understand. It doesn't make it any easier, but I know that China has a reputable adoption program. I am now feeling a little easier knowing that our file isn't just "floating" around the hallways somewhere in China, but now I am really anxious to see how big this next group of referrals will be. Please pray with me that the group from June 2005 will get babies this next week. I hope you'll pray that we all stay encouraged during the wait. My next goal is to post of few updated photo's - if I can get my camera and family to cooperate. Happy Spring!

"The Sound of Silence"

January is supposed to be a reflective month anyway, but this year was ridiculous! Last year we took the family on the Carnival Cruise to contemplate this adoption and the whirlwind began. We were extremely busy getting all the mountains of documents ordered, prepared, and authorized. Now .....nothing....silence. Except........the clatter of my fingers on the keyboard. My nightly ritual is now to check the message boards of yahoo to see what's the latest news. You see, I'm on about 5 yahoo groups. We talk about how we are preparing for this baby, we give and listen to advice, we share news stories and photos of our nurseries. The ladies and a few gentlemen even open gifts on "cybershowers" we oooh and aahh over this months referral pictures. This months referrals! What an awesome time it is as child-less couples are greeted by fed-ex with these little ones they've long for for so long! I'm now good friends it seems with a blessed Christian woman named Edi. She shared her story with us all how her relative prayed for her to marry a Christian man only a few years ago and as he prayed a blessing for God to bless her with a man he prayed also that she be blessed with children. Edi is now the proud mom of a two year old daughter that was conceived around the same time as this prayer was voiced. You can see this same story at http://www.christianadoptionmoms.com/article_godsredthread.html I am just overwhelmed at the blessings I am receiving from these groups. Our agency received 39 babies (ages 7 mo. to 23 months - Edi's). We are praying that referrals will begin to speed up after Chinese New Year. It seems that this holiday goes on for about 2 weeks and closes everything down. Please-Please pray that AWAA groups 214 - 219 will get referrals next. We are group 230 and if the groups stay together by months we should know who our baby is by May or June! The sound of silence is deafening!