Posting at SHINE

After almost 3 years of posting to this blog I've decided I am going to simplify my life and put all posts (for all my children!) on my "photography blog": SHINE!
I hope to see you there!

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Ladybug sighting . . .

Our agency emailed us today to let us know our Dossier is completely ready, the payments have arrived and it is just waiting for that Pre Approval so they can send it to China. Very exciting news - but we need that PA - can everybody do a PA dance for us?

I took the kids to the beach/park today since they are done with Term 3 and are enjoying their Spring Holidays. While eating lunch I was smacked in the face by a bug - when I brushed it away I realized it was a ladybug! Ladybugs are considered lucky in Chinese adoption and are supposed to be a sign that you will get some good news about your adoption. It is a silly little Adoptive Moms tale but fun anyway and we would sure love the news!

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

It should arrive by the 9th . . .

According to our adoption agency chat group, if you go on vacation or are away from home your news about your adoption will arrive. We are leaving for the school holidays next week and we will return on October 9th. I'm guessing our Pre Approval will arrive during that time! Maybe we should leave today . . . . !

Do you like the "ticker" ? it is fun to watch the days roll by (or creep :-)

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Patiently Waiting?????

It has been 2 weeks today since China received our Letter of Intent to Adopt little Zhouzhou. The average wait time until Pre Approval is 40 days. 14 down and 26 to go . . . . I have been pacing myself that we will hear from China around October 16th . . . just in case you were wondering! If you could please pray for Tia and her little heart I would appreciate it. We don't know if she has had surgery and with the weather changing it seems like a lot of the little heart kids get sick - I have been praying that she would be healthy and loved! until she can join our family. Thanks for sharing our journey.

Thursday, September 6, 2007

Crystal Spring Bounces Home!

We just love our adoption agency "Children's House International". They work so hard to place these special needs children - and they treat all their families like FAMILY! They introduce the familes matched to the children on their waiting kids list with a poem to the online group. They just posted our poem today - isn't it so sweet??

Crystal Spring Bounces HOME!

Lovely little Crystal Spring,
Do you like to play and sing?
Do you like the Wiggles?
Do koala bears give you giggles?

In your new home country,
We are hoping that they do!
Your FAMILY lives Down Under!
It is exciting and so true!

You'll be the fourth child.
You're a sister so very pretty.
You look very smart.
And we are sure you'll be WITTy!

Your family just met a president!
(A Bush, not a tree. :-)
You're going to have a lot of love!
Just you wait and see.

Your mama shares a name
With a CHI bio baby so sweet.
Your name will be Kristiana!
We think that's pretty neat.

Mom and Dad are done paper chasing.
Authentication is nearly through.
When all the wait is over,
They'll come and get beautiful you!!

Yippee!!
XXXOOO,Holly

LOI & Dossier news.

Very exciting news! We have a tracking number for our LOI (Letter of Intent to adopt) that we have sent for Tia - it should arrive in China on the 7th. What this means is that 3-6 weeks from now we should receive Pre Approval to adopt ZhouZhou. Our dossier is complete and was sent for Certifying/Authenticating today. It will also need state seals, China seals and then translating. If all goes well it will be ready to send to China as soon as we have Pre Approval sometime in October. This means we will most likely travel about 5 months from now. OK, that sounds like a very long time . . . PLEASE PRAY it would be sooner! We would love to travel in January, it doesn't sound possible. "With man this is impossible but with God ALL things are possible." :)
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11