Friday, August 31, 2007

Progress!!!!!!!!!


After several days of total confusion and frustration, I have officially fed ex'd more paperwork off to USCIS today! I was shocked to find out that the New Orleans office was STILL closed, so I sent my package once again to Memphis. I feel like a giant load has been lifted off my shoulders. I really don't know why I feel like that though. Sometimes I feel like our own government is as easy to deal with as China's. Meaning, there really is no guarantee that I re did our paperwork correctly. Meaning, they could send it back to us next week, telling us something else to do. The challenge is, the phrase of the week is: "It varies from state to state". How is that possible? It is the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. But I digress...

This morning, I got up and read Becky's blog for the day. A train wreck immediately ensued. I really turned into an emotional mess for a short period of time. Becky said she received pictures of Laney 'growing up', and that some of the pictures were difficult to look at because the conditions in the orphanage were not good. My heart was crushed! I melted into a puddle wanting desperately to get on a plane, (did I just say that??!!), and go get my daughter. It is just such a strange phenomenon to fully grasp and accept that my daughter is in an orphanage. I haven't even put my children in daycare, and now my 4th child has spent 14 months in an orphanage. I want her out, and she should be out!! It is way past time. Why is it that I feel like I have made so much more progress in going to get my child now that I have mailed a package to Memphis. Strange. But it is progress, and it had to be done.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Mixed Emotions...

I'm following the blog of a total stranger. I've never met her, and only talked to her over our yahoo group once maybe. But I am filled with crazy emotions today as I'm following her blog. She is in China right now....in fact she is Nanning, Guangxi right now. She just adopted her daughter from Guiping SWI, (which is where Jillian is), and today I realized that she is the exact same age, (days apart), and the exact same size as Jillian. They officially have their Laney in their arms, and are ready to get home to their 3 children. Sound familiar?? As I was reading today, it hit me like a mack truck, that she was probably one of Jillian's friends. This lady, Becky from Lee's Summit, Missouri, is holding, more than likely, a major piece of my daughter's past. They even look similar from the pictures she's posted. I don't want to sound like a stalker, (especially since that is one of my irrational fears), but I so want to meet them, and let our daughters connect again one day. I know that is probably crazy to even think...but I am thinking it. Her blog is http://www.schoeppnerstuff.blogspot.com if you'd like to follow.

Thursday, August 23, 2007

When, oh when....


It is so difficult not knowing exactly when we will travel. Ok, I can even leave out the exactly part. If I had a rough estimate that would be fantastic. I wonder if I'll have her by Christmas. Chances are, I will. But this is China we're dealing with. They can do WHATEVER they want. I really can imagine her at my home on Christmas morning though. We've already had a talk with the children that Christmas will be not what it usually is this year. For really, the first time ever, we will be celebrating the true meaning of Christmas. We will be seeing God's love shining SO greatly!!! That through His birth, death, and ressurection, we are able to live!!

I'm still praying for the Lord's perfect timing....but it sure would be nice if we knew what that perfect timing is. I know, generally speaking, my agency receives their LOA's and TA's on Monday's. I really don't know the stats though. Do they ALL arrive on Monday's? Or is that just a happenstance these days? For now at least, I'll be watching my caller id like a hawk every Monday from here on out. Ok, you're right, I'll be watching like a hawk every day.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Under Construction.....

As I am learning this whole blogging thing...please be patient....every once in awhile if you check in, things may not be in the right place. Or it may be overlapped. I'm working on it, but for now, just remember.....this page is under construction!! :)

Oh my goodness, oh my goodness....

I found out yesterday afternoon that some of the families that got their referrals the same day as we did, got their LOA on Monday. This means that they will be traveling in about 6 weeks. I panicked!!! I have got to get on the ball!!! This also DOESN'T necessarily mean that we are 'next'. Some families have been waiting for 4 months, and still don't have their LOA. It's heartbreaking for them. Especially now to see families that have received their LOA's so incredibly fast!! There just doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason for how this whole process works. This entire time I've thought in my head we'd be traveling in mid November. Because of that, I'm TOTALLY not prepared. Their call made me aware that I really need to be prepared for whenever it will come. So today, I called my pediatrician...I'll be doing more paperwork this evening....printing off more packing lists...and just making sure everything is done that I need to have done. I just got in my Toddler Adoption book. I'll be diving into it tonight as well. I need my days to be about 36 hours long right now. Of course, I'm blogging right now, so I guess that shows my priorities. Although, I only have a few minutes, and none of that can be accomplished that fast, so.....

I'll keep you posted as soon as I know anything!

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Who are we?

So, now to tell you a little bit more about us....we are from Louisiana. Adoption has been in the back of my mind for as long as I can remember really. I remember first hearing about Romanian orphans as a youth, and I never could forget about it. After the birth of my second child, adoption started weighing heavy on my heart again. We then found out we were having our third child, so realistically I thought adoption was out of the picture for our family. The Lord wouldn't give up that easily though. When my 3rd child was about 2, the adoption issue kept surfacing again!!! And now he's 6 and 1/2. By the time we physically have Jillian in our arms, he will almost be 7. It certainly wasn't the timing I expected, but the Lord's timing is perfect, and I have never questioned it. I have questioned His will, and His plan, but not his timing. If it was the Lord's will, I wanted it to happen when He wanted it to happen. We want this entire experience to glorify His name. Adoption is NOT a second choice for us. The Lord has birthed her in my heart just as much as my other children. We are just waiting patiently for the ok to go get her.

Monday, August 20, 2007

Welcome!!

Welcome to my blog. I should have started this blog a LONG time ago, but with so many ups and downs, I truly didn't see the point. The purpose of this is so you, my family, and friends can follow our journey. However, I didn't want to follow my own adoption journey at times, and I'm sure you didn't either. I feel like I should have bought one of those t shirts that says, "yes, we are still adopting, no we haven't heard anything yet, thanks for asking." But now, through it all, we have finally reached the home stretch. This is the final leg of our adoption journey. We began this amazingly long and exhausting process in the summer of 2005. Now, finally in August 2007, we are preparing for our true journey to Jillian. Our journey to extreme Southern China to pick up our daughter that is waiting for us in an orphanage in Guiping City. Our timeline is as follows: DTC:6/30/06, LID 7/14/06, DOR 6/26/07, LOI 7/13/07. We are now waiting for our LOA. Just for you out there who aren't familiar with China adoption ~~ these are what all those letters mean.


  • DTC ~~ Dossier to China

  • LID ~~ Log In Date ~~ this is the date our dossier was logged in to the China Center for Adoption Affairs.

  • DOR ~~ Date of Referral ~~ this is the date of 'the call' that we got about Jillian.

  • LOI ~~ Letter of Intent ~~ this is the letter we sent to China stating we do intend to adopt Jillian.

  • LOA ~~ Letter of Acceptance ~~ this is the letter that the CCAA sends back to us saying they accept our intent.

Yes, I know...so much red tape. But, the end result will all be worth it!! I cannot even tell you how excited I am to have my baby girl in my arms. I am shocked at myself even how much I have already become attached to my daughter, before I have even met her. The Lord has had His hand on this every step of the way!! That is for another day however.

The goal tonight was to get started! And I did! Goal accomplished for now. Good night!