Well, with all of the wonderful news, I guess we were bound to have bad news. When you adopt, you go through so much paper-collection at the beginning... birth certificates, marriage certificates, medical reports, child abuse clearance, police clearance, fingerprinting, etc., etc., etc. We did all sorts of things for both our home study collection and then for our dossier.
Because our adoption wait has been so long, our home study report was outdated. (It only lasts 12 months). Plus, we need them to alter the wording to include Gracelynn's age. We figured it meant a quick little visit and wah-lah! NOPE! The packet arrived in the mail yesterday. We need new police clearances (complete with fingerprinting this time), new child abuse clearances, new medical forms completed for all 5 of us, new financial statement, new letter of employment, new sworn disclosure forms and now 10 hours of international adoption training. I'm at least hoping that the book we had to read and take a test on would qualify for the training! If not, it's another $45 for an online 19 chapter course!
Today I hope to drop off all medical forms and maybe go to the police station for the police clearance and fingerprinting. Mike, having just started at a brand new contract this week, can't get to the station till next week. Reagan's annual physical got boosted up to Monday, too... so hopefully the medical forms will be done by mid-next week. I already completed the application, financial statement and sworn disclosure statements, and filled out paperwork to be notarized for child-abuse clearance. So far, I believe this update will cost about $800. Ugh.
All of this is in addition to a case-worker visit from the home study foundation. Oh... and in addition to the USCIS fingerprinting we'll need to do before we travel. But then, maybe, just maybe there will be an end in sight. :-)
They certainly don't make things easy (or cheap) to adopt overseas.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Moms
Remember my post yesterday about how I may have met people who have seen our soon-to-be daughter? Both women emailed me yesterday with information and pics.
I've now found a Yahoo Group specifically created for parents of adopted children from this orphanage. People from all over the world are now connected, knowing that their children spent the first few months or years of life with one another.
Gracelynn is just so beautiful and sweet looking, I can't wait to finally hold her. (She has the same pouty face in every photo.... she needs to come home to her family where she'll giggle and smile!)
I've now found a Yahoo Group specifically created for parents of adopted children from this orphanage. People from all over the world are now connected, knowing that their children spent the first few months or years of life with one another.
Gracelynn is just so beautiful and sweet looking, I can't wait to finally hold her. (She has the same pouty face in every photo.... she needs to come home to her family where she'll giggle and smile!)
DEADLINE on the quilt squares!
I'm so bummed. I spent awhile last night posting another entry... and apparently 1am posting means you may forget to publish or save. It's gone.
So... I'll cheat and post the same words that many will have received as an email.
If you've already sent a quilt square, then please disregard this message. We now have a deadline date for any squares that will be in the quilt!
We are absolutely in awe of the fact that our friend's mom has volunteered to completely create this quilt for us (with the help of some of her quilting friends). Mrs. Jane Leake called this evening and is so excited to do this for us. She is a God-send... considering there is no way I would have the time now before or after we go to pick up Gracelynn. She explained the design she had in mind and everything! However, she wants to get started on this ASAP! So next weekend, her daughter (my friend) Becky will be taking down the fabric squares that we already have. She would like all of the rest by the end of February at the latest. So, I ask that if you would like to contribute a fabric square (and coordinated good-wishes card), please get them to me by NO LATER than February 23. That will give me time to separate the fabric from the cards and send her the fabric in time. If you need me to wash the fabric, then please send it by the 16th. I do wash daily ... but I still want to make sure I have time to get it done. Plus I want time to scan each fabric before we mail them out.
If your square isn't on its way, but you still want to send something, please let me know. That way I'll know whose to look for in the mail (or in person). Oh, and by the way, if you are family... I don't mean to make you feel guilty, but... well, you better get your fabric in soon!!! :-)
I already found mine!
So... I'll cheat and post the same words that many will have received as an email.
If you've already sent a quilt square, then please disregard this message. We now have a deadline date for any squares that will be in the quilt!
We are absolutely in awe of the fact that our friend's mom has volunteered to completely create this quilt for us (with the help of some of her quilting friends). Mrs. Jane Leake called this evening and is so excited to do this for us. She is a God-send... considering there is no way I would have the time now before or after we go to pick up Gracelynn. She explained the design she had in mind and everything! However, she wants to get started on this ASAP! So next weekend, her daughter (my friend) Becky will be taking down the fabric squares that we already have. She would like all of the rest by the end of February at the latest. So, I ask that if you would like to contribute a fabric square (and coordinated good-wishes card), please get them to me by NO LATER than February 23. That will give me time to separate the fabric from the cards and send her the fabric in time. If you need me to wash the fabric, then please send it by the 16th. I do wash daily ... but I still want to make sure I have time to get it done. Plus I want time to scan each fabric before we mail them out.
If your square isn't on its way, but you still want to send something, please let me know. That way I'll know whose to look for in the mail (or in person). Oh, and by the way, if you are family... I don't mean to make you feel guilty, but... well, you better get your fabric in soon!!! :-)
I already found mine!
Friday, January 25, 2008
I'm getting nothing done around here.....
I have company arriving in a few hours, and I've done nearly nothing to prepare! But, no wonder... I have gotten even more exciting news!
Today, I received (via our agency) two emails from people who KNEW our girl!!! The one lady adopted a little girl last year from the same exact orphanage as our soon-to-be daughter. I also received an email from a lady who adopted her best friend, a boy, from the same orphanage! So far I haven't received any photos or additional emails from either lady, but you better believe I emailed them back ASAP! These women should also be great resources to go to about what to expect while we travel, what to bring, what to expect once we're home, etc., etc.
Oh... another neat God-thing. Our kids' elementary school offers afterschool fun classes from time to time, taught by parents. This spring, we got the listing of classes being offered. One is CHINESE!!! So, naturally, I signed up Ben for the class. I also wrote to the teacher and asked if we could get special permission for Reagan to attend (the class was intended for 3-5 graders). She agreed. YAY! It's obviously not an intensive class, but the kids will learn to speak and write basic words, and will learn about Chinese culture, too. How perfect!!! I wish I could sit in on the class (which I was given permission to do), but I'll have Tommy with me... and I just know he would never cooperate. Any babysitters out there?
Today, I received (via our agency) two emails from people who KNEW our girl!!! The one lady adopted a little girl last year from the same exact orphanage as our soon-to-be daughter. I also received an email from a lady who adopted her best friend, a boy, from the same orphanage! So far I haven't received any photos or additional emails from either lady, but you better believe I emailed them back ASAP! These women should also be great resources to go to about what to expect while we travel, what to bring, what to expect once we're home, etc., etc.
Oh... another neat God-thing. Our kids' elementary school offers afterschool fun classes from time to time, taught by parents. This spring, we got the listing of classes being offered. One is CHINESE!!! So, naturally, I signed up Ben for the class. I also wrote to the teacher and asked if we could get special permission for Reagan to attend (the class was intended for 3-5 graders). She agreed. YAY! It's obviously not an intensive class, but the kids will learn to speak and write basic words, and will learn about Chinese culture, too. How perfect!!! I wish I could sit in on the class (which I was given permission to do), but I'll have Tommy with me... and I just know he would never cooperate. Any babysitters out there?
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Sooner? We'll see...
Now that China has the online system of submitting papers for special needs children, I was hoping things would go faster. I forgot to tell you yesterday what our case manager told me. The usual timeframe for pre-approval (PA) is 6-8 weeks. However, with the new system, one couple was just pre-approved in 2 days! That shaves 1.5-2 months off the possible timing! Whew! Who knows?
We do have some papers to acquire before we travel, including the homestudy amendment and new fingerprints (and I'm not sure how to go about this!) So, we'll have to figure these out still. But, things are still looking good.
In the meantime, I'm nesting. :-) I warned Mike I would be. I'm freecycling lots of stuff ("Get it out of here! No time for a garage sale!") I'm also trying to imagine the new rooms. We have to move Tommy from his room into Ben's room so that we can begin preparing Gracelynn's room. Tommy's bed is all set... we just need to transfer clothes and new dressers into that room. Gracelynn's room will be easy too... that shouldn't take much other than throwing a few pink things in there. :-) I want to get a pink comforter for the bed and put Reagan's pink curtains in there too, and paint over a yellow stripe to make it pink. Reagan will get different curtains. Her room is pink top to bottom, so a change of curtains would be a refreshing change.
One good thing occurred last week with PERFECT timing. Tommy FINALLY was potty-trained. For a 3.5 year old boy who was plain stubborn, something just finally clicked. He has always had amazing control, but just didn't want to use the bathroom and didn't care what happened. Last week, he was home from school 2 days due to sickness, and the other day due to the fact that our timing didn't work since the doctor was calling with Gracelynn's information. So, he had a full week at home in big boy pants. It worked. In the last 7 days, he had one accident (Tuesday after school), and was clearly distraught over it. He even sleeps through the night in big boy pants with no accidents! Woo Hoo! I guess my telling him that he couldn't go to the big bed (twin) in Ben's room unless he was potty-trained really worked. YAY! I'm not a horrible mommy after all. (How embarrassing to tell people that my 3 year, 8 month old son is not potty-trained... but I don't have to do it any longer!) OK, enough about this... this story belongs on the other blog, but I just thought the timing was perfect since we can now carry through with moving Tommy into Ben's room soon.
We do have some papers to acquire before we travel, including the homestudy amendment and new fingerprints (and I'm not sure how to go about this!) So, we'll have to figure these out still. But, things are still looking good.
In the meantime, I'm nesting. :-) I warned Mike I would be. I'm freecycling lots of stuff ("Get it out of here! No time for a garage sale!") I'm also trying to imagine the new rooms. We have to move Tommy from his room into Ben's room so that we can begin preparing Gracelynn's room. Tommy's bed is all set... we just need to transfer clothes and new dressers into that room. Gracelynn's room will be easy too... that shouldn't take much other than throwing a few pink things in there. :-) I want to get a pink comforter for the bed and put Reagan's pink curtains in there too, and paint over a yellow stripe to make it pink. Reagan will get different curtains. Her room is pink top to bottom, so a change of curtains would be a refreshing change.
One good thing occurred last week with PERFECT timing. Tommy FINALLY was potty-trained. For a 3.5 year old boy who was plain stubborn, something just finally clicked. He has always had amazing control, but just didn't want to use the bathroom and didn't care what happened. Last week, he was home from school 2 days due to sickness, and the other day due to the fact that our timing didn't work since the doctor was calling with Gracelynn's information. So, he had a full week at home in big boy pants. It worked. In the last 7 days, he had one accident (Tuesday after school), and was clearly distraught over it. He even sleeps through the night in big boy pants with no accidents! Woo Hoo! I guess my telling him that he couldn't go to the big bed (twin) in Ben's room unless he was potty-trained really worked. YAY! I'm not a horrible mommy after all. (How embarrassing to tell people that my 3 year, 8 month old son is not potty-trained... but I don't have to do it any longer!) OK, enough about this... this story belongs on the other blog, but I just thought the timing was perfect since we can now carry through with moving Tommy into Ben's room soon.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Home Study Update
I always figured we had to update our home study, but no one ever told me directly. So I spoke with our agency's China case manager today. We do. We need for it to state the age and "special needs" child on it. So we called the Datz Foundation today and learned of what we need to do. This process could take a few weeks to complete.
I also realized today that a few emails of our case manager had somehow been skipped over in my inbox. We also had to re-submit our passport photos since they did not get saved correctly.... so I rushed that out quickly as I was leaving for the dentist! I think Mei (our case manager) was going to submit the papers today to CCAA for pre-approval. Maybe we'll hear soon too!?
Today I received another quilt square from Mike's cousin Anita. I'll have to post more square fabrics soon to show the variety of colors we keep accumulating.
I also realized today that a few emails of our case manager had somehow been skipped over in my inbox. We also had to re-submit our passport photos since they did not get saved correctly.... so I rushed that out quickly as I was leaving for the dentist! I think Mei (our case manager) was going to submit the papers today to CCAA for pre-approval. Maybe we'll hear soon too!?
Today I received another quilt square from Mike's cousin Anita. I'll have to post more square fabrics soon to show the variety of colors we keep accumulating.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
One Week Later
One week ago, we learned about Gracelynn. Time is already flying... hopefully our travel comes quickly. The kids have been telling their friends and teachers. Reagan's class is even considering making quilt squares for us! How cool!
I picked up the Freecycle bag of clothes. Wow! What a find. I now have several cute summer dresses for Gracelynn. It's so hard to guess what her size will be. I understand that we can only bring 44 lbs. worth of suitcase for her... (boy, I hope I can bring for her, in addition to our own!) After years of eBay sales, I know 44 lbs. isn't much when we're talking 14 days or more overseas.
I received word from our case worker that she received our photos and that she was going to post them to CCAA. I just can't wait to hear that we are pre-approved (6-8 weeks). Then I should feel very confident that things will proceed as we hope.
Oh... the things-to-do list gets longer each day. :-) I was happy to hear that my dad is also researching (via the web) travel in China. I think it will be so neat for him to experience this with us in China. Besides, an extra set of hands will be much appreciated!!! 14+ hours on a flight home with a scared, timid, walking, Chinese-speaking child sounds a little intimidating. :-) Not to mention we'll be tired and so ready to see our other three kids and family. OK... can you tell the flight home will be scary?
Well, I received very little sleep last night, so I'm going to bed early. (Told you I'd be blogging more now!!!)
I picked up the Freecycle bag of clothes. Wow! What a find. I now have several cute summer dresses for Gracelynn. It's so hard to guess what her size will be. I understand that we can only bring 44 lbs. worth of suitcase for her... (boy, I hope I can bring for her, in addition to our own!) After years of eBay sales, I know 44 lbs. isn't much when we're talking 14 days or more overseas.
I received word from our case worker that she received our photos and that she was going to post them to CCAA. I just can't wait to hear that we are pre-approved (6-8 weeks). Then I should feel very confident that things will proceed as we hope.
Oh... the things-to-do list gets longer each day. :-) I was happy to hear that my dad is also researching (via the web) travel in China. I think it will be so neat for him to experience this with us in China. Besides, an extra set of hands will be much appreciated!!! 14+ hours on a flight home with a scared, timid, walking, Chinese-speaking child sounds a little intimidating. :-) Not to mention we'll be tired and so ready to see our other three kids and family. OK... can you tell the flight home will be scary?
Well, I received very little sleep last night, so I'm going to bed early. (Told you I'd be blogging more now!!!)
Monday, January 21, 2008
The well wishes...
Wow! Thanks to everyone who has taken time to email and send well-wishes our way. Even people I forgot to email (should've just hit the whole address book!) have emailed to express their excitement for us, having heard from other people. Reagan's basketball coach gave us a quilt square today, and her son gave us a toddler pillow to boot!
Today the only change has been our agency requesting our scanned-in passport photos and some photos of the family. (Which of course, I'm never happy with, but they'll have to do!)
After basketball practice today, Reagan and I went out to do some shopping (to get me some clothes and Mike a birthday gift). Of course I had to hit the clearance racks. I intend to stock up on easy-breezy spring shortsleeve dresses for our visit to China. They should be fine for either size then.
Oh, I can't wait for consignment sale and garage sale season to hit! I just checked online. The sale I always participate in (2x a year) is on March 8. I'll be there! Gotta start researching the others in the area too.
Tomorrow I'll pick up a bag of clothes through Freecycle, so that'll be cool to go through too. Anyone have suggestions of where to get a nice double jogging stroller for CHEAP? I had planned to get a single one at Target for under $70, but that'll be useless come June.
Tommy is still showing his confusion. Poor kid. Today he said to me, "My baby sister here now?" I replied, "no... not for awhile... not till after your birthday." He then said, "My birthday?? It's coming up???" Sigh... poor thing just doesn't understand time.
Today the only change has been our agency requesting our scanned-in passport photos and some photos of the family. (Which of course, I'm never happy with, but they'll have to do!)
After basketball practice today, Reagan and I went out to do some shopping (to get me some clothes and Mike a birthday gift). Of course I had to hit the clearance racks. I intend to stock up on easy-breezy spring shortsleeve dresses for our visit to China. They should be fine for either size then.
Oh, I can't wait for consignment sale and garage sale season to hit! I just checked online. The sale I always participate in (2x a year) is on March 8. I'll be there! Gotta start researching the others in the area too.
Tomorrow I'll pick up a bag of clothes through Freecycle, so that'll be cool to go through too. Anyone have suggestions of where to get a nice double jogging stroller for CHEAP? I had planned to get a single one at Target for under $70, but that'll be useless come June.
Tommy is still showing his confusion. Poor kid. Today he said to me, "My baby sister here now?" I replied, "no... not for awhile... not till after your birthday." He then said, "My birthday?? It's coming up???" Sigh... poor thing just doesn't understand time.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
A More Detailed Time Expectation
I think she gets cuter each time I look at the pictures!
We read over the forms that were sent to us by our agency. We need to fill out a Letter of Intent to Adopt a Special Need Child (LOI) and a Prospective Adoptive Parent sheet. Once CWA receives these forms, they will translate to Chinese and send to the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) for pre-approval (PA). The current wait time for PA from the CCAA is approximately 6-8 weeks. It is then possible that the final approval (travel approval) for our adoption will be received 4-5 months from the time of PA. So, going by these numbers, it could potentially be August before we travel. Let's hope for a little earlier!
Apparently the CCAA has moved to an all-new electronic system, and this is the first group of special needs adoptions that our agency will be dealing with in the new system. So, we'll be guinea pigs. Perhaps timing will be a lot different? We'll have to wait and see.
I also had a little time to go over some details regarding our travel. I am slowly accumulating a long list of questions for our case worker. :-)
Our I-171H approval form from USCIS looks as though it should be fine and not need updated... it expires 9/21/08. However, our fingerprints will expire in April. We'll need to update those. I guess I'll be looking into that soon.
Today we went to church. One family at our church is almost finished with the paperchase for their dossier. They'll be requesting a sibling group from Ethiopia. In fact, the wife is the one who recommended our adoption-consultation doctor. It was neat to share our stories with them. (You can find their blog at www.growinginfaithandfamily.blogspot.com).
Until next time (tomorrow? see how I finally have lots to share?), God bless!
We read over the forms that were sent to us by our agency. We need to fill out a Letter of Intent to Adopt a Special Need Child (LOI) and a Prospective Adoptive Parent sheet. Once CWA receives these forms, they will translate to Chinese and send to the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) for pre-approval (PA). The current wait time for PA from the CCAA is approximately 6-8 weeks. It is then possible that the final approval (travel approval) for our adoption will be received 4-5 months from the time of PA. So, going by these numbers, it could potentially be August before we travel. Let's hope for a little earlier!
Apparently the CCAA has moved to an all-new electronic system, and this is the first group of special needs adoptions that our agency will be dealing with in the new system. So, we'll be guinea pigs. Perhaps timing will be a lot different? We'll have to wait and see.
I also had a little time to go over some details regarding our travel. I am slowly accumulating a long list of questions for our case worker. :-)
Our I-171H approval form from USCIS looks as though it should be fine and not need updated... it expires 9/21/08. However, our fingerprints will expire in April. We'll need to update those. I guess I'll be looking into that soon.
Today we went to church. One family at our church is almost finished with the paperchase for their dossier. They'll be requesting a sibling group from Ethiopia. In fact, the wife is the one who recommended our adoption-consultation doctor. It was neat to share our stories with them. (You can find their blog at www.growinginfaithandfamily.blogspot.com).
Until next time (tomorrow? see how I finally have lots to share?), God bless!
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Wow! WHAT A WEEK!!!
Well, it's been awhile since our last posting... and to be honest, nothing really had been happening during most of that time. We were in waiting mode... long 24 months+ waiting mode. But we have some AMAZING news!!! We're going to China THIS SUMMER!
I apologize if I haven't been able to share this news with everyone individually, but we've just had a crazy and busy week. I just haven't had time to email or call. We just told our own parents last evening, and today we were gone all day visiting the National Museum of Natural History (a scheduled trip), so I haven't been home much.
CWA, our agency, receives a list of a special needs children from China from time to time (approximately every 3-4 months). Last Friday, I got an email that the list would be posted on Tuesday. So, of course I got online on Tuesday when the list was just posted. Mike and I were IM'ing and decided to ask for the files of a little girl. Sure enough, a few minutes later, her files were in my Inbox! By Friday morning, Mike and I had prayed and researched and had inquired with an adoption-specialist doctor to go over her medical files. We told the agency on Friday morning that we're a go!
We will be naming her Gracelynn. After we told the kids her first name, Ben says, "Well, she could always just write 'Grace' on her school papers like I write 'Ben' instead of Benjamin." So, yes... Grace or Gracie will be a short, easy, commonly-used nickname. :-) Grace was Mike's paternal grandmother's first name. Lynn is my middle name. And yes... we do know that it sounds like a famous travel destination when put together, but hey... she has us "All Shook Up". So, how appropriate. :-)
After speaking with Dr. Mason from the International Adoption Clinic (who I highly recommend as he was very professional and understanding and thorough... even when our phone lines went bonkers mid-conversation), we made our decision. On Thursday night, after our blast of winter snow and while eating at the Main Street Wings in Purcellville, we told the kids about their soon-to-be new baby sister. They were thrilled! Ben and Reagan are already making plans for her and finding ways to welcome her. Tommy hasn't quite grasped what it means to have a baby sister ("A babysitter? Like Emily?" was his reply.) But he now can tell you that he gets to move into Ben's room, which he's been dying to do, and his baby sister will move into his room soon. Of course, when we talk about a little girl, his baby sister, he'll always say, "Maggie?" (his friend)... he's a little confused. So, we'll have many, many, many more talks with him.
Our current estimates of travelling dates are June or July 2008. This is just an estimate and will depend on many factors. But late June or early July sounds perfect to me. Our other three kids will be home and won't be involved in as many sports or activities for our parents to worry about (when babysitting). It'll be before the Olympics, so perhaps we'll beat the rush yet get to see some neat sites. And it'll be after my Dad's trip to Alaska, so he'll hopefully be able to travel with us when we go to China!!!
We've always had a few goals in mind when we talked about going to China: having lost some weight and gotten into shape, having bought a laptop (to communicate with everyone in the US while over there), having her room finished, having a wardrobe waiting, etc. Boy, our goals now have a much more imminent date. But, I'm up for the challenge!
Well, I suppose I'll have a lot more to discuss over the next few months, so keep checking in... I promise to write more often! In the meantime, we have a long list of things to accomplish, and welcome any advice from adoptive parents of Chinese and/or older children.
Wow. I'm still shocked by the news. What a difference one little week makes. God is Great! Feel free to comment or email us. We're all so excited over here!
I apologize if I haven't been able to share this news with everyone individually, but we've just had a crazy and busy week. I just haven't had time to email or call. We just told our own parents last evening, and today we were gone all day visiting the National Museum of Natural History (a scheduled trip), so I haven't been home much.
CWA, our agency, receives a list of a special needs children from China from time to time (approximately every 3-4 months). Last Friday, I got an email that the list would be posted on Tuesday. So, of course I got online on Tuesday when the list was just posted. Mike and I were IM'ing and decided to ask for the files of a little girl. Sure enough, a few minutes later, her files were in my Inbox! By Friday morning, Mike and I had prayed and researched and had inquired with an adoption-specialist doctor to go over her medical files. We told the agency on Friday morning that we're a go!
We will be naming her Gracelynn. After we told the kids her first name, Ben says, "Well, she could always just write 'Grace' on her school papers like I write 'Ben' instead of Benjamin." So, yes... Grace or Gracie will be a short, easy, commonly-used nickname. :-) Grace was Mike's paternal grandmother's first name. Lynn is my middle name. And yes... we do know that it sounds like a famous travel destination when put together, but hey... she has us "All Shook Up". So, how appropriate. :-)
After speaking with Dr. Mason from the International Adoption Clinic (who I highly recommend as he was very professional and understanding and thorough... even when our phone lines went bonkers mid-conversation), we made our decision. On Thursday night, after our blast of winter snow and while eating at the Main Street Wings in Purcellville, we told the kids about their soon-to-be new baby sister. They were thrilled! Ben and Reagan are already making plans for her and finding ways to welcome her. Tommy hasn't quite grasped what it means to have a baby sister ("A babysitter? Like Emily?" was his reply.) But he now can tell you that he gets to move into Ben's room, which he's been dying to do, and his baby sister will move into his room soon. Of course, when we talk about a little girl, his baby sister, he'll always say, "Maggie?" (his friend)... he's a little confused. So, we'll have many, many, many more talks with him.
Our current estimates of travelling dates are June or July 2008. This is just an estimate and will depend on many factors. But late June or early July sounds perfect to me. Our other three kids will be home and won't be involved in as many sports or activities for our parents to worry about (when babysitting). It'll be before the Olympics, so perhaps we'll beat the rush yet get to see some neat sites. And it'll be after my Dad's trip to Alaska, so he'll hopefully be able to travel with us when we go to China!!!
We've always had a few goals in mind when we talked about going to China: having lost some weight and gotten into shape, having bought a laptop (to communicate with everyone in the US while over there), having her room finished, having a wardrobe waiting, etc. Boy, our goals now have a much more imminent date. But, I'm up for the challenge!
Well, I suppose I'll have a lot more to discuss over the next few months, so keep checking in... I promise to write more often! In the meantime, we have a long list of things to accomplish, and welcome any advice from adoptive parents of Chinese and/or older children.
Wow. I'm still shocked by the news. What a difference one little week makes. God is Great! Feel free to comment or email us. We're all so excited over here!
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