Vacation!!
3 months ago
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Update
Fall is here!!! I love Fall weather! My my how fast time has flown!!!!! We have finished our home study and now working on our dossier for China. I found out a few weeks ago that the adoption files in Tian's province have been delayed due to the Swine Flu outbreaks. We are not sure when his file will reach CCAA but we know at this time, its not there. So that of course has put the hare onto the tortoise track :(
We have been so busy with work and school that honestly the whole dossier stuff seems so complicated and time consuming, we have been ignoring it...Horrible I know.......WE NEED HELP!!!!!!!!
Last week I received an unplanned change in my clerkship rotation schedule and it looks as if I am going to be off for the next 4 weeks (yeah and nay.......on so many levels)......so guess what I have committed myself to doing????????? THATS RIGHT I AM GOING TO BE THE Dossier Conqueror!! It is my goal to have everything finished and sent to Holt by Mid October, then we can truly say, FINISHO........
Once Holt approves it (2-6 weeks) and sends it on to China, China will have to approve it (takes 4-6 weeks) then once they are cool with it, we are ready for our referral!!!!!! I am guessing sometime Dec or Jan this will happen???? We are praying that Tian's file will be there by then, if not we will wait and of course update here the next step or course of action!!!
Once the referral accepted by China, we just wait for our invitation to travel which will probably be 6 months from referral date so again estimating Summer 2010 as arrival home time~
So nothing new at the moment, Until then Happy Apple Picking and Fall Festivity!!!!!!
We have been so busy with work and school that honestly the whole dossier stuff seems so complicated and time consuming, we have been ignoring it...Horrible I know.......WE NEED HELP!!!!!!!!
Last week I received an unplanned change in my clerkship rotation schedule and it looks as if I am going to be off for the next 4 weeks (yeah and nay.......on so many levels)......so guess what I have committed myself to doing????????? THATS RIGHT I AM GOING TO BE THE Dossier Conqueror!! It is my goal to have everything finished and sent to Holt by Mid October, then we can truly say, FINISHO........
Once Holt approves it (2-6 weeks) and sends it on to China, China will have to approve it (takes 4-6 weeks) then once they are cool with it, we are ready for our referral!!!!!! I am guessing sometime Dec or Jan this will happen???? We are praying that Tian's file will be there by then, if not we will wait and of course update here the next step or course of action!!!
Once the referral accepted by China, we just wait for our invitation to travel which will probably be 6 months from referral date so again estimating Summer 2010 as arrival home time~
So nothing new at the moment, Until then Happy Apple Picking and Fall Festivity!!!!!!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Orphans
In light of the new horror movie ‘Orphan’ Tom Davis has issued a great challenge on his blog to defend the cause of the orphan in a positive way. Here it is:
I want to challenge my readers and friends to write 500 positive blog posts about how an orphan has impacted and changed your life. Post this on your own blog so that when people search for the movie, they are flooded with positive messages about adoption and orphan care.
Just finish this sentence: “Warner Bros. new horror movie Orphan proclaims that it must be hard to love an adopted child as much as your own. Let me tell you about how an orphan changed my life…”
This is the heart of defending orphans. Help push back the darkness and deceit here by holding up as an example the powerful love that adoption and orphan care can unleash.
Here’s how you can defend the orphan:
1. Write a “positive protest post” on your blog that references the movie, Orphan.
2. Focus on your orphan care or adoption story that is positive, redeeming, and full of love.
3. Link your post here via a trackback or comment.
4. Send out an e-mail, Facebook message, or tweet to get others to do the same on their blogs.
If you don’t have a blog, post your story on the Christian Alliance for Orphans Site.
You may read my post at Stevens Journey.
I want to challenge my readers and friends to write 500 positive blog posts about how an orphan has impacted and changed your life. Post this on your own blog so that when people search for the movie, they are flooded with positive messages about adoption and orphan care.
Just finish this sentence: “Warner Bros. new horror movie Orphan proclaims that it must be hard to love an adopted child as much as your own. Let me tell you about how an orphan changed my life…”
This is the heart of defending orphans. Help push back the darkness and deceit here by holding up as an example the powerful love that adoption and orphan care can unleash.
Here’s how you can defend the orphan:
1. Write a “positive protest post” on your blog that references the movie, Orphan.
2. Focus on your orphan care or adoption story that is positive, redeeming, and full of love.
3. Link your post here via a trackback or comment.
4. Send out an e-mail, Facebook message, or tweet to get others to do the same on their blogs.
If you don’t have a blog, post your story on the Christian Alliance for Orphans Site.
You may read my post at Stevens Journey.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
God's Timing
18 months ago, I found out about a little boy in China that needed a family. A friend of mine posted a plea on her blog about Tian Ai. Her sisters lived with Tian in his orphanage. She had met him and knew he needed a family!!! At that time, Ray and I were living in Saba. When I read the plea, I told Ray about Tian. We watched the videos, looked at the pictures, and decided we should pursue adopting Tian. At the time Tian's file was with WACAP agency so we contacted them to begin the process. Ray and I knew that we were starting this a little prematurely than we had plan, but we felt that Tian was our child!
After meeting China's pre-approval with WACAP, we began working on the paperwork. During this time, I contacted the case worker at WACAP about our current living situation and our transition back to the states in the summer of 2008 and they discouraged us from proceeding with Tian adoption stating that due to his age and special needs, they thought he would be coming home in July/August 2008 and they didn't want any delays in our paperwork holding his adoption up....here is her comment: Unfortunately I would suggest that you wait. Even though pre approval can take 4-6 weeks I have now had some families approved in less than 2 weeks. That means you could be approved a couple weeks from now and then we would be awaiting your homestudy and you should be working on your dossier. In order to submit your dossier you need to submit the homestudy and you have to have a permanent home (the home where you will reside with the child). Depending on the social worker writing the homestudy it can take anywhere to 4-6 weeks and sometimes they come out to visit you 2-3 times. It just doesn’t seem like perfect timing right now. If it were closer to June and your husband were in your new home it might be doable. I know you became attached to Tian Ai but it is our hope that we bring him home to a family as quickly as possible. If for some reason he is still on the list later (and I hope he is not for his sake), I would advise you to begin the process closer to when you are due home. I will definitely keep you in mind if he has not found a family by then. .
We were devastated, Then we heard this same individual at WACAP sent out an email a week later stating that his file was being sent back due to lack of interest, We were so upset and shocked, so I contacted them and said why would you send this file back when we want him, who cares if it takes a few weeks longer, at least he will have a family. They informed me that another family, the had inquired about him was paper ready for the adoption. Of course, we were so heartbroken and crushed, as well really felt strongly that Tian was our child, but I supported this family with their adoption of Tian and kept in contact with them throughout the process.
It was in July 2008 that I received some distressing news that Tian wanted to be taken off the adoption list. He did not want to meet the family that was approved to adopt him or go to the USA for a new life. I was heartbroken for Tian. I knew that coming home to USA, he would have a wonderful life and that his medical condition could be taken care of. I was so confused and unsure why they allowed a 6 yr to make such a life changing decision. All I could do was pray for Tian. At that time, I have to admit I was a little relieved that it wasn't Ray and I who was ready to show up in July and he refuse to come home to us. It would have just crushed me. At this point, We thought the door for adoption of Tian had officially closed, so Ray and I sent in our initial online application fee to CWA. We wanted to pursue the Kazakhstan program, but in July 2008, CWA was not taking applications for Kazakhstan, so we decided on the Bulgaria program ( I love eastern Europe. I do feel drawn there. When, where, how, and why is still up in the air, but I know we have a child there).
On May 27th, 2009, I found out that there might be a possibility that Tian's file will be reactivated and available for adoption, due to him stating that he wanted a family. We started looking for agencies that have a good working relationship with CCAA and we feel led at this time to proceed with Holt.
We ask for prayer, discernment, and direction as this unfolds. We pray that the CCAA will allow Tian file to be reactivated if thats Tian wish, We also pray that Holt will be the agency that will recieve Tian's file, but our greatest prayer request is for Tian. We pray that he will have peace, joy, and unconditional love for his new family, that he will be at ease with the transition, and that the right parents/family will adopt him.
After meeting China's pre-approval with WACAP, we began working on the paperwork. During this time, I contacted the case worker at WACAP about our current living situation and our transition back to the states in the summer of 2008 and they discouraged us from proceeding with Tian adoption stating that due to his age and special needs, they thought he would be coming home in July/August 2008 and they didn't want any delays in our paperwork holding his adoption up....here is her comment: Unfortunately I would suggest that you wait. Even though pre approval can take 4-6 weeks I have now had some families approved in less than 2 weeks. That means you could be approved a couple weeks from now and then we would be awaiting your homestudy and you should be working on your dossier. In order to submit your dossier you need to submit the homestudy and you have to have a permanent home (the home where you will reside with the child). Depending on the social worker writing the homestudy it can take anywhere to 4-6 weeks and sometimes they come out to visit you 2-3 times. It just doesn’t seem like perfect timing right now. If it were closer to June and your husband were in your new home it might be doable. I know you became attached to Tian Ai but it is our hope that we bring him home to a family as quickly as possible. If for some reason he is still on the list later (and I hope he is not for his sake), I would advise you to begin the process closer to when you are due home. I will definitely keep you in mind if he has not found a family by then. .
We were devastated, Then we heard this same individual at WACAP sent out an email a week later stating that his file was being sent back due to lack of interest, We were so upset and shocked, so I contacted them and said why would you send this file back when we want him, who cares if it takes a few weeks longer, at least he will have a family. They informed me that another family, the had inquired about him was paper ready for the adoption. Of course, we were so heartbroken and crushed, as well really felt strongly that Tian was our child, but I supported this family with their adoption of Tian and kept in contact with them throughout the process.
It was in July 2008 that I received some distressing news that Tian wanted to be taken off the adoption list. He did not want to meet the family that was approved to adopt him or go to the USA for a new life. I was heartbroken for Tian. I knew that coming home to USA, he would have a wonderful life and that his medical condition could be taken care of. I was so confused and unsure why they allowed a 6 yr to make such a life changing decision. All I could do was pray for Tian. At that time, I have to admit I was a little relieved that it wasn't Ray and I who was ready to show up in July and he refuse to come home to us. It would have just crushed me. At this point, We thought the door for adoption of Tian had officially closed, so Ray and I sent in our initial online application fee to CWA. We wanted to pursue the Kazakhstan program, but in July 2008, CWA was not taking applications for Kazakhstan, so we decided on the Bulgaria program ( I love eastern Europe. I do feel drawn there. When, where, how, and why is still up in the air, but I know we have a child there).
On May 27th, 2009, I found out that there might be a possibility that Tian's file will be reactivated and available for adoption, due to him stating that he wanted a family. We started looking for agencies that have a good working relationship with CCAA and we feel led at this time to proceed with Holt.
We ask for prayer, discernment, and direction as this unfolds. We pray that the CCAA will allow Tian file to be reactivated if thats Tian wish, We also pray that Holt will be the agency that will recieve Tian's file, but our greatest prayer request is for Tian. We pray that he will have peace, joy, and unconditional love for his new family, that he will be at ease with the transition, and that the right parents/family will adopt him.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Switching Gears
So, We have now decided to change our adoption agency to Holt International. We still like CWA and hope to one day complete an adoption with them in the near future, but at this time it looks like God is leading us to go with Holt. The past year has seemed so strange to us with this adoption journey. It has taken us forever to get the home study completed (basically due to laziness and our hectic work lives) and we were always postponing sending in our first part of our application fees to CWA. For some reason it just seemed like there was no real urgency or pulling towards an agency, child, or program. It was total frustration. I never really understood why all of this was panning out this way until a few exciting developments have happened over the last few weeks, that makes alot of this make sense now. In the near future, I will share all the wonderful details!!! At this time its too early to reveal things, but all I can say is God has been in control all along and this process has been going on since January 2008 :). God had been working all along!
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