Wednesday, April 30, 2008

The name game

We are not 100 percent on a name yet, but we are leaning heavily toward Jacob "Jake" with his Chinese name given by the orphanage as a middle name.
We are referring to him as Jake, and it is fitting pretty good.

Violet

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

What's next

Now that we have received PA (pre-approval), the next step is receiving the LSC (letter seeking confirmation) from China Center of Adoption Affairs and sending it back. According to our agency's guide, that could be 3-4 months - although the time frame (like everything else with China adoption) is fluid. It could be much quicker, too. A post on Rumor Queen says its been averaging around around 34 days.

After that, it's waiting for TA (travel approval), which is another 2-3 week wait, then traveling!!!! (which is 2-3 weeks after receiving TA).

As always, though, we need to remember the time frame is subject to change. I think we can deal with it. LOL :)

Our agency has requested we wait until we receive LSC before we post his picture.

Take care, and please keep us (particularly our son) in your thoughts and prayers.

Kevin

Interesting tidbits

While researching online about cleft lip/palate, I came across some information about some famous people who have had some type of cleft, either lip or palate or both.
Take a look at this list: Doc Holliday, Jason Robards, Tom Brokaw, Jesse Jackson, Stacy Keach, Cheech Marin, Mark Hamill and Peyton Manning. That's pretty good company for our son.

Also, I found out some people who share his Oct. 26 birthday: actor Cary Elwes, actress Lauren Tewes, Hillary Clinton, Pat Sajak and Jaclyn Smith.

That's the sort of trivia that fascinates me. In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't mean anything, but it's kind of fun to know.

Kevin

Monday, April 28, 2008

PA!

We got a call and an e-mail from Great Wall China Adoption today that we received our pre-approval (PA) for our son.
They requested we not post any photos yet, but we can tell you some about him. He is 18 months old and he has a repaired cleft lip and an unrepaired cleft palate. And, he's a cutie (Trust us he is. LOL).

He was born Oct. 26, 2006, the same day Great Wall China Adoption approved our application. Isn't that cool?
He is living at Jiangzhang Social Welfare Institute in Baoji City, Shaanxi Province.

Kevin and Violet

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

LOI

Today, we took a big leap of faith and sent off our LOI (letter of intent) for our son in China. While we still plan one day to adopt our daughter from China our focus now is on bringing home our son. We will provide more details when we can. We can say we found him on our agency's Waiting Child list and fell in love right away. Please pray for him and for us as we wait for the final details to be worked out so we can be a family.

Kevin and Violet

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Gotta love Honest Abe

This is a quote I came across, and it seemed to apply to my life right now. Plus it is Kevin's favorite president.

Violet (who is goofing off and really should get to work :)

"Let us have faith that right makes might, and, in that faith, let us to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it."
Abraham Lincoln

Friday, April 4, 2008

1 year

A day we have been waiting for has finally arrived. It was something to look forward to, another milestone in this long leap of faith. Now that it is here, of course, it is just another day. It is our LID anniversary – the first of what promises to be many in the world of international adoption these days. There are many reasons for the slowdown in IA, but no one knows the reason. Is it the Olympics in China? That doesn't explain the other countries also seeing slowdowns. Is it the Hague rules. Could be. The Hague was implemented to keep adoption out of the black market and to try to keep children in their home countries as much as possible. It is to be commended, as long as it doesn't keep the orphans from a loving home, no matter where on this planet. Is it that there simply are less families abandoning their children? To some extent, I think that is true, with abortion and ultrasound technology these days, but I can''t see that being the reason for the dramatic drop. Is it the country wanting to "get out the child export" business? Maybe.
The truth is no one knows, or if he does, he's not telling us, so we wait ... forever ... as we have said before, but that is proving hard after just one year.
As I look up at our ticker, the stork that was moving closer to the end of 12 months has moved backward to the middle, as 12 more months has been added. But it is moving, and IA continues. Others who were logged in during the first part of January 2006 are receiving referrals today. They are the new parents to girls 6 and 7 1/2 months old.
The cycle of life continues, and someday, God willing, our journey will end with that baby in our arms, and another cycle will begin.
If I sound a little sad, I guess I am, but it is mixed with happiness, as well. Kevin just came in and brought out our new LID bracelets, which we will wear another year before switching them out.
Tonight, we'll celebrate by getting away from the paper and going out to eat. We're thinking Mexican :)
Don't think too badly of us. We ate Chinese food on our DTC anniversary a few weeks ago.

For all of those who are moving along life's stream with us, take heart. The journey may be slow, but stick your hand into the water and let it drag across the reflection of the moon. It is slow, but it is beautiful.