If we stick with the roller coaster analogy, we're to the point now where the ride has had loads of ups and downs and unexpected twists and turns; some fun, some stomach twisting, some boring, some aggravating. But about now, we're just wanting to reach the end and get back on the ground, so to speak!
We first learned about Yan 9/4/08. Over a year has now gone by. It's wayyyyyy past time to bring him home. Our lives have been "on hold" since May... not wanting to make appointments or travel plans until we know when/if we get to go to China! We have now waited 7 weeks for Travel Approval (TA) from China to go get Yan. The wait was "helped" in the rush (on our part, LOL) to get our newly-turned-18 yr old son cleared via background clearances, a home study update, and fingerprinting at the federal facility in Helena, which happened at long last the day before. Yes - ALL adults in the home prior to a child's immigration must be cleared, even if they were underage when the adoption process and all previous clearances happened before immigration day! So we've been hopeful we'll have our oldest completely cleared by the time TA arrives... it looks like he will be.
We know God has the Timing for travel under His ultimate control, but we pray it will be soon now! Thanks to all for your prayers on this longer-than-expected journey!
Yan - you have quite a lot of people now who are anxious to meet you! :-)
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
And a Child Shall Lead Them....
WHY does God allow “special needs” in children? Why do some children “suffer” from their special need? Or DO they?
I’m becoming more convinced daily that God has great and wonderful Purpose behind all He allows. And most (all?) that He allows that first seems bad to we mere humans, is meant for our good on the eternal scale.
Down Syndrome children are becoming an endangered species now. I raise my hand high as one of those who used to be prejudiced against them. But God let me get to know three very special ‘Downies’ in our church. And Randy Alcorn’s book “Deadline” was an eye opener. These kids tend to be so forever child-like, and yet also so wise spiritually. It was because of God’s opening my eyes that I then had the courage to say “Yes, Lord” to adopting our Robert, even when “they” were predicting his IQ might never be higher than 50. No, Robert is not Downs, nor is Yan, and I’ve often wondered why God taught us so much about Downies if He wasn’t going to call us to adopt one? His ultimate Plan remains to be fully revealed in our lives!
But an experience with a sweet, Godly Downs woman in our church deeply touched my heart. She recently learned about Yan’s adoption-in-progress. She clapped her hands in joy, and said “Oh Goodie! HE will be my next tithing project!”. Since she has a low-income job, we appreciated her joy, but hoped she’d forget the offer, since she surely could use the money herself. But no. Two weeks later, she tracked us down, and handed us a wadded up $20, and assured us she’s praying for the adoption. What a Blessing to us! What an encouragement and support just when we needed it that day! God used that young lady, I’m certain.
We have encountered so much negativity over this adoption (you’re too old, you’re too busy, you know nothing about Yan, you should be saving the money for your other children/retirement, “someone else” should adopt him, why him when there’s soooo many who need homes [so why bother seems to be the message], why can’t China help their own, that one has too many potential problems, etc, etc). The amazing thing is, though we DO have many others praying for the adoption, which we greatly need and treasure, she was among the very few to offer such pure, unquestioning, excited joy and support for this adoption. As she left us that day, with tears in our eyes, Phil whispered “And a child shall lead them”. She taught us a valuable lesson that day. Actions DO speak very loudly. Her physical support as well as her words greatly encouraged us. And we will try to “pass it forward” to others even more so now.
You, too, can greatly encourage families involved with saving Downs Syndrome orphans! They ARE wanted children! Please see http://www.onetruemedia.com/otm_site/view_shared?p=9b08ab7214bb71b4b33e33&skin_id=1602&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url
about Reece’s Rainbow, which is a nonprofit trying to help Downs orphans of the world find their forever families. Please consider helping? Or maybe handing $20 and a word of encouragement to a family God brings to your attention that is trying to adopt a special Downie. Thank you!
I’m becoming more convinced daily that God has great and wonderful Purpose behind all He allows. And most (all?) that He allows that first seems bad to we mere humans, is meant for our good on the eternal scale.
Down Syndrome children are becoming an endangered species now. I raise my hand high as one of those who used to be prejudiced against them. But God let me get to know three very special ‘Downies’ in our church. And Randy Alcorn’s book “Deadline” was an eye opener. These kids tend to be so forever child-like, and yet also so wise spiritually. It was because of God’s opening my eyes that I then had the courage to say “Yes, Lord” to adopting our Robert, even when “they” were predicting his IQ might never be higher than 50. No, Robert is not Downs, nor is Yan, and I’ve often wondered why God taught us so much about Downies if He wasn’t going to call us to adopt one? His ultimate Plan remains to be fully revealed in our lives!
But an experience with a sweet, Godly Downs woman in our church deeply touched my heart. She recently learned about Yan’s adoption-in-progress. She clapped her hands in joy, and said “Oh Goodie! HE will be my next tithing project!”. Since she has a low-income job, we appreciated her joy, but hoped she’d forget the offer, since she surely could use the money herself. But no. Two weeks later, she tracked us down, and handed us a wadded up $20, and assured us she’s praying for the adoption. What a Blessing to us! What an encouragement and support just when we needed it that day! God used that young lady, I’m certain.
We have encountered so much negativity over this adoption (you’re too old, you’re too busy, you know nothing about Yan, you should be saving the money for your other children/retirement, “someone else” should adopt him, why him when there’s soooo many who need homes [so why bother seems to be the message], why can’t China help their own, that one has too many potential problems, etc, etc). The amazing thing is, though we DO have many others praying for the adoption, which we greatly need and treasure, she was among the very few to offer such pure, unquestioning, excited joy and support for this adoption. As she left us that day, with tears in our eyes, Phil whispered “And a child shall lead them”. She taught us a valuable lesson that day. Actions DO speak very loudly. Her physical support as well as her words greatly encouraged us. And we will try to “pass it forward” to others even more so now.
You, too, can greatly encourage families involved with saving Downs Syndrome orphans! They ARE wanted children! Please see http://www.onetruemedia.com/otm_site/view_shared?p=9b08ab7214bb71b4b33e33&skin_id=1602&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url
about Reece’s Rainbow, which is a nonprofit trying to help Downs orphans of the world find their forever families. Please consider helping? Or maybe handing $20 and a word of encouragement to a family God brings to your attention that is trying to adopt a special Downie. Thank you!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Immigration Approval AND new photos!
Our I800 Provisional Approval finally arrived on 9/18. It has been sent on to China with the required information, and thus we wait again, for TA (Travel Approval). We have been told that TA is taking 6-10 weeks to get. Hopefully we're closer to the 6! It shouldn't take much longer to book flights after that.
And NEW PHOTOS from China arrived today! :-) Yan has lost at least one front tooth! He may not be able to say "Christmas" this year even if he does learn it in time ;-D. He looks happy and healthy, and that means SO much to find out after 6 months of not hearing/seeing anything. :-) I'm so thankful the orphanage did that for us!
China's written update says that his eyes are doing well (he's at high risk of glaucoma in the one eye), and that he has only had colds. He's healthy otherwise.
Yan is now 40 inches tall, and weighs 35 pounds. His foot size is confusing, so we'll just have to hope his new size 11 Sorels (extra warm boots) fit him! Since Yan is from the subtropics and sea level, he'll have quite an adjustment if he comes here right into our winter season. :-}
THANKS for all your prayers getting us all this far in the process.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
LOA received
We FINALLY received the coveted and long awaited LOA (Letter of Approval) from China that officially approves of our family to go ahead and adopt Yan! Yahoo!! The letter was dated 8/17/09 and we got it 8/24/09.
With the ball back in our court, so to speak, we needed to get a copy of the LOA off to Immigration ASAP! It was a VERY frustrating week of misprinted documents, missing training certificates because we hadn't finished training, people on vacations, broken computers, internet troubles, seemingly slower snail mail than ever, etc. I didn't even want to post on this blog, I was that frustrated and depressed :-}.
But, that thick packet of information that needed to go next to Immigration was finally sent off, and we are now playing the waiting game for approval (again?) from Immigration.
Under pre-Hague law, this application for US Immigration approval would happen at the same time as our agency's seeking Travel Approval (TA) from China, I believe? No more. :-( Application for TA can't even happen until we get the approval from Immigration (not back yet) AND approval of some kind from the place in China that will finalize Yan's adoption.
The current estimate is for traveling sometime in December. At the start of this adoption journey, I would have never believed it would take over a YEAR to adopt an older, special needs, already identified child from China. Wow. I had been hoping and praying for June travel. Now we just pray it will be in 2009!
We have had no word nor pictures of any kind on Yan since mid-March (swine flu concerns stopped all forgeign visitors to the orphanage). Please continue to keep him and his caregivers in your prayers? And please pray God allows us to travel at the "right time" to go get Yan and bring him home. Thanks!
With the ball back in our court, so to speak, we needed to get a copy of the LOA off to Immigration ASAP! It was a VERY frustrating week of misprinted documents, missing training certificates because we hadn't finished training, people on vacations, broken computers, internet troubles, seemingly slower snail mail than ever, etc. I didn't even want to post on this blog, I was that frustrated and depressed :-}.
But, that thick packet of information that needed to go next to Immigration was finally sent off, and we are now playing the waiting game for approval (again?) from Immigration.
Under pre-Hague law, this application for US Immigration approval would happen at the same time as our agency's seeking Travel Approval (TA) from China, I believe? No more. :-( Application for TA can't even happen until we get the approval from Immigration (not back yet) AND approval of some kind from the place in China that will finalize Yan's adoption.
The current estimate is for traveling sometime in December. At the start of this adoption journey, I would have never believed it would take over a YEAR to adopt an older, special needs, already identified child from China. Wow. I had been hoping and praying for June travel. Now we just pray it will be in 2009!
We have had no word nor pictures of any kind on Yan since mid-March (swine flu concerns stopped all forgeign visitors to the orphanage). Please continue to keep him and his caregivers in your prayers? And please pray God allows us to travel at the "right time" to go get Yan and bring him home. Thanks!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
A VERY long wait
Well, we're 2 days shy of two months since having our paperwork logged in at China. I wonder how long before we hear anything?
The wait is getting harder because, while families are still being allowed to adopt after approval, thankfully, no foreigners are being allowed to visit any of the other children at the orphanage, due to swine flu concerns. :-( So we have not had any pictures or reports or even glimpses of Yan since mid-March. We think about, and pray for him and his caregivers often. Your prayers and encouragement help our long wait also :-) . Thanks!
It's interesting to speculate (and try to prepare!) for life for Yan in Montana. Someone from a coastal city warned us yesterday that Yan will very possibly get high altitude sickness when he first moves here :-O, and suffer skin-wise from our low humidity levels until he acclimates. Lots of HUGE changes in store for the little guy! PTL God has the timing already in His control! :-) And so we wait some more until we know when that is...
The wait is getting harder because, while families are still being allowed to adopt after approval, thankfully, no foreigners are being allowed to visit any of the other children at the orphanage, due to swine flu concerns. :-( So we have not had any pictures or reports or even glimpses of Yan since mid-March. We think about, and pray for him and his caregivers often. Your prayers and encouragement help our long wait also :-) . Thanks!
It's interesting to speculate (and try to prepare!) for life for Yan in Montana. Someone from a coastal city warned us yesterday that Yan will very possibly get high altitude sickness when he first moves here :-O, and suffer skin-wise from our low humidity levels until he acclimates. Lots of HUGE changes in store for the little guy! PTL God has the timing already in His control! :-) And so we wait some more until we know when that is...
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
LID!!
We have an LID of May 25th! That won't mean anything to most of you, LOL, but that's an important date on the longggg, tedious, international adoption journey simply meaning that is the date that China officially logged our Dossier into their system and started the translation and review process. We still have little idea how long it will take to get LOA (letter of approval to come adopt him), but the next time we hear from China SHOULD be for that. Little steps forward! We have been told that the time from LID to LOA will be anywhere from 2-6 months in length. Hard to plan ahead, but we're trusting in God for the RIGHT timing.
Thanks for any and all continued prayers!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)