Thanks be to God

The Heavens have parted, a choir of angels are singing....

We got word yesterday that our medicals were accepted and authenticated in Houston.... for those who don't understand, believe me, it's bordering on a miracle. I pray no one from the USCIS or the CC*A are reading this, but we worked our documents in such a way, not to CHEAT, but we worked it in such a way..... we will be dossier to China in a few days. Yahoooooo!!!!

We are shopping for a mini van, such as....

One Step Forward, One Step Back

This week received our 797 from the USCIS. Good, right? Well, then we got a call from Aisha (love you, Aisha, really) telling me we have to have our medical forms redone because of the notary date. Annoying, but doable. Oh yeah, and I need 6 family pictures, passport photos and hurry. I'm pretty sure I already did that, but okay. Kevin's doctor would not merely SIGN the form, he requires a physical, blood tests and some follow-up tests before he'll sign. We could have been dossier to China this week, but......meanwhile the Tanskis are DTC this week without us! We should still travel with them, but it makes me nervous.

Thanks Donna for your input. By the way, Readers, if anyone is interested (teachers out there?) in helping me sponsor a child in foster care in China, let me know. Gracie is sponsored by a family, who are actually paying for her to receive foster care. It costs about $20/month. Research shows, of course, that foster care is better for any child than an orphanage (I'm sorry Donna, I still think Frannie is JUST FINE and was WELL LOVED in her orphanage :)). I read on our Yahoo group today that a teacher is getting her class to help her sponsor a child. The organization will mail you quarter reports and pictures of your child. Their website: http://www.dianjiangkids.org/index.html

I can't exactly get my students to sponsor a child, but I'm going to pass this idea on to a few Holt teachers. Thanks,

Frannie Likes Armpits

Frannie likes to talk about very particular things. Shoes, jewelry, princesses, who is a boy and who is a girl. Oh yeah, and armpits. She likes to tell you how many armpits that little girl has and acts surprised when she notices a girl on tv has an armpit. Somehow I think Cheryl has something to do with this (ha ha).

Look Who!

We sent Gracie a cake for Chinese New Year and got these pictures back! We found out a few weeks ago that she is in a sponsored program through her orphanage and has been living in foster care. We are happy to see the family and to know (at least assume) that she is being loved and cared for (with multiple layers of clothing!) by this family. God bless them for caring for her! And for putting so much clothing on her! Looks like she has TWO hats on. Makes me weepy. Happy New Year Mei Mei Gracie! LEFT CLICK ON THE INDIVIDUAL PHOTOS TO ENLARGE THEM :)

We are One Step Closer

We found out today that we will receive our 797 form from the USCIS this week -- our documents are just about authenticated which puts us one tiny step away from getting our dossier to China. Which makes it THAT much more likely that we will be going to China before summer break AND travelling with the Tanskis! Yahoo! Our dossiers are going to China at the same time so......

Who do you think is running the show at this sporting event? Kevin, by the way, is gesturing to the GATOR on his shirt -- who, by the way, are the reigning NATIONAL CHAMPS, in case you didn't know. Kevin would like you to know that.

It's Nice to Know....

that adoption is not "second best" to giving birth. I have 3 good friends (my digit friends) who each had 2 biological children before they decided to adopt from China. I have since met quite a few more friends who also had biological children first. Each one of them have expressed the same feelings of love and care for these kids. God decided to not give me and Kevin any biological children, but HEY! We were rewarded with Frannie instead. We'll take Frannie any day.



Our friends Lucy and Doug are about to leave China with their 2nd daughter from China (their 4th altogether). We just got word that our other friends, Steve and Darcy have had a match with a BOY from China! Our first boy among our digit friends. We are praying hard to travel with Darcy and Steve, but our timing must be pretty close for this to happen. Pray for this to happen! We would all love to be with them in China, I think Frannie most especially. She just LOVES the Tanski girls and talks about them a LOT.



We are just waiting for that letter in the mail from "Department of Homeland Security." Come on!

She's Finally Earning Her Keep

Frannie is doing her chores before she heads off to work at Home Depot. She is their tiling and chainsaw specialist.