Cut-off date is March 8, 2006

We have just received word from our agency that the cut-off day is March 8. This puts us 7 days out. It is really 5 if you don't count the 2 weekend days of the 11th and 12th (but who's counting). We cannot believe that in a couple of months we will be traveling to China to pick up our little one. We are trying to stay calm, cool and collected, but the closer we get the more excited we become. It is very strange to know that our baby is already born and just out there waiting for us. We just pray for God's protection over her for now and always.

You might be adopting from China if...

A lady in our Yahoo group, Margaret Leigh, shared this with us and I think that it is so true and cute!

YOU MIGHT BE ADOPTING FROM CHINA IF...

...you know that I-600 & I-171 aren't highways.

...you've been expecting a baby for over 3 years.

...you understand that it's 2006 in some parts of the world.

...you've "paid for" 3 citizenships, but never brought anyone into the US.

...you know that waiting for China has nothing to do with Dillard's or dishes.

...your homestudy is followed by a number (i.e. #3 or #4).

...you never know how many days next month will have.

...you know that babies come in batches.

...you've been fingerprinted four times, but never committed a crime.

...you automatically assume everyone who is expecting is having a girl.

...you own new clothing in 3 little sizes for all 4 seasons (because you don't know when or how big).

...you look twice when you see a ladybug.

...you're more interested in what will happen in March 2006 than in March 2009.

...you know people who understand when you talk about 2 day months & 5 day months.

...your due date hasn't changed by days, but by years.

...you know who the Rumor Queen is...AND...you don't know who she is.

...you know that forecast doesn't have anything to do with the weather.

...you've waited so long, they rechecked your fingerprints to see if they changed.

...you are trying to understand why they're printing you again, so you study your own fingerprints and wonder if fingerprints grow wrinkles.

...when you speak of "that time of the month" you're talking about CCAA updates & referrals.

You might be adopting from China if you love someone, you've never met, with all of your heart.



And that's it in a nutshell!!!

Cut-off March 6, 2006

We just got word that the cut-off date for this month is March 6, 2006. This means that our agency did not get referrals this month. The next LID that our agency has is March 8, 2006. I am not really expecting for our agency to get any referrals next month because they are saying that March 7th was a BIG DAY!! I hope that we are pleasantly surprised and that they end up sending more days. Only time will tell. As of now we are hoping for a May referral but it could be pushed out to June or July depending on what the CCAA does. I will keep everyone posted at least once a month since we are IN OUR MONTH!!! I love saying that. I know that this is all in God's timing and I am trusting and waiting on Him. Some days it is just hard to do. I am only human. Ha! Ha!

Dana

Our new LID!!!!!

We were just informed, on February 5, 2009, that we have a new Log-in-date (LID). Our LID date up to this point was March 20, 2006. Our referral counselor sent us an e-mail stating that it had recently come to her attention that our LID group was originally given 3 different LID dates. She discovered that this was because at the time our dossier was LID the CCAA was only doing verbal communications regarding LID's. Because this information was passed through several different CCAA officials, the wrong dates were sometimes given to our agency. Now the CCAA places all LID records in writing so she requested that the CCAA please verify our LID. We have now been informed that our LID is actually a little sooner than we thought. It is MARCH 16, 2006!!!!! We are so excited. It may not move us up any, but it could possibly move us up a month. Whatever the outcome we know that God is in control and His timing is perfect. Thank you so much for your support and prayers. We truly appreciate them.

I-171H Received!

We have just received our I -171H in the mail. We are so excited. We were a little concerned because the people at immigration that took our fingerprints said that they weren't really all that good. I thought that we might have to go back and try again. I as so thankful that we did not. Our next step is to get our referral and see our little ones face. I cannot believe it!! We are now trying to figure out what to do next. We have got to get our house in order. We need to get rid of a bunch of stuff and reorganize. We hope to get the help of my sister and mother (whenever she recoups from her latest surgery) to come over and dig in. Please pray that everything works out and that we get to go to China this year. A lot of people are saying that it will be this year for us but we never know what China is going to do. Keep your fingers crossed.

China is done with February 2006!!!!

We are so excited. We just got an e-mail from our agency yesterday that the "stork had landed" and China has sent the families with February 28, 2006 LID's (Log-in-date) their referrals. We are ecstatic! China is now going to start sending the March 2006 LID families (that would be us) our babies. Our LID is March 20, 2006. We still feel like it will be a couple of months but we are just excited that China is now working our month. This has never happened before! I called Greg yesterday when I got the e-mail and all he could say is that "WE ARE NOT READY!" My sister told me that it didn't matter because even if you thought you were ready you never really would be. We are still waiting to get our I-171H (immigration paper) back so please pray that everything works out okay with that. I know that God is in control of this whole situation. He has already made himself so evident in our lives this year and I know that He is going to take care of this. I feel like this is going to be a really good year for us.

Greg is an RN!!!!!!!!

Can everyone please join with me in singing the Hallelujah Chorus. Greg has officially passed his boards and is now a Registered Nurse. He says that RN stands for "Real Nice." After many years of suffering, on both of our parts, Greg has finally made it and has started donating to the financial cause of this family. Can I get an AMEN. I feel like he still needs to be studying. He says that it is awkward having all of this time on his hands. Maybe he can clean the house.

On the adoption front, nothing is really happening right now. We are however very close to seeing our baby. We have to update our paperwork in October and we pray that everything goes smoothly. We are hoping to get our referral in December or January and travel in February or March. If we travel to pick Celia up in March then that will make it three years since we logged in with the CCAA. It is unbelievable to see how long it has taken us to get to this point but we keep saying that she will be worth the wait. We still have a few things to do before she gets here so that keeps us busy. Hopefully we will have it all done by the time she comes home. Please pray for us while we are reaching the end of this three year wait. It is awesome how God has been working and we look forward to seeing His hands at work in the future.