Immigration and Visas

Since we have received our LOA/RA we are now waiting on Rui's immigration paperwork and her visa to be approved.  We should be receiving the first step in that the week.  I had hope to get our family's visa work done quickly, but we hit a snafu in that.  The Embassy in DC no longer processes everyone's papers, but has to be done in our respective Consulates that our authentications were processed through.  We know we will be using a courier service in NYC.  Their government has also changed their forms, and are very particular how things should be filled out.  While talking to our courier service, I found out that due to my hubby's job, we cannot apply for his visa until closer to the time we leave.  The girls and I will have no problem with ours, but we have to watch our timing for his.

We also are hoping to send Rui her care package this week.  I am getting pictures ready to send her, as well as writing her a letter.  I pray that her SWI will take pictures with the camera we are sending.  We are also trying to get things moved around so we can start working on her room.  We are moving our schoolroom to the basement, but things have to be moved in order to accomplish this.  I am planning on leaving her room the color it is and use items we currently have.  I am going to let her pick out her color and bedding when she gets HOME.  I do have to get busy and finish sewing some outfits for her before we leave.

Please keep praying for her and her safety.  We love you RUI!! We cannot wait to come and get you!!!

LOA!!!!!

PRAISE THE LORD, O PRAISE HIS NAME!!! We got the call!! The one we have been waiting for. It has been a LONG 2 months.  God came thru with some good news for us.  We can now introduce to you Yang Rui.  She is in Zigong City, Sichuan Province of China.  We will be keeping Rui as her first name, but we are not sure of the middle name yet.  Or I should say Noel has it, but is not ready to share.  We are over the moon excited. We will likely be spending the holidays in China.

Please pray for Rui as she starts to make transitions. We pray that we will be what she needs.  Please pray for others as they travel and wait for news about their children as well.

Here she is -

 

Waiting...

Yesterday was a rough day to say the least, not just on the adoption front but other things in our lives as well.  I am trying to keep things in perspective  - We have not been waiting as long as some and the end result will be worth it.  It was just TOO hard yesterday.  We are waiting on our letter of acceptance from China so we can start preparing our travel paperwork, send a care package to our little girl, and officially announce her to the world. As of today we had been waiting 56 days, and I know the agency told us the average is 2-4 months, but it looked like it was tracking sooner. I was hoping this is one thing we didn't have to wait long for since we were delay on things with our homestudy.  I probably watch the forum boards too much, but it looked like we were likely to be in the next batch to be coming out.  My heart just sank when I saw were the agency had made all the calls, and our phone did not ring.  Myself and others who had been waiting were just sad, frustrated, mad, you name it.  While we are happy for those who are one step closer, but it was hard to see families getting theirs who had not been waiting as long as others. Our wait does not pale in comparison to one family who has been waiting for 130+ days for their letter.  All this took me back 10+ years ago when we were trying to get pregnant and everyone around us was and we were not.  At least I know there is a child at the end of all this.

We continue to pray and wonder why.  We just want our girl!! 

FAQs about our adoption

We have had many questions asked about our adoption to either our daughters or to my husband or myself.  Some are can be a little comical and some we answer multiple times. 

Do you have her yet? When?

•  No, we are currently waiting on official approval from the CCCWA.  At that time we will fill out more paperwork for visas and immigration and wait for travel approval.  So, right now it is a guess when we travel, but we pray it will be before end of the year.  If not then, it is likely January.

Do you have to go get her? Are all of you going?

• Yes and yes, it will be an extra cost, but we cannot imagine our girls not going with us. It will be the ultimate field trip for a student.

Do you know who she is?

• Yes, we received our referral in July with as much info they had on her.  We learned of her special need at that time, and after talking to several health professionals we felt it was something we could handle.  It is also one that is very manageable here in the US. 

Do you know anything about her family?

• No.  She arrived in the children’s welfare institute after the China earthquake in 2008 at the age of approximately 3.  We only know where she was found and what she was wearing, but whatever the circumstances her family made the hardest decision a one could ever do.  It was a decision made out of love. If they are still alive, I pray for them.  I would also want them to know that we will take the best possible care of their daughter and love her unconditionally.  Are they bad parents – NO!

Does she speak English or Chinese? Will you teacher her English?

• Being 6 years old, she most likely speaks Chinese.  We do not know if she speaks any English.  While we are learning some Mandarin, she will learn to speak English especially since she will be an American when she steps on the good ole soil of the USA.

Will she live with you? (I know, but someone did ask)

• Yes.  She will have her own room unless she and Emily decide to bunk up and gang up on their sister.

Do you know her name or do you know it? Will it be "Allison"?

• Yes and no, while I cannot announce her name on a public forum, she does.  We will be keeping her given name, due to the fact she knew it when she entered the CWI.  We will be giving her a middle name, and be given all the rights of any Dear family member. Allison was only used when we did not know who she was.  I know it is confusing

While this may not be all of them, but these are the most frequent ones. We are happy to answer questions people ask, but I thought this might help for those who have thought of some but were afraid to ask. We long for our "Gotcha Day" to add the newest member to our family.

Chinese Cooking

This week I had a recipe show up in my inbox for Meatless Monday that I thought I would try.  Granted, I substituted chicken for tofu.  It was for Fried Rice, which for our family became - Chicken Fried Rice.  I ventured down the Chinese aisle at the local store to pick up a few things.  This is an aisle I normally do not purchase items from, except for soy sauce.

The recipe also called for sake, but being a good PW I substituted rice vinegar. For the chicken, I decided to marinate with a mixture of the different sauces, which definitely helped the flavor of the chicken.  To save a step in the cooking, I didn't cook eggs separately.  I added them after the rice after making a well in the middle of the pan.  Another change I made was the carrot and peas, since my family are not the biggest fans.  For the carrots, I did a small julienne, and then I only had to purchased frozen peas.  I had started the prep for the dish early in the day so I would only have to assemble and cook after I was finished with piano lessons.

Thumbs up from the family!! All in all this dish was a hit, despite too many peas in the dish.  This will go in the rotation of family dishes.  Early prep made for easier cooking later. Next one I may try - beef and broccoli.  Also, I think I may need to purchase a rice steamer.

New PICS!

Nothing starts a week off like seeing updated pictures of our little girl! I love getting emails from our agency when they bring good news.  She is so beautiful, and I cannot wait not to wrap my hands around that girl.  She is smiling and happy.  Please China - finish approving us and send us that RA/LOA!!  I'm dying to show her off on to the internets!! 

Praying for "Allison"!

Idea

Yes, we are still waiting.  I am trying not to think about.  I am just praying for our little girl's protection. 

In the mean time, I have been trying to think of ways to earn a little extra money for our adoption in addition to piano lessons and photography.  I have been playing with what is called "SubwayArt".  I saw were people are mostly creating these with Cricuts and stencils - I am creating with PhotoShop.  There are so many types of phrases and ideas, so I started with our school fight songs.  Would anyone be interested?  I am working out the details.  Shoot me a message if you are interested.  Here are a couple examples..