We only have 157 pieces left!! If you are able to donate $10 for a piece this will get us closer to Greyson and Kristyn. THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts to those of you that have joined our journey and donated already!!
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Puzzle Update #5
We are getting so close!! We found out yesterday that our Travel Approvals would have been issued, however there are extra steps for two and so they take a little longer. We should get them next week!! That means time is drawing close to making our final travel payment. We are getting closer and closer to completing our puzzle. Check out the progress!!
We only have 157 pieces left!! If you are able to donate $10 for a piece this will get us closer to Greyson and Kristyn. THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts to those of you that have joined our journey and donated already!!
We only have 157 pieces left!! If you are able to donate $10 for a piece this will get us closer to Greyson and Kristyn. THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts to those of you that have joined our journey and donated already!!
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Puzzle Update #4!!!
Are you all ready for this?!?! I was going to go to bed, but we received an account update! I HAD to fill out names and continue building this puzzle tonight!!
God is GOOD!! We are 3/5 of the way there! You all have donated over $2500, which has been matched! We have over $5000!! THANK YOU!! We are getting so close to traveling for Greyson and Kristyn! Praying we can raise the last $2500.
This day just keeps getting better! Kristyn received our care package, while we were sleeping. She will get to see her family for the first time! Please pray for her heart as she tries to process all of this! (We also sent a flash drive to both orphanages, hoping to capture a little bit of the 5-6 years they have spent there.)
God is GOOD!! We are 3/5 of the way there! You all have donated over $2500, which has been matched! We have over $5000!! THANK YOU!! We are getting so close to traveling for Greyson and Kristyn! Praying we can raise the last $2500.
This day just keeps getting better! Kristyn received our care package, while we were sleeping. She will get to see her family for the first time! Please pray for her heart as she tries to process all of this! (We also sent a flash drive to both orphanages, hoping to capture a little bit of the 5-6 years they have spent there.)
Monday, April 13, 2015
Article 5 Issued!!
I woke up this morning to an email from the US Consulate in Guangzhou, China! Our Article 5 was issued, picked up, and has been over-nighted to Beijing! The Article 5 lets the CCCWA (China Center for Children's Welfare and Adoption) know that our kiddos will be issued visas and are ready to come home. My social worker let us know that we are all set. As soon as the TA (Travel Approval) comes in, we will discuss travel dates and a CA (Consulate Appointment) will be set! WOW!! We are getting seriously close!
What does all of this mean? Within the next 10 days, we should know EXACTLY when we will be leaving for China and when we will meet Greyson and Kristyn!! Can you believe it? It seemed so long ago that we began this process. However, in the adoption world, we've accomplished this journey at record setting pace. From the day we received PA (pre-approval) to adopt Greyson, without any paperwork started to when we will meet this precious boy is a mere NINE MONTHS!! When I compare that to the usual 12-15 months, I stand amazed.
We thought maybe it would possible to leave on May 1st, but those CAs are filling up fast, so it is more likely going to be May 8th. Mommy and Daddy are coming soon!!
What does all of this mean? Within the next 10 days, we should know EXACTLY when we will be leaving for China and when we will meet Greyson and Kristyn!! Can you believe it? It seemed so long ago that we began this process. However, in the adoption world, we've accomplished this journey at record setting pace. From the day we received PA (pre-approval) to adopt Greyson, without any paperwork started to when we will meet this precious boy is a mere NINE MONTHS!! When I compare that to the usual 12-15 months, I stand amazed.
We thought maybe it would possible to leave on May 1st, but those CAs are filling up fast, so it is more likely going to be May 8th. Mommy and Daddy are coming soon!!
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Addisyn's 4th Birthday
Sweet princess, you have changed so much! We are so blessed to celebrate another birthday with you.
Less than 2 years ago, we met you for the first time in China. You were so quiet and somber. Your life had been a story of tragedy. You spent the first two months of life in a hospital with no caregiver to hold and comfort you. After that, you went to live in an orphanage where there were simply too many needy babies for the nannies to care for. As a result, you spent about 23 hours a day in a crib. You were spoon fed formula and ate too slowly for all of the babies they had to take care of, so you didn't get enough to eat.
When we finally brought you back to the hotel (just 2 months after your 2nd birthday), you sat and rocked on the floor. We didn't hear your precious voice for the full 2 weeks we were in China. It was a bit scary at first, but God reminded us of something very special... You are His child, a child of the King! We are blessed to be able to care for you while on this Earth, and a true princess you are!
Look at you now! Full of life and humor and silliness! Entertaining us and cherishing every ounce of love you get. We can't wait to see how you change and flourish this next year. Happy Birthday, precious Addisyn.
Less than 2 years ago, we met you for the first time in China. You were so quiet and somber. Your life had been a story of tragedy. You spent the first two months of life in a hospital with no caregiver to hold and comfort you. After that, you went to live in an orphanage where there were simply too many needy babies for the nannies to care for. As a result, you spent about 23 hours a day in a crib. You were spoon fed formula and ate too slowly for all of the babies they had to take care of, so you didn't get enough to eat.
When we finally brought you back to the hotel (just 2 months after your 2nd birthday), you sat and rocked on the floor. We didn't hear your precious voice for the full 2 weeks we were in China. It was a bit scary at first, but God reminded us of something very special... You are His child, a child of the King! We are blessed to be able to care for you while on this Earth, and a true princess you are!
Look at you now! Full of life and humor and silliness! Entertaining us and cherishing every ounce of love you get. We can't wait to see how you change and flourish this next year. Happy Birthday, precious Addisyn.
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Puzzle Update #3
Here is the latest shot of the puzzle!
I stand amazed at how it is filling in! We love looking at the puzzle. The kiddos like to see how much is filled in and what is left. They cheer each time a donation is made. When I look at the puzzle, I see the names written on the back and smile as I realize that those families are forever a part of our journey to Greyson and Kristyn.
However, we have a long way to go and a short time to get there (sorry, dad and I used to watch Smokey and The Bandit often growing up). We need to have it filled in by April 20th, since that is when we are hoping to make travel arrangements and payments will be due then. This gives us 11 days to have 312 more pieces purchased. I know that this can happen! But, we need your help!
Would you consider giving $10 towards our adoption? Could you help us piece our family together? We are now accepting donations personally. Thank you so much for your support!
I stand amazed at how it is filling in! We love looking at the puzzle. The kiddos like to see how much is filled in and what is left. They cheer each time a donation is made. When I look at the puzzle, I see the names written on the back and smile as I realize that those families are forever a part of our journey to Greyson and Kristyn.
However, we have a long way to go and a short time to get there (sorry, dad and I used to watch Smokey and The Bandit often growing up). We need to have it filled in by April 20th, since that is when we are hoping to make travel arrangements and payments will be due then. This gives us 11 days to have 312 more pieces purchased. I know that this can happen! But, we need your help!
Would you consider giving $10 towards our adoption? Could you help us piece our family together? We are now accepting donations personally. Thank you so much for your support!
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Where are you at in the process?
This is the part of the process that moves sort of fast from one step to the next, but can be a bit confusing! The closer we get, the more difficult it is to pin down an estimated travel date. That seems a bit backwards, doesn't it?
Article 5 On Monday, April 13th our Article 5 should be picked up. This lets China know that the US will grant visas to Greyson and Kristyn. They will be citizens as soon as they step foot on American soil, but will still have Chinese passports while flying home and will need American visas.
Travel Approval
This important piece of paper (along with some other important documents) will be overnighted via courier to the CCCWA (Chinese Center for Children's Welfare and Adoption). Then, the CCCWA will grant us Travel Approval. This LAST VITAL document can take 7-10 days to be issued (April 21st - 24th).
Consulate Appointment Once our agency has this document (Travel Approval) in their hands, they can work on scheduling a CA (Consulate Appointment). This is the very end of our trip and you take an oath of citizenship on behalf of your child. Paperwork is prepared, so that they become citizens once on US soil. The rest of the trip is scheduled backwards from this date.
Scheduling CA We are hoping to get a CA on May 19th. The trouble is that the Trade Fair (makes hotel costs skyrocket in Guangzhou) will just be getting done and this is the first opportunity many will have to set an appointment. Some families and agencies have already begun scheduling for this date. The longer it takes to get to the point that we can schedule, the more likely these appointments are to fill up. In order to schedule a CA, we need to be able to pay the traveling fee. This is why we are hoping to be fully funded by April 20th.
Prayer Requests:
Article 5 On Monday, April 13th our Article 5 should be picked up. This lets China know that the US will grant visas to Greyson and Kristyn. They will be citizens as soon as they step foot on American soil, but will still have Chinese passports while flying home and will need American visas.
Travel Approval
This important piece of paper (along with some other important documents) will be overnighted via courier to the CCCWA (Chinese Center for Children's Welfare and Adoption). Then, the CCCWA will grant us Travel Approval. This LAST VITAL document can take 7-10 days to be issued (April 21st - 24th).
Consulate Appointment Once our agency has this document (Travel Approval) in their hands, they can work on scheduling a CA (Consulate Appointment). This is the very end of our trip and you take an oath of citizenship on behalf of your child. Paperwork is prepared, so that they become citizens once on US soil. The rest of the trip is scheduled backwards from this date.
Scheduling CA We are hoping to get a CA on May 19th. The trouble is that the Trade Fair (makes hotel costs skyrocket in Guangzhou) will just be getting done and this is the first opportunity many will have to set an appointment. Some families and agencies have already begun scheduling for this date. The longer it takes to get to the point that we can schedule, the more likely these appointments are to fill up. In order to schedule a CA, we need to be able to pay the traveling fee. This is why we are hoping to be fully funded by April 20th.
Prayer Requests:
- Pray that Greyson's and Kristyn's heart will be open to our family and that we can attach with them.
- Pray that our scheduling will work out and fall into place with hotel needs/costs and plane seats (for a huge group)
- Pray that we will be fully funded by April 20th
Friday, April 3, 2015
Puzzle Update #2
Check out the puzzle below!! It is beginning to fill in!
We are getting closer to travel. If you have helped us already, THANK YOU!! I think and pray for each of you as I write your family's name on the back of puzzle pieces. I love to count out the new pieces I get to add and watch as more and more of the puzzle is revealed.
We need 300 more people to donate $10 for a puzzle piece. If you are able to help us out, we are now accepting donations personally. We have a matching grant, so the first $3000 raised gets doubled!! Thank you Chosen & Dearly Loved Ministries for this grant! Our family is so excited to see this puzzle fill in! We hope to have the funds in by April 20th so that we will be ready to make travel plans.
We are getting closer to travel. If you have helped us already, THANK YOU!! I think and pray for each of you as I write your family's name on the back of puzzle pieces. I love to count out the new pieces I get to add and watch as more and more of the puzzle is revealed.
We need 300 more people to donate $10 for a puzzle piece. If you are able to help us out, we are now accepting donations personally. We have a matching grant, so the first $3000 raised gets doubled!! Thank you Chosen & Dearly Loved Ministries for this grant! Our family is so excited to see this puzzle fill in! We hope to have the funds in by April 20th so that we will be ready to make travel plans.
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