Projected Timeline...this is just a guesstimate! :)

This is JUST an estimate but, it is a pretty good educated guess, I think.  Things could be off a few days here and there but it gives me an idea of what to expect and when.  So, if all goes as planned we might be heading to China at the end of October.  Our agency knows we want to leave as soon as possible and some people travel even a couple of days after receiving TA.  We WILL get our daughter before her birthday! yippee!  So here we go on our last few weeks as a family of 5. 

We are hoping the time goes by super fast.  All 3 boys are in soccer and on 3 different teams! Geesh! Thats gonna be hard!  We are definitely going to be busy that's for sure.

STEP                    ESTIMATED TIME              POSSIBLE                       ACTUAL

LOA                     51 DAYS                            August 9                            August 11 (53 days)

I-800                    19 DAYS                            August 29                               ????

NVC Cable          10 DAYS                           September 8                            ????

NVC Letter          2 DAYS                               September 10                           ????

Article 5               19 DAYS                            September 29                           ????

TA                        20 DAYS                              October 19                               ????

Letter Seeking Confirmation..LOA!

Our agency overnighted us our LOA.  I don't know if you can actually read the document so below is what it says.  Please note everything is written in Mandarin and then translated into English underneath.  We signed it and overnighted it back to to our agency and then this paper will be sent back to China, letting them know we want Xia Xia! :)  Of course we VERY happily checked the box that said -We accept the adoptee mentioned above. :) 

Mr. & Mrs McC

Based on your application and in accordance with the Adoption Law of the People's Republic of China, the China Center for Adoption Affairs matched a child with you.  Herein, we send the information about the child to you.  You are kindly requested to make your decision, sign in the proper place below, and deliver this letter as soon as possible to the adoption organization which submitted your application file, The Gladney Center.

Adoptee Name: WU KE XIA                 Sex:F                Date of Birth: 2009/11/29

               Health Status:

               Identity: institutionalized child whose birth parents cannot be ascertained

               

From: Wuwei CWI, Gansu Province

Decision of adopter:

___ we accept the adoptee mentioned above

___ we cannot accept the adoptee mentioned above

So what happens now??  We sent in our I-800 paperwork.  What is the I-800?  it is a Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative. It's the approval from USCIS to adopt the child you were matched with specifically.  This should take approximately 2 weeks and then we are on the way to the next step. :)

We are so humbled and thankful for everyones prayers! :) We have the greatest church family and friends ever! We are so thankful and blessed to be able to add to our family through adoption! I am not knocking pregnancy because I have done that 3 times and LOVED it but, this adoption has just been amazing. Amazingly painful sometimes but amazingly AWESOME too! I can't wait to have Charlotte in my arms and finally it is so close that I will let myself imagine it! :) Our God is an awesome God!

LOA baby! :)

Well the kids were out of school today for the County Fair so I took them to see the exhibits.  We were looking around and at 4:15 p.m. my phone started ringing.  I noticed the area code and about hyperventilated...I just knew this was THE call!  It was April from Gladney, calling to tell me she had received our LOA (Letter of Acceptance) WOOHOO!  We are so beyond thrilled!  Here I was in the middle of the fairgrounds screaming and jumping up and down! LOL! :) 

What does this mean??  This is THE FINAL APPROVAL from China.  Now we just work on getting our Visas and paperwork to go get Charlotte! :)  We hope to be traveling in about 8 weeks so, we are getting VERY close! :)

Celebrating! Where??  Of course at our local Chinese Restaurant! :)  Honestly, I was still so worked up and excited I could hardly eat! 

With much love and ExCiTeMeNt! :)

Day 50

Well today marks 50 days that we have been waiting on our (LOA)  Letter of Approval from China.   The average wait is 50 days.  So much for beating the average.  :(

Our agency said our Dossier was moved to the status of "in process" on July 11 so, she thinks it will be here any day now.  I am trying my hardest to be patient.  When we receive it you will probably hear me screaming in all of the southern states! :)  At that point we will be about 8 weeks away from going to China and I am starting some major packing! :)  We are SO CLOSE baby girl...we are coming!

Adoption Poem I wanted to share

By adopting a child and helping them reach their potential, they help us reach ours.

An adopted child is not unwanted; quite the contrary.

They are a child that was prayed for, searched for, cried for, begged for;
received by arms that ached, making empty hearts full.

Love is meant to be shared. 

Author Unknown