I-800 Approval! Chinese Visa Approval!

Today has been a great day for Approvals!  My fabulous friend, Natalia, was able to pick up our Passports from the Chinese Consulate in Houston with our Chinese Visas!  Yes, we are allowed to officially go to China.  It is totally unbelievable that we are almost there.  We have also sent another package through Ann at redthreadchina.com.  Hopefully we will get an update to see just how much Madeline has grown. We will keep y'all posted.

Another approval . . . Immigration!  Yeah, Madeline can become a US citizen! Oh, how she is loved!

LOA!

We received our LOA!  We immediately sent our I-800 to the USCIS.  Can you believe I live about 30 minutes from their office?  I don't know if that will help in the process much.  Hopefully we should be traveling to our little love in the next 2 months or so. WE CAN'T WAIT!!!

While we wait . . .

I know it probably drives a lot of people crazy waiting 9 months to have a baby, but I now know I would never want to be pregnant for 2 years! (HA)  It will be 2 years on April 1st that we started our journey to Madeline Rose.  Funny thing is, she was born March 24th, just a few days before.  So what have we been doing with our time? The boys have been playing every sport possible.  Jer has joined a men's group at church and coached "every sport possible!"  Me on the other hand wanted to learn how to crochet and sew.  Here are a few pics of us while we wait . . .

One Step Closer

Yesterday, Simon saw the mailman drive off and said, "Mom,  Our adoption paper is in there."  In an effort to stay on task I told Simon that we would have to finish school and then check the mailbox.  Surely our renewal didn't come that fast.

Last week Jer and I went to the immigration office to update our fingerprints.  I forgot just how many immigrants lived in North Texas.  WOW, controlled chaos to say the least.

BUT . . . Simon was right, that amazing envelope with one piece of paper saying that we could adopt a child and bring her to the US was there.  One step closer to Madeline!

As we wait for our Letter of Acceptance from the Chinese gov't, I am busy filling out the I-800 and VISA documents so that we are ready.  Once we receive the LOA we should travel within 2 months. YEAH! Thanks be to God!

Surprise! Surprise!

Life has been a little quiet around here!  We have been able to file a renewal for our US Immigration papers, and we hope to be receiving our Letter of Approval from the Chinese government in the next month or two.  BUT . . . here was a little gift from a CAWLI family who is traveling to adopt their little boy! Surprise! Surprise!

Care Package #1

Every morning I rush to my computer to see if there is anything new.  In China it is around 11 p.m. and Madeline has put her head down to sleep for another day.   But in a few short days she should be seeing our faces for the first time.  Ann at redthreadchina.com has done an amazing job!  The little photo album holds 10 pictures.  I think it took us an hour to pick out our favorites.  Oh, and then it took another hour to pick out the most perfect stuffed animal.  Ok . . . we only had 3 animal choices, so it didn't take that long.

I can't wait to see if we get any updates!

Passport Heaven

The last week has been filled with more papers . . . but one amazing package.  We were given our Pre-Approval from the CCAA.  Our agency has sent a copy of our Application Review and the address to Madeline's Social Welfare Institute.  We have spent most of the morning picking out pictures and writing letters to send to her.  Some amazing friends have shared a website, redthreadchina.com, to have the package delivered directly to her next week.  Hopefully we will have new pictures of our little Madeline soon.