3/04 - Began considering adoption as a way to start our family
We spent this time discussing, praying & researching adoption.....
8/05 - Attended adoption info seminar
2/13/06 - Applied for passports
4/29/06 - We recognize this as the day we "officially" decided to adopt from China and begin the process
5/4/06 - 1st homestudy appt.
5/7/06 - Filed AAI formal application
5/8/06 - 2nd homestudy appt.
5/9/06 - Local fingerprints taken
5/23/06 - "In-home" homestudy visit
5/30/06 - 4th and final homestudy appt.
6/14/06 - Picked up final copy of homestudy
6/15/06 - USCIS appt. in Kansas City
7/26/06 - Received I-171H in the mail!
7/27/06 - Had dossier documents sealed at Sec. of State office, sent for authentication
8/16/06 - DTC (Dossier To China)!! Woohoo!!
9/12/06 - LID (Log in Date)
12/31/07 - Updated fingerprints w/ USCIS in KC
6/15/09 - Updated fingerprints w/ USCIS in KC
10/21/09 - Saw our baby girl's face for the first time!
10/22/09 - Submitted our LOI (letter of intent)
11/12/09- Received our PA (pre-approval)
12/2/09- Received our LOA (letter of approval)
12/23/09 - Received our TA (travel approval)
01/07-01/22/10 - traveling
01/11/10 - Forever Family Day
01/19/10 - CA (consulate appt)
01/22/10 - Home
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Why adoption?
A lot of people probably wonder, "Why Adoption?" For us, it didn't take long until the answer became clear...
After deciding it was time to start a family (and not having much luck), we one day brought up the subject of adoption. As we continued talking about it, we soon began to realize how much it was in our hearts. We fell in love with the idea... after all, there were already so many children out there that needed a warm home and loving family. And we were a family without a child who could provide just that. It seemed to make perfect sense. The more we got into it, the more we came to understand that this was truly the plan that God had for us. We feel extremely blessed to have been given this incredible opportunity, and appreciate the love and support that we've received with this decision.
After deciding it was time to start a family (and not having much luck), we one day brought up the subject of adoption. As we continued talking about it, we soon began to realize how much it was in our hearts. We fell in love with the idea... after all, there were already so many children out there that needed a warm home and loving family. And we were a family without a child who could provide just that. It seemed to make perfect sense. The more we got into it, the more we came to understand that this was truly the plan that God had for us. We feel extremely blessed to have been given this incredible opportunity, and appreciate the love and support that we've received with this decision.
Why China?
It's hard to explain why exactly, but from the beginning we felt drawn to international adoption. During an adoption seminar we attended, we met a man who, with his wife, had adopted two little girls from China. He shared his wonderful story and experiences with the audience, which we look back on as an important moment in our journey.
A Little Background:
In an effort to control the country's exploding population, in 1979 the Chinese government instituted a law that limited most families to one or two children. This law is still in existence today and, sadly, results in thousands of abandoned children every year (only a fraction ever find a permanent home). After learning about these dire circumstances we felt heartbroken, but also deeply moved, as we realized there was a desperate need for families for these children. Furthermore, both of us have always had a fascination and respect for the Asian culture.
Even though we had this strong emotional pull towards China, we decided to go ahead and research several other countries. As we continued doing our "homework" on the various programs, we found that China's was one of the most established and trusted. This only reinforced our feelings that China was the right choice for us and lead to our final decision.
A Little Background:
In an effort to control the country's exploding population, in 1979 the Chinese government instituted a law that limited most families to one or two children. This law is still in existence today and, sadly, results in thousands of abandoned children every year (only a fraction ever find a permanent home). After learning about these dire circumstances we felt heartbroken, but also deeply moved, as we realized there was a desperate need for families for these children. Furthermore, both of us have always had a fascination and respect for the Asian culture.
Even though we had this strong emotional pull towards China, we decided to go ahead and research several other countries. As we continued doing our "homework" on the various programs, we found that China's was one of the most established and trusted. This only reinforced our feelings that China was the right choice for us and lead to our final decision.
"It's a Girl!" (How do we know?)
In China, an overwhelming majority of children available for adoption are girls. This is due to the one child per family policy and a traditional preference for boys. In Chinese culture, sons are more valuable to the family because they carry on the family name, and they provide & care for their family elders. Because of this, girls who are born are often hidden, abandoned, or even killed. There are some boys available, but approximately 95% of orphaned children in China are girls. Knowing there is such a need for families for these little girls, we have requested and planned to bring home a daughter.
Will you travel to China?
Yes. The China program requires a two week in-country visit. We will be traveling with a small group (approx. 6-10 couples) of other parents-to-be from our agency.
We will most likely depart from Chicago, and endure a 14 hour flight to Beijing. We will spend a few days sight-seeing in Beijing, which also allows us to adjust to the time change. Next, we will travel to our daughter's province, where we will spend approx. five days. This is when we will finally get to meet our new baby girl! She will be in our care from this point forward (yikes!). Then we will fly to Guangzhou, where the U.S. Embassy is located. It is here that we will spend the remaining days, while we are completing the rest of our paperwork and finalizing the adoption.
We will most likely depart from Chicago, and endure a 14 hour flight to Beijing. We will spend a few days sight-seeing in Beijing, which also allows us to adjust to the time change. Next, we will travel to our daughter's province, where we will spend approx. five days. This is when we will finally get to meet our new baby girl! She will be in our care from this point forward (yikes!). Then we will fly to Guangzhou, where the U.S. Embassy is located. It is here that we will spend the remaining days, while we are completing the rest of our paperwork and finalizing the adoption.
How long does the process take?
The process time for China adoption can vary widely, but the average from start to finish is approximately 12 to 18 months. It takes about three months to get "paper-ready". The next chunk of time is the greatest variable, which is the wait from when your documents are sent to China until you receive your referral. This can be anywhere from 10 to 14 months (give or take). Once you receive your referral, you will typically travel five to eight weeks later. If things continue at the current pace, we hope to have our referral by the Fall of 2007 (pray for sooner!). For more detailed information on the process, please visit The Process (nuts & bolts) link.
The Process (nuts & bolts)
The adoption process is trying, to say the least. It's one that takes patience, determination, faith, patience, resourcefulness, organization, faith, and patience. :-) There are many things to consider and uncertainties all along the way. It's a long journey full of many twists and turns, but at the end lies the most Blessed gift a family could dream of. Below is an overview of the adoption process in China.
Home Study
The first step begins with finding an adoption agency, a home study agency and gathering paperwork. The home study consists of four meetings with a social worker and addresses things like: motivation for adoption, social history of both adoptive parents, marriage and family lifestyle, child rearing philosophy, employment, financial and health info, references, and clearances (criminal background check, etc.). One of the four meetings actually takes place in the home. You may also be required to complete training on international adoption and related issues (we completed 12 hours). If the social worker approves you then you have "passed" the home study and then he/she will recommended that you should be allowed to adopt. All of this takes about six to eight weeks to complete.
USCIS
Once you have an approved home study you travel to the United States Department of Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS)... for us this was in Kansas City, MO. Here you submit your home study, several other documents, and an I-600A (Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition). Basically this is asking the U.S. government to approve of your plans for adopting from China. While there you also have your fingerprints taken for a second background check. Roughly eight weeks later (depending on your state office) you'll receive an approval form, which is called an I-171H. With this form you can now finish compiling your dossier.
Dossier
The dossier for China consists of the following documents:
> Adoption petition letter
> I-171H
> Home study
> Birth certificate(s)
> Marriage license
> Employer reference letter(s)
> Local police clearance letter(s)
> Medical exam form(s)
> Financial statement
> Copy of passport(s)
> Photo packet - adoptive parents & home
Almost all of these documents have to be notarized. They then have to be sealed by the Secretary of State, and finally authenticated by the Chinese Consulate in your region (ours is in Chicago). Once all of this is done, your agency can compile the completed dossier and submit it to the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA).
DTC / LID
After your dossier is submitted, you are then Dossier to China (DTC). You then wait for your Log in Date (LID), hopefully a couple of weeks after DTC, and then you start the long wait process. Currently, as of this writing (July 2006), the wait between LID and referral is about 12 months.
Referral
When you receive your referral it will include pictures, medical information, and a confirmation of acceptance form. Once you send back your acceptance form, you will wait about three to four weeks to get your Travel Approval (TA) from the CCAA. With this, your travel plans can be made by your agency and an embassy appointment is made for you. In another three to four weeks you will fly to China.
Travel
The China program requires a two week in-country visit by at least one parent. You will typically be traveling with a small group of other parents-to-be from your agency. Depending on your city of departure (ours is most likely Chicago) the flight is approx. 14 hours to Beijing. Your first few days are spent sight-seeing in Beijing, which also allows you to adjust to the time change. Next, your group travels to the province in which the orphanage is located, where you will spend approx. five days. This is when you will finally get to meet your new baby and he/she will be in your care from this point forward. Then you fly to Guangzhou, location of the U.S. Embassy. Here you will complete the rest of your paperwork and finalize the adoption.
Lingo & Acronyms
AAI - Adoption Associates, Inc. This is our adoption agency.
CCAA - China Center of Adoption Affairs. This is the government agency in charge of all things adoption in China, from checking your paperwork to matching you with your child.
Dossier - The set of documents that represents the adoptive family. It includes the medical reports, birth certificates, employment verification letter, police clearances, financial statement, home study, etc.
DTC - Dossier to China. This is the milestone day when your completed dossier gets mailed to China by your agency.
LID - Log in Date. This is the official date that your dossier is logged into the CCAA. Your referral wait officially starts from now.
Referral - Notification from the CCAA that they have matched a family with a child. Referral information usually includes the child's Chinese name, date of birth, height/weight, a medical report, one or more photographs, and a few notes about the child's nature.
SWI - Social Welfare Institutes, which are like orphanages.
TA - Travel Approval. This is the notice received when China gives the family approval to travel to China to bring home their child. Once your agency receives this, they can schedule your visa appointment at the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou.
CCAA - China Center of Adoption Affairs. This is the government agency in charge of all things adoption in China, from checking your paperwork to matching you with your child.
Dossier - The set of documents that represents the adoptive family. It includes the medical reports, birth certificates, employment verification letter, police clearances, financial statement, home study, etc.
DTC - Dossier to China. This is the milestone day when your completed dossier gets mailed to China by your agency.
LID - Log in Date. This is the official date that your dossier is logged into the CCAA. Your referral wait officially starts from now.
Referral - Notification from the CCAA that they have matched a family with a child. Referral information usually includes the child's Chinese name, date of birth, height/weight, a medical report, one or more photographs, and a few notes about the child's nature.
SWI - Social Welfare Institutes, which are like orphanages.
TA - Travel Approval. This is the notice received when China gives the family approval to travel to China to bring home their child. Once your agency receives this, they can schedule your visa appointment at the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou.
How old will she be?
With the China program, most children come home between the ages of nine and eighteen months. In our adoption petition letter, we requested an infant girl as young as possible. It is most likely our baby will be nine to eleven months old when we meet her.
View all...
Why adoption?
A lot of people probably wonder, "Why Adoption?" For us, it didn't take long until the answer became clear...
After deciding it was time to start a family (and not having much luck), we one day brought up the subject of adoption. As we continued talking about it, we soon began to realize how much it was in our hearts. We fell in love with the idea... after all, there were already so many children out there that needed a warm home and loving family. And we were a family without a child who could provide just that. It seemed to make perfect sense. The more we got into it, the more we came to understand that this was truly the plan that God had for us. We feel extremely Blessed to have been given this incredible opportunity, and appreciate the love and support that we've received with this decision.
Why China?
It's hard to explain why exactly, but from the beginning we felt drawn to international adoption. During an adoption seminar we attended, we met a man who, with his wife, had adopted two little girls from China. He shared his wonderful story and experiences with the audience, which we look back on as an important moment in our journey.
A Little Background:
In an effort to control the country's exploding population, in 1979 the Chinese government instituted a law that limited most families to one or two children. This law is still in existence today and, sadly, results in thousands of abandoned children every year (only a fraction ever find a permanent home). After learning about these dire circumstances we felt heartbroken, but also deeply moved, as we realized there was a desperate need for families for these children. Furthermore, both of us have always had a fascination and respect for the Asian culture.
Even though we had this strong emotional pull towards China, we decided to go ahead and research several other countries. As we continued doing our "homework" on the various programs, we found that China's was one of the most established and trusted. This only reinforced our feelings that China was the right choice for us and lead to our final decision.
"It's a Girl!" (How do we know?)
In China, an overwhelming majority of children available for adoption are girls. This is due to the one child per family policy and a traditional preference for boys. In Chinese culture, sons are more valuable to the family because they carry on the family name, and they provide & care for their family elders. Because of this, girls who are born are often hidden, abandoned, or even killed. There are some boys available, but approximately 95% of orphaned children in China are girls. Knowing there is such a need for families for these little girls, we have requested and planned to bring home a daughter.
Will you travel to China?
Yes. The China program requires a two week in-country visit. We will be traveling with a small group (approx. 6-10 couples) of other parents-to-be from our agency.
We will most likely depart from Chicago, and endure a 14 hour flight to Beijing. We will spend a few days sight-seeing in Beijing, which also allows us to adjust to the time change. Next, we will travel to our daughter's province, where we will spend approx. five days. This is when we will finally get to meet our new baby girl! She will be in our care from this point forward (yikes!). Then we will fly to Guangzhou, where the U.S. Embassy is located. It is here that we will spend the remaining days, while we are completing the rest of our paperwork and finalizing the adoption.
How long will the process take?
The process time for China adoption can vary widely, but the average from start to finish is approximately 12 to 18 months. It takes about three months to get "paper-ready". The next chunk of time is the greatest variable, which is the wait from when your documents are sent to China until you receive your referral. This can be anywhere from 10 to 14 months (give or take). Once you receive your referral, you will typically travel five to eight weeks later. If things continue at the current pace, we hope to have our referral by the Fall of 2007 (pray for sooner!). For more detailed information on the process, please visit The Process (nuts & bolts) link.
How old will she be?
With the China program, most children come home between the ages of nine and eighteen months. In our adoption petition letter, we requested an infant girl as young as possible. It is most likely our baby will be nine to eleven months old when we meet her.
A lot of people probably wonder, "Why Adoption?" For us, it didn't take long until the answer became clear...
After deciding it was time to start a family (and not having much luck), we one day brought up the subject of adoption. As we continued talking about it, we soon began to realize how much it was in our hearts. We fell in love with the idea... after all, there were already so many children out there that needed a warm home and loving family. And we were a family without a child who could provide just that. It seemed to make perfect sense. The more we got into it, the more we came to understand that this was truly the plan that God had for us. We feel extremely Blessed to have been given this incredible opportunity, and appreciate the love and support that we've received with this decision.
Why China?
It's hard to explain why exactly, but from the beginning we felt drawn to international adoption. During an adoption seminar we attended, we met a man who, with his wife, had adopted two little girls from China. He shared his wonderful story and experiences with the audience, which we look back on as an important moment in our journey.
A Little Background:
In an effort to control the country's exploding population, in 1979 the Chinese government instituted a law that limited most families to one or two children. This law is still in existence today and, sadly, results in thousands of abandoned children every year (only a fraction ever find a permanent home). After learning about these dire circumstances we felt heartbroken, but also deeply moved, as we realized there was a desperate need for families for these children. Furthermore, both of us have always had a fascination and respect for the Asian culture.
Even though we had this strong emotional pull towards China, we decided to go ahead and research several other countries. As we continued doing our "homework" on the various programs, we found that China's was one of the most established and trusted. This only reinforced our feelings that China was the right choice for us and lead to our final decision.
"It's a Girl!" (How do we know?)
In China, an overwhelming majority of children available for adoption are girls. This is due to the one child per family policy and a traditional preference for boys. In Chinese culture, sons are more valuable to the family because they carry on the family name, and they provide & care for their family elders. Because of this, girls who are born are often hidden, abandoned, or even killed. There are some boys available, but approximately 95% of orphaned children in China are girls. Knowing there is such a need for families for these little girls, we have requested and planned to bring home a daughter.
Will you travel to China?
Yes. The China program requires a two week in-country visit. We will be traveling with a small group (approx. 6-10 couples) of other parents-to-be from our agency.
We will most likely depart from Chicago, and endure a 14 hour flight to Beijing. We will spend a few days sight-seeing in Beijing, which also allows us to adjust to the time change. Next, we will travel to our daughter's province, where we will spend approx. five days. This is when we will finally get to meet our new baby girl! She will be in our care from this point forward (yikes!). Then we will fly to Guangzhou, where the U.S. Embassy is located. It is here that we will spend the remaining days, while we are completing the rest of our paperwork and finalizing the adoption.
How long will the process take?
The process time for China adoption can vary widely, but the average from start to finish is approximately 12 to 18 months. It takes about three months to get "paper-ready". The next chunk of time is the greatest variable, which is the wait from when your documents are sent to China until you receive your referral. This can be anywhere from 10 to 14 months (give or take). Once you receive your referral, you will typically travel five to eight weeks later. If things continue at the current pace, we hope to have our referral by the Fall of 2007 (pray for sooner!). For more detailed information on the process, please visit The Process (nuts & bolts) link.
How old will she be?
With the China program, most children come home between the ages of nine and eighteen months. In our adoption petition letter, we requested an infant girl as young as possible. It is most likely our baby will be nine to eleven months old when we meet her.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Words of Inspiration
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined.
---Thoreau
Adopt the pace of nature, her secret is patience.
--- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Never, never, never, never give up.
--- Winston Churchill
A Prayer
God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, and Wisdom to know the difference.
The Gift of Life
I didn't give you the gift of life, but in my heart I know
The love I feel is deep & real, as if it had been so.
For us to have each other is like a dream come true!
No, I didn't give you the gift of life, life gave me the gift of you.
--- Author Unknown
Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.
--- Psalms 37:4
Life is not measured by the number of breaths that you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.
--- Author Unknown
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your path straight.
--- Proverbs 3:5-6
Not flesh of my flesh, Nor bone of my bone,
But still miraculously my own.
Never forget for a single minute,
You didn't grow under my heart - but in it
--- Fleur Conkling Heylinger
"...life is ten percent what happens to me and ninety percent how I react to it."
--- Charles Swindoll
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
--- Hebrews 11:1
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Letter to CNN
To Whom It May Concern,
This e-mail is in regard to the Paula Zahn Now segment aired on 1/5/07 about China’s new adoption guidelines. My wife and I are an American couple in the process of adopting a little girl from China. It was appalling, to say the least, as we watched and listened to Ms. Zahn and her panel of “experts“, who seemingly had absolutely no knowledge about adoption, try to speculate as to why people were so "infatuated" with adopting little girls from China. The arrogance displayed by these people, to speak and make speculation on a subject about which they are clearly uneducated, is outrageous and has no place in the ranks of responsible journalism.
We shouldn't even dignify such inflammatory reports with response. At the same time, as soon-to-be adoptive parents, you don't want such misinformation to be the only source for people who were previously uninformed. You’ve attached a negative stigma to Chinese adoption and put a stain on adoption in general. Shame on you all.
Consider, first of all, how ridiculous it is to have someone (Ms. Maldonado) who apparently has anti-international adoption sentiments conduct a so-called study (with no claimed statistical support) and expect us to be surprised that she paints an unfavorable picture of adoption in China. To suggest that people who adopt from China are doing so because they think the children will be more intelligent, or more cute and cuddly is beyond words. Questioning the integrity of people’s motivation is an absolute slap in the face. And the idea that it has become en vogue because a few high-profile celebrities have adopted… insulting to the entire adoption community. Perhaps it would have made sense for CNN to ask families who have actually adopted from China the question “why”. I’m positive you would find that most families would say that for one, it’s because China has an established, stable and predictable program.
Put yourself in the shoes and in the heart of these adoptive parents (not to mention the children who wait in orphanages). Go with them step-by-step through the intense process and talk to them about the emotional and mental toll that it takes - the uncertainty and the fear that they feel…. And then tell me that it's because it’s fashionable and they want to have a cute little "porcelain doll" that will grow up to be a doctor. It’s “reporting” like this that keeps these stereotypes alive and well. By the way, how did talking about new regulations in Chinese adoption turn into a discussion about racism and stereotypes anyway?
I know there are going to be those CNN apologists who say that it's their job to spark debates such as this. Afterall, controversy sells… right? True perhaps, but shameful nonetheless. I believe that when you do have a debate, both sides should be fairly and equally represented. It should be about integrity. I have no respect for a news program that intentionally starts fires and stirs controversy with one-sided debates based purely, not on facts, but speculation.... obviously subscribing to the theory that any publicity is good publicity.
I don’t know if any news channel is really “fair and balanced“, but I’ll tell you one thing… it’s not CNN. You just lost a viewer. Good-bye Paula... Good riddance CNN.
Greg S.
Springfield, MO
This e-mail is in regard to the Paula Zahn Now segment aired on 1/5/07 about China’s new adoption guidelines. My wife and I are an American couple in the process of adopting a little girl from China. It was appalling, to say the least, as we watched and listened to Ms. Zahn and her panel of “experts“, who seemingly had absolutely no knowledge about adoption, try to speculate as to why people were so "infatuated" with adopting little girls from China. The arrogance displayed by these people, to speak and make speculation on a subject about which they are clearly uneducated, is outrageous and has no place in the ranks of responsible journalism.
We shouldn't even dignify such inflammatory reports with response. At the same time, as soon-to-be adoptive parents, you don't want such misinformation to be the only source for people who were previously uninformed. You’ve attached a negative stigma to Chinese adoption and put a stain on adoption in general. Shame on you all.
Consider, first of all, how ridiculous it is to have someone (Ms. Maldonado) who apparently has anti-international adoption sentiments conduct a so-called study (with no claimed statistical support) and expect us to be surprised that she paints an unfavorable picture of adoption in China. To suggest that people who adopt from China are doing so because they think the children will be more intelligent, or more cute and cuddly is beyond words. Questioning the integrity of people’s motivation is an absolute slap in the face. And the idea that it has become en vogue because a few high-profile celebrities have adopted… insulting to the entire adoption community. Perhaps it would have made sense for CNN to ask families who have actually adopted from China the question “why”. I’m positive you would find that most families would say that for one, it’s because China has an established, stable and predictable program.
Put yourself in the shoes and in the heart of these adoptive parents (not to mention the children who wait in orphanages). Go with them step-by-step through the intense process and talk to them about the emotional and mental toll that it takes - the uncertainty and the fear that they feel…. And then tell me that it's because it’s fashionable and they want to have a cute little "porcelain doll" that will grow up to be a doctor. It’s “reporting” like this that keeps these stereotypes alive and well. By the way, how did talking about new regulations in Chinese adoption turn into a discussion about racism and stereotypes anyway?
I know there are going to be those CNN apologists who say that it's their job to spark debates such as this. Afterall, controversy sells… right? True perhaps, but shameful nonetheless. I believe that when you do have a debate, both sides should be fairly and equally represented. It should be about integrity. I have no respect for a news program that intentionally starts fires and stirs controversy with one-sided debates based purely, not on facts, but speculation.... obviously subscribing to the theory that any publicity is good publicity.
I don’t know if any news channel is really “fair and balanced“, but I’ll tell you one thing… it’s not CNN. You just lost a viewer. Good-bye Paula... Good riddance CNN.
Greg S.
Springfield, MO
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