The following is a little story about hope, adoption, and the ability to learn to love.
I am About to Cry
By Christina S.
I am an adoptive mother of a beautiful 8-year old girl. My daughter had bounced around in 5 different foster homes before she was 5 years old. Some of the professionals expressed concerns that she may not be able to fully attach to us given all the moves and trauma she experienced. However, we found that over time, with patience, love, and consistency, she learned to trust us more and definitely learn to attach to us. We saw this especially after she experienced adoption milestones (e.g. at 18 months when she had lived with us longer than she had lived with any other family).
Well, one morning, I surprised her with a little gift. I framed a large postcard she liked that had a picture of a cute dog (the one that the Post Office has on their "pets" stamps) and set it out for her to see when she came down for breakfast. She was so overwhelmed by this small gesture of love - I think she was moved that I really paid attention to what is important to her - that she covered her face with her hands and kept repeating quietly, "I don't believe it… I don't believe it." She then sat down and wrote me this poem:
"The time has come
It has opened my heart
Sweet of all I love
Rose mine
I am about to cry
I love you."
Written by Sharonda S., age 7 to her mom.
She writes "I am about to cry." I have the same reaction every time I read this poem. I hope that other adoptive parents of older children will feel encouraged by this poem, to know that children can heal, and that they are definitely key in helping their children to heal.
Homecoming
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Pre-Approval
CCAI called us today to let us know we have pre-approval. I wish this were a sign that travel approval is just around the corner, but really it just means they've received our information requesting to be allowed to adopt Cao An Hong and they don't see a problem with that. We also sent our documents to the Chinese Consulate today for authentification and we sent a care package to Josie. The care package will also serve as notice to the orphanage staff that Josie has a family! It should arrive in a week. We put in a baby album of pictures of us with the Chinese characters for mother, father, big sister, big brother, and our dog. It also included a disposable camera, clothes, candy for the nannies, a little outfit, a book, and a bunny. But mainly I hope they use the picture album so she won't be in total shock when she sees us-blonde hair and all. Tomorrow is her birthday! Great-Grandma Hazel sent us a card ( :
Monday, March 5, 2007
Prayer Requests and Praises-updated 4/5/07
Prayer Requests
*for planning and care and adjustment of Chloe and Michael while we're away (as well as for their caregivers!)
*for Josie's protection, health, and favor in the eyes of her caregivers
*for Josie to be prepared for our arrival as much as possible, for quick and good bonding
*for safe and smooth travel
*for our grant applications (sent in 3/29).
Praises:
*Our match to An Hong!
*Agreement (between Chris and me) in deciding on the name "Josie".
*She likes books!
*Our friends Mike and Amy are enjoying their new daughter in China!
*We already have an appointment with a brachial plexus team!
*Chloe is excited to share her room ( : We have bunk bed frames!
*We have family members willing to care for our two while we're gone.
*Our agency has been great and we should be well lead in China.
*There is a couple we've met over internet who have all the same landmark dates as us for our referrals, are from the midwest, are traveling through the waiting child program to the same orphanage in China and are using the same agency! It will be nice to "know" someone else! And now we're flying with them too!
*We had a very speedy road to travel approval from referral, compared to others.
*Our tickets are purchased! Phew, such relief!
*for planning and care and adjustment of Chloe and Michael while we're away (as well as for their caregivers!)
*for Josie's protection, health, and favor in the eyes of her caregivers
*for Josie to be prepared for our arrival as much as possible, for quick and good bonding
*for safe and smooth travel
*for our grant applications (sent in 3/29).
Praises:
*Our match to An Hong!
*Agreement (between Chris and me) in deciding on the name "Josie".
*She likes books!
*Our friends Mike and Amy are enjoying their new daughter in China!
*We already have an appointment with a brachial plexus team!
*Chloe is excited to share her room ( : We have bunk bed frames!
*We have family members willing to care for our two while we're gone.
*Our agency has been great and we should be well lead in China.
*There is a couple we've met over internet who have all the same landmark dates as us for our referrals, are from the midwest, are traveling through the waiting child program to the same orphanage in China and are using the same agency! It will be nice to "know" someone else! And now we're flying with them too!
*We had a very speedy road to travel approval from referral, compared to others.
*Our tickets are purchased! Phew, such relief!
Breakdown
Done!!
CCAI application
Original home study
Immigration update home study
CCAI fee #1
Passports
Immigration filing and fingerprinting
Immigration filing and fingerprinting second time
Birth and Marriage Certificates
Certifications (first and second batches)
Authentications (first and second batches)
CCAI Fee #2
CCAA (China) Fee
Physicals and Lab Work
Photocopies and express mailings
Passport photos #1
Photos
Luggage
Immunizations to travel
Visas
CCAI post-placement deposit
Express mailings
Airfare
In-China accommodations (flights, hotels)
Still to Come:
Passport Photos #2
Authentic Chinese food ( :
Child passport, physical and visa
Orphanage donation -required
Orphanage donation: new 0-12 month clothes needed
Post Home Studies
Special Thanks: We have been blessed by prayers and support and financial donations from family and friends along the way. Aunt Janice (digital camera); Grandpa and Grandma (for giving us cash instead of presents at Christmas even though it wasn't as much fun); the Simmons family; Lasting Life; Jim and Linda: Thank you for the extra encouragement. Thank you to Lori Jacobs for taking our dossier photos and to Lori Reneau for being our faithful notary over the years.
CCAI application
Original home study
Immigration update home study
CCAI fee #1
Passports
Immigration filing and fingerprinting
Immigration filing and fingerprinting second time
Birth and Marriage Certificates
Certifications (first and second batches)
Authentications (first and second batches)
CCAI Fee #2
CCAA (China) Fee
Physicals and Lab Work
Photocopies and express mailings
Passport photos #1
Photos
Luggage
Immunizations to travel
Visas
CCAI post-placement deposit
Express mailings
Airfare
In-China accommodations (flights, hotels)
Still to Come:
Passport Photos #2
Authentic Chinese food ( :
Child passport, physical and visa
Orphanage donation -required
Orphanage donation: new 0-12 month clothes needed
Post Home Studies
Special Thanks: We have been blessed by prayers and support and financial donations from family and friends along the way. Aunt Janice (digital camera); Grandpa and Grandma (for giving us cash instead of presents at Christmas even though it wasn't as much fun); the Simmons family; Lasting Life; Jim and Linda: Thank you for the extra encouragement. Thank you to Lori Jacobs for taking our dossier photos and to Lori Reneau for being our faithful notary over the years.
Documentation
Sometimes folks ask about the process of international adoption, so I've compiled some of the steps below. It is important to have a good agency to walk you through each step, but it is not for the faint of heart or paper phobic (as I recently told a friend).
1. Decide upon international adoption, agency, and country. (China, CCAI)
2. Apply to the agency (8 pages) and sign agreements.
3. Compile the dossier.
a. Write adoption petition.
b. Order birth and marriage certificates.
c. Have employer(s) verify employment or write non-employment verification.
d. Write financial statement.
e. Complete physicals (and lab work) and have physicians fill out form.
f. Obtain police clearances.
g. Complete Home Study.
h. Obtain I-171H from Immigration (see below).
i. Apply for and copy passport.
j. Have family photos taken.
4. Have documents notarized, certified (Secretary of State), and authenticated (Chinese Consulate)
5. Apply to Immigration/Homeland Security
a. File the I-600A.
b. Drive to regional immigration office for fingerprinting
c. Send copies of birth certificates and marriage certificates.
d. Send home study when completed.
e. Repeat process as necessary until travel is complete.
6. Agency translates and sends dossier to China. China logs in your dossier. China reviews your dossier and approves you to adopt.
7. China either matches you to an orphan or, if you have told your agency you would like to receive a waiting child match (as we did), you are presented a child you may decide to adopt.
8. Letter of Acceptance, or if in waiting child program, homestudy update and addendum to adoption petition (notarized, certified, and authenticated) followed by letter of acceptance.
9. Apply for visa after you receive travel approval from China.
10. Travel. There is more paperwork ahead in China as the adoption is officially approved and finalized in the province, and the child receives his/her passport and certificate of citizenship from the Embassy in China.
11. Home Study updates are due twice more after returning home.
1. Decide upon international adoption, agency, and country. (China, CCAI)
2. Apply to the agency (8 pages) and sign agreements.
3. Compile the dossier.
a. Write adoption petition.
b. Order birth and marriage certificates.
c. Have employer(s) verify employment or write non-employment verification.
d. Write financial statement.
e. Complete physicals (and lab work) and have physicians fill out form.
f. Obtain police clearances.
g. Complete Home Study.
h. Obtain I-171H from Immigration (see below).
i. Apply for and copy passport.
j. Have family photos taken.
4. Have documents notarized, certified (Secretary of State), and authenticated (Chinese Consulate)
5. Apply to Immigration/Homeland Security
a. File the I-600A.
b. Drive to regional immigration office for fingerprinting
c. Send copies of birth certificates and marriage certificates.
d. Send home study when completed.
e. Repeat process as necessary until travel is complete.
6. Agency translates and sends dossier to China. China logs in your dossier. China reviews your dossier and approves you to adopt.
7. China either matches you to an orphan or, if you have told your agency you would like to receive a waiting child match (as we did), you are presented a child you may decide to adopt.
8. Letter of Acceptance, or if in waiting child program, homestudy update and addendum to adoption petition (notarized, certified, and authenticated) followed by letter of acceptance.
9. Apply for visa after you receive travel approval from China.
10. Travel. There is more paperwork ahead in China as the adoption is officially approved and finalized in the province, and the child receives his/her passport and certificate of citizenship from the Embassy in China.
11. Home Study updates are due twice more after returning home.
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Time Line
2004 We realized God had placed on both our hearts a desire to adopt from China.
6/2005 We submitted our application to Chinese Children Adoption International.
12/2005 Our paperwork was received and logged into China's adoption center.
9/2006 Our paperwork passed the review room.
2/14/2007 We accepted the referral of An Hong from the Waiting Child Program.
2/19 We sent our letter of intent for An Hong.
3/6 We received pre-approval from China.
3/7 Josie An celebrated her second birthday!
3/9 We received our I-171H for the second time (immigration paperwork).
3/12 Our agency received the letter for confirmation which China sends when our file is taken to the match room. We will sign and return this to the agency ASAP (done 3/15).
3/16 We sent our last documents: the authenticated adoption petition addendum and the home study addendum! CCAI should receive it Saturday and then it can be sent to China!
3/28 We received our travel approval from China! Now we just wait out the trade fair and the week off for China's government workers and we can go!
4/? We have our finalized travel plans and have booked all our tickets.
5/3 We leave for China.
5/8 We receive Josie (Chloe's day was 4/8).
5/19 We should be home.
Timeline for other China adoption folks (in code):
LID 12/30/05
MCC 1/06 and 4/06
R 2/14/07
LOI 2/19/07
PA 3/6/07
LOA 3/9/07
TP2 3/29/07
CA 5/18/07
6/2005 We submitted our application to Chinese Children Adoption International.
12/2005 Our paperwork was received and logged into China's adoption center.
9/2006 Our paperwork passed the review room.
2/14/2007 We accepted the referral of An Hong from the Waiting Child Program.
2/19 We sent our letter of intent for An Hong.
3/6 We received pre-approval from China.
3/7 Josie An celebrated her second birthday!
3/9 We received our I-171H for the second time (immigration paperwork).
3/12 Our agency received the letter for confirmation which China sends when our file is taken to the match room. We will sign and return this to the agency ASAP (done 3/15).
3/16 We sent our last documents: the authenticated adoption petition addendum and the home study addendum! CCAI should receive it Saturday and then it can be sent to China!
3/28 We received our travel approval from China! Now we just wait out the trade fair and the week off for China's government workers and we can go!
4/? We have our finalized travel plans and have booked all our tickets.
5/3 We leave for China.
5/8 We receive Josie (Chloe's day was 4/8).
5/19 We should be home.
Timeline for other China adoption folks (in code):
LID 12/30/05
MCC 1/06 and 4/06
R 2/14/07
LOI 2/19/07
PA 3/6/07
LOA 3/9/07
TP2 3/29/07
CA 5/18/07
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