More Paperwork

Today we received our nine documents back from the Illinois Secretary of State’s office. They now will have to go to the Chinese Consulate in Chicago for further authentication before becoming part of our dossier. There will be three more papers that have to be notarized, certified, and authenticated. They are the home study approval, USCIS approval (I-797), and our letter of petition. It looks like we are at least 12 weeks out from having all of those. This waiting is tough.

                                      

                                         Lori

God's Forever Family

While reading “Lord, Teach Me to Pray” by Kay Arthur for the women’s study group at church, I came across the term “forever family.” This is often a term used by adoptive families to give adopted children assurance of being forever a part of their new families.

All of us that are saved are adopted sons and daughters of God, and God gives His children this same assurance. Once we become a part of His family, He will never leave us. We are His forever family.

                                         

                                          Lori

All We Can Do Is Wait

There’s not a lot for us to do right now with our adoption. We are waiting for documents to be returned by the Sec. of State’s office in IL. Once we have them back, they can be sent on to the Chinese consulate in Chicago for further authentication. We are also awaiting our home study visits, which are scheduled for May 12 and 13.  

If you have any questions concerning our adoption or adoption in general that we might be able to answer, please post them in the comments section.

                                         

                                                                                           Lori

The Same Yesterday, Today, and Forever

It's Easter Sunday, and there is good news today. Jesus is risen! If that isn’t enough, here’s more good news. He still lives today!  

Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” So, there’s nothing that Jesus could do two thousand years ago that He can’t still do today or in the future. It is our faith is His abilities that keeps us moving forward in this adoption. We definitely could not do this on our own.

                                                                                                      Lori

We Have a Deadline

We received an email from CHI today saying that in order for our dossier to be in China by the Oct. 1 deadline, we will have to have it to CHI by Sept. 1. I’m glad to get this information. We now have a defined goal to work towards. We will be able to make this date as long as the home study approval and USCIS approval don’t take longer than expected and as long as our funds fall into place as needed.                                       

                                          Lori

Worry and Fear are Not of God

I know that worry and fear are not of God, but they are difficult to control sometimes, I know God is faithful to provide our needs.   Matt. 7:9-11 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”                         

                                          Lori

Moving Forward with Our Home Study Agency

I know that worry and fear are not of God, but they are difficult to control sometimes, I know God is faithful to provide our needs.   Matt. 7:9-11 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”                         

                                          Lori

A Big Misunderstanding

Today is a bitter sweet day. Our social worker called to make the home visit appointments, but informed us that the agency is not Hague Accredited. There was a misunderstanding. The training we attended was Hague accredited, but the agency is not. This means that if our dossier isn’t in China by Oct. 1, we will have to basically start all over with another home study agency. Much of the timing is out of our hands. If the state takes till the end of June and USCIS then takes three months, we might not make it.

I frantically called the head of BCHFS to speak with her about it. She said that they would let the state know the situation, but if we wanted to change agencies they would refund the $1,900. I really don’t want to change agencies. I emailed Tina at CHI also to ask what the current wait time is at USCIS. She said it is 6-8 weeks, and that she thinks we will be fine time wise.

                                          

                                                                                          Lori

Waiting for Our Social Worker to Call

I am anxiously waiting for our assigned social worker to call and make our home visit appointments. There are two visits/interviews before our home study can be completed. These are to take place in May. We were told that it would take the state four weeks after the home visits to approve the home study. This is much later than I was hoping. 

                                         Lori

Not an April Fool's Joke

The class was very good and covered problems that might arise after adoption like attachment disorders. They also covered being a multiracial/multicultural family. I hadn’t gave that much thought up until now.  Anyway, it was a good class, and it didn’t seem like we were there for ten hours. It seemed more like five. They were great hostesses and fed us breakfast and lunch. I asked if they knew anything about requirement changes for China. They hadn’t heard anything. I did ask if they were Hague accredited and was told yes. That was a big relief and made me feel better.

This evening we got an email from Children’s Hope confirming that the rumors we read online are true. China has made changes to their requirements. The big changes take effect Oct. 1, 2011. This is no April fool’s joke, but I feel reassured since our home study agency said they are Hague accredited, and I believe we will have our dossier in China by the Oct. 1 deadline.

                                         Lori