Update On Where We Are

We now have background checks received from AR and CO. IN promised to fax my background check this afternoon. We just learned that Emily's fingerprints are not yet processed. She was fingerprinted on Nov. 12. I guess that is the last thing remaining before the home study can be submitted. 

I continually have to remind myself of God's perfect timing. Every delay or push forward with our first adoption eventually got us the child that we were meant to have. I believe the same will be true for this adoption too. 

  

                                                                     LORI

Where Are We At Right Now?

Unfortunately, we aren't much farther along than we were when I last made a post with this title over a month ago. Today I learned that we are still waiting on background checks from AR, IN, and CO. Apparently my background check for IN was lost in the system or something. It is being resubmitted, hopefully today.  If you'd like to pray for our adoption, please pray that the background checks will be completed soon so that our home study can be sent to the state for approval. Without the home study approval, our adoption cannot move forward. Also, pray that the 5 documents we mailed to a courier to be hand delivered to the Chinese Consulate for authentication will arrive promptly, and that they will all be accepted by the consulate. Though our paperwork has been easier to complete the second time around, we have run into more snags regarding the paperwork this time.

                                                                                          LORI

21 Day Challenge

Here's a link to You Version Bible App's 21 Day Challenge. Get in the word for the next 21 days to have a fresh start to 2014. Daily reading is easy with their selection of 21 Day Plans.

http://blog.youversion.com/2014/01/21-day-challenge/

Adoption Costs

Here's a breakdown of our adoption expenses.

                                                                             

Christian Social Services of IL (application fee)               $300 paid

China Adoption With Love, Inc. (application fee)             $200 paid

Home Study Payment 1                                               $700 paid

Home Study Payment 2                                               $700 paid

Home Study Payment 3                                               $700 paid
Marriage Certificate                                                      $20 paid
USCIS Filing & Fingerprinting for 4                                $1,060 paid

Sec. of State (IL and WI)                                              $39 paid

Chinese Consulate (includes courier fees)                      $520 paid

China Adoption With Love, Inc. (dossier fee)                  $3,900 paid

CCCWA (China’s dossier fee)                                       $1,790 paid

Mia’s Passport                                                            $105 paid
China Adoption With Love, Inc. (referral fee)                  $700 paid 

China Visas for 3                                                        $480 paid
Postage                                                                     $150 paid
Post Adoption Reports (change in regulations)              $500 (refund pending)
Airfare – roundtrip for 3                                               $3687 paid

In China Travel (estimated)                                          $5,917 paid

In China Adoption and Gov’t Fees                                $1,800 ($425 pd.)

Orphanage Donation (required)                                     $5,700

In China Spending (meals, tips for drivers/guides, etc.)  $1,500
Hong Kong - train & hotel 2 nights                               $500

Airfare for Child – one way out of Hong Kong                 $1,242 paid

TOTAL                                                                       $31,710    

I will keep this list updated as fees are paid and estimated amounts become set amounts. I removed the child's visa and medical exam fees after learning that they are a part of the "In China Fees."

Requirements for Adopting From China

    (list from our adoption agency, CAWLI)

• Minimum 30 years old, maximum 55 years old.
• No jail term. No drug crimes ever.
• No alcohol abuse or related crimes within the past 10 years.
• No serious criminal records in the past 10 years.
• You and your spouse must be legally married for a minimum of two years at the time your documents are sent to China if this is your first marriage.
• If either of you have been divorced you need to be married for five years at the time your dossier is sent to China.
• No more than 2 divorces between both spouses.
• No more than 4 children at home; the youngest child should be at least 1 year old.
• Minimum annual household income of $10,000 per person including intended child.
• The husband and wife are physically and mentally healthy.
• No medication for severe mental disorders such as depression, mania, or anxiety in past two years.
• Each parent must have earned at least a high school diploma.
• The parents receive a favorable home study by a licensed non-profit and Hague-accredited adoption agency.
• USCIS approval (INS)
• Yes, single women, but no homosexuals pursuant to Chinese Regulation
• Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or under

Why China?

Brent and I support both domestic and international adoption. All children everywhere deserve to have a family. We have chosen to adopt from China, because we feel that we have been called to do so.

In some ways our adoption journey began in the spring of 2010. I had asked God to give me a heart for China.  I did not have adoption on my mind at all at that time.  A couple of months passed, and I had pretty much forgotten my prayer. Then a woman from our church that had visited orphanages in China spoke to the congregation about the great need for people to help these children. Her talk is really what made me start thinking about adoption.  I believe that God put this desire on my heart, and that this was how He answered that prayer. 

It would not be enough if only I desired this; I knew that Brent would have to be on board too. He was surprised when I first brought up the idea, but it didn’t take much time before he was considering it too. Both our biological children were immediately for the idea.

We chose an adoption agency and even got an application in July 2010. Then we spent the next several months researching, thinking, and praying. We didn’t know how we could adopt financially, but we both felt like God was calling us to adopt, and specifically to adopt from China.

Then February 13, 2011 came and a guest speaker at church talked about stepping out in faith. If we wait until everything is lined up perfectly before we do something, then we will never accomplish anything. We both felt like this was the definite nudge to move forward with the adoption. We made the commitment that day to step out in faith. Little did we know at that time, but our daughter had just been born in China.

It's now been almost a year and a half since we completed Mia's adoption, and she has been a huge blessing to our family as well as to others. We now feel once again called to adopt from China. We also love the idea of Mia having a sibling from her birth country. 

Today marks 5 months since we began our second adoption. Unfortunately, the waiting isn't any easier the second time around. I can't wait to see and hold my child.

                                                                             LORI