Update on the process

Last Friday we found out that our I800 was approved on July 14th.  After our I800 was approved it was forwarded on to the National Visa Center.  At the NVC they "cable" or email our approval to the US Consulate in Guangzhou, China.  We found out today that we were cabled.  So know we wait until they send us a copy of the letter so we can send it on to our agency who forwards it to their in China staff.  Once they receive it they drop everything off at the consulate where we wait for two weeks for them to issue our Article 5.  Once that is issued we wait for the CCWCA to issue our Travel Approval, which usually occurs in 2-4 weeks.  Then we will travel in 1-3 weeks.  We are slowly, but surely getting closer to Carsen!!

LOA!!

Yesterday Jamie received a phone call from our agency.  The call was to tell us that she had received our LOA (Letter of Acceptance) or LSC (Letter Seeking Confirmation) from the CCWCA.  What this means is that China is officially accepting us to be Carsen's parents!!  For those that are unfamiliar with the process, this is one of the biggest steps in this process.  It's huge because the waiting time to receive the LOA varies greatly (some families wait only 30 days and others up to 100 days!) and there does not appear to be any predictable pattern in which they are issued.  The past couple of weeks have been very stressful for me waiting for the LOA to come.  We are very thankful that we only had 53 days, because recently we have seen others wait up to 90 days.  This puts us on track to travel in September or October, but hopefully in September before the holidays in China and the trade fair in Guangzhou. 

God has really been with me during the past couple of weeks when the waiting has become really stressful for me.  I have listened over and over to "While I'm Waiting" by John Waller and began seeking out what God would have me to do during the waiting period, because I felt like there was something, I just couldn't figure our what.  The other day I found out what it was, Jamie and I are being given an opportunity to share how God has given us a passion for orphans and adoption and what we are doing about it.  We are very thankful that He is continuing to led and guide us through this process.

Pictures!!!!

One of the other Xuzhou families went this week to meet their child and they were able to go visit the orphange where Carsen lives and took some new pictures of him. We are very grateful to them for taking the time to get pictures for us and the other waiting families

Update about Carsen

Our agency requested an update about Carsen and we received it today.  We are very excited.  He weighs almost 19 pounds and 29 inches long.  He is able to sit independently.  He stands and walks in the baby walker.  He likes to be hugged and cuddled.  He likes to play with other children and he is outgoing.  His favorite toy is a ball.  We were very glad to hear that he is doing well and continues to grow and develop as he should. 

LID!!!!!

LID
We were notified today by our agency that our dossier has been officially logged in by the CCAA as of today, April 25th.  Now onto to the next step, which is awaiting the CCAA to issue our LSC (letter seeking confirmation).  Which is where we will officially accept the referral of Carsen.  This step usually takes a couple of months, so hopefully we will have this by the middle of June.

Adoption Video with 'One Less'

DTC!!!

 Our dossier is headed out of the country!!! Finally after chasing this paper and that paper across the state, all the while chasing a notary, its all done and on its way.  The agency said it should arrive in China on Monday.