November Allie:)

HollyC392Pigtails!!

November 15, 2016•Edit•Delete

HollyC392She got her stuff finally!!! And we got pictures:) Can't wait to show Gray that she is pointing to him!!

November 27, 

Jeannie MOh I LOVE this. Getting to 'hold' her family 💚

December 9, 2016Sarah HSuch a big smile!!!!! Was the doll in her package?

December 4, 2016

HollyC392Yes. Julia had some like that she used to love so hoping Allie would like it too.

December 10, 2016

More Steps

This week we've done some important things in the adoption process.  We submitted an I800 application with lots of supporting documents to US Immigration so Allie can become a legal US citizen once she hits American soil.  And thanks to lots of help from Matt, we got our China travel visa applications sent off yesterday.  You have to have them hand delivered to the Chinese consulate in Chicago or DC so you send them to a courier who takes care of all that.  There are a ton of tiny details you have to get right on the application itself and on the process of mailing to the courier, but hopefully we did it all!  I had to have a waiver on mine (because I work for a religious organization) saying my trip is not related to my job.  So interesting.

Anyway, there are still a handful of steps where we get some kind of approval and send off some kind of application.  It all sounds like Charlie Brown's teacher right now, as did most of what we went through already, until we were actually at that step and could see what it was all about.  I think the next thing that will come is our I800 approval from Immigration, which takes several weeks.  So time to wait again.

In the meantime, I have a small prayer request.  The package we sent to Allie with the book of our pictures, blanket, etc. has still not arrived in China.  Presumably it's held up at customs and could be released any time, but the post office here could not track it at all.  They said don't worry yet, but it has been over a month, so I'm a little concerned and just want her to be able to have that book!  So would you pray the package makes it to China soon?  Thank you!

And now....back to painting.  One week till the show!!!

Gene RYou're amazing Holly!

November 20, 2016•Edit•Delete

Cindy CPraying & expecting Allie to receive her package soon.

November 20, 2016•Edit•Delete

LOA!

We have been waiting almost a month since we were logged in to get the famous LOA, which I always think of as "Letter of Acceptance" but is really something like "Letter Seeking Confirmation from Adoptive Family".  Anyway, we got it yesterday!  This is just another step in the process, but an important one that enables us to file the I-800 with US Immigration so that Allie can come over and be our daughter.  We also get to apply for Chinese visas now and we're supposed to put the date of travel as 6 weeks from our application date...which stopped me in my tracks a bit...6 weeks...so not ready...but it will be more like 8-12 weeks when we actually travel.  Still thinking February after Chinese New Year.

Speaking of not feeling ready, I have just been nonstop going lately.  We had a second craft show last weekend and it was so busy getting ready for that while trying to fill orders from the last one.  And now we have another one next week and I'm still trying to fill orders.  And receiving orders.  We've raised 2/3 of the cost of the adoption, including grants which is just amazing.  And I love the painting.  But I don't have have time for ANYTHING.  So gotta try to get through this show and then it should be better just filling orders.  Yesterday I was driving to work and listening to a book on tape because, as mentioned before, I don't have time to read.  The cd finished and I couldn't reach the next so I put in a cd I made several years ago with songs that are really meaningful to me.  With nothing else filling my head, I let myself ponder all that's been going on lately, particularly Allie.  Tears immediately came to my eyes as I thought of the reality of what we're doing--the overwhelming part and the blessing part.  I realized I am going to need more time to process and in the car right before work is probably not my best option.  

Just can't even believe how God has worked out this thing I've been praying and hoping for for many years.  And like what's happened several times before, on this day I was feeling emotional and connected with the Lord, that afternoon I got the call about our LOA.  I know things are going to be hard, but he keeps showing me that he's right there showing his love to us through it all.  

First Craft Show:)

Our craft show was a huge success! I had been painting and crocheting since summer, Cindy had made a ton of jewelry, and we had invited the whole neighborhood and all our local friends and family. Then my friend Susan, who is also adopting from China, joined in with her stuff and invited people. Susan and I were both overwhelmed at the crew that showed up. When you are trying to sell stuff that you made, it can be hard to think that people would be interested and it's hard to ask for help, as we have been doing this whole adoption with the financial aspect. So to see our house packed with folks who were so supportive and so interested in buying our stuff was hugely encouraging. We finished our puzzle too, which is just awesome. We ending up getting $2600 in sales for our family and Susan made a bunch too!!! So thankful for this community. (Now back to painting for next weekend.... :) )

November 5, 2016•Edit•Delete

RickHow wonderful for you! What beautiful work! Wish I could have been there. Let me know about the next show/event

November 6, 2016•Edit•Delete

HollyC392The final one is Winter Wonderland show at the Greenway on 11/26.