Miles and Miles to Mylei: It will be soon

The long and winding road

Miles and miles to Mylei has become the long and winding road to Emme. If your new to our story, Mylei's foster parents would not return her to the orphanage. So, after much debate and counsel, we decided to let her go.

God has graciously blessed us with a new child, Emme.

I imagine the scene to be heart wrenching. A young mother placing her precious baby girl at a Passenger Transportation Center in H*pu Town (Guangx* Province, Ch*na). The mother then hiding and watching through tears as someone finds her baby and takes her to the Children's Welfare Institute of H*pu Town.

That mother's painful loss will become our joy and blessing. As East meets West, our family eagerly anticipates never being the same. We invite you to be part of our journey.

Key to Chinese Adoption Abbreviations

CCAA- Chinese Center for Adoption Affairs

Waiting Child- A child with a special need.

DTC- Documents to China

LID- Log in Date This is the date that our paperwork was logged into China. It put us officially in line. It works like getting a number at the deli. They move through the line in order according to one's log in date. When we started we were told we would receive a referral in 6-9 months.

LOI- Letter of Intent This is a letter sent to the CCAA asking to adopt a child on the waiting child list. In the letter, you tell them you understand the child's condition and list a plan for treatment.

PA- Pre-approval

LOA- Letter of Acceptance

TA- Travel Approval

CA- Consulate Appointment

Our Timeline

Jan 2006-May 2006- Our paperwork was put together and sent to China.

June 15, 2006 - LID

March 17, 2008-LOI sent to China

April 17, 2008-PA

May 2, 2008-LOA

May 23, 2008 TA everyone else at our agency received theirs, not us

May 25- Found out foster family would not return Mylei to the orphanage

June 17, 2008- NEW REFERRAL

June 18, 2008- LOI sent to China for Emme

June 26, 2008-PA

July 11, 2008-LOA

Aug 4, 2008- every one at our agency again receives TA- except for us

Aug 7, 2008- TA... after threatening lives:-)

Travel- September 4-18, 2008

Sept 16, 2008-CA

Monday, July 7, 2008

It will be soon

"It will be soon." Is it just me or do you feel like I have had to hear that a million times?? We called FTIA today and they said they have received a correspondence from China and that our LOA would be on it's way soon. What is soon? Soon to me would have been getting it all done in one week! Instead we are working our way through the steps all over again. We got a PA on the 26th of June. Are they telling me that now we are waiting on an LOA together with a TA or are we waiting on the TA separately?

I would have been fine if they would have just told me I would be working my way through all the steps again. But, instead, everyone kept saying soon. If you ask me, soon has come and gone.

I really need to keep this is perspective. At least they gave us a new referral and a relatively healthy one at that. And, if I really trust God like I say I do, then why am I having such a hard time trusting him with the timing?

I bet God gets so frustrated with me. He proves himself over and over and over again. Then, when things don't go as I want them to go, I want to throw myself down on my bed like a spoiled brat, cry and not function the rest of the day.

That's pathetic! Forgive me Lord!

On a happy note, I have some very good and gracious friends throwing me a shower tonight! So sweet!!

4 comments:

The Gang's Momma! said...: Aaaaaw, a shower. How fun! And what a great, tangible way to celebrate. Hope you get lots of great stuff and can start dreaming of using it :)

Waiting and waiting with you. It's so hard, isn't it?! But I keep reminding myself that He is sovereign, He is in control, and He will renew my strength for this journey!; July 7, 2008 at 5:15 PM
Anonymous said...: Hi April,

I was so disappointed that I couldn't make it to the shower. Cara and Abby are both sick with a stomach thing. I was moping around all evening knowing that I was missing out on a great celebration of your sweet girl. We can't wait for you to have her home and are praying it comes quickly!
Jeni; July 8, 2008 at 12:25 AM
Tony and Rett said...: Ahem....soooooo with all this waiting and time to kill, why don't you rename the blog? That would take up like two minutes! Maybe that'll make the time fly!

Just a thought! (And another way to make you smile during this wait!)

Hope you had a fun shower!!!; July 8, 2008 at 9:34 PM
Pumpkin Head Baby Co said...: I have been praying that you will get news soon. But God keeps reminding me that it is all in HIS time. It's hard for even me to accept this & she's not even my daughter! :) But I know he is right & no matter how frustrating it is or how is seems the timing isn't going to work with our schedules, we need to remember that God already knows when it is going to happen and not to worry or fret.; July 9, 2008 at 4:22 PM