Miles and Miles to Mylei: Happy Birthday!!

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

Friday, August 29, 2008

Happy Birthday!!

Happy Birthday to me!!!

I know one shouldn't really wish themselves a happy birthday. But, hey... how many people do you know that get to go to China for their birthday?? And, then, in China, that same lucky person gets handed a beautiful baby girl all wrapped up on a pink bow. Well, alright... maybe not the pink bow. The Chinese aren't much into fashion. Have you seen the outfits those babies come in? Wow! is about all one can say about that!!

I'm gonna go have a great day!!

P. S. My husband and oldest daughter are on a government field trip. They are going to watch John McCain announce his running mate...live. And guess what... IT'S HIS BIRTHDAY TOO!!!!

4 comments:

Jeni said...: Hi April,
Happy Birthday!! I am so excited that you will have your sweet girl home soon. You'll post updates quickly, won't you???

Jeni; August 29, 2008 at 12:58 PM
Sharla M. said...: Hi Friend,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you! Just a few more days till you have the most wonderful birthday present in your arms... Wish we could go have a cup of coffee and celebrate!

Hugs,
Sharla; August 29, 2008 at 11:45 PM
Tony and Rett said...: It's perfectly acceptable to wish yourself a happy birthday! But I'll do it too, just in case...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

WHOO HOO, China, here she comes!; August 30, 2008 at 8:40 AM
Anonymous said...: Happy Birthday! We were there at the Nutter Center, too. I wonder why we didn't see Paul & Shelby?!? Hmmm... Anways, happy birthday!; August 30, 2008 at 12:50 PM