I800 Problems

We got our LOA for our second little girl and submitted everything to USCIS and waited expectantly for I800 approval. It didn't happen. As I checked the mail one day, I saw we had something from USCIS and was briefly excited. Then I noticed it was a pink letter. We have gotten one of these before -- when adopting from Bulgaria. That time it was a simple thing -- our daughter turned 18 and we needed to get background checks done and update. 

This time is different. It is hard to explain without sharing  personal information, but the bottom line is this -- the paperwork for one child is a problem. USCIS wants China to change something and China says no. 

So, now we are in a scramble to address the situation and not sure what will happen. We sent a packet to them today by FedEx and hope it will help. I can understand both sides -- USCIS and China's. 

This child is available -- it has nothing to do with that. There is just something in her paperwork that seems to be a discrepancy, but actually has a very valid reason. I never really saw this coming, but it is kind of a mess. I have wanted to adopt this child since I first saw a picture of her and can't imagine something happening and not being able to since we have made it this far.  

So, now we just wait and pray.

The Weekend In Pictures

We gave painting acorns a try and they turned out ok -- definitely don't look like the ones we saw on Pinterest, though. 

We also went to a harvest festival -- Meadow Farm Museum at Crump Park. We were late getting there so didn't get to do as much as we wanted. But, it was fun and my granddaughter, Reagan, met us there. 

Today, after church, the kids spent the afternoon playing in the yard. 

Apple Picking

Last Friday a few of the kids and I went to Carter's Mountain with some friends to pick apples. Since it has rained here so much lately, we didn't know if we could make it through the day without getting wet. But, it only rained for the first ten or fifteen minutes and then it was a really nice day. As soon as we got there Bethany and Sarah said they were freezing so I had to buy them sweatshirts. Of course, within an hour or so they were both hot and ended up taking them off.  I guess the sweatshirts won't go to waste as they can wear them all fall. 

Bethany was really hot and her face showed it by the time we were done.

I thought I would add these pictures of Sophia I took today -- even though they have nothing to do with picking apples. But, she was in a pretty good mood and I managed to get a few pictures of her. She sat outside for about an hour and a half before she started fussing and I think that was mainly because she wanted her orthotics off. She seemed to enjoy being outside more than usual today -- could be the nice fall weather. She looks so big to me when I look at these pictures. Maybe she has grown more than I thought in the past two and a half years. 

China Adoption - Where We Are

Just a little information on where we are in the process of adopting from China. Our homestudy is done and our dossier is in China and we are logged in. Even better -- we already have our LOA (letter of approval) for one of the girls. We have signed that and sent it back.

We have filed our I800 and we are still waiting for approval. We are waiting for a LOA for our other little girl and should have it within a week or two -- I hope. Hopefully, this gives a small idea of where we are in the process and I will give a little more info later. 

I think we now need to figure out names for them so I can stop calling them the girls -- or the first little girl - meaning the one we found first and then the second little girl. We definitely need names.

Emily came by to visit today and Bella couldn't stay away from her -- of course, that could be because she brought food.

Emily traveled with me to Bulgaria when we adopted Bella and Sophia. She was definitely a real help  and good company, too. It was a very enjoyable trip -- probably our easiest adoption trip ever. 

Abigail will be traveling with me to China when we go to pick up the girls. She said it was her turn. 

China

Months and months ago I saw a picture of a little girl that really jumped out at me. She was on an adoption waiting list. I kept looking and looking at her picture. Then I sent it to Bill. He said she was cute and we didn't talk about her again. Then I decided to send an email to the agency and ask about her. I got an email back saying that we could see her file, but there were five people ahead of us looking at her. I got her file, read it and showed it to Bill and he read it. Then we just waited. Then an email came that she had less than two weeks left and her file would be returned. I wrote the agency again and asked where we were on the list and was told that all the others had decided not to proceed and we were the only ones left. I couldn't believe it. So, I asked what we needed to do and we started all the paperwork and within a couple of weeks we had PA (pre-approval) from China to adopt her. 

I still can't believe that we are adopting again. We had said that Bella and Sophia were our last adoption and meant it. I did occasionally look at waiting children, but not seriously until I saw "her". 

Once we got PA for her we decided to apply to adopt a second little girl and got PA for her also.

They are in two different orphanages in different provinces -- and we can't wait to meet them.