A True Blessing Today!!!

There is a family in China now, who adopted a precious little 3 year old girl from the same orphanage as Alyssa.  Today, they visited the orphanage, and sent us new pictures of Alyssa, and a video!!  In the video, Alyssa says "Thank you, BaBa and MaMa for my gifts." in Chinese!!  I can't wait to get this girl home!!

Here are some of the pictures...

Our IN CHINA Itinerary!!!!

In 10 days, we will be on our way, and below is where we will be on each day of our journey!!!

Dec.12: Arrive in Nanjing on flight , transfer to Holiday Inn Aqua City.


Dec.13: Go to the Civil Affairs to meet the child and sign the adoption agreement. After that the guide will go with you to the local department store to buy some daily necessities for your child.

Dec.14: Go to the Civil Affairs for adoption registration, notarization and child’s

passport.

Dec.15: Visit the Taizhou SWI by van, it will take around 3 hours to get there. You will be back to Nanjing on the same day.

Dec.16: Visit Ming emperor’s tomb, Provincial Museum and Xuanwu Lake Park.

Dec.17: Pick up passport in the afternoon.

Dec.18: Nanjing to Jinan on Flight SC4992/13:40-14:45, guide will meet the family at the airport and transfer to Silver Plaza Quancheng Hotel.

Dec.19: Rest and free on own.

Dec.20: In the morning go to the Civil Affairs to meet their child and sign the agreement. Guide will go with the family to the local department store to buy some daily necessities for your second child.

Dec.21: Go to the Civil Affairs again for the adoption registration and notarization, then go by train #D51/10:19-12:42 from Jinan to Qingdao, apply the child’s passport. You will stay at Sea view Garden Hotel.

Dec.22: Visit the Qingdao SWI in the morning, then take Train #D6014/14:05-16:20 from Qingdao back to Jinan, transfer to Silver Plaza Quancheng Hotel.

Dec.23: Visit Baotu Spring.

Dec.24: Pick up passport in the afternoon Jinan to Guangzhou on Flight CZ3708/19:55-22:40, transfer to Victor Hotel.

Dec.25: Take visa photo for the child first, then do medical and TB test for the child.

Dec.26: Free.

Dec.27: Pick up TB test result.

Dec.28: Visa appointment at the Consulate, Oath-taking ceremony.

Dec.29: Rest and free on own.

Dec.30: Pick up the visa in the afternoon, family will take train from Guangzhou to Hongkong, the local guide will have train tickets for you, transfer to the train station. You will stay in Hongkong Regal Airport Hotel for overnight.

Dec.31: Leave HK for home on own.

Praise the Lord!!

We received our TA for Mandi today!!  We are all set now, and don't have to worry about her TA having to catch up to us in China!!  We leave Friday, Dec 10, and get Alyssa on Dec 13, and Mandi on Dec 20.  We get to Guangzhou on Christmas Eve, and home on New Years' Eve!!  We can't wait!!  Girls, here we come!!

Letter from our Daughter

Last week, when we received the new pictures of our 13 year old daughter, we also received a letter from her.  I thought I would share it so you can see what a sweet heart she has.  We can't wait to meet her in person, on December 20!!

Dear Baba and Mama,


Ni hao! How are you? When I started to write this letter, I cannot tell you how excited I am. I always wanting a home of my own and Baba Mama , brothers and sisters of my own. I am always waiting for the dream come true. Now I find my direction, I got my hope. I really want to appreciate you with the good studying surroundings and family which you will give me.

When I got your gifts, I felt that I really met an angel in my life. I got your pictures. I saw my two lovely sisters. I think I will be as happy and lucky as they are now. I read your letter. It shows so much cares and loves to me. Thank you for your loving me so much.

I am in grade 8.I love physics maths and Chinese. I also love writing. I hope to continue my study in USA.I hope I still can study with my Taekwondo.

I love sky blue and dark and white color.

You are loving heart people. I believe that it is the fate that we find each other. I believe we will have a happy life together. I think I am going to love you with my love heart. Just like how much you love me.
Happiness and lucky find me. I will hold it till I meet you.

My dream will come true very soon..I feel so happy to have a such sweet family.

Thank you for bring me such a beautiful love and sweet and warmly home to me. I am really happy !

Thank you! I will use my heart to love everyone of you in our family!

LOVING YOU!
Your daughter Liyang
 

FLIGHTS ARE BOOKED!!!! AND...

Our flight to China is booked, and we leave Dec 10!!  That is 2 weeks from Friday.  We will be home New Years Eve!!  We are really excited, and can't wait to have the girls home.  We did have to send off a second Power of Attorney form today  - to Richmond for Authentication, then to DC for the US and for the Chinese Consulate stamps.  CRAZY DAY!!!  We awoke to an email from the travel company in China that told us we needed one for each of the girls adoptions!! 

On another wonderful note, we also received an email from our amazing agency, Madison Adoption, that  our Article 5 was picked up from the consulate on Monday, and is on it's way to CCAA, so we hope to get our TA next week for Mandi!!  Maybe by next Friday!!!

Sunday Smiles - Amazing Blessings from God

Our wonderful church family loves us and loves our children!  A wonderful family, the Smith's asked if they could do a breakfast fundraiser to help get our girls home - We held it yesterday, and raised $2,000 toward bringing our darlings home!!  We definitely have something to smile about today!  God is good!! - All the time!!  We started at 8:30, and had a line almost the entire 2 hours!  Praise the Lord!!

Happy Birthday Allie!!!

Just 3 short years ago, on her third birthday, we sent our LOI to China to bring sweet Allie home!!  I can't believe our sweet girl is 6 years old today!!  We tried something a little different this year - Gemstone the clown!!  We highly recommend Jennifer for your children's parties!!  Everyone, including the adults had a great time!  She was great, and the kids were captivated the entire time!  They recieved stickers, coloring sheets, had their faces painted, watched a great magic show, and got balloon animals, hats, and flowers - wonderfully entertaining!  Enjoy some pictures of our darling girl on her birthday!  She is a special little girl, and we know God has something special planned for her!!

Cabled today for Mandi!!!

We received our email from the NVC today that we had been cabled!!  Madison is hoping to have it dropped off at CCAA tomorrow so our Article 5 will be ready Dec 2, and, hopefully, our TA issued within a week after.  We are trying to determine if we can leave Dec 10 and get Alyssa first, and have our TA delivered to us in China for Mandi, so we can be home Jan 1.

We also had a call just a few minutes ago from Sheri with Gifts to China With Love.  She had received pictures of Mandi, and wanted me to know she was sending them!!  What a great surprise tonight!  Here is a couple of them!!  She is holding our pictures!!!

TRAVEL APPROVAL FOR ALYSSA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sunday Smiles

Sunday Smiles

We have been busy!!!

We have been really busy lately!!  Trying to fundraise to get the girls home from China (we hope in December), working, playing, and just having fun!  I put together some random photos from the past couple of weeks - enjoy!!

Officially Waiting for TA!!

We received an email from Madison yesterday that the CCAA now has our Article 5 and our original signed LOI, and we are waiting on TA for Alyssa!!  Also, they are trying to move Mandi's I-800 along quickly in immigration so we can get them both home soon!!

We can't wait!

Article 5!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We received word last night at almost midnight, from our wonderful Agency, Madison Adoption, that our Article 5 had been picked up, and will soon be dropped off at CCAA for our travel approval for Alyssa!!!

We can't wait to get our girls home!!

LOA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We received our LOA for Mandi today!!!  It is on it's way back to Madison, and our immigration paperwork for the I-800 is on it's way too!  Pray that they move quickly!!  We need to get to the NVC within 2 weeks, then cabled quickly! then Article 5, then TA!!  These girls need to get home!!

New Pictures of Alyssa today!!!

I received an email about lunchtime today with updates on Alyssa!!  It included 5 new pictures.  She is 46 inches tall, and is wearing a 10.5 shoe.  She only weighs about 8 pounds more than Allie.  Here are the new pictures!!  Looks like we might need a piano!!

Christmas Frenzy!!!

Please check out this blog, and this post!!  This wonderful family is trying to help other adopting families advertise their fundraisers!!  You can visit here and start your Christmas shopping, plus, you will be helping to bring another sweet child home to their family!

Busy week!!!

Well, this was a busy week!!!  First, we received PA for Mandi, then, Josh is buying a house, and, last night, we got bunk beds for the little girls room!!  We are going to put 2 sets of bunks in the room for Alyssa, Allie and Emma, and Mandi will have her own room.  We got one bed together late last night, and the girls love them!!  Have to finish it sometime today!  Here are a few pics AND one more of Mandi - she loves Tai Kwan Do!

BIG NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today, we received PA or pre-approval to adopt daughter number 4 from China!!  We are very excited, and blessed to be able to bring our Mandi Joy Liyang home at the same time we bring home Alyssa - hopefully, traveling in December, getting home before Christmas!!  Now that we have received our PA, we can post her picture!!

Friends Came to Visit

Our friends from PA came for a short visit on their way to visit their daughter in NC.  They spent Friday night with us, and the girls had such a great time together!  We didn't want them to leave - next time, Hauck family, you HAVE to stay longer!!  Here are some pictures of the girls all together - I just noticed, I didn't get any of the adults!!

Sunday Smiles (on Tuesday)

Sorry, but we've been busy working on a surprise to be announced a little later!  I didn't get to download pics until tonight, so here they are...

A new picture

A family was in Taizhou visiting the orphanage where their son spent his first 2.5 years, and got a picture of our sweet girl!!  This was taken less than 2 weeks ago, on Sept. 15!!  She is growing up - we need to get her home!!!

Sunday Smiles

Happy Birthday Talicee!

The girls were invited to a birthday tea party on Saturday, and what a wonderful party, and how much fun we all had!!  A girlie girl party, for sure!!  The girls wore beautiful dresses, got boas, gloves, tons of bling, hats, the whole nine yards!!  It was so much fun!  They had tea cups and saucers for drink, sandwiches cut in the shape of teapots, and parasols, fruit, veggies, a real grown up girlie time!!  They just loved it!  Here are some pictures of all the little princesses...

Cabled!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Getting closer to Alyssa!!!  We were cabled on Thursday, Sept 23!  We received our cable letter yesterday, emailed it to Madison, and it should have been forwarded to their China contact via email yesterday as well.  On Monday, our Article 5 paperwork should be delivered to the US Consulate in Guangzhou, ready for pick-up in 2 weeks.  Once it is picked it up, C*A* is notified, and, within 2-3 weeks after that, we should have travel approval!!

We are getting very excited about getting Alyssa home soon!!  Pray for us as we are continuing to raise the rest of what we will need to complete our adoption.

I just love Allie in purple!!