Article 5--Dropped off!

Well, I received our much awaited pdf from the National Visa Center this past Monday. I quickly forwarded it to my adoption coordinator and she sent it along to her China contact. So, my paperwork for my Article 5 should have been dropped off Tuesday! Now I just count forward two weeks from October 18th, which will be November 2nd, and my Article 5 paperwork should be picked up that day! After that we wait for our Travel Approval. Travel Approval is China's invitation to us to come get our daughter. Some other adoptive parents from my agency have been receiving TA a week to 10 days after their Aricle 5 pickup....and they are traveling just a week after get their TA. If we follow that same schedule we could be traveling in a month from now. It's starting to feel like it's really going to happen! Believe it or not, I've already started packing. I'm trying to take as little luggage as possible...I'm pretty low maintenance (a ponytail is my favorite "hairdo"), so I think that should be somewhat easy. I'll keep you posted!

Don't Forget!

There have been more prizes added to the giveaway at www.nogreaterjoymom.com

There are some super fabulous prizes!!

Check it out!!!

PICTURE UPDATE!

Sophia and a friend (Sophia's on the left looking at the camera)




I think she's ready for a mama!




I love the outfit!



This one has got to me my favorite picture of her!




We're coming!!!

I am so thrilled to see our sweet Sophia's face...she is getting so big...which does make me a bit sad. And in 2 of the pictures her eyes are all watery from crying. I wish I could hop a flight to get her right now! I know children cry, the ones at home here like to do it all the time! But, it's so heartbreaking when I can't even hug her. C'mon Travel!! Bring it on!

Hope you enjoy these pics as much as I am!!

THANK YOU!

To all my bloggy friends who have so graciously donated to our adoption...please know I am so very thankful! If I could hug each of you...I would. The adoption journey is a very exciting journey, but it does have it's ups and downs. Just like anything else, you can't understand it until you've been down this path. You know that song Hosanna that says "Break my heart for what breaks yours. Everything I am for your Kingdoms cause"...well, I sure do feel that's been my theme song. I don't think you can walk the road of adoption without having your heart broken in a million pieces. I mean, really, just read a blog or two and your in tears. It's just overwhelming the need out there, the sadness, and the pain. But, it's also overwhelmingly (is that a word?) good when you read these stories of families literally rescuing these children from all sorts of situations. In my opinion it's a perfect snapshot of the Gospel. We all have our stories and they are all different, but we all share something in common. We all are dealing with struggles, sadness, trials, pain, loneliness, betrayal. It's just the world we live in. If it's not today, it will be tomorrow. So sad. So overwhelmingly (theres that word again) sad. BUT, lets not forget the One who can rescue us from all those things. Only God wants too. And truthfully, only He can. As a mommy swoops down and scoops up her once orphaned child and embraces him/her in her arms as her child...it's just the same when God moves in and rescues us. It's just so very cool to me. So very, very cool. Well, this started out as a simple thank you to those who have walked beside us and been so supportive in so many ways, but it turned out a little more long winded than expected. Let me just end with a big ol' THANK YOU! Y'all are too kind. And if you still want to be entered into a drawing, please check out www.nogreaterjoymom.com

Donate $10 and get put in a drawing!

So if you check out a bloggy friend of mine...well kinda...I guess I should say I follow this blog and I think she is a wonderful person, but we don't really know each other! Anyway, Adeye at www.nogreaterjoymom.com is having a drawing. If you donate to one of the families on her blog you get entered into a drawing for a $500 Target giftcard!

We are #19 on the list and it says Our Sophia under Sophia's picture. If you click on Sophia's picture it takes you to our blog where you can leave a donation. Then just leave a comment on www.nogreaterjoymom.com blog that you donated and you will be entered!

You can read about it at her blog! Even if it's not our family you donate too...you might just find a family that pulls on your heartstrings!

Did you feel the Earth move?

That was just me jumping up and down!! We got our I800 APPROVAL!!! WOOHOO! We are getting so close...so very close!!

This is a very good day!

Finances

Adoption is expensive. I've avoided this topic for our entire journey because it's such a touchy topic. Part of me thinks that since we decided to adopt, we should be able to pay for it all. Another part of me wants people to understand that sometimes we just flat out need help. Let me first start by putting the stats out there. Our adoption is going to cost approximately $25,000. We started our adoption of Sophia this past January. It has been 9 months since we saw her sweet face and began this exciting journey! But, in 9 months we have also paid out $13,000! Whoa! Can you believe that? I have to put a disclaimer in here....this is NOT by our doing. Yes, we have saved every penny we could. Yes, we have cut back with nonessentials. But, only God could provide $13000 in 9 months. He has used many avenues for this. At the beginning God used friends to donate in a big way...this started us off! We were thrilled! Later along in the process God used more friends to bless us in a big way! Again, just humbled and thrilled! And as we have approached the end here, God has used bonus money from my husbands awesome employer and more monetary donations from 2 close friends! We have been blessed beyond what we deserve. We know this is because "What God calls you to, He will see you through". Well, friends we are approaching the end of our journey. We should be traveling in November to finally bring our little girl home! But, if you do the math, you will see $25,000 minus $13,000 leaves $12,000 left to come up with before we leave! We have been saving like crazy...we have $4220 in our adoption fund. We still need to save another $8000 in about 6 weeks. I am not one to get overly concerned. But, I have to tell you there are some nights I stay up way to late wondering where exactly that's gonna come from! But, in my heart of hearts I know God's love is not only for our Sophia, but for me too. I just know He wants to show off for us! I know the money will come. Honestly, if you would please pray for me. I don't want to worry. I think that is the ultimate slap in the face of the Lord. I truly believe He will provide. My hope is that I can hold onto His truths and trust in His unfailing Word that He has got this covered! And, if you feel the desire to contribute in anyway...well, I'm not gonna turn ya down! We have a donation button off to the right. Feel free to use it. :)

Our paperwork is in the building!

I called USCIS (United States Citizens and Immigration Services) on Thursday. The nice officer I spoke with said when she looked up our paperwork that she could see it was in the building, but not quite to our officers desk. She said I should call back next week and see if it's been approved. I am thinking I will call Wednesday. Once we have this approval then we can move on to the next step! I have been told that it could be just 6 weeks until travel. Still seems too far for my liking, but hey we've been waiting for Sophia since January...so I won't complain about 6 more weeks!