Traveling in Style

I think I've found the coolest pix of new luggage coming out now... this is how we should be stylin' on our way to China... Finally, something besides black for luggage!!

Adoption Tax Credit Expires 2010!! HELP!!

Calling all friends to please help put pressure on your Senators and Congressmen to support making the adoption credit permanent! As it stands now, the tax credit put in place in 2001 will expire in December 2010. For those of us who expected to be waiting no more than 12 months for our children but now are looking at 4 years (yes FOUR YEARS!), this could be another slap in the face when it comes to our adoption process.

Right now, adoption costs will likely exceed $20,000 for each family. That is pretty tough for most people and the credit is how most people can manage to make this work. Right now the credit is $12,150 with certain limitations based on salary.

So could I ask that anyone who has come by this blog take a minute to help? We need people to write to their representatives to ask them to co-sponsor the bill that will make this credit permanent.

Here is a step-by-step guide of how to help:

1. Find the name and Washington, D.C. mailing address of your Representative and Senators at www.congress.org. To find e-mail addresses, click through to the Senator’s or Congressperson’s Web site.

2. Next, log on to http://thomas.loc.gov/ to find out whether your Congresspersons are already co-sponsors of the legislation. On the thomas.loc.gov opening page, under “Search Bill Summary and Status,” search by bill number for H.R. 213. Then click on “Bill summary and Status.” On the page that comes up, click on “Cosponsors,” “Text of Legislation,” or “All Congressional Actions” to follow the progress of the bill. (FOR ANYONE IN WI - OUR REPS ARE NOT CO-SPONSORING SO PLEASE WRITE, WRITE, WRITE!)

3. If your representatives have not signed on as co-sponsors of the bill, send them your request that they do so. Tell them how important the tax credit was to you when you adopted your children, or how much you and other families you know are counting on it to be available in the future. Emphasize that the tax credit truly results in more children finding homes. Tell them that this is so important to you that you will be following the bill’s progress through Congress.

4. INCLUDE A FAMILY PHOTO: While e-mails are valuable, a written note with a picture of your family or your children will be most effective. If sending e-mail, you’ll actually want to avoid attaching a photo; the large size of the message and the attachment could, potentially, mark it as junk or harmful e-mail.

5. If any of your Congresspersons are already co-sponsors, write them a thank-you note. Again, letters sent by snail-mail with photos of your children will receive more attention.


Here is a sample letter I found online along with the information above. If you are not a family adopting, please still write and include that you know people who are adopting and would like your representative to support giving children good and loving homes through adoption.


SAMPLE LETTER TO YOUR SENATOR or CONGRESSMAN:

The Honorable FIRST NAME LAST NAME
U.S. Senate or U.S. House of Representatives
OFFICE ADDRESS
Washington, D.C. ZIP CODE

Dear Senator LAST NAME:

My family and I are your constituents in NAME OF TOWN. We request your support of The Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act of 2009, H.R. 213.

The adoption tax credit that this legislation would make permanent is very important to my family and me. Without this significant financial help, we would not have been able (or would have found it very difficult) to adopt our beloved son (or daughter), NAME. I include a photo of my son/daughter.

As you may know, adoption expenses can easily exceed $20,000, a significant sum to most families. (Or, if your expenses were more, say so.) Without the adoption tax credit, we would probably not be able to adopt another child.

I truly believe that the adoption expense tax credit results in many more children without homes finding new, loving families like my own.

I urge you to co-sponsor H.R. 213. This legislation is so important to me that I will be following its progress through Congress. Thank you in advance for your support of this legislation that truly serves children who need new families.

Sincerely,
YOUR NAME

Qingming Festival

Tomb Sweeping Day is one of the most common English translations of Qingming Festival.

For the Chinese, it is a day to remember and honor one's ancestors at grave sites. Young and old pray before the ancestors, sweep the tombs and offer food, tea, wine, chopsticks, (joss) paper accessories, and/or libation to the ancestors. The rites are very important to most Chinese and especially farmers. Some people carry willow branches with them on Qingming, or put willow branches on their gates and/or front doors. They believe that willow branches help ward off the evil spirit that wanders on Qingming. Also on Qingming, people go on family outings, start the spring plowing, sing, dance, and Qingming is a time where young couples start courting. Another popular thing to do is fly kites (in shapes of animals, or characters from Chinese opera).

April matches are in!

While it's hard to get excited over a 2-day referral batch, it is better than what we were expecting. March 7th was a HUGE day and the fact that they added in an extra day beyond that is good news. March 7th was supposedly as large as some other referral months alone. So, we can chalk off another two more referral days. Inching ever so slowly to the finish line... Only 128 more log-in dates to go...

So, congratulations to those families who are getting to meet their daughters (or sons) for the very first time.

Meeting my "sisters" in Nashville

Well, I am finally going to meet some of my "Ma Ma Sisterhood" in Nashville over July 4th weekend. There will be 5 of us ladies (and some of their kids) and after over 2.5 years of talking over the internet, we're going to finally meet in person. I am so excited. I just booked my flight and hotel today. Poor Robert has to stay home and work. Not too happy about that. Ah, well...

Positive Rumblings

Well, lately we've been hearing lots of positive news about the potential (key word, here) for a speed-up in the referral process most likely in the second half of this year. The Chinese are trying to see the ever-expanding child-match referral waits go down. They have increased the orphanage donation fee by $2000 in the hopes that more orphanage directors would be inclined to make their children "paper ready" (which means that they would be available for international adoption). They have tried to curb the defacto adoption of children in China (where people would see an abandoned child and rear him/her as their own) which is now illegal in China. They are supposed to turn the child in to a Social Welfare Institute (SWI - what the Chinese call their orphanages). Also, the CCAA has put in writing that they want to "put Adoption First." Let's just see if this happens and give these orphaned children a home.

Now what does all that mean for us? We're not sure yet. We are hoping that this means that a speed-up in the process is coming. When? We're not sure... How fast a speed-up? Don't know that either. We don't have any sense of when our adoption is going to happen. It could be this year (doubtful) or as long as the beginning of 2011. All of which I've heard.

What we do know, is that our daughter will be here, just not sure when... She's already in our hearts, just not our home.

Check off another set of matches

Well, we haven't heard an official cut-off date, but I think I can almost say for certain that the cut-off is March 6, 2006. This was a 4-day referral batch. So, only 130 more referral days to go. Lets keep 'em coming... Unfortunately at this rate we may not see our daughter until the beginning of 2011. Really depressing.

UPDATE: Well, it took the CCAA a whole month to make it official, but now it is!

The CCAA has finished the review of the adoption application documents registered with our office before March 31, 2007.

The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were registered with our office before March 6, 2006.

You Might Be Adopting From China If...

...you know that the I-600 & I-171 aren't highways.
...you’ve been expecting a baby for over 3 years.
...you understand that it's 2006 in some parts of the world.
...you've “paid for” 3 citizenships, but never brought anyone into the U.S.
...you know that waiting for China has nothing to do with Dillards or dishes
...your homestudy is followed by a number (i.e. #3 or #4)
...you never know how many days next month will have
...you know that babies come in batches
...you’ve been fingerprinted four times, but never committed a crime
...you automatically assume everyone who is expecting is having a girl
...you own new clothing in 3 little sizes for all 4 seasons (because you don't know when or how big)
...you look twice when you see a ladybug
...you’re more interested in what will happen in March 2006 than in March 2009
...you know people who understand when you talk about 2 day months & 5 day months
...your due date hasn’t changed by days, but by years
...you know who the Rumor Queen is ... AND ... you don’t know who she is
...you know that forecast doesn’t have anything to do with the weather
...you’ve waited so long, they re-checked your fingerprints to see if they changed
...trying to understand why they're printing you again, you study your own fingerprints and wonder if fingerprints grow wrinkles
...when you speak of “that time of month” you’re talking about CCAA updates & referrals
...you love someone you’ve never met with all your heart.

Happy Chinese New Year - Year of the Ox

I forgot to post the other day, but we are now in the midst of the Chinese New Year - celebrating the Year of the Ox. It is celebrated from January 26 through February 6 this year. It is very likely that our future daughter will be born during the Year of the Ox.



The Ox is the sign of prosperity through fortitude and hard work. This powerful sign is a born leader, being quite dependable and possessing an innate ability to achieve great things. As one might guess, such people are dependable, calm, and modest. Like their animal namesake, the Ox is unswervingly patient, tireless in their work, and capable of enduring any amount of hardship without complaint.

Ox people need peace and quiet to work through their ideas, and when they have set their mind on something it is hard for them to be convinced otherwise. An Ox person has a very logical mind and is extremely systematic in whatever they do, though they have a tremendous imagination and an unparalleled appreciation for beauty. These people speak little but are extremely intelligent. When necessary, they are articulate and eloquent.

People born under the influence of the Ox are kind, caring souls, logical, positive, filled with common sense and with their feet firmly planted on the ground. Security is their main preoccupation in life, and they are prepared to toil long and hard in order to provide a warm, comfortable and stable nest for themselves and their families. Strong-minded, stubborn, individualistic, the majority are highly intelligent individuals who don't take kindly to being told what to do.

The Ox works hard, patiently, and methodically, with original intelligence and reflective thought. These people enjoy helping others. Behind this tenacious, laboring, and self-sacrificing exterior lies an active mind.

The Ox is not extravagant, and the thought of living off credit cards or being in debt makes them nervous. The possibility of taking a serious risk could cause the Ox sleepless nights.

Ox people are truthful and sincere, and the idea of wheeling and dealing in a competitive world is distasteful to them. They are rarely driven by the prospect of financial gain. These people are always welcome because of their honesty and patience. They are reputed to be the most beautiful of face in the zodiac. They have many friends, who appreciate the fact that the Ox people are wary of new trends, although every now and then they can be encouraged to try something new. People born in the year of the Ox make wonderful parents and teachers of children.

It is important to remember that the Ox people are sociable and relaxed when they feel secure, but occasionally a dark cloud looms over such people and they engage all the trials of the whole world and seek solutions for them.

Matches are in...

While we haven't heard the "official" cut-off date for this set of matches, we can almost say for certain that the cut-off is March 2, 2006. Only 2 days worth of referrals since the last set. This batch was small mostly for two reasons: 1) they just wanted to get a few referrals out before the Chinese New Year started; and 2) this was the second group of matches in less than 30 days. On the good side, expedited families (those who have Chinese ancestry and are on a faster track than the rest of us) got referrals this month, so yeah to them!!

With every batch, we are just that much closer to our daughter.

UPDATE: March 2nd is officially the cutoff!! Only 134 more referral days to go...