Seven Years of Marital Bliss

Well, to quote my friend Jen: "Seven's Heaven" and indeed it has been.

I've been married for seven of the most wonderful years to the best husband in the world! I couldn't have asked for more. I feel a lucky woman to have him in my life. He's my best friend. We've traveled the world, gone flying on airplanes, shared many "date nights" and have shared many laughs.

This morning, I awoke to a beautiful bouquet of roses and a handmade card. He's a keeper, for sure! A romantic at heart...

July Matches are in!

It's official. July matches are in! Two more big referral days checked off! Only 114 more referral days to go. Here's the official posting from the CCAA.

The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were registered with our office before March 22, 2006.

3 Year Anniversary

It’s hard to imagine that today is our 3rd anniversary of our Log-In Date in China. We certainly never expected to reach this milestone. But, alas we have… I am a firm believer in the philosophy that things happen for a reason, even if we’re not sure what that reason is at the time when it’s happening. So, I have to think that this wait is teaching and preparing us for this wonderful child that we get to call our daughter.

During our wait, we’ve taken lots of wonderful vacations (each one was supposed to be our “last one before our child”) and Robert was able to get his private pilot license (this would have been harder/impossible with a child at home). I have even gotten to meet some of my July 2006 CCAI chat group - some of whom we'll be traveling with in China - Yeah!

I strongly feel that we are on the downhill now awaiting our daughter’s referral. I am optimistic that around this time next year, we’ll be holding a referral in our hands and sharing with you her beautiful face.

I look forward to the day.

Happy Anniversary to us!

Waiting

Waiting
By Karen Cooper

I haven't met you yet or seen your face,
but in my heart you hold a place.
My hopes grow with each passing day,
even though you're miles away.
I know you're there waiting for me,
As I am here waiting to see,
the child God has sent from above,
to make me a mother and share all my love.

Nashville Get-Together

Well, after close to 3 years of waiting for our daughter and about 2.5 years of "chatting" daily over the internet, we decided we needed to meet face-to-face. There are about a dozen of us who have become very close since our chat group started in January 2007. As the wait has become longer and longer, we have become closer and closer. There were 5 of us who met for the weekend (Autumn and family surprised us for lunch on Friday) These ladies are all logged-in during July 2006 and using the same agency as we are, so many of them may actually get to travel to China with us (I do hope it's all of them - it's going to be hard to not have them nearby for support). We have become eachother's support system - getting through the good and the bad days that we all have. I am very lucky to have them all!

Here are a few snapshots of the weekend

Our Hotel: Gaylord Opryland Hotel


The "Ma Ma Sisterhood" (the name we call our little group)
Charity, Beth, Lori, Autumn, Sue, and Cary


The whole gang including kids and dads


Eating dinner at the Rainforest Cafe

Charity and I


Cary and I onstage at the Ryman Auditorium (the original Grand Ole Opry)

Pink Ladybug Sighting!

In the Chinese adoption community, a ladybug sighting is a sign your referral is quickly approaching. To help things along, I've added another store to my CafePress line-up. I decided I needed some cute pink ladybugs (and a speed-up in the referral process!).

100% of all proceeds go to support the needs of Chinese children who are waiting to be adopted through such charities as Love Without Boundaries, Half the Sky Foundation, and CCAI's charities.

http://www.cafepress.com/pinkladybugshop

June Referrals Are In!

Well, it looks like the June referrals are in! Still waiting on the official cut-off, but it looks like it is going to be March 20, 2006. So, those whose Log-In dates were from 3/15/06 thru 3/20/06 are getting "the call" right now!

This means that we have 116 more Log-In Dates to go until we're referred our daughter. Getting closer...

Official Notice:

The CCAA has finished the review of the adoption application documents registered with our office before June 30, 2007.

The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were registered with our office before March 20, 2006.

Father's Day and Anniversary Wishes...

Wishing all Fathers and Fathers-to-be a Happy Father's Day!

Also, a Happy 45th Wedding Anniversary to my wonderful parents!
I LOVE YOU!!

Good things come to those who wait...

I have been waiting many years for our refrigerator to "die" so I could get my french door style refrigerator that I had been eying... Well, it finally happened. I noticed the gasket around the refrigerator section had a crack in it - and so, it has come to pass that it needed to be replaced. Well, after much research and driving myself totally crazy, we went out and bought the Samsung French Door refrigerator (26 cu. ft). I will be able to fit lots of food in here! Oh, goodie! It's going to get delivered in about a week or so. I feel as giddy as a school-girl! It's the little things in life that make us so happy!

Next in line are our stove (we've already tried to break that one twice) and our noisy, but still working dishwasher. It's only a matter of time... Hope it's sooner than later. We hate them both, but can't see spending the money if they aren't broke. You know the saying "if it aint broke, don't fix it!"

Tuberculin Test Required for Adoptees

The US Consulate in Guangzhou has sent out a notice that in order to comply with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) immigration requirements (http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/pdf/ti_tb_8_9_2007.pdf), all Chinese immigrants, including adopted children, 2-14 years old must have a tuberculin test completed before the visa appointment at the US Consulate in Guangzhou. (Note: this does affect those adopting from other countries as well...)

Effective July 1, 2009, the tuberculin skin test will be completed for adoptive children ages 2-14 during the regular medical examination in Guangzhou, and results will be read within 48 to 72 hours. If the skin test result is positive, a chest x-ray will be performed. Based upon the results of the chest x-ray, a physical exam and the child’s medical history, the panel physician will determine the appropriate classification of tuberculosis, if any. Further testing and treatment prior to immigration may be required. Our agency, CCAI, does not anticipate this new procedure will create significant delays to adoption travel groups.