Sarah's Thoughtfulness: Presents for Chayah

The other night at dinner, Sarah Lu said
"I have a good idea! We could go to Walmart and buy presents for Chayah! We can get her a Microphone...a 'Ro' Barbie like me...a Baby Doll...And Yummy-yummy-yummy-yummy-yummy Popcorn!"

Much Life Promised By God

Chayah Elizabeth: Much Life Promised By God
Chayah means "Life". Elizabeth means "Promised By God".
This is our prayer for Chayah.

Beautiful

Chayah is wearing the pink shirt, blue pants, and green shoes.
This picture was taken in August 2006 when she was 4 years old.
Isn't she just so beautiful? I love this little girl so much already. I just want her home!

The Introduction

Due to privacy, I have removed this post from the blog at this time.

If you would like to read our full adoption story, feel free to email me at: bound4meimei@yahoo.com

PA!

We received our PA, Pre-Approval, today!!!! It's so amazing that it came in just 3 weeks since we sent out our LOI!!!!! YAY!!!!!!

Our Timeline

January-December 2006: Sarah's Adoption
December 3, 2007: Found Chayah with CCAI
December 4, 2007: Filled out and faxed the preliminary application for Chayah's adoption to CCAI
December 21, 2007: Sent our LOI to China
January 11, 2008: Received our PA from China!!!!! (3 weeks!)
June 24, 2008: Dossier to China- DTC!!!!
July 3, 2008: LID- Log In Date!!!
November 13, 2008: LOA- Letter of Acceptance!!! Day 133... TA should come soon!
December 12, 2008: TA- Travel Approval! All we do now is work out our travel plans!!! Wohoo!!! Chayah is coming home SOON!!!!
January 8th-24th, 2009: Travel Dates Set! Chayah is coming home!!!!!!

The Down Side

Well, the physicals are done. It was quite a traumatic experience, for me at least. I do not think there is anything I hate more than blood tests and shots. And seriously, what is the point of them? They are way too painful to be good for you. It hurts to type because my right arm has been stabbed this afternoon. This truly is the down side of the process. Everything else is so exciting and just absolutely perfect, but not the physicals, at all. At least they are done now!

One step closer!!! (and what a big and hard step it has been!)

The Ultimate Gift

This movie has played a huge part in our adoption journey. When we first saw it, my Dad said it was one of his absolute favorite movies. About one month later, we were reviewing Chayah's file and praying for God's will. At this same time, my Dad was teaching a study on The Ultimate Gift at church. That's when it hit. The little girl in the movie, Emily, played by Abigail Breslin, has leukemia and has one wish: to have the perfect day. While my Dad was teaching on this movie, this particular fact stuck out to him and reminded him of Chayah. We now know that no matter what the future may hold, we are Chayah's forever family, and she needs to come home to us. It was also by the inspiration of 'The Ultimate Gift' that Chayah's name was given to her. Chayah (Hebrew, pronounced Khai-uh) meaning: abundant life, to have life, to continue in life, remain alive, to sustain life, to live prosperously, to revive, be quickened from sickness, from discouragement, from faintness, from death to preserve alive, let live, to give life, refresh, to restore to life, to cause to grow.

A little more about our little girl

As of November 20, 2007, Chayah weighed 33 pounds and measured 37.8 inches. She's very tiny! Smaller than Sarah Lu is right now and she is two years older!

Here is some more that the orphanage wrote about her:

She can recite dozens of rhymes and Tang poetry that the nannies have taught her. She likes to sing and she sings very well. She takes initiative to help the nannies pick up toys and care for the younger children. She is a well-behaved, polite, pretty, happy, little angel. (I like that part!) Her favorite activity is playing with toys and games. Her favorite toys are stuffed animals. She is fond of listening to music and singing. She has a ready smile. She is fond of reading picture books. She is energetic and gets along well with others. She is closest to caretakers and other children in the institution.