That's My Girl

These sweet pictures were taken of Miss Chayah when she was 4 years old, two years ago by a fellow adoptive family. We are so thankful for these pictures. Isn't she just the sweetest? Every time I look at her pictures, I am reminded of how absolutely in love I am with this girl. I just cannot wait until she finally comes home and I can hold her in my arms. That's my mei mei! We're coming soon, sweetie!

No word on our LOA, still waiting. Today is day 84... hoping and praying it comes soon!!

Day Seventy-Five

75 days of waiting for our LOA (Letter of Acceptance)...

Chayah, waiting, picture taken in May 08.

Chayah Comes Home- Help Us Bring Her Home

I've opened a Cafe Press store to raise the rest of the funds we need to bring Chayah home. For those of you not familiar with Cafe Press, Cafe Press is a website which allows individuals to set up a store of products with your own unique designs printed on the products as you have designed. The products have a base price and a portion of the proceeds come directly towards bringing Chayah home. I've decided to call our store "Chayah Comes Home" stating directly what it is, a way to help raise the funds to bring Chayah home. The products range from t-shirts and hooded sweatshirts in sizes from baby through adult to clocks, mugs, and even greeting cards. The images on the products belong to me. Photo editing was done by my sister, Rachael.
You can view the store HERE or by going to: http://www.cafepress.com/chayah

Products for you, supporting Chayah's adoption.

Waiting

Today is Day 51 of our wait. The last I've heard, the average LOA (Letter of Acceptance) was received on approximately day 70. So, it that was true for us, 19 more days? I sure hope so! Anyone heard any other averages? I am still expecting LOA and TA (Travel Approval) to come in September, with travel in October. That is what I am really hoping for!!! It makes me so sad to think of how much Chayah is growing up, without us there to spend this time with her. We received her referral when she was 5 1/2 years old, now she has been 6 for over a month. I just want to get her HOME! I love my mei mei Chayah Elizabeth Ruby and I can't wait until she is in our arms forever! I know that God has the perfect timing for this adoption and He will bring her home in His perfect time.

Thank you Shaohannah's Hope

Our God is an awesome God! When we stepped out in this journey of faith, we did not know where the finances were going to come from. But we knew that this adoption was God's will and that He would provide. Through our wonderful agency CCAI we were shown this and now again through Shaohannah's Hope! We have been awarded a grant in the amount of $3000 from Shaohannah's Hope for Chayah's adoption! Shaohannah's Hope is a ministry created by Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife, MaryBeth, to help with the costs of adoption to build bridges and families through the miracle of adoption. We received this awesome news while watching the Chapman Family on Larry King Live, and as Larry King said, "The Amazing Chapmans", and that they truly are! I cannot begin to express our gratitude towards Shaohannah's Hope; the staff, and the Chapman family, for this gift!

Hope in the Journey

My mom and I were looking through the latest LOA's (letter of acceptance) that other families have received and how long they waited to receive it. It looks like the average within our agency, CCAI, is approximately 70 days of a wait. Today, July 24th, we are on day 21 of our wait! I went through the calendar, marking off certain days to find out when our day 70 would be- September 11th is Day 70 of our wait for LOA (counting from July 3rd, LID- Log In Date). As I was counting the days, I looked up at the picture for the month of September. See it above? Yep, that is the Great Wall of China! I was shocked as this is a primarily (as in every single other picture) is a U.S. photo. I said to my Mom, "Look... did you notice the picture?" She hadn't and was shocked too! I think September sounds like a great time for travel! Chayah's 6th birthday came and passed again without a family on July 16th. The time is coming up pretty soon though! I am so excited and can hardly believe how fast September/October is coming up! :)

"This is what the Lord says, "Stand at the crosswalk and look: ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls." Jeremiah 6:16

The wait

Now that we have our dossier in China and logged in, the countdown officially begins! We are still estimating travel anywhere from September-November. Regardless of exactly when, it is fast approaching which I am of course thrilled beyond words for! This week, Wednesday, July 16th, Chayah will have her 6th Birthday. We had so wanted to be able to have her home by then, unrealistically, but still. Next year and way before then she will be home forever! Just a few more months of waiting and Chayah will come home. Now that our dossier is logged in we are waiting for our LOA, Letter of Acceptance, which comes right before you receive your TA, Travel Approval, stating that you can go to China and bring your child home. The wait from being logged in to LOA and TA seems to be about 3-4 months, so I think October is probably the most realistic time frame. It's coming up fast and I can't wait to finally have Chayah home!