10 Days to Addie Mei, and counting!!!Date: 2/25/2006
What started out as a frustrating idea of having to spend 9 hours at a wrestling match, as the athletic trainer, turned into a wonderful blessing!! I had begun a To-do list and it was about a half of a page long. I thought I had it pretty much covered. HA!!!I had 9 hours to just sit and think and contemplate on everything that has happened in the last 36 hours. It was a true blessing to have that much "down time," in between the bloody noses and booboo's of middle school wrestling. My 1/2 page list turned into 5 pages quickly. Those 5 pages then got color coded by what had to be done on what days. Then a list for each days' tasks was compiled. (Yes, the OCD really does show in times of stress :o) LOL I can say, that I feel so much better about all that needs to be done because I can see, on paper, that it can be done!I spent a lot of time with God today and came to some decisons about the travel details. I decided that I am not going to let finances dictate what I can and cannot experience with this adoption. God has carried me through so much, I have to trust that He will provide and carry my through the rest of the way!!I decided that I will go to Beijing to experience some of the culture and heritage of my daughter's birth country. This was going to be left out, as it will require 2 plane tickets from Beijing to Guangzhou. I also am going to BEG, I mean BEG to see my daughters orphanage. This will require another 2 round trip in China flights, 3 if they charge me for Addie Mei. I also decided to stay at the White Swan Hotel the entire trip. I was going to stay at another hotel which is much less expensive, but really feel that I need to be with the rest of my travel group. This decision triples my budget for hotels, though. So, travel decisions are made. Please join me in praying that the Lord provides all finances needed to make this experience happen!! I have no idea of how much this adds to my budget, but God does and He WILL provide!! I am living proof that prayers are answered!! I thank you for bowing your knees on Addie mei's behalf!!God Bless,Tamie
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Friday, February 24, 2006
Miracles still happen!
Miracles still happen!!!!!!!Date: 2/24/2006
I have so much whirling in my head right now as I type, so forgive my rambling!! I will start by telling you all that I am China bound!!!!!!! I received "THE CALL" this morning at 10:30am telling me that I got my travel approval. Addie Mei, mama is coming in less than 2 weeks!!! Hold on baby girl!!!!!!The miracle began yesterday. I received an emial from my agency telling me that my dossier had not been reveiwed by the CCAA yet. This was a crushing blow to me, as they have had it for 73 days. I went through some very dark moments of despair and complete frustration to utter anger towards the CCAA. I was very thankful to be at a friends house and not alone when I got the email!!I spoke to a few close friends and they prayed for me, some through the night. I was ill this morning from it all, so I did not go into work. I was laying in my bed, thinking that I had nothing to get up for, so I was just going to lay there. As soon as that thought left my head, my phone rang and it was my agancy.Maury, my coordinator, seemed just as baffled as I am/was about receiving this Travel Approval after the news we got yesterday. I believe without a shadow of a doubt that God moved!!! I even believe that they never even looked at my dossier, He just made it happen to give me approval.So after feeling that this was not going to ever happen last night, to frantically trying to make sure all is in order for the trip, I am a mess!!! This has been a heartwrenching 24 hours!!!!!!!!We are hoping to travel on Mar 7th and return on the 22nd or 23rd. I will have specifics next week. I will be traveling with my friend Brenda, and we will be going to China at the same time as some friends from my church as they go get their daughter!!!! All works out wonderfully!!!!I still need to raise $6000 to have this happen debt free. Please pray with me that the Lord will provide all that is needed!!!!!!!!!God bless!!!
I have so much whirling in my head right now as I type, so forgive my rambling!! I will start by telling you all that I am China bound!!!!!!! I received "THE CALL" this morning at 10:30am telling me that I got my travel approval. Addie Mei, mama is coming in less than 2 weeks!!! Hold on baby girl!!!!!!The miracle began yesterday. I received an emial from my agency telling me that my dossier had not been reveiwed by the CCAA yet. This was a crushing blow to me, as they have had it for 73 days. I went through some very dark moments of despair and complete frustration to utter anger towards the CCAA. I was very thankful to be at a friends house and not alone when I got the email!!I spoke to a few close friends and they prayed for me, some through the night. I was ill this morning from it all, so I did not go into work. I was laying in my bed, thinking that I had nothing to get up for, so I was just going to lay there. As soon as that thought left my head, my phone rang and it was my agancy.Maury, my coordinator, seemed just as baffled as I am/was about receiving this Travel Approval after the news we got yesterday. I believe without a shadow of a doubt that God moved!!! I even believe that they never even looked at my dossier, He just made it happen to give me approval.So after feeling that this was not going to ever happen last night, to frantically trying to make sure all is in order for the trip, I am a mess!!! This has been a heartwrenching 24 hours!!!!!!!!We are hoping to travel on Mar 7th and return on the 22nd or 23rd. I will have specifics next week. I will be traveling with my friend Brenda, and we will be going to China at the same time as some friends from my church as they go get their daughter!!!! All works out wonderfully!!!!I still need to raise $6000 to have this happen debt free. Please pray with me that the Lord will provide all that is needed!!!!!!!!!God bless!!!
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
New pics...
New pics of the baby!!!!Date: 2/15/2006
Hey just a quick note to share my little girls newest pictures!! These are so precious! They are the first pictures I have seen of Addie Mei on her feet! She is changing too fast, TA's please come soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Keep praying!!!!
Hey just a quick note to share my little girls newest pictures!! These are so precious! They are the first pictures I have seen of Addie Mei on her feet! She is changing too fast, TA's please come soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Keep praying!!!!
Thursday, February 9, 2006
Update
Update on Addie Mei!!!!Date: 2/9/2006
I wanted to let you all know about the update I got on my little girl. It looks like things are a bit slow in China right now, and the timeline is being backed up to a 3 to 4 month wait from the time my dossier was logged in. It was only 1 to 2 months when I started. My dossier was logged in on Dec 13, 2005. I hope to hear something from the CCAA, Chinese Center of Adoption Affairs, sometime by April 13th and then prayerfully travel no later than May 1st. Pure speculation and grasping at straws. No one knows what will happen when.This delay has been very challanging for me, to say the least. The Lord has surrounded me with wonderful people though!! I have had 2 wonderful baby showers to bless this little child! I have 2 more coming in a week in MI!!! This visit to MI will be the first time I get to be with my friends, shower 1, and entire family, shower 2, since I started this adoption journey! This have been very helpful in passing the time and being surrounded by people who love me and Addie Mei.I received a $2000 grant from China Care Foundation!! This grant foundation is designed to help special needs children find their forever families!! This is a very generous grant!!! I also am receiving a pretty substantial return from my income taxes this year! God is continuing to work out the finances needed. I have no more grants that I am waiting on, so the rest is up to me, and God of course!!Now to the update! I got an email today from Maury with an attachment from the orphanage. I will summerize the growth and then cut and past the written update. She is:30 inches tall22 poundshas 6 teethand her feet are 4.73 inches longFrom the orphanage:She can walk, squat and get up freely. She can walk quickly toward things she is interested in. She can hold her bottle. She is alert when she is front of strangers or in a new environment. She understands simple instructions from her caretakers. She can say words like “yee (salutation to caretakers/ladies)” or “Jie(big sister).” Her caretakers have to feed her when she eats regular food. She is wearing diaper. She is introverted and sometimes stubborn. She cries if she is ignored. She tries to get her caretakers’ attention sometimes. We all know she won't have to cry much due to ignoring issues! She will be the center of my life, right after God!! Ok, OK, she already is, but that is as it should be!!Thank you for all your prayers and your support!!God Bless,Tamie
I wanted to let you all know about the update I got on my little girl. It looks like things are a bit slow in China right now, and the timeline is being backed up to a 3 to 4 month wait from the time my dossier was logged in. It was only 1 to 2 months when I started. My dossier was logged in on Dec 13, 2005. I hope to hear something from the CCAA, Chinese Center of Adoption Affairs, sometime by April 13th and then prayerfully travel no later than May 1st. Pure speculation and grasping at straws. No one knows what will happen when.This delay has been very challanging for me, to say the least. The Lord has surrounded me with wonderful people though!! I have had 2 wonderful baby showers to bless this little child! I have 2 more coming in a week in MI!!! This visit to MI will be the first time I get to be with my friends, shower 1, and entire family, shower 2, since I started this adoption journey! This have been very helpful in passing the time and being surrounded by people who love me and Addie Mei.I received a $2000 grant from China Care Foundation!! This grant foundation is designed to help special needs children find their forever families!! This is a very generous grant!!! I also am receiving a pretty substantial return from my income taxes this year! God is continuing to work out the finances needed. I have no more grants that I am waiting on, so the rest is up to me, and God of course!!Now to the update! I got an email today from Maury with an attachment from the orphanage. I will summerize the growth and then cut and past the written update. She is:30 inches tall22 poundshas 6 teethand her feet are 4.73 inches longFrom the orphanage:She can walk, squat and get up freely. She can walk quickly toward things she is interested in. She can hold her bottle. She is alert when she is front of strangers or in a new environment. She understands simple instructions from her caretakers. She can say words like “yee (salutation to caretakers/ladies)” or “Jie(big sister).” Her caretakers have to feed her when she eats regular food. She is wearing diaper. She is introverted and sometimes stubborn. She cries if she is ignored. She tries to get her caretakers’ attention sometimes. We all know she won't have to cry much due to ignoring issues! She will be the center of my life, right after God!! Ok, OK, she already is, but that is as it should be!!Thank you for all your prayers and your support!!God Bless,Tamie
Friday, January 20, 2006
PA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pre-approval came today!!!!!!!Date: 1/20/2006
I wanted you all to know that I received my pre-approval today from the CCAA!!! I will get the actual paperowrk later in the mail, but my agency called today. This is so exciting for me, as I have had an underlying concern that I woul dnot be accepted because I am single. This has helped boost my spirits, as I have had a pretty emotional week. Who said you had to be pregnant to be "hormonal?"I heard from Shaohannah's Hope foundation. I was not selected to receive one of their grants. This was very disappointing, but I know God will provide somehow. Nothing has changed since my last entry. If you desire to see where I am at financially, please look at the previous journel entry.I do not know when I will receive my travel approval, nor do I want to speculate. I know that I will go when God has for me to go!While I wait, I am spending a lot of time on a few different chat groups. I found one that is made up of families who have all adopted from the Suixi Social Welfare Institute (SWI). This is where Addie Mei is!! It is so wonderful to hear stories from those who have gone before me. I actually have pictures from the orphanage, as a few families have made the trip to the orphanage. One family is graciously making a copy of a DVD they made on the visit.I do not think I will have the opportunity to visit the orphanage, so this is such a treasure!!!Thank yo ufor all of your prayers and support! Next update, Lord willing, should have the travel approval!!!!
I wanted you all to know that I received my pre-approval today from the CCAA!!! I will get the actual paperowrk later in the mail, but my agency called today. This is so exciting for me, as I have had an underlying concern that I woul dnot be accepted because I am single. This has helped boost my spirits, as I have had a pretty emotional week. Who said you had to be pregnant to be "hormonal?"I heard from Shaohannah's Hope foundation. I was not selected to receive one of their grants. This was very disappointing, but I know God will provide somehow. Nothing has changed since my last entry. If you desire to see where I am at financially, please look at the previous journel entry.I do not know when I will receive my travel approval, nor do I want to speculate. I know that I will go when God has for me to go!While I wait, I am spending a lot of time on a few different chat groups. I found one that is made up of families who have all adopted from the Suixi Social Welfare Institute (SWI). This is where Addie Mei is!! It is so wonderful to hear stories from those who have gone before me. I actually have pictures from the orphanage, as a few families have made the trip to the orphanage. One family is graciously making a copy of a DVD they made on the visit.I do not think I will have the opportunity to visit the orphanage, so this is such a treasure!!!Thank yo ufor all of your prayers and support! Next update, Lord willing, should have the travel approval!!!!
Tuesday, January 3, 2006
DTC Date
DTC Date!!Date: 1/3/2006
I just found out on New Year's Eve that my dossier was logged in with the CCAA back on Dec 13, 2005!! My DTC date. I was at a friends house to ring in the New Year, and thought I would check my email. It was very special for me to have a lot of my friends around me to celebrate with me!! God works all things out perfectly!! What a great way to bring in a New Year.Christmas was a bit difficult for me this year. I couldn't stop thinking that this was just one more thing that I have missed with my daughter. I know all the right things to think and say about the wait, but I still felt sadness for her and for us as we are still apart, and she is still in the orphanage.We have been told that the average time to get a final approval from the DTC has been between 11-14 weeks. Averaging 2-4 weeks after the final approval before travel, I may be able to go to CHina to get her sometime between Mid March to late April. All this is guesswork, with some educated figuring. Only God knows when I will go, and I am ready yesterday!!I had an interview yesterday with one of the foundations I have applied to for a grant. They recommeded that I share on this site how the finances are going, so people can pray and give if they feel led. So here we are:The Lord has used so many people already and has provided just over half of the money I need. I still need approximately $10,000 to make the trip debt free. I still have four grants that I am still waiting to hear from. Three others have turned me down because I am single. PLease pray for open hearts!
I just found out on New Year's Eve that my dossier was logged in with the CCAA back on Dec 13, 2005!! My DTC date. I was at a friends house to ring in the New Year, and thought I would check my email. It was very special for me to have a lot of my friends around me to celebrate with me!! God works all things out perfectly!! What a great way to bring in a New Year.Christmas was a bit difficult for me this year. I couldn't stop thinking that this was just one more thing that I have missed with my daughter. I know all the right things to think and say about the wait, but I still felt sadness for her and for us as we are still apart, and she is still in the orphanage.We have been told that the average time to get a final approval from the DTC has been between 11-14 weeks. Averaging 2-4 weeks after the final approval before travel, I may be able to go to CHina to get her sometime between Mid March to late April. All this is guesswork, with some educated figuring. Only God knows when I will go, and I am ready yesterday!!I had an interview yesterday with one of the foundations I have applied to for a grant. They recommeded that I share on this site how the finances are going, so people can pray and give if they feel led. So here we are:The Lord has used so many people already and has provided just over half of the money I need. I still need approximately $10,000 to make the trip debt free. I still have four grants that I am still waiting to hear from. Three others have turned me down because I am single. PLease pray for open hearts!
Friday, December 2, 2005
DTC
Dossier to ChinaDate: 12/2/2005
I was just informed that my dossier was sent off to China today!! Now the wait begins to hear back from them. I know when I want to travel to China, but I also know that I have absolutley NO control over it. I will simply have to wait on the Chinese government to send me my final approval and then come when they say to come.God has His perfect will and His perfect timing. I just pray it is soon, so I can get my daughter home!
I was just informed that my dossier was sent off to China today!! Now the wait begins to hear back from them. I know when I want to travel to China, but I also know that I have absolutley NO control over it. I will simply have to wait on the Chinese government to send me my final approval and then come when they say to come.God has His perfect will and His perfect timing. I just pray it is soon, so I can get my daughter home!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)