Scott and I were home to receive the official Letter Seeking Confirmation of Adoption. That is where the Chinese Center for Adoption Affairs (CCAA) sends us the official letter and we check a box stating that we do or do not accept to adopt Jiliang. It reminds me of a boy my Sophomore year of high school that passed me a note in study hall asking, "Will you go with me? Check Yes or No?" Well, I put no on his, but yes on Jiliang's form. We signed the Letter of Acceptance from China, and will be sending it out tomorrow.
I saw the FedEx Van pull around the corner and said, "Scott, they're coming to bring Jiliang's package!"
T.J. excitedly asked, "They're bringing Jiliang?"
I responded, "No, but maybe the package has a new picture of her".
T.J. quipped, "Oh, pictures are SO boring."
Well, we didn't receive any additional pictures or information, but pray that China will take some photos during her final days at the orphanage. We can hope.
Jill :)
This blog is intended for our family, friends and other adoptive parents, as we share our daughter's adoption story from Gaoyou, China to Michigan, and our Faith journey through God’s Amazing Grace. *******ALL RIGHTS RESERVED*******
"When life gives you rain, God gives you rainbows." ~ Unknown Author
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
The Up Side to Paperwork and Well Wishes to All Waiting Families
Today, the paper-race begins! It is not fun or exciting, but necessary to get all of our new documents put in place. Scott had to get a Power of Attorney Letter notarized today so that I could act on his behalf for the adoption proceedings in China. We also just sent in the paperwork for Jiliang to be a Michigan Citizen. My little Chinese Michigander. :) Ni Hao UP'ers, here we come!
Because Scott is not traveling, it is going to cost the equivalant of airfare-to-China to finalize her adoption once I return to the states. There is more paperwork and fees because we are not both traveling. Scott refuses to fly and that is a mute issue. To have the Power of Attorney form Authenticated for China, it travels to my agency in Utah, to Lansing, to Chicago, The Chinese Consulate, back to my agency, back to me, and then to China with me when I fly over. That one little POA form is going to cost us at least $130 to have authenticated. I also just found out that I also need to fill out an authentication application just for that one little form too.
I have to get my travel Visa, and that requires hand-delivering everything in Chicago. We hire a courier for that. Otherwise, I'd be calling Mrs. Chevy up to arrange for a Girl's weekend in the Windy City. After that, there's more paperwork. I am honestly just taking it one day at a time. I used to stress about everything. It is stressful, but that is why I have an agency that walks me through the process. West Sands is a great agency, for any of you who are looking for a good place to begin your adoption process. Amy Coray at West Sands is awesome!
We were also blessed with an awesome adoption caseworker, Theresa Light, who brought a sense of humor and light-hearted approach to the grueling paperwork chase.
The paperwork and wait do seem endless, yet I would do it again in a heartbeat to be where I am today: getting Jiliang. I do feel fortunate to be nearing the end of this chapter in our lives, and to finally be getting our daughter, once referred fondly as "Kaityln", but now forever as Jiliang Josephine Koeppe.
Blessings to all of my blog readers, and sincere wish to all of my fellow adoptive families - may they have sweet, uneventful, swift waits as they journey to meet the children born in their hearts.
Jill :)
Because Scott is not traveling, it is going to cost the equivalant of airfare-to-China to finalize her adoption once I return to the states. There is more paperwork and fees because we are not both traveling. Scott refuses to fly and that is a mute issue. To have the Power of Attorney form Authenticated for China, it travels to my agency in Utah, to Lansing, to Chicago, The Chinese Consulate, back to my agency, back to me, and then to China with me when I fly over. That one little POA form is going to cost us at least $130 to have authenticated. I also just found out that I also need to fill out an authentication application just for that one little form too.
I have to get my travel Visa, and that requires hand-delivering everything in Chicago. We hire a courier for that. Otherwise, I'd be calling Mrs. Chevy up to arrange for a Girl's weekend in the Windy City. After that, there's more paperwork. I am honestly just taking it one day at a time. I used to stress about everything. It is stressful, but that is why I have an agency that walks me through the process. West Sands is a great agency, for any of you who are looking for a good place to begin your adoption process. Amy Coray at West Sands is awesome!
We were also blessed with an awesome adoption caseworker, Theresa Light, who brought a sense of humor and light-hearted approach to the grueling paperwork chase.
The paperwork and wait do seem endless, yet I would do it again in a heartbeat to be where I am today: getting Jiliang. I do feel fortunate to be nearing the end of this chapter in our lives, and to finally be getting our daughter, once referred fondly as "Kaityln", but now forever as Jiliang Josephine Koeppe.
Blessings to all of my blog readers, and sincere wish to all of my fellow adoptive families - may they have sweet, uneventful, swift waits as they journey to meet the children born in their hearts.
Jill :)
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
The Diner Specials
A special thanks to Caroline at The Diner in Tecumseh - The best around. They really know how to help out their customers! THANKS SO MUCH!
Jill :)
USCIS Hold up on Paperwork
Good news! The director of our Home Study Agency, Hands Across The Water, emailed the USCIS regarding the hold-up on our I-600A, requesting an Urgent Family Matter on our behalf. Hopefully, that will be resolved very soon. It was a mistake on the USCIS part, since we supplied a copy of the cashed check for our fingerprints.
Interesting Breakfast in Bed This Morning
No, not a romantic gesture from my husband. My son, T.J., made me a bowl of Cereal with Corn Flakes, Chow Mein Noodles, Peanut M&Ms, Special K Blueberry Cereal. No milk. It was pretty tasty. :) Here's to breakfast in bed!
Jill :)
Jill :)
Monday, December 28, 2009
We Are Officially Approved!!!!
We got our Letter of Approval (LOA) from China today. How nice. The originals are being faxed to Scott and I to sign stating we want to adopt Jiliang. Then, I will travel in approximately 6-8 weeks.
Unfortunately today, we also received a letter from USCIS stating that we did not include our fingerprint fee of $160, so that may hold things up. However, I was happy to dig out the cleared/cashed check by Detroit's USCIS office from July 14, 2009. How else would they have taken our fingerprints in August of 2009? I can only shake my head, and pray that this rat-race for paperwork and fees will come to and end very soon. It wouldn't be so bad if we had only gone through the USCIS and home study process one time, as adoptive families should. However, this is our third time applying and re-applying, due to the extended wait times. Every time around, something has gone wrong! In my opinion, it is all about perfect timing and God's Plan. I believe that EVERYTHING happens for a reason. Eventually, this will all be a distant memory. In the meantime, we are officially approved to be Jiliang's parents and that makes me so happy!!
I got the email at 9:40 p.m. and my early-bird husband was already in bed. :) Of course, I woke him up to tell him the good news first, but we'll see if he remembers it or not. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers for smooth sailing from here on out.
God Bless!
Jill :)
Good Things Come In Small Packages
Our hamster, Jerry Mouse passed away today. She was a loving little pet to my son and brought many laughs, smiles and life lessons. T.J. packed her a letter to take to The Rainbow Bridge and made her a soft little bed for her last hours of life. I'm so proud of my little boy. He said goodbye to her and sang her a lullabye.
Jerry was a very special hamster, named after Jerry the Mouse, from the cartoon Tom and Jerry. Scott picked her out as a full-grown hamster in March of 2008. She quickly became known as the gentle hamster that would sit on my son's shoulder and watch cartoons with him. She became a 3 legged mouse in May of 2008 after a tragic incident. After that, we took extra special care of her, providing her with natural dried fruits, nuts, trail mix, veggies (lots of lettuce) and fruit (especially strawberries).
Despite her missing limb, Jerry's spirit never dwindled and she did everything that a 4 legged mouse could do. T.J. was proud to tell his family and friends that he had a special little "mouse". Everyone who entered our home was graced with her presence. She was special indeed. She would cuddle up to us, she would ride in my son's fire truck and John Deere Tractors, and go for four-wheeler rides outside. She would sleep in the crook of Scott's neck, eat out of our hands and climb up her cage when she wanted you to take her out. Whenever I was mad about something, Scott would give me a sideways grin and sneakily hand "Jer-Jer" to me. It always made me smile.
We knew that she was getting older, slower and grayer, so we asked Santa to treat her extra special this year. She got a mouse stocking full of fruits and nuts, which she readily accepted.
My husband was a little apprehensive about T.J. dealing with the death of his beloved pet, because we have had several family members' pets die within the last 2 months (all from old age), and we also had two family members whom T.J. was close to die over the last 6 months (My Grandmother and my Uncle). Little Jerry Mouse answered many questions that T.J. had about death that we were unable to answer ourselves. Animals have an amazing way of bringing joy to our lives, teaching us lifelong lessons, and bringing us peace and closure.
Cheers to Jerry Mouse! May Jerry Mouse "Play in Peace".
Jill :)
Jerry was a very special hamster, named after Jerry the Mouse, from the cartoon Tom and Jerry. Scott picked her out as a full-grown hamster in March of 2008. She quickly became known as the gentle hamster that would sit on my son's shoulder and watch cartoons with him. She became a 3 legged mouse in May of 2008 after a tragic incident. After that, we took extra special care of her, providing her with natural dried fruits, nuts, trail mix, veggies (lots of lettuce) and fruit (especially strawberries).
Despite her missing limb, Jerry's spirit never dwindled and she did everything that a 4 legged mouse could do. T.J. was proud to tell his family and friends that he had a special little "mouse". Everyone who entered our home was graced with her presence. She was special indeed. She would cuddle up to us, she would ride in my son's fire truck and John Deere Tractors, and go for four-wheeler rides outside. She would sleep in the crook of Scott's neck, eat out of our hands and climb up her cage when she wanted you to take her out. Whenever I was mad about something, Scott would give me a sideways grin and sneakily hand "Jer-Jer" to me. It always made me smile.
We knew that she was getting older, slower and grayer, so we asked Santa to treat her extra special this year. She got a mouse stocking full of fruits and nuts, which she readily accepted.
My husband was a little apprehensive about T.J. dealing with the death of his beloved pet, because we have had several family members' pets die within the last 2 months (all from old age), and we also had two family members whom T.J. was close to die over the last 6 months (My Grandmother and my Uncle). Little Jerry Mouse answered many questions that T.J. had about death that we were unable to answer ourselves. Animals have an amazing way of bringing joy to our lives, teaching us lifelong lessons, and bringing us peace and closure.
Cheers to Jerry Mouse! May Jerry Mouse "Play in Peace".
Jill :)
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