祝你生日快乐 (Happy Birthday) Li Ya Nan!

It's Friday, April 12, 2013 in China. According to her daily schedule, Maeli is most likely back at the Institute getting ready to have lunch soon. It's a BIG day for her today! She is officially a teenager! Our sweet girl is 13! Although we would love nothing more than to be able to spend this day with her physically, we rejoice knowing this is the last birthday she will celebrate without us! We wanted to let her know that we are thinking about her on this special day, so we arranged for a care package and a birthday cake to be sent to her from Ann of Red Thread. Ann is a wonderful Chinese woman who sends gifts and letters to children for adoptive families. Maeli's care package includes a birthday cake for her to enjoy with the children at the orphanage as well as a few gifts. In addition to the cake, here are the things Ann sent:




One of Maeli's reports says that she loves to read so we decided to send her the first Harry Potter book in Chinese. We hope she enjoys it! The candies are for the nannies and caretakers.




Ann included a flash drive so her nannies can save photos from her time at the orphanage for Maeli to have when we go to get her.
The items that my friend took should be given to Ann today who will forward them on to the orphanage so Maeli can receive something personal from us for her birthday.
















We are so thankful for the willingness of our dear friend to hand deliver these things to Ann. There's just something special about knowing our girl will hold something we've held in our hands too!
Tomorrow (April 12th for us) we are going to have dinner with family and friends at a local Chinese restaurant to celebrate our sweet girl's birthday. I hope that tomorrow also brings birthday surprise that will help bring our girl home soon!!! I will certainly post about that tomorrow if God "gifts" us that blessing!

To our Maeli Yanan: "Happy Birthday sweet girl! Your Baba and Mama love you dearly! May you feel that love and have a special day filled with smiles and fun!


-Jessica

When God allows us to see...

I'm thankful for technology and the ability to document our journey to Maeli. I'm also thankful for the way technology can connect people who wouldn't otherwise cross paths... And that's where God comes in... This has been a week filled with hope and fear. Fear that documents wouldn't be provided to give us what we need to get US immigration approval. Hope that is would happen and fear when it didn't. And after yesterday's disappointment of being "paperless" Ryan and I sat down last night and agreed we had to give this to Him... And then He, the One who can do all things, began to show how beautiful and merciful He can be! Here's how He did it:
Several weeks ago, I attended the Created for Care Adoption Retreat in Georgia. It was a last minute decision to go because I had hoped we would be close to traveling and didn't think I needed to be away. However, we had received a request for evidence from immigration and I needed to be "refreshed and restored." There's just something incredible about being in the same room with over 400 women who share your passionate about adoption. One evening, the conference received permission to show a new documentary called STUCK. It reveals the real-life difficulties of the international adoption process and sheds light on the red tape of bureaucracy that keeps children from joining families. The film features an attorney, Kelly Ensslin, who successfully challenges the government and helps bring children home. As you can imagine this film sparked raw emotion as we are dealing with similar issues with US immigration.
Other the past few weeks we've hit some "bumps" in getting documents and answers to help us move forward with Maeli's adoption. We had decided to pursue a different avenue in order to satisfy the requirements of immigration. This didn't prove effective and essentially after seven weeks we were back where we started. This week has been the realization that we are back where we started... It's extremely difficult to know that in seven weeks no progress has been made. Our precious daughter IS at the end of this paperwork process and to know she is at the orphanage even one day longer than necessary is hard to think about. I've felt that no one seems to have any answers or experience to help solve this immigration puzzle. I spent hours calls attorneys (even spoke to one in China, another post, lol). We found someone we feel has helped but still longed for someone with experience with our particular type of case.
Earlier this week, the were the cover photo for the STUCK FB page... Ryan jokingly said, is there a way we can get put on the "unSTUCK" page, lol!
So today, a friend on an adoption FB group gave me some contact information for the Department of State. When I told her I didn't think we were quite ready to engage them, but wanted them in case, she offered the name of an attorney that might be able to help. See where this is going? Yes, Kelly Ensslin, the attorney from the STUCK documentary! At the time I didn't put the connection together but decided to "look her up" and found that she was the same attorney I'd seen in the film and admired for ability to get things accomplished. She also has a wealth of connections and experience with international adoption and immigration issues!
After contacting her, she was able to confirm that she has indeed worked (and won) cases very similar to our in China and also in other Hague countries! Best of all, she is available and eager to help us! This is such an answered prayer. Just when I thought it would be near impossible to provide what immigration needs, she has the answers and desire to get this done! Oh, and did I mention she an adoptive mom? God continues to amaze me as He places the right people n our lives at the perfect time.
I can't wait to see how God will use this to bring Maeli home! We serve an awesome God!
The STUCK screening tour will be stopping in Nashville next week. Consider attending Or watching the documentary online. All proceeds go to help advocate for children and creating families.




I've never been a superstitious person and love fortune cookies for the laugh (main,y the chinese word of the day). Last week this was my fortune from lunch out with the kiddos. I took a photo and sent it to Ryan. How appropriate, huh? :)




Yes, HE IS!
And even more that Isaiah 41:10 has been my verse is week:




- Jessica

Room for One More

Room for one more was a thought that God placed in my heart as we prayed about adopting again. When we purchased our home a few years ago, the four bedrooms were "perfect" for us, two kids, and an office. And now that office is the "perfect" space for Maeli's room!

I've spent this past week finishing up her room as Spring Break comes to an end and we need to begin to focus on travel details, learning Chinese, and preparing to become a family of 5!

At first I hesitated to decorate her room without her input. But after reading articles and books on how overwhelming making such decisions are for children who are used to routine and not making decisions for themselves, I decided to decorate for her. I didn't want to overwhelm her and I didn't want her room to be empty or bare since the other two kiddos have decorated rooms. We hope she likes her room and if not, Emma has decided she does and would gladly allow Maeli to redecorate her room, lol!

Since she is loves music and the color blue, I decided to incorporate those into her room along with her Chinese history and culture.

Here's a look:

Still waiting...

It's been over a month since I last posted... Mostly because it's been a busy, challenging last several weeks. Waiting on paperwork from China to provide to USCIS has been frustrating and difficult to say the least. And 6 weeks after submitting our I800 application, we are still waiting...
I know God is in control and ultimately this is all in His timing. I also know that we are to be obedient, fight, and advocate for her. We are her voice and God didn't intend for her to be in an orphanage. So I will fight and call and email anyone and everyone until we get this issue resolved.
A couple of weeks ago, we received an update from the orphanage. Maeli is growing and changing. It makes the wait even more difficult... She keeps asking when we are coming. My heart breaks... We need your prayers and truly believe God hears and answers our prayers. Please pray that China will provide the documentation we need for immigration to approve her paperwork. Please pray that Maeli's heart will be protected as she waits and that somehow she will feel our love for her and God's love for her. The road is long and winding but we continue to do all we can to bring her home as quickly as possible.

Maeli will be thirteen in ten days. Thanks to a dear friend who is traveling to China to get her son, Maeli will be receiving a talking teddy bear from us that
we recorded messages on for her. He's precious and I hope the recorded I Love You's in Chinese will reassure her that we are thinking of her!



We also sent a birthday card and other gifts. We hope these will remind her that although we can't be together, we are thinking of her and love her very much! It's amazing how you can love someone you've never met and feel so connected through photos. We also arranged for her to have a birthday cake and a couple of "Chinese" gifts.

Here's the latest photo of her. She's growing way too fast. I love seeing her in the clothes we sent. It's neat to know the bear, something we've prayed over and touched is now on its way to her and she will be able to hear our voice until we can come for her.



- Jessica

Shower Photos

- Jessica

Showered with Love

Sunday was such a special day for our family.  My sister-in-law and friend hosted a shower in honor of Maeli at our church.  Our church is a church with a burden for orphans.  The love shown for Maeli and the support to help bring her home will forever be a reminder of how our church family is demonstrates God love!

I'll post some photos from the shower tomorrow.  It was perfect!  What a blessing to share it with four of my Chinese friends.

An update on the adoption process:

I love to talk about our adoption!  It's a passion and a burden for children to find forever families.  Many have asked: "When are you traveling?"  The answer.... We don't know.  We are hoping for the end of April at the latest.  However, on February 15th, we received a request for more documentation for the US Immigration Service.  Our agency's In-China rep is in the process of getting the documents collected so that we can submit them to Immigration.  We are hoping to have them by the end of the week.  Please pray that the paperwork we submit is exactly what USCIS needs and our application can be approved so that we can move one step closer to bringing Maeli home.  We will then be about 5-6 weeks from travel once our application is approved, unless we receive an expedited Article 5 (next step with the US Embassy) which we are also praying for.  

Maeli received her care package this week!  The email we got said that she was very excited about her package and especially loved the recordable photo album.  I can't wait to make those faces in the album a reality for her.  One of the volunteers showed her how to take photos with the cameras we sent.  They said she was clicking and grinning from ear to ear.  It's such a relief knowing that there are wonderful people there caring for her and preparing her for the transition.  The volunteer says that Maeli laughs and has the most beautiful smile and twinkle in her eye when she talks about us.  That makes my heart smile!  I know that is God preparing her heart for what is to come.  For that I am so thankful! 

We received a few new photos as well.  She is growing and gaining weight, which are glad to hear.  She was very thin when she arrived at the orphanage.  This means she isn't going hungry and her smiles in the photos look very genuine and happy! 

The volunteers also said that Maeli's English is "getting pretty good!"  I'm sure Maeli's little sister will appreciate that!  I can only imagine how Emma will react when Maeli doesn't understand what Emma is saying!  We have talked about how Maeli may not understand and we have to be patient...  We'll see how that goes, lol.

Next week I will be attending the Created 4 Care Retreat with other adoptive moms who share the same passion for children and orphans.  This is a much needed retreat and I'm looking forward to spending some extra one-on-one time with God while learning more about how to be a better mother to my adopted girls and homegrown boy!  

Answered Prayers

The past two weeks have quite possibly been the most difficult weeks of my life. I've struggled with patience and allowed myself be become consumed in things I can't control. I've prayed for mercy and for God to move mountains. I've asked our family and friends to join us. And I've asked BIG things from God, knowing that his timing is perfect and praying that His will and mercies make this part of the adoption process as as possible. I've prayed specifically for Maeli and that He would fill her belly, that she not be hungry, that He would fill her heart and that she wouldn't feel lonely, and that He would prepare her for our family and get us there before she had to spend another birthday without a family. God answers prayers! Maeli's story is a testimony. This process is a testimony. I can't wait to share with her all the ways God has worked to bring us together.

On Friday, February 1, 2013, God answered another prayer. At 12:58pm, my phone rang. It was our social worker from our adoption agency. Our Letter of Acceptance (LOA) had arrived! I began to sob as she explained the next steps to bring her home. I was in awe at how God had shown great mercy and blessings to her. I was in awe at how my faith had been challenged and how God came through and showed His glory and power.

Jumping for JOY!


Based on recent timelines, we received our LOA 2-4 weeks from "normal" processing times. Typically families travel 8-10 weeks after LOA. There are still a few steps on the US side to complete before China will issue travel approval. So celebrating her 13th birthday with her in China is definitely a possibility if things continue to progress smoothly. We are cautiously optimistic!

So what happens next?
-File I800 application to gain approval from immigration in the United States for her to leave China (this was sent Friday and arrived at the lockbox facility this morning). This process takes about 3 weeks
-Our approval and file is cabled (or electronically sent) to the embassy in China where they process her visa. Article 5 (regarding Maeli's visa) is approved. This takes 2-3 weeks
-Wait for Travel Approval from CCCWA. About 2 weeks
-Travel to China!


- Jessica