It's off....

We got our last documents notarized for our dossier yesterday and I took everything to the Secretary of State's office to be certified and then to Kinko's to make six copies of the whole thing.

Tonight we packaged it all up and Fed Ex-ed it to AGCI. This is a big milestone - a lot of time, sweat, and a few tears - not to mention a good chunk of money - went into what really is a rather unassuming bundle of papers which easily fit, along with the six copies, into a Fed Ex "Medium Box."

When AGCI gets it they have it translated and "authenticated" (whatever that means) at the Chinese consulate, and then off to China it goes.

Our FDL is here!

We stopped at the mailbox on the way to Christmas eve services tonight. Molly looked through the stack of mail to see if our Favorable Determination Letter (from the US government) had arrived, and we were disappointed, again, not to see it.

Then, after church, I was going through the mail, and there, stuck behind some junk mail, was an envelope from the US Citizenship & Immigration Service. Our FDL HAD arrived...on Christmas eve!!!

The letter!

The expected timeline for our FDL was 8-10 weeks. It arrived in 8.

Now we will be notarizing and certifying our dossier, making copies, and Fed Ex-ing it to All God's Children, so, after being authenticated and translated, it can be sent off to China.

Also, we're waiting for the phone call that our Pre-approval from China has arrived.

Firsts for Leah

Today were two firsts for Leah, and she isn't even here yet!

Leah got her first letter in the mail - a Christmas ornament from Grandma Vi.

And, Molly took the boys to Gilbert House, a children's museum, where it was time to renew our annual membership. When it came to the place to list our kids, she wrote Luke, Logan, and LEAH! She said it about made her cry....

Chopsticks and fortune cookies

Today we all went out to Chinese food as a test run for our trip.

The boys were very brave, at least until Logan tried the hot mustard. He was pretty much done after that.

Luke loved fried shrimp and liked the fried rice.

Everyone tried chopsticks.

Of course, who knows if the food was similar to what we'll really have in China. It was fun, anyway.

All I want for Christmas......

Tonight Logan and I were driving in the car when he said, "Daddy, do you know what I want for Christmas even more than a hamster?"

"What, buddy?" I asked.

"I want Leah to get here more quickly..."

New Day Creations

We've learned that Leah is in foster care through New Day Creations, which operates in Luoyang.

This is exciting and we hope to be able to get updates soon.

Check Leah's page for further details!

Half the Sky

A fellow adoptive family, who brought their daughter home from Luoyang as well, told us about "Half the Sky Foundation". Half the Sky was created "to enrich the lives and enhance the prospects for orphaned children in China." They establish and operate infant nurture and preschool programs, provide personalized learning for older children and establish loving permanent family care and guidance for children with disabilities, with their goal being to ensure that every orphaned child has a caring adult in her life and a chance at a bright future.

Half the Sky operates a preschool in the Luoyang SWI .

Luoyang Social Welfare Institute

Holding Up Half the Sky

One day an elephant saw a hummingbird lying on its back with its tiny feet up in the air. "What are you doing?" asked the elephant.

The hummingbird replied, "I heard that the sky might fall today, and so I am ready to help hold it up, should it fall."

The elephant laughed cruelly. "Do you really think," he said, "that those tiny feet could help hold up the sky?"

The hummingbird kept his feet up in the air, intent on his purpose, as he replied, "Not alone. But each must do what he can. And this is what I can do."

---A Chinese folktale

When Love Takes You In - Steven Curtis Chapman

All God's Children & MercyMe

AGCI is featured in an insert in MercyMe's new album, "All That is Within Me."

In 2006, MercyMe guitarist Mike Scheuchzer and his wife were led to Kazakhstan on a mission of international adoption. Just recently the Scheuchzers brought their little girl Millie home with the help of AGCI.

Click here for Mike's adoption blog.

Welcome

This is the story of our journey to bring Leah home, with links to lots of information and descriptions of our adventures.

For now, access to Leah's page is restricted - the Chinese government frowns on photos and other identifying information being on public sites.

However, all you need to view it is our permission and a Google account. Send us an email asking to view the blog. We'll add you, and you'll be sent an email giving you access. If you don't have a Google account, you can create one then (it's easy and free).

Please bookmark and visit often. We'll be updating the pages as things happen, and we plan to post daily when we travel to China.