Fall Festival

Today was Fall Festival at church. The day started early as I rang with the handbell choir for the both traditional services. Our contemporary service was filled will all kinds of wonderful music and stories of faith, thankfulness and grace. Then came a delicious barbecue dinner. HunnyB joined the youth group on their golf cart scavenger hunt and I wandered through the front lawn, watching the kids in the jumpy things (whatever are they really called, anyways?), and eating cotton candy. I talked to a friend who is leaving for China to get her little girl in 10 days. All in all, it was a day where God felt very close.

Travelogue on China

Last night we attended a travelogue called Perspective on Contemporary China. The gentleman presenting took a 24-day trip to China in 2003 right after it reopened from the SARSS epidemic. It was wonderful to see scenes from the land we hope to visit soon. The map above marks the route their tour group took through China.

A woman in the audience made a remark about how Asians live their lives in pursuit of excellence and are so very smart. I worry about the stereotypes our child will face, even the ones that seem positive. I hope our child will be characterized by his own personal strengths and weaknesses not pre-judged based on someone's perception of Asians.

We've been reviewed!!!

This was posted late last night onto the CCAA website in China. They have completed review of files logged in in August 2006. That's us!!! It may still take a couple of weeks for families to be notified of questions on their dossiers, but after that, we should be just waiting for our referral.

As noted in the last post, we expect to be matched with a waiting child through our agency long before a referral would be forthcoming from the traditional program. Our dossier remains in place with CCAA so if for any reason that we opt out of the waiting child program or if a traditional referral comes first (yeah, right!), we won't lose our spot.

Win a pink Dyson!

Here's a cool contest to win a pink Dyson. Dyson has gone pink!

Target is selling them and the proceeds go to breast cancer research. They look pretty cool, so if I don't win the contest, I may have to just buy one myself.

The Waiting Child Program

About three months ago we turned in our Medical Conditions Checklist to CCAI. We've requested that they match us with a Waiting Child. We were able to check specific conditions that we’ve researched and feel capable of dealing with. We have been encouraged by the experiences of our friends, CJ and Donna, Ron and Julie and Kim and Michael. We've been specifically insipred by Analiese, featured here, and feel strongly led by God in this direction.

Children in China who have something out of the ordinary are usually treated harshly. For instance, a child with a cleft lip and palate is seen as defective or bad luck. They are teased (or worse) by even adults. An abandoned special needs child in China, who does not get adopted, faces a very uncertain future.

Children with extensive needs, like those requiring surgery, are often unable to receive the kind of care and treatment that they need because of the cost involved. Families usually just can’t afford these expenses. This is the main reason why so many children with special needs are abandoned in China.

Our agency receives lists of Waiting Children every 2-3 months, and they received their latest one about a month ago. There are as many boys as girls available on the lists, so we are preparing ourselves for snips and snails and puppy dog tails as well as sugar and spice. They have told us the average time to being matched is 8-10 months.

Monday Meditations

Prayer

1. My friends at Journey to Shelby as they prepare to travel to China to meet Shelby.
2. Libby Belle as she gets her second series of heartworm shots this week.
3. The child who will someday be ours. We don't know if you're a boy or girl, how old or where you are, but we pray for you and that you may be a blessing to those with whom you come in contact. May your needs be met daily.
4. GraceFlock as we prepare for our Fall mini-tour!

Praise

1. Visit Somewhere Over the Rainbow to congratulate them on being matched with Ricky.
2. The learning and growth happening in our lives during this time.

Amy's Contest

Head on over to Amy's Random Thoughts and read all about her contest! Sounds like fun! Join in, if you're into that kinda thing. Amy and her hubby, Michael are awesome friends and are in the process of adopting from China.

Name Me!

Stole this idea from someone who stole it from someone who..., well you get the idea. If you like it, steal it too!

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car)

Tippy Compass

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie)

Moosetracks Snickerdoodle

3. YOUR "FLY Guy/Girl" NAME: (first initial of first name, first threeletters of your last name)

KLad

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal)

Det. Burgundy Dog

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)

Michaele Mount Pleasant

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2letters of your first)

LadKa

7. SUPERHERO NAME: ("The" + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink)

The Green Margarita

8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers)

Clarence Lloyd

9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent,favorite candy)

Safari M&M

10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother's & father's middle names )

Marie Glenn

11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher's last name, a majorcity that starts with the same letter)

Nieghbarger New York

12. SPY NAME/BOND GIRL: (your favorite season/holiday, flower)

Christmas Daisy

13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you're wearingright now + "ie" or "y")

Strawberry Gauchoie

14. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree)

Special K Willow

15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: ("The" + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + "Tour")

The Knitting Sunshine Tour

Under the magnifying glass

It's been a while since we're really had any adoption-related news to post. But here's the latest!

The CCAA in China has posted on its website that July 2006 has completed review. That means they have to be reviewing files logged in during August 2006.

During this time, China reviews our application to be sure we would be acceptable parents to an adopted child. If they need clarification of anything, they would send questions to our agency. For once, I'm hoping to not hear anything from our agency!

The next thing we hope to see is a post that August 2006 is out of review.

Never Forget

updated: Just got home from the 9/11 Memorial Service at church. The handbell choir played a song called Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace, inspired by the Prayer of Saint Francis. It was written by Kevin McChesney to honor those killed at Columbine and all victims of senseless violence. In this time of turmoil, let me remember these thoughts.

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love;

for it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

Lucky 13

Today is the thirteen month anniversary of our Log In Date. I think we should have Chinese food for dinner. Yum! Lucky for me!

The End of an Era

Last night was our monthly First Friday adoption journey group. It's a groups of people who have, are or are considering adopting from China. It has been the most amazing experience. It's the place where this adoption feels real. There's no having to explain why it's taking so long or what LID means.

The place was crawling (or rather scampering) with adopted and bio children. We got to meet Laney and Sheridan both of whom recently joined their parents. We caught up on the lives of those who have been back for a while and celebrated the journeys of prospective parents. We were able to visit with the little angel who has opened my heart to a waiting child.

We have been meeting in the home of Dan and Susan who have adopted once from China and are logged in for another child. Beginning next month we will be moving to North Metro Church. If you are in the Metro Atlanta area, you should consider joining us on the First Friday in October.

My new toy

What are you doing while waiting for your child? I decided I wanted to learn to play guitar. Here's my new toy:

Did you know that there are video guitar lessons on Comcast OnDemand? So far I've learned three chords! I hope I can stick with my practicing and can play lullabyes to our little one when s/he gets here. Right now I'm motivated and excited. Oh yeah, and my fingers are killing me!

Happy Labor Day!!!

Wishing everyone a wonderful Labor Day!

The best Labor Day present for any prospective China adoptive parent would be a referral! Congrats to my friend Tracy who made the cut. Referrals cover through November 25, 2005. This leaves only 258 log in days ahead of us.