USCIS update

Well we did have our homestudy reviewed. Drum roll please...I know what you are thinking"they have 4 biological kids, they have adopted twice, they have sent in all the post adoption reports , we are US citizens, the government works for us, surely they will be approved... No problems here...
The USCIS has requested proof of evidence that our beach (vacation) home is sufficient for children. Really wow! We will need to have a homestudy update ($) and more wasted (in my humble opinion) time. This will delay our process a few weeks. I have spoken to our social worker, and adoption agency and they have never heard of such a thing.
I am following someones blog that is actually traveling to China to bring home her TWO sons from China. The incredible obstacles that popped up literally the days prior to their travel was incredible. Even as I type this there is a problem with their last flight and they are switching planes! But in all the drama , gods provisions are so evident. I am sure she did not want all the stress in the past few days but had she not and had she not share her needs, then she and everyone would not have seen the glory and power of our God so clearly! I just love it.
So no I would not say I enjoy all the bumps in the journey but would I have seen the glory of God if I thought could do it all myself??
So if you are reading this I pray that I can glorify God in my posts and still share the ups and downs of the adoption process. All I have to do is look at my sweet girls face staring at me. I hope I encourage you to take chances and follow where God is leading you.

USCIS

I have figured out a simple way to explain to people about this adoption process to people who ask and then explain the stage we are at.
First we found our sweetie
Second we ask China permission to adopt her
Third we ask the US if we can bring her into this country
Forth we ask China permission to travel and adopt her
Ofcourse this has been very simplified but I think it kind of explains the process, for China any way.
Each of these steps can take several weeks or months. After 5 months we are still at step 3. Our paper work has been in a lock box at USCIS(formally homeland security) since August 24. I called (again) today and we have finally been assigned a review officer, her message said "she can not answer her phone right now...." Do you think that perhaps she could be reviewing our file right now? Could be... I will keep you posted.

Raising Funds for an Adoption

Raising Funds for an Adoption

More LWB photos

LWB Walk-what a blessing!

God provided us with Carolina blue skies and lots of folks with the heart for the orphan. Our walkers ages ranged from in the womb (Charlotte was born the next day and might add that her mommy came in 1st place), Samuel 3 months old, to my mom-close to 80!
I just have to brag for a moment about my friend Lisa (she will not like me bragging!, but hey it is my blog) Lisa is a busy mom of 4 young children (none adopted) and works full time outside of her home. She is committed to the Lord and committed to doing His work for Him, not for any one else but for Him. She chooses to remain behind the scenes but does an incredible amount of work to make the Cary NC Love Without Boundaries a possibilty. She called me a couple of years ago and literally challenged me to put my passion of caring for the orphans to a bigger project that could include of local community, so was the birth of the Cary NC Love Without Boundaries annual walk. So to Lisa, I truly say thank you because if it weren't for you, I would not had the knowledge or the courage to have started this tradition!

Me and Lisa

Greyson & Samuel

3 of us "pregnant in China"

Charlotte in her mommy's womb,born the next day!

Click HERE for a link to the LWB Walk!

Love without Boundaries Walk Sunday 10/16/2011 in Cary NC!

Dear Friends!
We are excited for the Second Annual “5K Walk for Hope and Healing” and hope that you all are as well! According to the weather forecast it is going to be sunny and 78 degrees. Perfect walking weather!
The order of events for tomorrow will be as follows: Registration will begin under the tent behind the Amphitheatre at 1:30 p.m.. There will be a few signs on the streets to direct you in, as well as some at the venue. The address for the Amphitheatre is 8003 Regency Parkway, Cary, NC 27511. Parking will be at the Amphitheatre gate entrance. Around 2:00 p.m. we will say a few words and then the walk will be underway! The path for the walk will be contained to Symphony Lake. It will be three times around to total the 5K. Light refreshments and water will be provided.
Any donations that you have received in the form of check or cash please bring them with you to the walk. We will be collecting those when you register and sending to Love Without Boundaries. The top three participants will be announced the following week and prizes will be sent in the mail. We want to be sure we allow enough time for all donations collected to be counted.
As you make your final push for donations we want to share six more photos with you of the vulnerable babies you are working so hard to raise funds for. Without your love and support so many of them would not have a chance to be in a “forever” family. So thank you for all that you have done and continue to do to work on their behalf.

We are looking forward to seeing so many of you there! Thank you again for your participation and support of these beautiful children!
As always, please continue to keep these children, as well as all God’s children who are in need involved in your prayers.

Blessings,
Jody Brannon & Lisa McNutt
Event Coordinators

James 1:27

Happy 5th Birthday Sweet Cali!

Yeah for Cali, she turned 5 today! Sweet, nutty girl. You bring so much spunk into our house! Love my girls!

Mia updates!

Because of new regulations, we can not post photos of our sweet Mia Caili but we received updated photos and can I say oh so pretty! Smiling, giggling, jumping, playing... Oh to my delight! She looks wonderful. The note included"they are calling her both Mia and her Chinese name and she answers to both". One of our considerations in choosing the name Mia,was trying to find a name that would be easy for her to say (both because of the cleft and Chinese). Mei Mei (pronounced May May) means little sister so I thought it would sound some what familiar to her, not thinking they would start calling her Mia but this is super. Any little thing that may make the transition smoother is welcomed!! So happy dance for me today!

Parenting Class Check

One more item to check off the adoption list...12 hours of Hauge (government) mandated parenting class. Yes, that is right we had to go to parenting classes...my poor first 6 kids-we parented them without a class, how did we do it?
One more step closer to Mia...Yeah!