It has been a couple of weeks since any type of update--sorry about that. It has been eventful.
Last weekend was wonderful. We spent it as a family and really enjoyed being together. On Friday evening it was a trip to Chippewa Falls High School to see "Fiddler on the Roof" (amazing show and done very well). Saturday was the Memorial High School Italian Dinner (fund raising for the orchestra). Ruth was in charge of the items that were a part of the drawing. It went very well also. On Sunday we all went to the Minnesota Timberwolves vs. LA Lakers game at Target Center. While the Lakers won, it was a close and fun game. This was a part of Andrew's birthday present for the year.
We have arrived at another weekend, thankfully. Sometime this weekend we will go to UWEC to see the opera "Albert Hering." The trip to South Africa is coming upon us quickly. People keep asking Alan if he is excited or ready. His typical response is that he will be excited when he is ready and that probably won't be until he is about to get on the plane. It is strange to think that Ruth is not going with him and he will miss that greatly. Kirsten, however, is very excited. Another part of Andrew's birthday present will be experienced before the trip--a Badger hockey game. Along with a trip to Memorial to see "Crazy for You" in which Kirsten is playing in the pit orchestra.
We continue to wait for information about little Jadon. Hoping that we will hear sooner rather than later!!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
PA has arrived!!
Finally, step one in the waiting process is past. The Pre-approval from the China Center for Adoption Affairs (CCAA) was received today (on Andrew's 11th Birthday--Happy Birthday, big guy). What this means is that our file has been connected with Jadon's and that our Rehabilitation and Nurture Plan will now be reviewed in light of his situation.
The next step is now the referral acceptance. Because our file has already been reviewed and approved in the CCAA this should take the shorter amount of time on their prosepctive time scale based on past experiences. According to our agency this would mean 1-3 months--hopefully and prayerfully on the shorter end of that spectrum. Once we receive this we can send him a care package and begin the process of helping him to know us.
Thanks for your prayers. Please continue to pray with us for Jadon and that God would graciously prepare him to come into our family and call him into His eternal family.
The next step is now the referral acceptance. Because our file has already been reviewed and approved in the CCAA this should take the shorter amount of time on their prosepctive time scale based on past experiences. According to our agency this would mean 1-3 months--hopefully and prayerfully on the shorter end of that spectrum. Once we receive this we can send him a care package and begin the process of helping him to know us.
Thanks for your prayers. Please continue to pray with us for Jadon and that God would graciously prepare him to come into our family and call him into His eternal family.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Still waiting...
It's been about a month since we sent our EA (electronic acceptance) of Jadon to China. Under normal circumstances for someone in our position that would be enough time for there to be a response from China. Nothing, however, has been normal about our adoption.
China has been celebrating their spring festival (AKA Chinese New Year) for close to two weeks now. Most things shut down during the time of the spring festival. That means nothing happens with our adoption (or anyone's for that matter) during this time. You would think that after all this time spent waiting already we'd be pretty good at it. And a month wouldn't seem that long. Wrong!!!
Now that we have a real live person attached to our waiting the process has become increasingly more difficult. (Lee and Dawn Shelton...I can relate to you better than ever!) Mostly I want him to know that he has a family. I want to be able to send him pictures and start loving on him.
Realistically we know that it is unlikely that we will hear anything from China this week. But even with that knowledge we have experienced the fear of "What if this doesn't happen?" What if China says "No." These are completely irrational fears. We have already been "approved" as a parent for a younger healthy child. It is unlikely that they would say "No" to a child that we have chosen. Still... God apparently has some work to do on us yet!! Like remembering...
During the wait God has used various things at various times to encourage us. He has used His Word, showing us through the experiences of God's people that His wait has a good purpose. Abraham waited a along time for Isaac, learning to trust a personal and faithful God and then when God asked him to sacrifice that son... waiting and observing God's faithfulness time and time again had prepared Abraham for this moment of testing. God caused Joseph’s faith to grow during his wait so that he might declare to his conniving brothers, "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. So therefore, do not be afraid." (Genesis 50:20-21a)
God has also used the encouragement of family and friends who continually support us and ask about what's happening in our process. While I know of those offended by these types of inquiries, I have found them helpful and encouraging.
There is nothing easy about waiting--especially something as momentous as bringing a son home! I know in my heart that God is taking exactly the right amount of time to prepare me for my son and to prepare my son for me. Stay tuned...
China has been celebrating their spring festival (AKA Chinese New Year) for close to two weeks now. Most things shut down during the time of the spring festival. That means nothing happens with our adoption (or anyone's for that matter) during this time. You would think that after all this time spent waiting already we'd be pretty good at it. And a month wouldn't seem that long. Wrong!!!
Now that we have a real live person attached to our waiting the process has become increasingly more difficult. (Lee and Dawn Shelton...I can relate to you better than ever!) Mostly I want him to know that he has a family. I want to be able to send him pictures and start loving on him.
Realistically we know that it is unlikely that we will hear anything from China this week. But even with that knowledge we have experienced the fear of "What if this doesn't happen?" What if China says "No." These are completely irrational fears. We have already been "approved" as a parent for a younger healthy child. It is unlikely that they would say "No" to a child that we have chosen. Still... God apparently has some work to do on us yet!! Like remembering...
During the wait God has used various things at various times to encourage us. He has used His Word, showing us through the experiences of God's people that His wait has a good purpose. Abraham waited a along time for Isaac, learning to trust a personal and faithful God and then when God asked him to sacrifice that son... waiting and observing God's faithfulness time and time again had prepared Abraham for this moment of testing. God caused Joseph’s faith to grow during his wait so that he might declare to his conniving brothers, "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. So therefore, do not be afraid." (Genesis 50:20-21a)
God has also used the encouragement of family and friends who continually support us and ask about what's happening in our process. While I know of those offended by these types of inquiries, I have found them helpful and encouraging.
There is nothing easy about waiting--especially something as momentous as bringing a son home! I know in my heart that God is taking exactly the right amount of time to prepare me for my son and to prepare my son for me. Stay tuned...
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