Long Overdue Update

We just returned from having our fingerprinting done in Jacksonville for USCIS.  Once processed, this will provide the final document needed to complete our dossier.  We are hopeful to have all of our official documents mailed to China by the end of January.

Now for the REALLY BIG NEWS!  We have been matched with a precious little boy!  We received a call on October 21st about a file for a little boy named Qian Geng Sheng who had just turned a year old.  I agreed to take a look at his file, but I waited (not so patiently) for Tyson to arrive home so we could look at it together.  We knew almost immediately that he was our son!  He has a malformed right ear and is probably deaf in that ear.  We submitted our LOI (Letter of Intent) to China on October 24th and on November 1st, China gave us the Pre-Approval to adopt our son!

Introducing Nathan "Nate" Sheng Sailer!

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2

Home Study Interviews Complete!

We have completed another "leg" of our journey!  A week and a half ago we completed all four of our Home Study interviews.  In nervous preparation for these interviews, I cleaned, prayed, and cleaned some more.  All of the interviews went great and we were deemed worthy to adopt a special needs child from China!  Each step we take gets us that much closer to becoming a family of five!

We just sent our Dossier (minus 1 document that we are still waiting to complete) to our agency for review, along with photos, and other miscellaneous requirements.  Currently, FedEx has a VERY important package out for delivery!  We are praying it arrives safely.

Two really great families and friends of ours are nearing the final stages of their adoptions.  Please pray that their babies remain healthy and the final stages will move quickly and smoothly.  We have been blessed to see these families handle the ups and downs of their adoption with grace and we hope that we will be able to be an example to other families like they have been for us!

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
John 14:18

The Fun of Paperwork

Last week and this week are big weeks for the adoption process.  My wonderful husband spent many hours compiling all of the initial paperwork needed for our dossier.  Then that paperwork needed to be notarized locally, certified by the state of Florida, and authenticated by the Chinese Consulate in Houston.  In less than a month we have managed to gather the initial 12 documents, have them notarized and certified, and then sent to Houston.  We are hoping to have our documents back in our hands by Saturday if all goes well.  This coming weekend, we will be having all four of our Homestudy interviews.  Then we will have fingerprinting, more paperwork to have notarized, certified, and authenticated before sending our dossier off to China.  We are hoping to have our dossier on its way to China before Christmas!  So far so good and no papercuts, yet!

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11

Getting Started

This family of four has taken the first step of many towards our desire to adopt from China!  How did we get to this decision?  Well, I will spare you the details and just say that back in January I was told that I would be unable to have any more biological children.  This news was devastating, but we knew that we were being called to have more children and so began the many hours of research (Bible, internet, friends).  God carefully placed a series of events and families that are currently adopting in our path, and the decision to adopt was made clear while celebrating our 10th anniversary back in May.
We are thrilled to be adding to our family and decided to start a blog so that we can share each step of our journey with our friends and family!  Currently, we have been approved to adopt and have started the mountains of paperwork needed to compile our dossier.  We know that adopting will be a process of highs and lows, so we would appreciate your prayers during this next year.

Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.
Isaiah 43:5 

Stay Tuned

Stay tuned for updates beginning this weekend!