DTC - Dossier to China!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am posting this exciting info again because some e-mailed to say they could not read my last post. Kevin even pulled it up at his school, and sure enough it was gibberish!



This is too exciting not to be able to read!!




We are DTC (DOSSIER TO CHINA) AS OF YESTERDAY - Whoo, hoo!



HOW EXCITING IS THAT??



This means that once we receive our Log-In Date (LID), which will be in the next couple of weeks, that will mark the official countdown to Eli!

Three small letters mean something big!

D T C



DOSSIER TO CHINA
TODAY


Whoo-Hoo

That means our documents are on
their way to China today!!


Next step - - -
Getting our log-in date (LID)
from CCAA

and then . . .

the official countdown to Eli begins!

ZUCCHINI, ZUCCHINI EVERYWHERE!

Well, last spring Kevin and I decided to plant a garden
with a little help from Philip the master gardener . . .



We are learning as we go, shall we say . . .


First of all there is a really, really big plant in our garden
THAT WE DID NOT PLANT!
We don't know what it is , but it looks like it could harvest something, MAYBE??

Does anyone know what this is?
(Probably a weed)





Then one day last week we had a thief in our garden.
Just the day before we saw
the most beautiful little beans hanging from their stalks.

Guess what?


The next day they were gone, and not only that, but the entire plant
had been chewed away!


We think it was the work of a cute little Disney-like chipmunk.
Who would have known he had such a big appetite??
(Not so cute!)



ANYWAY,
Now the harvest has begun - at least of zucchinis
Zucchinis are popping up everyday,
and I mean everyday!


SO . . .
In the tradition of my bloggy friend Lori who
delights in showing us her delicious creations . . .

Here goes . . .


Zucchini bread



A little zucchini and onion


AND TOMORROW . . .

Perhaps some zucchini and tomato stir-fry,

THEN THE NEXT DAY some zucchini stuffing . . .

and

THE DAY AFTER THAT zucchini muffins . . .

and . . .

and. . .

the possibilities are endless!!
(Hopefully my family is extremely fond of zucchini)

Moms and Dads

Moms and Dads are so very important in this life, and Kevin and I have been blessed with the best!

Gram (Kevin's mom) at Alex's graduation

Our parents have had a tough week, with both Kevin's mom and my dad having surgery. I am glad to report that they are both doing better and getting stronger every day!

Grandma (Janet's mom) and Philip


Grandpa (Janet's dad) at Christmas

Mom, Dad, and Mom
We love you so much and hope you feel better soon!

Together Again after a year

Saturday we attended our adoption agency's annual reunion. Including us, six of our travel families were there. We had so much fun seeing everyone and catching up. Wow, it is amazing how fast one year can fly by! Enjoy the pictures of happy forever families.

Our children one year later

Little cutie pies!


Watch out Trayjan!


Philip and Jie


Some of our group


Pro golfers


Pro circuit



Fun day!

News on my dad

My dad came through the surgery well today in spite of having a weak heart. It appears he did have a cancerous growth on his colon, and we will know for sure what type in a week or so. It was a tough day, but it was made so much easier because of the many prayers said on his behalf. Thank you to all who e-mailed or commented on this blog and to the many other people who were also praying today.

Some of my aunts and uncles were there at the hospital, too, all the way from Virginia. It was a bittersweet day, worrying about Dad but also enjoying the time spent with our family.

What a blessing you all are!

Our Dad and Grandpa

My dad is having surgery today. It wouldn't be such a big thing if it wasn't for the fact that two years ago he had a heart attack and the doctors then said he was too sick for surgery. It wouldn't be such a big thing if it wasn't for the fact that the surgery today is to remove a suspected cancer.

Dad is one of the bravest people we know. He is a real-life hero. Despite many years of difficult health problems, he is still here with us, still inspiring us to live life well. He is a Marine, so he is naturally tough. He also has a faith in God. God apparently has had things for Dad to do or Dad still wouldn't be here with us today.

Dad is one of the bravest, funniest, most fiercely loving people we know. Whenever we are with him, it is a happy time filled with much laughter over his hilarious stories. It is a privilege to be his daughter, son-in-law, and grandsons. He is one of life's abundant blessings.

Ted with his grandparents in 2006

We love you Dad. We thank God each day that we have an earthly father and grandfather like you. You are a hero to us. We are praying for our Lord to carry you through today and all the days of your life.

On to the Chinese Consulate

WELL,

I am happy to say that our CIS I-797C is on its way to the
Chinese Consulate in Chicago for authentication!!


Next step . . .
sending in ALL OF OUR DOCUMENTS (DOSSIER)
to CHINA!!!


Can you believe it?

YES - CIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YES . . . CIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


When we had our fingerprints taken for CIS approval to adopt for Philip, it took three months to get through their process. It seems my fingerprints aren't good . . .


THAT MEANS I HAD TO GO BACK TO BE RE-FINGERPRINTED, THEN GO GET ANOTHER CRIMINAL HISTORY CHECK, COME BACK TO CIS AND SWEAR I WAS NOT A CRIMINAL!!!!!!!!!

It took forever!

Well, this time around we did not have FOREVER. We only have until August 27th to get EVERYTHING in to China!



When we went on Tuesday to have our fingerprints taken, I even brought Eli's picture to show them hoping his sweet chubby face would tug at their hearts and they could speed things up for us! LOL!


To no avail - they couldn't help us. But they did tell me to e-mail the Orphan Adoption Department with Citizen and Immigration. I did, and I also called and spoke personally to someone. She told me to call back on Thursday (today), and she would see if the fingerprints were accepted.


I called today and spoke to that same sweet lady. She said, "Wait a minute, I remember everything coming back this morning, and your prints were approved. I approved your application. Your I-797 should be to you by the FIRST OF NEXT WEEK!"


WHOA! What might have taken a couple of months took only a couple of days!!!!!!!!!!!

ONLY GOD COULD HAVE DONE THAT!

When I got off the phone from CIS, I was dancing, hooting and hollering, and crying all at once. Philip looked at me and said, "Mommy, we need pray." He bowed his head and murmured, "Dear Father, Thank you (for) Eli. We so excited. Amen!"

THAT JUST ABOUT SUMS IT UP!

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME

Take me out to the crowd.




Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack (gatorade, chips, and pizza too!)






I don't care if I never get back. (unless Papa buys me the ice cream that I keep whining about!)



Let me root, root, root for the home team, (at least until the 7th inning!)






If they don't win it's a shame. (I won't know because I will be at home already!)






For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out,



At the old ball game!

It was "boys' night out" at an Indians game with Papa, big brother, Grandpa, his uncle, and cousin. A good time was had by all . . . I think!



Philip wasn't too wild about watching the baseball game, but he sure was excited about all that food! He even hovered like a vulture over his cousin Michael when Michael was eating nachos! After the 100th time of asking for ice cream (honestly Kevin didn't think his little tummy could handle it after everything else), Philip was whisked home.

The highlight of the evening according to Philip when asked by Mommy . . .

not the food, not the lights, not the game, but . . .






Getting his stuffed elephant taken away for throwing it at Grandma!

Too funny

Prayer for our sweet bloggy friends

Many of you who read our blog also follow Linny and Dw's blog,
A Place Called Simplicity.

If you have never visited the Saunders Family blog, head on over there today to check out another amazing miracle from God. This family's adoption journey to their sweet little son Isaiah helped open our hearts to looking into adopting a little boy with a special need.



That, in turn, led us to our precious Philip Bao.



Their continuing story of faith in Jesus Christ is an inspiration to all who read their blog. Dw and their son Isaiah have both been in a hospital far from their Colorado home, with Linny and one of their younger daughters, Liberty, with them on the trip. They really do need our prayers as they prepare to travel back home after an overwhelmingly frightening week of surgery and medical tests.



This family lives for God in every moment of every day, and their example challenges each of us to do the same.