Wednesday, September 26, 2007
LOI in China
Our Letter of Intent has officially arrived in China. It was signed for at 3:21 pm on September 26, 2007, in Beijing, China. Now we just have to wait for a reply, which is the Pre-Approval. Our fingerprint appointment is Friday at 1:00. Things are happening, just not fast enough some days.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Peace, peace, wonderful peace.......
That was a song from worship service this morning and guess what I immediately thought of?
I haven't posted in several days and I only have a few updates. We have our fingerprint appointment this week. After that, we will be waiting for our I171-H from the USCIS, which takes about 45 days. We are also waiting for our PA (pre-approval) from China. Hopefully our Letter of Intent has been sent or will be the first of this week. The PA usually takes around 40+ days from LOI, also.
We continue to receive word from our placing agency, Children's House International, and LWB that Cassi was loved by all who have provided care for her in the past. From the surgery techs, directors of the programs, foster family and doctors, Cassi is a very special little girl, loved by many. And she hasn't even come home to the forever family who will smother her with love. Everytime I see a picture of someone holding and loving her, I just want to do the same to them for all they have done for her.
We just started our Parents in Process Training Classes with our homestudy agency, Miriam's Promise, this past Thursday night. When we attended the classes 13 years ago, preparing to adopt Issac, most of the couples were about the same age with very similar circumstances. We were all adopting domestically and still have a strong bond with some of the couples we attended classes with. This class, however, has a very diverse group of individuals. Getting to know the different couples and their individual stories was so touching. We are all so excited and I enjoyed it so much. Issac asked why we were having to go to classes and I told him we had to learn how to be a Mommy and Daddy (just kidding). He thought we should be fine since we had almost 13 years experience. The classes are actually to prepare you for the adoption journey itself and internationally. Adoption is not just a one time experience, it's a life long process. Bonding issues will be different. I was in the delivery room when Issac was born, so we started the bonding process immediately. With Cassi, she will be over two years old, and we will have a lot of time to make up.
There will be other issues and questions she will have over time and Issac is right in the fact that we have some experience. We have shared Issac's adoption story with him since birth and have answered all questions openly and honestly. We plan to do the same with Cassi. Their stories will be different, but our answers will always be the same, honest. We will do everything to ensure them that adoption is a great sacrifice on the part of the birthparents and is usually done out of a great love for the child. Circumstances leave the birthparents feeling this is the best option for the child, and we, as adoptive parents, have a great respect for their decision. There are other options they could have chosen, but they gave them life and placed them where they could be cared for.
Please continue to pray for us. I know there are so many of you out there doing so and we really appreciate it. We are getting anxious, but we still have a time of wait we must endure. While God is preparing our hearts and home, I know he is also preparing Cassi.
I haven't posted in several days and I only have a few updates. We have our fingerprint appointment this week. After that, we will be waiting for our I171-H from the USCIS, which takes about 45 days. We are also waiting for our PA (pre-approval) from China. Hopefully our Letter of Intent has been sent or will be the first of this week. The PA usually takes around 40+ days from LOI, also.
We continue to receive word from our placing agency, Children's House International, and LWB that Cassi was loved by all who have provided care for her in the past. From the surgery techs, directors of the programs, foster family and doctors, Cassi is a very special little girl, loved by many. And she hasn't even come home to the forever family who will smother her with love. Everytime I see a picture of someone holding and loving her, I just want to do the same to them for all they have done for her.
We just started our Parents in Process Training Classes with our homestudy agency, Miriam's Promise, this past Thursday night. When we attended the classes 13 years ago, preparing to adopt Issac, most of the couples were about the same age with very similar circumstances. We were all adopting domestically and still have a strong bond with some of the couples we attended classes with. This class, however, has a very diverse group of individuals. Getting to know the different couples and their individual stories was so touching. We are all so excited and I enjoyed it so much. Issac asked why we were having to go to classes and I told him we had to learn how to be a Mommy and Daddy (just kidding). He thought we should be fine since we had almost 13 years experience. The classes are actually to prepare you for the adoption journey itself and internationally. Adoption is not just a one time experience, it's a life long process. Bonding issues will be different. I was in the delivery room when Issac was born, so we started the bonding process immediately. With Cassi, she will be over two years old, and we will have a lot of time to make up.
There will be other issues and questions she will have over time and Issac is right in the fact that we have some experience. We have shared Issac's adoption story with him since birth and have answered all questions openly and honestly. We plan to do the same with Cassi. Their stories will be different, but our answers will always be the same, honest. We will do everything to ensure them that adoption is a great sacrifice on the part of the birthparents and is usually done out of a great love for the child. Circumstances leave the birthparents feeling this is the best option for the child, and we, as adoptive parents, have a great respect for their decision. There are other options they could have chosen, but they gave them life and placed them where they could be cared for.
Please continue to pray for us. I know there are so many of you out there doing so and we really appreciate it. We are getting anxious, but we still have a time of wait we must endure. While God is preparing our hearts and home, I know he is also preparing Cassi.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
New pictures of Cassi....
Last night we received these new pictures of Cassi. They were taken at the
orphanage on Monday by a couple visiting China to pick up their little girl. We were amazed at how big our little girl looks. Apparently, she loves bananas!!! The placing agency's response was, "For a little girl who didn't thrive, she is certainly thrivin', and then some!!!" We were so glad to get these new pictures.
I sent our Letter of Intent to the placing agency today. This is the first official document that will be sent to Chinese gov't. Hopefully, we will have a PA (pre-approval) soon and then our dossier can go to China.
Patiently (haha) waiting for our Cassi!
orphanage on Monday by a couple visiting China to pick up their little girl. We were amazed at how big our little girl looks. Apparently, she loves bananas!!! The placing agency's response was, "For a little girl who didn't thrive, she is certainly thrivin', and then some!!!" We were so glad to get these new pictures.
I sent our Letter of Intent to the placing agency today. This is the first official document that will be sent to Chinese gov't. Hopefully, we will have a PA (pre-approval) soon and then our dossier can go to China.
Patiently (haha) waiting for our Cassi!
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Cassi's story.....
Qing Zu Qiao was abandoned at the entrance of Sanniao Market of ShiJiao Town, Qingyuan City on 2/26/06. She was sent to the Qingyuan County SWI and at her entrance weighed 8.5 lbs and was 18 inches long. She was diagnosed with a cleft palate II and was given a birthdate of 12/26/05 according to her development. The name she was given at the SWI meant Pretty Ancestor.
In May of 2006, a team from Love without Boundries, located Cassi in the SWI and along with facilitator, Zhang Ming, worked to have her moved to a foster home. She needed one on one care and this is something that the caring but busy staff at the SWI could not provide. She was moved to foster care on June 15, 2006, and the foster family provided care for her until the LWB team could return in October to perform her cleft palate surgery. She received the surgery on October 31, 2006, and it was a great success.
If you visit http://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/ and go to their blog, you can see a picture of Keren, as they refer to her, on October 31, 2006, with two of the staff as they were reunited with her before her surgery. They have sent information through our placing agency that "she was LOVED and prayed over for a long time." Heidi Reitz from the US and Julie Flynn Coleman from Ireland are the two ladies holding her in their arms.
After recovering at the hospital and then with the foster family, she returned to the Qingyuan County SWI in February (we think). At that time, the CCAA started preparing her records in order to make her available for adoption. We are so thankful to the LWB team and the Brehm foster family for all their love, prayers, and care given to Keren, our little Cassi.
Cassi's medical record now states that she is generally healthy and positive. She has a good appetite and is not particular about food (unlike her brother). She has developed normally in body and intelligence and now she can toddle alone. She is described as an independent little girl and she likes playing with other children. She screams loudly when her toy is taken away by others and if that doesn't work, she begs you to help her. (how sweet!!!)
She eats and pronounces words normally and except for the operation, has never had any other serious problems. At 15 months, she weighed a little over 21 lbs and was 27.75 inches tall. We may not receive any updates on her medical until we travel to bring her home, but if we do, we will definitely post them.
Paperwork is coming along slowly it seems, but we are doing everything we can as fast as we can. We hope to get some updated pictures in the next few days. We will keep you posted. Sending our love to Cassi......
In May of 2006, a team from Love without Boundries, located Cassi in the SWI and along with facilitator, Zhang Ming, worked to have her moved to a foster home. She needed one on one care and this is something that the caring but busy staff at the SWI could not provide. She was moved to foster care on June 15, 2006, and the foster family provided care for her until the LWB team could return in October to perform her cleft palate surgery. She received the surgery on October 31, 2006, and it was a great success.
If you visit http://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/ and go to their blog, you can see a picture of Keren, as they refer to her, on October 31, 2006, with two of the staff as they were reunited with her before her surgery. They have sent information through our placing agency that "she was LOVED and prayed over for a long time." Heidi Reitz from the US and Julie Flynn Coleman from Ireland are the two ladies holding her in their arms.
After recovering at the hospital and then with the foster family, she returned to the Qingyuan County SWI in February (we think). At that time, the CCAA started preparing her records in order to make her available for adoption. We are so thankful to the LWB team and the Brehm foster family for all their love, prayers, and care given to Keren, our little Cassi.
Cassi's medical record now states that she is generally healthy and positive. She has a good appetite and is not particular about food (unlike her brother). She has developed normally in body and intelligence and now she can toddle alone. She is described as an independent little girl and she likes playing with other children. She screams loudly when her toy is taken away by others and if that doesn't work, she begs you to help her. (how sweet!!!)
She eats and pronounces words normally and except for the operation, has never had any other serious problems. At 15 months, she weighed a little over 21 lbs and was 27.75 inches tall. We may not receive any updates on her medical until we travel to bring her home, but if we do, we will definitely post them.
Paperwork is coming along slowly it seems, but we are doing everything we can as fast as we can. We hope to get some updated pictures in the next few days. We will keep you posted. Sending our love to Cassi......
Thursday, September 6, 2007
What is the meaning of "Salem Cassidy ZuNei"?
I have been asked by several people about Cassi's name and I want to share with everyone why this will be her name. "Salem" means peace in the Bible. It is first mentioned in Genesis 14:18 and then later in Hebrews 7:2 where the author interpreted "Salem" to mean "peace." If you have read my earlier posting, this was very significant in God's leading us to our little girl and we have grown to love this part of her name.
"Cassidy" was a definite part of the name because we will call her "Cassi." That was a request from her 12 year old brother, Issac, when he was only about 6 years old. He has prayed for and wanted a little brother or sister as long as he has been able to talk. One day we were going down the road and he told us he wanted a little sister and he wanted to name her "Cassi." We said ok and he said that was his name spelled backwards. So ever since then, when a little sister has been mentioned, her name was "Cassi."
"ZuNei" came about in two parts. "Nei" means peace in Chinese and we wanted her to have something Asian in her name. We thought this was a pretty name and went well with "Cassidy." Later after joining the Qingyuan County SWI Yahoo group, we found out that "Zu" was the first name for all the children in this particular orphanage. It means "ancestor" and that is a link to her brothers and sisters from the orphanage. Alot of the families include "Zu" as part of their name, and we wanted to do the same, so that is how "ZuNei" came about.
I know that "Salem Cassidy ZuNei" is a long name for a little girl, but we have grown to love it. Maybe she won't dislike me too much when she goes to fill out paperwork when she gets older. But, oh well, I'm sure at some point in her life, like most children, she won't like her mom anyway.
Please join us in praying for our little girl. These next few months will be difficult. We are able to look at her picture but not able to hold and say her prayers at bedtime, give her good morning kisses, make sure she has plenty to eat and the list goes on and on. But she has been in God's hands from day one. He has been preparing her for us and us for her. Thank you God for your awesome presence.
"Cassidy" was a definite part of the name because we will call her "Cassi." That was a request from her 12 year old brother, Issac, when he was only about 6 years old. He has prayed for and wanted a little brother or sister as long as he has been able to talk. One day we were going down the road and he told us he wanted a little sister and he wanted to name her "Cassi." We said ok and he said that was his name spelled backwards. So ever since then, when a little sister has been mentioned, her name was "Cassi."
"ZuNei" came about in two parts. "Nei" means peace in Chinese and we wanted her to have something Asian in her name. We thought this was a pretty name and went well with "Cassidy." Later after joining the Qingyuan County SWI Yahoo group, we found out that "Zu" was the first name for all the children in this particular orphanage. It means "ancestor" and that is a link to her brothers and sisters from the orphanage. Alot of the families include "Zu" as part of their name, and we wanted to do the same, so that is how "ZuNei" came about.
I know that "Salem Cassidy ZuNei" is a long name for a little girl, but we have grown to love it. Maybe she won't dislike me too much when she goes to fill out paperwork when she gets older. But, oh well, I'm sure at some point in her life, like most children, she won't like her mom anyway.
Please join us in praying for our little girl. These next few months will be difficult. We are able to look at her picture but not able to hold and say her prayers at bedtime, give her good morning kisses, make sure she has plenty to eat and the list goes on and on. But she has been in God's hands from day one. He has been preparing her for us and us for her. Thank you God for your awesome presence.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Labor Day Weekend
Well, we enjoyed another Labor Day weekend at my parent's house. We started a tradition of camping out with the little ones in the yard between my parent's and aunt and uncle's houses about ten years ago. Some years we have large crowds with extended family and friends and some years there are just a handful of us there. Either way, we always have a great time!
This year, we had some family members that couldn't make it due to illnesses, but we still had between 35-40 people. We had lots of baby time there because my sister and brother both have babies under eight months old. Everyone there knew about our little Cassi before we gathered, but I got to share our testimony of how God led us to her with several people.
Before going to my parent's house, we visited with my husband's family. His sister just had a new baby the previous week and we had not seen him since the night he was born. She brought him to Richie's moms and we had some baby time there, too. They are all excited about Cassi and had lots of questions. I was glad to share the story with them as well.
We are hoping to get our package from our placing agency tomorrow. It has some very important paperwork we can't wait to get started on. The sooner we get everything completed, the sooner we can bring Cassi home. It's hard not to wish your life away when you are waiting for a such a special event, but I want to live each day to it's fullest. We have so much to get ready to bring our little girl home. Please help us pray for a speedy paperchase.
This year, we had some family members that couldn't make it due to illnesses, but we still had between 35-40 people. We had lots of baby time there because my sister and brother both have babies under eight months old. Everyone there knew about our little Cassi before we gathered, but I got to share our testimony of how God led us to her with several people.
Before going to my parent's house, we visited with my husband's family. His sister just had a new baby the previous week and we had not seen him since the night he was born. She brought him to Richie's moms and we had some baby time there, too. They are all excited about Cassi and had lots of questions. I was glad to share the story with them as well.
We are hoping to get our package from our placing agency tomorrow. It has some very important paperwork we can't wait to get started on. The sooner we get everything completed, the sooner we can bring Cassi home. It's hard not to wish your life away when you are waiting for a such a special event, but I want to live each day to it's fullest. We have so much to get ready to bring our little girl home. Please help us pray for a speedy paperchase.
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