Prayers for Salem

I don't even know what words to use to break the following news to all of you reading this blog. We received the news this morning that after much discussion and debate over our Letter of Intent, we have been denied the Pre-Approval to adopt from China. In May of 2007, the CCAA issued new regulations concerning those eligible to adopt from China, and we met the regulations according to the interpretation published. However, some of the top officials have said that the interpretation published was different than the meaning of the rules and will not allow us to adopt from China.



I am so sorry that I have to share this news with all of you. It hurts so bad!!! We have had so much support and I can never thank each one of you enough for all you have done. The encouraging and excited words you have spoken to us, the kinds acts, the love you have shown for us and for a special little two-year-old half way around the world, will never be forgotten. Please continue to pray for her. She has become a part of our hearts and we want her to have a "forever family." We are hoping that our agency can keep her file and find her a family soon. I feel comfort in the possibility that Stefani and her staff, with Children's House International, will find her a family that can love her and cherish her as much as we did and would have in the future. She has taken a portion of every heart who has followed our story and concering her future, I know she will have many prayers going up on her behalf.



Please pray for Richie, Issac and me. We are searching for answers we may never find. I pray that God will heal many broken hearts and once again give us the peace we need. Help us in sending much love and prayers to our precious little Salem.

Happy 2nd Birthday Cassi!

The following is a very special poem written by Marcy, Anna Mei's mom, in honor of Cassi's birthday.

Happy Birthday Cassi

We'll sing a little song today
though you are not here
to wish you Happy #2
and a very special year

For this year will be so different
from any one before
you'll finally met your family
that couldn't love you anymore

So Happy Birthday Cassi
from across the Pacific blue
Let's celebrate this day with her
For Bobbye's baby is turning 2!!!!

Marcy in KY (very proud cousin)

This was posted to the agency's waiting kids yahoo group in celebration of Cassi's birthday. We spent most of her day, out and about, thinking about her and enjoying the relaxing time off work. I can't help but think how different next year will be.

We did receive our approval from the USCIS in the mail on Christmas Eve and I took it and had it notorized and authenticated today. We are ready to finish up the authentication process and hope we have our PA very, very soon so we can send our dossier to China.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends. We sure did!!!!!! I'll try to get some photos on here soon.

Sending birthday love, hugs and kisses to a very special two-year-old!!!!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

For all reading this, we wish you a very Merry Christmas! We just celebrated our Christmas at home and Issac seems to be very happy. He is in his room now watching the Santa Claus 3 movie and putting away his other things. Yesterday was spent with Richie's dad, step-mom, his three sisters, and their spouses and children. We are very blessed to have large families with lots of children, but the only thing is we don't get to spend as much time with them as we wish we could. I got to play "Are you smarter than a fifth grader?" with some of the kids and we won a million dollars. (Now I guess I just wait for the check to come in the mail. ha ha)

Today after attending our annual Christmas breakfast at church and enjoying the children's Christmas program, we celebrated with Richie's mom, step-dad, his other sisters, spouses, nieces, nephews, and children. We had one celebrating his first Christmas this year, 4-month-old, Alexander, and everyone was oooohing and aaaahing over him. We played the Dirty Santa game, and I drew the #3, which is not a good #, so I went and got an ink pen out and changed my # to a higher one. Of course I had to confess after almost getting away with it, but it was worth a laugh.

Monday and Tuesday we have more family gatherings and will be quite busy, but we are spending time with family and that is what the holidays are all about. When we contacted the agency last week to ask about our PA, they told us they hope to know something by Monday, so we are hoping for a Christmas miracle. After all that has happened over the past 5-6 years, and then two years ago when I received the CD with the Christmas song "All I Really Want for Christmas," on Cassi's actual birth day, nothing would be more fitting than the actual PA from the CCAA saying that we can move forward with the adoption of the birthday girl.

Take a little extra time this Christmas to be especially thankful for your family and children. There are so many little ones that never celebrate special occasions with a family of their own and the sad truth is, there are so many of us that never even think about it or realize it. Until we adopted Issac and then had the burden for other children, I just had gone through life without really thinking about how I can help change the life of other children. Every child deserves a family to call their own and we can all help in some way. Whether it's supporting a family that has made the step of faith to adopt or foster, or maybe you realize that you have room in your house for another, do something to make a difference.

Once again, thank you to everyone who has been and are continuing to be so supportive in our life changing journey. Your thoughts, prayers, kind acts and words of encouragement mean more than you will ever know. Tonight and for the next few days, Cassi will especially be on our hearts and minds. I may not have the time to post again until after Christmas and her birthday, but please keep us in your prayers. Love your family and have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Getting ready for Christmas!!!

Nine days 'til Christmas! Is everyone ready besides me? I could not get in the Christmas mood until we returned from vacation, and then sickness strikes. I went Christmas shopping for the first time on the 4th and did a little and planned on having last weekend and Tuesday (my day off work this week), but sweet little virus bug came to visit last Sunday morning and finally left the house on Friday. So far, Richie hasn't been sick and seems fine, but Issac and I have had a rough week. Due to that, shopping was put on the back burner until yesterday. After spending from 7:15 am - 2:30 pm at Issac's basketball games, Richie and I were able to go Christmas shopping. Crowded, cold, very wet, but shopping just the same. We knocked quite a bit of it out and I should be able to finish up on Tuesday.

In case you are wondering, yes, we are STILL waiting for our PA and our I171-H. We did receive word from our placing agency that we are one of three families that had to go through a second round of approval (ours being due to a medical question from our basic information) and standard procedure on those are that the director of the CCAA must sign the preapproval also. Due to it being the end of the year, training, and visiting the orphanages the director has been out of the office some and they are on his desk for approval. Our agency facilitator is leaving on Tuesday for China on other agency business and I'm hoping she brings home or sends our PA.

As far as the I171-H, this past week we started contacting our congressmen asking for their help in getting this paperwork completed. What started out as a 45 day wait, turned into an 8 week wait and now we are beginnning our 11th week of waiting. Apparently, the Memphis office of the USCIS processes at a slower rate than some offices of the USCIS. I really need the I171-H in order to go through the authentication process and be ready to send our dossier to China as soon as we receive our PA.

I hope everyone reading this continues to life us up in your prayers. This Christmas season is exciting but there is a feeling that I cannot describe. Knowing there is a little girl half way around the world who we have grown to love and are counting the days until we can make her a part of our family that must spend one of the happiest times of the year with no family is hard. I want to enjoy all the celebrations to the fullest, but can't help and anticipate next year when she will experience Christmas for the first time.

Sending a Christmas kiss to a button nose many, many miles away....

We're back and still waiting

Well, we're back and we had an absolutely WONDERFUL time!!! The only thing that didn't go as I had planned was we didn't receive our PA while in front of the castle in the Magic Kingdom or while in the Chinese world showcase in Epcot. Bummer!!! I had thought one of those two places would have just been the perfect spot, but we will get it when we are supposed to. The stress of waiting is not fun, let me tell you. I know alot of you are feeling the stress of the wait also, but we have NO control and I am not a good one at releasing all control (maybe another lesson I am supposed to learn).

Now, back to Disney World. Perfect weather, great company, relaxing (some days), lots and lots of memories, what could be better (except receiving PA while there)? My 87 year old grandmother, who was only going to the Christmas party, went to every park we went to for the entire day until the very last day. She was completely exhausted on Friday and spent the day in bed. We all had so much fun and the memories that our four generations made will last a lifetime. It was definitely a once in a lifetime experience and I am so thankful we were blessed to enjoy it.

While in FL, I received another email from Cassi's foster mom and brother and they told me she was about the size of 12-18 month old. Short but very chubby. When they arrived at the orphanage to visit with her, she was pushing another little girl around in a little red wagon. They also said that her hair is a bit lighter than the average Chinese child but darker than when she was in their care. They also said that she is very healthy and in really good hands. I am so thankful for the orphanage she is in. It is a small one and they have very good comments from all families that have ties to it.

Please continue to pray for us to receive good news SOON!!!! It really should be any day from both CCAA and USCIS. Until then, please pray for our direction in all steps leading to bringing Cassi home.