Sweetness

We Just received these pictures this morning from the family of the little boy in the picture with Wren Dayu.  It looks like he's saying Da You:)  These pictures from the families traveling to adopt their children make this wait a little more endurable! But also make me anxious to GO bring them HOME!

            

This little girl with her is at least partly blind.  I would love to see how they communicate. One can't see, and

one can't hear.??  SO sweet! 

 

                           It has been 8-1/2 months since i saw this face.

She actually looked like this 8-1/2 Months ago.

Now I need an update on this little face!!!

Today's the Day!

Don't forget to order your Calico Pie dolls for Christmas today:) http://www.etsy.com/shop/calicopie

Thanks for your support!

Father Forgive Us!

Lest I am tempted to complain about anything today.  Instead I will count my blessings.

Adoption Expense Outline

For anyone who is interested in possibly adopting, or who is just wondering why adoption is so expensive, I'm going to try to give a detailed outline of where the money goes.  What is in Red is what we have left to pay.  What's in Black has been paid, or we have grant money (we receive this money when we get home with the girls. We can then use it to cover loans, or credit card expenses), or donations in savings to cover it.

Application for adoption:---------------------------------------------------$250.00
Contract Fee-1st Fee:--------------------------------------------------- $3,500.00
Application for Home Study services:---------------------------------------$200.00
Home Study:------------------------------------------------------------- $1,200.00
Travel Fees for Home Study: -----------------------------------------------$300.00
Judy's Passport (Troy already had one):-------------------------------------$135.00
Judy's Birth certificate-3 copies:----------------------------------------------$72.00
Troy's Birth certificate-3 copies:-----------------------------------------------89.45
Online Adoption preparation classes:----------------------------------------$125.00
Required Reading Books: (we borrowed some)-----------------------------$120.00
I800A Filing Fee- 670.00 + 80.00 per adult (Troy, Judy, Kyndahl) = ------$975.00
Contract Fee-2nd Fee:--------------------------------------------------- $3,500.00
Contract Fee-3rd Fee:-----------------------------------------------------$ 750.00
Contract Fee- 2nd Child:-------------------------------------------------$3,500.00
China Visa Service-40.00 each adult + 38.00 delivery charge=-------------$118.00
DS-230 Filing and Service Fee---------------------------------------------$560.00
Orphanage Donation- 5,300.00 X's 2 =---------------------------------$10,600.00 this has to be carried in cash or wired 1-2 months in advance!
Legal and Process fees per child X's 2=  2,000-2,500 = ---------$4,000-$5,000.00 this has to be in carried in cash.  This is frightening:(
Visa to China- $140.00 per person= ---------------------------------------$280.00
International Airfare: 1,100.00-1,800.00 per person ----------$2,200.00-$3,600.00
                (2 going and 4 returning)------------------------------------$1,000-1,800
Intra China Travel: 2500-3500 per adult = -----------------------$5,000-$7,000.00
__________________________________________________________________________________
Total--------------------$38,474.45- $43,474.45
This doesn't include Physicals for every family member
Immunizations, and TB tests for everyone
and local fingerprinting....I think it was around 285.00 (95.00 per adult in household)  I might be wrong on this one.  I couldn't find the receipt for it.
So this is not "all inclusive"  There are much more add ons...such as gas to Wichita for fingerprinting,(Kansas) gas to Topeka for, fingerprinting.(FBI)

Post Adoption Reports at 6months,12months,3,5, and 10 years these are 300.00-600.00 per report.  These are required by the state. for a grand total of 1,500.00-3,000.00  Some states require this up front!  I need to check into this.

I want to say a HUGE THANK YOU to all the generous hearts that have donated to this adoption!!!  These little girls would not be coming home with out your help, or they would have had to wait SO much longer!  We still have about $12,000-$15,000 to raise, but we know that God is in this, and money is no object to him!  He has been there every time we have needed money for an installment:)  So thank you for being his hands and feet!  May God Richly Bless you for your generosity.

Where's Waldo

Ok for those of you who are not as familiar with every hair, expression,  mole, and eyelash........i will point out which one my girls are.  It's a mom thing I guess:) cause I can pick them out if they are in there, even if it's the back of their head, or they are the size of a pin dot. But other people always ask "is that her" These are some old pictures that some one just posted from a trip in Jan. of 2011.  Dayu would have been almost 4 (Feb. 1), and Iley would turn 4 in April.

Wren Dayu is the tall one back left. This is the only one with Wren in it.

Iley XiaoKui is the fourth one from the left. (orange tennies)

Iley is the one peeking out of the middle of the pack.

New Pictures of Wren

We received these new pictures just this morning from a friend who just got home from China!  She was there adopting the little girl behind Wren.  We were sad not to get any new ones of Iley, but we expected that, as she is in foster care.  I must say, it's nice to see her smiling, and well fed, and dressed in nice clean clothes.  My heart goes out to the parents that are waiting.....not knowing if their children are fed, or clothed, or cared for!  So as we go into this Thanksgiving season, I will say....I am THANKFUL that ALL of my children are fed and clothed, and have at least basic care.  It amazes me at how happy she always seems....in spite of the fact that she is deaf, and probably most of the kids, and nannies can't communicate with her.  Hopefully this is a sign of a sunny disposition:) 

I Love this smile:)

 Makes you wonder...does it smell bad......taste bad....or does her nose just itch?

I pray that these two will meet again here in the USA!

I Don't Want My Children To Be Happy

Go here and read this:) 
http://itsalmostnaptime.blogspot.com/2010/02/i-dont-want-my-children-to-be-happy.html

Sorry for all of you who don't like hopping around...but sometimes other people just say it so much better than i can!  While you may not like or agree with all of it.....but this lady makes a very valid point!  What are we teaching our children about what is the most important things in life.  They learn by watching us...Does our walk talk louder than our talk talks?  Forgive me Lord for the times in my past that I have not walked the walk........and only talked the talk.  I pray...that with Your grace and Your wisdom, and Your strength.....my TODAY and tomorrows will be a better reflection of Your Love than my yesterdays have been.

And then...... I hate to admit that I was where this person writing the next story is!  I even had a conversation somewhat like this with God.....but you know when it's all written out like this it seems even more pathetic than it did in my head and in my prayers!  So when people say, this is such a wonderful thing you are doing for these little girls....I am ashamed that I almost didn't do it, and for such lame, selfish reasons. Add to the ones listed below....no time to spend with husband alone....raised 4 boys...want to travel........ And I know how many fears I still have, and I don't feel very wonderful at all, and pray daily that I will not fail my Father in Heaven or any of  these little ones he's entrusted to my care.

dear orphan

I read this post on One More Ladybug and it made me think of how our actions (and inaction) speak so much louder than our words...

Dear Orphan~




I saw your photo today. You are so adorable!
Your eyes are so deep and full of hope.




I love your little smile.
I know it must be hard some days to find
the strength to smile.
I have heard how little food you have,
but you are still willing to share
with your friends.
What a sweet little person you are!



But, I am writing this letter to tell you that I will
not be able to help you.
You see, my family is happy with the life we
are living.
I know that we could get bunk beds and you could
share a room with one of our bio kids,
but really,
that is no life for either of you.
We have so much going on around here and
life would just be too chaotic.

Our neighbors just got a new TV and game system,
we really think we need to have one too.
I have a 'ladies night out' next week and
I have nothing to wear.
I really need to purchase a new outfit.
I guess I could sponsor you...
but,
it will have to wait til next month,
I really need that new outfit
and my kids are dying for some fast food tonight.

Good luck to you!