Christmas Eve wish granted......

The fingerprint approval that we have been waiting for since October, arrived today on Christmas Eve!!! I quickly faxed (twice-just to make sure) to our Bethany Social Worker, for her to notify the "China team" we are ready and waiting for an "official" travel date, and US/China Consulate appointment at the Embassy. Hopefully will know something within the next 2 weeks, and hoping to still be on that plane in January....God is good :)

Looking forward to 2010...

Well, we are still waiting for our final travel approval(TA) to travel to China. Obviously, we will not have Anna this year for Christmas, and we are very disappointed about that. A part of us will be empty this Christmas, but we hope that will soon be filled in the coming months with joy as we hold our Anna for the first time. We know that 2010 is going to be a very special year for our family. We look forward to many Christmas's with Anna, and especially next year, her very first one in our 'forever family'.

We are hoping:

1) we get our fingerprint approval back this week, or VERY soon, so we can travel on JAN 14th. It has NEVER taken this long the other 2 times, and now that we are ready to go-we are waiting on this one document.

2) Jan 14th is the next group traveling to China, and we desperately want to be on that PLANE!!!!

3) If we don't travel in January, we have to travel in February, because one of our documents expires in March.

Will keep you posted as soon as we find out!

Another package for Anna

We sent Anna another package through Anne at RedThread. We sent her a warm fleece outfit, and also a picture album. The picture album contained pictures of our home: outside, her room, the boys room, the kitchen, living room, our room, etc. Hopefully this will help once she arrives to our home, and it will be familiar to her.

The Girls Room......Olivia & Anna

So here are a couple of pics of the girls room. They have our old master bedroom, which includes a walk in closet and a full bathroom....The closet space will hopefully be sufficient for 2 girls, especially going through the teenaged years.

LOA (Letter of Acceptance)

Well, on Wednesday night November 4th, our official letter from China arrived!! This is one of the last milestones we are waiting on before we go get our Anna. I have attached a picture of this official document, as we do accept Anna as becoming our adopted daughter. Now what? We are waiting on our TA (Travel Approval) which we should know in 3-4 weeks. Looking like a December/January travel date, but really don't know until all the paperwork clears. In the meantime, we are composing another care package for Anna, which includes a picture book of our home. We will post updates/pictures of that when we receive them. Please pray for us, and the next coming months as we find out our travel date, and as we make arrangements for our 3 children here.

Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock...

So we are done with fingerprints for the LAST and FINAL time. We have painted 2 rooms, redecorated 2 rooms and are ready to go - to CHINA!!! But, we are still waiting on that call, that lets us know when. (I feel like a time bomb- ready to explode) We do know of 4 families leaving Nov 4th. At this point, praying for December travel date. Even though I would be disappointed in leaving my family during the holiday season, I know it would be worth it! (I have always been in HIXSON, TN for Christmas) Will post some pics soon of the new rooms. Thanks for continuing to pray for our Anna.

Fingerprints x3

So we are waiting again (this is the 3rd time) for our appointment in Atlanta to get our fingerprints done! I mean seriously, how much could they change in 3 years, unless we lost one? Anyway, our first appt was sent for this Sat in ATL at 3PM, but due to 2 football games for the boys, and Mickey and the boys going to UT for the Vols game, we have sent for a reschedule....On a + note, some families are getting their travel date for Oct 22. Praying for these families as they bring their children home soon. How exciting they must be getting to start packing for their big trip. There was a total of 42 referrals accepted in August- How AMAZING!

Package to Anna arrived....

We received confirmation from Anne at RedThread that our package was put together and delivered to Anna. Although the orphanage would not give any updates or new pics, Anna is getting her first glimpse at "the Rectors" and who we are. Below is the package contents that was sent to Anna.

Care package to Anna

We sent a care package to Anna via Anne at http://www.redthreadchina.com/.
We sent her the PJ package (includes camera, set of PJ's, blanket, Candies to caregivers, a letter we wrote that she will translate, doll) We also sent 8 pics of our family that she will place in a soft photo album.
We are anxiously awaiting an update on her which Anne always provides to her customers. Check out her site, it's pretty neat!

Just some more bumps in the road...

Prior to accepting our referral, we had sent off to ask 2 questions regarding Anna's cognitive state, and to rule out Cerebral Palsy(which one International Doctor said could be a possibility). Well, we got those answers back today with mixed emotions.
#1- A developmental test was done. In a nutshell, "child taken to room with doctor, very nervous and uncooperative, and doctor & caretaker said the results do not show a real her. Child very afraid of strange people and environment, very nervous and cried. " As you can probably tell, the test results were not good.......but I requested, they did it, and sent it.
#2- "When she goes to rehab. center to have therapy, the therapist states that this child does not have CP and her mental development is ok"

OK, so not the best thing you want to hear- nervous, scared of strange people and environment. (wouldn't we all be?)
Anyway, please keep praying for Anna...we pray that the transition from China to our new family will be as best and smooth as possible.

August 20, 2009- ACCEPTANCE- AnnaMei Grace Rector

This morning, I am heading out to Bethany Christian Services to formally accept Zhu Lanmei as our new adopted daughter!!! Mickey and I have been praying ever since we received this referral, and most feedback from the medical field is optimistic. We know that we will be facing many challenges and adversity, but with the help of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we can do it. We covet your prayers, your continued support and encouragement, and look forward to this new chapter in our lives. More pics for you to adore!

WE GOT A REFERRAL!!!! July 23, 2009

Amy from Bethany had left us a message and sent us an email about our referral for a SN's child. Her given name by her birthparents was Zhu Lanmei, and her orphanage name was Zhao Erya. She was born on April 9th, 2005. She had been abandoned on November 15th 2005 at the Zhabei Police station, with no success in finding the birthparents. She then was taken to the Shanghai City Children's Welfare Institute. It was quickly discovered on physical exam that she has a heart murmur. She later underwent a VSD, PFO, PS at the Childrens Medical Center from Jan 4 2007-Feb 2 2007. It was also discovered that she had a congenital hip dysplasia/dislocation and underwent another surgery Dec 24 2007- Jan 29 2008. Over the coming weeks we were provided with more extensive history and medical information, provided on August 10th . We have taken it to several doctors, speech therapist/physical therapist (thanks Andrea/Kevin/Lori/Dr Steve/Dr Vetne for your input) and have to make a decision by August 24 09.

On the afternoon of July 22nd, we had reached out to our social worker to maybe start checking into different countries for adoption. We were checking on new programs, quicker wait times, etc. This was our third time doing this. Our social worker said that maybe if we upped the age that we would accept on a SN (Special Needs) child, we would have a better chance. So we upped our age to 4 years of age. The SN China team confirmed our request on the morning of July 23rd.
We enjoyed a night out with the family at the Genghis Grill and the Lookouts and when we got home at 10:30 PM that night, we had a message....

Update from Bethany Blog:
CCAA Portal Update! LID’s through the review room: AUGUST 31, 2007 LID’s through referral: MARCH 22, 2006 CCAA has announced that families have received referrals with LID's through March 22, 2006 - only advancing 2 days. Bethany did not receive any referrals. Our next LID's are March 24 & March 28, 2006. There is no change regarding dossiers through the review room. We continue to match children from the CCAA portal, and have presented 6 children to families for consideration over the past couple of weeks.

"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me..."
Matthew 18:5

We witness a miracle every time a child enters into life. But those who make their journey home across time & miles, growing within the hearts of those who wait to love them, are carried on the wings of destiny and placed among us by God's very own hands.

Still waiting, praying, and listening.

Steven Curtis Chapman Concert

03/28/09

We had the pleasure of being volunteers for the Steven Curtis Chapman/Michael W. Smith Concert in Hixson on behalf of "Show Hope".

Show Hope is taking the place of Shoahanna's Hope. It is an amazing foundation that helps bring hope and life to orphans in China who desperately need surgeries and medical care. You can save lives and change the world for orphans through Maria’s Big House of Hope, a six-story caring facility in central China.

http://www.showhope.org/

It was an amazing concert, as well as a wonderful evening spent talking to families who have adopted, and who are also logged in to China like us still waiting.

After the show we got the pleasure of meeting Steven C. Chapman, and it was truly a blessing.

On 02/27/09, our information was forwarded to the Bethany Grand Rapids Main office for the Children of Promise program (COP). This program is for parents who would consider a less than perfect child. They may have some sort of flaw/medical issue- scar, heart defect, asthma, deformites, to more severe issues.
Our hearts are open to this and know that God has for us the perfect little girl, whoever she may be. We are excited to be a part of this opportunity.

As of 02/02/09:(Bethany's update)
CCAA Portal Update!
LID’s through the review room: March 31, 2007 LID’s through referral: March 2, 2006
Our next BCS LID's from 06 are: March 9, March 14, March 24 & March 28