A Chinese Dossier

I have not mentioned about the kind of paperwork that is required for China. I know I sound like a broken record-but it can be overwhelming! Not only does it require notarization and state certifications, it also requires to be sent to Houston's China Consulate for sealing! Ahhh, and to make matters worse Freddy and I are both born in different countries, we were married in Nevada and the Chinese consulate for Nevada is San Francisco..Some days I literally tell myself that I can't do this...I can't-not again! Other days I slap some sense into myself and think God you're here with me, this is your will and I will...I will...we can do this.

So far I am still waiting for our original marriage certificate that needs to be resent to Nevada for certification and then sent to San Francisco..all documents of the dossier must be issued within 6 months upon arrival in China. I can't imagine when we will be officially LID. Our home study has not even begun yet, and I feel we are doing so much work-our social worker for Russia spoiled us-groan!

We'll see...I've made some connections via the new adoption agency CCAI. They already have referrals! So that is promising...it seems like everyone in the agency has already been matched! I feel like we're the dummies that can't get our papers together...guess it all makes sense..and its so oh familiar. I can't even believe we did this four years ago...the day we signed the papers January 30th with our social worker-our daughter was born. So I know God has everything worked out. I know He knows I'm clumsy and awkward when it comes to paperwork and order and uhm..organization..hehe.

Not to mention this month Freddy's aunt has been ill and in and out of the hospital as well as my grandfather's failing health in Canada. We probably will be flying to Canada this weekend to pray over him and possibly-say our goodbyes. Freddy and I were also planning to go to Haiti in march..but with the expenses-I think we'll probably just send him. The kids and I are getting ready for exams and have lots of catch up to with school..they are pretty excited about having a bake sale or a lemonade stand to fund raise for the adoption. Some days I am more than others....but I know it will all work out. Please pray for us. And don't be shy, please send me your prayer requests so that we can grow as a community and testify to God's miraculous works in our lives. My husband is much more on board and he has been helping me alot more this adoption with the paperwork-this really warms my heart.

He says that he is looking to see what he can get rid of in his garage to generate money for our adoption (this is where you need to pray for us) as he has quite a collection and quite a mess...if we could rid of it and turn it into funds for Faith that in itself would be multiple miracles;)

I would love to hear from others who are embarking the China special needs IA...as many have their own unique reasons...many say its a calling...many ask us why China? Why Russia? Why not U.S.A.? I almost snapped at a lady who is Christian at our P.E. underground group..but something inside me said "Jeannie-chilax!" Anyway, I don't I'll go into detail with it..but people are different..we all have our minds made up and our ideas...so you can't go barking at the world-we're just human. The spirit of the Lord is patient, kind, forgiving, humble....I try to etch this on my heart and onto my children. Raising the next generation is indeed a delicate matter. Sighhhh.