Sunday, October 27, 2013

Counting Down...

 
We are 10-14 weeks away from travelling to China!
 
 

Thursday, October 17, 2013

The Next Steps...

We have another pack of paperwork to send to CCAI, which includes our clean bill of health and our travel companions (i.e. 4 cute little buttons that are tagging along with us) as well as 6 visas, to process after we get Immigration clearance. Sighhhh...

Also, our donation to the Henan orphanage must be sent by December 5th! I thought we'd have more time for fundraising, but apparently not...but its ok, we work better under pressure and have been setting aside some stuff for another huge garage sale.

Cash Local passport agencyIn China
Orphanage Fee Up to 35,000 RMB (Approx. $5,600-$5,700)Cash Local orphanageIn China

Orphanage Fee

   According to the Chinese government, the adoptive family is required to pay a child-rearing fee to the orphanage where the adoptive child was residing. The exact amount of this fee is determined by the orphanage and the daily exchange rate but is approximately $5,600-$5,700. This fee covers living expenses that the orphanage has already provided to the child and helps improve the overall living conditions of the orphanage. The families pay this fee directly to the orphanage when they are in China. Our daughter Faith, is coming from a special needs orphanage and so some of these children, may never get adopted by a family. 83% of China's orphans are special needs-anything ranging from cleft palate, missing limbs, nervous and cerebral disorders etc. Many are adoptable and just need the proper medical care that you and I often take for granted. You can help in multiple ways-word of mouth, social media such as FB, Twitter and Instigram-grab our Widget. Everyone can make a difference.

 
We are fundraising just for this portion of the adoption process. We do ask for as much help as possible, since we are now racing against time. China being a Hague country, does not make this all very easy. But truth be told, that falling in love with these Angels is very easy and very worth it!


Freddy and I want to thank you all for supporting us throughout this process.

Blessings to you all.

xoxo

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

LOA!

We are officially LOA today!

(Letter Seeking Confirmation of Adopter).

This is what the hard copy looks like. It doesn't have her little photo on it but it does have her precious name and date of birth. Yes Faith, we are finally your parents and you are finally coming home, very soon!

Our original timeline for this approval was 60-90+ days and we received ours just after 34 days;)

So just tears of joy! Pure joy....God is so good to us!

He listens to our prayers...He hears our voices and knows all-even before we ask.

Thank You Daddy!






Saturday, October 12, 2013

Bamford Park BASEBALL PICS

Here are pictures of todays baseball games on flickr. Amazing shots came out of today's games and the kids all played great!

We have more pictures that we are editing and copying onto cd's for parents. If you would like one of your child and his/her team mate, please let us know. All that we request is a donation of any amount towards our Chinese adoption. We are trying to raise $5000.00 by Christmas for our daughter Faith's special needs-orphanage in the Henan, province.

Purchase a T-Shirt showing you support adoption! http://www.adoptionbug.com/ourdaughtershopeandfaith/index.htm Proceeds go to our cause;)


Thank you so much for visiting our blog and many blessings to all of you!

In His Service,
Freddy & Jeannie



click link below to see your child's game today.



http://www.flickr.com/photos/105173783@N02/sets/

Friday, October 4, 2013

Waiting for our Baby Faith

I realize today, that it has already been over a year of waiting and preparing for our youngest  daughter Faith. The conception of her birth into our lives is nothing less than a miracle. I remember being certain that four was the magic number for us and that one princess would be plenty already. But this year has truly been a tidal wave of a year, in only the right direction for our family. The direction that is headed for a special journey, to a special girl. Just yesterday, I caught Freddy looking at her precious photo and I realize, just how this waiting time is so difficult on all of us and that this family truly is not complete without our youngest baby girl. Waiting for our letter of acceptance (LOA) from China has been the slowest of moments yet, because at this point, there is nothing else for us to physically do in this adoption process. We are just waiting and she is just waiting...ugghh!!! Halloween is around the corner and then Thanksgiving...and I just keep praying, God please do not allow us to be here for Christmas...I don't think I can bear it...the process of presents and decorations and to think of our baby sitting in an orphanage still, along with other babies who may never receive gifts or a family-ever! Do not let us endure this and at the same time, let us ruin Christmas for our children and extended family by our misery of waiting. Please Lord connect our family with our baby girl this Christmas, let us change her Christmas the way we changed Hope's that year in Russia, December of 2009 view it here
 Please God show us your way and your will this Christmas for us and our daughter Faith.

Please pray for our family:

Our focus and strength and patience, peace and understanding during this process.

We did not receive one of the grants we applied to but are praying for the others we applied to.

We pray to receive our LOA soon and travel in December with our four children and pray for smooth travels.

We pray to raise more money for the orphanage donation portion of our adoption fees.

Please most importantly, pray for Faith's health and well being while she waits on us.