Finsihing Up Our Dossier!!

Well, I'm happy to report we are very near the end of completing our dossier!!!!!  For those who may not be familiar, the dossier is the large stack of many documents that are bound together and sent to China.  They are all the documents China requires to process an adoption. 

Tomorrow, I drive to Austin for 2 of our 4 final documents!  These are the last 2 documents that require our state seal of approval!!!  YEA, the end is near!!!! 

See, every document that is gathered for the dossier must be notarized locally, then most must receive a state seal and finally, sent to a China Embassy for authentication!  WHEW, let me tell you, it's not an easy battle gathering all these documents and securing the required seals and authentications...and, to top it off, every document has an expiration....so, while it's not a short expiration, it's still one that keeps you pushing to get all the necessary required approvals, before compiling all the documents. I will admit, two of our documents did expire and we had to start over, securing new documents, new notaries, etc.

While tomorrow's drive will be long and the first time I've driven by myself for longer than 90 minutes, one way, I'm filled to with joy to be making the drive!!!!!  Austin is about a 3 hour drive, one-way but I'm excited!!! 

I plan to be there by 8:00, when the doors open and be first in line!!  I'm hoping since it's a holiday week, perhaps it won't be very busy.  Either way, I'm thrilled to be getting this done!  I'm glad that while we live in the big beautiful state of Texas, thankfully, we are only 3 hours away from Austin, because it could be a whole lot worse!!! :-) 

Next step, driving all 4 documents to the China consulate in downtown Houston, for authentication!! Once this is done, they will be shipped out to our agency and compiled with the remainder of our paperwork that is with our agency!!

We anticipate having our dossier to China by mid-late July!!!  AND, prayers we are able to travel in the November-December time frame!!!!

Making Up For Lost Time

It's been a typical busy season for our family and while the blog is an important part of journaling our children's lives growing up, it does take the backseat when life gets too busy--so, here we are making up for lost time and posting for basically, Chinese New Year, Valentine's Day and Easter! 

Here's a journal in pictures starting out with Valentine's Day!

We worked together to make Minion Valentine Boxes and had a blast!

Great bonding time and we all pitched in to help!! Thank you Pinterest!

 

                                              Sterling's Classroom V-Day Party!

 

Beautiful Arabella and her precious teacher!  This teacher is amazing on so many levels!

 

CHINESE NEW YEAR!!

The yearly Moore tradition of making homemade dumplings

The dynamic duo! Chinese New Year Dinner

 

We were blessed to share CNY with family--aunt, uncle and 4 cousins!

A family photo taken by Sterling (reason he isn't in the picture)

                                                              CELEBRATING EASTER!!

Dying Easter Eggs 

We were once again, blessed to be sharing an Easter celebration with family!

 

A great shot of Earl and the kids!

 

                                          all the cousins on CNY, receiving their red envelopes

                                       SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST--THE GREATEST NEWS OF ALL THIS YEAR, IN 2014, OUR FAMILY WILL GROW BY 2, BEAUTIFUL BOYS!!

Eli (Elijah)

                                                                Ming


                                         

I800A--APPROVAL!!

Great news, when returning home from work today, I called the immigration office to inquire about the status on our I800A application and it's been approved!!!!!!!

When calling last week, it was discovered there was a discrepancy with our marriage license.  Fortunately, we had a very kind officer assigned to our case and she provided her email address for us to scan a copy of the license.  Well, I scanned it yesterday and when calling today to confirm the marriage license was accepted, they said I800A was approved yesterday and mailed out today!!

For those keeping up with time lines: our receipt date was March 19, fingerprints were on April 7 and yesterday, April 21 we received approval!

Once the paper copy is received in the mail, we will send it to Austin for the state seal of approval and from there, on to the China Consulate for authentication!

This was the last document for our dossier!  We still need to have Earl's birth certificate certified by the state of Mississippi but that's in the works, now.

I anticipate having the dossier completed and at our agency by end of May, if not sooner!!!  Here is our anticipated, guesstimation for our remaining time line:

We can only estimate and guess, as the time frames can change and if there's a China holiday that occurs, it can slow the process, but tonight a friend shared with me that it's approximately 60 days from LID (log-in date) until LOA (Letter of Approval) and approximately 10 weeks to the TA:

May-submit dossier paperwork to agency--agency reviews
June-agency submits dossier to China
August-Letter of Approval received
October-Travel Approval
October/November: Travel!!!

We have sights on October for traveling but if it occurs in November, that's okay too!  It will be great to have the boys home by Christmas!!!!!  We were joined with Sterling on Monday, November 23, so October/November time frame is perfectly fine!!! (honestly, wish I could board a plane this weekend but since it's not possible, we'll live with October travel)

Ming has a birthday in September, so unfortunately, he'll have one more birthday without us and will be 9 when we bring him home.  Eli's birthday is November 23, so we have a good chance of bringing the boys home before Eli's birthday.  Either way, the boys will soon be home and from here on out, they will always have a family to share in their birthday celebration!  Ming will be 10 years old when he has his first birthday party!!!!  What fun that will be!!!!  Arabella was 10 when she had her first birthday party.

Ming

Here is a picture of our sweet soon-to-be son, Ming!  I've been trying to post a picture of him with little luck until tonight, when Earl jumped in and got it done.  Thank you, honey!!

He has the sweetest smile, ever and from what we are told, he has a caring and compassionate personality to match!  We are blessed to have been chosen as his family!!! 

Thank you Lord, for the blessing of this sweet boy!!

 

 

 

Update on Our Current Adoption!

Okay, it's driving me crazy to be several months behind in blogging and as an organized and orderly person, it's going to drive me even more crazy to have postings on the blog that are out of date order but can't hold back any longer to share an update on the adoption of our 2 boys!

I sent off the I800A application a few weeks ago, literally 3 weeks ago and already, we have a fingerprint appointment!!!! YEA!!!  I tell you, we've already been through this process 3 other times and never, did we receive such a quick fingerprint appointment! 

Our appointment is on April 7 in the afternoon!  Today at work, I put in for 1/2 a day so that a substitute could be found to cover during my absence.  YEA!!!  It's exciting that we are down to the very last step(s) prior to sending our Dossier to China!!!!  Hooray!!!

We recently learned some disappointing news about Elijah.  Elijah, our youngest soon-to-be son, is being removed from his foster family and returned to the orphanage.  We learned that he is being removed since he has a family (us) coming for him but what's sad; is that it will be another 5-6 months before we can bring him home.  My heart is heavy.  If only he could remain with the foster family until closer to his adoption day.  Our little fellow has been tremendously blessed to have been lovingly cared-for by "Love Without Boundaries."   He has never spent time in an orphanage. He was near death when found at one week old, and Love Without Boundaries stepped up to care for him the very evening he was brought to the orphanage.  So, he's never had to spend time in an orphanage.  I pray for him, it will be a very tough transition.   

Our other son Ming, there is no new information to share.  Since he is much older, we don't want to attempt any communication with him, just yet.  Six months is a long time for a little boy to wait until he can be united with his family, so we are waiting until further along in the process before initiating any communication or even attempting to contact his orphanage.  He's such a precious boy with a joyful spirit and a smile that will light up any room. 

Now, here on the home front we are slowly beginning to make changes and transition our upstairs  from 2 children to 4 children.  Fortunately, we have the space but does require a lot of switching, painting, re-arranging and moving our study from upstairs to downstairs.  We had bunk beds delivered last weekend and Sterling is LOVING IT!!  He is able to share a bedroom with his sister, who is also very happy to be sharing her space with Sterling.  Those two are best of friends!!  Sterling is not only thrilled to now have a bunk bed but he understands it's another step closer to bringing home his brothers!  Sterling is having a difficult time waiting and doesn't really understand why we can't just, "go get them."  :-)  He is always asking, "when is my baby brother and Ming coming home?" The boys will all share a bedroom, at Sterling's request.  Fortunately, we do have a backup plan and another available bedroom, should the plan of 3 boys in one room not work out. 

Christmas 2013

Well, it's almost 3 months since Christmas but better late than never!!!

 Christmas was a tough season for our family this year, which is probably the reason this post is coming 3 months late.  Sterling became very ill, just prior to Christmas and it took 3 weeks for him to recover.  Sterling has typical allergies and colds here and there, so didn't think anything of his sniffles and a bit more tired than usual.  Just thought it was all the homework, speech therapy, running around and school that was draining his system.  Well, as it turned out, we took him to the doctor and he had bronchitis, that didn't get better and developed into pneumonia which then developed into an ear infection.  Our doctor visits started early December and ended with an ER visit on New Year's Day.  Poor Arabella had a horrible case of eczema and both Earl and I were down for the count, as well.  I woke Christmas morning, sick with the flu!!  (Well, I didn't go to the doctor but given the very high fever, aches and pains, no appetite and feeling as though I'd been run over by an 18-wheeler truck ...I self-diagnosed myself with the flu and remained in bed for days)  Felt sorry for the kids because Christmas day is always such a delight but this year, it was all Earl and I could do to make it through the morning while the kids opened their gifts. 

BUT, we did have a wonderful evening a week prior to Christmas with our family!  We had everyone over for Christmas dinner.  It was great!  Arabella and Sterling enjoyed spending time with their cousins and just like Thanksgiving, the house was filled with laughter, love and joy!!!  We especially enjoyed ending the evening with a late night walk around the neighborhood to view all the Christmas lights and decorated houses.  We are blessed with neighbors that really get into the spirit of Christmas! It was wonderful to be together as a family and enjoy the spirit of the season!!!  We also had a Christmas Open House with friends and once again, our home was filled with the warmth and love of dear friends!  So, despite all the sickness & doctor visits that hit our family during the month of December, we were extremely blessed with the company and love of family and friends!  What more can we ask for during such a blessed holiday season!!

Here's our Christmas in pictures:

The morning of their school Christmas party!

 

 

 

Kicking the Christmas season off decorating gingerbread men

More pictures to come.......................................stay tuned.............

Where Has Time Gone?!?!

Wow, it's hard to believe we are quickly approaching the end of March and not a post to the blog in months....since before Thanksgiving!!!  Holidays are always a big, big deal in our home, so I'm very disappointed there hasn't been a posting before now.  It's always best to post at the time and capture all the emotions and joy as it's happening but life happens and here I am in March, making up for lost time.  :-)  Never know quite how to do these type of posts to keep it all in proper organized fashion. 

Thanksgiving was great, we had family over for dinner, which included 4 great boys along with Sterling and Arabella, all laughing, running and having a great time together!  I love it when all the kids get together because there's so much energy, laughter and joy in the house!!!  Really helps bring to reality, a glimpse of what it will be like when we bring our 2 sons home from China, later this year!  Looking forward to all the extra love and joy in the home!  Awesome to think that when our family gets together, there will now be the laughter and love of 8 children....plus one big grown son who doesn't exactly "run" around the house any longer, bringing the grand total to 9!  What joy!!!