Waiting for My Girl: February 2007

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

“Daughters of China”
Tim Chauvin

There’s an unseen tie that binds them
A red thread that will not break.
They are woven in a tapestry
It took five thousand years to make.

Their eyes are wide with wonder
Tiny hands reach out to touch
The faces of the families
Who have wanted them so much.

The daughters of China now fly across the seas,
Off to unseen places and possibilities.
They are gifts to those who cherish them
By those who just could not.
Acts of hope and faith and love
That we never will forget.

They were given up for reasons
That most will never know.
Now they are daughters to the families
Who have come to take them home.

And someday they’ll too be mothers
And have children and a home.
Thread by thread they will tie the knots
To weave new tapestries all their own.

The daughters of China now fly across the seas,
Off to unseen places and possibilities.
They are gifts to those who cherish them
By those who just could not.
Acts of hope and faith and love
That we never will forget.

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Adoption Timeline

Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them. Psalms 139:16

September 2000 - First contact with A Helping Hand Adoption (AHH) Agency
July 2005 - Official application mailed to AHH
November 2005 - Notified by AHH that I was at the top of the "singles list" and could officially start the process
February 17, 2006 - Dossier to China (DTC) - this is the date my paperwork was mailed to China
March 14, 2006 - Log In Date (LID) - this is the date China officially recognized they had received my paperwork
July 2006 - One year anniversary of my application to AHH.
March 14, 2007 - One year anniversary of LID - the wait continues
April 13, 2007 - Redoing my paperwork officially begins -Refingerprinting done at USCIS
April 19, 2007 - Received revised I171H with amended fingerprint expiration date
May 9, 2007 - Refingerprinted for my homestudy at NBCI, Inc. - the fourth, and hopefully, final fingerprinting for this adoption!!!!!
June 6, 2007 - 4:30pm - Minor meltdown as I wait for my homestudy visit; nearly 2 years, 4 sets of fingerprints, 2 home studies, numerous forms, thousands of dollars and I still have months to wait until I bring my daughter home. It's lovely to have 5 sisters to choose from to call when you have a meltdown! Sisters are a gift from God - it's an incredible blessing to know I have several who can always help me though tough times.
June 6, 2007 - 6:10pm - Home visit for the addendum to my homestudy done
June 29, 2007 - Submitted renewal for I600A. Hopefully for the last time.
July 2007 - Two year anniversary of my application to AHH.
July 20, 2007 - Recieved my updated I171-H - guess I'm good for another 18 months. Please Lord, don't let it take that long.
July 2008 - Three year anniversary of my application to AHH
January 2009 - Third round of updates; fifth set of fingerprints
March 21, 2009 at 12:21pm - I get my referral call. I have a daughter!!
June 1, 2009 - Travel conference call with AHH and the other families I'll be traveling with. Our anticipated date of departure is July 23; our anticipated "Gotcha Day" is July 26th!!!!!