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Tuesday, September 29, 2009

54 Days

Still waiting. The CCAA has sent out packages to the adoption agencies around the world. No one knows, not even the agencies, what is in the packages. All we know is that they are due to arrive sometime in the next few days. If our LOA is in there, we hopefully will get a phone call from our agency. So far, they have only communicated through email, so, maybe that is how we will get the news.

This weekend, on Oct 3rd, is the Harvest Moon Festival in China. We will be celebrating with a bonfire in our fire pit in the backyard, and homemade moon cakes, which are our version of the moon cakes made in China, except ours are sweet pastries, and theirs are often made of bean paste, or cheese, more savory and my kids just aren't into them. When I was in China on the adoption trip to bring Myleigh home, I bought some authentic moon cakes. On that first Harvest festival at home, we tried them. Not as yummy as they looked. They were very artistic looking though as they are made in special presses, that shape them and imprint designs on them. So, I found a moon cake press on ebay and use it to make our own cakes. I use cookie dough and fill them with different fillings, jams, preserves, that kind of thing. Even chocolate could be used. Then, before baking, you fold a note inside each cake, a message to the person who gets that cake, usually wishing them good luck or something or it can be a special message meant just for them. We sit around the fire and open our mooncakes and look at the huge moon. In China, the harvest festival is a time of family reunion. Families travel from all over China back to their family home. It lasts for the weekend.

Since we are now approaching this year's harvest festival weekend, the CCAA is planning to be closed for the next week due to families traveling to and from their reunions. This may have an affect on our wait. There are rumors that the CCAA is planning to clear their desks and send out a large amount of LOA's and TA's this week, and then have a fresh start when they come back to the office. Another rumor says they are not planning to send out anything until after the holiday.

All I know is, I want my LOA this week. I will be sleeping most of the day tomorrow, since I am working all night tonight, so, if it comes in and our agency calls or emails in the morning, I won't know it til I wake up. Maybe that's for the best. Nothing like waiting around for news, especially if it never comes.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

46 days

Still waiting. Trying to get shopping done a little at a time for the trip. Pulling together the last few items for the final paperwork we will need to complete our travel arrangements, including our Visas.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

39 days and counting

we are at 39 days since our LID, and tomorrow marks the day when we enter the timeframe where LOA's have been known to come in. We still have no idea when to expect ours, and could be waiting for two more months, but, I am so hopeful that ours will come in this week or next. Preferably this week.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

More paperwork done....

I finished the I800, the I864W, and the DS230 forms . I read through the instructions Josh sent, and will have to send him an email to clarify some things he said. I believe I finished it all, but, I'm not certain, so I guess I will have that answer tomorrow. Now we just wait for the LOA. Then, the process looks like this...

SWA receives the LOA and Consulate Acceptance Letter (CLA).

SWA sends the original LOA, a photocopy of the CLA, a copy of our referral, and something he referred to as "the three letters" to us.

We sign the original LOA, keep a photocopy, and send the original back to SWA along with our completed DS230.

We send the photocopy of the signed LOA, the photocopy of the CLA, the referral, the completed I800, a photocopy of the i797C approval, and "the three letters" to USCIS

SWA sends our signed original LOA, the CLA, and our original DS230 to Lily in China

Once the USCIS approves our paperwork, they notify the consulate in Guangzhou China by cable. SWA is also notified by email or phone. Lily will delver the CLA, and the DS230 to the consulate.

After they consulate approves everything, Lily then takes the signed LOA to the CCAA who will then send our TA to SWA.

That is when we can make our consulate appointment, which all our travel dates revolve around. As soon as we have that confirmed, we can leave for China.

It's all a bit involved, but, as long as I keep my head and take it one step at a time, I can handle it.

32 days and counting

We are at 32 days waiting for our LOA. Josh at SWA emailed me that our dossier is through translation, and in review. He said the CCAA told him that dossiers are usually processed in six weeks from LID unless there are problems, and, that he also got LOA's today for three other families that came in at around 40 days, which would be next week for us, and an incredible miracle. Sept 18th if it is truly at six weeks.

I really don't expect it that soon, but, pray that whatever happens, we can have her home before her birthday. That's the main thing.

Josh also sent me a bunch of paperwork for us to get started on, at my request, so we can be ready when that LOA does come in. It includes the I800 , I864w and DS230 for USCIS. Yes, we still have more paperwork to process through the US government even after all the hoops we already jumped through. When our LOA comes, we will have Visa applications to fill out and send, and some back and forth mailing, but, we will be ready for that. We are praying that the Lord will bless us with our LOA arriving next week, probably closer to the end of the week. That would put us at 6 weeks post LID.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Waiting for LOA

Based on the trends currently, and keeping in mind that nothing is set in stone when it comes to China, I am beginning to worry we won't get to China before the Christmas holiday, and may actually be spending the holiday in China.

The current averages put our wait for LOA at 90 days. That would be November 5th. Then we have about a six week wait for our TA, which puts us at December 17th. Travel is averaging about two to three weeks after TA, which puts us in January. Ugh. That just cannot happen.

Now, based on a happier trend, we could get our LOA as soon as October 22nd, and then our TA December 3rd, and travel by, believe it or not, Christmas Eve. Of course, anything could happen, and we could actually get our LOA much much sooner. Keep your fingers crossed and pray for us to get our LOA in September. That would be fantastic.