Another Delay

So - we thought we were on our way, that our paperwork was screaming down the magic paperwork highway that leads to united families.

We were wrong.

We were notified by our Home Study agency...that they were missing some paperwork. Two of the three requested documents I had copies of and took care of easily. The other document was a physical on Caitlin. This document needed to state that Caitlin was free of communicable diseases and basically healthy.

No problem - except that we couldn't get Caitlin into the doctors on base for 2 1/2 weeks. Thankfully, we called around and called in a favor, and we only had to wait 3days. But keep in mind these things:

1. We had asked for a meeting a month prior to this to go over all paperwork and ensure that nothing was missing. So that if there were things missing, they could be worked CONCURRENTLY with the clearance paperwork. CONCURRENT is apparently a radical concept.

2. This physical required a notarization of the doctor's signature. Once again, called in a huge favor to find someone that could do this for us.

3. This made me wonder, IF a child in our home had Hepatitis B for instance, it sounds as if we could not be approved by the state of Alabama to adopt more children. Many children are born with HIV and/or get Hep B in orphanage settings. Both of these diseases, while serious, are manageable from everything I have researched. It was just a sad thought to realize that this could really be a limiting factor in adoption.

So - we got this paperwork done and are now waiting for the ICPC office in Alabama to approve our Home study and then send it to Immigration in Atlanta where we begin that process. (more fingerprinting and more processing) We were informed today that we just "have to wait so we don't jeopardize" our home study agency's relationship with the ICPC office and prevent them from getting any "inside help" in the future. I think maybe we could USE some of that "inside help" if there is any!!!!!!! It could take a month for ICPC to approve us. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr..........

So...my friends....we wait and are grateful for the chance to celebrate Christ's birth during this time of Advent. How appropriate - for Advent means a time of "expectant waiting." Yes....we celebrate Advent!

Wish #63

This wonderful panda fabric is from Canada - french-speaking Canada and thankfully this family provided a translation! Whew!

Welcome to you,

We wish you a life full of love,
happiness and laughter with you
parents.

Big Kisses,

or

Bienvenue a toi,
Nous te souhaitons une vie pleine d'amour,
de bonheur et de rires au pres da tes parents

Grosses bises,

Sandra et Cyrille Tondu

Wish #62

Check out this great fabric for a little boy!!! Blue Camouflage! Does it get any better?? And Tony has to wear Camo almost every day ...but not cool blue camo!

"Life is not measured by the breaths we
take, but by the moments that take our
breath away."

~Anonymous~

The Hoglunds
Bonanza, OR

What a fantastic quote. This quote reminds me of the Van Morrison song on the Playlist below - about Steal Your Heart Away. I can think of several moments that have taken my breath away...and I can't wait for more!

Wish #61

Now this was a great wish to get. It is a Chinese Culture wish and teaches of Arbor Day in China. So the sage-green, leaf-filled fabric is perfect.

The card reads:

March 12 is Arbor Day - a day on which trees are
planted and people are reminded of the
importance of nature. it is also the anniversary of
Sun Yat-sen's (1866-1925) death, the founder of
the Republic of China who initiated national tree
planting schemes in 1915.

A Chinese Proverb warns: "No shade tree? Blame
not the sun but yourself."

According to a 1981 NPC resolution, all able-
bodied Chinese citizens older than age 11 have an
obligation to plant three to five trees every year.

The Hepners ~ Tuscon, AZ ~ MeiLi gotcha day 8/6/07

Wish #60

Who doesn't LOVE a party!?! This fabric just looks like a good time. It comes from another family from the One Hundred Wishes Quilt Group. The Arsenault family selected a black background fabric filled with happiness! There are colorful party hats, streamers, stars and polka dots all over the fabric.

I can't help but think of all the birthdays that Ty will be able to celebrate. Not only his own - but his sister's, Mommy's, Daddy's, Aunts' and Uncles', Cousins, Grandmother's (MaeMae's!). Life holds so many gifts for us all! Can't wait.

Their wish is in French (I think) and I typed it as they wrote it and then I attempted a translation (with the help of www.bablefish.altavista.com).

Petit Tresor

Une vie remplie de douceurs
d'amour, de rires, et de
beaucoup de calins, voila
nos voeux pour toi!

Que cette courtepointe te
berce, te console, te
rassure et surtout, qu'elle
te mene vers des reves merveilleux.

Amities,

Marie-France
Francis
Jonathan
Anne-Marie

The babelfish translation:

Small Treasure,

A life full of softness and of love,
laughter, and of much snuggles,
These are our wishes for you!

That this quilt rocks you,
comforts you, reassures you and
especially, that it guides you
towards marvellous dreams.

Friendships,

Marie-France
Francis
Jonathan
Anne-Marie

Wish #59

Now this is one SPECIAL wish! This arrived in the mail from our "Aunt Tina." Aunt Tina has known my husband for all of his years. When he was very young, he stayed with her and her family for quite awhile. She even claims to have potty-trained him! When we got married, Aunt Tina came to Louisiana (in JULY!) and cooked all Tony's favorites for our rehearsal dinner. It was perfect and held at home - where we could all really spend time with each other. She has been there for so many important things and we love her so much!

She selected two fabrics and her enclosed note ask that we choose which to put in Ty's quilt. Well....I love them both! So Aunt Tina will be represented twice! Who could choose between Thomas the Tank Engine with his "I think I can" attitude and busy bees with pots of honey on a denim fabric. Both are perfect and will be precious on Ty's quilt.

Aunt Tina wrote:

Dear Ty,

I'm so happy that I can be part of your family.

Wo Ai Ni

Aunt Tina

I love this Aunt Tina - the Wo Ai Ni means I love you! Can't wait to see you too! We miss you!

Wish #58

This sweet print is from the David family in Oklahoma. It has a nostalgic feel to it - of old times in China. Children are dressed in traditional clothing surrounded by pagodas and parasols and Asian flora and fauna. They write:

The Child must know that they are a miracle, that
since the beginning of the world there hasn't been,
and until the end of the world there will not be,
another child like them. ~ Pablo Casais

Hugs and kisses,
Darrell and Vivianna David
Broken Arrow, OK LID April 2007

Wish #57

This is a sumptuous print! It is a tea colored fabric adorned with Asian women and furniture with hints of gold scattered throughout. Our son comes from a culture so rich in tradition.

This wish is from the same friends that sent the previous nursery print wish. This time we were swapping Asian Prints. Their wish this time:

Many people will walk in and out
of your life, but only TRUE FRIENDS
leave footprints in your heart!
-Eleanor Roosevelt-

We wish you a lifetime of health,
love and happiness.

Isabelle & Stephane
LID 3/25/2006

Wish #56

This square is a nursery print of sorts. It is a patchwork of blues, greens and yellows with ducks, hearts, numbers and bunnies. It is a cheerful print that I know will make Ty smile and maybe ask questions about babies here in America and marvel at the items available for babies.

That is the other wonderful and indirect use of this quilt. It will open the door for so many conversations we can have together...for years to come. It will bless all of us over and over. I can see us sitting on Ty's bed looking at it - unable to speak to each other too much. And then he sees a square that really interests him and has to pantomime the question to me. And we end up in a game of charades trying to communicate with each other!

This quilt is such a gift. A gift of love, a gift of bonding and communication, a gift of belonging. Thank you all.

The future belongs to those
Who believe in the beauty
of their dreams.
-Eleanor Roosevelt-

With love,
Isabelle & Stephane
LID 3/25/2006

Wish #55

Check it out! Another happy blue print!! This one is filled with children celebrating a Chinese festival. There are boys and girls, fireworks, dragons, stilts and lanterns.

I am so glad that Ty will be able to hold this reminder of his past, present and future in his hands and I hope that one day, he will smile at the thought of all three of those!

Great thoughts come from the heart.
(Chinese Proverb)

May you have a welcoming, loving heart!
Tinin & Tono Carrillo, Mayaguez, PR
(waiting for our daughters from China)

Thank you Carrillo family. We also love this wish because Tony's mother came from Puerto Rico not far from Mayaguez. And note that the Carrillo's are waiting for DAUGHTERS - yes, plural! How exciting!

Wish #54

This is another one of those happy prints! This bright, blue fabric is dappled with flowers and Chinese lanterns. And you all know that I am a sucker for those Chinese lanterns. They truly transport me when I think of them. I am also transported by the northern lights, fireworks and fall leaves. I haven't experienced lanterns in China (yet) or the Northern Lights (yet)- but I hope to. Fireworks and fall leaves remind me of very specific times in my life. Red wine does too...but we won't talk about that ;)

The Bower family writes:

Life has given
to you the
beautiful gift of
a precious child
to love.
And to your child
it has given
the gift of a
forever family...

Bower Family
Oregon
LID 9-8-06

Wish #53

I love this aqua-colored fabric imprinted with golden dragonflies! Caitlin loved it too (her favorite color is Aqua, favorite stone and favorite word are aquamarine, and is going to name her daughter Beryl, which is another word for aquamarine)!

Sue Strane from Pittsburgh, PA sent:

"Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." ~ Christopher Robin to Pooh

May all your dreams come true.
Sue Strane
Pittsburgh, PA USA
DTV (dossier to Vietnam) 5/24/07
OHGWQ Group

Who knew that Christopher Robin was such a philosopher - really all of the A.A. Milne characters. Sometimes I need Christopher Robin to whisper those words in my ear during this process!

Wish #52

This words in this wish really struck me with their simple truth. I belong to many yahoo groups to help us prepare for this journey to China and journey of attachment. I see listings of SO many beautiful children and see so many of these children's files being returned to China. It breaks my heart to think that they may not get a chance to have their "forever family" find them.

On our agency's list there is a beautiful 12 year old girl who is perfectly healthy. Once a child reaches age 14, the social welfare system in China no longer provides for them. They are on their own. I do not know or understand how many of them survive. And I also know that not all of the children in their social welfare system are listed with agencies. If they are too ill, they are not listed. They never have a chance to "blossom." It is probably almost a one in a million chance that one of these children is chosen to join a family that can love and provide for them.

On May 1st a new set of guidelines went into effect in China that tightened the basic requirements to apply to adopt these children. There are income requirements, length of marriage requirements, body mass index requirements, age requirements and many more. While all of this is completely understandable and good, it really limited the existing interested population of potential parents. Prior to May, I watched the children on each list be spoken for almost immediately. After May 1st, we have had to really campaign to find families that meet the requirements and are interested in these beautiful kids.

Please reflect on the words that came from the Hinkle family and accompanied this happy, cherry blossom printed fabric.

"Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it."
Confucius
I wish you the vision to see all that is beautiful around you.

The Hinkle Family
Cedarburg, WI
Waiting for our daughter from China

If you are curious about adopting from China and would like to see some of these children's' photos or read their stories - please let me know. I know that adoption is a gift of God, one that He used throughout the history of believers to place the right people in the right place to do His will.

Happy Birthday Ty!

Dear Sweet Ty,

It is your birthday and this is the day above all days that I wanted to have you here with your family. We wanted to celebrate that special day that you were brought into this world. The day that God chose to bring you into His creation so that you may gift and bless us all.

We have already sung the "Happy Birthday" song - and sung it in your language - hoping that your ears and heart can somehow know that we love you and are celebrating today with you. I do believe that your foster family is celebrating this day with you - I have to believe that.

We can't wait to see you, smile with you, hug you and celebrate with you. You have a lifetime of birthdays coming and you will never be without your forever family for any of those birthdays to come.

Happy Birthday, dear Son.

We love you more than you know,
Your Mommy, Daddy and Sister



Dear Friends,

Can you sing for Ty today? Please do -

I will write theword to the Chinese Birthday Song phonetically with our birthday words underneath so that you can sing along!


Joo Nee Shung Zhur Kwi Luh
Hap py Birth Day To You


Joo Nee Shung Zhur Kwi Luh
Joo Nee Shung Zhur Kwi Luh
Joo Nee Shung Zhur Kwi Luh-uh
Joo Nee Shung Zhur Kwi Luh!

Now - make a wish that this paperwork slides through the system and we are united with this precious boy!

Good News!

Well friends - it seems that all the extra, extra, super-duper thorough clearances are in...and as expected and predicted - we are still qualified to adopt this precious boy that needs his forever family so badly.

The night before Thanksgiving - (all creatures were stirring in preparation for the Thanksgiving meal!) and an email from our social worker quietly slipped into my email inbox. It stated that all paperwork was in and that on the following Tuesday, everything should be sent to the ICPC office in Alabama (Interstate Compact Office - all home studies in Alabama must go through here) and then be sent to US Immigration.

I think that these important emails should come screaming into our inbox with some wild song or noise accompanying them - like "The Eye of the Tiger" or maybe the sound of coins cascading out of a slot machine. Something - to indicate that some of the most important news of your life is sliding into your electronic sphere.

So - a mere 29 days after the delay - we got our good news. And we predicted a 30 day delay at best. So...we are beating the odds. And I'll take that for today. There is, of course, more to the saga....and I will catch you up on that very soon.

Wish #51

This wish is another one that is special beyond words. I'll just give you a tissue alert right now!

Caitlin's birthmother and her family sent fabric to welcome our Ty. She is one of the most selfless, thoughtful and gifted people that I know. She writes beautifully - both in a literal sense and a figurative sense. Her handwriting is so lovely. And then the words that are written on the page just speak straight to your soul. And although it isn't shown here, her poetry is amazing. She wrote:

Dear Ty,

You are a special boy and you are bringing something very special and unique to this family, the same way Caitlin did.

You have a past, a history, which is recognized and will be treasured. The silky black and gold cloth represents your past, your life before the Zuccos finally found you.

Now, you have a great big family full of people who already love you so much. You are a unique and wonderful boy, an important part of your family. You are a son and a little brother and a grandson. You should know that your parents loved you long before you were even brought into this world. They have been waiting, just waiting, to show you everyday and always. Your big sister Caity will defintely look out for you. She's very smart and she cares about you a lot. Your grandmother does as well. She loves you so much that she will want to give you lots of hugs. The brightly decorated blue cloth represents your present and future, your life as a much loved member of the Zucco family.

The important thing about family is that they will always be there for you. Our wish for you, Ty, is the following: May you always feel the love that surrounds you!

Love,
The DeGouff Family

This is just perfect. I told you all she writes from her heart and it couldn't be more perfect. Lauren, we love you so much and always will. Your words and contribution are so meaningful. Thanks!