in a holding pattern

Our Article 5 paper, the document from the U.S. Consulate that tells the Chinese Adoption Authorities (CCCWA) that we have completed everything on the U.S.side of the adoption was picked up on February 6th, 2013.

Ordinarily this would start the countdown for our TA (Travel Approval)

BUT...

We are in a holding pattern.

Because there were only 2 days left until Chinese New Year began, our agency decided it would be best to hold off on mailing our A5 so that it wouldn't get lost in the shuffle while no one was working.

We are thankful that our agency is proactive in looking out for our best interest, but it leaves us and a few other families still waiting.

Our families have had a good chuckle knowing that our papers are being toted around in Elsie's backpack in China just waiting to be mailed.

The plan is that our papers will be mailed this Saturday, Feb. 16th in order to be received on Sunday, the 17th.

We will begin our official TA count on Saturday.

TAs have been arriving as early as 9 days and as late as 16 days.

Once we have TA, we will begin booking our flights and leaving within a week and a half to two weeks!

So, we embrace these last few weeks as we complete projects around the house and enjoy our last days as a family of 5.

From then on, our family begins a new kind of holding patttern...

Holding the hand of our precious treasure who has waited far too long for a family to call her own!

a little blog update

our blog was in need of a little update~

not like I had anything else that I needed to do

There are a few things I'd like to still change, but not quite sure how to do it

but for now...

this will do

care package

Yesterday we received word that our care package for Kinsley was delivered.

There is a wonderful woman in China named Ann that owns Ann at Red Thread China. She specializes in adoption care packages, gifts and cakes for the families that are adopting.

We bought Kinsley a "Warm Clothes" care package. Because we had just received an updated through BLAS, we had new measurements. Hopefully everything will fit her.

Also in the care package we were able to send her the most important thing...photographs of us and also a letter. We hope that the photos will help to ease her mind and start preparing her for our arrival.

Here are a few pictures of what she will be receiving.





















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Also included was a silver pendant necklace that says either Love or I Love You, a scarf and a warm hat, a small teddy bear a flash drive for the orphanage or foster family to put pictures on and candy for the foster family.

We hope that she will enjoy them all!

Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

I-800 Approval

Yesterday we received verbal notification that our I-800 was approved.

This is the official immigration approval from the US that we can indeed adopt MingWa!

This is the beginning of the last phase.

From here our approval gets sent to the National Visa Center.

Then we wait for our Article 5.

Then we wait for our TA (Travel Approval)

TA is the official invitation to come to China and complete the adoption.

Once we have TA we wait to find out when our CA (Consulate Appointment) will be. This date is what determines our travel dates.

Soon sweet girl.....Soon!!!!