CHINA - Orphan Sunday from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
While I am Waiting
(This is a post I put on our totsites the day before Nick said "yes"...I wanted to put it here as well so it is all in one place)
So to most of you it is no surprise that I am desperate to adopt! I have so much I want to share about this it kind of overwhelms me! The Lord has laid so many cool things on my heart in the last months that I want to share. Mostly, so I don't forget and see Him working during this phase of our life, but also so our friends and family can share this incredible journey with us! More importantly, one day, I hope our sweet little girl will be able to look back at these posts and know how MUCH we loved and wanted her!
So, God has really done a number on me in these past months. To say that I have had a total heart makeover is an understatement. I have prayed many prayers to have my heart burdened for what burdens His and he certainly did answer.
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27
I can no longer turn over at night and pretend there aren't orphans...TONS of them around this world. I can no longer pretend that some aren't hungry, some aren't scared, some don't know LOVE of any kind, and some don't have incredible special needs. My heart aches! I recently came across this prayer on one of my favorite new blogs (No Hands But Ours). Man, did it speak to me!
Lord Christ,
You have no body on earth but ours,
No hands but ours,
No feet but ours.
Ours are the eyes through which your compassion must look out on the world.
Ours are the feet by which you may still go about doing good.
Ours are the hands with which You bless people now.
Bless our minds and bodies,
That we may be a blessing to others.
St. Theresa of Avila
So, I am completely burdened (thank you Lord) and I have no idea how this journey will end. I can say with confidence that I am learning the difficult lessons of patience and submission to the One who holds all power in His hands WHILE I WAIT!
One of my favorite songs at this point in our journey-
While I'm Waiting by John Waller
So to most of you it is no surprise that I am desperate to adopt! I have so much I want to share about this it kind of overwhelms me! The Lord has laid so many cool things on my heart in the last months that I want to share. Mostly, so I don't forget and see Him working during this phase of our life, but also so our friends and family can share this incredible journey with us! More importantly, one day, I hope our sweet little girl will be able to look back at these posts and know how MUCH we loved and wanted her!
So, God has really done a number on me in these past months. To say that I have had a total heart makeover is an understatement. I have prayed many prayers to have my heart burdened for what burdens His and he certainly did answer.
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27
I can no longer turn over at night and pretend there aren't orphans...TONS of them around this world. I can no longer pretend that some aren't hungry, some aren't scared, some don't know LOVE of any kind, and some don't have incredible special needs. My heart aches! I recently came across this prayer on one of my favorite new blogs (No Hands But Ours). Man, did it speak to me!
Lord Christ,
You have no body on earth but ours,
No hands but ours,
No feet but ours.
Ours are the eyes through which your compassion must look out on the world.
Ours are the feet by which you may still go about doing good.
Ours are the hands with which You bless people now.
Bless our minds and bodies,
That we may be a blessing to others.
St. Theresa of Avila
So, I am completely burdened (thank you Lord) and I have no idea how this journey will end. I can say with confidence that I am learning the difficult lessons of patience and submission to the One who holds all power in His hands WHILE I WAIT!
One of my favorite songs at this point in our journey-
While I'm Waiting by John Waller
We HAVE a BLOG!
Thanks to my amazing friend, Michelle Matarrazo, we have a professionally designed official "adoption" blog! This is where I plan to post all things related to our adoption journey. I will also continue with our totsite for Gavin Nicolas and Ethan Paul updates!
We sent in our adoption application to CCAI (Chinese Children Adoption International) yesterday. As of today, they received it and are just waiting on our references (thanks for those of you who took the time to write glowing reports about us). Once approved (hopefully), we will attend an orientation and find out more about the glorious process of adopting internationally. And then the real fun begins!
So, keep checking this new site (I am sooo stinking excited about) for our updates!
We sent in our adoption application to CCAI (Chinese Children Adoption International) yesterday. As of today, they received it and are just waiting on our references (thanks for those of you who took the time to write glowing reports about us). Once approved (hopefully), we will attend an orientation and find out more about the glorious process of adopting internationally. And then the real fun begins!
So, keep checking this new site (I am sooo stinking excited about) for our updates!
Adoption Timeline
1995-Katie watched a Oprah special as a junior in high school on the One-Child policy in China resulting in tons of little girls in the orphanges there and knew one day she will adopt.
1996-Katie attends college at UCF and meets one of her best friends, Kerri, who was adopted from Seoul, Korea at 6 months old.
Oct 2011-Various circumstances lead Katie to read Choosing to See by Mary Beth Chapman. Katie felt God tugging on her heart with every page turn. Katie begins fervently praying for Nick (and maybe nagging a bit too) about adoption from China.
Feb. 24, 2012-After what felt like an eternity (although only 4 months) Nick says "yes" to adoption through tears of joy...knowing this is without a doubt what God has called us to do.
Feb. 25, 2012-We begin the application process.
Feb. 27, 2012-Application mailed to CCAI
Feb. 28, 2012-Application received...once our references are received we will find out if we are approved!
March 21, 2012-We are approved to proceed with adoption!
April 11, 2012-First round of documents approved, first agency fee sent, phone conference Orientation
June 14, 2012-First Home Study visit. All dossier documents notarized and ready to be sent to Secretary of State
July 9, 2012-Second Home Study visit.
Sept.4, 2012-Nick fingerprinted for USCIS
Sept. 10, 2012-Katie fingerprinted for USCIS
Sept. 12, 2012-received I-797
Sept. 12, 2012-all documents authenticated minus I-797 and Home Study
Oct. 19, 2012-ALL Dossier documents approved by Dossier Team and sent to Colorado for translation
Oct. 26, 2012-Dossier on its way to China
Oct. 29,2012-Dossier delivered to CCCWA in China
Oct. 31,2012-LID!!!
Dec. 31,2012-First referral:(
Feb. 5, 2013-Second referral:( Still waiting for our daughter
March 13, 2013-FOUND OUR DAUGHTER
March 17, 2013-Sent LOI to CCAI
March 22, 2013- Pre-Approval
April 1, 2013-Letter of Acceptance (LOA)
April 22, 2013-I-800 Provisional Approval
April 25, 2013-PDF from NVC
April 30, 2013-Article 5 drop off
May 13, 2013-Emergency Consulate Closure...Article 5 pick up delay by a week
May 21, 2013-Article 5 pick up
May 22, 2013-wait for Travel Approval BEGINS
1996-Katie attends college at UCF and meets one of her best friends, Kerri, who was adopted from Seoul, Korea at 6 months old.
Oct 2011-Various circumstances lead Katie to read Choosing to See by Mary Beth Chapman. Katie felt God tugging on her heart with every page turn. Katie begins fervently praying for Nick (and maybe nagging a bit too) about adoption from China.
Feb. 24, 2012-After what felt like an eternity (although only 4 months) Nick says "yes" to adoption through tears of joy...knowing this is without a doubt what God has called us to do.
Feb. 25, 2012-We begin the application process.
Feb. 27, 2012-Application mailed to CCAI
Feb. 28, 2012-Application received...once our references are received we will find out if we are approved!
March 21, 2012-We are approved to proceed with adoption!
April 11, 2012-First round of documents approved, first agency fee sent, phone conference Orientation
June 14, 2012-First Home Study visit. All dossier documents notarized and ready to be sent to Secretary of State
July 9, 2012-Second Home Study visit.
Sept.4, 2012-Nick fingerprinted for USCIS
Sept. 10, 2012-Katie fingerprinted for USCIS
Sept. 12, 2012-received I-797
Sept. 12, 2012-all documents authenticated minus I-797 and Home Study
Oct. 19, 2012-ALL Dossier documents approved by Dossier Team and sent to Colorado for translation
Oct. 26, 2012-Dossier on its way to China
Oct. 29,2012-Dossier delivered to CCCWA in China
Oct. 31,2012-LID!!!
Dec. 31,2012-First referral:(
Feb. 5, 2013-Second referral:( Still waiting for our daughter
March 13, 2013-FOUND OUR DAUGHTER
March 17, 2013-Sent LOI to CCAI
March 22, 2013- Pre-Approval
April 1, 2013-Letter of Acceptance (LOA)
April 22, 2013-I-800 Provisional Approval
April 25, 2013-PDF from NVC
April 30, 2013-Article 5 drop off
May 13, 2013-Emergency Consulate Closure...Article 5 pick up delay by a week
May 21, 2013-Article 5 pick up
May 22, 2013-wait for Travel Approval BEGINS
June 17, 2013-Travel Approval
June 26, 2013-Leave for China
July 1, 2013-Gotcha
About Us
I'm Katie, and this is where I journal our adoption journey. I started blogging before our first son Gavin was born, and it's become one of my favorite ways to document our life with kids. Now, I want to remember every step of our adoption journey so I started this seperate blog where I will write regarding all things adoption. First and foremost, I am a daughter of the King...this is my most fulfilling "title" by far. I am also the oldest of two children, and was raised in a Christian home. I consider this a great privilege. I have two amazing parents who are my joy! I grew up in a small town where I raised cattle (yes, cattle) until I moved to Orlando, FL for college at The University of Central Florida (go Knights). This is where I met my adorable husband, Nick. We have been married for almost 10 years. He is truly the love of my life and I'm so blessed to be married to him! We still live in Orlando where we both run businesses. I own my own speech therapy practice (www.simplyspeakingcentralflorida.com)and Nick runs a Martial Arts School (he is a tough, third degree black belt...pretty cool). As a business owner, I am able to balance my work and life as mommy as I please. Thank goodness for that because I adore our two boys, Gavin Nicolas and Ethan Paul. Gavin is almost 4 years old and our Ethan is almost 2. Gavin is our sensitive, mature, obiedient little boy. Ethan is our adventurous, ball-loving, sporty toddler! I can't imagine my life without them. Our days are brighter because God gave us them.
Our third child, we believe will become part of our family through international adoption. The Lord is clearly leading us down this path. I know He has a little squinty eyed bundle of joy already in mind for us. As a result of this calling to adopt, I have become passionate about the orphans of this world and hope that this blog creates even just a bit of awareness about the helpless and the great need for us all to act out James 1:27.
Stay tuned...our "About Us" is about to go through major construction as we journey through international adoption...all for love!
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