Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Help Us Bring Jackson Home

We anticipate that we will hear very soon about travel to China. A group that just got their Letters of Seeking Confirmation last week will be leaving mid-June so we are next!

My hope is that we are in China by July. With that said, travel right now is beyond expensive, high gas prices, summer, and the Olympics have almost doubled prices from the last time we went.

To raise money we are having two garage sales:

  • This weekend May 30th & 31st (Friday 8-4 and Saturday 8-5)
  • The next sale will be June 20th & 21st (8-5 both days)

If you would like to help us with our fundraising efforts please consider either shopping at our sale or donating items* for us to sell. Between the two sales we hope to raise at least $3000 over the next 5-6 weeks.

Additionally, we would like to donate at least 10% of what we raise to Half the Sky, an organization in China that provides services directly to the orphanages. They are currently focusing their efforts on Chengdu and the surrounding provinces that were effected as a result of the earthquake.

You may also make a monetary donation, if you wish to help that way. We have included a secure link to Pay Pal on the right. We feel so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family to share our lives and happiness.

Thank you in advance for your kindness.

*You can drop items off, just give me a call and I will be home, or we will come pick up your items. The only thing we won’t do is clean out your closets J


Sunday, May 18, 2008

Earthquake in China

Thank you everyone for your calls, emails, and questions about Jackson. Thankfully, the area where he is from was not effected by the quake. Our agency reported that "we spoke with both Lu and Tong this morning. Buildings in Nanjing were shaking, but there has been no damage or loss of life in Jiangsu Province.

We are so thankful that his has not effected our little one directly, but his has impacted the lives of thousands throughout China. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. The news reports have been so grim as many parents have lost their only child as a result of the quake and buildings collapsing.

If you would like more information about the earth quake, or if you would like to donate to the relief efforts there are several reputable organizations that work directly with the orphanages throughout China and in the effected regions.

Please keep China in your prayers. Thanks!

Half the Sky
http://www.halfthesky.org/

The Amity Foundation
http://www.amityfoundation.org/

Love Without Boundaries
http://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/

General Relief - American Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org/

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Two Months

Can you believe that our Dossier has been in China two months already. Where has the time gone. We are waiting on pins and needles, hoping to recieve our Letter of Acceptance (LOA) any day now. This precedes our Travel Approval (TA) which is our formal invitation from China to travel to Nanjing to pick up Jackson. I really feel in my heart that we will have him in our arms by the Fourth of July.

I had a dream about this - as silly as that is. Also I would love to be in Nanjing, because the Olympic torch is scheduled to go through July 6th. When I saw the torch schedule I thought, how cool would it be if we are there to see that.

On a more reality based note, if we do not get travel documents soon it could mean that we will have to wait until after the Olympics to travel. I would be sad, but alas it is not in our hands.

We do have a nice little travel group forming through the XingFu program - at least 5 families now so that will be fun.

I must put in a plug for this program they are amazing - Homeland Adoption Services - XingFu Program. It is direct placement special needs program with little or no wait for a referral. Last I heard they had several little boys and toddlers needing placements. So if you have it in your heart to adopt from China - give Pam or Nancy a call. The link for Homeland is on my sidebar.

That's it for now. Graduation ceremony and Masters hooding are this weekend - wohoo me! I am quite excited to be finished with this chapter of my life, a little sad though because I have loved my program, the students in it, and the faculty.

Have a wonderful weekend!

T.

Sunday, May 04, 2008

Crazy Days!

Well, I have been super swamped winding up my Masters - I am finally in the home stretch and I am so busy. Just finished a huge paper today. I have a final exam, some client tapes, and some class meetings and I am finished!!!

It has been a long road that started in 2002 - it's only six years, and one and one half adoptions later. My job search is on hold until we know when we will get Jackson home and the full speed ahead to China, then home for a bit, and then work, work, work :)

Here are some Addie pictures to tide you over until we know more about Jax. We think our LID is April 10th - we got a letter that said it was March 10th, but we submitted it to China on the 14th. So my best guess at this point is April 10th.

I hope they can get us to China and back before the Olympics. We're going to have a busy summer either way.

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