Update for April

Well let's see, referrals are into JANUARY, YAY!!!!!!!!!!!! As of today the CCAA has referred through January 9th. ONLY 8 DAYS AWAY!!!!!!!! The sad news is that it will probably take China until June to get to the 17th. We are so close though. We have never ever been this close! We are still up in the air about Ariel's middle name. When we see her face we will know though. I just finished reading a post on Bethany's Blog and thought that in years to come it might be interesting to have this information. It's about a referral. I just copied and pasted the information,

Several comments have come in requesting that we talk about “what is a referral”, the process, what to expect, etc. Although lengthy, we hope this blog post helps answer some of your questions. If you have more specific questions, we encourage you to talk with your social worker.Q: What is a "referral" and what is the process? A: A referral is the much anticipated answer to all of our prayers. It is the matching of an orphaned child with their forever family. Once your dossier is received and LID ("logged-in") at CCAA (China Center of Adoption Affairs), it gets translated. The dossier is then placed in the holding area until it enters the Review room. The Review room is where your dossier is closely reviewed to ensure 1) eligibility and 2) appropriateness. The dossier then travels into another holding area until it is ready to enter the Matching room. When it is time, the referral is made by matching families' dossiers with children's paperwork. God's Plan for your family is already in the works! The "referral" itself is the child's identifying information on paper.What's next?Note: Each branch may operate slightly differently in order to better serve the needs of their families. Depending on your branch office/social worker, your referral process may vary slightly from the process below. Please check with your social worker as to "what to expect."The referral process: When a referral arrives at Bethany-International from CCAA, it is a celebration of joy! The referral typically arrives among a group of referrals for Bethany families across the U.S. whom all share the same LID (log-in date).1. International sends an email to all the branches and social workers whose families are in the "batch of referrals." We notify them with your family name, the child's given name, gender, given date of birth, and the orphanage & province your child calls home. You then get "the call".... we hope you are ready!!! :o) 2. We review the paperwork and the referral is overnighted to your local branch office/social worker. You will then schedule a time in the next day or so to meet with your social worker to review the referral... and see your child's face for the first time!!!3. The original referral documents are yours to keep. Within a couple days, the English translation of the medical and social history section are emailed to your worker, who in turn, gets them to you! The Hague Convention states that a family can have up to two weeks to make a determination of acceptance. Families are not required to use the full two weeks, but are encouraged to have the referral reviewed by a medical professional.4. The acceptance documents are then overnighted back to Bethany-International.5. Once Bethany-International has received all of the families’ acceptance documents, they are forwarded back to CCAA. This prompts the preparation process for travel invitations and then travel.The referral presentation:When you meet with your social worker to meet your child "on paper," please bring the following:1) The name(s) you have picked out. Your child's new given name will officially be written on the acceptance document at this time.2) A check for the acceptance & referral processing fee. 3) A list of any significant changes that have occurred in your household since the home study has been approved. These changes may include but are not limited to; new employer, new job, decrease in annual income, criminal, health, moved to a new home, additional persons in the home, etc... your social worker will also ensure that your fingerprints and USCIS approval will be valid through travel. 4) A camera; some families like to document this long awaited moment!*Tip: In preparation for your referral and travel, please check your I-171H/I-1797C for the expiration date of your fingerprints. This date is located at the bottom of your I-171H/I-797C form. Fingerprints are valid for 15 months out from the date you were printed. These prints must be valid through your travel dates! With lengthening referral and travel timeframes, most families are re-fingerprinting at least once and renewing the I-600A at least once. Please check with your social worker for specifics.

We just got back from a bowling trip to Albuquerque New Mexico and had a blast. We went up Sandia Peak and went on a Ghost Tour. Just had an overall wonderful time!

Oh and the Mississippi River is at it's highest point in years. We are going to try and get some pictures this weekend. It's really high! For the first time that I can remember in my life they have actually closed the hard top levee down. You can't even go up there anymore.

John Cole is almost finished with 10th grade! It has been a great year for him. He won class favorite again and also most spirited or something like that. His class ring (almost 700 dollars) should be in soon and he got his letterman's jacket! Wow, he's growing up so fast. Their team made it to the State Playoffs in Basketball although they didn't win it was still an awesome experience. They also have made it to North State in Golf!

Humm, I can't think of much else right now. I just hope that CCAA has a large months worth of referrals this month and that we finally see Ariel's face in June!

Lord please keep her strong and healthy and let her know it's not long now. Please be with her birth mother and give her a peace that her baby girl will be loved and cared for and will have everything possible. Please be with John and I and John Cole and Mama as we prepare ourselves for this joyous addition to our family. Give me the strength to get on that airplane and not panic. Show me the true reason why I am flying which is our gorgeous daughter. Give me peace and calm while in China. Lord also be with the matching room at CCAA. Be with them as they choose the daughter that you meant especially for us! Thank you Lord for giving us the strength and endurance to wait 3 years for the perfect child that is your will for us. We love YOU and give you all the praise Lord. This is all because or You! Please help me remember that YOU would not take me where YOU would not protect me if we are fulfilling YOUR will in our lives. Amen.