L I D !!!

We received word today that our dossier was logged in (LID) on March 30, 2007! WHOOOO HOOOO! We already have 3 weeks of wait in! The agency is still holding to 16 months from LID to referral, so hopefully by next summer we will have some really great news!

I feel like DTC was like taking a home pregnancy test, and LID is like having it confirmed by the doctor. It is just so wonderful to know that our folder did not get lost and was not rejected, and is now sitting on a shelf waiting to be reviewed!

From what I understand, they have through March 31, 2006 reviewed and ready for matches. They are at October 26, 2005 for matches. So keep up the prayers for expediency! They need to start doing at least a month of matching each calendar month for the 16 month wait time to become a reality. Adoption math!

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods!

Love,
:D

100 Wishes Quilt

We are still waiting to hear of our LID. The CCAA only did 2 days worth of referrals this month, and our agency missed the cut off by one day. So we probably won't hear of our LID until May. Keep up the prayers for a speed up in the process!!!

In the meantime, I am going to start Ladybug's 100 wishes quilt. It is a northern Chinese custom to invite friends and family to contribute a patch of cloth with a wish for the baby. Part of the patch of cloth goes into the quilt for the baby, and the other part of the cloth can go into a creative memory notebook with the wish for the child. The quilt contains the luck, energy, and good wishes from all the families and friends who contributed a piece of fabric.

If you would like to contribute fabric for the quilt, please send a 8" x 8" square and a swatch of the fabric attached to an index card with your wish for Ladybug. The fabric can be any color or pattern that appeals to your eyes! I hope the quilt and the scrapbook will help pass the time!

If you need our address, please leave a message and your email address in the comment section and I'll send it to you.

Have a blessed Easter season!
:D

Waiting to Hear

I was waiting to post until we heard that we are officially "logged in." This is the date that our official countdown clock starts. Our agency told us that we are probably already logged in, and we just have to wait for notification, but it is still nice to know that we are official and there wasn't something missing from our dossier. The referrals are late coming this month (they could have come as early as yesterday, and they are not in yet) and we hope our LID (log in date) notice will be with the batch of referrals.

Brian called our dossier consultant this week to ensure that things were moving as they should. (apparently my word wasn't enough! :) ) She assured us that everything is OK. She was still promoting a 17 month wait at the most. She seemed to think that things will slow down for a little bit, then it will pick up again to an 8 month wait. We are just caught in the goofy spot that it will still be a 16ish month wait. Who knows! The best we can do is get everything ready and hurry up and wait!!

Fingers crossed that we learn our LID this week!
:D

Kisses in the Wind

My friend Priscilla found these Chinese characters on line. They translate to Ladybug. No doubt that they will find their way into the nursery!

I've been cruising the information superhighway looking at other folk's blogs and websites. There is so much good information out there, and it is amazing to sit and read your very own adoption story on a perfect stranger's website! It is an incredible feeling to know that I am not alone.

I found this awesome poem on a site, and wanted to share it with you all. It captures so much of what I feel, and it is great imagery until we can bring Ladybug home!

Have a great week!

:D

KISSES IN THE WIND

I hold you in my heart and touch you in my dreams.
You are here each day with me, at least that's how it seems.

I know you wonder where we are... what's taking us so long.
But remember child, I love you so and God will keep you strong.

Now go outside and feel the breeze and let it touch your skin...
Because tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind.

May God hold you in His hand until I can be with you.
I promise you, my darling, I'm doing all that I can do.

Very soon, you'll have a family for real, not just pretend.
But for tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind.

May God wrap you in His arms and hold you very tight.
And let the angels bring the kisses that I send to you each night.
--- Unknown

Getting Braver!

Ok folks! Now that I am less afraid of the blogging world, I have now set Wings for Ladybug up to allow comments from anyone! You don't need to have an account with Google. I will have the option to post your comment or not, depending on how appropriate it is.

We received ANOTHER batch of paperwork in the mail today. Not fair! I thought we were done with the paper chase and had nothing left to do but wait.

So we will spend the next couple weeks filling out these supplemental forms. I think we answered all the questions during our home study, but I think the larger agency wants to have it documented on their forms. Fun, oh fun.

Mark and Carol are enjoying their time with Siena in China. I know they are anxious to get back stateside to familiarity. I am anxious to meet the little cutie!

Well, that's the big news of the day!
:D

Siena's Coming Home!

Our friends Mark and Carol are on their way to get Siena tomorrow. It is almost 9:00 PM Monday, which means it is10:00 AM Tuesday in China. They are probably on their way to the orphanage!

They have waited such a looooong time, and we are just thrilled for them. They have several days of bonding and sightseeing, paperwork to fill out, medical exams and somewhere, find time to sleep!

They will be back at the end of the month, but it will be a while before we can visit. Siena will need time to get used to her new home and parents before new folks are introduced. So while they live literally right behind us, it will seem so far away until they call to invite us over! But it is worth the wait.

We are anxiously waiting to hear about our LID (log in date.) This is when our clock will officially start ticking. We've heard 16 months, and that is the good estimate. Thanks for your prayers for a speedy process ~ keep them coming!!

Have a great week!
:D

Waiting is the Hardest Part!

Well, the dossier arrived in China on February 26, 2007! We are now waiting for our Log In Date, hopefully by the end of March. Then the long wait begins...

Our friends Carol and Mark are getting ready to go over to China on Sunday to meet their little Siena! We are so excited for them! They live right behind us, so we will be able to visit Siena and spoil her rotten. We are looking forward to all the tips that Carol and Mark will give us after their trip.

We have plenty of projects to keep us busy! We have a nursery to prepare (Butterflies and Dragonflies!) and many projects around the house to finish up. My favorite project is going to be working in the side yard in the new flower bed. Big Plans! Watch for pictures.

I ask for your prayers for a speedy process. I just can't wait to hold our little Ladybug in my arms!

Have a great week!
:D