"An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance.  The thread may stretch or tangle, but will never break."

Chinese proverb

We are very excited to announce that we plan to adopt a little "Mei Mei", or little sister, for Samantha, Noah and Faith.  Unfortunately, the waiting time has increased.  Accordingly, it could be two years before we travel.  Check back here for more updates.

Perhaps, some of you will think that we are nuts.  We are not "Super Parents" and never will be (as our children and many of you could attest).  Our youth is behind us and we will be those "older" parents that we never thought we would be.  In many ways it goes against all our original plans, but we have discovered that we still have lots of love to share with another orphaned child.  The boat and hot tub may have to wait!  Retirement may not be as financially rewarding, but life will be so much sweeter because we said "yes" to Faith and her little mei mei.  God has blessed our family far beyond our wildest dreams and we trust him to do what is right for our family.  We would ask that you pray for God's will in this adoption.  Additionally, we would love for some of you to join us on this journey.  There are plenty of children in need of a family both here and abroad!

Just as a side note from Christy - My mom always joked about how my sister would have a house full of cats and dogs.  Never did she imagine that I would have a house full of kids.  Perhaps, I was the least likely person to have a big family. 

November 2006

• 11/17/2006 - Application sent to America World Adoption Association (AWAA)

• 11/20/2006 - Called Angels Haven Outreach (AHO) for homestudy

• 11/27/2006 - Livescan fingerprinting for Evan & Christy

• 11/29/2006 - Completed medical exam reports for Evan & Christy

• 11/30/2006 - Application accepted by AWAA

• 11/30/2006 - Application submitted to AHO

• 11/30/2006 - Form I-600A sent to US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS)

December 2006

• 12/05/2006 - Sent School Reports to AHO

• 12/05/2006 - Sent agreement to AWAA and made first Program fee payment

• 12/07/2006 - First homestudy visit

• 12/07/2006 - Received Christy's birth certificates

• 12/12/2006 - Christy's homestudy interview

• 12/12/2006 - Evan's homestudy interview

• 12/13/2006 - Final homestudy visit

• 12/22/2006 - Received Evan's birth certificates from NJ

January 2007

• 01/05/2007 - Completed medical exam reports for Evan & Christy, again (using updated forms)

• 01/05/2007 - Completed application letter for Chinese Center for Adoption Affairs

• 01/05/2007 - Completed financial statement

• 01/05/2007 - Completed employment & non-employment letters

• 01/08/2007 - Picked-up police reports at Ventura County Sheriffs Department

• 01/11/2007 - Received homestudy

• 01/12/2007 - County certified Ventura County documents in Ventura

• 01/12/2007 - County certified Los Angeles County document (homestudy) in Van Nuys

• 01/12/2007 - Delivered  homestudy to USCIS in Los Angeles

• 01/12/2007 - Documents certified by Regional Office of Secretary of State

• 01/12/2007 - Arrived at Chinese Consulate at 3:25, 25 minutes after it closed

• 01/15/2007 - Dropped-off documents for authentication at Chinese Consulate in LA

• 01/15/2007 - Picked-up authenticated documents at Chinese Consulate in LA

February 2007

• 02/01/2007 - Christy called USCIS to check status of I-171H.  Told it was just completed.

• 02/02/2007 - Picked up I-171H at USCIS

• 02/02/2007 - Got I-171H notarized

• 02/02/2007 - County certified I-171H

• 02/02/2007 - I-171H certified by Regional Office of Secretary of State

• 02/02/2007 - Dropped-off I-171H for authentication at Chinese Consulate in LA

• 02/05/2007 - Picked-up authenticated I-171H at Chinese Consulate in LA

• 02/06/2007 - Completed dossier sent to AWAA via FedEx

• 02/09/2007 - Dossier sent to China (DTC)