Tag Archives: Adoption

One year ago today, I heard a still small voice whisper that this is the day we will find our daughter. That evening, my husband called me over to look at a beautiful child on an advocacy website and we both fell in love.

*Post edited – Because Z has refused adoption, I have removed her pictures to protect her privacy.

It has been a whirlwind year, filled with ups and downs. The first half of the adoption process went really quickly. We thought for sure we’d be traveling within a year of finding our girl. The second half of the adoption process has gone much more slowly. We’ve evidenced several miracles, including God providing over $11,000 through generous friends and family, which allowed us to complete our adoption fund and proceed with the necessary approvals.

I already think of Zhi Zhi as our daughter, even though she won’t officially be ours until the court finalizes our adoption. I can’t wait to become her mama, to show her the love of a family, and to introduce her to our loving God.

Yesterday our agency contacted us and asked if we wanted to delay the adoption. We found out that Zhi Zhi wavers between being afraid of the huge change coming her way and wanting to have a family. The judge in Taiwan will ask her social worker how Zhi Zhi feels about the adoption. We need her to want to be adopted. Since day one, we have been praying that God will soften her heart so that she will want to be adopted, that she will allow us to love her, and that someday she will love us in return.

We stepped out in faith yesterday, believing that God will finish preparing her heart, and instructed our agency to continue with the adoption process. Once we receive our preapproval letter from AIT, our case will be submitted to court. Please pray for Zhi Zhi, that she will be eager to be adopted by the time the judge asks. We have faith that God will continue to bless us as we seek to make Zhi Zhi our daughter.

I am so overwhelmed with gratitude to God. Just as we’re bracing for a long wait, as we work on the last step before submitting all of our paperwork to court, God gives us a blessing to sustain us. Earlier this week, I again contacted our agency to ask if it was possible for me to get touch with the family who hosted our girl in 2012. I was thrilled when they responded with an email address.

After prayer, we sent over a list of questions we hoped would be answered and give us insight into our daughter. We’ve been so very blessed with a ton of useful information and photos. I was praying for photos but knew that I may or may not receive any. The host family has more than doubled the number of photos we have!

*Post edited – Because Z has refused adoption, I have removed her pictures to protect her privacy.

She’s beautiful and I pray every day that God will prepare her heart for our family.

I thought for sure that I was going to have a really fun post today, an update on our decorating attempts. Alas, no update for awhile.

Yesterday we visited Bed, Bath, and Beyond so that I could show my hubby the curtains I found. We picked out the pretty lavender curtains and then found a nice curtain rod to install. Once home, we eagerly unwrapped everything. BB&B carried two lengths of curtains – 63″ and 83″. The window is not full length so we took an educated guess that we need the 63″ curtains. We were careful to pick out two packages that were very clearly marked 63″. When we opened the first package, we realized that the curtains were taller than I am! I am 5’6″ and I couldn’t even hold the curtains off the floor by stretching my arms above my head. They were clearly not 63″ long! The curtains were pretty, but we were not in love with them. We decided to take them back and find something else.

This morning we started browsing Pottery Barn Kid’s website, the same place we bought the comforters and sheets. We found some gorgeous curtains on sale! They weren’t as cheap as the BB&B curtains, but I’m positive that they are nicer quality. And wouldn’t you know it… the curtains are on back order, just like the sheets we ordered! Both the curtains and the sheets will be delivered at the end of July. So much for making progress with the decorating this weekend!

On Saturday night, I also made a list of furniture stores we can visit in search of a dresser as well as a kitchen table to replace our folding table. Hopefully next weekend we’ll spend some time searching for furniture. I can’t wait!

No letter from AIT this week. Our agency said that our dossier translation will be completed by the end of next week. I am praying that the AIT letter arrives before Friday! Then we’ll be ready to submit to court. I can’t wait.

“After review of the Form I-600 petition… USCIS is pleased to inform you that we have preliminarily determined that the beneficiary child appears eligible to immigrate to the United States as an orphan.”

This is the good news we were hoping for last week! Our case manager called this morning to let us know that she had approved our application on June 11 and that we should receive the hard copy in the mail any day. We received it today! I scanned and emailed it to my agency. Now we’re waiting for this piece of paper’s twin, a similar preapproval letter from AIT (American Institute in Taiwan). Once we receive that letter, we add it to the stack of paperwork already in Taiwan.

Hopefully, the agency in Taiwan has finished translating our dossier. If so, that means we are ready to be submitted to court! Well, as soon as the letter from AIT arrives. We’re working through the last few (long) steps. After court submission, we get to SKYPE with our girl! I can’t wait.

I was excited to receive the letter today but was also sobered by the wording. “the beneficiary child appears eligible to immigrate to the United States as an orphan.” Yes, I’m glad that we are adopting her. However, I grieve at the losses she’s already lived through. She’s an orphan. No mom or dad. I can’t replace her biological mother, as much as I want to love her and provide a family for her. So it’s a happy and sad day all at once, seeing USCIS’ determination written in black and white.