Our last night before heading HOME!

I wanted to just send a quick note and some pictures before bed. We are packed up, for the most part, and ready to leave the hotel tomorrow after breakfast.

Emotional for all of us, to say the very least; but especially for Min who really doesn't understand the 'bigness' of it all. (for lack of better words from this sleepy Mama).

This part has been hard; the next part (trip home) will be harder, arriving home and settling in will be the absolute hardest. Please continue to check in on us in the coming weeks.

I am going to try and post a few pictures. Here are some of the hotel lobby. That is carved in gold behind the desk. That is also the other family that was with our agency. They had a 9 year old and were adopting a 5 year old boy also.



Here is just a beautiful staircase in the corner of the lobby. Pictures don't do this hotel justice.





Orchids and water fountains under the escalators


Another view :)





All four boys in the back of the van. Of course, the two older boys playing on Moms phones.


Part of the garden and Koi pond outside of the hotel restaurant.


Feeding the fish.



Thanks for following.
Thanks for praying!
There are so many other families here at this time; please keep them all in your prayers also. Many of the children are very much special needs (cleft lips/palates, missing legs, missing fingers/hands, turned feet/legs, and other needs that we don't see on the outside) and will have many surgeries in the near future. Pray for all of them to get safely home also.

Pray for those already home and having a hard time adjusting.

Lane and I have some tight connections, so we also need prayers for on-time flights and quick Immigration lines when we arrive in Atlanta. (that still seems ages away!).

Night night for the last time from Chin@.

"Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes." (Isaiah 54:2, NIV)


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The rest of our day...Tuesday

I just realized that it was Tuesday today, a little late, I know!

We arrived at the Consulate, got through security (no phones, no cameras, nothing battery operated allowed) and joined about 12 other families who were there for their appointments also.

All of the parents had to take an oath that all of the information we have provided on our paperwork is truthful to the best of our knowledge.

We were about the 6th family called. We didn't have our original Article 23 piece of paperwork, but the girl at the desk seemed unfazed when we told her that our Province forgot to give it to us, we realized Saturday, it was supposed to have arrived by DHL yesterday, but didn't and that we would get it to them today. We also had to officially put Peyton Min Zachary Bowers down for Min's name as when we started the process we had not 100% decided on his name. Our paperwork was approved (pending original article 23) and we were free to go. On the way out of the office, our guide told us that our driver was on his way back to our hotel as our DHL/Article 23 paper had finally arrived. He got it to us, we got it to the girl at the desk and off we went. The Visa is supposed to be delivered to us tomorrow by4:00 in the afternoon ; our guide will bring it to us.

Afterwards, we went over to Shamien Island (where the adoption medicals used to take place and most adoptive families stayed) for lunch at Lucy's (where adoption families always eat - you can order American or Chinese food) and then shopping in a few stores. Zane was absolutely not excited about the shopping until he found some Chinese Pokemon cards. S-c-o-r-e. Min found a little bouncy ball that lights up when you bounce it; actually both boys got one. We had our guide tell Min his American name during lunch. He smiled and said he liked it.

Then back to the hotel for some quiet time; hard to have quiet time with two rowdy, tired, one not feeling so hot, boys. We decided to take some bread and go feed the fish in the pond. There are beautiful gardens here at the hotel and little pathways you can walk through.

We decided to let the boys swim (no, Min does not swim but he does try) for a bit, so back for bathing suits and then to the pool for a bit. Then sun was behind the buildings and Min was shivering. After 25 minutes, we had to get dressed for dinner, so time to get out. But oh What A Pout by Min when I made him get out of the pool 1 minute before Zane. Oh my.

This evening we joined two other families, one from Seattle and one from Tallahassee, with their guide for dinner. She took us to a wonderful Cantonese restaurant right behind the hotel. We sat with the family from Seattle; ordered about 8 or 9 dishes to share and they were all wonderful. Except I'm not sure about the pumpkin soup because I didn't try it!

Min was exhausted tonight and we got him home and he was out in about 15 minutes. Tomorrow our guide will go over with him again what all will be taking place in the coming days. Packing up and heading for America. This has not been easy and i know the hardest is yet to come. Nothing much has phased him yet - except being told no, thunder, and basements (not sure whats up with that) - So we are not sure what to expect from him on the L-o-o-o-n-g plane ride home and thereafter.

Lane once again, is in charge of photos. Blame him for the lack of. :)

The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him.
Lam 3:25

Night

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Consulate appointment

We have our Consulate appointment this morning at 8:30.
All of these early morning appointments are really, ugh, just tired of having to rush and get up and get to the appointed place at the appointed time!

Zane and I fighting colds and sore throats.

Min still does not like the word 'no'.

Weather good yesterday; lots of rain last night.

Dinner at Starbucks (of all things) because the noodle restaurant I really wanted to find and go to, once we think we found it, I didn't want to try it!

We are running out of the door.....


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Expecting Unearned And Undeserved Favor

Well, Cindy asked me to jump in and help with her blog since we are still disoriented, overwhelmed, and basically out of sorts.



Although we have arrived in our first ever 6 Star Hotel, the cost per night is about like an above average hotel in the US. It seems very odd to be in such a great environment that does not feel in any way like a vacation, but more like an incredibly critical mission with huge consequences.

Peyton Min is an incredibly intelligent and unbelievably intense little boy who is what I like to call the Ultimate zeigarnik effect in action! If you have ever heard of this concept it is when a person who has begun a task (opened a loop), he must complete the task (close the loop).

Interrupting a loop that is in the process of being closed results in less than adequate response from our little guy :-)

This has aggravated Cindy quite a bit. With the challenge of not being able to communicate well (I exaggerate... at all in Chinese, that is), combined with limited patience has been our greatest challenge. Peyton has also not been introduced to the word, "no" before...

Sometimes it seems like all we are saying is "no" and for a guy like me who likes to communicate, this is the lowest common denominator of the worst kind of communication. It has made me so incredibly grateful for the amazing patience God has with me. How difficult and even painful it must be for God to not directly intervene and force me to do what he knows is best for me... All the while I complain and argue with HIM about how I KNOW what is best for me... Just like little Peyton Min.




It seems like everything I lack as a parent seems to be the very area where His unmerited, unearned, and undeserved favor is flowing towards me if I will just receive it by faith with a thankful heart and wait for His perfect timing and provision!

Oh the joy of knowing that you are greatly blessed, highly favored, and deeply loved...and then passing on this great inheritance to a little one who has never known this amazing love!

I will labor to enter the rest of knowing my inheritance that "all things are working together for my good!"


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Location:Garden Hotel Guangzhou GZ

Jinan fountains

The last two days in Jinan we took the boys to the fountain show in the Jinan city Square. Zane absolutely loved it.





It took Min a while to get used to it.
Not sure why this picture is posting upside down, but I suppose you all have to take what you can get!


Thursday we went to the Big Lake with a few other families that were In the same hotel. It was nice to get out. But I really just wanted to find space for all of the kids to play; our guide really just wanted to take us on a tour of all of the historical interests. Yes, it's interesting, but come on, the kids could care less and are bored and tired.






Friday we finally found Min some new shoes. Most clothes I brought are too big, he is pretty much a 2-3 toddler size. 3 for the length. he likes to talk and write. He writes many Chinese characters. He writes a few English numbers.
Zane likes patting him on the head.
Have met some really wonderful families here.
Friday was a long day, we had to be out of our hotel room by 3:00. We waited for our guide in the lobby for 1 1/2 hours. Not fun.
We got to the airport with about 10 minutes before we had to board our flight.
(not happy with our guide in Jinan, definitely letting our agency know).
The flight didn't phase Min at all. Zane fell asleep almost immediately, we finally settled Min down to sleep with about an hour left of the flight.
Our guide was right there waiting for us in GZ, and wouldn't you know it, a McDonalds right on the way out of the baggage claim!
We got to our hotel (the Garden hotel) and in our room about 10:00. It is a 'junior' sweet. Bedroom has two beds (the beds are oversized twin beds) and they had a crib in there for 'the baby'. Min is perfect size for the crib, so we kept it and he is sleeping there! Zane and I share a bed, and Lane gets the other. To get another bed in the room would cost about $50+ a night. The crib is free.
We did Min's medical exam this morning, then went to Trustmart (like Walmart) for some more supplies. We also bought some lunches there; stir fried rice and noodles, which was wonderful.
We hope to write more tomorrow and post some pictures of the hotel.
Goodnight from Guangzhou (gwan-Joe).


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Wednesday August something or other

Let's just say things have been different. Our VPN's (connection to get on a safe network in China) have been on and off, so some days it's hit or miss to post. I've just been too tired also.

It's been hard getting the pictures to post, I am not the worlds most technical person. I will try to make sure Lane has uploaded them and see if I can get some up later.




Yesterday our guide took us to the the 1000 Budah Mountain. I think he was very disappointed that we really could have cared less. I think we should have put our feet down and said we didn't want to go there, but he said there were places for the kids to play (some old toys were there for kids to ride) and there was a sled type of slide that we could slide down to the bottom of the hill. That was about the gist of it.

We decided on KFC for a quick lunch. And we really aren't sure what type of chicken it really was.

After coming back to the room and trying without luck to enforce nap time, we headed downtown to the city square. People were flying kits, roller blading, kids doing bubbles, etc. We bought a small kie which Min proceeded to rip the tail off of, so it didn't work, then the string broke and it flew away. We then bought some bubbles for Min and some type of parachute thingy for Zane. I think we spent a few hours down there.

And then we headed back to pizza hut for our 3rd night in a row. The pizza is good, the salad ok, the bathroom perfect (because they have a western toilet option!).

Nighttimes have been ok. From what we were told (after the first night and a wet bed), the Nannies always woke Min up at 10:00 and again at 12:00 to use the bathroom. Apparently it is very normal for kids here to go to the bathroom numerous times per day. We are already working on waiting.

Zane and Min have been getting along well, though it has been mostly side by side playing. Min is totally into his crayons (ku-wah, ku-wah is what he always says, we cannot get him to to speak it into the translator (like that would help) ). He writes some characters and keeps all of his papers organized.

Min doesn't seem interested in the beach ball or playing with the trucks. He talks a lot but we have, of course, no idea what he is saying.

We walked down to see the Black Tiger Springs this morning. Not to exciting but got to walk and get out for a bit. Then we went back down to the town square and did more bubbles and parachuting. We opted to have lunch in the room today and after circling the grocery umpteen times, lane went in search on disown and found the breads, got us some wonderfully fresh pita breads.

Exciting, huh?! At 3 we are heading back down to the town square to see the fountain show. We hope to get together with some other families tonight for dinner.

Only 8 more days until we can fly home...


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Day two with Peyton Min

It's been a rough 24 hours or so and I just haven't felt like posting.
We arrived at the hotel (we are staying at the Crowne Plaza in Jinan) at about 1:00. Our guide (who is wonderful by the way) told us that Min has known about us for two months and that he was scheduled to arrive at the hotel at 3:00 instead of 4:00. Exciting, nerve wracking.

We got to our room and started unpacking. Our phone rang at 2:15, they were here in the lobby. We opted to go down and meet him in the lobby.

I knew Min would be tiny but I think I'd expected he would have grown some. He is very small. Pretty much 3 toddler. He was not afraid of us at all, greeted each of us: Baba, Mama, and Guh Guh (big brother). (min is Di Di, little brother. They (the orphanage nannies) called him Dien Dien, so for now, we call him that. He is active and curious. for him not to be afraid or crying or any emotion, to me is not a good thing, as he has not bonded well with any one person and he will pretty much go to anyone. We will have a lot of bonding work to do.

The Nannies think he is a very smart little guy. They told our guide that all of Min's 11 Nannies said he has been their favorite. Our guide told us in all his years of doing this (16 or 17 years) he has never been told anything like this. Interesting.

This morning, Monday, we met our guide at 8:00 to go to the Civil affairs office to start our paperwork. There were 9 other families there. We spent about 1 1/2 hours there. I refused to use the squatty potty. After that, it was straight to the police station for more paperwork. I caved and used my first (and hopefully last) squatty potty. At least it was a brand new building they had just moved into, so not too bad. Then it was off to the Notary office for our final paperwork for the week. Or so we thought... More later.

After that we went to the Sunflower Restuarant for some authentic Chinese. It was pretty good.

And finally back to the hotel.

Finally got Min asleep for his nap (the orphanage still had him on a nap schedule and we think for now this is good). And getting some quiet time. Then our phone rang, our guide. Somehow Lane and I mixed up our passport numbers on the paperwork and it all has to be redone. Unbelievable and discouraging.
After a few very long days, just didn't need this. :( hopefully all will be corrected and put in order. Zane went with Lane and Min and I are here at the hotel.

Please continue to pray for us: for me, I am not bonding well with Min. Zane has done wonderfully well, for that we are very thankful. Lane has done well also.
For our safety, for family bonding. For sleep.
For all of the other families and their kiddos here. And for Lanes business at home to stay on track while we are gone.


'Lord, when doubts fill my mind and my heart is in turmoil, please give me renewed hope and cheer'.


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Our itinerary

Deep breath.....bittersweet tonight as our last night just the three of us.
I am both nervous and excited and filled with all sorts of emotions.
Here is our schedule for the next 11 days:

8/26 Sunday - arrive in Jinan 11:50. Go to our hotel, the Crowne Plaza.
16:00 'meet child and take picture'. Not sure what the picture is for, but we will find out. I asked our agency and they think we will meet Min in the hotel lobby.

8/27 Monday - Register and donation; apply notary and passport

8/28 Tuesday - break

8/29 Wednesday - break or visit the orphanage. As much as I think that wr would like to visit the orphanage, I don't think we will. It is 4 hours away from the hotel and that would be a long day of (more) travel for all of us (and not fun for two little guys).

8/30 Thursday - Receive Notary

8/31 Friday - Receive passport. Take flight to Guangzhou. We will be staying at the Garden Hotel.

9/1 Saturday - Visa picture and meds check

9/2 Sunday - sightseeing

9/3 Monday - ??? Nothing on the schedule so I guess more sightseeing and getting to know each other. :)

9/4 Tuesday - 8:30 am Interview at the Consulate

9/5 Wednesday - receive Min's visa

9/6 Thursday - leave Guangzhou for Seoul; Seoul to Atlanta . Hopefully get through customs in record time (we can pray and dream, right?!) and make our flight to Orlando!!!

Good night all!



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Saturday 8/25/12

So, last night I forced my sleep deprived self to stay up and write out a blog post on our day. Today I noticed that the post is NOWHERE to be found. Frustrating to say the least!

I guess this will be a shortened version!
We ate at the hotel breakfast, very good!

After breakfast we walked down to Insadong (dong means neighborhood) for a little walking and shopping. We found a Starbucks and enjoyed some coffees!



I enjoyed these signs also and wanted to share:










Back at the hotel We went up to the pool/jacuzzi and let Zane swim. Mostly he stayed in the jacuzzi as the pool was freezing. The pool is on the rooftop and there are beautiful views all around.




After the pool, we visited our Korean Adoption agency, Holt. We took a taxi cab there, which was about a 30 minute drive. I definitely understand being at the mercy of a driver in another country when you have no idea where you are going! We met DJ there, who was the coordinator for Zane's adoption and she took us to a traditional Korean lunch. We left our shoes at the door and sat on the floor. Her Dad and daughter were there with us also. It was a great lunch and fun visiting.





After lunch we went to look around the Holt offices. We walked in with another couple from the US (the Dad was actually from Lane's hometown of Downers Grove!) who were there to get their new little girl. We visited the medical room where about 5 little ones were waiting for medical check-ups before leaving for their adoptive families. The nurse there seemed to remember Zane. :) You can just tell how much love the people at this agency have for these babies. And they were so happy to see Zane. On our way out of the office we saw the little girl that was being brought to the couple mentioned earlier. She was about 18 months old, just precious!

DJ's dad said he wanted to take us to see the South and North Korean border. So off we went. It was about an hours drive north. At one point all along the river are the South Korean soldiers manning the (heavily wired covered) fences. We went up and looked across the border, saw the last train that made it out of North Korea, saw the Bridge of Freedom that the people can no longer cross, and learned about the tunnels dug by the north Koreans to try and get their soldiers into South Korea.








This above photo was at the end of the Border before getting to the bridge.

After finally getting back to the hotel, we were fighting to stay awake.
We grabbed some take out and finally crashed.
I think that was most of the post that was intended for yesterday!

Blessings, Cindy


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Seoul, South Korea

We made it to our hotel in Seoul last night at about 7:30. What a LONG few days.

The plane ride went as good as possible, but still torture trying to get some sleep while flying. Zane was in electronic heaven with the TV monitor that he was able to choose games or movies on. I finally forced him to turn it off at one point, with him insisting that he was not sleepy, and then he promptly fell asleep.

The hotel here seems nice enough. We didn't get much of a chance to see anything last night. There was a small coffee/sandwich shop where we picked up some sandwiches and waters.

Today we will have lunch with our Korean adoption coordinator. This wasn't originally planned, but sounds like it will be nice. Her Dad and daughter would like to be tour guides for us and take us to some places. Her Dad specifically mentioned the North Korean border - interesting!
I would like to get to one of the markets here, to experience it and take everything in. I don't think Lane or Zane have any specifics that they want to
So we are just kind of playing it by ear.

Zane and I are really hungry and cannot wait for the breakfast buffet to open!

Lane is somehow, still snoozing.

Zane has asked me a few times how long it will be until we can get Peyton Min. That has been good for these mommy ears to hear.

While at the airport we did get (a little too late for packing though) an update on Min's sizes. It seems he has grown just a tiny bit more; so that is good.

Thank you for all of your prayers, please keep them coming. The closer we get, the more nervous (to say the least) I get. Please pray that we all stay well also.


Blessings, Cindy and Family - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

At the airport

We made it to the airport! Thanks Nana for the drop off.
We are trying to post and put a few pictures from the phone. See if it will work.
Butterflies setting in.
We read a little devotion.
Praying for all flights to be easy and on time!
Hard to believe when we come back we will be a family of FOUR! 4!

Deep breaths!
Cindy

Our last sleep before leaving

Our bags are packed and ready to close in the morning. We are going to be up at 4:45 and our plan is to be out of the house at 5:30. We will drive over to Mom's house and she will drive with us to the airport and then bring our car home.

Mom, and friends and family will be watching and staying at our house and for this we are very thankful. Kozmo is very thankful too!

Next time we come home, we will be a family of four! That has still not quite sunk in yet.

I had so many things in my mind that I wanted to say and to post, but I think my tiredness and I'll admit, anxiety, and lack of sleep from last night have all just blocked out those thoughts and words.

I am so excited to meet our new little guy. I cannot wait to see him and see his little personality. From what we are told, he smiles a lot and he is a great little helper. Please pray that God has gone before us and prepared Peyton Min for the changes he will be facing. His little world is going to be completely rocked. I cannot imagine; it is almost too hard to think about at times. This little 5 year old taken from everything that he has known. We do not even know at this point if he knows about us yet. I had asked for an update before we left, but we have not heard anything. I hope he is well and knows of us and is excited to have a family!

'When I am afraid, I trust in God. I trust in God, so there is no need to be afraid. :)



Blessings, Cindy and Family - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

We leave one week from today

No, I am NOT packed yet, to the disbelief of some of my sweetest friends!
But I do have boxes full of stuff to pack and lists of everything to throw in, paper work is all ready to go. So that's gotta count for something! And I do have suitcases ready and waiting.
All I need is to find/get a carry on for Peyton Min coming back.  And figure out what size shoe to take for him.

No, the room is not completely done yet, but it is sleep-able and clean.   That's what counts, right?!

Blessings,
Cindy

2 WEEKS and a weekend of BLESSINGS

Oh my goodness! 2 weeks from today we will meet our 2nd little boy!!

Seriously, no, it hasn't quite sunk in yet.

One minute I'm extremely excited. The next minute I am starting to panic.
I cannot wait to meet him though, cannot wait for him and Zane to meet. Praying that God has been and continues to work ahead of us on these two little personalities.

Saturday some friends threw a 'not so baby' shower for me, for Peyton Min. It was wonderful! Lots of good food, good talk, and some really sweet, thoughtful, and very useful gifts.
I'm not sure if they will really ever know just how much that meant to me. :)

And the blessings continued... This morning during church we were called up to the front during prayer time so they could prayer over us for our trip and adoption. As nervous as I was (trying to hold it together and NOT let my emotions overtake me and stand up there just bawling) I actually held it together pretty nicely! I thought this was one of the most sweetest, most wonderful things they could have done for us. Very touching. The sermon was appropriate as well... why we should not worry and all of the corresponding verses. I've tucked it in my purse and plan to take it on our travels.

We have received a few unexpected blessings. And as much as I have prayed for God's provision during this whole process, I've found that it is very hard for me to accept these. It is very humbling to have been so blessed.

2 weeks!!!

Mins room did not get painted this weekend. But it will next weekend! The beds are done and ready to be snuggled in.

The suitcase situation seems to be worked out now (thanks Mom!).
Let the packing begin!

2 weeks!!!

'Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.' Phil. 4:6-7


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Testing BlogPress

Just testing a post using Blog press from my IPad.


Blessings, Cindy and Family - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Meeting Min

I just found out a few hours ago that we will be meeting Peyton Min on Sunday (not Monday!) 8/26/12 scheduled for 4:00 in the afternoon.  S0 exciting!  We are scheduled to arrive in Jinan that day at 11:50, so we will see how all of this goes! 
We also have hotel reservations and our daily schedule for the days we will be in each province. I'll write more later...just had to sneak on at lunch to post this!  :)

Blessings,
Cindy

Tickets purchased!

Our tickets have been purchased!  We have 3 going over...4 coming back.  :) 

(Lane's phone apparently kept dinging after each ticket charge was put through. Reminder to self not to get sneaky with his credit card!)


We are leaving Wednesday August 22nd.  We leave from Orlando 8:30 in the morning, arrive in Atlanta.  Leave Atlanta on Korean Air at 1:10 PM for our 14:45 hour flight to Seoul.  Arrive Seoul on Thursday at 4:55 PM.

I have been in contact with our Korean agency director, and she has suggested a few hotels where families stay when adopting from Korea.  So, even though we didn't get to go then, we get to go and experience it now!  She will also coordinate a tour guide for us.  How wonderful is that?! We need to decide on which hotel (both are apartment like hotels - interesting) and get that one booked soon!

Yes, I was panicking thinking the other day, that does seem to be a pretty 'fly by the seat of your pants' sort of way, tickets purchased and no place to stay.  Just praying God will help us get all of our hotels and travel plans in order.

 'Don't be afraid , my people. Be glad now and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things'. Joel 2:21

We will spend three nights in Seoul then we head out to Peyton Min's province on Sunday.  We leave Seoul for Jinan (in the Shandong province) 11:00 in the morning and arrive at 11:50 (1:50 flight).  This is where our agency for this adoption steps in.  Our guide will meet us at the airport and get us to our hotel and from there.

As of this point, we do not yet have any hotels booked.  I know, seems a bit scarey, doesn't it?!
We need to let our agency contact know tomorrow about the hotels for Jinan and Guangzhou so that he can get them booked.  Both hotels we are looking at in Ch*na have had many adoptive families from our group stay there, so we've heard lots of feedback.  Even directions to places around the hotels!

We will meet Peyton Min on Monday, I can't wait to find out what time.  

How exciting!



Blessings, Cindy

WE HAVE OUR CA DATE!!!!

Yahoo!  Our CA (Consulate appointment) date was confirmed for 9/4/12!! Here are the first few lines from the email we received from our agency today:

Please read this email from start to finish in order to avoid missing important information.

 

Pack your bags! 

 

We are very happy to inform you that we have received confirmation of the consulate appointment, it is on September 4, 2012.  We require your family to arrive in Jinan by 8/26/2012 and leave for Guangzhou on 8/31/2012.

This means we can leave as originally planned (assuming we get the tickets at the prices we need) on 8/22/12 for a few days in Korea before we head on to Peyton Min's province!

Peyton Min will join our family on Monday 8/27/12, we don't know what time yet. 

6 weeks from today (well, technically from last night!) there will be one less orphan in the world.  And there will be one more little boy in this family.  Awesome, isn't it?!  We are so blessed to have this opportunity to parent this little boy.  Both of our boys. 

I can't wait to see his smile in person.  I can't wait to see just how big, or how little, he is.  I can't wait to hold him and protect him and give him love and a family.

Please continue to pray for Lane's business and for God's provision.  We still need to earn our Orphanage 'donation' and money for travel expenses. 

Please continue to pray that God goes before us and prepares this precious little boy for all of these big changes coming his way. 

Please continue to pray for us as a family as we will have many challenges ahead of us. 

Thank you,

Cindy

'Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.'  Matthew 18:4-5

God is good!

We had the most incredible blessing this weekend...new pictures (new to us!) of Peyton Min.

Here's how: a new friend in town, whom I have not met in person yet, called me after I asked her about us meeting down at the park with our kids (she has a little boy Zane's age and a younger girl who is adopted from Ch*na).  We got to talking, one thing led to another, and she thought she remembered a group who had traveled to Min's province last year.  After we got off of the phone, she searched and sent us this photo:

It was him! How precious!  I mean, just...wow!  Another little super hero.  :)

A group from this organization  http://www.bringmehope.org/ had visited last year.  And we are in touch with the young woman who was his 'buddy'.  Even better, she says he is just a joyful little guy. 

I was able to find in her Facebook page her set of photos from this trip; there were SO many cute photos of him.  And he was loved and pampered and loved on that whole week.  That week, by the way, was one of the weeks that we were praying over moving forward to adopt him. 

She may send us some more photos and some video.  How awesome is all of this! 

'...Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God'!  Job 37:14

Blessings,

Cindy 

Preparing travel lists...

I must make use of the long wait extra time we've been blessed with and get myself all organized!

I belong to a wonderful FB (facebook) group with many, many families, all with similiar timelines in the adoption process.  Many families have already traveled and are home, many preparing to go in the next week or two, and many of us planning our travel at the end of summer.   There is so much great info from this group.   So many questions asked and answered, things discussed that we might not ever think about. 
One of the ladies from this group has a GREAT blog; I am linking to one of her posts here for some great travel lists.  This is mostly for me so I can come back to it quickly when I am in a panic thinking I've forgotten something!  (Or maybe I have packed too much,  I am known to do that!).

Happy 4th!  ( I cannot wait for Peyton Min to join us for fireworks!). 

T.......A.....!!!!!

We received our TA (travel approval) yesterday!!!  Very exciting, that was our last step! 

Except, now we wait more.  :( 

We have been very blessed with a busy business summer for Lane (definitely prayers answered), but we cannot travel (since we want to go all together) until Lane's travels are done.  

So instead of leaving in the next week or two (heartbreaking), we will be leaving in 8 weeks.  

'For I know the plans I have for you', declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'.  Jeremiah 29:11

8 weeks, that is an eternity.  Yet it is right around the corner. Yet it is an eternity.  Our little guy is waiting.  Our little guy who I want to hug and love and give him a home and a family. I hope they are preparing him well.   I hope that I can actually get some stuff done.

We will request a CA (consulate appointment) of 9/11 (not sure how we feel about our appointment on that date), 9/12/ and 9/13.  We definitely would want the soonest, but that is 9/11.   We have to be in Province roughly 2 weeks before our CA.  That would put us leaving around 8/28 or 8/29.


Hang on little Peyton Min!!!

Cindy

waiting on TA...

One week down waiting on our TA. 

No word on anything.

Still need to:

Finish travel video (since we are not close to our agency and cannot go in person, we (as in I) have to watch the class on a CD.  Not fun when the CD does not run on your home computer!).

Put together all papers that will be needed for our adoption in Ch*na.  (Must go dig papers out from 'tornado safe place'!)

Put together fundraiser.

Finish (start?) on Peyton's room.

Get another suitcase.  Thinking the boys (the boys   :)  ) can share one.  Give everyone a good carry on.

Continue to look into flights and times. 

May need to buy swim caps - apparently some hotels in Ch*na require swim caps in the pools.

I'm sure there is tons more to do...must get going.


'The Joy of the Lord is my strength'

Cindy

Friday 8/24/12 (I think!)

I thought I'd write a quick recap of our day.
Wonderful breakfast at the hotel!
Zane enjoyed the jacuzzi and swimming pool (which was very cold!) for a little bit. They are up on the rooftop, beautiful views all around.



Then we walked down to Insadong which is in 'dong' or neighborhood. Here along the streets are galleries, souvenir and antique shops and little eateries. We found a Starbucks! The coffee tasted great, prices were pretty much the same. We liked this:




And these signs in the bathroom made me laugh, so I had to share:







I proceeded to throw my toilet paper in the toilet. Oops!

Later we took a taxi ride to the Holt Adoption Agency. This was the agency which coordinated Zane's adoption on the Korean side. We met with DJ, who was the facilitator and she showed us around. We actually met a couple who the husband happened to be from the same hometown as Lane. They were here to pick up their little girl! As we were leaving the offices, the little girl was being brought in by her foster mom. Such a cutie pie! She looked to be about 18 months. I've wondered the rest of the day how she is doing.

DJ took us for a Korean lunch. We left our shoes at the door and sat on the floor. They cooked the meat over coals on the table. Basically lettuce wraps with lots of good toppings, sauces, etc.




Her Dad then took us up to see the North Korean border. There were a lot of buses there. He said a few of the buses were from China. It was not something I would have thought of to go see, but it was interesting.
This picture shows maps of the tunnels found by South Korea that the North had dug.


Here is a picture of the Bridge of Freedom, well, where the bridge is. It is actually all gated and closed off, and there are ribbons, flags, and other items tied in various places along the fences. Put there for family members who are still in North Korea.


After that we were pretty much done for. We let zane sleep on the way back, but woke him up when we arrived at the hotel. Hopefully we will all sleep tonight!
Tomorrow we have a tour guide arranged for us by Holt. We will leave at 9:30, not sure where to or what we are going to see. Hopefully one of the bigger markets and possibly one of the old palaces.

Night all,
Cindy, Lane and Zane
P.S. I didn't spell check so I hope all grammar and spelling is close to correct.

Two more days until we get to meet Peyton Min!!

Article 5

'The Adopted Children's Immigrant Visa Unit (ACIVU) at U.S. Consulate General Guangzhou has finished processing your child's Article 5, and your file is ready to be returned to your adoption agency's facilitator.'

We just received this email a little bit ago.  Exciting!   

I thought our Article was going to be picked up today; I kept checking my email, but never did hear anything.  Looks like it is ready now though! And I guess, will be picked up while we are sleeping. 

And Peyton Min is going about his day. I always wonder just what he is doing.  Is he laughing, is he learning, is he eating ok?  If he is hurt or scared or upset, is someone there to hug him and help him to feel better?  It's so very hard wondering and waiting.

Next we should received our TA!

OHMYGOODNESS...we still have SO much to get ready.   

:)

There are so many families over in Ch*na now,  so many getting prepared to go, and many who will be traveling when we travel.  Please keep all of those families, and all of the new kiddos,  in your prayers also.

Blessings

All week I have been wishing we could get an update on Peyton Min. Friday at work, I walked out to heat up my lunch and there is a mom and dad with all of their little boys.    And I’m really wishing we had our little boy home with us…NOW! In reality, it is not that much longer until we travel and we still have A LOT of things to get done. But it’s hard to wait.

A few people have mentioned, waiting a few more (extra) weeks to travel after we have received our travel approval really isn’t that much more to wait.  And that is true, it really is not much more to wait and it really is for a good reason, increasing  funds for our adoption costs/travel.

But, the waiting and the reasons why started me to thinking, and here is the best way I can get ‘normal’ people (that is, people who do not go through this adoption process!) to understand the wait, the process.

Imagine you are pregnant, you are due on July 25^th.  In fact, you are ready to have this baby NOW!  You are excited about that day, you cannot wait for it to get here.   You go in for your June check-up and the doctor tells you that he is not going to deliver this baby until August 25^th…   (insert  face in disbelief).        Yes, that’s about how I feel also!!!

Now imagine this, before you have your baby , the hospital sends you various bills that you will need to pay (your insurance will not cover having this baby) before you can have your baby.     Yes, that’s about how we are feeling also!

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; And they shall walk, and not faint.   Isaiah 40:31

 

Please continue to keep us in your prayers; for God to prepare Peyton Min’s heart for all of the changes he will be going through, for us as a family, for God’s continuing provision.  Lane’s web site is now posted at the top right of our BLOG.  Please help us get the word out for anybody who may need boat/waterski/barefoot equipment!

Here are a few pictures of one of the most wonderful dads in the world!  What lucky little boys to have him as a father.  :)

Blessings

 

These past few days....

We found out that our package was received by the orphanage, yay!  I wish we could know for sure if Peyton Min has received our package.  But all our SW could tell us what that 'The orphanage staff were well instructed to share the photos and prepare children for their family.'.   
They were also told that we were not traveling until mid August, so I'm wondering if they will hold his package for a few more weeks.  
This part, not knowing if he knows, is almost harder than any of the other waiting. 

We also found out that our letter from the NVC, along with other papers, was dropped off on June 5th.  Our Article 5 is scheduled to be picked up on June 19th.  After that is received, we should get our TA (travel approval) next.  Once we are approved, we should be able to request (well, our agency requests) our Consulate appointment.  


And finally, after much stress over filling them out correctly,  our Visa applications have been Fed-Ex'd off to the courier so she can get them to the Consulate in Houston TX for our approval to go to Ch*na!  
It really hasn't quite sunk in yet.  
In a little over 2 months, we will be on our way to get our little boy. 
OH MY GOODNESS!

A fellow AP (adoptive parent) from my FB DTC Winter group posted this verse after receiving her LOA:

Proverbs 25:25  As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

Awesome, isn't it?!
God is watching over us all, near and far. 
 

Blessings,
Cindy






 

Yesterday (totally unexpected and very exciting!) we received a letter from the NVC... this is a letter stating that our petition to adopt has been forwarded to the Embassy in Ch*na.  It seems like our letter has come pretty quickly; tomorrow I have to scan copies to our agency.  This letter has a GUZ# that our Agency needs in order to proceed with the adoption. Now we will wait for our Article 5 to be issued by the US Embassy.  Here is how this next step will go, courtesy of Courtney's China adoption online website




'Once you have emailed your NVC letter to your agency, they will forward it to their in-Ch*na representative. The in-Ch*na rep will take the NVC letter to the US Embassy in Guangzhou along with your DS-230 application and Parental LOA. The US Embassy only allows representatives to drop off the paperwork on certain days. The consulate needs to review your new child's visa application (the DS-230), make sure it meets the qualifications for an immigrant visa, and then signs off that everything is in order for the adoption to be completed. This is called the Article 5 letter. You cannot obtain custody of your child until the Article 5 letter is issued!

The consulate takes a standard two weeks to complete this process. If your paperwork is dropped off on a Monday, it will be picked up from the consulate by your agency rep two Mondays later.

Once it's picked up from the consulate, it will be delivered directly to the CCAA for Travel Approval!'



Did ya'll follow all of that?!  I know, I know, lots of info there.  So, basically, we are waiting on our Article 5 and then TA  (Travel Approval).

Another exciting happening this weekend also!  We have come to a final decision on Min's American name.

                              Phillip Zane Bowers' brother will be Peyton Zachary Bowers.     :)

We received our I800 Provisional Approval today! The actual approval date was 5/18/12, but we received notice of it today.  Yes! This is our specific approval to adopt Sun, Min.  The next few steps go something like this:
After approval, our US Officer should mail our approval to the NVC (NationalVisa Center) (though it isn't always mailed the same day that it is approved).
When the NVC receives our approval, they will enter our information into their computer system.
Within 1-3 business days, they (the NVC) will cable (email) our file to the US Embassy in Guangzhou, China.   This is the approval of our Visa petition.
At that time, we should get a letter stating that our petition has been forwarded.  We will need to get this letter to our Agency as soon as we get it.  (Most people email the NVC and have the letter sent in an email/PDF file so they can forward it to their agencies).

The next few steps will have to be in another post. But, per our agency today,we should receive our TA (travel approval) in about 2 months.  People usually travel 3 weeks after that.  So, we are sort of on the schedule that we need to be.

We ask for your continued prayers over our Sun, Min who is waiting.  That God prepares him and keeps him safe.  For our family here, our finances, and that every step is in His timing. 

Blessings,
Cindy

I had to come back and edit...typing a post when you are silly tired is not good!  I thought I'd throw in a few pictures.  :)

Here is a photo of some of the items we sent to Min. We actually only sent a few of the items; the others are tucked away here at home.  The package was sent on May 8th, wondering if he's even received it?

                                              Here is Zane celebrating his 7th birthday!

I have been lacking on my updates, so much going on right now here at home so I'll post a quick update.

Last week, May 8th, we sent out our care package to Sun, Min.  I am not sure if/when he will receive it.  Our prayer is that they will show him our pictures and start preparing him for his journey and his new family.

Monday, we received a dreaded pink slip in the mail.  This was from USCIS (who is approving us to adopt this specific little boy and his immigration approval) and it was an RFE (request for eveidence).  Apparently they did not receive our certification of Hague training.  Every parent has to have a minimum of 10 hours of training.  We  have had 14.  After a looonng night waiting to talk with our officer (at USCIS) and our agency about this we finally, hopefully have it taken care of.  Yesterday our agency overnighted our certification/letter stating that we have met the Hague requirements.  So, now we wait for our approval.

Yesterday was Zane's 7th birthday.  It is really hard to believe he is 7.  It's a sweet day.  I always pray for and am so thankful for his birthmom. 

Cindy

Care Package

We received this email today:

'Dear Lane & Cindy,
Attached please find information about sending a care package to your son in Linyi. '

...to our son...WOW!

Our I800 forms were submitted 4/25/12.  This will be maybe around a 3-4 week wait.  Then we will wait for our TA (travel approval).

Cindy
'He maketh the barren woman to keep house, to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord.' Psalms 113:9

Our hard copy LOA came by Fed Ex yesterday. 

It was VERY HARD  not to leave work early to get it signed and back to Fed Ex (though it did come too late to get it back to Fed Ex anyway).

Needless to say, it is signed, dated and checked accepted and will be dropped at a Fed EX drop today. 

 :)

LOA!!!!!

Home with Zane today, sick, strep throat.
Just checked my email.
LOOK AT THIS!!!

Hi, Phillip and Cynthia:

Congratulations!

I received your LOA from China today and sent it to you by FedEx today.

What this means is that...we are OFFICIALLY matched with Sun, Min and he will be our little guy!

 
Now, we wait to receive our Fed EX carrying our LOA.
We must BOTH sign and date, and WE MUST REMEMBER to check off the WE ACCEPT box!
Then we Fed Ex back ASAP.
Then we send off for our I800 (our agency will do this for us).  This is our  'Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative.'   It is our approval from USCIS to adopt the child you were matched with specifically.

Then, you guessed it, we wait for the I800 approval. These have been taking about 4 weeks. 

But hey, for now, we are E-X-C-I-T-E-D!  (Ok, and a little nervous, overwhelmed, happy... :)  )

Please keep us in your prayers. 

Lane, Cindy, and Zane


'For those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength..."Isaiah 40:31