One more step

In the world of adoption paperwork, today is another big day.  The approval from the National Visa Center saying that we can bring Samuel into this fine country has been sent to the US embassy in Guangzhou.  That means in two weeks, Lifeline Children's Services will have our Article 5 (I have no idea what that is, but I know it's a big deal) couriered to the Chinese adoption officials.  THAT will trigger our travel approval within 3 to 4 weeks of that date.  That puts us on track for April travel.

I learned recently that April travel to Guangzhou, China can be complicated.  Guangzhou plays host to a huge international trade show from April 15 to like May 7.  This makes booking hotel and travel very difficult.  We've been told that if you are fortunate enough to get those things booked that they come at a premium price.  Of course, we want to get to our son asap AND taking the girls out of school in May would not be optimal for sure.

I know I always ask, but we believe wholeheartedly in the power of prayer, so will you pray for God's perfect timing in travel arrangements?  As always, please continue to pray for His perfect provision as well.  We have a grant application and zero interest loan application awaiting approval should He choose to use those things to help provide.

Tomorrow is Samuel's fifth birthday.  That gives me a twinge of pain in my gut.  So want to be there.  I pray the gifts we sent to him arrive and he understands that he is loved, wanted, and anticipated. 

The knowledge that it's his last birthday without his family makes me smile big!  

~Martha

Thank you!

So Matt told everyone the news of our LOA.  Remember that acronym?  It's like the Chinese adoption authorities saying, yes, you officially can have this little boy.  What's next?  More paperwork!  We signed the LOA, added US government immigration paperwork to it, and sent it back to Lifeline Children's Services.  Lifeline will forward those documents to the USCIS (immigration services).  In approximately 3 weeks, we should receive provisional acceptance.  In the meantime, we are applying for Visas to go to China.  After that...more steps.  I'll fill you in when they come.  My brain can only handle one step at a time ;)

After the elation of receiving LOA, I will again admit to some panic setting in.  Why?  I opened up the fee schedule to see what comes next monetarily.  Now is when the big bills start coming. 

We are very grateful that we received a $1,000 grant from Oklahoma Hearts for Adoption recently.  We have had some incredible friends contribute to our fund in recent months as well.  Humbling and amazing!  It is all safely tucked in our adoption account.

Such great gifts and I still seem to have the propensity to panic.  As I looked at the big bills this week, I had to say a prayer that I've read in the Bible (Mark 9:24), "I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief."   I know He CAN provide, I've seen Him do it miraculously.  I find myself asking why He would do it for me?  I know, unbelief.   Humbling. 

This morning, God gave me what He knew I needed.  The sweet lady that takes care of the financial day to day at the church brought me an envelope.  She then waited to see me open it because she said she loves to deliver good news.  We received a card with an anonymous gift of $500.  I'm telling you it was like God whispering to me, "I've got this.  I've really got this."  I am assuming that whoever our anonymous donor is reads this blog.  I hope so because this is our sincere thank you!  Not only have you helped us get one step closer to Samuel, you have been the voice of God speaking into my life, "I've got this."  My prayer today is that God will bless your generosity beyond what you can even imagine.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  Humbling again.

For those of you who have donated financially - a little or a lot - thank you again and again.  For those who have prayed us to this point - thank you again and again.  Please keep praying.  We have a financial mountain looming and God has told us to trust Him.  Honestly, we have tried to get a few fundraisers off the ground and they just seem to fall flat.  Maybe it's because we haven't tried hard enough.  Maybe God wants to make sure that everyone sees His provision had nothing to do with anything we do.  I'm not sure.  But I know He led us here and he has promised to never leave us or forsake us.  For whatever reason, God has chosen us for this precious little boy and He will complete this.

"If you have a problem that you absolutely cannot solve, don’t worry about it because that qualifies you for a miracle from God." - Joyce Meyer

Have I said thank you? 

~ Martha

Leaving the Wilderness!!!!

This last Sunday, our awesome pastor at OBC, Scott Palmer asked us how the adoption process was going and where we were at in it. Trying to sound super spiritual and such, I likened it to the Israelites wonderings in the wilderness. After our dossier went to China, we had done everything we could at that point. There was no more paperwork, no more discussions with our adoption agency – all that was left was to wait. So that’s what we’ve been doing…. waiting and waiting and waiting… No calls from our agency – they had nothing to report. Cricket…Cricket… Families who had sent their paperwork in quite some time after us got their final approval (LOA) BEFORE us, while we waited… Tumbleweed…Tumbleweed…

Well, we are ecstatic to report that today we received word from our agency that our LOA has arrived!! Sitting in Full Moon Café eating lunch together, the moment was so surreal – kind of like we’d received our pardon from the wilderness. There was much fist-bumping, hugging and crying. Martha was even a little emotional too!

So what does this mean? Number one, it means that we have FINAL approval. No more nagging worries that we would be turned down for some stupid reason (i.e. my bald spot is too big – who knows??). Number two, it means that the wheels of the process are going to start turning again. We will rejoin the paper chase for travel approval (TA). Paperwork to be completed, visas to be obtained – all of the final steps to obtain TA. Third, it means that we can actually narrow down our timeframe for traveling to China – which is looking like it will be mid to late April.

Finally, and most importantly, we are a huge, giant step closer to being united with our son! Now we can let ourselves dream for real. We can actually picture the day we finally meet Samuel. I know he will never truly understand all of the hopes and prayers that have carried us to him, but we do. And we thank you all so much for standing in prayer with us!

Well, that’s all for now. We’re gonna go celebrate.

The promised land lies ahead!

~ Matt

New pictures of our boy!

 

We sent a care package to Samuel, complete with pictures of his family and money for a cake to share with his friends.  Boy, did they buy a giant cake! 

I noticed a white face in the crowd.  Another adoptive family was visiting the orphanage.  Hoping and praying I can find them, cause they were taking video!  I also noticed it was this adoptive father who was showing Samuel the pictures of his forever family.  Thank you!

SO EXCITED!!!!!!

Book a vacation and help bring Samuel home

We have been given a great opportunity.  An awesome family member of ours, Sherry Magness, is a travel agent for Disney.  She has graciously offered to split her commission with our adoption fund for any travel booked through her from our referral.  This service is costs you absolutely nothing.  Please share this with anyone you even think might be looking at a Disney vacation.  Make sure they reference the Meadors' adoption fund.  Sherry will take great care of you!

 

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LID!

We have received notice from our adoption agency that our dossier was officially logged in 11/13/12.  We waited a month for that news because of a paperwork issue that thankfully has been taken care of.  Now we begin waiting again, for that LOA.  This part of the wait will very tentatively be 30-90 days.  I'm telling Santa that's what I want for Christmas!

One step closer to Samuel!

"Affording" adoption and important acronyms

I said in closing on my last post that I would discuss the lady who commented about how nice it is that we can afford adoption.  Well, I was ready for a tirade at the moment, but I just smiled nicely at the lady.  Matt chuckled and said quite honestly, "I'll just never get to retire."  I have cooled and no longer feel like the tirade, so I won't.  I will only say that this lady is sadly misinformed.  I have met a LOT of adoptive families, both domestic and international, in the past 10 years.  I can count on one hand the number of families who could really "afford" it.  Honestly, the majority that I know are just trying to follow God's will for their family and are willing to do whatever it takes to bring home their sons and daughters.  I was just trying to add up how much $ we need to complete this.  I'm still waiting for a final tally from the agency, but including travel, it looks like about $20,000.  Will you pray for God's provision?

Now, the FUN part!  We are DTC!!!!  Many of you will say, wonderful, what does that mean?  Here's a run down of some important acronyms in the international adoption world.

LOI - Letter of intent - we put some paperwork together and adoption officials in China that we wanted to adopt Samuel. (July 2012)

PA -  PreApproval ( I think) - China says, yeah, you look acceptable to have this precious boy. (July 2012)

DTC - Dossier to China - All of our required paperwork is completed and sent to China. (October 16, 2012)

LID - Log in Date - the date the dossier is logged into the Chinese adoption system. (Estimated 2   weeks from DTC)

LOA - Letter of Acceptance - everything is good.  You are completely and officially approved. (Estimated 30 - 90 days from LID)

TA - Travel approval - here's the date you can come get him! (Estimated 90 days from LOA)

These estimated lines are subject to fluctuate greatly.  We have no control and can only hold on for the ride.

Thanks to you all who ask us about what's going on and help us in so many ways.  We are grateful for you. 

~Martha