Could it be?

I was a little discouraged today with the Visa situation and trying to trust God with every detail and well, He provided much needed encouragement today! His timing is perfect! A yahoo-group friend posted some pictures today that she took just a week or so ago when she visited Kelina's orphanage and there were two pictures of Kelina! Now I am not positive, but the little girl looks just like her (the other mom agrees). I can't post the picture, but it was wonderful to see her.
She was watching so curiously the newly adopted girl with her American "blonde" haired sisters. The first picture she is just staring, but the second picture her mouth is open in amazement and she looks like a light-bulb came on. I can't help but think that she is putting it all together since she has received our first package with pictures of her "blonde" brother and sister! Yes, soon Kelina, we will be with you too!

It eases my mind to know that she is seeing "white" people visiting, so that our first meeting will go smoother. Her orphanage and foster families there are doing an excellent job preparing the children for what to expect in the adoption. Thank you Lord Jesus for your blessings!
Sherri

Another Hiccup in the Process

Today, I received confirmation that the wording on Kelina's Visa is incorrect and needs to be resubmitted by the National Visa Center through communication with the Pittsburgh USCIS office. That is a lot of channels but I am praying for a quick and easy change that won't cost more money and won't delay our travel for Kelina. Hasn't she waited long enough? Haven't we?
International adoption is changing so quickly and it is hard for agencies and the government organizations to keep up with new regulations. What was acceptable 6 months ago is not acceptable now. It requires lots of questions and lots of patience!

2nd Care Package

We finally sent out the second care package to Kelina. It was full of wonderful things, a dress and sweater set, a recordable book so Mommy and Daddy can read it to her as she flips the pages, art supplies, toys, a glow Panda bear (belly and face light up), a backpack to carry it all in when she comes on her long train ride to Nanning, and a scrapbook album of her family! Wish I was there to see her face when she opens it. The woman forwarding it to the orphanage is Ann at Red Thread China and she will include a camera for us. The workers at the orphanage are pretty good at taking the camera out first and snapping pictures as the children explore their gifts.

L O A!!!

IT IS HERE!!! We just received our LOA! This is the Letter of Approval to adopt Kelina!! We are so excited! One step closer to getting her. We just sign it and send it back to China then the last step in this wait is to receive the TA, Travel Appointment to come get Kelina!
It is about 3 or 4 weeks that we wait for the TA, so we are looking at a time frame of about 8 weeks to travel to bring our daughter home!!
Sherri