Flights Booked!

Our consulate appointment is confirmed and we booked our international flights. We leave for China in 29 days. It seems SO far away right now but it's going to be a very busy 29 days and I'm sure it will fly by.

I wanted to give a brief rundown of what our trip will be like. We'll leave November 1st and return November 16th. After the first five days it's tentative.

Thursday 11/1: Leave Des Moines for Beijing. Total travel time: 21 hours 11 minutes
Friday 11/2: Arrive in Beijing 4:45pm (they're currently 13 hours ahead of us)
Saturday 11/3: Sightseeing in Beijing - Great Wall, Tiananman Square, Forbidden City
Sunday 11/4: Travel to Henan Province where Cabot lives
Monday 11/5: MEET OUR SON!
Tuesday 11/6: Finalize adoption
Wednesday 11/7: Waiting for passport
Thursday 11/8: Waiting for passport
Friday 11/9: Receive passport. Travel to Guangzhou.
Saturday 11/10: Medical exam for Cab
Sunday 11/11: Waiting/sightseeing
Monday 11/12: Waiting/sightseeing
Tuesday 11/13: Appointment at US Consulate
Wednesday 11/14: Waiting
Thursday 11/15: Receive Cabot's visa; take train to Hong Kong
Friday 11/16: Leave Hong Kong for home. Total travel time 30 hours 2 minutes...pray for us.

What we're doing while we wait to leave: I'll be re-reading the "adoption bible" aka Mine in China. We have videos about adoption to watch from our social worker. Make 72 packing lists. Brainstorm ways to entertain 3 kids for 30 hours as we travel home. Pray for ALL the patience in world, for smooth travels, for Cabot to transition to our family as well as possible, for us to be patient and understanding with his grief and to know how best to help him.

We'll also be celebrating Ainsley and Benson's SEVENTH birthday. I'll try to not spend all day crying in the corner. But no promises. Instead of having a big birthday party this year, Ben and Ainsley chose to go to the Ed Sheeren concert in Kansas City so we have that super fun trip coming up.

I also have a work trip the week before we leave. We are SO busy this month which I love but I'm so worried about someone getting sick!

Random thought: It's really kind of hard to buy an entire wardrobe for a 4 year old. Especially one whom you've never seen in person so you're guessing sizes based on height and weight measurements which may or may not be accurate. Add in you only buy clothes on sale or with coupons and it's kind of tricky! But I'm still SO thankful for the opportunity to do it. Even if I have spent eleventy hundred hours of my life on the Old Navy and Target websites recently. ;)

I hope to share Cab's room with you soon - it's SO close to done!

And of course we still have puzzle pieces! If you'd like to buy one go to the Puzzle Fundraiser post where you'll find the PayPal link and as always thank you ALL for your generosity, support, and kindness!

We Have TRAVEL APPROVAL!

We received travel approval from China on 9/27! Our agency has now requested an appointment with the US Consulate in Guangzhou and once that is confirmed we'll be able to book our flights!

We're really getting to a hurry up and wait point in this journey...though there's been a lot of that I guess. Once we get that consulate appointment confirmed we'll book our international flights. Our agency takes care of all in-country flights/travel. Then we'll basically just be waiting to leave. Our agency recently switched to only one travel group per month versus every week. This means that since we didn't make it in time for the October travel group (leaving this Thursday) we have to wait until November.  This is definitely a bit of a bummer but we're trusting everything is happening as it's supposed to.

We recently got an update on our son with some answers to questions we were able to ask and new pictures and a video.

 

How cute is that little wave goodbye?! I die. We are so, so, SO excited to meet you sweet boy!

We're getting so close to the half way mark with our puzzle fundraiser! Check it out here!

Again, thank you ALL for the donations, prayers, comments, and shares - we appreciate them ALL!

Article 5 Picked Up

Our Article 5 was picked up today from the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou! This is the final "approval" from the United States government indicating they've looked over all our documents and agree that everything is in order. Our agency's representative in Guangzhou will now mail the Article 5 and LSC/LOA to the China Center for Children's Welfare and Adoption (CCCWA) who will issue our travel approval (TA) - this is currently taking about 7 days. Once the TA is issued our agency can contact the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou again to request an immigrant visa appointment. Once our consulate appointment is booked the agency will arrange our Family Day with the SWI (Social Welfare Institute - a euphemism for orphanage) and then we can book our travel!

We've been working on this process for almost a year now - our original preliminary application with a different agency was sent 9/29/17. It's so surreal to actually have the end in sight. Some days I can almost FEEL him in my arms but other days it's hard to imagine this is actually going to happen.

Just for fun, here's the first video we received with our son's file. That smile at the end sealed the deal!

And here's an updated look at our puzzle fundraiser:

Here's the link if you'd like to purchase a puzzle piece ($10 each). Be sure to let me know what name(s) you would like on your piece(s)!

 Thank you so very much to everyone that has contributed. It truly means so much to us!

Puzzle Fundraiser

We're getting so close to meeting our son! We are doing one final fundraiser - an Adoption Puzzle!

Our adoption costs will range from $30,000-$40,000 and while we are both blessed to have good jobs we don't have that much extra lying around. We know that there are all sorts of pieces to this puzzle to be able to bring our little guy home and we would be so grateful if you would join us in piecing it together!

This is how the Adoption Puzzle works:  You may purchase a piece of the puzzle for $10. We will write your name on one of the 520 puzzle pieces. As the puzzle pieces are dedicated, we reassemble  the puzzle and post the progress here on the blog. You can watch for your name and piece to be added! When the puzzle is complete, we will frame it between two pieces of glass, so that we will always have a reminder of all the pieces coming together and all the people who helped bring our son home!

Note that you can certainly buy more than one piece and/or donate more than $10 if you feel so inclined. If a financial donation isn't right for you we're also so grateful to have your thoughts and prayers!

You can use this PayPal donate button or if you're more comfortable mailing a check, you can email me at reannayenger@gmail.com for our address. Let me know in the comment/note in PayPal what name(s) you would like on your puzzle piece(s). I’ll put your requested name(s) on one piece for every $10 donated. 

Pieces Remaining: 104

Pieces SOLD: 416

Pieces to our adoption puzzle: 

Beth Larson
Joe & Jeannie Grife
Cooper & Hudson Grife
Amanda Gymer
Courtney Reeves
Ashley Lappe 
Deppe Family 
Pickett Family
Sherry & Tony Pressgrove
Monica Malmberg 
Maggie Hummel 
Will Edgar 
Heather Matson 
Jane Keith
Bruce Keith
Herzog Family 
Heidi Woollums 
Manda Clark
The Zinks
In memory of Rylie & Avary Andrews 
Kelsey Moes
Bryce & Laura Moes
The Hornbuckles
Brayton Wickliff & Family
Kim & Ray Heimann
Grandma & Grandpa Yenger
Jessica Dowell
Tana Wagschal
Darcey Reynolds and Boys 
Brianne Ferneau
Brexley VanDusseldorp
Rae Ann Hoffert
Kari & Curt Tiffany
Mckenzie Sparks
The Mortensons
Jill Versteeg & Family
Chris & Shannon Fisher
Grauerholz Family
Carley & Kyle Anderson
Daryl & Esther Grife
The Pagelers 
The Sullivans
The Shangs
Tonia Cheung 
Grace Griffin
Jack Griffin
Emme Griffin
Megan Olson
Jennifer and Sophia Hrubetz
Nick & Julie Smith
Travis & Hollie Allen
Katie Clausman
Griffin Idleman
Brooke Egly
The Lopez Family
Collin, Danielle, Eden, and Ezalea Barnes
Patrick Kearney
Brogan Kearney
Eric & Janell Karsten
Ashlyn & Landon Karsten
Casey B.
Cara & Kohen Smith
Michael Bahr
Linda Wormley
Austin Hartsook
Ms. Angela Johnson
Alicia Kaldenberg
Hannah Dannewitz
Alexander Stanbrough
Auntie Jenn
Sarah Newell
Dan Newell
Violet Newell
James Newell
Alex Riney
Larry & Peney Stewart
In Memory of Howard & Helen Snook
The Hurts
Mark & Beth Augspurger
Travis & Shannon Wilkinson
Tammy Bestell & Dave Evans
The Burns Family
Ann Rankin
Sonya Putz
John Guthrie
Nancy Nikkel
Josh Whitson
Tara Whitson
Izabella Whitson
Gabriel Whitson
Brklyn Whitson
Mark & Wendy Wickliff 
Derek & Amy Scroggins
Melissa Strand
Payton Strouf
Parker Strouf
Joslyn Strouf
Aunt Debbie Yenger
Stefanie and Ryan Geismann
The Sommars Family
The Antle Family In Memory of Bob Antle
Doug Smith for each of his children
Bandit
The Varvel Family
Brennan Charley
Allison Walker 
Lori Osborn
Alex & Chelsie Modlin
Chelsie Crady
Corey & Amber Baker
The Nunnikhoven Family
Nikki Brain
The Nelsons
Jason & Teresa Price 
Noah Price
Jamison Price
Melissa Bennett
Darin & Sharon Swarts
Ryan Gott
Braedon Oliphant
Brienna Oliphant
Delanie Oliphant
Melissa Peterson & Family
Schechinger Family
Jim Lahart
Emily Lahart
Grant Lahart
Jamison Lahart
Caden Lahart
Lacey Bozarth & Family
Shelly Moore
Lindy Fisher & Family
Kelly Sorenson
Joan Lamb
Julia Zhang
Mama Frisbie
The Fitzgeralds
The Kukers
The Ashbys
Lisa Gomez
The Vasseau Family
In Memory of Rick Vasseau
Barbara Hackworth
Liasa Hackworth
Eric & Ashley Dodd
Reese Hammons
Zoey Dodd
Jackson Dodd
Harley Neal 
John Neal
Cole Neal
Jim & Lynette Whitson
Angie Mohler
American Legion Post #355
The Prasads 
Amber Hull
The Ham Family
Jeff Yenger
Carol Yenger
Ashley Yenger
Bradley Yenger
Brittany Burns
Brynn Burns
Camden Burns
Kari Gray
The Bell Family 
The McNeeley Family 
Heidi Gelinas-Sumpter
Jennifer Dawson
Jenny Slycord and family
The Deegan Family
Jessica Martinson 
Greyson and Leland Thompson
Katelyn and Allie Lambert
Michelle and Richard Ouren
The Burdess Family
Chris and Shannon Fisher in memory of Ruth Fisher
Sydney, Connor, and Genevieve Van Houten
Chelsea Berry
The Sinwell Family
Abby Puk and Jeremy Caracci
Mindy Guerra
The Guerra Family
Dean & Karla Vanderleest
In Memory of Greyson Lahart
Nate
Grant
Jamison
Caden
Justin and Sara Bailey and Family
The Hyem Family
Kenli Beck
Carroll and Terry Hornbuckle
Libby Templeman
Theresa Selzer and Juvie
Max & Bev Fisher
Roz & Kipp Weaver
Lucinda Sinclair
Lacey Nickelson and family
The Chhouy Family
The Gogerty Family
Jess, Jamel, Quinn, Cohen and Grayer
Theresa Comer and family
Tess Stein
Kristi Ecklein and family
Nicole Zvosecz
Alex & Nicole Miller
Jeremy & Courtney Claussen
Ben, Brandon, and Briar Claussen
Megan Petersen & Kaylin  
The Lampe Family 
The Stoltz Family

 

Adoption Update

Adoption status: chugging along.

We have gotten through a couple more steps since the last update (when we got our LOA from China). After that we sent in all the paperwork for I800 which is a request to USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) to adopt OUR son - the specific child that China has now approved us to adopt. We previously got I800a approval which is permission from USCIS to adopt A child from China, but not specifically our son although we were already matched with him at that time.

So we sent all that paperwork off and it reached Texas on 7/31...and then we waited. It can take up to 30 days for this step but we got our approval 8/14 - yay! Next USCIS sends our information to NVC (National Visa Center). They issue us what's called a GUZ number. GUZ is an abbreviation for Guangzhou which is where the U.S. consulate is in China that we'll visit to get Cabot's visa to come to the United States. We have to have the GUZ # so we can fill out the DS-260 (immigrant visa) application. Then the DS-260 confirmation and the letter from the NVC (the one with the GUZ #) are sent to our agency's representative in China. They already have ALLLLL our other paperwork. They then take all this paperwork and drop it off at the actual consulate in Guangzhou (referred to as Article 5 drop off) then they'll be given a date to come pick it all up about 2 weeks later. This step is basically the U.S. consulate going over all our documents and information to make sure everything is on the up-and-up. They'll issue a document called the Article 5 and the agency representative will pick it up and send it to the CCCWA (China Center for Children's Welfare and Adoption). They will review everything and then issue Travel Approval or TA. At that point our agency can schedule a consulate appointment and our Family/Gotcha Day and we can plan our travel.

I800 Approval - woohoo!

We're currently at the Article 5 step.

Unfortunately our agency recently changed to only one travel group per month rather than every week. I don't think we're going to get travel approval in time for the October Family Day so we're thinking we'll travel at the beginning of November. I'm DYING to know exactly. I'm a planner and not knowing when we're leaving and meeting our son has been a HUGE struggle for me. I'm constantly trying to remind myself to trust in God's timing and everything will work out exactly as it's supposed to.

Just for fun if you got through all this, here's a couple pics we've gotten of Cab when he was younger.

We're Approved!

I announced this a few days ago on Facebook but in case you missed it...WE HAVE LOA (Letter of Approval also called Letter Seeking Confirmation). We got the news last Thursday, July 26th and our hard copy of the letter came from our agency Tuesday, July 31st. We signed it and made a copy to include with our I800 application and got that mailed off (overnight) the same day. The I800 packet hit the lock box in Texas at 9:37am today! If you're thinking knowing the exact time is a little OCD...you would be correct.

We cannot wait to bring this little guy home!

A (Non-) Update

Currently our update is that we don't really have an update.

We're on day 52 of our wait for LOA/LSC (Letter of Approval/Letter Seeking Confirmation) which is our approval from China to adopt OUR son. The LSC is literally a letter China sends to our agency after they've approved us, then our agency sends it to us, and by signing it we are saying we confirm we want to adopt this child.

We're hoping for not more than about 2 more weeks of waiting but you just.never.know with China. A couple months ago LOAs were only taking forty-something days but now they're more between 60 and 70 and you'll occasionally see over 90 days.

Once we get our LOA we have a few more steps to complete and no, we don't know when we'll be going to China. Our best case scenario (which I think is pretty unlikely but a girl can dream) would be to be on the short end for all the remaining steps and leave for China at the end of September. October is more likely and November is a possibility if things are slow.

As you probably know we did a tshirt fundraiser through One Mission and we've been so humbled by everyone that has contributed and is helping us bring Cabot home. It's so amazing to have the support of family and friends (and some complete strangers)!