The brown envelope contains information about our interview at the US Consulate's office in China. It describes info on Mia's medical exam and vaccinations, etc.
Saturday, July 23, 2005
Welcome Letter
This letter from the US Consulate General-Guangzhou. Our packet has a case number and various forms for us to fill out for Mia's visa to enter America and automatically become a US citizen as soon as she touches American soil!!!!!
Sunday, July 10, 2005
We got our permits!!!!
Our property is getting cleared and that means we are officially underway. Let's pray for good weather so things can go as planned. We hope to be in our house before Mia arrives!!!
Our New House- July 2005
The builder is trying to save as many oak trees as possible. I met with the pool contractor yesterday to pick out colors and options. So much to learn and choose. Very exciting and nerve racking at the same time. Mike and I can't believe we are finally at the land clearing stage.
Friday, June 24, 2005
South Florida Meeting
Last night Mike and I went to a South Florida Waiting Families meeting. It is a meeting for families who have children from China or are in the waiting part of their adoption. This group was just put together and last night was the first meeting. We had a great turn out, it was unbelievable, there were 45 people in attendance. Some people were local and some came from West Palm Beach and a lady drove from Key West. We met at a chinese restaurant in Pembroke Pines and it was so awesome to see the children playing. They are all so beautiful and played so good together. Many of them know each other from different play groups, and some just met last night. We sat with a lovely family who have adopted 2 girls and have 4 biological children already. What a nice family!
The group will meet monthly and we want to invite the grandparents next meeting, I know they will enjoy!
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Dossier to China
We just received a letter from USAA, our adoption agency to confirm that our Dossier has been sent to China. We are group #111. We are grouped with other families who sent in their paperwork when we did. Usually this group will travel together to get their child. All of the families from Group #111 will be in touch so we can get to know them prior to our travels. It will be very interesting to see how many are in our group as well as finding out where everyone is from. Most of the families who use USAA are from California.
We didn't hear from USAA regarding anything about our paperwork when we submitted originally, so I guess we did good! No problems and the papers are off!
We didn't hear from USAA regarding anything about our paperwork when we submitted originally, so I guess we did good! No problems and the papers are off!
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Marco Island, here we come. . . .
Mike and I take this week every year at our timeshare in Marco Island. We meet several other families there that we have been vacationing with for several years now. Most of the families knew Mike and I when we were dating and have been through our engagement, our wedding, and through our desires to have a family. All the families have children and they are like our nieces and nephews. We often let them dye Mike's hair, jump off our shoulders in the pool, our yearly pottery class, and last but not least ICE CREAM!!
I could not wait to get there and share the good news. As I expected, everyone responded with such enthusiasm and joy for us. We cannot wait to bring her next year to meet the extended family. I have had offers for babysitting already.
Throughout the week I was often asked about the adoption process and the obvious question, WHEN? I told them if all goes well she be our newest member of the Marco week #23 crew.
At the end of the week, all the kids were in one room with the door locked. I wanted to go check on something that we were cooking for the group dinner. They told me I couldn't come in and I was obviously curious. A few minutes later all the kids appeared with a tote bag that they decorated with paints. They wrote Mia's name on one side and everyone signed the other side. They also made her a bracelet with shells and an adorable door hanger with rhinestones and a starfish. Their thoughtfulness brought me to tears. Week #23 is an incredible group of people and we love them all. Mike and I always look forward to our Marco Island vacation.
I could not wait to get there and share the good news. As I expected, everyone responded with such enthusiasm and joy for us. We cannot wait to bring her next year to meet the extended family. I have had offers for babysitting already.
Throughout the week I was often asked about the adoption process and the obvious question, WHEN? I told them if all goes well she be our newest member of the Marco week #23 crew.
At the end of the week, all the kids were in one room with the door locked. I wanted to go check on something that we were cooking for the group dinner. They told me I couldn't come in and I was obviously curious. A few minutes later all the kids appeared with a tote bag that they decorated with paints. They wrote Mia's name on one side and everyone signed the other side. They also made her a bracelet with shells and an adorable door hanger with rhinestones and a starfish. Their thoughtfulness brought me to tears. Week #23 is an incredible group of people and we love them all. Mike and I always look forward to our Marco Island vacation.
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
171-H !
The 171-H is the approval that INS gives you to adopt. After running home everyday on my lunch hour to almost jump the mailman. It finally came!
My mother and I were leaving to go meet my sister Deanna and my brother in-law Vince and of course Kenedy in Disney. My mother picked me up at work and I asked her to swing by my house on the way to the Turnpike so I can check the mail. When I opened the mailbox and looked thru the pile and saw Department of Homeland Security I started to get butterflies. I opened it and started jumping up and down. I called Mike at work and he was so excited. Our second major hurdle down.
Disney was great. I enjoyed going on the rides with Kenedy and seeing her interact with the characters. I can't wait for Mia to go with her cousins. It was amazing to see so many families with little girls from China. I couldn't stop dreaming about us with our little girl.
My mother and I were leaving to go meet my sister Deanna and my brother in-law Vince and of course Kenedy in Disney. My mother picked me up at work and I asked her to swing by my house on the way to the Turnpike so I can check the mail. When I opened the mailbox and looked thru the pile and saw Department of Homeland Security I started to get butterflies. I opened it and started jumping up and down. I called Mike at work and he was so excited. Our second major hurdle down.
Disney was great. I enjoyed going on the rides with Kenedy and seeing her interact with the characters. I can't wait for Mia to go with her cousins. It was amazing to see so many families with little girls from China. I couldn't stop dreaming about us with our little girl.
Saturday, April 30, 2005
Dossier to USAA
A dossier is our file with all the completed paperwork needed by the Chinese government. It includes copy of our homestudy report, and all the other information we have been gathering for several months now. This file is being sent to our agency USAA for authentication on the state level as well as authentication by the Chinese Consulate and then translation of all documents into Chinese.
We mailed out our Dossier Fed-Ex overnight, and I was a nervous wreck checking and double checking that everything on my checklist was in the folder. I was so nervous that while I was at the counter filling out the shipping slip, I sealed everything in the envelope and realized I omitted the check which was right under the Fed-Ex mailer. I had to open the mailer and ask the girl for another envelope.
I really could not believe how nervous I was. I hope my double and triple checking was worth it.
We mailed out our Dossier Fed-Ex overnight, and I was a nervous wreck checking and double checking that everything on my checklist was in the folder. I was so nervous that while I was at the counter filling out the shipping slip, I sealed everything in the envelope and realized I omitted the check which was right under the Fed-Ex mailer. I had to open the mailer and ask the girl for another envelope.
I really could not believe how nervous I was. I hope my double and triple checking was worth it.
Friday, April 08, 2005
Fingerprinting Day
Today Mike and I went to the INS building in Davie and had our fingerprints done for the FBI check that is all a part of the approval. Very high tech, no ink pad, all electronical.
Thank you to everyone who has been very supported and called us after every step of the way. We appreciate it and can't wait for you to meet Mia!
Thank you to everyone who has been very supported and called us after every step of the way. We appreciate it and can't wait for you to meet Mia!
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Wrapping up the paperchase. . .
We are just completing everything and getting a few documents notarized. Thanks to Soris who works with Mike, she lived with her ink pad and stamp in her hand for almost 2 months straight, notarizing everything we had. I just completed my child and infant CPR and need to get our papers back from Mike physician and we are done.
Mia's grandfather Wayne is so excited for his granddaughter, he can hardly stand it. He is already planning a car seat in his truck. Can't wait to see that!
Mia's other grandparents are planning to join Mike and I in China. My father is going for sure, but my mom is a little nervous about the flight. I'll think she'll go, I told her to take some pills and sleep the 15 hour flight away. My dad says he won't go without her. Everyone she meets tells her its a trip of a lifetime.
Mia's grandfather Wayne is so excited for his granddaughter, he can hardly stand it. He is already planning a car seat in his truck. Can't wait to see that!
Mia's other grandparents are planning to join Mike and I in China. My father is going for sure, but my mom is a little nervous about the flight. I'll think she'll go, I told her to take some pills and sleep the 15 hour flight away. My dad says he won't go without her. Everyone she meets tells her its a trip of a lifetime.
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Construction Mortgage
We closed on the new house today. Although we do not have the house yet, the construction portion is just beginning. (Like our life isn't busy already). If I make another copy of a bank statement or a w2 I think I'll scream. Between the adoption and the mortgage I have papers flying everywhere.
We hope our home is done before Mia arrives. We want to get her room ready and get our boxes unpacked before our trip to China. Lots of action happening at the Harrell house. As I told Mike, It's all good things!
Mike is still hanging on at the police department and is looking forward to retiring. We both have a light at the end of our tunnel. Tomorrow we go to the builder to pick out our colors and choices for flooring, cabinets, etc.
We hope our home is done before Mia arrives. We want to get her room ready and get our boxes unpacked before our trip to China. Lots of action happening at the Harrell house. As I told Mike, It's all good things!
Mike is still hanging on at the police department and is looking forward to retiring. We both have a light at the end of our tunnel. Tomorrow we go to the builder to pick out our colors and choices for flooring, cabinets, etc.
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