Getting closer!

Just one more thing to cross of the list. Now we are waiting on the paper work to be sent from the USCIS to the National Visa Center. There are several steps from there, but we are just happy to be progressing on this journey. It's getting much closer now! I'm guessing it will take another 7-9 weeks from here. We are hoping to travel in mid to late June.

The Blessed Road of Adoption

I have been following an adoption blog that has really touched my soul. I follow quite a few, but this one is really special to me. Today, there is a post titled "What Love Can Do". You can read it here:

When I read it, I felt so blessed to be headed down the adoption road. To see the journey of this amazing family and watch the transformation of their little girl....it's priceless. At the same time, the way this little girl has affected their lives....honestly, I'm speechless. Just when I think I know the impact McKenna's adoption will have on our family, I see or read something that makes my heart grow bigger. When people ask me why I would adopt an orphan I have never met, I cannot easily put into words the "why". My reasons at the beginning of this journey are some of the same ones I have now.

BUT there is so much more to this than I ever realized.

There is no way I could summarize the "WHY" in a simple conversation....there are way too many reasons and some that are just undescribable. When you read something like "What Love Can Do", you see first hand how a family full of love affects the lives of everyone involved. Many people have said to me that McKenna is such a lucky little girl that we are adopting her.

And I see it as if WE are the lucky ones.

The truth is, that all of us....TOGETHER.....will be affected in the most amazing way. And there may never be a way of fully explaining it to anyone.

So, I'll hope that my words will give some insight to the true love behind adoption. And I hope that I can inspire someone else to open their heart to this blessed road.

Guess what arrived today!?!

YEP!!! Our LOA!!!! I'm sure the Fed Ex guy was not expecting me to meet him on the sidewalk with my camera! He actually thought it was really neat that he was part of delivering such important documents.

I was completely surprised when my agency called today. I was "hoping" for an early arrival, but wasn't really expecting it. So, after feeling like I had just won the lottery, I started running around like a crazy person trying to get the new set of paper work completed. Of course, when you are submitting something like this and you have a VERY type A personality like mine, you print and reprint documents to make sure they are perfect.

So, now we wait for our TA (travel approval). There are a few things that have to happen in between LOA and TA, but the process usually takes 7-9 weeks. Lately, we've been seeing the TAs taking longer, but I am hopeful that we will be traveling in mid June to early July. Maybe a 4th of July celebration for the Greig's!

I am celebrating my LOA, but also so glad to cross this off my list. We are one step closer......and now we can see the light.

UPDATES!!!

5 months later, we finally get an update on McKenna! I had really all but given up and accepted that we may not get anymore information on her. So imagine my surprise when my agency coordinator (God Bless her!) sent these photos and updated measurements to me! It was like opening the best present you could ever dream of. So, today I will celebrate and obsess over every photo. Now, I'm bound and determined to make this baby girl wear a SMILE when we bring her home. She always seems so serious in her photographs! Take note of the whistle she is wearing in the pictures....we get the feeling that McKenna has a very spirited personality, which will serve her well under the reign of Miss Ava. (Of course, now Ava wants a matching whistle.)

Updated Measurements:

Height: 33 inches, weight: 28 pounds, head size: 18 inches, length of feet: 5.5 inches, number of teeth: 17

Oh and by the way, today is day 41 of the LOA wait. We have seen a huge amount of LOAs being given out this month with various waiting parents. That fact gives me a little hope that we'll get our LOA in the next 3 -4 weeks or so.

Now, on to staring at my new favorite pictures......

The Girlie Girls' Room

Okay, I have to admit.....it's been REALLY fun decorating this room! Quite the retail therapy and project I have needed lately. We started from scratch and wanted to come up with the "perfect" little room for Ava and McKenna to share. Lots of love went into bringing this room to life....thank you Mom and Richard (and Johnny for putting up with my obsession with decorating kids rooms)! The two royal princesses will share many memories in this room.......laughter, tea parties, dress up sessions......sisterly love. Ava is still a little lonely without her baby sister in the room at night, but we are working really hard on that! It's all becoming much more real to us......McKenna's throne awaits!!!

You have to celebrate the small things.....

To China With Love....

We are 24 days into our "wait" for LOA. Only 24 days....with at least another 40 days or more to go. After all of the rushing around to prepare the dossier, it's tough to sit back and just wait. Sooooo, what better way to pass the time than RETAIL THERAPY?? I have to admit, I've done quite a bit of that lately. I am working on the girls' room now and promise to post pictures when the room is all complete. I've also been picking things up here and there for McKenna. It sure makes me feel a little closer to her. I think there needs to be "retail therapy" budget in the whole adoption process.

I decided to send McKenna an Easter care package through Ann at Red Threads. The CC@@ requires waiting parents to send care packages through a 3rd party. Our agency finally found out that the packages we sent in December were delivered to McKenna via the Pingnan County orphanage director. Someone from the orphanage visits McKenna once a month in Nanning to check on her. This was great news to hear and knowing that, I feel much better about sending another package. In the care package, I'm also going to add a letter (translated by Ann) and include a self addressed/stamped envelope in hopes that the foster family will send me something back. It worked great for my friend, Nicole, adopting from Nanning as well. It's a great way of getting questions answered by the people who know McKenna the best!

I think we are finally half way there. It's hard to think that we are JUST NOW half way, but as I look back on the last 4 months, I can honestly say this journey has been quite amazing. This little girl has changed me, already, and though the wait is brutally hard, I know the best is yet to come.