Schools In

School is in session. We have a 3rd grader and a kindergartner. For the first time in eight years I am once again childless throughout the days, well at least for a couple months. I am going to use these couple of months to refresh my mind, body and soul. Then I will be recharged to be mommy 24/7 again.

Our Kindergartner

Our 3rd Grader

Adoption News: No news is good news, right. We are patiently waiting on the Lord to do his good work. We are waiting on Kai's official documents. We will be doing another round of paperwork once they arrive. With the papers should be some pictures and maybe a video of him. We are also waiting to hear of our court hearing taking place for Naveia. Our foremost prayer request is that our children are being protected and loved. Then that God would work in the minds of the officials in Taiwan overseeing our case, that they would feel lead to expedite our case through the courts. Still hoping boldly to bring our children home in December. Amen

And his name is.....

Kai Yi-Hsu! The boy's name Kai \kai\, is pronounced kye. John first heard and liked the name from Kai Ryssdal, radio journalist, host of American Public Media's "Marketplace" The most common Mandarin Chinese meaning is "Victory" or "Triumphant". Kai is also a Hawaiian name meaning "the sea".

It's a boy!

God preformed a miracle. I am a bit in shock and somewhat speechless. I got the surprise call this morning. My case worker asked me if we could do a three way call with John. I thought she must have really good news on our court process. Then the surprise of our lives came. "Naveia's little brother IS now available for you to adopt." So we are know adopting a sibling group, like we always wanted. I know we were surprised too.

Back in April when we got Naveia's referral I read her social background history and noticed her birth mother had a baby boy in 2007. So I asked if he was open for inter country adopt. For a long time Taiwan never gave us and answer. Our agency asked about the child numerous times, but never got an answer. I was hopeful but new that the odds were not in our favor and that if it was meant to be God would work out the details. Finally at the end of June we were told that he was NOT available for adoption. The only explanation was that it was a long story and a bit complicated. In the context of Chinese culture, that is the polite way to say, please stop asking, and that I have no more to tell you. I was saddened but not broken as I felt God must have another plan for his child. I had accepted that he would not be ours. I took down the crib and was going to sell it. Just yesterday he was on my mind the whole day. I had finale closure about him as I packed away the cloths I had set aside for him just in case. I was going to send them to Taiwan for the clothing drive and had called a friend to give the winter boys cloths to her grandson. I better save all my little boys cloths now. Because I have a baby boy coming! After they told us today I realized I was thinking of him on his birthday while in Taiwan they were preparing our good news. What a birthday present for him, a family. He just turned two as of yesterday. God is so good! John is going to announce his name to the family tonight. His given name is Yi-Hsu which we will keep as his middle name like Naveia Hsiao-Yu. I am so excited I am just rambling on...

Last Summer Vacation

The kids including my 13yr. nephew and I got away to visit my sister in Atlanta,GA.

Pictured niece, Zarra, nephew, and Zane.

It was my driving marathon. A first for me to drive 12 hours straight through. John could not get away from work so it was just me. We had a great time relaxing before the school year starts. Zane learned how to swim finally. I was so proud of him.

Latest news on the adoption is that our papers were delivered Monday the 10th. Also our care package arrived that day. The next step is our court hearing.

District Court Process

1. District Court Process a. The family court office reviews the case/petition and a Judge is assigned to the case. b. Judge reviews and considers the case and schedules a "hearing". Hearings are handled differently depending on the birth family's situation, the judge's schedule, persons representing the birth family and those representing the adoptive family. The time involved in getting a hearing scheduled depends on the judge's calendar/schedule and that of everyone else required to attend. Hearings can result in--The immediate decision to finalize the adoption (though this is rarely the case, we can hope for this) or - Result in the judge's request for more information (in one case we saw the judge request additional counseling for the birthmother and he scheduled a follow-up hearing. Again, this is rare). -Most often, the hearing just provides a judge with more information about the case and allows him/her to rule on the adoption with confidence. Most often, the judge's decision (final ruling) happens weeks or even as long as months after the hearing.The responsibility of the District Court is to make sure that every issue related to the best interest of the child has been considered. Though lengthy & frustrating at times, the District Court process protects the child, the birth parent, the organization caring for the child, AND in the end protects us as adoptive parents. When the District Court decisions have been made, adoptive families can be confident that the process was handled with consideration and in the best interest of the child. 2-4 MONTHS 2. Part I of Final Decree (first decree). 3. Part II of Final Decree. 4. Household registration change and immigration requirements. 5. New family receives a travel date. I am not the author of this text. Author unknown.

Dossier Taiwan Bound

My mother and I at the TECO building. It has a beautiful view being on the 57th floor.

All our paperwork was processed smoothly. Praise God! On Wednesday I looked over everything and figured out what I was suppose to do. Then John met me at 3pm to get the documents notarized at our local bank. Thursday I made copies, mailed agency agreements, mailed Naveia's care package and double/triple checked all documents. Finally Friday I left at 5:30 am, drove over 5 hours to the State dept. for apostle and the TECO building for authentication. The only mistake was I had our home study notarized again and the original notary was sufficient. So I had to fill out an additional form at State dept. and pay an extra $4. No big deal. It was a beautiful day. Walking in the city was nice. We had lunch outdoors by the fountains. Did a little shopping at one small novelty store. It just so happen to have the one item I wanted if I found it. A "baby Gund" soft photo album. After a full day in the city. We drove another 5 hours and arrived home at 10:30 pm. It was a hectic and happy 3 days. I was notified that our documents arrived at our agency this morning. Already our paperwork is officially on it's way to Taiwan as of 6 pm tonight. I can't believe it, we turned it around in just one week. Again Praise God! Next we wait to hear of our court date. We will be traveling between 4-8 months (Dec.-April). I am hoping for sooner than later. Keep us in your prayers.

Gifts to our Daughter

I sent Naveia's 1st care package to her Thursday. Sending our daughter gifts helps us to connect to her by providing for her needs and knowing it will make her happy to receive it.

She is getting hand me downs from Zarra's clothing. I laid out all the clothes and each one of us picked a clothing item. I am not sure what size she wears but we are guessing 5T or small 4/5. Also included in the small box; puma shoes, underwear, dress-up skirt, dolphin necklace, ponies, bounce balls, car, magnifying glass, stickers, coloring book, crayons, note book, paint, pencils, sharpener, play-doh, glue stick, beach word book, hair things, brush, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, granola bars, laminated pictures, framed family picture, little lamb silky blanket, disposable camera, and a note to care givers.