It has been a several weeks since I last made a post on this blog. We are in the midst of the paperchase, and had hit some snags. We even pulled back a little emotionally, in case the adoption falls through. But right now it hasn't, and we are focusing on that positive aspect, and are continuing to move forward until someone in authority tells us not to. We have not received all of our paperwork, and China's deadline for us is approaching. They normally do give extensions, so we are waiting to hear.

Chen Jie's birthday is listed in her files as October 27th. We arranged for a care package to be sent to her. It has a stuffed panda bear, candy for the nanny's and other children, a letter from us translated into Chinese, three pictures from us and a big birthday cake. It also includes a disposable camera, with the hopes that the nanny's will take pictures of Chen Jie and the other children. Let's keep our finger's crossed that the nanny's will take pictures and CJ will actually smile! I have a few pictures of her now, but none with a smile on her face.

Image Chef icon

This is a very cool image. I will probably be using several different designs from this website in the future.

Love Without Boundaries Video

I thought I would post this video from Love Without Boundaries. It is a wonderful charity that works in many regions all over China. They have created a video that helps encourage people to consider bringing a special needs (SN) child into their lives. They explain in a beautiful way how many of the SN are very manageable and/or easily correctable.

For example, our daughter has a small cleft palate in the back of her mouth, that will be very easy to fix through surgery. After her surgery, and perhaps speech therapy, she will live a totally healthy and normal life. Last week, I met a woman in Tallahassee who adopted a SN baby from China with a "heart defect." When she brought the child to a heart specialist here in the states, he said the hole in her heart was so tiny, that surgery wasn't necessary and her own heart would heal itself. So that woman thought she was bringing home a SN child, and actually came home with a healthy one.

Towards the end of the video, they show websites that can be of use to a pre-adoptive parent (PAP) in their research to determine if SN is the way for them to complete their family. At about 9:41 in the video they show the Rainbowkids.com website, which is a website that lists SN children from all over the world, and the adoption agencies that are working to find them homes. It was from that list that we found Lu Chen Jie/Genevieve. In fact, her information was posted with the picture of her below in the pink dress.

Enjoy the video. If you are looking for a charity to support, this is a wonderful one that does so much good for so many children. Check out their website, and be amazed.

Trying to Decide on a Name.

Hello!

I have had a few people ask me about our daughter's name and if we have also selected an American one. My brother wants me to put my explanation on the blog (so hear you go Keith).

Her Chinese name is Lu Chen Jie, mostly Chen Jie. Lu designates where she is from, LuAn city. Chen Jie means White Star, or Pure Star.

I have a personal belief that names are very powerful and important. I gave alot of thought to naming my sons, and have thus come up with certain "rules" regarding the naming of my children.

1. Both Alexander and Nathaniel have 9 letters in their names. I want 9 letters for hers.

2. A & N's middle names are family names, George and August.

3. She will have Rose has her American middle = family name.

4. The meanings of names are important to me....

Alexander means "leader of men." Nathaniel means "gift from God."

OK. So...

We have come up with two names:

The first one was Gabrielle, ie, Gabby. With the hopes it would inspire her to "talk more" as she is going to need surgery on her mouth and speech therapy.

Gabrielle means "God is my strength." Pretty good. It's a bit trendy, though.

The second one is Genevieve. This one we are leaning the most towards. We thought of Genevieve b/c it sounds like Chen Jie. If her nickname in China is Chen = Gen or more likely JieJie. Gigi is apparently a common nickname for Genevieve. I have always liked Evie, another nickname for Genevieve.

Genevieve means "woman of the people."

St. Genevieve is the patron saint of Paris. Dave proposed to me in Paris.

If you ask Nathan what his sister's name is, he'll say Genevieve.

Genevieve Rose Chen Jie

Chen Jie will be 5 by the time she comes home. We will, of course, use her Chinese name at first, and ask her if she wants an American name. Based on my research, and reading of adoption blogs, I have only come across one boy in this age range, who didn't want to give up his Chinese name. All the other children I have read about seem to want a name to help them fit in not only with their family, but to fit in with other people around them. I do believe, too, that China wants to know the name we select ahead of time, as a part of the endless paperwork that we have to provide, before we meet the child face-to-face to ask her.

So, that's the name story. Feel free to share your opinions.

Please Sign our Guestbook!

Received our PA or IA today!

Hello

Good news on the adoption front. We received our Pre-Approval (PA) today, August 18th! Our agency called it an IA, so apparently China has changed its acronyms again, but so what, they mean the same thing. We are pre-approved to adopt our little girl!

Our application, LOI or Nurture Plan (name changing again) and family photo went to China on August 13th. Which means we got a response in less than a week! I think that has to be a record. Let's hope it is reflective of all the responses from China.

We now have to complete our homestudy and dossier. China has asked for it to be completed by November 18th. If we need an extension, they usually will grant one. Let's hope we don't. After our dossier is in China, it is 2-4 months for official approval, then 2-4 months after that for TA or travel approval.

Wow. It is so exciting for us, and potentially so terrifying for her. We can now contact her and send care packages and our photos so her orphanage (or CWI), can prepare her for the adoption. Her birthday is at the end of October, so we are also permitted to send her gifts and a birthday cake from her Mommy and Daddy (Mama & Baba).

Please keep praying for our family, but especially for her. I'll keep you all updated!

Now that I can post her pictures..... isn't she cute?

Beautiful Poem

The Waiting Child 
by Debbie Bodie

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I saw you meet your child today You kissed your baby joyfully And as you walked away with her I played pretend you'd chosen me. I'm happy for the baby, yet Inside I'm aching miserably I want to plead as you go by, "Does no-one want a child of three?" I saw you meet your child today In love with her before you met And as I watched you take her out I knew it wasn't my turn yet.

I recognize you from last year! I knew I'd seen your face before! But you came for a second babe. Does no-one want a child of four? I saw you meet your child today But this time there was something new A nurse came in and took MY hand And then she gave my hand to you. Can this be true? I'm almost six! And there are infants here you see? But then you kissed me and I knew The child you chose this time was me.

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Copyright 1997 DEBBIE BODIE