We had our final home study visit today with Wendy from Adoption Advocates at McDonald's. This time she had to meet all 3 girls and make sure they understood what we are doing and how it is going to change our lives. Well as much as a 2, 4, and 6 year old could understand. They were very well behaved and actually spoke to Wendy! That was progress for them! The meeting was just under one hour. We reviewed the final draft our of home study report with her and there were only a few minor changest that needed to be made. Wendy will meet with her Supervisor on Monday for final approval. Then they will over-night one copy to us so that we can mail in our I-600A application next week. Hopefully we should be able to do this on Wednesday. Then we wait approximately another two weeks for CIS to contact us letting us know what our fingerprint appointment time is. Then after we do that CIS will process our application and receive a I-171 H approval from the Depart of Homeland Security. That is the last thing we need to mail off our Dossier to China. Please pray that CIS does not take a full 90 days to process this as their website currently states as the processing timefram.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
China from the Inside - PBS Documentary
Airing at 9 and 10 pm on PBS in Metro Detroit.
"China From The Inside" -- New PBS Documentary
Public television (PBS) will air a 4-part documentary beginning on
Wednesday, January 10, entitled "China from the Inside."
According to a preview website at this URL:
http://www.pbs.org/kqed/chinainside/
... the documentary will delve into both China's history and its
current political landscape. It will, among other things, examine
China's treatment of women, its problems with air and water pollution,
religion in China, and the government's slow response to the AIDS
epidemic.
The documentary's 4 parts will consist of the following:
* "Power and the People"
* "Women of the Country"
* "Shifting Nature"
* "Freedom and Justice"
The above website boasts that "through exceptional access to
institutions, government officials, and ordinary people, 'China from
the Inside' brings the complexity of contemporary China to the living
rooms of Americans."
The website touts that the full website (open tomorrow) will "offer a
deeper understanding of the political, economic, environmental, and
social issues facing China" and will allow its visitors to engage in
the following:
* Read projections on China's environmental future, what it will mean;
* Learn about the AIDS epidemic and the government's slow response;
* Delve into an interactive map;
* View a gallery of women activists;
* Join in provocative discussions about China's future;
* Find out how much you know with a China -v- USA quiz;
* Discover the difficulties of filming in China
in an "off camera" interview with the filmmaker;
* Download unique, standards-based content for grades 10-12.
"China From The Inside" -- New PBS Documentary
Public television (PBS) will air a 4-part documentary beginning on
Wednesday, January 10, entitled "China from the Inside."
According to a preview website at this URL:
http://www.pbs.org/kqed/chinainside/
... the documentary will delve into both China's history and its
current political landscape. It will, among other things, examine
China's treatment of women, its problems with air and water pollution,
religion in China, and the government's slow response to the AIDS
epidemic.
The documentary's 4 parts will consist of the following:
* "Power and the People"
* "Women of the Country"
* "Shifting Nature"
* "Freedom and Justice"
The above website boasts that "through exceptional access to
institutions, government officials, and ordinary people, 'China from
the Inside' brings the complexity of contemporary China to the living
rooms of Americans."
The website touts that the full website (open tomorrow) will "offer a
deeper understanding of the political, economic, environmental, and
social issues facing China" and will allow its visitors to engage in
the following:
* Read projections on China's environmental future, what it will mean;
* Learn about the AIDS epidemic and the government's slow response;
* Delve into an interactive map;
* View a gallery of women activists;
* Join in provocative discussions about China's future;
* Find out how much you know with a China -v- USA quiz;
* Discover the difficulties of filming in China
in an "off camera" interview with the filmmaker;
* Download unique, standards-based content for grades 10-12.
China short on babies?
One of the reasons for the tighter restrictions for Chinese adoptions is a shortage of adoptable babies.
Here is a clip from a news story:
"The Shanghai Population and Family Planning Commission predicted that 131,000 babies will be born in the city this year, up from 123,901 last year. This number will rise to about 137,000 next year and peak in 2015 at 160,000.
I tend to believe that if many of this babies are girls, they will be abandoned. That means there will still be many babies that need a loving home.
Here is a clip from a news story:
"The Shanghai Population and Family Planning Commission predicted that 131,000 babies will be born in the city this year, up from 123,901 last year. This number will rise to about 137,000 next year and peak in 2015 at 160,000.
City officials are concerned that this baby boom will trigger a spate of generational social problems, such as over-crowding in schools and in the job markets, problems that could stay active for several decades.
(Shanghai Daily November 8, 2006)"I tend to believe that if many of this babies are girls, they will be abandoned. That means there will still be many babies that need a loving home.
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
More information on the China adoption changes
Single Mother Looks Past China to Adopt Child
Michele Norris talks with Heather Wareing about Wareing's adoption plans. Wareing adopted a daughter from China more than two years ago; she is now looking to adopt another, but as a single mom, she will look to a different country.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6712266
China Set to Institute Tighter Adoption Rules
Michele Norris talks with Tim Sutfin, executive director of New Beginnings Family and Children's Services, an adoption agency in Mineola, N.Y., about the new adoption rules that China is expected to implement on May 1, 2007.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6712263
Many are upset that it appears that only young, heterosexual, married, thin, wealthy, educated, people will be able to adopt. I understand both sides of this controversy. China is only looking at the best interest of the child. But I also think they are being too strict. These new regulations (temporary or not) leaves out many people that could give a child a loving home.
Michele Norris talks with Heather Wareing about Wareing's adoption plans. Wareing adopted a daughter from China more than two years ago; she is now looking to adopt another, but as a single mom, she will look to a different country.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6712266
China Set to Institute Tighter Adoption Rules
Michele Norris talks with Tim Sutfin, executive director of New Beginnings Family and Children's Services, an adoption agency in Mineola, N.Y., about the new adoption rules that China is expected to implement on May 1, 2007.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6712263
Many are upset that it appears that only young, heterosexual, married, thin, wealthy, educated, people will be able to adopt. I understand both sides of this controversy. China is only looking at the best interest of the child. But I also think they are being too strict. These new regulations (temporary or not) leaves out many people that could give a child a loving home.
Friday, December 29, 2006
Merry Christmas by Third Day
These are the lyrics to a song titled "Merry Christmas" by the band Third Day (currently my favorite band next to Danny Cox). It is about a baby waiting in China for her forever family at Christmastime.
"Merry Christmas"
by Third Day
There's a little girl trembling on a cold December morn
Crying for mama's arms
At an orphanage just outside a little China town
Where the forgotten are
But half a world away I hang the stockings by the fire
And dream about the day when I can finally call you mine
It's Christmas time again but you're not home
Your family is here and yet you're somewhere else alone
So tonight I pray that God will come and hold you in His arms
And tell you from my heart
I wish you Merry Christmas
As I hang the tinsel on the tree and watch the twinkling lights
I'm warmed by the fire's glow
Outside the children tumble in a wonderland of white
And make angels in the snow
But half a world away you try your best to fight the tears
And hope that Heaven's Angels come to carry you here
Christmas is the time we celebrate the Holy Child
And we celebrate His perfect gift of love
He came to Earth to give His life and prepare a place for us
So we could have a home with Him above
It's Christmas time again and now you're home
Your family is here so you will never be alone
So tonight before you go to sleep,
I'll hold you in my arms
And tell you from my heart
I wish you Merry Christmas
"Merry Christmas"
by Third Day
There's a little girl trembling on a cold December morn
Crying for mama's arms
At an orphanage just outside a little China town
Where the forgotten are
But half a world away I hang the stockings by the fire
And dream about the day when I can finally call you mine
It's Christmas time again but you're not home
Your family is here and yet you're somewhere else alone
So tonight I pray that God will come and hold you in His arms
And tell you from my heart
I wish you Merry Christmas
As I hang the tinsel on the tree and watch the twinkling lights
I'm warmed by the fire's glow
Outside the children tumble in a wonderland of white
And make angels in the snow
But half a world away you try your best to fight the tears
And hope that Heaven's Angels come to carry you here
Christmas is the time we celebrate the Holy Child
And we celebrate His perfect gift of love
He came to Earth to give His life and prepare a place for us
So we could have a home with Him above
It's Christmas time again and now you're home
Your family is here so you will never be alone
So tonight before you go to sleep,
I'll hold you in my arms
And tell you from my heart
I wish you Merry Christmas
Thursday, December 28, 2006
My feelings on the new requirements
It has been almost one month since I last posted. The reason has been the announcement of the new requirements. We found out about them about 3 weeks ago. They really surprised us. They were unexpected. And there are a lot of changes! These new changes go into effect May 1, 2007. This means our dossier has to be to our agency by April 15 th (so it is a doubly horrible day being tax day too!) in order for our dossier to be logged into the CCAA in time for these new requirements not to apply to us. Based on the new requirements, we will no longer qualify. Those of you that know me, know that this past year I had some issues with anxiety. I have it under control and have for a few months now thanks to a wonderful therapist and medication as needed (which I haven't needed in months either) But this will disqualify us. I started to doubt that the adoption was the right thing for us. I started to think that I misunderstood God's intentions for us. Pete and I prayed and prayed about it and decided to do all that we could to expedite the process. We have a wonderful social worker at Adoption Advocates that is very understanding and is going to do all that she can to help us speed it up. The only glitch we might have is the US government. Currently their website states that they are taking 3 months to process I-600A applications. This is our application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petitions. We need this in order to send our dossier to China. It is going to be very tight but we just might make it time. Please pray that we do.
New Requirements for Chinese Adoption
The CCAA has posted their new adoption regulations:
According to the Adoption Law of the People’s Republic of China (published
11/4/1998 ), current Chinese government policies and practices, and U.S.
immigration laws, you must meet the following guidelines to qualify for a
China adoption:
1. Applicants must be a legally married heterosexual couple. At least one
applicant must be a U.S. citizen.
2. Couples with no previous marriages must be married for at least two
years at the time the dossier is logged in at the China Center of Adoption
Affairs (CCAA). If either spouse has been previously married, the current
marriage must be at least five years old at the time the dossier is logged in
at the CCAA. No applicant may have had more than two divorces.
3. Applicants must be at least 30 years old and no older than 49 years old at the time their dossier is logged in at the CCAA . Applicants are qualified to adopt children based on their ages as specified below. When spouses have ages that fall into two categories, they must be open to the upper age limit of the child to be adopted.
Applicants ages 30 - 44 qualify for a child with no known medical conditions
up to 12 months of age.*
Applicants ages 45 - 49 qualify for a child with no known medical conditions
up to 24 months of age.*
* Currently, the youngest children coming out of China are about seven
months old. All families are qualified for a child older than the above-
mentioned age range, if desired.
4. All above applicants are qualified, if desired, for a child with medical conditions.
5. Families must have no more than four minor children living in the home,
and the youngest child must be at least 12 months old at the time the
dossier is logged in.
6. Families must document $10,000 of annual income per member in the
household, including the to-be-adopted child. A minimum of $80,000 net
worth is required.
7. Applicants must be in good physical and mental condition necessary to
provide responsible care for an adopted child. Each applicant’s Body Mass
Index (BMI) must be under 40. (BMI equals a persons weight in kilograms
divided by height in meters squared. BMI\u003dkg/m 2).
8. Applicants must have a minimum of high school education or equivalent.
9. Applicants must have no criminal record or history of domestic violence,
sexual abuse, child abuse, or substance abuse.
10. Families who have adopted from China previously may submit their next
dossier to China once their previous adoption has been finalized for at least
one year.
According to the Adoption Law of the People’s Republic of China (published
11/4/1998 ), current Chinese government policies and practices, and U.S.
immigration laws, you must meet the following guidelines to qualify for a
China adoption:
1. Applicants must be a legally married heterosexual couple. At least one
applicant must be a U.S. citizen.
2. Couples with no previous marriages must be married for at least two
years at the time the dossier is logged in at the China Center of Adoption
Affairs (CCAA). If either spouse has been previously married, the current
marriage must be at least five years old at the time the dossier is logged in
at the CCAA. No applicant may have had more than two divorces.
3. Applicants must be at least 30 years old and no older than 49 years old at the time their dossier is logged in at the CCAA . Applicants are qualified to adopt children based on their ages as specified below. When spouses have ages that fall into two categories, they must be open to the upper age limit of the child to be adopted.
Applicants ages 30 - 44 qualify for a child with no known medical conditions
up to 12 months of age.*
Applicants ages 45 - 49 qualify for a child with no known medical conditions
up to 24 months of age.*
* Currently, the youngest children coming out of China are about seven
months old. All families are qualified for a child older than the above-
mentioned age range, if desired.
4. All above applicants are qualified, if desired, for a child with medical conditions.
5. Families must have no more than four minor children living in the home,
and the youngest child must be at least 12 months old at the time the
dossier is logged in.
6. Families must document $10,000 of annual income per member in the
household, including the to-be-adopted child. A minimum of $80,000 net
worth is required.
7. Applicants must be in good physical and mental condition necessary to
provide responsible care for an adopted child. Each applicant’s Body Mass
Index (BMI) must be under 40. (BMI equals a persons weight in kilograms
divided by height in meters squared. BMI\u003dkg/m 2).
8. Applicants must have a minimum of high school education or equivalent.
9. Applicants must have no criminal record or history of domestic violence,
sexual abuse, child abuse, or substance abuse.
10. Families who have adopted from China previously may submit their next
dossier to China once their previous adoption has been finalized for at least
one year.
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