Happy Birthday to George.
Happy Birthday to George.
Happy Birthday Dear George.
Happy Birthday Dear George.
George turned 8 years old today. We sent him a Birthday cake with a Dragon on it and some candy treats for him, his friends and his caregivers.
We were hoping to have already had George home with us to celebrate his Birthday with us but God has his own timing and we will be patient.
We are encouraged to know that next year he will be home celebrating his 9th Birthday with us.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Recieved Official LID/Log In Date 1/21/08
We received the following email today. China CCAA/China Center of Adoption Affairs officially logged in our Dossier on 1/21/08. Now it should be 12-17 weeks before we here more.
The following is a part of the letter and also some suggestions for what to do with ourselves while we wait.....
Jim and Christina,
Great News!!! I received confirmation from Benjamin that your dossier was submitted to the CCAA, Monday, January 21, 2008. Currently it is taking an average of 12-17 weeks for China to review and approve your dossier and send your Letter of Seeking Confirmation (LOC), and the you will sign and send it back to China and then wait for your Travel Approval (TA) which should come about 2-4 weeks after the LOC is received in China. Remember that we have no control over when the CCAA will issue your LOC or your TA. The time frames we gave you are estimates and can change at any time. Your log in date will come to us next, which is when your dossier begins to be reviewed. Sometimes our special needs families do not receive log in dates and only the LOC and TA. It is important to note that it can take the CCAA on average up to four weeks to officially log it into their system (LID). China does send us this information snail mail, so I won't know your official LID for at least 6-8 weeks.
Many families call and ask how long the process is currently taking? It is important to note that adoptions will ebb and flow in China depending on how many dossiers were submitted in any particular month. Throughout the next several months I will only be able to give you an idea of how long it is currently taking to process other special need dossiers. I cannot tell you the exact time or day your invitation to travel will come. I can guarantee you that the minute it arrives I will notify you immediately.
The following is a rough outline of the process in which takes place during the following weeks you will wait to receive approval from the CCAA:
PROCESS IN CHINA:
· Documents stay warehoused until Department One is ready to review your file
· Documents are pulled and Department One begins reviewing dossiers
· Files are approved and forwarded to Department Two where the travel invitation are printed and sent
.
PLEASE NOTE THAT TIME FRAMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
It is important to note that the above is just an approximate guideline. Documents can stay shorter or longer periods of time at any one given department. Benjamin will be checking on the progress of your dossier, however, he cannot go into the CCAA weekly to check where it is. The CCAA is very busy processing over 10,000 dossiers. Benjamin can only get updates as to the progress of your file if they are willing to take the time to track it down. Rest assured that as soon as I know something I will pass the information on to you.
Once we receive the TA inviting you to come to China to pick up your child, the time frame to travel will be an additional 2-4 weeks. This depends largely on how fast the US Embassy will get you an appointment for an Immigrant Visa. As soon as we get confirmation of this appointment you can book your travel immediately!
AGCI will keep you informed with all information as we receive it. Many times families will hear rumors that invitations have been sent out and then call to confirm that information with the office. Unfortunately, this type of information is often not accurate or doesn’t apply to your situation and therefore I ask that you wait to hear directly from our office as to any updates on your case.
Just to recap the following points:
Submitted families need to expect at least 12-17 weeks for your LOC after your submission date. These time frames can change.
I cannot tell you how long your entire adoption process will take, as it is dictated entirely by the China Center for Adoption Affairs.
Please let me know if you have any questions regarding this phase of your adoption. I will be calling you monthly to check in and also will be emailing out updates and movement happens in the program. I look forward to working with you to bring your child home!
Blessings,
Tiffany Williams
China Special Needs Case Manager
THE WAITING PROCESS
Although some people find the paperwork process challenging, the most difficult time for most families is the wait. For those of you who have already been through years of disappointment trying to bear a child I want to encourage you that the Lord knows your child by name and will lead you to him and/or her very soon. Most of you who have walked this path have a deep understanding of waiting and are in touch with this kind of grief. The physical strain and emotional turmoil is sometimes unbearable and you often have been stretched beyond what anyone should have to endure. My hope for you is that you can put your trust in this process and allow yourselves to rest. Although adoption can have its own set of challenges, there is a positive end result. You are finally in a process that will end with your child home in your arms. You will be parents!!
For families who have children, you may have not yet learned the fine art of waiting. The important thing to understand is that adoption, like infertility, does not provide a “due date.” Completing an adoption is a little like working with an obstetrician’s office, and although we do not have face to face visits with most families, we do provide monthly updates and information for you throughout your adoption process. In the past, your doctor has been able to give you a due date that is normally accurate within a few weeks time. In adoption, we do not know the exact date, week, or even the month. This lack of exact timing can be very frustrating for families who are used to planning the arrival of children into their homes. I encourage you to take this time to lean on the Lord because this process will stretch your faith and is a wonderful opportunity for growth.
Things to Do While You Wait
There are many things you can do to help keep you busy while you wait for your referral. One of our adoptive parents has compiled a great list of creative ideas that helped her while she was waiting for her child to home. We have shared it with you below:
1) Order the "From China with Love" calendar. Write down each step towards completing the dossier. When your baby comes home, the calendar is great for recording your baby's milestones. You can order it from Asia for Kids at 1-800-765-5885.
2) Speaking of Asia for Kids, they have a great catalogue. Get on their mailing list. They sell dolls, games, books, puzzles and more! They also have Chinese adoption announcements.
3) Take a Chinese cooking class. Check out cooking schools in your area. This will teach you a little more about the culture and prepare you for your trip.
4) Learn to speak Chinese. Contact your local university. Another way to learn
Chinese is to cultivate Chinese friends. We have had Chinese houseguests for several months at a time. See if your city has a Sister City in China or an International Visitors Center. Local universities have Friendship programs which pair up local families with international students.
5) Prepare the nursery.
6) Knit or crochet a baby blanket. Psalm 139:39 says "You knit me together in my Mother's womb." Our adoptive children may not have been knit together in our womb but they are certainly knit together in our hearts.
7) Subscribe to Adoptive Families magazine, 1-800-372-3300. Excellent articles about cultural diversity, waiting, traveling and parenting.
8) Make a quilt. Adoptive Families magazine had an excellent article on a unique quilt in their January/February 2002 issue. You can also contact a local quilt shop to take lessons.
9) Start a lifebook. Adoptive Families magazine had an excellent article on how to start a lifebook in their May/June 2002 issue. Our social services agency that did our home study also had a class on how to start a lifebook. You can also try a local scrapbook store. They often have classes.
10) Lists, Lists, Lists. Packing lists, shower guest lists, mailing lists of people to send announcements and anything else that just might slip your mind as the date approaches.
11) Freezer meals. Stock your freezer with at least a weeks worth of meals. Once you come home you will be so tired and dazed that preparing a meal will be the last thing on your mind at the end of a hard day. Collect crock pot, pressure cooker, and one skillet recipes, anything that can be prepared quickly and without any brain power.
12) Register for baby gifts. This can be done online or at local baby stores or department stores.
The following is a part of the letter and also some suggestions for what to do with ourselves while we wait.....
Jim and Christina,
Great News!!! I received confirmation from Benjamin that your dossier was submitted to the CCAA, Monday, January 21, 2008. Currently it is taking an average of 12-17 weeks for China to review and approve your dossier and send your Letter of Seeking Confirmation (LOC), and the you will sign and send it back to China and then wait for your Travel Approval (TA) which should come about 2-4 weeks after the LOC is received in China. Remember that we have no control over when the CCAA will issue your LOC or your TA. The time frames we gave you are estimates and can change at any time. Your log in date will come to us next, which is when your dossier begins to be reviewed. Sometimes our special needs families do not receive log in dates and only the LOC and TA. It is important to note that it can take the CCAA on average up to four weeks to officially log it into their system (LID). China does send us this information snail mail, so I won't know your official LID for at least 6-8 weeks.
Many families call and ask how long the process is currently taking? It is important to note that adoptions will ebb and flow in China depending on how many dossiers were submitted in any particular month. Throughout the next several months I will only be able to give you an idea of how long it is currently taking to process other special need dossiers. I cannot tell you the exact time or day your invitation to travel will come. I can guarantee you that the minute it arrives I will notify you immediately.
The following is a rough outline of the process in which takes place during the following weeks you will wait to receive approval from the CCAA:
PROCESS IN CHINA:
· Documents stay warehoused until Department One is ready to review your file
· Documents are pulled and Department One begins reviewing dossiers
· Files are approved and forwarded to Department Two where the travel invitation are printed and sent
.
PLEASE NOTE THAT TIME FRAMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
It is important to note that the above is just an approximate guideline. Documents can stay shorter or longer periods of time at any one given department. Benjamin will be checking on the progress of your dossier, however, he cannot go into the CCAA weekly to check where it is. The CCAA is very busy processing over 10,000 dossiers. Benjamin can only get updates as to the progress of your file if they are willing to take the time to track it down. Rest assured that as soon as I know something I will pass the information on to you.
Once we receive the TA inviting you to come to China to pick up your child, the time frame to travel will be an additional 2-4 weeks. This depends largely on how fast the US Embassy will get you an appointment for an Immigrant Visa. As soon as we get confirmation of this appointment you can book your travel immediately!
AGCI will keep you informed with all information as we receive it. Many times families will hear rumors that invitations have been sent out and then call to confirm that information with the office. Unfortunately, this type of information is often not accurate or doesn’t apply to your situation and therefore I ask that you wait to hear directly from our office as to any updates on your case.
Just to recap the following points:
Submitted families need to expect at least 12-17 weeks for your LOC after your submission date. These time frames can change.
I cannot tell you how long your entire adoption process will take, as it is dictated entirely by the China Center for Adoption Affairs.
Please let me know if you have any questions regarding this phase of your adoption. I will be calling you monthly to check in and also will be emailing out updates and movement happens in the program. I look forward to working with you to bring your child home!
Blessings,
Tiffany Williams
China Special Needs Case Manager
THE WAITING PROCESS
Although some people find the paperwork process challenging, the most difficult time for most families is the wait. For those of you who have already been through years of disappointment trying to bear a child I want to encourage you that the Lord knows your child by name and will lead you to him and/or her very soon. Most of you who have walked this path have a deep understanding of waiting and are in touch with this kind of grief. The physical strain and emotional turmoil is sometimes unbearable and you often have been stretched beyond what anyone should have to endure. My hope for you is that you can put your trust in this process and allow yourselves to rest. Although adoption can have its own set of challenges, there is a positive end result. You are finally in a process that will end with your child home in your arms. You will be parents!!
For families who have children, you may have not yet learned the fine art of waiting. The important thing to understand is that adoption, like infertility, does not provide a “due date.” Completing an adoption is a little like working with an obstetrician’s office, and although we do not have face to face visits with most families, we do provide monthly updates and information for you throughout your adoption process. In the past, your doctor has been able to give you a due date that is normally accurate within a few weeks time. In adoption, we do not know the exact date, week, or even the month. This lack of exact timing can be very frustrating for families who are used to planning the arrival of children into their homes. I encourage you to take this time to lean on the Lord because this process will stretch your faith and is a wonderful opportunity for growth.
Things to Do While You Wait
There are many things you can do to help keep you busy while you wait for your referral. One of our adoptive parents has compiled a great list of creative ideas that helped her while she was waiting for her child to home. We have shared it with you below:
1) Order the "From China with Love" calendar. Write down each step towards completing the dossier. When your baby comes home, the calendar is great for recording your baby's milestones. You can order it from Asia for Kids at 1-800-765-5885.
2) Speaking of Asia for Kids, they have a great catalogue. Get on their mailing list. They sell dolls, games, books, puzzles and more! They also have Chinese adoption announcements.
3) Take a Chinese cooking class. Check out cooking schools in your area. This will teach you a little more about the culture and prepare you for your trip.
4) Learn to speak Chinese. Contact your local university. Another way to learn
Chinese is to cultivate Chinese friends. We have had Chinese houseguests for several months at a time. See if your city has a Sister City in China or an International Visitors Center. Local universities have Friendship programs which pair up local families with international students.
5) Prepare the nursery.
6) Knit or crochet a baby blanket. Psalm 139:39 says "You knit me together in my Mother's womb." Our adoptive children may not have been knit together in our womb but they are certainly knit together in our hearts.
7) Subscribe to Adoptive Families magazine, 1-800-372-3300. Excellent articles about cultural diversity, waiting, traveling and parenting.
8) Make a quilt. Adoptive Families magazine had an excellent article on a unique quilt in their January/February 2002 issue. You can also contact a local quilt shop to take lessons.
9) Start a lifebook. Adoptive Families magazine had an excellent article on how to start a lifebook in their May/June 2002 issue. Our social services agency that did our home study also had a class on how to start a lifebook. You can also try a local scrapbook store. They often have classes.
10) Lists, Lists, Lists. Packing lists, shower guest lists, mailing lists of people to send announcements and anything else that just might slip your mind as the date approaches.
11) Freezer meals. Stock your freezer with at least a weeks worth of meals. Once you come home you will be so tired and dazed that preparing a meal will be the last thing on your mind at the end of a hard day. Collect crock pot, pressure cooker, and one skillet recipes, anything that can be prepared quickly and without any brain power.
12) Register for baby gifts. This can be done online or at local baby stores or department stores.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
DTC/Dossier To China Today, January 15th, 2008
Our paperwork is finally DTC or "Dossier To China" today. It has been over 5 weeks since we sent it in to AGCI in December, so we certainly weren't expecting it would take this long for them to review it since there weren't any issues with our paperwork.
Sadly this domestic delay pushed our review time into future delays with the Chinese New Year when the CCAA shuts down for at least a week and also probably will interfere with the Guangzhou Trade Show in April when many things in China are out of sorts so AGCI doesn't like to have families traveling than either.
So there goes the hope that George will be in the US in time to register for school and have assessments and IEP reviews for the 2008-2009 school year in the Spring and be ready to go planfully in the Fall in his new school. If he doesn't get here until the end of May or Summer they can not and will not do a thing with planning for him for the Fall. And assessing and developing his ELL, Speech and any other Academic or Developmental services will take months at the beginning of the new school year to put together. Also if he doesn't have services in the Spring there is no way to get anything he might need in the Summer. Now he will have to do without.
To make matters even worse, I guess we will be traveling in May and disrupting the other kids in the familiy's end of school field trips, dance and music recitals and Nicole's Special Olympics activities. Fabulous! If it gets too tight because of the
5 weeks it took to review the Homestudy and the 5 weeks it took to get the Dossier Translated and Authenticated than we can even imagine that we are going to get caught in new rules enacted especially for the Summer Olympics dealing with Airline Security and Visas. Also flights will start to get outrageous in June, and July and August will be when everyone for miles around heads to Beijing by planes, trains and automobiles!
Don't get me wrong since we have been working on our Dossier for the last 7 months, I am still thrilled it is finally headed overseas. I have filled out papers, lost papers, found papers, answered interview questions and tried to figure out much greater issues than I normally am called to do while staying home with the kids.
But as of today I should be able to start forgetting about the pain. All of that mental effort for a stack of papers that fits into a legal size manilla envelope.
Oh well if George is a little closer to coming home to stay then it was worth the blood, sweat, tears and 7 months of this Mom's life.
From Tiffany......
"Good Afternoon Jim and Christina!
Great news!! I will be express mailing your completed dossier to China today with your original PA and my staff in Beijing will be receiving the package by Monday with a hopeful submission date of this coming Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. As soon as the dossier arrives they will match everything up with the translated documents and immediately submit your dossier to the CCAA. Once your dossier is submitted it will be approximately 12-17 weeks for your Letter of Seeking Confirmation (LOC) and then your Travel Approval (TA) will be here 2-4 weeks later, and then you will leave about 2-3 weeks later. Keep in mind that holidays, paperwork problems, etc could cause this timeframe to extend, this is just an estimate. I will be in touch once I receive word that your file was officially submitted. This can take up to week for me to get from our staff. If you have any questions in the mean time, please let me know! Have a blessed rest of your week!
With Joy,
Tiffany"
Sadly this domestic delay pushed our review time into future delays with the Chinese New Year when the CCAA shuts down for at least a week and also probably will interfere with the Guangzhou Trade Show in April when many things in China are out of sorts so AGCI doesn't like to have families traveling than either.
So there goes the hope that George will be in the US in time to register for school and have assessments and IEP reviews for the 2008-2009 school year in the Spring and be ready to go planfully in the Fall in his new school. If he doesn't get here until the end of May or Summer they can not and will not do a thing with planning for him for the Fall. And assessing and developing his ELL, Speech and any other Academic or Developmental services will take months at the beginning of the new school year to put together. Also if he doesn't have services in the Spring there is no way to get anything he might need in the Summer. Now he will have to do without.
To make matters even worse, I guess we will be traveling in May and disrupting the other kids in the familiy's end of school field trips, dance and music recitals and Nicole's Special Olympics activities. Fabulous! If it gets too tight because of the
5 weeks it took to review the Homestudy and the 5 weeks it took to get the Dossier Translated and Authenticated than we can even imagine that we are going to get caught in new rules enacted especially for the Summer Olympics dealing with Airline Security and Visas. Also flights will start to get outrageous in June, and July and August will be when everyone for miles around heads to Beijing by planes, trains and automobiles!
Don't get me wrong since we have been working on our Dossier for the last 7 months, I am still thrilled it is finally headed overseas. I have filled out papers, lost papers, found papers, answered interview questions and tried to figure out much greater issues than I normally am called to do while staying home with the kids.
But as of today I should be able to start forgetting about the pain. All of that mental effort for a stack of papers that fits into a legal size manilla envelope.
Oh well if George is a little closer to coming home to stay then it was worth the blood, sweat, tears and 7 months of this Mom's life.
From Tiffany......
"Good Afternoon Jim and Christina!
Great news!! I will be express mailing your completed dossier to China today with your original PA and my staff in Beijing will be receiving the package by Monday with a hopeful submission date of this coming Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. As soon as the dossier arrives they will match everything up with the translated documents and immediately submit your dossier to the CCAA. Once your dossier is submitted it will be approximately 12-17 weeks for your Letter of Seeking Confirmation (LOC) and then your Travel Approval (TA) will be here 2-4 weeks later, and then you will leave about 2-3 weeks later. Keep in mind that holidays, paperwork problems, etc could cause this timeframe to extend, this is just an estimate. I will be in touch once I receive word that your file was officially submitted. This can take up to week for me to get from our staff. If you have any questions in the mean time, please let me know! Have a blessed rest of your week!
With Joy,
Tiffany"
Monday, December 24, 2007
The best Christmas Present ever from George and a family touring EnMei.
Here is a gift that we got from our son George on Christmas Eve from another adoptive parent. We have never met Debbie or her family but we had exchanged emails on line. They were adopting a daughter from the same orphanage that George lives at this week in China. During their tour they asked the Director if they could take a picture of George for us to send back. The Director graciously agreed and we were so excited to have his smiling face pop up in our email on Christmas Eve.
This is a copy of the email letter she sent to talking about her meeting with George. It is priceless and we can't Thank her and her family enough.
"Hi Christina---
Shen Yong is beautiful!!! He is such a happy boy! I asked the director if I can see him--when they brought him to us he ran over w/ a huge smile! They told him we wanted to take a picture for his mama and he gave an even bigger smile!! When he left, he skipped happily away.
The big room is a group room, there is one of the classrooms for the older kids, one picture of our daughter with her teacher, and then the playground. They really do care for the kids there. When we got there, Kayley was mobbed by all the nannies. They were so happy to see her! The director is very kind and caring. She gave us a bag of snacks for my two boys and for Kayley!!
When do you expect to travel? Are you and your husband going together? It really is an amazing journey!!!
Talk to you soon!
Merry Christmas!!
Debbie"
We just wanted to share the amazing blessing!
Really neat!
Love,
Christina
This is a copy of the email letter she sent to talking about her meeting with George. It is priceless and we can't Thank her and her family enough.
"Hi Christina---
Shen Yong is beautiful!!! He is such a happy boy! I asked the director if I can see him--when they brought him to us he ran over w/ a huge smile! They told him we wanted to take a picture for his mama and he gave an even bigger smile!! When he left, he skipped happily away.
The big room is a group room, there is one of the classrooms for the older kids, one picture of our daughter with her teacher, and then the playground. They really do care for the kids there. When we got there, Kayley was mobbed by all the nannies. They were so happy to see her! The director is very kind and caring. She gave us a bag of snacks for my two boys and for Kayley!!
When do you expect to travel? Are you and your husband going together? It really is an amazing journey!!!
Talk to you soon!
Merry Christmas!!
Debbie"
We just wanted to share the amazing blessing!
Really neat!
Love,
Christina
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
A Healthy Bouncing 7 year old baby boy, DOB February 29th, 2000.
Hello to all,
Here are some current pictures of George Yong Shen Copeland the upcoming addition to our family.
A healthy, bouncing 7 year old boy, DOB, February 29th, 2000!
George is currently in Ningbo City at the EnMei CWI, just South of Shanghai on the Eastern Pacific Coast, in the Zheijiang Province of China until we can travel to pick him up sometime in late Winter early Spring of 2008.
He seems to have recently lost his two front teeth but will probably only have one in time for Christmas!
Jim, I, Nicole, Sylvia, Sofia and Finneas could not be more thrilled about our new son and brother. What a fabulous Christmas gift to know we are well on our way to having him here with us soon.
We are grateful to God and to all of whom have prayed to get us here so far.
Love,
Christina and Jim Copeland
As a proud Mommy I sent around the pictures to all our family and friends by email and I got so many congratulations and well wishes back that I can tell how well loved George is already and will be forever once he gets to the US.
Here are some current pictures of George Yong Shen Copeland the upcoming addition to our family.
A healthy, bouncing 7 year old boy, DOB, February 29th, 2000!
George is currently in Ningbo City at the EnMei CWI, just South of Shanghai on the Eastern Pacific Coast, in the Zheijiang Province of China until we can travel to pick him up sometime in late Winter early Spring of 2008.
He seems to have recently lost his two front teeth but will probably only have one in time for Christmas!
Jim, I, Nicole, Sylvia, Sofia and Finneas could not be more thrilled about our new son and brother. What a fabulous Christmas gift to know we are well on our way to having him here with us soon.
We are grateful to God and to all of whom have prayed to get us here so far.
Love,
Christina and Jim Copeland
As a proud Mommy I sent around the pictures to all our family and friends by email and I got so many congratulations and well wishes back that I can tell how well loved George is already and will be forever once he gets to the US.
We received updated pictures of George today!
We were all so excited to receive pictures of George that were taken by the Director at George's Children's Home. When Finneas saw them he said, "When is he ever going to get here? I can't wait!" Sylvia, Sofia and Nicole were very happy too and it was neat to see him looking so healthy, happy and enjoying himself hanging out with some friends on the playground where he lives. He was also looking much bigger than the last pictures we had of him so we can tell he has been growing lately. And he is missing a couple front teeth on these ones. The disposable cameras that were in the care package along with the translated letter we had sent back in November through Blessedkids.com will be returned to us when we meet George in Hangzhou next year. So these will have to tide us over until then and we are greatful for them that is for sure!
Monday, December 10, 2007
Dossier to AGCI for Translation and Authentication 12/10/07
We sent in all of the documents needed for our Dossier to AGCI to be Translated into Mandarin and Authenticated as needed. We are hoping our Dossier is ready to head to China and goes in by the end of this month. It was nerve wracking to send paper originals and copies off in the mail after so many months of sweating every I and dotting every T and working so diligently to make so many extra appointments, medical forms, 4 rounds of fingerprinting, waiting on Passports, and completing our Home Study. But today it is off to be worked on by others for a while and hopefully I can recoup before the Christmas rush begins!
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