DTC!

We are officially DTC (dossier to China) as of today!  The completed dossier was scanned and uploaded to CCWAA's (China Center for Children's Welfare and Adoption) database as well as the official hard copy mailed.  We will now wait on the LID (log in date). 

Dossier agency fee- $3,138.75

Dossier submission fee- $1,360

We feel so grateful to have completed this portion of the adoption journey some refer to as the "paperwork chase".  Please continue to pray with us for Sadie-her safety, health and for her heart to be open to the idea of a forever family in us.  We think that I (yes planning to go alone this time) will travel to China in roughly 4-5 months as long as our dossier is accepted/approved in a timely manner (in other words we still don't know a definite travel date but expect I will meet Sadie in September).  Many little steps occur between now and travel-tonight we are celebrating DTC and God's timing of it all.

^my fortune from our celebratory Chinese takeout tonight

Almost DTC

The i800a has been county and state certified; it was overnighted to Houston yesterday by our agency.  Hopefully today it will be dropped off at the Chinese Consulate.  Our prayer is that the document will be authenticated and returned to the agency by the end of the week and DTC (dossier to China) before May.

Fees for i800a approval (called I-797):

$3.00 county certification *$3.00 per doc 

$5.00 state certification

$60.00 Houston consulate courier services 

$45.00 My China Docs, Chinese Consulate authentication ($25.00 plus $20 rush fee)

Also this week I had the honor of helping another adoptive mom state certify 3 documents and it was quite the in-town adventure.  Beckett and Noah made for excellent sidekicks.  It was cool to play a very small part in someone else's journey and show Noah steps we took to bring him home (in Georgia of course).

More Shoes On The Way

Hard Copy Received

Monday we received the hard (paper) copy of the i800a.  I scanned and emailed it to the adoption agency and they were able to send it out that afternoon for certification.  Yay a small victory!  Our China social worker expects the entire process to take 1-2 weeks and then it will be uploaded with the other dossier documents to China.  The prayers work!  God listens and He is only good.

i800a Approval!

Today was a really great day.  Another package was delivered to Sadie at the orphanage (from us) and we were granted the i800a approval that we have waited so long for-praising God for these blessings and movement!  We expect it to take another 3-5 days before the paper copy of the approval arrives at our adoption agency but from there it will be rushed to certification and authentication.  Sending our dossier to China this month is still within reach.  Thank you for praying with us and continuing to lift Sadie up.

Matching Grant Opportunity

We have been chosen to receive a matching funds grant to help with the expenses of Sadie's adoption through Hand in Hand Christian Adoption, Inc. a non-profit private operating foundation!  Hand in Hand will match any funds that are donated through our friends, family or a business for the expenses of our adoption.  All funds received will be matched dollar for dollar by Hand in Hand up to our awarded grant amount.   All donations are tax-deductible. 

Please send all donations made payable to "Hand in Hand Christian Adoption" postmarked by May 15 to:

Hand in Hand Christian Adoption, Inc.
Luke and Stacy Hopkins
18318 Mimosa Court
Gardner, KS 66030

(for tax purposes please include our name on the OUTSIDE of the envelope only…do not put our name on the check itself)

You can find out more about Hand in Hand through their website at www.handinhandadopt.org. They can be reached at 913-248-5015 or by e-mail at handinhandadopt@gmail.com

We must raise at least $2,500 to unlock the total matching grant amount.  Thank you for your prayerful consideration and helping us walk hand in hand.

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Patience

Still no movement on the i800a.  I called again today and spoke with two officers at USCIS.  They assured me our paperwork has not been lost but is in a large stack in which I800s are given priority (families that have already received the LOA from China).  I was also asked to "please be patient" and expect the approval in less than 30 days.  We have already waited 60 days.  Poor Sadie is suffering because of a paperwork slowdown.  I'm not sure which hurts more-my head or my heart right now.