Power Of Attorney

Because I will be traveling alone and becoming the legal guardian of Sadie without Luke it is necessary for him to complete a POA (power of attorney).  You see the male is the listed head of household and first petitioner on a home study and USCIS paperwork filed by a married couple.  This document gives me permission to sign on Luke's behalf and is absolutely necessary in China.  It must also be notarized then county and state certified and finally authenticated by the Chinese Consulate in the US.  It must be less than 6 months old at the time of travel and carried by hand to China.  Kinda crazy, huh?

$3 County certification fee
$5 State certification fee
$60 Courier fee to Cindy Marut
$25 Chinese Consulate authentication via My China Docs

I800

Yesterday I caved and called USCIS to check on the status of our I800 application (permission for us to bring her (specifically) into the country).  I was pleasantly surprised we had been approved earlier that day-in my "timeline" I predicted we'd receive approval later this week.  The paper copy hasn't arrived yet but just knowing we have this step completed allows us to make a more accurate guesstimate as to when I could leave for China...and I promise when I know you will too :)

6/25 I800 overnighted
6/26 Delivered to lockbox
6/29 Official receipt date
7/1 Receipt letter printed & mailed
7/13 I800 approved

New Pictures!

Overjoyed to receive new pictures of Sadie last week-she looks taller and thinner to me and has just the slightest amount of hair (so glad her caregivers are honoring our request to let it grow). :)  This wait is so long and becoming difficult for the whole family but these little glimpses of her personality are a true blessing.

Hard Copy LOA & Visa Application

Wednesday night the official LOA was delivered and we promptly signed (accepted) and overnighted Thursday morning back to the adoption agency.  On Friday our I800 was reviewed and then overnighted to the USCIS lockbox.  Today I submitted a (new) Visa application with a copy of the LOA and my passport to the courier we are using from There's Always Hope in Chicago.  Later this week the documents will be walked in and dropped off at the Chinese Consulate.  Many people don't realize that the country of China requires a Visa to enter/exit.  Lots of little steps ahead and none of them are cheap! :)

$140 Visa
$35 Courier fee

In other news I have painted the second coat of coral to Sadie's bed (awesome find at Goodwill pre-adoption) and I foresee lots of sanding ahead.  I also cashed in an old gift card and was able to order a monogrammed hooded towel (a #firstworld must in the state of Florida) and rolling suitcase at no cost.  Noah absolutely loved pulling his own in China and I am banking on Sadie being quite independent too.  Worst case I can put it inside of my own.

This weekend we hope to transition our children into their "new" rooms (boys sharing and Ella and Sadie will each have their own) and start to unpack everything else.  It's a beautiful state of chaos around the Hopkins house but we are SO grateful that the countdown is on.

LOA Issued!

Tonight we received an email that the LOA had been issued and is in route to the adoption agency.  Wow!  Although this part has taken longer than anticipated it sure feels "fast" all of a sudden...once the agency receives the hard copy it will be mailed to us to sign and return and the I800 form will also be submitted to USCIS (for Sadie's travel and future citizenship).  End of August travel is a very, very small possibility but based on current timelines I am predicting September will be the month Sadie meets her family :)  We are rejoicing for this victory and somewhat scrambling to tie up loose ends around our house...8-10 weeks sounds like a long time but we hope those weeks fly by.

Dossier Reviewed & Waiting to be Matched

Well it took 34 LONG days for our dossier to be translated by the CCCWA but since then we have received two more updates and feel optimistic about a late June/early July LOA.

6/15 In Process Of Review-the dossier has been translated and is in review
6/16 To Be Matched-the dossier has been reviewed and will transfer to the matching department

Next up: our dossier being matched with Sadie's paperwork and the LOA (Letter Seeking Confirmation)

Matching Grant Awarded and Dossier Movement Update

$4,540 was awarded from Hand In Hand Christian Adoption, Inc. to the adoption agency on behalf.  Half of that was received through generous donations from family and friends and even some people we have never met-how cool to see God work on Sadie's behalf!  We are just so incredibly grateful for the financial blessings that this matching grant has provided.  As we move forward we know that the aid grant from Show Hope will cover the next agency payment due after we receive the LOA (Letter of Acceptance) from China and then the remaining amount can be applied to the money that is wired as I prepare for travel.

I have continued to check in weekly with the agency as we wait (not so patiently) for the LOA to be issued.  As of last Friday our dossier is still in translation.  Things are progressing just slowly.  We continue to put our trust in God's timing and if the LOA is received by mid-July then meeting Sadie in September is a reality.  (typically Gotcha Days only occur on Mondays in any province and the US Consulate appointments are the following week in Guangzhou on Tuesday mornings-these constraints are part of the equation as to when we will meet our daughter)

Yesterday I mailed another package to Sadie with a new pair of size 11 shoes, lots of size 4/5T clothes, a book with mirrors, new pictures of our family and banana flavored yogurt snacks.  I'm hopeful it will arrive safely in a few weeks unlike the package that I mailed in April which never turned up in China.

Please pray for protection for Sadie as she waits and for God's favor for the LOA to be issued in June.