We finally heard back.

After many calls to Chicago (I hope 1-877 numbers are toll free) we got news that our I-800a got approved this past week. These were the Immigration papers we sent off on May 8th and then went and had our fingerprint done for. This means NOW our papers can go to China. They have been in Portland OR. waiting for this little piece of paper from the U.S. government. We have our pre-approval in China now and could hear on that any time between next week and a few months from now. Our agency says that once we get the PA we can start sending packages to Gavin and maybe get some updated info. on him like his current height and weight. The only info we have is from when he was just over a year old and it's a little hard to get his wardrobe started on stats from almost two years ago. Now that a few stores are starting to carry fall/winter cloths I am really having to steer clear of the mall altogether. It's just to hard to not buy the cute new stuff for winter. Gary also had knee surgery on Thursday, this too was all in Gods perfect timing as to when we leave to pick up Gavin. He had gone in for an MRI last week and the surgeon told him he was about six months out to have the work done. Then Gary told him we hope to be in China in six months and that we will most likely be doing a lot of walking. The doctor told Gary he would see what he could do. When the nurse called back with a date for the surgery she said "How's this Thursday?" We were so excited to see God work out yet one more detail and now Gary has lots of time to get his knee working again. It was nice to have a week with some good news and I hope you all had a great week with a relaxing weekend before starting up a new week ahead. Blessings to you ---Marla

When you ask God to stretch you.

The stork came by.

The official paper work showed up on Wednesday afternoon asking us to accept or refuse Gavin's file. We already have this little boys picture in frames and hanging on the wall with the other kids pictures, OF COURSE we will say yes! The UPS guy was a little taken back when I asked if I could take his picture. He most likely does not get that question very often. Avery would be so proud of me, she is my camera queen and says I don't take enough pictures. She is at church camp this week and was not here to remind me to take the UPS guys picture. In fact I need to give credit where credit is due. Avery is the one responsible for most of the pictures on the blog. She has an amazing eye and took a photography class this last fall. Gary got her a new camera for the class and she has done wonders with it.
It has been very quite this past week with my two older kids off to camp and Miss LuLu having the run of the place. We took her to dinner and a movie. She has had friends over and has gone swimming. I don't think she is ready for the other two to come home, but dad and I are for sure. It's bad enough having one son on the other side of the world, but then to have the others away also--it's just to quite.---Marla

Somewhere between here and Portland OR

Less then a week late and we have hit our goal! Not to bad if I do say so myself. Yesterday Gary and I went to get our fingerprints done for our I800-A (these are the papers in Chicago). We really didn't know what to expect or how much time to give ourselves. With our appointment at 11:00am and being a few minutes early we were in and out of Immigration by 11:15. We then headed to the state capital (an hour from where we were and 3hrs. from home) to get all our papers State certified. We pulled up to the Secretary of State building and with a parking spot right in front we pulled in. Then we got out of the car and found the meter had 3hrs. and 45min on the clock. God took care of even the change we needed for parking. For a day that Gary and I thought was going to be stressed and harry it ended up turning out amazing. We realize that God had His hand in our whole day.

To top things off Levi and I headed out this morning to make copies for our agency and then to UPS. So with nine months of work behind us our Dossier (China paperwork) is now somewhere between here and Portland OR. Now we wait for the paperwork in Chicago to be approved and matched up with our Dossier in Portland. We have made three major steps in a 24hr. period. We give God all the Glory for His help in getting us to this place. Thank you for all the prays being said for our Gavin we appreciate each and every one. Blessings---Marla

Well I'm really getting into this blogging thing. The kids and I are just hagging out on a mac-and cheese/ pb-and-j kind of weekend. The week at school was hot for the kids (up into the 90's) and now it has cooled down to normal (like the mid 60's). We have one week of school left and then my babies are all mine. I can't wait!

My goal for the adoption was to have all our China paperwork done by the time the kids got out of school. I think we are going to be about a week off, which is not to bad considering everything involved. Gary and I have a few things to finalize and we have to pick up our back ground check at the police station. After getting all this notarized we will take it to the Secretary of State to have it all authenticated. I also started to get my shots for travel. I may or may not need a few more depending on where in China Gavin is coming from, this also means Gary and the kids may not be out of the woods with their shots being complete either. We did not receive the June list of kids from China due to some problems with our agency being able to get them off the computer, but this is starting to feel very real (not to say that all this paperwork hasn't) as to the fact that our little guy could be on one of the next couple lists that come our way. I find myself getting weepy alot and the kids think it's pretty funny, these are all happy tears for the thought that this is really happening. Or it's some kind of adoption mom-to-be hormone I'm not aware of. It is safe to say that of our pictures in China I will be the one looking like one of those buggy eyed gold fish in most of the shots.
I do hope everyone is having a hang out and relax kind of weekend like we are at our house. Blessing to all ---Marla

Happy June!

I for the life of me can not believe it is June already. When we were back in August buying school supplies this part of the year seemed so far away and now here we are starting to ignore bedtimes so we can play outside just a little longer. As far as the adoption, we started it about the same time the kids started school so it seems strange to not be any father along then we are. I also have to remind myself how far we have come. When we started the process it seemed so overwhelming and now we are so close to having all our paperwork done. There is also the chance that by the end of the summer we may have an idea of who our son is and it's this possibility that's keeping me going on this road we have found ourselves on. ---I will turn all my mountains into roads, and my highways will be raised up. Isaiah 49:11. I hope all of you are enjoying the summer evenings like we are. ---Marla

Spring is up and running.

Spring is now in full swing in our house and there are true signs of summer just around the corner. The kids are wrapping up their school year with their spring music program last week. Avery had her year end guitar recital and Olivia had her ballet program to finish off a great year of dance. Levi has started another racing season and is doing awesome so far. We have finally put some camping plans on the calendar for the summer. Avery and Levi have their reservations for church camp all set for the same week.

It looks like a quite week at home with miss Lulu (Olivia). We also got some wonderful news on Friday with the adoption, I was not expecting our fingerprinting appointment until late July or even August, but we have them set for mid June. This is huge because this is a big step in the process with the U.S. government. It will be great to have this done before summer really gets going. We are all ready to have school done for the year and the summer to spend time together in the sun. We are off to a wonderful start with the hot weather we have gotten for this holiday weekend. We hope the same is for you.
---Marla

Two steps down, One to go!

I know, I know. We are only into the first part of May and I am already posting for this month. We have had so much happen in just this last week I can practicaly taste the authentic Chinese food. Then to make it even better, most of it happened on our fourteenth wedding anniversary. We got the official home study approval signed and delivered to us on Wednesday. This was more then anything Gary could have picked out at Ben Bridge for an anniversary gift. Then on Friday we had all our paperwork for the U.S. Government signed and sealed and sent off to Chicago. The poor lady dealing with me at the post office was no doubt glad it was Friday. I was a mess at her counter as I was mailing off a whole stack of paperwork that I felt needed a personal guard accompanying it to it's destination. This will determine if the government will allow us to bring home a Chinese infant to make him a U.S. citizen. We have been told that the wait time for this stage in the game is about two to three months. I am thankful that most of this time will be spent with the kids out of school and doing summer stuff. We will also be getting all of our Chinese paperwork done while we wait so when we do get the thumbs up we can send China their stuff A.S.A.P. This whole process is without question a hurry up and wait situation. I am so grateful to Gary and the kids for putting up with this roller coaster ride we have been on for the past eight months, but then to think of spending Mother's Day next year with all my chicks under my wing makes it all worth it.---Marla

The Ball is Rolling Once Again!

Here we are at another month gone by, but this time we have had a lot going on to get us even closer to the time when we will get to meet our son. We now have our interviews behind us and they all went so very well. Our home study case worker was amazing and made this step so easy for us. The paper work we had to do over ended up being no big deal. The two months of stand still was God's way of asking me where my faith was, and then this last month Him showing me this is all in His hands. Gavin will come home on the day that God has set for us and I need to trust that. Now we are in the process of our paper work going to the U.S. Government. This will be more waiting, but now there are signs of spring coming to the northwest and we should have lots of things to keep us occupied like yard work and everything else that comes with warmer weather. We hope every one's spring is off to a sunny start and you are all soaking up the vitamin D you have been missing out on all winter. All our families love to you -----Marla