Another 800 Approval

My unhealthy stalking of the PO Box has come to an end.  We have our 2nd 800 approval!!

I sent Blake early this morning down to the old post office in town to check once again for envelopes from the National Benefits Center.

When he came home empty handed, I pouted like crazy for at least 5 full minutes while small children patted me on the back and told me it would be okay.

Never one to pout for long (and too neurotic to not chart), I started charting receipt dates and approval dates and made the decision to call immigration and inquire about the status of our request.  No one answered the phone, so I emailed....and I got a response!!  Our 800 was approved on March 1!! This is great news because it means that our case can be transferred to the US consulate in China.

The email response from immigration also said that as soon as our case was transferred to the consulate, we would be notified by email.  I really didn't think that notification would come today, but it did!! We are cabled!! This might sound like mumbo jumbo, but it's good stuff, folks.  It means that the consulate will now begin working on processing all the paperwork necessary to issue entry visas to our children once their adoptions are complete.

Today, March 8th marks the end of the stateside paper-chase!!!  We're celebrating with a walk through the woods and a relaxing evening of tossing rocks into the pond in this gorgeous weather.

I know Wyatt and Jubilee are going to be so loved and have so much fun with all their brothers and sisters.  I can't wait for them to be home with us!  It won't be long now!  Next up Article 5, TA and CA!

Blessings,

Tamara

800 Approval

The minute I saw Blake up and at 'em Saturday morning, I sent him off to the post office to check for mail.  Having a teenager that can drive is SO handy.  Extra driver = extra person to assist you in stalking the PO box while you wait for envelopes from the Department of Homeland Security.

I was not disappointed by Saturday's post office plunder.

Those little envelopes from the National Benefits Center, containing an I-797C, Notice of Action, turn an ordinary day into a milestone celebration.

OUR FIRST 800 APPROVAL HAS ARRIVED!!

I called my sister to share this exciting news, and she kindly reminded me that she has NO idea what an 800 is.  She confessed that, in fact, most of my announcements make no sense at all.  It seems that all the acronyms I've been slinging around aren't used by the average Jane out and about on the town. I must fix this!!

800 Provisional Approval is a BIG Milestone, worthy of a celebratory Chinese dinner.  This approval comes from the US government and it concerns immigration.  We cannot proceed with our adoption without it.  Immigration has determined that we can proceed with our son's adoption!!  Praising God!!

Since we are adopting 2 children, we won't be able to move on in the adoption process until we receive our second 800, but we're hoping we'll have that one by mid-March.  If that does, indeed, happen by mid-March, we will likely be in China around the first week of May.

We greatly appreciate your continued prayers for our two sweet ones as they wait for us and for us as we continue to seek funds to cover some of the adoption costs.  Right now, with orphanage donations and travel expenses, we are $27,200 away from being fully funded.  I'm tempted to worry at times, but we know that God called us to these children and that He will make a way where there seems to be no way.

If you would like to partner with us financially and be a part of giving two children a family, hope and a future, check out our fundraising page by clicking here.  Even if you aren't in a position to help us financially, check out our fundraising page. There's a video about our family posted there that makes me cry every time I watch it. I'm still in awe of all that God has done in our family and in the lives of the children he's brought to us.  Maybe you wouldn't mind sharing it with a friend or two or two-hundred.  We'd be so thankful!!  Please keep praying for us and praying for the children that wait.

Many blessings,

Tamara and Dean

Jubilee

Today is our baby girl's first birthday.  Actually, it's probably not her birthday.  It's the birthday she was given, though.  And so we'll celebrate and dream about the joy and celebration of bringing her home.  

I've been consumed with thinking about her and praying for her tonight.

We finally chose a name.

Jubilee.  

It's different.

I know.

It's perfect, though.

Try it out a few times, and you'll smile when you say it, too.

You just can't help it!!

Our blog banner is no longer accurate now.  It says Wyatt and Josie.  I wish I could find the file where I created said blog banner so that I could edit it.  I'm too lazy to create another one.  It's okay 'cause we're all about confusion around here.

Happy First Birthday, Jubilee!!