"Little Darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting"

As we continue the painfully long wait of our 800 approval, we are keeping our minds off of it and staying busy with exciting stuff. After 4 paint samples and unlimited trips to Home Depot and Bed, Bath and Beyond, we finally picked a paint color and we are on day two of painting our little sunshine's room.  Below are some pictures, I left out the one of me where it seems like I landed more paint on my pants then I did on the walls:)   Even Jack contributed-ha!

We continue to get updates from ICC which has been nothing but a blessing.  We have learned from ICC and our friends who are also adopting that Yao Sha has at least 3 other dwarf children she plays with at the orphanage and ironically soon all of us new moms to be and moms again may just be traveling around the same time.  What a blessing that would be.

Paul and I start Chinese classes this coming Tuesday and are excited about that.  We are hoping to at least get the "basics" down, in particular the words "We love you" and "It's going to be ok".   What I find truly amazing is that although our daughter is not physically with us yet, we already feel this amazing ability to want to protect her and just make her happy, it's a great and natural feeling that warms our hearts and comforts our souls in a way we never knew existed.

Please continue to ask for strength and courage for Yao Sha as she is beginning to make her way through her transition.

With Love....us.

New Update from ICC

We just got this new update last night from ICC.  Of course we were overjoyed to say the least.  We really have to start saving now....."Harvard", now that would be the ultimate success story.  We love that she has ambitions.

Yao Sha – Brief report for Aug 2010



Yao Sha is a little girl who can adapt easily to a new environment. She did not show any signs of emotional stress since she returned to Wan Shi Jia (ICC’s community home for school going youths). Instead, she is still optimistic, vivacious and talkative. However, sometimes she can be mischievous.


She has got a teddy bear which she cuddles to sleep every night. This gives her a sense of emotional stability, and has helped her adjust to the new living environment in Wan Shi Jia. Yao Sha enjoys talking with the older girls, especially during the evening rest times. She would not go to bed unless they have chit-chat for at least one hour. We think this is also an important way for her to get used to a new environment and to build new relational bonds.


Yao Sha gets along well with the care givers (house parents) in Wan Shi Jia. When they are doing housework Yao Sha would stand nearby, observe what they are doing and talk to them. She likes to help the care givers whenever there is a need. Yao Sha does not like to be idle, doing nothing. She likes to be doing something. So she would walk around the apartment looking for something to keep her occupied. She always takes the initiative to discover new things in her new home. If there is an opportunity, she would accompany the older brothers and sisters to stroll around the neighborhood.


Yao Sha has got used to the new diet and she has a very good appetite every day. Furthermore, she is not picky about food at all. She is also a conscientious learner. For example, she set her own goals for doing homework during this summer holiday, and she has already completed most of them. It is her dream to study at the Harvard University. All of us are encouraging and supporting her because we believe that she can realize her dreams for the future."

"Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here"

BIG Day again.  For those who have not caught onto my theme yet, it's from my favorite Beatles song of all time, "Here Comes the Sun". I am trying to figure out how to link the song up to this blog.  So getting back to our BIG DAY, we mailed our I-800 application today, this is HUGE because it's the last US Immigration approval we need and it does seem like years to get this officially mailed.  Once we get our 800 approval (2-4 weeks) then all our original paperwork heads off to China and then we wait for our Travel Authorization (TA) which I believe is when we get the dates of travel.  We are still beaming and feel truly blessed that it's moving as fast as it is.   There is still so much paperwork in between we have to do on top of getting her room done.  Today we got all three of our passport size photos.  Paul and mine will go with our Visa Application and Yao Sha's will go out with DS230.  I know this is probably silly but I got all teary eyed when I saw her face on a 2x2 passport photo lying next to both of ours.  Look her passport pic below, she's very delicious. 

We are off for a mini vacation with the family.  We are celebrating Colin and Cheryl's (Paul's brother) bridal shower.  I guess I should start saying"Uncle Colin and Auntie Cheryl" :):):) Good night for now and please continue to keep Yao Sha in your thoughts and prayers.  She needs strength and guidance during her transition.

LOA, LOA, LOA

You guessed it, we got our LOA (Letter of Acceptance) today and we are bouncing off walls right now.  We can not believe how fast we got it,  this is truly amazing.   This means that she will soon start to learn about us and her new adventures that are ahead.  On top of Yao Sha being such a blessing to us, I can not say enough wonderful words about the team at ICC (International China Concerns) and CAWLI.  Yao Sha has been fortunate to have spent the last several years in a loving foster family.  During this time we have learned she also spent time with her ICC family in which she will soon transition back there until we come and get her.  We have been very blessed to be able to work this amazing team who I know will make this transition for her as smooth as possible.  I really can't believe that  a year ago yesterday we opened our hearts to adoption and today we received our LOA for this little sunshine.  It's been a bittersweet journey so far but very worth it.

Seriously, LOI on July 16th and now LOA today.......I think this is someone's way of saying "You both have waited long enough".  Now we have to start really moving with her room but first, paper work, paper work, and more paper work:)

Please keep Yao Sha in your thoughts and prayers as she makes her way through these life changes,  keep her strong and happy.

"Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces "

A year ago today (8/8/09) we started our adoption journey which has been a roller coaster of deep emotions. Finally Paul and I are filled again with love and can't stop smiling about it. Looking back on it all we realize that all our heartache needed to occur so we could open our hearts to this beautiful girl.  This was her first report we got on her..ironically she sounds just like me when I was her age, all my teachers told my parents I liked to socialize more then I liked school work;)

"She was found on 4/1/2002 and stayed at the orphanage until she moved with her foster family. She has been staying with a foster family for the past few years.    Her foster family treats her really well.  Her nickname is "little cutie".  She loves to dance and play musical instruments.  She is now in 2nd grade.  Her teacher really likes her.  She is outgoing and active.  In one of the adoption intent:  she even wrote in Chinese that she would love to be adopted by a foreign family.  She is pretty good in math, but she does not like to do her language homework.  She needs to be reminded to do her homework.  But her school grades are good, and she likes to ask questions in class."