Getting closer..

We and other couples had a meeting this week with Mr. Wu the director of the China adoption program at Gladney. He did two hours of Q&A and discussed many items regarding the logistics of the final adoption stages. We believe we will receive a picture and medical report of a specific little girl sometime in September- this is called getting your "referral". We believe we will travel to pick her up sometime in November.

We learned from speaking with Mr. Wu that Gladney is in frequent contact with many Chinese officials and purposely maintains close relationships with Provincial government officials (their version of U.S. state govts), Federal government officials, and CCAA (Chinese Center for Adoption Affairs) officials. This week Gladney was distinguished as one of only two adoption agencies in the United States to receive a diplomatic visit from a high official in the social welfare agency in China that is over the CCAA. Mr Wu, Gladney senior management, and many families who have already adopted from China met these officials in Fort Worth and brought their girls who had been adopted from China to meet them. Gladney entertained them in authentic Texas tradition at the Fort Worth Stockyards and did many authentic Texas things. They even met them with roping cowboys which I find quite hilarious. Apparently the officials seemed to have had a fun time and they were very interested in how the little girls were doing. They seemed genuinely happy the girls were doing so well. At one time Mr. Wu said the officials were visibly touched to find that one Gladney family had adopted from China a little girl who was totally blind. The officials had wanted to see how the children were doing who had been adopted and I'm sure they were very blessed to see their work was changing lives for these abandoned baby girls. I can't help but think God will do a work in China through these adoptions.

I'd like to give some details about what this stage of our process involves for our family and friends. The CCAA as mentioned above process all paperwork, approves international adoptions, and matches children to families. 95% of the children available are girls since they are the ones abandoned due to a strong cultural preference for boys and the one child policy in China. We will receive our referral picture, medical information, and acceptance documents at the same time as 7-8 other Gladney families. The CCAA processes applications and produces referral matches constantly but only releases them monthly and they send groups of matches to the various accredited agencies like Gladney. Once we receive our referral we complete the acceptance forms which are then sent back to China for travel approval which takes 6 weeks.

We learned in the meeting with Mr. Wu this week we are responsible for the airfare but the minute we step off the plane we will have a guide who has worked with Gladney for years that coordinates all of our logistics, lodging, transportation, sightseeing, food, etc. From what we hear from other families Gladney almost over-prepares everything and there is no guessing or stress. Hearing all of this was obviously very comforting since China is so far away and such a different culture.

The neatest situation is that although it takes almost two days to get to China we will actually receive Noelle on the third day! Everyone has to go to Guangzhou, China to the U.S. consulate to process the INS paperwork and everyone stays at the White Swan Hotel which is famous because literally everyone who adopts from China stays there. I read a review of the hotel on Yahoo Travel and it said there are "packs" of adoptive families everywhere. You can see pics, information, and comments about the hotel here: http://travel.yahoo.com/p-hotel-368689-action-pictures-white_swan_hotel-i;_ylt=ArkSkIX54SZQhGMroSWeWJ7iphQB

When we travel to China and meet up with our group one of the nice things is that some of the families will be from North Texas. It is valuable to be able to form these bonds of relationship with others who have adopted from China- especially since some will be in our area. Typically these groups of families stay in touch and have play groups, annual reunions, and keep in email contact. I personally look forward to Maddie and Noelle having some friends through this. It is a prayer of mine that we can have some play friends that have the same family makeup we have.

We would appreciate the prayers of our friends and family for the Lord's help with these important details:

- Our dossier will be in the CCAA "matching department" next month- please pray God's leading hand in matching us to Noelle!
- Also, help us pray that while Noelle is still in the orphanage she will have someone who takes a special notice of her, looks after her, and gives her love and affection.
- Pray that she also receives formula because many orphan infants only receive cows milk.