Starting All Over.........

Well, We have been logged in to China for 14 months and our paper work is starting to expire. Today Russ and I had to go to Birmingham to be re-finger printed. Everyone at that office is always so very Nice!! I wanted to take photos, But NO CAMERAS are allowed. We did however make it to Villa Hope to give the girls a little Thank You for all the hard work they put into all the paperwork that had to go to China. We made it through the review room with out any questions from China!! Above from Villa Hope(Sorry, We don't know the man) Ann, Adriana, and Julie.

After the finger prints and the nice visit we had at Villa Hope we went to a Bike Shop, had lunch and did the tourist thing in Birmingham. We went to the Vulcan Park. Took some photos of B'ham and went up to the top of the Vulcan Tower. There was a small museum about the Steele industry that formed Birmingham years and years ago. If you have never been, Go the next time you go to Birmingham. It was nice. It was about $6.50 per person to go up the tower and go into the museum. It's nice to learn about our Alabama history.

The Vulcan

A little Vulcan History

How did we get to the top you ask??

Well, We walked! Ahhhh It wasn't that bad, only about 162 steps up, then 162 steps down.
Who was up there with us?? Well, NO ONE! So we couldn't get a photo of us together.

Look a little closer.......

Did you see that FULL MOON?? ha ha ha The Vulcan has on NO PANTS!

A view from the top of the Vulcan.

Dragon Boat Races

Dragon Boat Races:

If you were in China Right now, This is the Type of Dragon Boat you would see.

Well, Because we are in Athens Alabama and not China, This is what you get! lol

Today Our Athens, Alabama Families With Children from China group celebrated a Chinese Custom known as The Dragon Boat Races.

This is the second year we have done this. Our group was small this year, But there are 2 families in China RIGHT NOW getting their BEAUTIFUL Children.

Best Wishes and all our Love go out to the Ogle and Carter Families.

Here are a few more photos from today.....enjoy

Love, Lisa

Anniversary Gift from the CCAA!!!

Well today, June 23,2007 is Russ and My 18 year Wedding Anniversary.

What a WONDERFUL gift we got from the CCAA!!!
"The CCAA has finished the review of the adoption application documents registered with our office before April 30, 2006."
AHHHHHH we can breath again!

Now we are off to be matched up with our Sweet Alison Rose and hopefully Susan Renee. (We asked for twins if available at referral)

We are not out of the woods, so to say, yet. We now have that LONG WAIT to referral!

The CCAA has only sent out referrals up to November 7, 2005.

We still pretty much have a 6 month wait, then you have to add the length of time between referral. With the CCAA only doing 1 to 2 weeks a month, that starts adding up to a Longer and Longer wait. So, Unless the CCAA starts doing a full month of referrals at a time (to get us at referral in 6 months) We are still looking at no less than another year of waiting.

On our Anniversary, June 23,2005 We made our very first step into the adoption world. We made a visit to the Villa Hope International Adoption office in Birmingham, Alabama. We talked to the Director for a while, looked at photo's of the different countries to adopt from, but we kept leaning on China. I am so glad we did. I don't think we would have found our new and wonderful friends we have found in our Families with Children from China group. Anyway, we brought home the application to adopt. Well, needless to say, We didn't do to much with it at first. We were going through infertility treatments. When that all failed, we got hot on that application. We knew that even if the INVITRO worked, we were still going to adopt from China. Our hearts were already there. We turned our application in that November. Our home study was complete by February 2006. Our documents were off and logged in to China April 2006. Now, here we are 2 years down the road and still waiting for our family to grow.

It has been 2 years we started our journey to China, Sometimes it doesn't seem like it's been 2 years, But other times it seems 2 years and then some.

Thank you to our Family and Friends for your Love and Support through this long trial in our life. And yes to my Friend Tina, WITH GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!! I think I have gained patience and a little better attitude towards myself and other people through this long wait. God works on our hearts in many different ways. This adoption process has made me a better person, and I THANK GOD for that!

Check back later for photo's of our FCC's Dragon Boat Races Day and Our Anniversary!!

Love, Lisa

Alison Update....

Well, We are in the process of REDOING PAPER WORK!!

Not much going on. The CCAA has only gone up to November 8th 2005 for referrals. We are April 29th 2006, so do the math. With the CCAA only doing a few days up to two weeks at a time, it is taking for EVER for our turn! So in the mean time paperwork is expiring.

We have sent off for a new appointment for Fed Fingerprints. Some good news, We don't have to pay for Immigration again!! Also, if we have to be re fingerprinted next year that will also be free! The home study will start all over again soon. But, that's the EASY part!! We have such a WONDERFUL social worker.

That's about it for now. We will keep you all updated as much as we can. Thank you all for your Love and concern!

Puppy Update...

Little Miss Maggie May is growing like a weed. We have had her for 2 weeks now and she has grown at least 2 or 3 inches. She keeps us moving, that's for sure! lol She likes to CHEW, but what she REALLY LIKES TO DO IS BITE MY NOSE AND EARS! haha Hunter has been really good o her. I thought he might not get along with her because he is the MASTER around here. But he is sooooo good with her. He plays with her and lets her pull and bite on him...it is so cute to watch. Cooper can care less if Maggie is around or not. She doesn't play with Maggie at all, at least not that I have seen. Cooper likes to steal Maggies treats. Maggie is soooo much like a little kid. She is everywhere!! She has learned to sit but sometimes she tried to prove you wrong! lol I will post more as she grows! Oppppssss It's Bath time...Russell just took her to get a bath...gotta run. Love, Lisa