Travel Approval

We are headed to China the second week in July. Everything is still in the air regarding when we leave and when we get back but this is what I know so far. They are trying for a (CA) on 23 or 24 of July and that is the last thing we have to do before heading home but I do have one more adventure in Shenzhen to do (more on that later). We are also going up to Beijing for a few days so right now we are looking at leaving on July 8th and returning on July 27 with Gotcha day on the 14th. Off to my parents for the weekend more showering from my family should be a great weekend.

A Sense of Urgency

It must be the mother instinct kicking in. I have such an overwhelming need to get to China. I think of my little Jingchu every minute of everyday what is she doing is she sleeping on her little green matt in her wooden crib or is she eating another bowl of porridge. She has no idea how her life is about to change from what she has know for the last 22 months. She currently lives in a room with 37 other toddlers and it must be so lowed and noisy. At our home it is very quite you can hear the birds singing and the cool mountain breeze reselling through the trees? Her room is almost done and her new bed is waiting to be put together. Oh how life is going to change for both of us.

Introducing Zhao Jingchu

It is with great honor excitement and God's blessing that I share with you the referral of my daughter to be Zhao Jingchu soon to be Annalise Jingchu.

She was born on July 24, 2006 and is currently 1 year 9 months and 28 days old residing in the Social Welfare Center of Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, China, (next door to Hong Kong). Jingchu was found on September 1, 2006 with a note from her birth parents. This leads us to believe she was a wanted baby. But she was sick and needed surgery that they probably could not afford. After 24 days in the hospital she was released back to the Social Welfare Center in Shenzhen where she has been ever since with no further medical complications or medical needs.

She has blossomed in the care of this Welfare Center. At the age of 3-4 months she did not like to be in bed and wanted to be cuddled by her caregiver. At 7-8 months was crawling and started walking at 16 months. My favorite thing they shared is at 16months she can lift her hand to say yes when the caretakers call roll.

One of her developmental checklists has the date of December 25, 2007. She is just a little Christmas present to me. She is close to her Caretaker, she likes to listen to music, and is fond of playing games and will fit in great in this family. Other tidbits of information I received are that she gets along well with other, does not bully the other kids and is obedient, cute and very adorable.

On May 13, 2008 as I was just about out the door to work when my cell phone rang. I don’t have good coverage at home so I ran into Annalise’s room, where the reception is best. To my amazement it was my agency. The lady at my agency asked me if I was crying. Well yes I was. She proceeds to tell me I was a Mommy, then I really started to cry. I stepped out onto the deck to make sure I did not drop the call. I kept asking are you sure, are you sure? She then shared with me a few things about Jingchu. I was all alone and shaking so bad I could hardly open my email and there it was a referral! I had waited so long for this moment and there it was! With trembling hands I opened it up to see a beautiful little girl that I know I've seen before in my dreams. After 48 hours of hard labor, let me just say it was not easy to accept a SN referral in 48 hours, I submitted my Letter of Intent (LOI). Even after all the doctors’ input and research I had to take A leap of faith which is somthing we all must do when accepting an adoption referral. I know in my heart this is the little girl I have been praying for my Annalise.

I am so excited and over the moon in love with this little girl. It’s hard to express in words. I received my Pre Approval (PA) today May 22, 2008 and may travel in 2-3 months hopefully before Jingchu’s second birthday. Please keep us in your prayers as we do everything we can to prepare for her arrival and that Jingchu is healthy and happy until she is placed in my arms.