Another care package, a new roof and more waiting

So we decided to send another care package to Andrew...Acutally we just wanted to send a letter but that seemed a little weak after sending gifts the first two times.  I can imagine him getting a package from the orphanage from us, all excited, can't wait to open it and it's just a letter. wah wah.  So we sent a shirt, some green tea for his foster parents and some candy for the orphanage kids; as well as the letter.  We tried to introduce ourselves a little more and tell him that we love him and will always love him.  We told him we were really glad he loves his foster parents and we want him to keep loving them. We told him to get contact info of people he wants to write in China.  We really hope our letters are helpful in his transition.  We told him we live near Disneyland, how American right, and we could go there.  We thought it would be a little too much if we said we would have passes and go to Disneyland every week (it's true it just sounds a little to, "When I get to America I am going to Disneyland everyday!" orphan annie like.)  hahha

We have another week to wait to get our Article 5 issued then one last step (two steps in one).  It looks like we will travel in either late May (if we are speedy) or mid June.  This is baring unforseen slowdowns of course.  So we eagerly await our May 4th date for Article 5 then we start our next wait.  All kind of maddening.  By the time we go to China we ought to be good and crazy.

In the meantime we thought we would fix our roof before he gets here.  Our roof has no insulation, (built in 1955) and it leaks when it rains.  My dad is helping (mostly doing) so the cost is kept down. Thanks Dad.  Once that is done we are almost completely done with our home renovations...it only took two years. 

Almost there.

Hello all...so we finally have some news on our latest step.  We have been fully approved here in the US and our paperwork is now being submitted to the US Consulate in China.  We wait 10 business days (plus 2 day holiday in China) and they will issue our Article 5 (final permission to issue a visa in Andrew's name).  That gets sent one final time to the Chinese Government and we are done...just set up our appointment to adopt in China (CA) and leave. 

Also yesterday we heard from the lady who sent our care package.  She spoke with the orphanage and they said that both packages were delivered to Andrew already.  Which means he has our pictures, letters and presents.  It makes me a little nervous for some reason, knowing he knows who we are. We sure do hope we don't look too ugly to him! hahah. 

We finished buying all the things we need/want to give to Andrew.  We have a couple of sets of clothes, some socks and gifts.  We have some games and stuff to play together in the hotel room.  All the stuff we are taking to him fills one suitcase.  That's funny because we are only allowed on suitcase each and one carry on.  I guess I, Sam, will be traveling light. 

I 800 Approval

So we finished an amazing week.  We found out today that our I 800 was approved yesterday (This is the Final Final US approval to adopt a foreign born child).  Our government now thinks we are set to adopt from China.  So basically just a couple of steps more...next is Consulate approval then on to Travel approval.  Maybe 5 weeks.  Should travel 1-4 weeks after that.  We are so blessed.  So this was an amazing week.  Three cool things, visas, money and approval.  Next week will be pretty boring I think so I'll have to make up some stuff to tell you all. 

We had a conference call with our agency yesterday also about our initial meeting with our new son.  They gave some advice and told us stuff that we have already learned/know.  Give us some tips for in China, which we didn't know, and basically had us check in to see if we are ready.  It went well.

Our second care package will be delivered tomorrow so again we hope it actually shows up for him not just gets "lost" at the orphanage.  The lady who arranged it bought a cute shirt and shorts outfit as well as the letter and stuff.  Hope he likes his gifts. 

Visa and Money

Today was a pretty productive day.  Haejin went down to the Chinese consulate to pick up our visas and all went smoothly, no interview required.  Sometimes they give you a hard time but I guess she just charmed them with her amazing "Chinese" good looks. hahah.  We then headed over to our CPA.  In case you didn't know the government allows for an adoption deduction on your taxes.  Prior to this year it was only good to reduce your income not as a refund so we have never filed for it because our income is always zero after our deductions.  Anyway it turns out Kayla qualifies for this since her adoption was finalized three years ago (five year window)  So we had to file amended tax returns to get the now refundable credit.  We weren't sure how much would be available.  When we went down it turns out there was also a mistake on our previous 2008 tax return so we would get $2000 from 08.  pretty cool..no complaints.  This year we will get the refundable credit so we will be getting $11,000 back for Kayla's adoption (which has already been fully paid!)  So indeed our adoption is covered financially.  We will even be able to pay off my (Sam's) student loan and fix our roof.  The funny thing is next year we will be able to take another refund for Andrew in the amount of $13,000.  So, needless to say, we are pretty stoked.  Visas and Money nice day.  Hopefully our I800 will be approved early so it will be a perfect week.  Much love.

Another letter to China

      Yesterday we sent another letter to our son in China.  This time it was less awkward to write...interesting.  We talked about our family a little and told him how glad we are that his foster parents love him and he loves them.  We asked a few questions and that was about it.  400 translated words for $20.  We also sent a return stamped envelope.  We know the orphanage probably wont pass it on but thought it was worth a try.  We told him to write in Chinese because we have translators here.  We sent a new pants and shirt set and a bunch of candy for the orphanage (bribe to pass along the stuff)  Even the lady who arranges things in China has to go through to orphanage not directly to the foster family.  Politics you know...different country same stuff.  
      We continue to wait for our final final US approval.  This one take 10-25 days.  Normally not a big difference but when you are waiting to meet your son for the first time 15 days seem like the world.  Our steps after that are NVC (National Visa Center) approval for Andrew to travel 2 weeks,  Article 5 (In China US embassy approval)  takes 2 weeks,  followed by a TA (Travel Approval) issued by China government saying we are good to go 2-3 weeks, and finally our CA (Consulate Appointment)  this is an appointment that all adoptions must go through in China with their child.  We will have met and taken custody of Andrew 10 days before.  The CA is at the end of the trip.  A day or two later we fly home.  We should be in China a total of 14-16 days.  Good times.  
      We made our final agency payment this week.  All we have to do is pay for travel, China orphanage fee and a couple of other fees in China.  Only about $11,000 left.  We have that money already in the bank so we are pretty stress free about our finance.  God is good.  Thanks to all those who help support us financially and thanks to the slightly shady Korean man who helped get our house refinanced with sketchy Church income figures...   Well keep praying for us and the paperwork to continue to go smoothly and quickly.  We sure as heck wouldn't mind getting a extra fast I800 approval. Have a great week everyone.  We love you.