January 2008 Zhou Zhuang

We visited Zhou Zhuang, the Venice of China in Jan. 08. It was quiet, not so many tourists because of winter. Zhou Zhuang locates 47 miles west of Shanghai and is famous for its well known ancient towns, stone bridges, water ways and old residency houses.

It took us about 90 minutes from Shanghai to Zhou Zhuang by a tourism bus. We rode a boat for about 20 minutes on the water. The boatlady sang several folk songs for us.

3 minutes video - Zhou Zhuang

I will be a mother very soon - Mother's Day 2009

Another Spring

This spring we made some changes towards our exterior house. 2 juniper trees have grown crazily in the front of our house recent years. I have asked husband cut them down because they blocked the view of our house, but he found many reasons to keep them. Maybe it is a hard job for him.

Amazingly, one day when I walked outside and saw juniper trees were bended and damaged by last night's high wind. This time DH won't have any excuse and has to clear the mess. DH spent 2 days to cut branches to pieces by electrical saw so that we are able to load them into our truck and dump to the waste yard at nearby farm.

My house once again shows her nice looking after these 2 trees gone. In April, DH and I were discussing to replace our roof with high quality material. We have found several pieces of shingles fall down from the roof, though our house is only 14 years old.

We have our roof quoted and it is not cheap for a life time warranty and top quality material. I hesitate to spend so much money on it. DH would like to go for it, in addition to have exterior wood frame painted this year.

One day, DH hugged me as usual when he got home and whispered me, "Guess what?" "What? " I replied. "One company wants me do a proposal for them and guess what? The price they offered me is almost the same we paid for our roof." Wow, God must know my heart. Thank you, my Lord!

Show Time

We felt we were riding a roller coaster during the time we were paper chasing for our home study and dossier. We had ups and downs, tears and joys . We finally made through it after lots of prayers from our church pastors and friends.

In the past 10 months, I enjoyed very much shopping for my little girl. Let me show some of my girl's clothes.

We are told that our dossier has been logged in CCAA on Feb.16, 2009 before we start our cruise to Bahamas, before my birthday coming. What a gift I have for this year's birthday, my days will be more meaningful after this birthday. Thanks God!

DH didn't notice there is a little boy in the photo.

Where are you?

In my journey, I am not alone

My LORD will lift up my head

in HIM, I find peace

Dossier

We submitted our dossier on Jan. 3rd, 2009 to our placement agency, who will send it to China after review.

All documents must be less than 9 months old include following:

- Birth Certificates (Certificates of Naturalization)
- Employment Letters
- Marriage License
- Medical Examination Forms
- Certificate of Non-Criminal Record
- Adoption Application Letter
- Financial Statement
- Home Study
- I800A Approval
- Six Photos about Family Lives
- Three Copies of each applicant's passport
- Two Passport Photos of Each Applicant
- Certified Check $$$$

The last day of 2008 (1)

Holiday is around the corner and Christmas carols are everywhere. Parties and exchanging cookies among the co-workers, all these fun stuff cheer me up, but deep inside of me I very much hope I can have a big Christmas gift - our long time waiting approval.

I have placed too many calls to NBC at Missouri and feel so awful keep calling them. I pass this job to DH, though he is a shy guy.

December 23, 2008 my last day for this year's working, I am so excited and looking for a long break till Jan. 4, 2009. Phone rings as usual at noon, that's my husband's routine phone call every day. He tells me that he called our new trained officer and she is still waiting for G-file. I was so disappointed.

Finally, I decided to call Ms. A and surprisingly she tells me that she is going to approve our case. I am astonished and puzzled. How could it happen? DH just called a couple hours ago. Then, a second thought comes to me that the office may receive my G-file after my husband's phone call.

Sky is so blue, though it is cold. I feel I am a bird flying out to celebrate the spring. I am so happy when I am driving home, ho, ho, ho finally we get our approval. I picture my little girl soon comes to the US.

My cell phone rings when I just park my car at the garage, that's my husband. He says Ms. A wants me call her back, immediately a chill feeling runs through my head to the toes.

I called Ms. A and she apologizes me that she mistakenly thought me as someone else, whose name is very similar to mine. Our approval is still on hold and wait for my G-file. Ms. A feels so bad and repeats her apologies. I know it is a holiday season and I don't want her feel bad. I told her not only did she confuse our Chinese pinyin name, but I did it too. We all burst into a laugh, but mine with tears.

The last day of 2008 (2)

I get into room and immediately kneel down to pray and cry for God's help. He comforts me after a long prayer and I turn on Christmas's music, soon the joy of new born king takes over my sadness. Yes it is a holiday season. I should be happy and sing melody with my mouth and heart. My job allows me having about 2 weeks off with pay, what a blessing I have. Thank you, my Lord!

I have lots of things to do for this break..., I am planing.

The last day of 2008 (3)

We had a wonderful Christmas. I felt so peaceful by looking outside through the windows, ground is covering by thick white snow and cotton like snow spotted on the green pine trees. Millions of lives under the snow are quietly waiting for the first spring thunder. I see someone are cross country walking on the golf course. What a beautiful picture!

Ms. A told me that she will go back to work after Christmas and she will watch mail for me. December 27, DH made a call and told no G-file. December 31, DH called again in the morning, that Ms. A told him "call me back after 3 o'clock. I will give you an answer"

My poor husband called again and Ms. A told him no G-file coming. "However, we decided to give you an approval" she says. "My boss and boss's boss, three of us signed an agreement that we don't see any reason why we shouldn't give your wife an approval without G-file. I am waiting for your call and let you hear my stamping on I800A form". Then, my husband heard a stamping sound.

Lord, You are faithful God, Your love and kindness endure forever. Thank You, my Heavenly Father.