Call to action...look, Sarah's begging!!!

Some relief may be in sight!!! Most of you know the agony of our plight with our dealings with the USCIS/INS . Remember? The fingerprinting, the lost paperwork, the extremely long turn around. Yeah, them. Well, the paper that we get from them is the I-797, it basically gives us permission to bring our child home. Without it…she stays in China. The fingerprints are good for 15 months. The form itself is good for 18 months. Both must be valid at the time we enter the states with Sophie. With the current pace of referrals we are looking at having to re-do the entire process of this filing. Basically throwing the first $1000 we spent on it down the drain and forcing us to endure that irritating process again. It’s irritating because the offices can’t handle the load they currently have…nevermind the load of RE-DOING everyone.
The 18 month time limit came about when Homeland Security took over and is basically an arbitrary number. Hence the reason we need help.
There is a bill being introduced to extend the validity to 24 months and it will be a God-send if we can get it passed. PLEASE take a moment right now and email your representative from this link: http://www.house.gov/writerep
You can cut and paste exactly what I’ve written below (inserting the congressperson’s name and signing your name !!) and hit send. Please help us be heard! Thanks!
See Sarah begging.....


Dear [insert name],
There is legislation (H.R. 5888 Helping Families Adopt Orphans Act, http://wilson.house.gov/NewsAction.asp?FormMode=Releases&ID=1284 ) being introduced by Congresswoman Heather Wilson (NM) that will help families currently being affected by the expiration date of the I-171H/797 and the lengthening wait times in international adoption. The legislation will extend the date and allow the families to complete their adoption without the financial burden of re-filing for an entirely new approval.
Thank you for your help getting this important piece of legislation passed. It will help tens of thousands of families as well as keep the already backlogged USCIS offices from having to renew the paperwork for tens of thousands of families.
Thank you,

What do you want for your birthday??

This is still a fun question because she really doesn't get that there are stores that really will have anything she could possibly want. Life is still simple and sweet.
When I ask she says:
"Ummmmm bird day cake...for ME! And ummmm, sing "Bird day to me!"

You want to sing "Happy Birthday to You"?

"Noooooo, you sing to MEEEE!!"

So, we've got her major desires taken care of! Whew! What a relief!

But, as I sit and consider that my baby will be 3 in a little over a month, I realize the all-consuming power of wanting to find something that will somehow show how much we love her. Of course there is no thing that could ever do that...but still, you wish there was.
We went to the Dollar Tree this weekend and nearly found that "thing". A balloon. I can't describe the absolute delight she had as I wheeled the buggie under the ballon gathering spot so she could reach up and grab her very own balloon. She held it like it was what she had been dreaming of for years. Not only was it a perfect balloon, but it had Elmo and Big Bird and Zoe on it! She held on tightly to the ribbon, but yet gentle at the same time...all as she looked up high to see her balloon following her. BUT THEN...there it was!! The other balloon....the yellow smiley face balloon. Oh, she was about to burst!!! "Can I? Can I? Can I?" As we handed her the 2nd balloon I seriously thought her world was going to stop spinning. All that for $2.20.
As we walked out and the storm was rolling in the smiley face balloon made a break for it. As it sailed off into the sky Sarah asked where it went. We told her that maybe God would take it to Sophie. Sarah was happy with that.

Now, for what you all really want to see...pictures!

The Princess and her Prince


The new umbrella!!

The rumors giveth and the rumors taketh away.....

Well, shortly after my last post rumors began to turn. Knowing that they are all just rumors I just sat back and ignored what I didn't want to hear. But today our agency, who has tried to keep things as positive as possible, has shifted their guesses out a bit. We are likely now going to wait 15 -18 months for referral. That's, ummmm, early as March late as June 2007. That's just for her picture...another 2 months after that to travel. Other factors will likely change as well, adding emotional and financial costs.
I do know that God is in control of all this, but you know what? I can't help but feel like God might want to hear a little more petitioning for little Sophie Swan (yes, that's her name!!!). If you rode the coaster with us for Sarah, you'll remember we prayed things like "please let our paperwork be on the right desk and let that person feel a compelling desire to place babies today" or "please let Sarah's paperwork be in the right stack right now" or "give the staff the desire and ability to push hard before this holiday" right up to the big stuff "allow the woman who is carrying sarah in her tummy right now to please have enough food and a comfortable place to sleep". "Allow Sarah to be found quickly".
It's hard to pray in situations like these. Because we want to become complacent and say "God knows what He is doing" what's the point in praying? Of course it's so true that God knows what he is doing and I desire nothing but his best. But what I've remembered is that between us and Sophie are millions of minutes that are affected by free will and HUMANS. I trust that God will hear our prayers and know that all we want is the Sophie he has for us, whether that's in 6 months or 18 months. So I'm going to beg for prayer for even the smallest administrative thing you can think of!!! I don't know much, but I know last time we all prayed like this the wait was 6 months to the day and all our pushing got us beautiful Sarah!!!! Add waiting families to your prayer lists at church...for our patience to wait so long for these babies to come home and for the governments to HURRY UP!!!!
We cling to Isaiah 30:18 STILL....Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!!!
We love you!!!

Update on Mei Mei *nothing major*-clarification added :)

Well, we are hearing more and more positive rumors that a December referral is a very real possibility. That would be a 12 month wait for us. I'll take it. :)
It might explain why when Sarah and I were praying for MeiMei last week that she suddenly felt very real and a name popped out of my mouth out of nowhere.
If you are reading this please say prayers for her!!!! She may be out there depending on the love of a stranger right now...and safe in the hands of God!

**clarification**
Sometimes I forget to "translate" adoption lingo so everyone else understands..sorry.
A December referral means we would get her picture and info in December...travel would be 6-8 weeks after that.

"I want the Mulan song"

She is her mommy's daughter. The girl loves music...can "name that tune" in 20 seconds if she knows it. She also loves Mulan...LOVES Mulan. Loves to watch Mulan, loves to stare at Mulan, loves to sing with Mulan.
She recently discovered that "the Mulan song" is on my iPod. And I discovered how adorable she is singing with those headphones in. We have it on video, if I knew how to load it I would (can anyone help?), but for now here are pictures. :)