Much To Be Thankful For

  Just as Thanksgiving approaches we have much to be thankful for.  Praise God!!! We are DTC!!!!!!!!! In other words, our dossier has been sent to China!  Hopefully we will have a LID or "log in date" in 3 weeks (12/11/09).  Rich & I are so excited to finally be getting to this point in the adoption. Each bench mark we hit brings us closer to our daughter. 
   Rich has been working so hard at getting Xiao's room ready for her.  He took this beautiful old full size sleigh bed that we got our first year of marriage from a garage sale and refurbished it.  This bed is just gorgeous! Very thick, beautiful wood with small beaded detailing on the edges. Can't beleive I got it for $38 back in 1997!  Rich also refinshed a matching dresser to this bed that we got from my cousin Debbie K.  What are the odds that she would have this dresser that matches!  Once the room is finished we will post pics. 
  We have also received clothing donations for both Xiao and Keira from Rich's cousin Christy.  She has been such a blessing to us from the start of our family with Keira.  Right before Keira came home, Christy sent us enough clothes and sizes that we did not have to buy barely anything for Keira for 3 years as well as a crib and changing station! Recently she sent about 10 huge bags of clothes from size 5 for Keira up to size 11-12 and 13 for Xiao!  Rich's aunt Mary and Uncle Frank were kind enough to drive these bags to us all the way from Florida.  We love you guys and want you to know that we so appreciate all you have done for us. Family members and friends from both sides have truly been supportive and many have helped us in so many different ways.  We are so blessed to have you all.  May you all have a truly happy Thanksgiving!
Love, Dina

To Xiao With Love

  Rich & I are getting ready to send our care package off to Xiao today.  In the box I have included a brown fleece jacket, brown/pink fleece gloves/hat/scarf, a red knit hat and gloves with an embroidered heart on them, a cotton flannel pajama set, a skirted outfit with leggings, a photo album of Rich/myself/Keira depicting the things we like to do, a Hello Kitty backpack clip, a light-up Hello Kitty stamp, a bag of charm's lollipops, and a pack of bubblicious gum.   We also sent her foster mom a beautiful top from Macy's, a pair of black/red slippers, and Lorna Doone cookies.  I wanted to send her some good chocolate but several folks told me that it may spoil before it reaches her.  I will definately hand carry some to China for her.  
   Along with all of that we sent a list of questions about Xiao that we hope to have answers to when we meet her on "gotcha day".  For example we asked if she has any known allergies to food or meds, any childhood illness such as chicken pox, hobbies, favorite activities ect...    We also sent a card letting her know a bit about our family.  This way she can know that daddy is an artist, mommy is a nurse and little sister is 4yr old and loves her tiger, riding her bike and playing on the computer.  She will know that we love the outdoors, metroparks, zoo and Disney World.   
    On another note, the last of our documents are being couriered around for various stamps of approval.  Once those documents(called dossier) get sent back to our adoption agency they will be ready to be sent to China.  The lingo we use is DTC or dossier to China.  We are hoping and praying that it will be sent by mid to end November.  Will keep you updated! 
      Much Love,
       Dina

                                                                     
         

AN UNEXPECTED SURPRISE

Sunday October 25th


Dina and I, as well as our entire Chongqing family, were celebrating the three year anniversary of meeting our daughters for the first time. We received an early morning e-mail from our friend Laurie stating she was trying to find a family for a beautiful 11 year old girl living in Dongguan City in Guangdong Province.  Dina really felt a pull in her heart and asked me if we wanted to ask Laurie for her photo and information.  I didn't hesitate to say yes, I too had a strong feeling about her.  We then e-mailed Laurie and asked for Xiao's information and pictures.  Laurie sent them with a warning attached.  She said be warned, if you see her picture you will fall in love with her.  She was absolutely correct! We read her medical history of minor special needs that we have no problem taking on and then at the very end of her report were three beautiful pictures of Xiao Wen and a short video of Xiao followed in the next e-mail.  Dina & I were ready to start the adoption right away but Dina then suggested that we take a day to really think about it & make sure it was what we wanted.  We talked about it at length and our minds never changed and we decided not to wait 24 hours.  So, that same night May 24th,  we proceeded and asked Laurie for information about the adoption agency that held Xiao's file.  On Monday May 25th we contact Lifeline adoption agency and started the process!