Letter Seeking Confirmation

The hard copy of our LOA - Letter of Acceptance - showed up at our agency on Wednesday.  The actual document is called the Letter Seeking Confirmation.  Our dossier has been translated, reviewed, and matched with Samuel's file.  Then this letter is sent, with Samuel's name on it, asking if we agree to adopt him.  Of course we do!!  We drove up on Thursday morning to sign it.  Now we start the second process with USCIS, which will allow us to bring Samuel to the US.  Planning to make the trip to China in early July!

Soft LOA! And SAMUEL Pictures!!

We received word from our agency last night that our LOA was on it's way!  That makes Day 51 for our "soft" LOA, which is when it shows in the system that it's been sent, but the hard copy hasn't arrived yet.  Not quite a nice as 35 days, but much better than over 100, which sometimes happens!

I must do another shout-out to our agency, AAC Adoption in Berthoud, Colorado.  They care very much about the children they are placing, and they care very much about their families.  I was given our new information on a Sunday night at 9:30, as it was 11:30am in China.  (Thank you, Nicole!)

Now that we have been given approval by China to adopt Samuel, I can finally post photos of him!  I have waited many months to do that!  This first picture is the one I saw back in October.  I cried when I saw it.  I cried when I read his story.  God was introducing me to this beautiful boy and orchestrating the beginning of our family's journey.

Another picture taken on the same day.  Samuel lives in the Guangdong Province of China, in the city of Yangchun.  There is a large orphanage there, but by the grace of God, he does not live in that building.  Instead, he lives in a group foster home called House of Grace, on the grounds of the orphanage.  The House of Grace building is usually where just babies and toddlers live, but through the providence of God, Samuel was placed there, as well.  He has been cared for by godly, Christian foster parents for the past 11 months.  God has shown us time and time again just how much He cares for our boy, and how He is working in his life.  This picture was taken when our agency AAC visited the Yangchun orphanage and House of Grace last August.

The director of the orphanage sent me this one.  She cares about Samuel very much, and was the one who arranged for him to live at House of Grace.   I have been able to talk with her about Samuel on WeChat, which has an in-app translator.  Another blessing!  (And isn't our boy just so cute!)

And here is our handsome boy with my sweet friend Nichole.  She visited House of Grace earlier this year when she adopted her daughter, and gave Samuel some lovin' while she was there.  Love this picture!

And I love this picture, too.  My friend Martha (in the middle) visited House of Grace earlier this year, as well, when she adopted her sweet boy. (Isn't he cute?!)   The other people are Amy and Donald, who were Samuel's foster parents and the main caretakers at House of Grace until recently.  I am so, so happy that Martha got this picture of Samuel with them.  

Ha.  I was going to post this picture of Samuel with one of the House of Grace babies, and remembered that this baby is the same little guy from the previous picture, a few months earlier!  So cute!!

Another picture that the orphanage director sent me.  I think it's pretty recent, looking at his haircut!

 My friend Gina sent me this photo.  It was taken last summer when Samuel was allowed to ride to Guangzhou (capital city of Guangdong Province) for Gina's daughter's "gotcha" day.  He's been to two other "gotcha" days, now.  I'm so glad that he's had the experience of seeing children that he knows going to be with new families and knowing that they are loved and safe.

Donald sent me this one a couple of months ago.  We had sent Samuel that shirt and little car and candy.  (I don't know where the hat came from!)  

Samuel showing the AAC staff around House of Grace, and being silly about it!

Samuel with his new foster mother, Sandra.  She is the one who actually founded House of Grace years ago.  They are looking at some things we had sent to him when AAC visited there in March.  (And being silly again!)

Thank you, friends, for caring about our boy and for praying for his heart.  He has been through trauma and heartache in his 11 years, but our Father is the Healer of broken hearts.  Please continue to pray for Samuel and for our family, as we get ready to bring him home this summer.

Happy Resurrection Day!

Ha.  Typing "resurrection" makes me remember that I used to give that spelling word to my 3rd graders.  Man, they were smart!  But I digress . . .

What I actually came here to say was, "Happy Easter!", which is Resurrection Day!  JESUS IS RISEN!

I took these pictures yesterday, while the kids were coloring eggs.  Caylie knew exactly what to do this year!  I thought a lot about how it will be with Samuel with us next year.

My beautiful girl, ready for church.

And her goofy brothers.

Caylie was very excited about her Easter basket!

The kids sang a song at church.  Caylie is always excited about doing that!

After church there was an egg hunt for the kids.  Tessa and daddy Brad waiting for it to start.

And now there will be lots of pictures of Caylie at the egg hunt - just because she was so cute!  

Big bunny brother Keelan.

Brittany and Tessa.

Johnson family picture for Tessa's first Easter.

All of us.  Taylor, Jim, Caylie, Keelan, Brad, Brittany, Tessa, Justin, me.

 Happy Easter, friends!