Still No TA

We are still waiting for the CCAA to issue our TA! After last week's update, we have since learned that there is a transalation issue with Madison's Chinese name and thus the immigration paperwork and the Amended LOSC (Letter of Seeking Confirmation) do not match. Thus, the US Consulate in China wanted to verify that she is one and the same person. Yesterday (Tuesday) we learned that the NBC (National Benefit Center / USCIS) is going to issue an amended I-800 Approval which will be cabled to the Embassy and then we will be back on track. Our agency figures this should be taken care of pretty quickly and hopefully in the new two weeks (hopefully sooner!) we will have our TA (or be in line for it). Once that little piece of paper is issued, we will get our CA (consulate appointment) and then book our flights and we'll be outta here!

We will keep ya posted! Keep those positive thoughts and prayers coming our way!

Blessings,

Denise, Dale, Samantha & Madison (still waiting in China)

Update

Okay, so today is a new day and I am in a better state of mind then I was yesterday afternoon. Believe me, many a tear was shed!

We received an update from the Consulate in China today which said they had received our LOSC and other document(s) from our case worker (agency rep in China) on July 17th and that our case is still under processing. Normally, they finish the process within 10 calendar days, depending on their workload, which is understandable. Further, they will notice our case worker (again, our agency's rep in China) when it has been complete.

What does this mean, well if all goes according to plan and it is approved within the 10 days, our Article 5 should be signed on 7/27/09 and then picked up by our agency rep in China and delivered to the CCAA, which will put us in the official line for issuance of our travel approval (TA). Hopefully that will come quickly once delivered to the CCAA!

We have faith that all will work out and we will still travel before the start of the school year here in Minnesota, which is after Labor Day!

Many blessings,

Denise, Dale, Samantha & Madison (who is waiting for her family in China!)

UGH ~ Another Delay!

To say that we are disappointed yet again would be an understatement! Today we learned that our TA will more than likely not arrive this week as we had anticipated and hoped due to a delay! Apparently, the Consulate had requested another document from the CCAA (China Center for Adoption Affairs). What you may ask . . . well here is what we received from our agency today:

The Consulate requested another document for their case from CCAA, which has since been received, so now we wait to hear when the Article 5 is completed and the Central Authority Letter of Seeking Confirmation is signed and both are forwarded to CCAA.

Once we hear that these two documents have been processed, then we will officially be in line for the CCAA to issue our TA! This is unbelievable! Our agency also stated that earlier today they requested an update on our case so I am anxious to hear from them about they hear!

We keep hoping and praying that we travel before Samantha has to start school in September, but if not, we will deal with that issue when it comes. No matter what, she is going to China with us to get her sister! She'll just miss school for the time we are gone! I'll have to call and explain it to the school, but this waiting and one delay after another should not even have occurred! The entire thing is just so frustrating!

Please pray that all works out for us and that our TA arrives in the short term! We'll let you know when we hear anything on the TA front!

Nothing!

We received nothing this week! We are a we bit bummed, but next week is a new week and HOPEFULLY the dawn of good things to come!

TA ~ Where Are You?

We have now news to report but are hopeful that our TA will arrive this week. This is the final piece of paperwork we need in order to request our CA (Consulate Appointment) and once confirmed, we shall make our travel arrangements and book those flights to China! Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. This leg of the wait has been the hardest thus far. I think finally knowing who Miss Madison is and actually having pictures of her to stare at and knowing that life just keeps moving forward with us NOT BEING TOGETHER AS A FAMILY is the hardest part of all. Again, please keep the good thoughts coming our way!

This past weekend we went to Valley Fair (an amuzement park in MN) with Dale's work. We had a lot of fun even though Sammie is still not into rides much, but we did spend a lot of time in the water park and enjoyed the new wave pool.

Hard to believe that in less than two months our baby girl will start school. It seems just like yesterday that Sammie joined our family and here it is almost 5 years later . . . WOW, where does the time go. We will close one door and open another to begin a new chapter in her life's journey ~ the school years!

We will keep everyone up to speed as things draw nearer with our travel plans.

Thanks for the continued well wishes and prayers,

Denise, Dale, Samantha & Madison

Blanket

Here's another blanket that I made to take to China as part of our orphanage donation. I've got at least one more to make as my sister is also making a couple for us to take.

Independence Day 2009

Happy 4th of July everyone. Make it a safe one!