4 More Stones

September seems to be flying by, halfway through the month already. It is a little too early in the month for rumors but I expect that we will be hearing some this week. There is a holiday at the beginning of October where the CCAA takes a couple days off so there is a chance that we could be seeing the next batch a little later than normal. But there is also a chance that they could send referrals out before they leave for the holiday and we would see referrals a little early. Either way we are hoping that they will get into December with the next batch.. Jen has a little "Countdown the Log In Days" clock in her classroom at work. She has a jar of glass stones, each stone represents a Log In Date. Last month they got through 4 Log In Days so she took out 4 stones. Each month she will be taking out a stone for each Log In Date they get through. There are only 41 stones left in the jar, which is the number of days they need to get through to get to our Log In Date. When the jar is empty we will have our referral and will be getting ready to travel to China.

Getting Prepared

In our unending quest to become the most prepared parents ever who aren't actually yet parents, Jen and I took a Infant and Child Safety and CPR class yesterday at Mass General Hospital. We went with our friends Kris and Biren who are pregnant with twins. The class was good, we still have a lot of work to do around our house to get it baby safe but we will probably wait until we get our referral until we start installing safety devices. Between the carseats and all of the safety devices you need to buy these days you have to wonder how any of us survived childhood. The CPR training is just one of those things that is so important to know but you hope you never have to use. We also hit 20 months since our Log In Date last week. This is the first month that we think we might be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. At this point we think there is a pretty good chance we could be getting our referral in early January 2008. Although this could all change if they don't get into December with the next batch but we think that they will. We anticipate being pretty busy the next couple months, I have some project deadlines coming up at work that should keep me pretty busy and Jen is back to school so we hope that the next few months fly by and get us to our referral and then to China early next year.

Comparing The Years - September Edition

I have updated my chart that compares days referred per month this year to last year. Interestingly, the September batch last year also seemed to trend down a bit. The good news is the October and November batches last year were pretty big so if the chart continues to trend similarly going forward we could be in for some bigger batches. The online polls seem to point to December being smaller than November so I think it is safe to say we can expect some double digit number of days referred in the upcoming months. The updated chart is below.

September CCAA Update

We woke up to a little surprise this morning, the CCAA updated its website to confirm that they have referred people with Log In Dates through November 25th. Even though it is just four days and less days than last month it is a day more than we were expecting so we are not too disappointed. I truly expect that they will get into December with the next batch.

Product Test Kitty

Referrals should be arriving at some point this week. There are a couple rumors floating around regarding how many days they are going to refer this month. The first rumor is that they are going to get through November 24th, this is pretty much what we expect and although it is only three days there are thought to be quite a few people logged in on those days so it would not be as bad as it seems. The second rumor is that they are going to get into December which would be at least 10 days. As much as we hope they will get into December with this batch we really don't expect it to happen. I didn't want to post the below pics but Jen made me. Back by popular demand, here are just a couple pics below of Lucy helping us safety test our new stroller. She actually seemed to enjoy it.

Guestbook Archive

Just a post to save our messages from our old Guestbook

Name:

donna

Date:

Thursday October 04, 2007 04:37:00 GMT

Comments:

your quilt is beautiful, seriously! I am gonna start making one
myself tomorrow! Your website is inspiring, its great for waiting
families to run it people like you, I havent even got my LID! I put
your site on my favorites to reference your quilt as I make my own


thankyou

---

Name:

Gail

Date:

Wednesday September 19, 2007 14:09:54 GMT

Comments:

Great idea with the stones. I think I will do something like that
too!!


We are getting closer!

---

Name:

THE MAHONEY'S

Date:

Monday September 17, 2007 02:11:10 GMT

Comments:

Well guys when you look at that photo,it sure doesn't look like
many stones in that jar.we are all getting closer with each passing day
*wink*

---

Name:

Alyson & Ford

Date:

Wednesday September 12, 2007 09:15:51 GMT

Comments:

Hello! Read your introduction on Precious Pandas - DTC/LID Jan06.
We are LID 01/27/06. The wait has been long but the light at the end of
the tunnel can be seen. Hurry up 2008!




Alyson


www.alyzabethan.blogspot.com

---

Name:

Lindsay

Date:

Monday September 03, 2007 16:37:51 GMT

Comments:

Grace - it is easy to tell that your parents have so much love to
give. Their faces are beaming in the nursery they have created for you!
What wonderful parents you (will) have!

---

Name:

Maura

Date:

Saturday August 25, 2007 03:45:20 GMT

Comments:

Hi Jen and Steve!




I really enjoyed reading all the latest news. Steve...it was so nice to
read your tribute to Randy and how much he meant to you. Keep your
chins up and we'll see you guys on Labor Day.




Love, Maura




ps. Lots of love to our dear little niece Gracie...we can't wait to
meet you "lovebug".

---

Name:

Ann Marie

Date:

Friday August 24, 2007 12:58:51 GMT

Comments:

Your cat is crazy! Her step brother Oliver on the other hand is
quite normal...

---

Name:

Rich

Date:

Friday August 24, 2007 00:43:36 GMT

Comments:

I'm really upset that you did not come visit with Mom and
Dad...need to set your priorities, Jen!

---

Name:

Ann Marie

Date:

Tuesday August 21, 2007 19:02:03 GMT

Comments:

Steve, what a moving tribute to Randy. Jen, the quilt looks
absolutely gorgeous. Miss you guys, and am with you counting down the
days until Gracie gets here!

---

Name:

Melinda

Date:

Tuesday August 21, 2007 03:08:30 GMT

Comments:

Jen- Grace's quilt is beautiful...every day that passes and every
goal achieved is one day closer to her.

Steve- Your tribute to Randy was very nice. I have a huge lump in my
throat. He was a really awesome guy and I actually think about him
often too.


Grace- I think about you too and just can't wait for you to come home
and join the family! Your Mom and Dad keep up a great website for you!
It is going to be so much fun for you to read when you get older. Love,
Auntie Melinda

---

Name:

Wendy

Date:

Friday August 17, 2007 23:56:52 GMT

Comments:

Just wanted to pop in and say hi and to thank you for all of your
thoughts and prayers for us over the last week. They have meant so
much!


http://adoptionandfire.typepad.com

---

Name:

Carrie

Date:

Friday August 17, 2007 05:40:19 GMT

Comments:

Hi guys!! Just stopping in to check up on you. Hope all is well.




Carrie

---

Name:

Julie Siegel

Date:

Friday August 10, 2007 23:24:56 GMT

Comments:

Hey Steve and Jen,


You surf the boards almost as much as I do! Great Blog! Hey, I was glad
to see that meeting our little daughter at the gathering in April made
you feel a little better. That's exactly why we brought her. Lately she
asks us every day, "but WHEN will my baby sister be here, tell me
WHEN."

Your future travel mates,


Dave, Julie and Eliana


PS All those "hits" to your site from Worcester are me!!!!

---

Name:

Kristen

Date:

Thursday August 09, 2007 02:15:00 GMT

Comments:

Jen,


Gracie's quilt came out sooo nice! Good job! Look forward to seeing it
in person.



So we're up to Nov 21st... getting super close to December LIDs! woohoo!

---

Name:

Liz Bennett

Date:

Monday August 06, 2007 13:03:57 GMT

Comments:

Jen,


The quilt is beautiful! You are so talented!! Enjoy the last few weeks
of summer. I will give you a call to get together.

---

Name:

Robin Dowling

Date:

Sunday August 05, 2007 20:59:30 GMT

Comments:

Little Jen,


The quilt for Grace is beautiful. You should be very proud of yourself.
It will only look better when Grace os wrapped in it...

---

Name:

Jamie Brooks

Date:

Sunday August 05, 2007 14:18:02 GMT

Comments:

You have done such a wonderful job with this site! I have also
been thinking of doing a quilt and love Gracie's. I have one thing I
could add to the list of waiting to long, I had 2 boys in HS and one in
6th grade when we started now I have 2 in college and 1 in HS.

Take care


Jamie Brooks


Chesapeake, VA LID 3/2/06

---

Name:

Tammy Manning

Date:

Thursday August 02, 2007 20:30:09 GMT

Comments:

Jen- did you say there were imperfections???? That quilt is
unbelievable!! I vote you make a 2nd one :) Its perfect.

---

Name:

Joni

Date:

Wednesday August 01, 2007 23:34:49 GMT

Comments:

The quilt is beautiful, Jen. Gracie's going to love it! Don't
worry about it being perfect. The Amish, who are known for their
unbelievable quilts, actually put a mistake in most of their quilts
because they say only God is perfect. I just tell people I'm Amish!!!!
Love, Joni

---

Name:

Peggy

Date:

Wednesday July 18, 2007 20:47:17 GMT

Comments:

Hi Jen & Steve!


I saw you guys on RQ Jan. LID room too! We are Peggy & Bob and we
have 3 homegrown adult sons and have a 1/12/06 LID for our daughter! I
absolutely love your nursery especially the chandelier....I added my
blog on RQ.

Blessings,


Peggy

---

Name:

Sue

Date:

Monday July 16, 2007 13:10:13 GMT

Comments:

I noticed that my email address didn't post on the first note.
I'll try again... :)

---

Name:

Sue

Date:

Monday July 16, 2007 13:07:48 GMT

Comments:

Hi, Steve and Jen! My name is Sue. It's so nice to "meet" you! I
saw your link under the Jan. LID room on R.Queen and have enjoyed
looking at your site. I must say that we have a lot in common as far as
our timelines! My husband, Doug, and I met in April of 1997. We were
married in June of 2001. We too struggled with infertility for all of
those long years between '01 and '05. In August of 2005 we made the
decision to adopt from China. We officially began our application
process on Aug. 27, 2005. Our LID is also close to yours -- Jan. 12,
2006! I am just amazed at how many dates we have in common! I can't
wait to show my husband your site tonight. Jen -- I LOVE your top ten
list! Feel free to email me if you want to so we can support each other
through this trying time. Best wishes to both of you during this wait
of a lifetime. Our beautiful babies will be worth the wait! :)

---

Name:

Beth Gustafson Wheeler

Date:

Tuesday July 10, 2007 13:49:27 GMT

Comments:

This site is great! Thank you for sharing! Hopefully, we will all
have our referrals soon.

-Beth and Ken Wheeler (DTC 12/8/05)

---

Name:

Melody Sumnlers

Date:

Saturday July 07, 2007 22:15:19 GMT

Comments:

Hi Jen and Steve....I love the map on your site. That is pretty
cool! We are from Southern IL...Metropolis (Superman).The nursery is
sooo cute! That was pretty funny rocking the cat. We did the same thing
with our cat. :) Gracie is such a cute name. One more book that is a
must read BEFORE getting your baby is "The No Cry Sleep Solution". I
wish I would have read it BEFORE we got Maley. It is wonderful and has
great tips for someone who has a baby that has been in an orphanage
situation. Just wanted to say Hi. Melody Sumnlers :)

---

Name:

Liz Bennett

Date:

Monday July 02, 2007 19:15:57 GMT

Comments:

Wow! I was behind in my update reading!! Love the top ten list!
The chart Steve put together is great....hope the trend continues so we
can see little Gracie by Christmas.

---

Name:

Louise

Date:

Monday July 02, 2007 14:52:43 GMT

Comments:

Hi. I noticed that you are using CAWLI adoption agency which is
who my brother and SIL used. Are you in Massachusettes? They live in
RI. Our LID is 1-13-06 and we are from SC. I LOVE the hardwood floors
in your nursery! What kind of wood is that? I know that's kind of
off-the-wall but we are making a mother-in-law suite and I am choosing
the flooring now. Beautiful nursery! Can't wait until it is our turn.
Louise Meade

---

Name:

Kera Pixton

Date:

Thursday June 21, 2007 00:40:00 GMT

Comments:

Hi Jen and Steve,


I was just checking to see if you had any new news. I enjoyed the top
10 list. I also wanted to let you know that a friend of mine has a
sister who is also waiting. She has a log in date several weeks after
yours, but was also on the special needs list. She just got a match
from the special needs list. I hope that means you are getting closer.
Hang in there. See you in a few weeks.




Kera

---

Name:

Joni Picco

Date:

Tuesday June 19, 2007 22:19:27 GMT

Comments:

Hi Jen. Just checking in to see what's new. I know you are
working on the quilt and wanted to mention a pattern called Chinese
Coins to see if you had heard of it. If I can ever help you with the
quilt at anytime I would be thrilled to do that for you and Gracie.
Love, Joni

---

Name:

Gail

Date:

Tuesday June 12, 2007 03:32:36 GMT

Comments:

Just wanted to say Hello. I am also with CAWLI with an LID of
1-5-06. Is this ever going to happen?


I love Gracie's Nursery. She is one loved little girl.


Now lets get those referrals so we can see her sweet face!


Hope to meet you soon.


Gail Botelho


http://www.gebea.blogspot.com

---

Name:

Lauren

Date:

Monday June 11, 2007 18:00:47 GMT

Comments:

Just checking in on how things are going. I think of Gracie every
day!

---

Name:

SUSAN

Date:

Monday June 11, 2007 09:28:45 GMT

Comments:

Hello,


I just wanted to let you know that I found your book list interesting
and have copied it with the intention of going out and buying the
books. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. Susan (we are LID
11/dec/06 - Australia)

---

Name:

Laila

Date:

Monday June 04, 2007 05:56:12 GMT

Comments:

Hi Steve & Jen,


Love you site - especially you statistics, which I am a strong believer
in will be true! So this was why I posted your site on the Danish
www.adoptionzone.dk, to tell others about your thoughts....
Adoptionszone is the most viewed site for adoptive parents in Denmark
(not only China).




Cool and a little scary that you are able to see the readers of your
site ;-), so better leave a message.




Wish you both a nice day - and may your stat also be "true" this time
instead of only 2 or 6 days as per RQ rumours.



Referals come on, so we can get closer to our babies!




Kind regards


Laila, Denmark, LID 281105 (also with a homepage, but in Danish)

---

Name:

Danielle & Steven

Date:

Friday May 04, 2007 12:43:42 GMT

Comments:

We saw your post on the china board in yahoo groups and we had to
check out your website because we are going to name our little girl
Gracelyn. It's just such a perfect name! Our LID is October '06 so we
have a wait ahead of us. The quilt is beautiful! We love the idea! We
wish you the best and we will be checking in on your website to see how
thing are going. We are considering starting a website for family and
friends so we don't have to say the same thing to everyone 100 times
:). Good luck to you both and we hope you go to get your Gracie real
soon! May God bless you both in your journey to get your blessed little
girl!




Take care,


Danielle & Steven LI, NY


LID 10/20/06


Waiting for our Gracelyn

---

Name:

Michelle Allain-LaBella

Date:

Wednesday April 25, 2007 00:14:11 GMT

Comments:

Hi Jen and Steve,


I was just checking out how things are going. I hope you two are
hanging in there! The quilt looks great. Nice job! Take care.


Love,

Michelle

---

Name:

Michaela Bernier

Date:

Thursday April 19, 2007 16:53:03 GMT

Comments:

Hello,


We moved from Worcester to Orlando 9 years ago. I wanted to stop by
your blog and say hello. I miss going to the Boston Ballet, the Orlando
Ballet just isn't the same!

Here's too speedy referrals (we're LID May '06).


Michaela


http://waiting4ourdaughter.blogspot.com

---

Name:

Carrie Beach

Date:

Friday April 13, 2007 00:02:16 GMT

Comments:

Just wanted to stop in and say hello. Hope that you guys are
hanging in okay. It has been a tough week, but hopefully we won't have
too much longer to wait. Hope to see you soon at the get together.




Carrie

---

Name:

Sparky

Date:

Tuesday April 10, 2007 00:53:24 GMT

Comments:

Hi,


Just wanted to drop in and say hello to a fellow CAWLI person. We used
CAWLI too and returned from China 3/14/07. Our experience was wonderful
and our daughter is truly amazing. Her name is Grace too! Feel free to
email me if you have any questions, any at all. Oh and thanks for the
chart comparing last year and this year.

---

Name:

Laura LaLuzerne

Date:

Monday April 09, 2007 13:30:09 GMT

Comments:

Your nursery is precious! I followed your link through the RQ
posting. We are LID 05/15/06 for our Grace (Gracie). We have one
bio-daugther, who is 11. Best of luck to you both.

---

Name:

Liz Bennett

Date:

Wednesday April 04, 2007 23:20:51 GMT

Comments:

Love the new book review section!!!

---

Name:

Tammy Manning

Date:

Saturday March 17, 2007 22:20:04 GMT

Comments:

Hi Jen & Steve- I was just going thru your pics of vacation
& ones I hadn't see yet from the past several months..I have to get
better checking out the website more often.. Jen remember... like papa
smurf said "Its not much longer now!" love ya tm

---

Name:

Debbie O'Brien

Date:

Tuesday March 13, 2007 18:27:11 GMT

Comments:

Jen,




Previously, I let our brief school conversations keep me up to date on
your life, Lucy, and adoption limbo. But having some retired time on my
hands now, I checked back to your website today. I actually had to go
back to 2006 In Review to catch up on pictures and details I missed.
School lunch was way too brief!



You and Steve are keeping such a wonderful log to share with Grace in
the future; it is a precious work of love. Special credits to Steve for
his skillful computer talents and kudos to your masterful use of
English in your media letter writing. I'll be praying for the pace to
quicken!




Hugs,


Debbie

---

Name:

Auntie Melinda and Uncle Jim

Date:

Monday February 26, 2007 04:01:43 GMT

Comments:

Welcome back to the cold! Great pics- I really like the first one
of Steve posing on the tree! hee-hee! Looks beautiful and glad you both
got some good quality time away. Hope you feel refreshed.

---

Name:

Kristen Shah

Date:

Monday February 26, 2007 02:55:11 GMT

Comments:

Welcome back! Sounds like you had a great time! Pics came out
very nice.

---

Name:

Liz Bennett

Date:

Sunday February 18, 2007 20:59:10 GMT

Comments:

Hi Guys!!


Beautiful picture....hope you are having a great time! I have a quilt
square for Gracie, Elizabeth picked it out. Relax and enjoy!!

---

Name:

Dan & Maryjane Miller

Date:

Friday January 19, 2007 18:44:40 GMT

Comments:

The pics are so cute. The nursery is so nice. Good job !!!!

---

Name:

Auntie Melinda

Date:

Thursday January 11, 2007 17:46:29 GMT

Comments:

Wow Jen! Very strong and powerful letter. It's upsetting you even
had to write that- but what a good job. Written with class and GRACE! I
hope they receive it and broadcast it.

---

Name:

Liz Bennett

Date:

Wednesday January 10, 2007 02:21:16 GMT

Comments:

Jen,


Excellent, well-informed letter....more than we can say for the
broadcast. As always, keeping you, Steve and Gracie in our prayers.

---

Name:

Millie Onos

Date:

Tuesday January 09, 2007 17:10:49 GMT

Comments:

Oh my God! Has a baby ever been more wanted?! You are sooo
ready/prepared for her arrival. I am both smiling and crying as I write
this. God bless you both in your journey to receive baby Grace into
your loving arms. I'm thinking lucky parents and very lucky baby. It's
a win/win. I'll be checking your website to see the news of Grace's
arrival. Best of everything to all three. With love, Millie Onos (I am
Kristen Eriksen's mom. She and Paul have started their process to adopt
a baby girl from China. We're all soooo excited!)

---

Name:

Melinda

Date:

Friday January 05, 2007 16:01:58 GMT

Comments:

Just want you both to know we are thinking of you today- on this
one-year anniversary since your log in date. It must be bittersweet for
you both- not sure how you are feeling....but wanted you to know we are
still praying for you. It has been a long road, and you both have been
patient. It will all pay off when you can finally hold your beautiful
Grace in your arms, instead of just in your heart. I know your hearts
are getting quite heavy!! Hang in there...I know this year will bring
wonderful things.


With love, Melinda and Jim

---

Name:

Kristen Eriksen

Date:

Thursday December 28, 2006 14:52:18 GMT

Comments:

Hi Steve, Jen and Grace! I am a friend of your sister Melinda's,
we work together at the hospital. My husband and I are in the beginning
stages of adopting from China, too. I think your website is great, very
informative and heartfelt. I would love to chat about this terrific and
slow process! Melinda talks about you and your long wait often!

---

Name:

Lisa & Jeff

Date:

Monday October 09, 2006 22:31:21 GMT

Comments:

I enjoyed visiting you website. We have a LID of 3/8/06 for our
little Ava. Good luck with the adoption of your little one. Let's hope
for a speed up on the referral front!

---

Name:

Donna

Date:

Thursday July 13, 2006 03:32:14 GMT

Comments:

You have an outstanding good and well structured site. I enjoyed
browsing through it

---

Name:

Kera Pixton

Date:

Tuesday July 04, 2006 17:36:04 GMT

Comments:

Hi Jen and Steve. I just wanted to let you know that I was
thinking of you and just read up on the slow but steady progress being
made. Hang in there. See you in Hampton Jen!

---

Name:

Patricia

Date:

Tuesday July 04, 2006 00:55:36 GMT

Comments:

Enjoyed a lot!

---

Name:

Robert

Date:

Wednesday June 28, 2006 14:14:31 GMT

Comments:

Keep up the good work

---

Name:

Melinda Peloquin

Date:

Saturday May 27, 2006 09:46:40 GMT

Comments:

Thanks for bringing us to the airport Steve.....and for visiting
with and Prince & Maui- thank you Jen too! I was just showing Diane
(Jim's momma in California) your AWESOME and informative website!


See ya later...


lil' sis Melin


and Jim


Luv U guys!

---

Name:

Kristin (LID 01-05-06)

Date:

Wednesday April 26, 2006 15:03:57 GMT

Comments:

Hi Jen-


TAG-- you're it!


Please go to my blog for instructions:


http://threekindsofcrazy.blogspot.com/




Kristin

---

Name:

Jean Stanley Regis class of 1956

Date:

Saturday March 18, 2006 16:49:41 GMT

Comments:

I was so happy to hear the wonderful news from your Mom,Jen.I
just made a retreat in which we talked about St.Catherine of Siena and
I thought that this quote by her was very fitting for you both at this
time.


"Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring."

---

Name:

Kristin LID1/5/06

Date:

Thursday March 09, 2006 01:24:14 GMT

Comments:

I LOVE that you cited your sources on the 100 Good Wishes page!!
Glad to know that I'm not the only dorky one out there!




Kristin


DTC 12/14/05


LID 1/5/06

---

Name:

Lauren Giardina

Date:

Tuesday March 07, 2006 15:13:47 GMT

Comments:

I cannot express how happy I am for the two of you! I can't wait
to be an auntie! She will be an honorary Reegie girl!

---

Name:

Michael & Therese , Ryan, Lauren & Meghan

Date:

Sunday February 26, 2006 20:26:49 GMT

Comments:

Hey Jen & Steve,


Great news on your log in date!!Can't wait for this 7 month count
down!!! Just think, 2 months down and no morning sickness!!

---

Name:

Melinda

Date:

Wednesday February 22, 2006 21:32:25 GMT

Comments:

Just checking in...to see your Jamaica pics. Looks awesome and I
am glad you both had such a good time!


I have another poem for Grace.


Oh little one, little one


we long for your smile,


Oh little one, little one


It seems such a while;


We patiently wait and pray everyday


for when you're brought home


a brand new life is underway.


You are loved, we can picture your face


A perfect girl...our little Grace.




Okay Jen...stop crying now.

Love you guys.


Auntie Melinda

---

Name:

Biren (Unky B?)

Date:

Tuesday February 14, 2006 15:33:49 GMT

Comments:

Wow, the timing of your latest "childless vacation" couldn't have
been better! You totally missed all the snow! How was Jamaica?!

---

Name:

Melissa and Brian

Date:

Monday February 13, 2006 15:07:10 GMT

Comments:

I hope you enjoy your "last" childless vaction! See you even got
to extend it longer, thanks to the snow!! Take care! Enjoy every
minute!




Melissa

---

Name:

Shari

Date:

Tuesday January 31, 2006 20:56:01 GMT

Comments:

You don't know me, but I found your site while doing my own
research on CAWLI. We are just starting out, but reading about your
experiences so far has been very helpful as we're learning about the
process ahead of us (it is quite a long journey!). I wish you the very
best of luck, and I am excited to check back again in the future to
learn more about Grace!

---

Name:

Steve, Jacki and Katie Comeau

Date:

Friday January 20, 2006 15:40:47 GMT

Comments:

As if you didn't know my email address! Congratulations!! I just
learned of your efforts today. I think it's great - really great. Katie
has friends from China in 2 different families in Nashua and one of the
families is very active in some Chinese Culture group for the kids. I
also have a friend at the golf course with a daughter from China. These
kids are all teens by now, but if you ever have any questions or would
like to contact them, let me know. They went to China with the kids
just last year.




Good luck, and we hope it happens quickly! We'll keep watching!

---

Name:

Michael & Therese & kids

Date:

Saturday December 31, 2005 23:16:15 GMT

Comments:

Hey Jen & Steve,


We are all looking forward to 2006 when we will have a new neice!!!
Can't wait!!! Hope that you had great holidays!!! Love Therese &
Michael & gang

---

Name:

Rich

Date:

Friday December 23, 2005 03:58:44 GMT

Comments:

Hi Jen and Steve...finally got the website to work!




Hope it all works out for you.

---

Name:

Carrie

Date:

Sunday December 18, 2005 14:23:21 GMT

Comments:

This is Carrie from DTC05. I added you to my list of people to
check in with. I think that we were at the same CAWLI orientation
meeting back in June.

---

Name:

Tammy Lopes

Date:

Thursday December 15, 2005 17:28:42 GMT

Comments:

Hi guys


Trying to catch up on your website today :) That picture of the
ultrasound is priceless!

---

Name:

Aunt Kim, Uncle Kevin, Matt, Nathan, Katie and Skippy

Date:

Friday November 25, 2005 01:10:29 GMT

Comments:

You have lots to be thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day 2005.
Our prayers are with you, Jen and Steve, as you continue on your
journey to adopt Gracie.

---

Name:

Joni

Date:

Friday November 25, 2005 00:58:35 GMT

Comments:

Great news! Happened to check in Thanksgiving night and read the
latest news. Things are starting to come together for L'il Jen, L'il
Steve, and Li'l Grace...love it!!!!! Is it okay to keep signing in the
guest book? If not, sorry but I just keep checking in and am rooting
for all! Joni

---

Name:

Robin Dowling

Date:

Monday November 21, 2005 12:45:07 GMT

Comments:

I can't wait to see all the cheerios scattered around the floor
of the new wagon!!

---

Name:

Susanna Hargreaves

Date:

Tuesday November 15, 2005 23:33:52 GMT

Comments:

What a wonderful website...It is very touching...I think you
should make it into a book! Your shared experiences will help reassure
and inspire many...You are so special and I wish you many blessings...I
will keep you in my prayers.




Susanna

---

Name:

Lisa and Shane

Date:

Wednesday November 09, 2005 09:36:54 GMT

Comments:

Hi Steve and Jen,


My name is Lisa from the MSN boards - just wanted to say hi. We are
also bringing our daughter home from China - probably about another 10
months from now. We are based in Canberra Australia - so our process is
a bit different from yours. Look forward to following your journey.




Lisa and Shane x

---

Name:

Maureen Dickieson

Date:

Tuesday November 08, 2005 16:42:32 GMT

Comments:

I was so pleased to hear that you will be adopting a beautiful
baby girl! Congrats. My good friend Meredith has an older sister who
adopted a little girl from China about four years ago and could not be
happier. Gracie is going to be such a fortunate little girl to have
such fantastic parents and the love and support of family and friends.

---

Name:

Kera

Date:

Saturday November 05, 2005 19:57:00 GMT

Comments:

You love her so much already and you don't even know her!
Continue to be patient and all will fall into place. I will continue to
read the updates and see the progress being made. Lots of love!




Kera

---

Name:

Meghan Stamm

Date:

Thursday October 20, 2005 01:01:17 GMT

Comments:

Congrats, I am very excited for you. The website is a great idea,
good luck with everything. -meg

---

Name:

Sheila Herbert

Date:

Saturday September 17, 2005 17:05:53 GMT

Comments:

Jen and Steve,


I am so very happy for you both. I have two nephews and one niece who
are adopted; boys from Columbia and girl from Guatemala. They are
wonderful and I love them to pieces.


May you be as blessed as we have been!My prayers will be with you as
you venture on this very rewarding journey. Love,


Sheila

---

Name:

Barb Gidley, MO

Date:

Monday September 12, 2005 03:03:17 GMT

Comments:

Made it here. What a wonderful way to begin many happy years
ahead of you. More later. Cuz Barb

---

Name:

Greg & Michelle

Date:

Wednesday August 31, 2005 12:20:44 GMT

Comments:

Congratulations to you both! We have three immediate family
members and several friends who recently embarked on this journey (or
finished, to be more accurate) and I've never seen them so happy.




Enjoy every wonderful (sometimes sleepless) minute of your new family!

---

Name:

Mel

Date:

Saturday August 27, 2005 23:25:48 GMT

Comments:

My thoughts and prayers are with you, what do you mean clean the
house, your house is always perfect! It's Lucy you need to be careful
of!



Mel

---

Name:

Joni Picco

Date:

Wednesday August 24, 2005 23:38:48 GMT

Comments:

What a wonderful website, L'l Jen and Steve. I was enchanted by
the proverb you placed on the page. You'll make wonderful parents and
L'l Gracie doesn't know YET how lucky she is! I wish nothing but the
best for the three of you...Love, Joni

---

Name:

Cheryl Ann Bomal

Date:

Wednesday August 24, 2005 11:57:58 GMT

Comments:

Steve, Jen, Grace and Lucy King -


I wish you all the best. May nothing but happiness and love come your
way. You deserve it!

---

Name:

Wendy

Date:

Tuesday August 23, 2005 01:43:13 GMT

Comments:

Congratulations on your decision to adopt from China. My husband
John and I are in the process too. We are enjoying the experience and
can't wait to get to China to pick up our little girl. We are in the
paper chasing phase and we just finished our homestudy. Good luck! Our
website is www.ourchinaadoptionstory.com

---

Name:

Liz, Erik & Elizabeth

Date:

Monday August 22, 2005 20:22:10 GMT

Comments:

Jen & Steve,


Congratulations to you both! You will be the most wonderful parents. We
cannot wait to meet her. Best of luck and I look forward to reading the
updates. P.S. Elizabeth thinks Grace is an "awesome" name!!

---

Name:

Lorraine Snyder

Date:

Friday August 19, 2005 15:48:53 GMT

Comments:

As you know, my two children are adopted, so I know what you're
going through. I'm so happy for you! Having a child in your home will
give you the greatest joy and you'll know that you're giving a small
human being your love, protection, and a better life than she would
have had. Good luck to you. . .and I'll be checking back on your
progress!! Love, Cousin Lorraine

---

Name:

Michelle

Date:

Tuesday August 16, 2005 22:16:30 GMT

Comments:

Congratualtions Jen and Steve! I'm so excited for you! She is so
blessed to be coming into your family, what a lucky girl! : )

---

Name:

Jim & Paula St. Louis

Date:

Saturday August 13, 2005 17:42:39 GMT

Comments:

Jen and Steve,




Congratulations and Best Wishes on your exciting journey to bring sweet
baby Grace into your lives! We can't wait to meet her!




Love,

Jim, Paula, Emily and Tyler

---

Name:

Liz Scanlon

Date:

Saturday August 13, 2005 14:39:50 GMT

Comments:

What a wonderful and exciting time for you both, Jen and Steve!
Thank you for sharing your story.


We all look forward to sharing the journey of Grace's arrival.

---

Name:

Debbie O'Brien

Date:

Thursday August 11, 2005 23:46:27 GMT

Comments:

August 11, 2005




I was thrilled today to hear the good news about your planned adoption
of Grace. She will be a lucky girl to be so loved and welcomed by two
quality parents. It must have been fate that I arranged a special
luncheon just for your personal announcement.



More hugs,


Debbie O'Brien

---

Name:

Kathy, Eric, Zachary & Allison Kingsley

Date:

Wednesday August 10, 2005 18:22:17 GMT

Comments:

We are all so happy for you guys. What a wonderful opportunity to
have such an impact on another life. You guys will make great parents
and Baby Grace will be an amazing addition to your life. All the best!

---

Name:

Mike, Therese, Ryan, Lauren and Meg

Date:

Monday August 08, 2005 01:21:01 GMT

Comments:

Jen-Jen and Steve,




Congratulations and all the best. We're all so happy for you - and
you've got your baby sitters ready to go!! Enjoy the journey - and
Gracie will be welcomed immediately by all her uncles, aunts, nieces
and nephews. This is awesome!




Mikey

---

Name:

Andy & Alice

Date:

Sunday August 07, 2005 23:52:19 GMT

Comments:

Steve & Jen,




What great news! We wish you all the best in your journey to find Grace
in what is sure to be an exciting (and life changing!) experience.




Alice & Andy

---

Name:

Kevin&Christina King

Date:

Sunday August 07, 2005 17:59:06 GMT

Comments:

If you need any thing steve let us know please. When I was going
to school up there in cambridge ma, my business teacher went to china
and adopt 2 china babies. WAY TO GO STEVE & JEN.

---

Name:

Mary Joy & Gary

Date:

Friday August 05, 2005 17:55:35 GMT

Comments:

Jen and Steve,


We are both so happy for you!! You are going to be such great parents
to Grace. She will be such a special baby and a blessing in your lives.
You are giving so much of yourselves by choosing to adopt and the
rewards are going to be wonderful. You will have the family you want
and a little girl to love and cherish!


All of our love and support,


Gary, Mary Joy, Jack, and Lindsay

---

Name:

Ann Marie

Date:

Thursday August 04, 2005 12:35:56 GMT

Comments:

I cannot wait to be Auntie Ann! Little Grace, you are your Mommy
& Daddy's shining star, and you are handpicked just for them. They
love you so much more than words will ever express and I think that you
are the luckiest little girl in China to be welcomed into the King
family! I hope you like pink!

---

Name:

Colleen & Vin

Date:

Wednesday August 03, 2005 14:48:42 GMT

Comments:

Sweet Baby Grace - we love you, sight unseen! God's hand is on
you, already chosen from multitudes for your Mom and Dad to love and
cherish. We're with you and them in our thoughts and prayers every step
of this wonderful, exciting journey!




Love,


Cousins Vin & Colleen

---

Name:

Grammy King

Date:

Tuesday August 02, 2005 20:14:13 GMT

Comments:

I can't wait to see you Gracie...I have been waiting so long to
hold a grandchild in my arms. You are so special already!! I have so
much love to give you. Love, Grammy King.

---

Name:

Susan Simonich

Date:

Monday August 01, 2005 19:51:14 GMT

Comments:

Gracie will be the luckiest little girl to have such wonderful
and loving parents. It is fate that you will become a family. And wait
until Gracie starts repeating what her mommy says???!!!!! She will end
up being just as funny.


P.S. Your website is really informative. Sharing your experiences will
help others.

---

Name:

Tammy Lopes

Date:

Monday August 01, 2005 18:28:40 GMT

Comments:

I think Gracie needs a pair of burberry booties.... I am too
tough to write what I really feel but you know I would do anything for
you guys in a heartbeat.

---

Name:

Uncle Stephen Aunt Maura & Cousins Mary Kate, Molly and Maggie

Date:

Monday August 01, 2005 18:14:10 GMT

Comments:

Congratulations Jen and Steve!!! We know this has been hard on
you both and you wonder why this happened. We know why, because God
knew Grace needed a caring and loving mother and father to love and
bring home from China. We are so happy for you and we can't wait to see
our new niece and cousin. Good luck and we are praying for the THREE of
you. We love you!! Stephen and Maura and the MK's

---

Name:

Mom and Dad

Date:

Monday August 01, 2005 18:09:39 GMT

Comments:

We are so happy that our graceful little granddaughter is on the
way. We love you Grace and can't wait to give you all those hugs and
kisses.




Lots of love and hugs and kisses,


Grammy and Grandpa

---

Name:

Auntie Melinda and Uncle Jim

Date:

Monday August 01, 2005 16:59:55 GMT

Comments:

Okay- this one is for Gracie.


We pray for you everyday.

You will Grace our lives in every way.


Your Mommy and Daddy have so much love to give


They have longed for you and the life you'll live.


You will add so much to our growing family,


We all love you already and will wait for you patiently.

---

Name:

Auntie Melinda and Uncle Jim

Date:

Monday August 01, 2005 16:53:44 GMT

Comments:

This is so exciting. I love the name- it is so fitting!


You guys have been through so much and you only deserve the best! All
our love, Melinda and Jim.

---

Name:

Kris

Date:

Monday August 01, 2005 16:47:21 GMT

Comments:

Jen and Steve, How exciting - this is going to be quite a busy
year! I am so happy for you. Can't wait until you bring Gracie home.
I'm already volunteering to babysit! ;-) Love, Kris

---

Name:

Biren (Unky B?)

Date:

Monday August 01, 2005 16:33:57 GMT

Comments:

Grace! I didn't know you had named her already! I like it! :) I'm
excited for you guys! Can I be "Unky B"? :-p

New Toys

A few weeks ago Jen and I were having a conversation about potentially purchasing a new video camera for our trip to China. It is extremely important to us to get as much of our trip on video as possible (especially the moment when we first meet Grace) as we will miss the first 6 to 12 months of her life. We have a 10 year old video camera that is kind of a pain to use since you need to recharge the batteries and it is kind of big to be carrying around. We want to try to travel as light as possible. It also uses tapes which we can only play on a VCR and we don't even use a VCR anymore. The new HD camcorders are nice but pretty expensive and with all of the costs for the trip to China we didn't want to purchase a new $1000 camcorder right now. So we were kind of going back and forth about buying a new expensive one or using the one we have. Then as we were watching TV the other night we saw a commercial for the Flip Camcorder.

We read some good reviews for it and decided to give it a try. It came today and this thing is pretty cool. It is about the size of a deck of cards, runs on 2 AA batteries, it records an hour of video and can easily be uploaded to a PC and burned to DVD. You can also just bring it to CVS and they will burn a DVD for you. Some of the lower priced camcorders only work well outside when it is really bright but this seems to work well in low light settings. Best of all, it was only $119 for the 60 minute version or $99.99 for the 30 minute version. We have been playing around with it and the video quality is pretty good even on our 53" TV. It is also very easy to use, no need to read a thick manual, there are just a couple buttons for power, play, delete and zoom. I think this is going to be a great low cost solution for us for the trip to China. I have linked a sample funny video below of Lucy jumping the invisible fence that we took today. This is something she does whenever she walks out of our office, we are not sure why.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Eb2e5UDLNI0

Remembering

There are a couple rumors floating around now that they are going to get through 3 or 4 days in the next batch. Since we are still at least 2 weeks from referrals arriving it is too early to believe anything but 2 or 3 days is pretty much what we are expecting since November 22nd is thought to be a big day based on online polls. It is hard to believe that Summer is almost over. Jen is going back to school next week and the weather seems to be getting cooler here in New England. We were hoping that the summer would go by fast as that would mean we are closer to going to get Grace but at the same time we are sad to see it go. The end of August also gets us a bit down for other reasons. Four years ago on August 18th we lost a close friend of mine, Randy. Randy died in a tragic accident at a local waterslide park. The night before the accident Randy and I attended a Steely Dan concert, I will never be able to listen to a Steely Dan song again without thinking of Randy. Randy and I were kind of an odd couple, he was about 15 years older than I was and quite a big guy, which I am not, but we really had a good time whatever we did. There is much I miss about Randy. I miss him calling me at 7:00am on a Saturday morning to go fishing. I miss our yearly weekend skiing trips up to Sunday River. I miss how Randy lived each day to the fullest, no matter what we were doing there was always a way to get more and and have more fun. I miss him calling me to go to a concert for some band that I have never heard of and having a great time just the same. I miss seeing the love he had for his daughter and wife and am sad that he never got to see me become a father. I am mostly sad that his daughter will not grow up truly knowing him and what a great guy he was. I know how hard that is as I lost my own father too soon (when I was 12) and oddly my father and Randy were the same age when they died. I can hope that just as Randy toasted Jen and I on our wedding day that "Heaven is giving you many many merry days".

Changes

If you got to this page you must have figured out that I made a couple changes to the layout of the site. Nothing significant, just moved the menu links from the bottom to the top. I think it makes it a bit easier to navigate. I may be making more changes in the future as well. Since we bought our new computer I lost some of the software that I had been using to update this page so I have been trying out different HTML editing software. I haven't found anything I like yet that is cheap and since Microsoft no longer sells Frontpage I may be stuck. I have been tossing around the idea of using a blog for this page of the site but I am not quite ready to do that yet. I may just wait for our trip to China and switch to a blog then. Not a whole lot new in adoption news this week. Jen did stop into the pharmacy to pick up some of the OTC medications that we will be bringing with us to China. The expiration dates are all in 2009 so hopefully they won't expire and we will be traveling before then.

19 Months

Yesterday was 19 months since our Log in Date and just over 2 years since we officially started the process. We have just about 6 more weeks of Log in Dates in front of us. If they were to continue to do 7 days of referrals per month that would mean we would have 6 more months to wait for a referral. Probably a pretty good estimate although we have been thinking we have 6 more months to wait since we started the process. Eventually though we have to start getting closer. The CCAA also updated their website to confirm that November 21st was the cutoff this month.

Comparing The Years - August Edition

Wow, this is my third update of this website this week. A lot going on. Referrals arrived today. Our agency emailed us this morning that they received 7 referrals. Nothing official from the CCAA yet but it looks like they got through November 21st which is 7 days. That is pretty much what we expected. I have been keeping a monthly running chart of the number of days referred this year vs. last year. Earlier in the year the chart was trending extremely close but the last couple months the current year seems to be pretty level at 6-7 days. I think though if we look forward to next month the trend last year dips down again and referrals next month are expected to be down as well because November 22 is a very big day. So I think it will be interesting to continue watching the trend on the chart to see what happens. The good news is last year the October batch of referrals bounced back up to 18 days so there is a little hope that things again may pick up a little once we get into October. See the updated chart below.

6 Years

Vacations are always way too short. Jen and I had a very relaxing vacation last week and we even got a bunch of stuff done around the house. We got a new computer and a new desk for the office. We didn't pay much attention to the Chinese Adoption rumor boards which was kind of refreshing. I did take a quick look earlier tonight and it doesn't look like there are any new rumors out there. There is a chance that referrals could arrive this week though. We are not expecting more than 7 days to be referred though, that would bring us to November 21st. But there is a fairly good chance that they won't even get that far. Jen and I also celebrated our 6 year wedding anniversary on Saturday. We went out for dinner at a local Italian restaurant. Every year on our anniversary we buy each other the traditional anniversary presents, the 6th year is candy so I got Jen a box of chocolates. We decided that since we were buying a new computer and desk we would keep the gifts small this year but I always cheat. So I sneaked a diamond anniversary band into the box of chocolates. Jen had been wanting an anniversary band for a while but she really wasn't expecting it so it was quite a surprise for her. Here are some pictures of the ring....

Grace's Nursery

We finally have the nursery pretty much finished. There are still a couple empty walls but I think we are going to bring some things back from China to fill them up. We started working on this room a few years ago when we first started thinking about starting a family. We had just painted it and put up the chair rail though, the room has been pretty much empty since. Jen usually makes all of the decorating decisions around here because, well, I have no decorating sense whatsoever. The room doesn't really have a theme, Jen just wanted it to be very feminine but not too pepto bismol pink, which probably would have been my choice So on with the tour...

We bought (well Jen's parents bought the crib) the bedroom set last summer during the tax free holiday in anticipation of having Gracie home this fall. Teddy will just have to hold down the fort until she gets here. The crib bedding set is called paper dolls. The little white man next to the changing table is a diaper genie for those who haven't seen one. Looks like a little robot, too bad it doesn't actually change the baby.

More dresses and loot. Jen has a lot of time on her hands, she actually arranged them according to size. Next week, she'll redo it according to color!!

My Aunt Barbara made this framed needlepoint. Kind of hard to read with the glare in the picture. It says "You have been chosen to be our precious Grace".

Grace isn't even home yet and she already has a small library. Plenty of books to read before bedtime.

Who says a baby can't have a chandelier in her room?

Jen's friend Sue sent us these great letters from Pottery Barn Kids so Grace can have her name on her wall. And a picture of the rug from Pottery Barn Kids.

Lucy doesn't seem to appreciate being read to. How else are we supposed to practice for Grace?

Rumors and Vacation Fun

The rumors about the next batch of referrals started flying around last week. There was a ridiculous rumor early in the week that they were going to make it into December and then another rumor later in the week that they were only going to get through 6 days. It is way too early in the month to believe any of these rumors. We will most likely be waiting another week or two for the next batch to arrive. As the time gets closer the rumors tend to get more accurate so we will wait until then to believe anything we hear. In other news we are on vacation this week. More accurately, I am on vacation this week. Jen, as a teacher, has the summer off so she has been on vacation for a while. We had an interesting start to my vacation when I went out into the back yard to mow the lawn Saturday morning and found this:



A huge branch broke off one of our oak trees and fell on my shed. Kind of a rocky start to vacation but at least I got to have some fun playing with my chainsaw. On Sunday we went up to the beach for the night and found a cool little bar in Rye, NH and listened to some live Reggae. Kind of brought us back to Jamaica a little bit, except we were drinking Sam Summer rather than Red Stripe and Pina Coladas. We don't really have any plans for the rest of the week except a little home office upgrade. Our current computer is over 7 years old and is so slow we are ready to throw it out the window, so we are planning to go shopping for a new one at some point this week. We are also planning to buy a notebook computer so that we can keep in touch with family and friends while we are in China and also so we can update this website. The notebook purchase will probably be a little while down the road but we are going to need more workspace in the office so we are planning to shop for a new desk as well with room for both of us to work at. Shopping isn't exactly my idea of a fun vacation but at least we will be shopping for technology, a little more fun than clothes shopping. Lastly, on Saturday we will be celebrating our 6 year wedding anniversary so we have a special night planned for that.

Forever Lily - An Unexpected Mother's Journey to Adoption in China

Forever Lily - An Unexpected Mother's Journey to Adoption in China

by Beth Nonte Russel

Forever Lily is the story of a woman who travels to China with a friend who is planning to adopt a baby. When they get to China the baby is younger than what the woman expects and she is failing to bond with the baby so she decides she may not want to adopt the baby. Her friend asks the author if she would be willing to adopt the baby. Her friend really distanced herself from the baby. The author, however, finds herself bonding more and more to her and sees herself parenting the child. This feeling is confirmed when she calls home to tell her husband that her friend may not be bringing home the baby and he instanly says that they will adopt her. Although this is a bad situation that finds a happy ending with Russel and her husband adopting Lily, and ultimately a second daughter from China, it's not much of a feel good book. The author recalls long dream sequences where she sees herself as a Chinese woman from centuries ago who was the mother of this baby in another life. The dream sequences are distracting and not believable. We didn't really care for how she portrayed China, its culture and its people in general. Also, we had a hard time sympathizing with the woman who changed her mind. With all that we have gone through to prepare for our adoption we find her cavalier attitude towards the baby, and adoption itself, unsettling. Of course, nobody would want a woman to parent a child she didn't feel she could. However, we feel she took the seriousness of adoption too lightly.

Brown Envelope #2

I usually try to update this site at least once a week. Sometimes when there is nothing going on with the adoption I will write about something new that is going on with us in our personal lives. Not much happened last week so I was feeling a bit guilty that I had nothing to write about. Then we got some surprise mail from China this afternoon. Nothing real exciting like referrals or anything, just a new Brown Envelope. We got our first Brown Envelope back in April 2006. The Brown envelope contains some documents that we will need to fill out for the US Consulate in Guangzhou China to finalize the adoption. When we applied for Department of Homeland Security approval they notify the Consulate who then sends us the envelope. Since the Department of Homeland Security approval is only valid for 18 months we needed to reapply so we got another envelope. On our second Dept. of Homeland Security approval we noticed that they had the number of our street address wrong. The address on the Brown Envelope was wrong as well so I am a little surprised that it got to us. We emailed the director of our agency about the address and she told us not to worry about it so we are trusting her. We just hope the mistake doesn't come back an bite us in the butt while we are in China. We had been kind of feeling like nothing was going on with the adoption lately so it was nice to get something to remind us that we are still in it.

100 Good Wishes Quilt

What is a 100 Good Wishes Quilt?

To welcome and celebrate a new life, there is a tradition in the northern part of China to make a Bai Jia Bei, or 100 Good Wishes Quilt. It is a custom to invite friends and family to contribute a patch of cloth with a wish for the baby. Part of the patch of cloth goes into the quilt for the baby, and the other part of the cloth can go into a creative memory notebook with the wish for the child. The quilt contains the luck, energy, and good wishes from all the families and friends who contributed a piece of fabric. The quilt is then passed down from generation to generation.
Some of the people in our DTC group are doing a 100 good wishes quilt so we thought this is something that our friends and family would like to contribute to. It is a tradition to greet the new baby with a 100 Good Wishes Quilt. Although this is a Chinese tradition, it is a great tradition for any child to be welcomed this way. What a treat to read the good wishes when the child is older to know how much she was wanted!

** I found this description on a quilting website and the English teacher in Jen made me cite my source so this is not my original writing



Note From Jen:
I finished Grace’s 100 Good Wishes Quilt. I didn’t have exactly 100 wishes but I did incorporate 90 quilt squares. The making of the quilt was definitely hard work since I am such a novice. Quilt making is all about math and that’s not my strongest area so I had to fudge it a bit! However, I am glad that I was able to do this all on my own for Gracie. The quilt is far from perfect—there are lots of mistakes and uneven edges. Yet, I see every imperfection as not just a mistake but proof of perseverance when the going gets tough. The quilt may have flaws but it’s made with love and it will keep her warm in her forever family.
Thank you to all who contributed squares for Grace's quilt. I appreciate it and look forward to the day that I can sit down with Grace and show her her Book of Wishes and who gave her every square.

CCAA July Update

We got an email from our agency on Friday that referrals arrived. They received referrals for 6 families, all girls. The interesting note in their email was the referrals were from orphanages recently opened by the CCAA. When the CCAA visited the US we heard rumors that they were trying to get more orphanages opened to international adoption. Maybe having more orphanages open will get more babies into homes and cut down the wait time a little bit. Last week we also passed 18 months since our Log In Date. The group that just got their referrals waited just under 20 months, I wish we could say we were two months away but almost an additional month gets tacked on as each month goes by so it seems like it is one step forward and one step back. We are inching closer though. The CCAA did update their website confirming that 11/14/2005 was the cutoff for the last batch of referrals. The update is below:

Comparing The Years - July Edition

It appears that referrals have begun arriving on the west coast and cover Log In Dates though November 14th. Nothing official about the cutoff yet from the CCAA or our agency. I assume our agency will get referrals sometime tomorrow. The last few months I have posted a chart with number of days referred each month this year compared to last year. Earlier in the year there seemed to be a pretty visible trend with the two years being pretty close together. The two years don't seem to be trending as closely the last couple months but at least the chart is still trending up in general. Last year in late June/July, 13 days were referred and we are only expecting 7 days this month. Last year in late July/August, 15 days were referred and I really don't expect them to refer more than 7 days again next month as they would need to get through November 22 which is thought to be a really big day. Nevertheless I am posting the updated chart in hopes that things pick back up in the upcoming months. Which I think is a pretty good possibility once they get through November.

Projected Wait Time

No news yet on the next batch of referrals. There was a rumor floating around last week that the upcoming batch would cover Log In Dates through November 17th. Later in the week another rumor came around that someone with a Log In Date of November 17th was told by their agency that they would not be included in the latest batch. Referrals through November 17th would be 10 days which is significantly more that we have seen in the last couple of batches. At this point I think it is pretty unlikely that referrals will go through the 17th but I would love to be wrong. We are at least hoping to see a more than the six days we have seen in the past few batches. Jen was away this weekend and I had some free time to look at some of the historical numbers of the wait times and compare it to the time we have been waiting. I charted the data in Excel and the results are pretty interesting. The blue line represents the number of months we have waited. The pink line represents the maximum number of months that people who received referrals in the latest batch have waited. As you can see the lines are slowly coming together. I drew a yellow line over the angle of latest batch max wait time and projected the line of our wait time out until they intersect. This intersection is at December 2007 which in theory is when the data projects us to get a referral. Maybe a little hope that we could get a picture of Grace by Christmas.