Adoption News 1.0

This is the story of our family: Our son Jacob, born to us 12 years ago, and Our daughter Kira (2005~2006), whom was born to us~ and now she rests in heaven before us, with my husband's eldest daughter Shelby (1990~2011). They have all three blessed our lives and souls, in many ways as their humbled parents. They have powerfully lead us through GOD'S hand to be parents of more; through their love, memory, and with the help of adoption from China. We have now come complete circle and have finished our journey to family forever, to adopt our 3...uhhhhh now 4th...no... it is our 5th beloved child from China. Our first China daughter; Hannah was from Guangdong, China ~ in 2008 and we then returned to China in late 2009 to adopt Our oldest son; Scott and Our oldest daughter; Athena, both from Henan, China ~ in 2009. We just finished the process of adopting our youngest daughter; Bella from China, she was also from Henan, China ~ in 2011. At the same time we were blessed to be able to have found another waiting daughter; Deanna, our 4th china daughter, and she is our 5th child from China. She is from Guangdong, China--same as our first China daughter; Hannah (2008) --& the story behind Deanna joining us is way too long to print it all here, but our circle of forever family is complete with her ~in 2011. {Here is just an exerpt of that special final adoption journey}-- Deanna is our 1st adopted daughter's foster sister from Guangdong, China. She is now the same age as our 1st adopted daughter was when we were first united as a forever family. Deanna's Chinese name means: 'perfect, precious circle'.} Our family circle is now complete. Pray with us as we enjoy parenthood, and as we continue to rejoice in the trials, triumphs, and blessings that have lead us each time halfway around the world to add to our cherished family. This is our family we share with you, as friends and family alike.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

First Thanksgiving, & I am Very Thankful my babies are all home. :)

Deanna, --very happy to celebrate a holiday with her family.

Hannah, -- trademark face first, clean plate, finishing it all.

Bella, --very happy to eat "potatoes".

Athena, --happy to eat, and eat, --look, she even has a side plate... :)

Jacob, --he's always a camera ham, or a "little turkey" on this day.

Scott, ---Mr. conservative with his emotions. But loving the two plate idea.

Mom in law & Dad in law, --love these two!!!

Monday, November 21, 2011

Athena's Winter Concert

She is a natural, beauty and musician.

so pretty, and she enjoys band as well.

Athena and Her Best Friend Miechaell.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Happy Birthday Mommy!

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Sweet 16!

We've been married 16 blissful years.

Happy Anniversary!

I Love You, sweetie.

Monday, October 31, 2011

BOO!

Scar-r-r-r-y; I told you!

you girls are adorable-- can't wait for you to fill your bags. Have fun!

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Lookin' Good!

Check out the cool dude in the gray beanie cap---

running a 100 yard touchdown!!!

Yeah Jacob.

Friday, October 28, 2011

Wanna Wrestle???

Monday, October 24, 2011

We love and miss you always...

Shelby's Maternal family dedicated a park bench at her favorite park in remembrance of her beauty and love; for all to remember and share in the love we all have for Shelby.

Forever in our hearts.

Shelby J.P. Hunsucker-Haldek

1990-2011

Friday, October 21, 2011

Bella's pumpkin-patch pick

Saturday, October 15, 2011

I Love U

Happy, Happy Birthday to you, count your candles and blow--

Daddy says, she is stealing the spotlight. :)

Bella and Deanna's Milestones

04/19/10 Submit Application
04/22/10 MCC {Medical Conditions Checklist}
05/06/10 Application Approved
05/23/10 Officially started Dossier
06/14/10 LOI ~ Letter of Intent to Adopt Bella
06/21/10 PA ~ PreApproval for Bella to be ours from Ch!n@
06/25/10 Agency Orientation to Begin Homestudy
07/07/10 & 08/03/10 Homestudy Visit
08/24/10 Homestudy sent to AA for approval
09/01/10 Dossier completed, waiting for I797C
09/02/10 Homestudy sent to USCIS
09/23,24/10 Received Fingerprint Appointment for 10.18.10
10/18/10 Fingerprinted; Immigration
10/20/10 Approval I-797c waiting for snail mail to arrive
10/24/10 received I-797c ...typo on approval --so we wait for re-issue *bummer
10/27/10 received corrected I-797c, notary and off to S.o.s on the 28th. Sent to the Consulate on 11/2/10.
11/04/10 began process to file Supplement #3... we must be insane, we should've just said yes to two, up to age 10 and minor to major SN... lol Hague USCIS just loves our $340.00 Bucks each time.
11/05/10 LOI ~ Letter of Intent to adopt Deanna & our 15th wedding anniversary
11/08/10 PA ~ PreApproval for us to adopt Deanna from Ch!n@
11/27/10 Receipt for supplement #3 received from MO. Hague office for the I800A
12/06/10 Approval date (From the USA granting us Permission to adopt) of the revised I797c for our 'two' girls, received it in hand on 12/09/10, Notarized by same Notary**important task or we'd have to have it recertified & authenticated-- and sent to our agency on 12/10/10
12/17/10 DTC ~ Dossier to China
12/27/10 LID ~ Logged in Our Dossier Officially with Ch!n@ -- we count from 3 to 5 months from this date until we meet our daughters FOREVER!
02/02/11 LOA ~ Letter of Acceptance for our two girls from the CCAA in Ch!n@
03/01/11 I800 Provisional Approvals- NBC Hague
03/11/11 Cabled to GZ
03/30/11 on Kira's Birthday we received Article 5
04/21/11 TA {Travel Approval} Travel Group 1728s
05/04/11 to 05/26/11 Daddy and Hannah in China for our girls.
05/09/11 Bella's Gotcha Day in Henan
05/16/11 Deanna's Gotcha Day in Guangdong
05/23/11 CA {Consulate Appointment}
05/26/11 Daddy and the Girls Arrive Home in USA~I meet My Daughters :)

Hannah's Milestones

08/27/07 Apply to CCAI {Downloaded Application}
09/12/07 Our Approval Date Agency (CCAI)
10/13/07 Orientation @ CCAI {our adoption agency}
OMGosh we are busy paper chasing!
11/28/07 USCIS fingerprints
12/12/07 MCC {Medical Conditions Checklist}
12/16/07 I171-H whooohoo!
12/31/07 DCR {Dossier Critical Review}
01/18/08 DTC {Dossier to China}
01/19 & 26/08 Parent Training Class
01/25/08 LID {Log in Date}
02/23/08 Parent Training Class
03/14/08 DOR{Date of Referal from CCAI}
03/17/08 *St. Patrick's Day* LOI{Letter of Intent to China}
03/19/08 TP{download Travel Plans frm CCAI}
03/20/08 Build a' Bear For Hannah {We Love You}
03/29/08 Parent Training Class
04/01/08 PA{Pre Approval from China}
04/05/08 Parent Training Class{our 24 credit hours are completed}
05/19/08 LOA{Letter of Acceptance from China}
05/20/08 TPII{download Travel Plan II from CCAI}
06/12/08 TA{Travel Approval from China} (grin!) Travel Group 1377
06/26/08~07/11/08 IN CHINA
06/30/08 {Gotcha Day}Forever Family Day
07/01/08 "A" {Adoption Day, usually the day after Gotcha Day}
07/09/08 CA {United States Consulate Appointment in China}
07/11/08 Home

Scott and Athena's Milestones II

10/14/08 MCC {Medical Conditions Checklist}
10/24/08 Application Approval Date {Our 2nd time around}
11/08/08 Orientation @ our adoption agency CCAI {Chinese Children Adoption International}
11/13/08 1st Homestudy Visit for adoption #2 and possibly adoption #3!
01/2/09 Critical Review, Stage #1 {Sent 2nd Adoption Dossier to Agency}
01/22/09 Home Study Signed & Completed
02/18/09 USCIS (NBC) officially waiting for fingerprint appointment
02/21 & 03/07 2009 Hague Accredited Adoption Classes for Certificate
03/28/09 fingerprints for USCIS
04/29/09 I-797C Approval
05/28/09 I-797C sent to agency: This is our last document needed for Dossier
6/26/09 DTC {We have been paperchasing and trying to finish since Oct. 2008; Long wait for the last document...}
LID 07/08/09
07/09/09 #3 supplement sent to agency for USCIS I-800A for older child.
LOI 07/13/09
PA 07/16/09
LOA 07/22/09
07/24/09 Supplement #3~Hague, Approved!
08/04/09 I800 Provisional Approval~Hague NBC, Granted!
08/11/09 I800 cabled~Hague NVC to Guangzhou, China.
08/13/09 Article #5 {LOA2}~Hague, signed in GZ by US Consulate.
TA 08/20/09 Travel Group 1503
CA 09/16/09
IN China 09/02/09 ~ 09/18/09
Gotcha Day 09/07/09
Adoption Date 09/08/09
Home 09/18/09

Why Adopt from Ethiopia?

Today there are approximately 6 million orphan children in Ethiopia who need the constant love of a family
One in ten children die before their first birthday
One in six children die before their fifth birthday
It is believed that nearly half of Ethiopia’s children will become orphans over the next four years
Half the children in Ethiopia will never attend school. 88% will never attend secondary school
720,000 children have been orphaned by AIDS alone
1.5 million people are infected with AIDS (6th highest in the world)

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Monday, November 21, 2011

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Monday, October 31, 2011

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Friday, October 28, 2011

Monday, October 24, 2011

Friday, October 21, 2011

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Click on Dates: To Look At Older Posts and Pictures

The Forever Family :-)

Bella

Deanna

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Here's a story, of a lovely family...

The Happy Family Forever After.

Ha, Caught you looking. LOL

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Bella and Deanna's Milestones

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Hannah's Milestones

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Scott and Athena's Milestones II

Forever Our Daughter

Read This Book!

...and this book too!

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