We have the brown envelope!!!

I was at rehearsal last night and when Gary showed up he handed me this envelope. I thought it was something from the IRS or whatever. I was talking to my Senior Company about their upcoming Christmas show. I took the envelope and then read the front and the word "adoption" caught my eye and then it all sank in, and I totally freaked out. The girls thought I was nuts. I yelled," the brown envelope!!!" The girls had no idea what we were excited about but when they found out they were just as excited as we were.

All the girls huddled around us and I read the letters inside out loud. It was really nice to see their reactions and see that they were so excited for us. I love my girls that I teach, they are just like family to Gary and myself. We've always said that we have about 200+ children. They call us both Mama & Papa Bear. It was nice to share that moment with them. The girls are constantly asking me how the adoption is going and all sorts of questions about her and her room etc. I had a solo class with one of my students just this week and I've had this student in classes since she was 3 years old and she is 12 now. She was asking about the adoption and wanted to know everything, it was nice how interested she was and excited she was for Gary and myself. Love my girls!!!

The brown envelope is from the the foreign service of the USA, US Consulate General Guangzhou, ( the envelope came from Washington D.C.). The documents inside are from Guangzhou, China though. It does say "official business" on the front of the envelope. It really just means that all the parties and agencies involved in the adoption have been officially notified and you are still WAITING!!!!!!!!!!!

Now we are just waiting for the referral from the CCAA (China Center of Adoption Affairs). We do have a case number now. I just looked at the date on the paperwork inside and the letters were dated August 31, 2007 from China, and we are just getting them now. Now you can see why the wait is so long, it takes a little while to get things through the proper channels and then back to us. So, we're STILL WAITING!!!!

But, we're excited!!! Another thing to check off our list. We have a dry erase board in our office with a checklist and the only thing up there was the brown envelope. Now we replace that with a referral. We also need to get our vaccinations and such. But another step forward to Avery...YEA!!!!!!!!!!

Cheer for us!!!
Love to all
~Alli & Gary

Information about Nat'l Adoption Month

Some history...

In 1976 Massachuttes Govenor Michael Dukakis celebrated an Adoption Week and it caught on that eventually later that year President Gerald Ford announced a National Adoption Week.

In 1990 it went from National Adoption Week to National Adoption Month. There is usually 1 day in November that is considered National Adoption Day. On National Adoption Day courthouses throughout the nation participate in finalizing 100's of adoptions simultaneously.

From what I could find National Adoption Day around here is November 16th.

There are certain tasks and calendars for National Adoption Month. Things you can do to help create awareness for all the children that need families. I posted a sign in my studio about adoption and all the benefits, letting everyone know about November being National Adoption Month. Gary was going to take the sign into the Air Brake also.

Here is a poem that was posted on one of the sites that had information about National Adoption Month. It fits us well...


The Rising Moon

As the moon begins to rise
I catch a glimpse of almond eyes
Staring back from outer space
The moon reflects your loving face.

My heart begins to yearn for you
A love down deep that grows so true
I see the moon throughout the night
My dreams of you are taking flight.

So when you look upon the moon
Please know that we will be there soon
I pray reflected in its light
Will be our love for you this night.

The moon must now complete its course
Let’s not regret and show remorse
It soon will rise and start anew
Reflecting love meant just for you.

~Tom Fisher


There are others and we will post them as we go.

~Alli & Gary

4 months and waiting...

We are now 4 months into our "official wait". Hopefully the next 2 months will seem to go quicker because of the holidays and our Christmas Show on the 1st of December. We'll be really busy for the next month getting the companies ready for their show. Hopefully we'll be so busy that before we know it it will be Christmas.

Happy 4 Month Anniversary to us!!!

We will be sending out the reminder postcards about Avery's quilt within the next week.

Avery's closet has got some clothes in it, and Mommy just bought her 6 more things at Old Navy this week, it was a really good sale and I couldn't resist!!!!!

Love to all~

~Alli & Gary

National Adoption Month

November is National Adoption Month!!!!

I didn't think anyone really knew about it. We will try to post some things to do for National Adoption Month.
Our 4 month waiting anniversary is coming up on the 3rd. We're getting there! Slowly but surely!!

Abby~Would love for you to do a square for Avery!

Love to all,
~Alli & Gary