LOA

Yes we finally have LOA (letter of acceptance) after 77 days. We are actually up in Traverse City MI on vacation. We happen to be out on a pontoon boat in the middle of Crystal Lake when we got the e-mail ( I love my I-phone). I e-mailed back right away the alternate address to use. We are staying at campground in Empire MI. Our agency even called me to get the address I wanted our paperwork overnighted to. Well for whatever reason she wrote our home address on the mailing label. Needless to say it went to our house. FedEx picked it up from our front porch the same day and got it to us the following day. So we received it yesterday August 1st. We signed and sent back all the necessary paperwork same day so our agency should receive it today. The letter of acceptance is a piece of paper from China saying it is ok with them that we adopt a specific child (Pan Zi Xun) . Next step is for the US to say the same that is the I-800 form. I t takes about 2 weeks for that paperwork to go through. The estimated time for travel is 10 to 14 weeks from getting the LOA to traveling. That would put us into Oct. but October is probably not going to happen. The first week of Oct. all government offices are closed due to a holiday and the later part of Oct. is the yearly trade show where all hotel rates go up. My guess is we will be traveling the first part of Nov. hopefully to be home for Thanksgiving. Cody won't know what to think going over to Dave's aunt and uncle's (Jim and Barb Stellwagen) house for their Thanksgiving feast. It will probably be more food than he has ever seen on a table. I am hoping that Cody will be more adventurous with trying new foods than Max has been. The time from now until we travel will go very fast. Still lots of paperwork to complete along with travel arrangements and just getting things ready to welcome Cody into our home. We also have Kim, Kasey's and Max's birthdays before we go. Cody's birthday is on 8-18 so I will send him a cake and hopefully get some updated pictures.

WOW our lives have certainly changed in the past two years. I know a lot of people are wondering why we are doing this, why pretty much start over when your bio kids are pretty much adults. I have to say it has not all been easy and yes we have had all had to sacrifice along the way. I guess life isn't always about trying to take the easy road when possible. These kids need families, they need the unconditional love of a mom and dad. When I see how far Max has come it is really amazing. He does have far to go but we see progress. He has trust issues and definitely tests us along the way. I fail so many times, I know I tend to give in to him way to much (just ask my girls if thats true). I think its because of the way things were when we first got home. The way he would react when he was being disciplined honestly it really scared me. He would cry scratch his face, bang his head and pretty much go into a trance. I am not saying we stopped the discipline, we just had to find different ways that worked for us. Discipline is something I need to be continually working on. I also think I am just getting older and more lenient on things. I really also think that God has given me lots of patience. Max really does not do those things anymore. He is so funny and really is a lot of fun. I feel like so many people don't get to see the real Max. He is definitely more comfortable at home and doesn't like to be in large crowds. When we do go out to visit people he is demanding and out of sorts. You could say he pretty much acts like a spoiled brat. I feel like thats how a lot of people see him and believe thats the way he is. It really makes me sad:( He really is a good boy not perfect but who is?


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