So, the first bit of good news was that Hannah's file actually got in the database and designated to Gladney on July 21st! So Gladney quickly "matched" us to her. This has been the step that we have been waiting for what seems like FOREVER... So seriously, we were on cloud 9! The file finally being in the database means that Hannah is available for adoption. Then our agency gets designated the file and has the opportunity to match her with a family. If they don't match her, then her file goes to the shared list. (This is my understanding and could be wrong.... Just gotta throw in that caveat in case I am really messing things up here!). But because Gladney knew her file was coming, they told us about her and we had already done our due diligence and committed to being matched with her. Yay!
But, the good news didn't stop there.... Nope, 6 days later on July 27th - that's right - just 6 days - we were told that China had issued their "Letter Seeking Confirmation"... Which basically means they approved us to be Hannah's family! Up until this point, we don't have any guarantee that she will be our daughter. Now, we do. B/c we have been approved! Also, this step normally takes 30-90 days. But because we have been LID (Logged In Dossier) since Feb 28 (which basically means China had all of our paperwork), we got LSC super quick - 6 days! Yay! So the waiting wasn't all for nought. But this is "soft" and until you get the hard copy, you can't proceed to the next step... So, what do you think happened?
...Four days later, on July 31st - same week - the Friday to that Tuesday - we got Hard LSC which means our agency got a hard copy of the letter. Woohoo! This letter is needed to file the i800 paperwork which (to my understanding) is us applying for permission to the US government to immigrate Hannah here as our child.
So... I actually goofed here a bit. I didn't realize that I was supposed to print and sign the original i800 docs and mail them to our agency. I had already filled everything out for us, and we had signed them and we had emailed them... But I hadn't physically mailed them the original copies. Oops. And they needed those to submit for our next step. So, of course, I had them shipped overnight to our agency. So one day delay b/c of me. But, oh well, that isn't the end of the world, right?
So, i800 application and supplemental forms was submitted Monday, August 3rd. And our agency over-nighted it, so it should be received by tomorrow August 4th... So, yet another clock starts ticking.... We've been told to expect 14 to 21 days for this step - so here is hoping for 14 days or less!
So what does this all mean? It means that finally the clock is ticking. From when we get our Hard LSC, families typically travel in about 10-14 weeks. Y'all, that means we could be going to get Hannah in 10 weeks!!! And it means she is ours! AND, it means we can share her picture!
So here she is! Isn't she so beautiful? I can't stand it... She doesn't seem quick to smile and, yes, that worries me, but we have some of her having a smile coaxed out of her. Stuff like that is why I am so glad our Lord has shown us without a doubt that she is our child.
OH, and you think the good news stops there? No way. Our agency actually had a dinner for families in the area interested in and going through their China program last Thursday night... AND, we met three different groups/people who had met our Hannah!
The first family had met her when they went to get their daughter this summer (late June). This picture is actually from them! It was so fun to meet their daughter, and them and to hear about Hannah's orphanage, their experience with their daughter, etc... It actually was a bit creepy/cool b/c the husband's name is Andy, they have two bio boys ages 5 and 3 and are adopting a little girl. But it is also so cool b/c they live in Ft. Worth and it will be so wonderful to have another family and friend for Hannah from her same orphanage :-).
The second person was the pediatric physical therapist who actually travels twice a year with a team associated with our agency where they meet and evaluate the children potentially being placed for adoption so they can advocate for them. So, we had actually already talked to her on the phone, but it was great to see her in person.
And the third group that had met our daughter, was a mother and daughter pair who had gone recently to Hannah's orphanage as part of a service trip organized through our agency. So they had actually played in Hannah's room with the kids not that long ago. We actually were just talking to them - didn't realize they had gone to Changsha and Hannah's orphanage... They were like - wait, show us a picture of her - maybe we saw her... And low and behold, they did! They said she was playing and going from one thing to the next... And seemed like a perfect little girl :-).
Now how amazing is that? So amazing. God is so good. Another adoptive momma told me she felt the wait was so that our love would grow for our children, and I can testify that that is so true. It is amazing how much we care for a little girl we have never even met. Seriously, my heart bursts with love for her. In many ways, it is like being pregnant. Imagining what she will be like... Getting giddy over any piece of information about her (sonogram high anyone?)...
So, that's all for now... There are actually other things we have been up to too, but this at least gets us caught up. And beware, now that we can share pics, we may be doing that a LOT :-).
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