what's new

So lots of good stuff is going on around here. And for many of you, this post may be a yawner. Because I've just been wanting to do a journaling post about the latest with the China prince and where we are as of today.

Our home study, which was really completed last November had to be re-completed this January. We had used Joel's last post placement visit as one of our new home study visits {perfectly legal as long as it's less than 18 months old}. But when Seth died, we just stopped. And though we had the study written, we paid for it and just let it sit. The study was written specifically for Seth and his special needs. And we were in no place to figure it all out at that moment. So in January, we again met with our social worker, Cheryl {LOVE her!} because Joel's post placement visit was now void.

The corrections were made. We broadened our scope of special needs that we wanted to be approved for and then the drafts were sent to WACAP. They read. They request changes. More drafts sent via email. WACAP reads. They approve. Home study agency prints it, signs and notarizes and gets it to WACAP via mail.

It took a little bit of time, but our home study was finally in WACAP's hands this past Monday. Yay for that. I've been so ready for that to happen. So we can finally apply to USCIS for our immigration approval and so we can send in some grant applications and pray for help in bringing the prince home! :)

On Wednesday evening, I got an email from our new China coordinator with WACAP. Her name is Yu Ping. And can I just tell you something?

I love her already.

Love her.

She is on it bluebonnet.

She emailed to introduce herself and to set up a time for our welcome call into the China program.

Hallelu-yer.

I could tell from the start that I would like her and I was right. Within an hour, she had emailed back and forth with me a few times and had sent the necessary paperwork for our grant applications to be set in motion. Whew. That's a blessing in itself. I know sometimes agencies are so hard to work with or are so busy or short staffed or something else that frustrates adoptive families who are already stressed.

But that is not our experience with them and it's just so good to know that they are working for you and with you to bring your baby home. Not that those other agencies are doing that as well. It's just that you see things in the adoption world and you hurt for those whose processes are slow to start or have high demands and you just want things to be easier for them. And sometimes, it's just not.

So Yu Ping called on Thursday and we spoke for nearly an hour. Bless her. She is precious. She answered every question I had perfectly. And while I know that I am pretty knowledgable about the China process...it was so great to hear her say, several times...

"My job is to take as much stress from you as possible. I will be here every step of the way as we work together to bring your child home. You can call or email me anytime." etc, etc.

Like I said,

Love. Her.

She also told me how to say some important stuff.

Like the little prince's name.

Funny, huh?

Yeah, I had no idea how in the world you pronounce it. I really wanted to know but had no idea who to ask. So she was telling me how to pronounce all kinds of great stuff. Like his name and the provincial capital where we will travel to receive him. Oh, happy day.

Are you curious?

His name is Zhou Xun.

His last name is Zhou and his first name is Xun. In China, they are opposite from the way we say our names here. I figured that was the case. You know, one of our favorite movies is Mulan. So I've picked up a few things here and there. :) Remember the mean matchmaker lady yells at her and says,

"Fa Mulan!"

And so his name is the same...last first, first last. And you say it "Jo Shun". Not really a "u" like "tug" or a "oo" like spoon. The way she explained it to me was more like a cross between them. Hard to explain. If you see me in person, I will say it for you. How bout that? If I can remember myself!

Yu Ping also confirmed what I thought initially, that while he is living in an orphanage in Pingdingshan {Henan Province}, we will meet our prince in Zhengzhou. Wanna know how to pronounce that too?

"Jung Jo".

Yeah, I'm a pro now. Look at me go!

Zhengzhou is the provincial capital of Henan. And so our sweet boy will travel from his orphanage to the capital where we will meet him. Bless him. I'm sure he will be scared and wondering what the hockey is happening to him. Goodness. My heart breaks already.

So, here is a little point of reference for you fine folk. Our sweet boy's province, Henan, is encircled in red.

And his city is marked by the lower red star here.

I can't wait to see China. I'm told that it's pretty overwhelming though. Henan alone boasts of a population of 93 million people. 93 million. Crazy. Let's get some perspective here.

The population of the United States is 311 million people.

The little prince is living in a province that has a population nearly a third as big as our entire country's is. Isn't that just mind boggling? It was to me.

Since it is located so near the Yellow River, Henan is known as the beginning of Chinese civilization. I anticipate seeing so much history while we are there. I remember being in Rome, Italy and taking in the architecture and walking on streets that are older than the United States is and thinking, "We are such babies. We are so young. 230+ years? Our nation is a baby compared to this one." I'm sure to have that sense again standing in China. And I can't wait!

In the meantime, excuse the detour...we are praying for FAST immigration approval. Our cardiologist sent a notarized letter to accompany our I-800A paperwork that asked for our officer's consideration in speeding our case along since he has a heart condition. There are no guarantees that this will happen. But we are praying and trusting for His timeline to prevail. We know it will. And we rest in the knowledge that God's plans for our family are firmly in place. Until something new comes along to tell you about, we're just plugging away here one day at a time. And we're really happy doing it. :)