Princess Amaris Nanette: Mama and the New Mei Mei!

Monday, June 25, 2012

Mama and the New Mei Mei!

I am always amazed when I see some of the moms at breakfast and they look so stunning... make-up on, hair done, beautiful clothes (despite the atrocious heat and humidity)... I look forward to getting home to my flat iron and make-up... and, not having to take 3 showers a day.

Traveling just takes everything out of me for days and days... even 3-5 hour trips, but today, I finally felt like I looked half-way decent.

And, for those wondering, our little princess is smiling... OFF CAMERA... just a tiny bit! And, while you don't see the smiles yet... she is absolutely a Mama's girl.

Her Baba is amazing too... she just hasn't quite figured that out yet. Baba bought the cute little bow for her hair... he got them for Gabriella, Amaris and Giavanna... a first for him in the shopping department.

Start from the beginning!

Our story to Amaris is absolutely MIRACULOUS... it was an 18 YEAR journey to that which God promised us.

There are so many blessings and miracles on our journey to her, some hardships and frustrations too... but, God was in it ALL... He truly led us every step, through every delay, and with great care.

To read about our journey, you will need to start with the first post in November 2010. To do this, scroll down and click on the links below.

As you enjoy our adoption journey to Amaris, I pray that you and your family might also be encouraged in some way to help even one of the 150 million orphans in this world.

There are numerous ways to help them... from one-time donations or monthly sponsorships, visiting and helping care for the orphans in private organizations to actual adoption.

Over the years, we have sponsored many, many girls through Grace and Hope for Children (http://grace-hope.org/) an organization my husband's former university professor founded after adopting his own two daughters from China. Sponsoring a child into foster care until they are adopted often means the difference of life and death. Even if it isn't that extreme, it will change the child's life forever...

The Lord says in John 14:18 (NIV) "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

Blessings as you read about our journey!

Patty

Our Journey to Amaris

11/01/10 Mama prayed that God would send a ladybug
11/22/10 God sent our ladybug
11/25/10 Thanksgiving Day, sent paperwork in, paid $250
01/07/11 First home study visit
04/12/11 Family was fingerprinted
04/13/11 Family sent local fingerprints to FBI
04/15/11 FBI received fingerprints
05/16/11 Family received fingerprints from FBI (34 days)
05/16/11 Kai’s fingerprints were rejected
06/04/11 Found out Kai’s fingerprints were rejected
06/04/11 Second home study visit
06/08/11 Kai fingerprinted at TWO diff. police depts.
06/08/11 Re-submitted Kai’s fingerprints
06/20/11 Found daughter #2, Amaris
06/23/11 Chosen to be Amaris’ family
06/24/11 Sent in our LOI – Letter of Intent for Amaris
07/18/11 Locked Amaris file
07/30/11 NEW home study started
08/01/11 PA – Pre-Approval for Amaris
08/01/11 Kai’s fingerprints passed the second time
08/04/11 FIRST home study completed (221 days)… we denied it
08/30/11 First photo update on Amaris
10/16/11 NEW home study completed (48 days)
10/18/11 Sent off I-800A
10/25/11 Received text and email from USCIS, I-800A received
11/29/11 Family fingerprint date for I-800
12/24/11 Second photo update on Amaris, first with questions
12/07/11 I-800A, Approval to adopt 2 children from China (41 days from text/email receipt to approval - AND, our little Mia's 3rd birthday)
12/31/11 I-800A, Hardcopy approval received via snail mail
01/10/12 DTC - Dossier to China
01/19/12 LID – Log in Date
01/24/12 First package sent to Amaris for her upcoming birthday to our U.S. liason
1/30/12 First package sent off to China to the orphanage
02/02/12 Found out today that we got our LID on 01/19/12
02/06/12 Got 3rd update with photos, 2nd update with info.
02/09/12 Got 1st medical update since referral
02/20/12 Princess Amaris 2nd birthday!

02/15/12 God sent us a ladybug

02/15/12 Found out we are"In Process" for our LOA since getting our LID 27 days ago... not sure how the two "In Process" remarks differ between 2/15 and 3/29

03/29/12 Found out we are "In Process" for our LOA

03/30/12 God sent a ladybug to us while at the zoo (see Gabriella's blog for this story)

05/03/12 God sent TWO ladybugs... first was definitely for Giavanna (see her blog), the second, we don't know. Both within less than 3 feet of us, at eye level, inside... fun story!

04/04/12 LOA – Letter of Acceptance (76 days from LID)

04/05/12 Received original LOA in mail

04/05/12 I800A for Tyanna, updated homestudy received by USCIS in Lockbox, received email/text confirmations

04/06/12 Returned original LOA to our adoption agency

04/09/12 Agency received our LOA via Fed Ex

04/17/12 I800A, biometric fingerprint notice for Tyanna

04/18 /12 Received the I-797C, Notice of Action in the mail for Tyanna to get her fingerprints (appt. 5/15/2012)

04/25/12 WALKED-IN 21 days early for Tyanna's biometric fingerprints

04/26/12 Baba went to work with a ladybug catcher

04/30/12 I800A approval notice for Tyanna's fingerprints

05/01/12 Received personal email from USCIS officer

05/01/12 I800 approval, Tyanna's 18th birthday

05/03/12 Received I800A and I800 together via snail mail, BUT a date was incorrect

05/03/12 Received Gabriella's US passport

05/03/12 God brought Giavanna's ladybug to us in Oklahoma

05/07/12 Emailed NVC to request NVC letter via email, received my GUZ #

05/08/12 I800 date was fixed, NVC approval was granted

05/09/12 NVC – National Visa Center, received NVC email

05/09/12 Agency cabled NVC to China

05/10/12 Cable is in China (China date)

05/11/12 Sent passports off to get our visas

05/17/12 Consulate notified our agency that our I800 had Amaris' Chinese name spelled wrong (It looked different, but I didn't check it... shame on me... this happens ALL the time)

05/17/12 I received the ORIGINAL CORRECTED I800 via snail mail (now with correct date)

05/21/12 Our NVC officer corrected Amaris' Chinese name, emailed me, and re-sent the cable to the US Consulate in China

5/24/12 Received our FINAL CORRECTED I800 via snail mail

05/24/12 Article 5 was processed and returned to the CCCWA

06/05/12 TA - Travel Approval announced

06/06/12 TA - Travel Approval received via Fed Ex

06/07/12 CA - Consulate Appointment given

06/08/12 Over-priced airplane tickets purchased

06/15/12 Leave for China

06/15/12 Arrive in China

06/18/12 Gotcha day!

06/19/12 Adoption day!

06/20/11 MIRACULOUSLY found Amaris, one year ago today

06/23/11 Chosen to be Amaris' family, one year ago today

06/27/12 Consulate appointment! (6/26 in US)

06/28/12 Amaris gets her Chinese visa

06/29/12 We walk the Great Wall!

06/30/12 US citizen!

Praying for the files of our next two princesses: Giavanna and Amelia

Princess Amaris Nanette

Monday, June 25, 2012

Mama and the New Mei Mei!

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