Ironically enough...

I spoke with our family coordinator this morning, and it looks like all is well with our dossier. It's expected to be Fed-Ex'd to China this Friday. Upon arrival, we'll receive our log-in-date (LID).

Right now the estimated wait for a referral from the LID is 22 months. However, our fc seemed very optimistic about a possible decrease in the wait time after the first of the year. That would be wonderful! Several factors affect the wait time: stricter criteria enforced in May which disqualifies families (this one makes me sad), and families pulling-out b/c the wait is too long.

Ironically enough, this Friday Vince & I are headed to China with a missions team from church. What are the odds of that!! I'm not sure if we'll be chasing our paperwork, or, if it'll be chasing us.

We appreciate your prayers while we're in China: safe travel, safety from unclean food/water, invisible to the authorites and divine appointments.

Saying Good-Bye

Happy 4th! Vince and I celebrated the 4th of July a little unconventionally this year, although we did celebrate. Several months ago you may remember I began painting Mayah's room. Well, I never finished it. Overwhelmed by the frustration of waiting on INS and the possibility that we may not even live in this house by the time Mayah comes home (does anyone stay in a home more than 5 years these days?), I moved the paint cans to the garage.

This Wednesday Vince & I decided to finish the task. We had previously been undecided about continuing to paint the walls 2 colors...would it make the house less marketable should we sell?? We finally came to the conclusion that we didn't care. This is where we live, so this is where we're preparing for our daughter. 'If' we sell, we'll deal with that later...one day at a time.

So we celebrated a very special freedom: living in a country that protects, and makes possible, the opportunity to grow our family the way God has directed us to -- by international adoption! Mayah, your walls are dry!!

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

On another note, it's never easy to say good-bye...as a matter of fact, I prefer not to say it at all! (Suppose that could be traced back to one of my personality flaws) But this past Tuesday I couldn't escape it. I had to hug a neck, and say good-bye. Some very close friends of ours here in Springfield, MO moved to Texas. Might I mention one of the most southern cities in Texas, Corpus Christie. We will miss Scott and Lori and their children, Caleb & Anna. Like Vince, Scott is a minister ( and, might I add an excellent Bible teacher). It's always a blessing to connect with 'spiritual' soul-mates, and the McDonald's are definitely that!! We'll miss you!!