Well, we got the call Monday morning! Little Arisson is waiting for us in Yangjiang, Guangdong Province, China. And she has been waiting since April 28, 2007. She is living in the Jiangcheng District Welfare Institute. They have given her the name Jiang Cheng Er. Cheng Er is actually her first and middle name, and Jiang is her last. Jiang Cheng is pronounced Gwan tsing. Yup, I know. That doesn't look like how it should be pronounced. We will be receiving her file and picture next week sometime. I cannot wait! Our social worker Jessica told me that she has chubby cheeks, big lips, and big eyes. She also mentioned that she has a red birthmark on the bridge of her nose. I was also told that she is so cute. I still can't believe this is finally happening.
We have 6 families in our travel group, including us. One couple are receiving a nearly 2.5 year old. The rest of us have babies with birthdays all in the same week. How awesome is that?
We haven't come up with her middle name yet. I was hoping to use one of the Chinese names, but just haven't really had time to talk it over with Jason yet. Now, time to get packing and bring her home!
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Monday, February 4, 2008
Why Adoption?
Or should I say, "don't you have enough kids?" That is the question that I get alot. Adoption has always been in the back of my head. From the time I was in grade school and one of my best friends was Shelley, I have thought about adoption. Shelley was adopted. Her family had adopted quite a few kids, and I was just always intrigued by that huge family that was put together in such a unusual fashion.
I knew I wanted a lot of kids when I grew up. I always said I wanted 10 kids, but that was before I had one. Parenting is a hard job. I had asked Jason when I was pregnant with Aaron, that if we had another boy, could we adopt a little girl from China? He just asked me what was wrong with me. After we moved to Sugar Grove, I was watching Adoption Story on tv. After the show I went and did a search on adoption and children waiting. There was a little girl from Russia who's name started with the letter A that was around 3 years old. I quick called Jason to tell him about it, and again he thought that there was something wrong with me.
A few years had past and again, the desire to adopt became so strong in my heart. I was reading through the Bible that year, and it just kept saying to care for the orphans. A few more things happened, including coming across a radio program by accident that was about International Adoption. I just kept feeling God pushing me in that direction. When I mentioned it to Jason, he wasn't feeling the push. That night I just prayed that God would either take the desire from my heart, or put it on Jason's heart. I just gave it over to God. I wasn't going to bring up the subject to Jason again. Lo and behold, the very next morning Jason started the day asking me why we would just adopt one child and not siblings. Wow, God answers prayer, and God answers quick!
We went to an information meeting and decided to go to China for our child. China's adoption program at the time was the most stable program. Their children tended to be more healthy. The mothers give up their children because of their "one child policy", but they take care of themselves, and they abandon the children where they will be found quickly. Russian children, on the other hand are oftentimes born from alcoholic parents. Also, China was a one trip process, as opposed to other countries. And the fees were all up front. Some countries, like Russia, were a little more unstable, and had a lot of issues with bribery.
Our paperwork went fairly smoothly and on December 26, 2005 we were logged into China's system and have been waiting ever since. Rumor has it that we are in this month and should be getting our referral this week. I am praying that it is true. We are so ready to bring our little girl home.
I knew I wanted a lot of kids when I grew up. I always said I wanted 10 kids, but that was before I had one. Parenting is a hard job. I had asked Jason when I was pregnant with Aaron, that if we had another boy, could we adopt a little girl from China? He just asked me what was wrong with me. After we moved to Sugar Grove, I was watching Adoption Story on tv. After the show I went and did a search on adoption and children waiting. There was a little girl from Russia who's name started with the letter A that was around 3 years old. I quick called Jason to tell him about it, and again he thought that there was something wrong with me.
A few years had past and again, the desire to adopt became so strong in my heart. I was reading through the Bible that year, and it just kept saying to care for the orphans. A few more things happened, including coming across a radio program by accident that was about International Adoption. I just kept feeling God pushing me in that direction. When I mentioned it to Jason, he wasn't feeling the push. That night I just prayed that God would either take the desire from my heart, or put it on Jason's heart. I just gave it over to God. I wasn't going to bring up the subject to Jason again. Lo and behold, the very next morning Jason started the day asking me why we would just adopt one child and not siblings. Wow, God answers prayer, and God answers quick!
We went to an information meeting and decided to go to China for our child. China's adoption program at the time was the most stable program. Their children tended to be more healthy. The mothers give up their children because of their "one child policy", but they take care of themselves, and they abandon the children where they will be found quickly. Russian children, on the other hand are oftentimes born from alcoholic parents. Also, China was a one trip process, as opposed to other countries. And the fees were all up front. Some countries, like Russia, were a little more unstable, and had a lot of issues with bribery.
Our paperwork went fairly smoothly and on December 26, 2005 we were logged into China's system and have been waiting ever since. Rumor has it that we are in this month and should be getting our referral this week. I am praying that it is true. We are so ready to bring our little girl home.
Friday, January 4, 2008
What happened to 2007?
This statement gets old, but seriously, the years are going by faster and faster every year. I feel totally out of control at times, but on the other hand, I am always looking ahead and hoping for things to get here quickly. I didn't mention in my first post, but we are currently on a journey that is taking it's time to get here. We are adopting from China. We started the process about 2.5 years ago. We thought we would be done by now. In fact, we thought we would be done over a year ago. When we first started the process, it was about an 8 month turn around from Log In Date (LID) until Gotcha Day. An LID is a date that the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) gives you when they receive your paperwork. Our LID is 12/26/2005. That means our paperwork has been in China's possession for over 2 years now. Why the long wait. I am not too sure. There is a lot of speculation as to why, the 2 most common explanations being not enough "paper-ready" children or less abandonment of children, and the 2008 Summer Olympics.
As far as there not being enough children for the number of new applicants, I think that is completely hogwash. Granted, China opened up their adoption program to more countries before we were logged in, but they still have their "one child policy". Reading the information out there, the number of children up for adoption has not decreased significantly. Personally, I think it is all related to the Olympics. The 2008 Summer Olympics are in Beijing, China. I tend to agree with those that are saying that China has purposely decreased their adoptees to make it look like to the rest of the world that they are indeed not the country that sends out all their abandoned or ill children. It is all about "Saving Face" for China. Appearance is everything.
So we wait. Currently China has matched all dossiers through December 19, 2005. Yes, we are closer, but how much longer will it be is the big question? I think they only got through 3 months of referrals in 2007. Most likely 2008 is our year, but it still could be months away.
Our little girl is named Arisson. Arisson is all our names put together. It isn't going to have an American meaning, but for the Lodwig's, it means she is hugged by us all day! We have been praying for this little girl for 2.5 years now. We are so ready for her to come home. I believe that she is now alive. Our prayer is that God is holding her tightly until we can come get her.
So for that, I am glad that 2007 is over. I don't want 2008 to fly by. I just want it to speed up to the part where we go get Arisson, and then it can slow down and take it's time!
As far as there not being enough children for the number of new applicants, I think that is completely hogwash. Granted, China opened up their adoption program to more countries before we were logged in, but they still have their "one child policy". Reading the information out there, the number of children up for adoption has not decreased significantly. Personally, I think it is all related to the Olympics. The 2008 Summer Olympics are in Beijing, China. I tend to agree with those that are saying that China has purposely decreased their adoptees to make it look like to the rest of the world that they are indeed not the country that sends out all their abandoned or ill children. It is all about "Saving Face" for China. Appearance is everything.
So we wait. Currently China has matched all dossiers through December 19, 2005. Yes, we are closer, but how much longer will it be is the big question? I think they only got through 3 months of referrals in 2007. Most likely 2008 is our year, but it still could be months away.
Our little girl is named Arisson. Arisson is all our names put together. It isn't going to have an American meaning, but for the Lodwig's, it means she is hugged by us all day! We have been praying for this little girl for 2.5 years now. We are so ready for her to come home. I believe that she is now alive. Our prayer is that God is holding her tightly until we can come get her.
So for that, I am glad that 2007 is over. I don't want 2008 to fly by. I just want it to speed up to the part where we go get Arisson, and then it can slow down and take it's time!
Introduction to Blogging
This is my very first blog, so perhaps we should start off with some introductions. We are the Lodwig Family. Jason is the Big Daddy of the Household. He works in Accounting. He reads books, loves movies, and likes to tinker around the house. I, Kris, am the Mama of the Household. I am at home all the time, although Jason keeps asking me when I plan to get back out there and earn my keep. For now, my place is in the Home. I love to read, I love to quilt, and love my family and friends. We are parents to 4 awesome kids. I may be a little bias, but given the chance, I think you would come to the same conclusion.
Austin is our oldest. He is 13 and in the 8th grade. He loves to play soccer, and is an excellent trumpet player. For Christmas this year he was blessed to get an electric guitar, so who knows, he may be an excellent guitar player as well. He gets good grades, but would get great grades if he tried just a little bit. He loves his video games, and hates to do anything that could be considered labor.
Aislinn is our 2nd child and our only daughter. She just turned 11, and she is a 5th grader. She is a great soccer player, works very hard in school, and she is also learning to play the trumpet. She is very sweet and is called "the other mother" in the house because of her momminess to her younger brothers. She can usually be found with her nose in a book.
Aidan comes in 3rd. He just turned 7 and he is a 1st grader. This is the first year that he goes all day to school. He is our intellect. He has a great vocabulary, which doesn't come from simple me. He loves nature and everything to do with nature. Bugs, digging, pulling weeds. Everything he touches explodes, but we love him anyway. He is learning to read very well.
Aaron is the baby of the family. We call him the "All American:" He may be the youngest, but he can hold his own. Everyone loves his energy and his gusto. This year he is being homeschooled by his Mama, but will be going to Kindergarten in the Fall. I think we are all looking forward to that. He loves Waldo and I Spy books and playing with a Leapster or Gameboy.
As a family, we love the Lord. It is because of God that this family was put together, and for that we are thankful! It is because of God's grace that we will be together eternally. How awesome is that?
My family says and does pretty wacky things. I may have a mind like a steel trap, but I know that I forget things the older I get. I hope to record things regularly so I can empty my memory and make room for more! I look forward to learning this blog stuff. Some of you are so good at this!
Austin is our oldest. He is 13 and in the 8th grade. He loves to play soccer, and is an excellent trumpet player. For Christmas this year he was blessed to get an electric guitar, so who knows, he may be an excellent guitar player as well. He gets good grades, but would get great grades if he tried just a little bit. He loves his video games, and hates to do anything that could be considered labor.
Aislinn is our 2nd child and our only daughter. She just turned 11, and she is a 5th grader. She is a great soccer player, works very hard in school, and she is also learning to play the trumpet. She is very sweet and is called "the other mother" in the house because of her momminess to her younger brothers. She can usually be found with her nose in a book.
Aidan comes in 3rd. He just turned 7 and he is a 1st grader. This is the first year that he goes all day to school. He is our intellect. He has a great vocabulary, which doesn't come from simple me. He loves nature and everything to do with nature. Bugs, digging, pulling weeds. Everything he touches explodes, but we love him anyway. He is learning to read very well.
Aaron is the baby of the family. We call him the "All American:" He may be the youngest, but he can hold his own. Everyone loves his energy and his gusto. This year he is being homeschooled by his Mama, but will be going to Kindergarten in the Fall. I think we are all looking forward to that. He loves Waldo and I Spy books and playing with a Leapster or Gameboy.
As a family, we love the Lord. It is because of God that this family was put together, and for that we are thankful! It is because of God's grace that we will be together eternally. How awesome is that?
My family says and does pretty wacky things. I may have a mind like a steel trap, but I know that I forget things the older I get. I hope to record things regularly so I can empty my memory and make room for more! I look forward to learning this blog stuff. Some of you are so good at this!
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