{NEWS}

{picture taken by Fonnetta of our Weeping Cherry Tree 5-2009}

YAY!!! We have our appointments for our FBI fingerprinting with Homeland Security! We are so excited at the thought of being finished with this paper chase. Our journey has been so smooth, so I really cannot complain. However, I would love to take a deep breath and know that China has our file and have given us a log in date. That should happen in July sometime.

In the mean time, I am working on my cookbook. It too should be completed and ready to sell in July. I have been having so much FUN cooking and taking pictures of all the yummy food that will be in it. I will keep you posted when it is ready to sell. I don't want it to cost more than $20. We are hoping for success with this fundraiser. We need all the funds we can get right now for the adoption.

I have also started preparing to make Makayla a "100 Good Wishes Quilt" or "Bai Jai Bei". I have just finished the letter and will be sending it out soon. A little history about what this is...

When a baby is born, family and friends would donate to the child's mother fabric scraps. It is said that the luck, energy, and good wishes from all the families and friends who contributed the fabric surrounds the child when she is wrapped in the quilt. The quilt is then passed down from generation to generation.

After our coordinator told us about the quilt she made for her daughter, I fell in love with the idea. I am really excited to start sewing this masterpiece. I made a quilt for each one one of our children when they were babies, so it is only fitting. Like I said, I will be mailing out those letters soon. It has a lot more information in it. If you have any questions, please just shoot me an email or make a comment and I will try to answer it.

Have a blessed day!
The Sweeney's

Romans 5:1-4 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through out Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this Grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

{UPDATE}

We have made some serious progress this week:) I forgot to post that our last two documents were authenticated in Olympia on June 5th. THANK YOU Mr. Otis!!! Now we have all of our documents authenticated and ready to send to the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco to be authenticated for the last time! Then...lookout GWCA our Dossier will be on its way!!!



We had our second yard sale Saturday, for the adoption and we raised $800.00!!!!!!!!!!!! Can you believe it?!?! We were so excited. Just about everything we had, sold on Saturday. We are donating the leftovers now.

~A SPECIAL THANK YOU~ to Mike's parent for ALL their help, we could NOT have accomplished this Yard Sale with out YOU!
Also, Thank You to:
The Daniels Family
The Bowers Family
The Otis Family
The Davidson Family
The Fisher Family
and all the fabulous people who shopped here!

I spoke with our Dossier Consultant, Jessa, she cleared up several questions and then reviewed our family pictures which will be attach to our Dossier! We passed with flying colors! I made three scrapbook pages to send. We could have up to 10 photos. So check that off the list! We are so ready:)







~NEWS~
We just got word today that our I-800A was received at Homeland Security!!!! Then in the mail came the Notice of Action!!! I cannot begin to comprehend the speediness of our process with everything! Now, we should get word in a day or two that we need to go be fingerprinted. They will give us a time and date to get that done again.

Have a WONDERFUL day and THANK YOU for your support and continued prayer in our adoption process!

The Sweeney's

Isaiah 43:5
Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
I will bring your children from the East
and gather you from the West.

{several things}

I wanted to give an update on our progress...
On May 30th we received our approval letter form Great Wall regarding our Home Study!!! That was so fast, not the actual Home Study process, but the actual approval letter after it was finished!!! We were so excited, because we needed that to be attached to our Home Study to make it official and for when it is sent for the Authentication, I-800A, and the Dossier. Here is a picture...





Also, I was able to go on Monday, June 1st and pick up our four notarized copies of our Home Study from Nora. That is a huge weight off my shoulders. We are now ready to send our I-800A and begin researching grants for our adoption.



Yesterday, June 2nd, I sent our I-800A by 2 day mail:) They should receive it by Friday!!!! Then, from what I understand, it will take them about 37 days to process the information and we are ready to get our last fingerprinting by the FBI and compile our Dossier!!!! (special thanks to my friend Chris for coming with me to snap my picture)



While that is all happening our last two documents are in Olympia being Authenticated!!!!

Thank you again for all your continued prayers! Our adoption would not be going this smoothly if it wasn't for all of our fabulous friends and family. We know with out a shadow of a doubt that this is His plan and we are so thrilled!!!

I always like end with a scripture and this one just spoke to my heart!!!

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11