Straight Talk: Snow Day for Ian

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Saturday, January 21, 2012

Snow Day for Ian

Makes my heart smile today :)

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Meet our new SON! 8 year old Ian

Currently waiting in Xi'an China

Timeline to Ian

09/15/2011 Found Ian

09/22/2011 LOI (Letter of Intent)

09/27/2011 PA (Pre-Approval)

10/14/2011 Homestudy Complete

10/31/2011 DTC (Dossier To China)

11/05/2011 I-800A Supp 3 Filed

11/08/2011 LID (Logged In Date)

12/08/2011 New 797 Approval

02/06/2012 LOA on Day 90!

02/23/2012 I-800 approval

Waiting on NVC Letter

About our Family

Donna: We have been married for 15 years, and have been blessed with 5 (almost 6)amazing children. These are stories about our adventures as a family serving our King!

View my complete profile

"...once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know, and holds us responsible to act."
Proverbs 24:12

Welcome to our family blog!

Our Littlest Addition

From Nanchang, Forever United 3/27/11!

Timeline for Elise's Adoption

09/27/10 Found Elise!!
09/30/10 LOI sent to BAAS
10/09/10 PA
10/13/10 Homestudy Approval
10/14/10 I-800A Application Mailed
11/05/10 Fingerprints for I-800A
11/26/10 I-800A Approval
11/26/10 I-797 Received
12/03/10 DTC-Dossier to China
12/14/10 LID- Logged In Date
01/18/11 LOA-China said YES
02/04/11 I-800 Approval
02/15/11 NVC Letter/Cable
03/03/11 Article 5
03/21/11 TA
03/24/11 Leave for China
03/27/11 Gotcha!

"A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove. But the world may be different because, I was important in the life of a child."

Faith's Referral Pic

Faith came home from Wuchuan SWI, Guangdong, China in December 2008

Faith today!

Timeline for Faith's Adoption

7/14/08 Found Faith!
7/15/08 LOI (Letter of Intent)
7/15/08 Mailed I-800A App
7/17/08 DTC (Dossier to China)
7/23/08 LID (Officially Logged In)
8/07/08 PA (Pre-Approval from China)
9/09/08 Fingerprint Appointment
10/03/08 I-797 (USCIS Approval)
10/31/08 LOA (Letter of Approval from China)
10/31/08 Filed I-800
11/10/08 I-800 Approval
11/19/08 TA (Travel Approval to finally get my girl!)
12/08/08 GOTCHA!!!

Thousands of starfish washed ashore. A little girl began throwing them in the water so they would not die. “Don’t bother, dear,” her mother said, “it won’t make a difference.” The girl stopped for a moment and looked at the starfish in her hand. "It will make a difference to this one."

Shelby's First Referral Picture

She was in Yongning, Guangxi. She came home November 2007!

Baby Shelby

Our big girl now!

Timeline for Shelby's Adoption

1/23/07 Application Mailed
1/25/07 Application Approved
2/10/07 Orientation
2/17/07 1st Home Study Meeting
2/21/07 2nd Home Study Meeting
2/24/07 3rd Home Study Meeting
4/4/07 Home Study Approved
4/9/07 I600-A Mailed
4/25/07 Fingerprinted
5/1/07 Found Shelby
5/2/07 Formally requested to adopt
5/8/07 Approved from Hope
5/11/07 Received 171-H
5/14/07 LOI sent to Hope
5/19/07 Homestudy Addendum
5/22/07 LOI in China
6/7/07 DTC
6/14/07 PA
6/13/07 LID
9/12/07 LOA
10/01/07 TA
11/5/07 GOTCHA!

My Blog List

BabyHoffman.com

Meron Moment - Bedtime Chat - Meron gave us some worship, some scripture and a look into her future occupational desires... *Who said "princess" wasn't a career choice?*
La Dolce Vita: "The Sweet Life"

Waddling Like a Warthog for Wiphan - [image: Photobucket] He woke-up and waddled like a warthog for Wiphan. [image: Photobucket] And he made it home in time to waddle into our waffle breakfast...
JOY Unspeakable

food's here! - Oh my gosh, I gotta make this QUICK! K-Man is on his way home from a top-secret run to McD's! Oh my word. We are so bad! This is the second Saturday night...
Ni Hao Y'all

Sunday Snapshot: {the Shepster} - It’s been more than a year since my last Sunday Snapshot on Shepherd. And so, it was most definitely time for another. Our littlest guy is knocking on 5 1/...
A Place Called Simplicity

Piles, Piles and Pizza - This mama has a head ache. I rarely, rarely, rarely have a headache... but I think it's from lack of sleep. Miss Ruby is home. She perked right up when ...
Life With Briana

Sweet and Silly Girls - Amy and ML invited Briana and me over to a impromptu play date yesterday afternoon. The girls played together for 2.5 hours and had the best time. Amy to...
For The Love Of Our Five Chinasprouts

Guess - where Mya, Maylin, Ivy and I are going tonight???
A Full Quiver

Science Fair - Thanks again to everyone that helped with our science fair projects! It was great to get so many responses-- I love blogging! The kids did a great job on t...
Happily Ever After...

I made it... - ....does that make me *crafty?* * * Naahhh, I didn't think so. I tried, I really did. But cutting strips of tulle and tying it on a elastic band and ironing ...
His Hands, His feet

1 Family Needed. 1. - I know many of us have seen this: http://www.thenanfang.com/blog/zhongshans-3yo-hiv-orphan-has-hopes-for-adoption/ and ugly cried over this precious chi...
Smiles and Trials

Just in Time for St. Patrick's Day - Shamrock earrings! Only $8! Protect yourself. Don't get pinched this St. Patrick's Day! Just imagine. Not only will you be partnering with us by helping wi...
THE JOURNEY

Truth Pandemic [Luganda subtitles] - Project Hopeful is the ministry that walked alongside Mike and I when we found out Josie Love was positive. Carolyne and her sweet husband have done more t...
Just a MINute mom

Back up - *I am back on my feet and so thankful the dizziness is abated. I mean, who wants to admit they are a dizzy broad? Not me! I feel so much better. I do thin...
BUILDING THE BLOCKS...

- This was kind of an exciting week for Havyn. Here in Guatemala you just don't see very many Ethiopian little girls. ;) As a matter of fact, often when we a...
More Kids 4 Me

And the winner is..... - A big thanks to all who participated in my giveaway! I hope your heart was touched by reading about these amazing adoptive families. I sure have loved gett...
Mason-Kate

- Yesterday was absolutely beautiful! The children, who had somewhat finished their work, took a two hour break and played outside together. The weather was ...
Oatsvall Team

WHOA ... what did you just say ???? !!!! - OUR NEWEST ADDITION ... sweet sweet Kevin ... Kevin is a junior in high school and was in need of a family to step up and stand in the gap for him ... He h...
Frannie's Journey

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year..... - Well, not really, but March brings .... SHAMROCK SHAKES! Yahoo! Lisa C., ha ha ha! This photo of Grace shows her, after removing rubber bands that were o...
Room for at least One More

Happy LEAP Day! FREEBIES@CurrClick.com - Y’all have got to check this out! Whether you homeschool or not, some of this stuff is bound to be useful! Notebooking pages for vacations … for “traveling...
CORNBREAD AND CHOPSTICKS

What Happens at Home School.... - when your little sister is home, sick well kind of sick Heh - at least she didn't totally get out of school that day! Bwhahaha!
Sheridan's Shenanigans

Laundry SOS - The washing machine has suk after only short 5 years of service. Occasionally over the last few months, we would see some water on the floor of the laundry...
Courtney's Blog

One Year Ago - Joshua - One year ago, we were landing in Wuhan after a very distressing trip! Some of you may remember our tumultuous journey to little Joshua, including our misse...
No Hands But Ours: the blog

We've moved! - Please come visit our new (and much improved) website *here*. And, if you are following us through Google or feedburner, *be sure to* * resubscribe* so you ...
My Life My Desire

Bryson's 8th Birthday - Bryson breaks birthday junk cereal tradition! He requested eggs with a prize inside! He asks...he received! That would be a pack of cards in them eggs, yes s...
Sharing Life and Love

The Twins Turned TWO!and still wait for their family... - *We had a Party! * *Just to celebrate our 2nd Birthday!* *We had a great big cake...* *We made a wish....* * Want to guess what it was? * *Can you help...
And Then There Were Seven

Too Cool Not to Share - I don't post much about my writing, but my editor sent me this, and it's too cool not to share.
Keeping Up with the Jones'

Jake and kids - Say cheese!! I just wanted to share this picture because I really love those 3!! [image: Posted by Picasa]
Love Laugh Learn Grow {our family journal}

Lucky 13 - (Don't we look like babies? LOL!)
and now there are nine

Cherished, adored, forever ours. - *"Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue y...
Cupcakes and Hairbows

Alaina's 9 Year Check-Up - Some of you may remember how skinny Alaina was when we met her 3 years ago (just before her 6th b'day), so the fact that she registered in the 0 %'ile for ...
Evans

Grace's first level 9 meet -
Gracie Mae Makes 10!

Happy First Gotcha Day Gracie-Cakes!!! - Gracie-Cakes only likes cakes in her name as ice cream is her game!!! So I made some homemade ice cream and put some sprinkles on it and indeed it was a Hap...
with grace and gratitude

Happy 2012! - Happy New Year to one and all!! I have been a terrible blogger this past year...so my personal goal for this year is to blog well for 2012, and catch up t...
... In the Waiting

Happy Gotcha Day - Two Years ago ! - Two years ago we were handed a beautiful, sweet little baby girl. And the adventure began. Maggie and I watched her Gotcha Day video today and she was a ...
Finding Our Missing Link

Where have I been?? - Wow guys! Sorry about the lack of updating. It seems that by the time I have the time to update, I am too exhausted to type it all out! I do think about ...
little boy hugs and ladybugs

Video time! - Click here to see Junie-girl in action! LOVE her response to "Does Mommy love you?"... "Yes, Ma'am Mommy!" [image: Posted by Pica...
The Baker's Sweets!!!

Laying it all out there - First of all, I want to say THANK YOU for all you folks who have emailed me asking how I am, where I've been and why I haven't updated my blog. I'm OK. I'm...
Our Family, Our Joy

Just Because........ - She looks so adorable in her new dress!
Isn't She Lovely

Switching Over~ - It is official~ I am *switching over* to Everything Beautiful and will hide Isn't She Lovely July 1st. That means... I need my followers to go to Everythin...
Ladman's Chinese Takeout, Part 2

Knit-Along for Japan - Here is this week's installment in Ginny's Knit-Along. My dear friend, Mary from Homegrown Learners suggested that we Knit for Japan (also hosted by Gin...
. . . l i t t l e o n e a w a i t s

April Memories - Happy Willow. Happy Dinosaurs. Unhappy Dinosaurs. Tai Chi. Livin' the dream :) Tomboys and tu...
Some Babies Come By Escalator

April - Ahhhh, spring is almost here. After a cold and snowy winter, we're ready for some sunshine and flowers! Parker's 1st Easter Egg Hunt. He has no idea wha...
Wonderful Waiting Kids

This Week's Wonderful Waiting Kids - Agency Lists - I am posting the agency listed kiddos and will post the shared list kids in a day or two. I have a lot of kiddos to add. Don't forget to check back to s...
No Hands But Ours: Family Stories

Lucas - *by Lyn, mom to Lucas from China with an SN of repaired VSD* I was not one of those people who longed to adopt a child my whole life. My husband Bob and I ...
Steps In Our Journey

Jammin' - Life is busy! Well, I guess it's always busy, but it seems really busy this first quarter of the year. My man is speaking on the Winter Jam Tour again this...

Favorite Links

Adoption Option Group
Bay Area Adoption Services
Rumor Queen
Grace-Hope Foster Care
Ann at Red Thread China
Document Courier Services

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Favorite Yahoo Groups

Click to join AdvocateforWC

Click to join AdoptOption

Click to join adoptcleft Click here to join WaitingChildrenChina

Click to join WaitingChildrenChina Click here to join WaitingSNChildrenChina

Click to join WaitingSNChildrenChina Click here to join FCCAWait

Click to join FCCAWait

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