On its way

This blog started our different just a couple of hours ago. Let me take you back a bit. Last week we got word that our dossier made it through review and was approved! Let me tell you, there was rejoicing! The kind that draw you to your knees, in deep cries of joy.

We would just need to wait for the CCAA (China) to send us our LOA (Letter of acceptance).

*You cannot proceed with your adoption until China sends the LOA, which is your official approval from the CCAA to adopt your child.

Yesterday, day 69 of our LOA wait... we got word, it was sent...and is now on U.S. soil.





Next stop... Texas! We will finally have it in our hands on day 70!!!!




To be continued...

Both Hands and an UPDATE!

We have been given an amazing opportunity to work with





on a project called



Both Hands Mission Statement:


The Both Hands mission is to bring comfort to widows in the form of home repairs and landscaping, while partnering with Lifesong for Orphans to bring aid to orphans and provide financial assistance to adoptive families.

There are 150 million orphans in the world and while we can’t change the world, we can make a world of difference to some. One of the main reasons people don’t proceed with the adoption process is because of the huge price tag, often times between $15,000-$30,000. Our vision is that there will be Both Hands projects happening every weekend, in every state in this country.


If you would like to know more about our Both Hands project, the wonderful woman we will be serving and how you can help please check out our family fundraising page.

http://bothhandsfoundation.org/nathan-and-alisa-coriell.aspx

They have also set up a facebook page for us so come on over and join:

www.facebook.com/events/299943943391741


ADOPTION UPDATE:

I talked with our agency last night and our dossier just made it out of translation (day 38 of our LOA wait) and now is "in process". Please be praying!

We have LID !!!

We have some great news on the adoption front.... I opened an email this morning from our China coordinator and she said the CCAA just logged in our dossier and we have a log in date of
12/02/11 !!! Thank you Jesus, we finally made it to this step!

Now the clock starts on our wait for our LOA (Letter of Acceptance). The timeline for this is a bit all over the place. The average is about 60-70 days BUT some people have got theirs as early as 30 days and some have waited 90+ days. There is just no rhyme or reason to it. Overall, if I was to go off the averages of LOA-TA (travel approval) we are looking at possibly traveling in April/May.

Below are pictures of the care package we sent, I talked it about a couple of posts ago. It was scheduled to arrive the day before Thanksgiving. It included a snugly blanket, musical toy, pajama, photo album of our family, disposable camera (the orphanage will use these and give them back to families on adoption day) a translated letter from us and candies for the foster parents and nannies.




Each picture is labeled in Chinese.



Sweet little owl Pajama.



We pray that during this time God would be preparing Selah's heart for us. Her foster parents/nannies and life at the orphanage is all that she has ever known. Although her orphanage and it's programs are better than most in China it is still not a forever family. Her world will be turned upside down. So please be praying for our sweet one.

Half the Sky

What is Half the Sky?

Half the Sky foundation seeks to ensure orphaned children receive the early childhood
opportunities they need to thrive by providing infant nurture programs with trained nannies to love and care for the babies, uniquely tailored preschool education for toddlers and beyond, personalized learning opportunities for older children, and loving, permanent family care, medical care and guidance for children with disabilities. HTS offers the care, individual attention and development environment that a loving family would otherwise secure for a child’s
healthy development.

"Changing children’s lives does not require new facilities or expensive playthings or complicated new procedures. Human contact is the most important ingredient, and caretakers can make a huge difference—just by taking an extra moment whenever possible to hold the babies, talk to the children, hug them all, and assure them that someone cares." —For the Children, Half the Sky’s training manual

Selah's orphanage is a Half the Sky orphanage. She lives in a "foster village". Basically a group of foster families that live in apartments next to the orphanage. The foster families typically care for 4-5 kids so that they may grow and develop healthy attachment in a family atmosphere not an institutional setting. During the day they do go to the orphanage for classes/services. The foster village is sponsored by Alliance for Children Foundation. If would like to learn more about the set up of the foster villages click on the link above!


When we were sent Selah's updated pictures we were also sent these PRECIOUS pictures as well! Taken in September.








I noticed this is the same picture she is looking at in her Half the Sky book (which is her record book they have kept of her since she came to the orphanage). This is a very special book! From what I have been told this will be coming home with her. I am currently trying to find out if this is her foster mom or a nanny at the orphanage.

Nathan and I often talk about the sparkle of JOY in her eyes. We are so thankful for the care she is receiving here.

Psalm 68:5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.

Thankful

Sweet Jesus...I am thankful for my adoption found in you. Life is found in you. I have so much to be thankful for this season. I pray that this life in you would not be wasted but used to it's fullest. Because of love. Because of love all things are possible. Thank you.


This Thanksgiving I am thankful for....







Our DOSSIER and it being finished!!! Our life on paper, approved by agencies and the government. Documents notarized, State certified, Department of State certified and Chinese authenticated, completed and now out of our hands and in our agency's!





I am Thankful for ....


The very next morning after our dossier was sent we woke up to an email from Ann at Red Thread( Ann lives in China and has good relationships with the orphanages). We had contacted her less than 48 hours earlier on sending a care package to Selah. She was also able to request an update and new pictures!

You can imagine the emotions that hit us as we laid eyes on her sweet face!






The pictures that came with her file are now 8 months old so we have longed to see a recent picture of her. These were taken just two days ago.... just for us. Something about that messes me up inside. I am honored. I am wrecked.



Then there is this picture....HALLELUJAH there is this picture! She is WALKING y'all!





We did not know if we would get to see this until after we got her treatment for her feet. It is such a beautiful sight! Oh and her shirt says "Wanna Play?" Do you hear that...it's the sound of my heart breaking!

Here she is looking at her Half the Sky book... I am just about undone at this point.



In just a couple days she will be receiving our care package and she will be given a new book, a photo book of HER FAMILY!

The post I have longed to write. Introducing.....

It is with greatest joy that we would like to introduce you to our daughter!





Introducing... Selah Jie Ya Joy Coriell ! Her birthday is March 29, 2010 (she is just about to turn 18 months). She is from Guangxi, the City of Wuzhou.



Back in September we received our I800A approval. I remember excitedly posting on facebook "Next month we will be able to be matched with our Selah. I can't believe I will be able to say NEXT MONTH!"

Our precious Lord must of had a smile on His face as he knew what was to come in the next few hours.

We would see our daughter's face.



She literally took our breath away...





There are so many details over that faithful night and days leading up to and following. That God has His hand over us. Leading us to her, her to us. But that will have to wait for another time. Today we are celebrating that we have received PA for our daughter! We are celebrating that we can finally post publicly and share our joyous new and her oh so precious pictures!



It has been a loooong road to get here, but SO WORTH IT! Selah sweetie....your DADA and MAMA are coming!

So Loved!

Wild Olive Tees:
"So Loved was created to help bring Esther home from China to her forever family. Two months before coming home, Esther passed away from a virus that was complicated by her heart defect. We are proud to carry “So Loved” in our store in honor of Esther, and orphans around the world, so that God’s love will be glorified.

100% of the proceeds of the sale of each So Loved tee will be used to fund a future heart surgery for an orphan in China."

I love how this family has chosen to honor Esther who was no doubt, So Loved! It grieves my heart to know there are more precious ones just like her waiting for their chance at life. You might be thinking " That is heartbreaking but what could I possibly do?" Well it's simple, you can buy this really adorable t-shirt and.... make a difference!

While you are at you could check out the fundraising section and add another shirt or two to your cart and help us bring our Selah home!