LOA :)

We got the call today!  It's official, China has accepted us :)  China sent a letter of acceptance and we now get to send in our application for US immigration.  We are so excited!!!!!

Traveling in Feb. looks very likely right now, which means we are only a couple of short months from being able to hold Craig!!!

Out of translation!!!

As of 10/26 our Dossier (paperwork) made it out of translation and into processing.  This is wonderful news as the wait for China's Approval is notorious for slowing everything down to a snail's pace.  I have heard of family's spending months in the translation room.  At the earliest, we are still a couple of weeks from getting our approval (and of course it could still be a couple of months), but at this point I am just thankful that we are moving :)

Right now I am in the middle of creating a photo book to send Craig of our family.  I have very few pictures of me, so it might be time for a photo shoot!  We're hoping that the photo book will familiarize Craig with us, but we also want the orphanage staff to know that he is cherished and that there is a family somewhere that is counting down the days until Craig is home.

Matching Grant

About a year ago our family began the process of adoption.  Although we desired to have more children, we were not able to have more at that time.  Instead, we felt that God was leading us towards becoming a forever family to a child through adoption. 

We are continually in awe of God’s faithfulness!  We began this journey with a giant leap of faith and have seen one miracle after another.  We felt that God was calling us in this direction but knew that there was no way we would be able to finance it ourselves.  All along the way God has brought surprise money into our lives to help with the next step (we actually had a check catch up to us eight years late, just in time for one of the deadlines).  It has been fun to see Him work!

This isn’t a high pressure post, because we believe that God has a plan for how this will work out. But, if you are feeling God’s leading in this direction, or have wanted to make a tax deductible donation before the end of the year, here’s some information about a grant we just received.

We were recently awarded a matching funds grant to help with the expenses of our adoption through Hand in Hand Christian Adoption, Inc. a non-profit private operating foundation.  Hand in Hand will match any funds that are donated through our friends and family for the expenses of our adoption.  All funds received through our friends and family will be matched dollar for dollar by Hand in Hand up to our awarded grant amount.   All donations are tax-deductible.

You may contact Hand in Hand Christian Adoption, Inc. with any questions you may have.  They can be reached at 913-248-5015 or by e-mail at handinhandadopt@gmail.com.

Please send all donations made payable to “Hand in Hand Christian Adoption” postmarked by December 21st to: (for tax purposes please include our name on the outside of the envelope only…do not put our name on the check itself)

Hand in Hand Christian Adoption, Inc.  

Wood Family

18318 Mimosa Court                                                                                                       

Gardner, KS  66030   

Thank you for the support you have given our family!  More than anything, we appreciate your willingness to listen to the latest developments, your prayers, and your offers of help for when Jason is manning the home front while Leya goes to China.  We are very thankful that we will be bringing Craig home to the support of so many.