December Update!

Well another year gone by still a long wait but time did go quickly as it is December already. The Website did move to finish the month of March 2006. It moved 31 days in the year of 2009. We will see if it moves again the end of the month as it did last year. It will be interesting to see how quickly(note trying to stay positive) they move through April. Our date of June 13 is 74 days from coming up for referral. It could be a 2010 referral but more than likely a 2011 referral at this time. Optimism is high but reality is harsh. So we thank God for the blessings in our lives and celebrate the holidays with Jailyn in our hearts. We started the process to renew our documents with the govt a third time and it is in on time and moving forward. We will be fingerprinted in the coming weeks and update the home study again by April 2010. So we wait and pray.

Merry Christimas!

November Update/Thanksgiving!

Not much to update as there have been no referrals this month only word they may not come until December. Could it be H1N1 who knows? Could it be the changing of the new director for the China Adoption Affairs holding referrals up who knows? So we count our blessings and wait with patience.....We have a wonderful family and so much to be thankful for in our household. Scott is home on leave for a week and then off to Military Law school in San Diego for the Navy and then he has orders for Japan for 2 years. He is so excited and wanted to see the world and God is providing. Katie and Billy are nailing down wedding plans and the excitement is building as we approach the 10 months and counting until Oct 2, 2010, their Big Day. Katie bought her dress and her Dad and I were able to see her try it on this past weekend. It is gorgeous and we are so happy for her and Billy as they build their lives together and it has been worth the wait for them both. They are so happy.

We celebrated our Thornbury Thanksgiving yesterday. We got our Tom Turkey from the Tewes Turkey farm and Mike brined and cooked and even trained Scott in Turkey cooking Techniques. We made a day of it Bengals game they lost (boo!), Thanksgiving with our little family: Mike and his hot sausage stuffing (yummy), Katie's slammin green bean casserole, pumpkin muffins and appetizers, my awesome taters, gravy and apple caramel cheesecake. Needless to say we were stuffed and ready for a nap. However we count our blessing we could be together as Scott will not make it home for Christmas and Katie and Billy will be in Atlantic City with his folks. We are blessed and can't wait until Jailyn will join us at Thanksgiving. However that will be when China says it is time.

I have had to go through another grief period and move on with my life and get to acceptance once again of it being later not sooner. However wonderful blessings are happening everywhere I met a customer at a party who has 2 little girls from china and she has been such an encouragement and even sent me a great new book that makes me cry called Silent Tears about an american in China volunteering in the orphanages. I want more than ever to get our baby out of the orphanage sooner than later so pray we will get a young baby so she does not have to suffer long w/o us. And I have an incredible new Bible study buddy who has been another source of great encouragement. Not to mention all our wonderful friends and family who press on with us as we continue on this journey.

So pray for Jailyn, Mike and I and cherish the blessings!
Happy Thanksgiving!

Difficult reality

Okay so I have come to terms that it is either an 11 month wait if it truly speeds up to the 7 days a month moving or a 28 month wait. We are 77 days from referral. Reality in 10 months it has moved 28 days and if it continues at the snail slow pace it is truly 28 months. However I believe and must be optimistic it will be sooner than later. For my sanity I need to know the worst and best case senario at the present time. We will stall as long as possible to submit our new documents to the govt to renew the paperwork for the third time so we get the full time and use out of our paperwork. We resubmit in December and redo our homestudy early next year. The reality is tough as I never wanted to not to be able to have kids (which is not fair if I could scream it from the mountain tops!) or dreamed I would not be a mom to a little girl we thought would be with us by now. It is not not right but who ever said we are to get our way in this world. I sure have lots of questions for GOD. The fact we are not getting any younger continues to be a harsh reality but must believe God has a bigger plan. Just tough to continue on this never ending journey going into the holidays once again childless. So we count our blessings and press on.....
So PRAY!!!!!!

Referrals are coming

Rumor has it that it is moving 4 days to March 28 which is still 11 weeks until June 13 so at the very least 11 more months (if it can move 7 days at a time) however I believe it is going to be alot longer than 11 months. I want to scream. The frustration, disappointment again and again and grief continues to re-surface! Some months are easier and others terribly difficult.

Disappointed doing paperwork again!

What can we do but continue to pray without ceasing for patience and for this wait to end. I know our pain is nothing as deep as the pain of the abandonment will be for Jailyn. She does have her forever family waiting and loving her from afar. There is so much hope for the future. However it does not fill the constant void for me and the reality we still have so far to go. We are about to embark on Paperwork #3 to renew all documents for our adoption. It brings the pain of remaining the same in this journey and always in the state of wait and still childless to the surface now doing another round of paperwork and the wait getting longer. I hope she comes in 2010. My optimism only goes so far without referrals going on over a month now. Come January it is 4 long years in this journey and it ain't over. Hopefully we will get the heck out of March 2006 and move on to April 2006.

PRAY!!!!!!

October update

Well it is my favorite time of year and I love fall. There were no referrals in September and we have no idea why except the Chinese govt is on holiday this first week of October. We hope to see referrals in the coming 2 weeks and it would be great to get to April and get out of this long month March. Time continues to pass but wonderful things are happening in the lives of the Thornbury family. Katie and Billy are engaged and have the date to be married October 2, 2010. We could not be happier for them and Billy to join our family. Scott is finishing up prowler school in Seattle and will get his orders in the next 2 months. He is hoping for Japan, stay in Seattle or maybe deployed on a carrier somewhere. Mike and I had a terrific vacation to Cancun much needed and were back off to a super busy month. My Mary Kay business is rockin as we are in car qualification and will earn a new car December. Time passes and I truly believe we will have a wedding and a referral very close to each other next year. It is what it is and will be great when it gets here.

We have a blessed life and this week Mike and I celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary on October 7. I love my husband dearly and know the best is always yet to come.

Having lots of hope and faith and believe our daughter has been born or is coming to be on this earth very soon. Just have that hopeful feeling hunch in my soul......

Keep prayin and Happy Fall!
Love,

August Update! Appears only moving 2 days!

Wow Summer is flying by and China is still slow with referrals coming. It appears it will only move 2 days to March 24. Bummer puts us back to August 2010 for referral. Hopefully it will move 5-7 days next month to stay on track! We have had an action packed summer lots of traveling and looking forward to hopefully our last couples only vacation to Cancun Aug 30-Sept 5 before Jailyn comes. We have had 3 last vacations before Jailyn comes and Cancun will be 4 last vacations and hopefully the next beach vacation will be with Jailyn!

We are so thrilled Katie and Billy got engaged on Friday, August 21, in Chicago. Billy came over and ask permission for Katie's hand in marriage on Thursday before they left Friday. Mike and Billy, both sentimental guys, were quite emotional and a bit teary eyed as Billy asked Mike with the excuse he needed to bring Mike over some cigars. He confessed it was a bit of a lie to get to talk with Mike. We could not be any happier for Katie (she is able to move forward with all the plans she has been talking about) and will have a new son in law, Billy, joining our family. They have found their soulmates in eachother and are ready to commit to a lifetime together. Woohoo! Next year will be a big year for us. Katie and Billy marrying and Jailyn joining our family and rumor is Scott has a good chance of being stationed in Japan too. All good things are happening and the best is yet to come.

We could not be more blessed!

July Moved Only 2 days!!!!!

July is always an action packed month! Mike's b-day July 1, my b-day July 11, family picnic, my Mary Kay unit awards and my trip to Dallas for my annual seminar. Mike and I went to Chicago for the 4th of July to celebrate our birthdays. We saw Jersey Boys....LOVED IT! Had a reality check that this time next year everything will begin to happen with Jailyn. Woohoo! With it moving only 2 days we are on target for July 2010 referral and I still have a gut feeling it will speed up once we get thru the months of March 2006 and April 2006. So they are officially on March 22 which is 12 weeks to June 13. If they can get back on target of moving a week at a time it is July 2010. I am optimistic it will not get worse and that she is coming in 2010. The journey continues to be long but hopeful as we are rounding the bases to home plate this time next year. After 3 1/2 years down what is one more.

Well I am off to Dallas to pick up a Diamond ring for my sales in Mary Kay and hope to be the top sales director in sales in my national area.

Wish me luck!

Woohoo!!!!! June referrals are coming!!!!

Just got word the website is moving 6-7 days! We are still on track for next summer referral and I believe it is going to speed up! My feeling is that Jailyn has just been born or will be born in the next 6 months. How exciting! Pray for Jailyn that God holds her close and has a hand of protection over her until she is in our arms!
I love that the website is moving!!!!

Woohoo!!!!! They did refer babies this month!

Just got word from our agency they are to March 14! It moved 6 days today May 21......we are still on track for July referral 2010!

Have a fabulous Memorial Day!

Mid May no referrals for this month to date

Well delay and obstacles seem to be upon us. There have been no referrrals this month and nothing annouced by the CCAA. However speculation is that they are holding referrals due to the swine flu. Who knows we are definitely in a holding pattern which means more delays and pushing us further back into summer 2010. When the SARS scare happened China held referrals. Once again another time to really let go and live my life. I have taken on Yoga to calm the spirit and strengthen my post surgery body that needs much toning, strengh and weightloss. So focusing on living life and leaving Jailyn's arrival in God's hands as we can do nothing to get her with us any quicker.

Pray for patience and that the CCAA will refer babies in June. In June our journey will be 3 1/2 years and waiting......

Love and hanging there!

May update

Well it has been a busy end of April travelling to Seattle to see Scott for a mini vacation. We spent 5 days in Seattle and saw the sights and Scott's place in Oak Harbor and the Navel Air Station. Then came back in time to run the Flying Pig Marathon Relay May 3 as TEAM THORNBURY! We did it! I wanted to run across the finish line and know we can win as a family at something that took time and dedication. It was tough and we did it faster than we imagined and wish we had trained a bit more. I wanted a win!!!! Since this adoption Process has been difficult I needed a personal win! When you set out to do something you never have before and accomplish it you break a belief in yourself barrier. It was a good day! I think I would like to do it again as a relay and really be able to train next time without being hurt with foot problems which have been a challenge through the whole training period.

So no real news accept the rumor is it will move possibly 6 days. Would love to see that as it would keep us at a referral in June 2010! Our adoption agency is working with us on the additional fees they feel they need to charge us since so much time has passed. From the Rumor Queen it appears there are any where from 1200-1500 people ahead of us for a healthy baby girl. We are closer but the wait continues.

I will post a picture of Katie and Mike, half of Team Thornbury with our medals, as they waited for me to cross the finish line! I had the best leg of the race! I got to cross the line!!!!

I'll do another post once we know how many days it is moving in May!

Have a Marvelous May!

April update

The referral box has apparently moved 2 days for this month making the date March 8, 2006, so as of right now a June referral 2010 is what we are thinking if it begins to speed up and move 7 days at a time. March 8 to June 13 is 14 weeks which interprets to be 14 months until referral if we can get back 0n track of moving a week at a time. When it moves less than 7 days it moves us back another month. The only way to speculate our date is mathematically and gives us a good idea of where we are......I know the best is yet to come and God is going to give us double for our trouble.

Cie la vie.....I do have lots of hope it will speed up. Until then we live our lives.

Happy Easter!

Early April update

Well the date did move 4 days last month to March 6 and it is not looking good but moving only a couples of days this month. So the wait is longer and well into 2010 now before we have Jailyn in our arms.....
Happy Easter!

March Update

Well another month and we still are not sure how many days it has moved. Many rumors.....You know if it speeds up to move 2 weeks at a time which would be Super Optimistic we could get the referral in late 2009. Middle of the road optimistic would be to get moving again a full week at a time looking at late spring 2010 referral and the worst case would be creeping only days at a time which would put us into 2011. I am going with the middle of the road for my sanity.

Our fingerprints for our govt expire again April 10 and will have to redo and more than likely this fall our paperwork will expire again with our US govt and will have to fork over about another $800-1000. I have really just let go and have decided to just believe it is going to happen and not worry b-cuz we will only get Jailyn when China says we get her. I truly can not believe how long it has already been and so much more time to go so I let go and have faith it will happen all in the right time! However, Jailyn is born in our hearts and we continue to do the things we need to for her to join our family.

Now some disheartening news......We received word our agency wants to add an additional fee not in our original contract. We know our fees to travel will be more as time has passed and a fee in china has been raised earlier this year for the orphanage fee which is an additional $2000 more which we can not do anything about. So we accept those things. However, our own agency is now wanting to pass on another fee of $2000 more which was not in our orginal contract and back in May they said we were exempt from this fee as it was added to families in the process after April 2007. We have been in the process since Jan 2006. It has been disheartening and we are working to resolve not paying this fee. You know I do my best in my business to be a woman of my word and work by the golden rule and try my best to do the right thing in the best honest interest of others. I expect the same from others and especially the agency we have chosen to help me realize my dream of being a first time mom and Mike a dad again. The last thing we would have ever expected was to have our agency make this journey more difficult financially or emotionally. But who ever said it would be easy and we will overcome obstacles and press on......and see what comes of this matter.

Another month passes!
Happy Spring!

February Update

Well another slow month is predicted. The rumor is moving only 1-4 days. Once again that puts us back another month. Now looking toward May 2010 for referral. The agencies are optimistic it will speed up but I just do not think it will be for a few months as March 2006 is a large month of families logged in to adopt healthy girls. Hopefully we can get to moving 7 days a month or more to keep it from becoming longer once again. I can only hope and pray we will not continue to add time to the wait as it has become such the norm.....It is what it is and we wait and live our lives.
Happy Spring!
Linette

January update

Well it appears it is a teeny tiny referral batch of moving only 2 days. That dashes the hope for things speeding up in 2009. However the month of March is the largest month of login dates for 2009 so we knew it would probably creep along. Bummer it is not moving faster. We are still on track for 2010 April referral but it has to speed back up to moving 6-10 days a month or we are set back again. It just breaks my heart this continues to be so long and here we are another year and so much time before our daughter actually arrives. But once again we are blessed. We have eachother, wonderful friends and family, a home, jobs and our health. This month has been eventful with a trip to Amish Country to a B&B wooded cabin for R&R. Boy the simple life that the Amish live is so much more peaceful. It was extremely cold but so good to get away. And I lost a dear friend Sharon to Cancer this past week and I was so honored to be her friend and it was such a blessing to celebrate her life at her funeral as sad as it was. I believe we are all here for a purpose and we do not always understand why some have to leave us so qucikly. Sharon I know you are up in heaven blessing others as you blessed me. I am thankful you were my friend and I loved you. Until our next update.....it will be interesting the Chinese New Year begins and the CCAA is closed for 2 weeks.