Tara's Personal Adoption Journal 2005

Read from the bottom up.   December 28, 2005 Billy and I went to have our Physical Exams with our family Physician and they completed all the blood tests needed.  We had to go the Hosptial to have our TB skin tests.  Will go back on Jan. 9th to complete Exam and have the doctor sign the form and our Notary to notarize the form. Merry Christmas! December 25, 2005 Merry Christmas!  Hopefully our last Christmas without Nora! December 13, 2005 Billy and I went to Knoxville to meet with Mitzi, our Home Study Coordinator to conduct our personal interviews and review our Autobiography for our Home Study. December 12, 2005 Mailed our I-600A off to the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Service)  in Memphis.  This is the application for the approval to make Nora a U.S. Citizen.  We couldn't bring her home without this! December 07, 2005 I received my employment verification letter and had it notarized. December 05, 2005 Billy received his employment verification letter and had it notarized. Happy Anniversary!    December 04, 2005 Our 6th Wedding Anniversary! December 03, 2005 Went to AWAA seminar in Chattanooga .  We met the sweetest family who just recently returned from with their daughter, Emma.  She is so cute!  They answered some of our questions and give us their website address.  It is also on Baby Jelly Beans.com!  They also give us their email in case we have any questions. December 02, 2005 Billy and I both had the day off and went to get new birth certificates and a new marriage certificates.  We also picked up our background checks from the County Sheriff ’s Department.  Both records clear!  Whew, what a relief! November 28, 2005 Met with Mitzi, our Home Study Coordinator.  We felt very at ease after meeting with her.  She really helped calm our fears about the Home Study process and she prayed with us at the beginning of our meeting.  I am so glad that we chose a Christian agency! November 26, 2005 Received our Dossier packet from America World.  (There is a lot of stuff in there!) November 21, 2005 My friend Kelly told me she received a letter from America World about her reference. November 19, 2005 Our Pastor's wife, Darlene called to let us know they received a letter from America World about their reference for us. Home Study........... November 17, 2005 Spoke with Mitzi about our Home Study.  Billy and I will meet with her for our first meeting on November 28th. November 16, 2005 Received a message from Rachel at America World's Nashville office.  She called to let us know that she is sending our Home Study packet by Fed Ex and that we should be getting a call from Mitzi, who will be conducting our Home Study! November 09, 2005 Sent first packet of paper work off to America World along with a check for the first payment.  ($1,800) November 01, 2005 Began a fundraiser selling candles from Home Interiors to help with the adoption expenses.  We will get 50% of all money raised!  With the help of our friend Angie and Faye, we are trying to raise enough to cover the application fee to the U.S. government, which is $600! The Paper work begins...................... October 31, 2005 We received our first packet of paper work from America World.  Included forms to sign and a schedule fee with the first payment of $1,800 due as soon as possible. God is our Jehovah Jireh! October 27, 2005 Billy found out today that his company will give us $1,000 after our adoption is final! We also had a message from America World that our application has been approved! October 25, 2005 Billy found out today that he can obtain a loan from his 401k for 50% of his vested amount to go towards our adoption.  We still need $5,000 half of his total vested amount is $4,326!  Only $637 to go! Applied to America World October 24, 2005 Applied for adoption to America World Adoption Association on their website!  Exciting day!  We have been waiting until later in the year because you usually travel 12 months after you apply and we don't want to go to China in the summer when it is 130 degrees.  We also had to wait until I was closer to turning 30.  (Both parents have to be 30 before you send your dossier to China.) October 16, 2005 Asked our pastor and his wife if we could use them as a reference on our application for our adoption.  They, of course, said they would love to! Billy's Ordination October 02, 2005 Billy was ordained as a Deacon in our church today.  I think I cried all day long! August 10, 2005

Closed on our Line of Credit with First Tennessee.  God has supplied all but $5,000 for our adoption.  We have to pay it back, of course, but he has provided!

	August 02, 2005
Spoke with First Tennesse Bank about a Home Equity Line of Credit.

	July 14, 2005
I took a pregnancy test today and it was negative.  I called Dr. Donesky's nurse and whe was really disappointed.  She asked me if I was up to another cycle this month and I told her no.  I'm really not disappointed - I knew I wasn't pregnant.  I know there is a little girl somewhere in China waiting on her Mom and Dad to come get her!

Last Procedure	June 30, 2005
Billy and I went to Dr. Donesky's office for another IUI procedure.  Hopefully this will be the last one!

More Fertility Drugs..............	June 16, 2005
I'm halfway through my cycle of Clomid and it makes me so sick!  I have been sick for 7 months on this medicine and I'm still not pregnant.  This will probably be my last cycle of fertility.

CCTV	June 11, 2005
I was flipping channels today and found CCTV International (Chinese Central Televistion)  Billy could not believe it when he got home - we have had this satellite for 4 years and did not know we had that channel!!!

Made Lene Cry................	June 07, 2005
I talked to my Pastor's wife, Darlene, and told her that God was dealing with us about adopting.  She was so excited for us, she was crying. (She cries all the time!  Ha Ha)

	June 06, 2005
Angie Myers (Stinnett) gave me a brochure she picked up on her honeymoon in Gatlinburg for a chinese acrobat show!  She is precious!

	June 01, 2005
OK!  We know God is calling us to adopt.  It is amazing how many things God will put in front of you before you realize his plan for you!  We really like the name "Nora Lei Henley".  " Lei " means " flower bud " in chinese. We also want to use part of her chinese name.

	May 27, 2005
Received a Thank You letter from America World for attending the adoption seminar.

Everywhere I turn...............	May 25, 2005
Saw link on the internet - "Study: Children adopted from abroad adapt well." OK God!  What are you saying to us?

Not Good News........

May 24, 2005

Went to Dr. Donesky today (Fertility Specialist).  More bad news.  I was having a struggle today with what decision the Lord wants for us.  Fertility or Adoption.  Turned on TBN before bed to watch "Praise The Lord" and instead the movie "China Cry" was on.  The movie is about a chinese woman named Nora Lam who was persecuted for being a christian in China in the 1950's.  Nora is one of the names Billy and I had talked about for a girl.

America World	May 21, 2005
Attended seminar on adoption at First Baptist Church in Chattanooga.  We got a lot of great information and got to meet other families who have adopted from China through America World. Billy and I are continuing to pray about adoption.  We know, however, that God is calling us to adopt at some point.  We are so excited about adopting a child that needs a home as much as we need the child.

	May 12, 2005
Watched the DVD that was included in the information packet.  Josh and Billy watched with me.  (We all cried.)

	May 10, 2005
Received information packet from America World.  Read all the information in the packet (even the application).

	May 05, 2005
Went online to www.awaa.org to register for seminar.  Also requested an information packet on adopting through America World Adoption Association.

God Speaking.........	May 04, 2005
Listening to J103 on the way to work and heard an annoucement about a free "Spirit of Adoption" seminar in Chattanooga.  Register on their website, www.awaa.org.

Tara's Personal Adoption Journal	May 01, 2005
At this point, we had been trying to get pregnant for 4 years and had been seeing a specialist for 6 months.  I had always had a heart for adoption, but I had only casually talked with Billy about it.