Still Waiting ...... and really getting silly.......

A little turtle begins to climb a tree slowly.
After long hours of effort, he reaches the top branches of the tree.
He jumps into the air waving his front legs, until he crashes heavily into the ground with a hard knock on his shell.
After recovering his consciousness, he starts to climb the tree again, jumps again, and knocks the ground heavily again.
The little turtle persisted again and again while a couple of birds sitting at the edge of a branch, watched the turtle with pain.
Suddenly the female bird says to the male, "Dear, I think it's time to tell our little turtle he is adopted."

Adoption is Patience

Adoption Leads to Another - from The Orlando Sentinel - February 9, 2006

Adoption leads to another -- then more
Michael Mcleod Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted February 9, 2006


It took thousands of dollars, reams of paperwork and every frequent-flier mile they could muster for Jeff and Lisa Kircik to adopt their two Chinese-born children.But the connection to their daughters' homeland did not end when they returned to their Winter Park home from China with Jenna, 5, and Annalise, 3.
Like most of the American couples who have adopted a total of more than 50,000 Chinese orphans in the past 10 years, they retain an abiding bond with the country where their children were born -- and with the orphanages in particular.That connection was so compelling to Jeff, 38, a project engineer for Siemens, that he used two weeks of his vacation and $3,000 in savings to travel to China two months ago. He persuaded his company to donate a washer and dryer to one of the orphanages, and offered his services to Packages of Hope, a charity devoted to helping orphanages throughout the world. Kircik visited with Chinese workers and government officials and delivered money and other contributions to three orphanages."It just felt like a very natural progression to go back," he says. "I actually felt very selfish. I wanted to go there again. I wanted to do something for the children.""We're just ordinary people," says Lisa Kircik. "We don't have unlimited resources. But we wanted to do something."The abundance of Chinese orphans -- almost all of them girls -- is the result of social pressures and governmental regulations in that country, where it is illegal for couples to have more than one child.Jeff Kircik says he would like to return to deliver more aid, though he'll have to start saving up his frequent-flier miles once again.His efforts don't seem unreasonable to Dawna and Matt Prostak, a Central Florida couple who also have adopted two Chinese girls, Madalyn, 3, and Mackenzie, 15 months. "The bond is hard to describe. The last time we left China, it was hard to come home," says Dawna.

Adopted Woodchip

Dossier in Transit

I sent out the dossier to the Grand Rapids agency office yesterday, Tuesday. 6 months of document processing, class session, telephone calls too numerous to count, physical exams, FBI Investigation, Immigrations processing, Orange County Sherriff's approval, blood tests, birth certificate requests, marriage certificate requests, personal referrals, results of 20 online courses, reports on 3 books on international adoption, 3 home studies (and their results), 3 french hens, 2 turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree ----- are now in the hands of the US Post Office. Hard to part with with all of these original documents ..... I almost felt an attachment to them ........ if they mess up on delivery, we're going to go somewhare far away and ......... well, I probably better not say ....... could impede the adoption procedure. I'll post it when it's received..............

Dossier.........done !!!

We have equated the last 9 months of our lives with the period of time that the couple does all the right things (not that we've been doing the wrong things) to have a child. You wait, you hope....are we pregnant? Then there's that bridge of time when you're unsure that it took. That's where we are now in this adoption scheme of things. We have just reviewed our dossier with our case worker and everything's in order (even the last document which we received today.) The whole pack of papers is ready to be sent off to our agency's home office in Grand Rapids, Michigan where it is re-read and then sent to China for translation. When the package is received in China, it is given a registry date and then the 9 - 11 month waiting period starts.

During that period, postings will probably consist of articles we've come across and pleas for prayer for patience and anxiety relief. This will probably be a most difficult time, so if you have been keeping up with the Schafhausers via this blog, please leave us a response to this post and tell us you'll be praying for us and have us in your thoughts. We'll read them frequently and get strength from them. Thank you for sticking with us.........let the pregnancy begin.......Don & Be

Immigrations: Approved!

We received word from the Department of Immigrations that we have been approved for China adoption! The document is already on file with the Kim Wu Chinese Restaurant and Adoption Agency (I'm bizarre I know but I truly don't know what the agency is called), so we have only one more document to be certified in Tallahassee (our agency's license) and all of the items for our dossier will be in order. The final one should come this week, Praise God!
Thanks for your prayerful support during this waiting period.......................Don

It's Official - Don Really Was Born

We received Don's birth certificate from the Secretary of State of the Great State of New Jersey. Don was beginning to doubt his existence. Now, we are waiting for Tallahassee to certify our agency's license along with the Immigrations clearance (processing began in July). Then the dossier will be ready for forwarding to the home office for translation and expediting to China. Anyone have a spare kid out there? This paperwork is getting ridiculous.

3rd Time Is A Charm

We have just been assigned our 3rd adoption case worker. Due to personnel movement within our agency, this is apparently a necessary move, no reflection on our adoption eligibility. Unfortunately, a ball or 2 got dropped in the process causing delay in some of the paperwork needed for our dossier. We have also been informed that the Chinese government has extended the waiting period for placement of a child to 6 - 8 months after the dossier is received in China. We are obviously disappointed with this latest development, however we are confident of the soverignty of God in the whole picture (read the 2x4 posting).
The Great State of New Jersey actually doubled up on the original request for a certified birth certificate - so now we have multiple documents, but none which have been approved by the secretary of state (original request on Dec 12 - I'm cutting them some slack due to Christmas vacations).
So, that's the latest.....more updates when we have some news....pray for us for patience and anxiety levels.....God bless........Don

The Kicker

We had the opportunity to spend about 30 seconds with Steven Curtis Chapman after one of his performances as the narrator of the Candlelight Processional at EPCOT Center. It was in March of this year that we attended his concert where he presented a segment called "The Miracle of Adoption". We told him that it was the kicker that set the ball in motion for our adoption process and from the look on his face in the photo, he liked the idea. In the photo: Be's luxurious hair, Don's massive right ear & SCC.

We have completed all of the paperwork for the dossier and are awaiting the Great State of New Jersey to validate Don's existence with the return of his certified birth certificate. Then, the paperwork pregnancy will be over. The best thing about all the red tape is that Be doesn't get morning sickness........

We have included a link to SCC's adoption web page.....http://www.ShaohannahsHope.org

Where we are in the process (Be)

So what's the latest about the adoption?, I often hear. It's so very different than when you're expecting a baby. Oh we're about 9 months into the process, I answer. Yes, but when will you get your child? That is the big question.

We are praying that our child (probably a girl) will be here before June, but we really don't know at this point. We just got all our Florida documents together and sent them to Tallahassee for certification. Bethany sent the home study and official adoption approval to us just last week. We are still waiting for a document from New Jersey and we still have to receive the Immigration documentation. Once we get all the documents back, we will submit them to Bethany's home office in Grand Rapids so they can translate them into Chinese. At that point the dossier is sent to a government organization in China (CCAA) that handles all the adoptions. Then we wait for a "referral". The CCAA supplies prospective parents with as much information as is available about the child. Sometimes there is a videotape that can actually be brought to a pediatrician for assessment.

So that's where we are this Christmas. By the grace of God we will have a little one to share next Christmas with. Thank you all for praying for us during this process. Don talks about writing a book: Life in Reverse-Saving the Best for Last.

Buddah & Shirley MacLain

While doing some research for this adoption, the question was posed......How do you respond when you're out in public and someone says "Oh, did you adopt your child?" I would probably want to respond something like "No. I ran into Shirley MacLain the other day and she told me that I was once a fat Buddah looking Oriental type guy in a past life." It will be difficult to dispense with the sarcasm but as a parent ..... it's my job.
Truly, I believe that any child that God grants us through adoption is our child and we are the real parents.
I came across some definitions which make the point.....
Natural child - any child who is not artificial.
Real parent - any parent who is not artificial.
Our own child - any child who is not someone else's child.
Adopted child - a natural child, with a real parent, who is all my own.

2 x 4

Don here.............

I was at the airport this week and noticed a very white woman with an Asian child. I approached her and told her that we were better than half the way in the adoption process of a child from China. I mentioned that I had several delays in document processing and that it was causing me a lot of anxiety. She replied "Don't you know that the delays are there so that God can place the child in your home that He's had in mind for you from the beginning of time?"
I thought.......OK - just hit me in the head with a 2 x 4.

Home Study ......... Done

Don here......

We are finished with our adoption home study - we have a total of 4 encounters with our agency to satisfy the requirements for the government of China...thanks for your prayers during this phase. We are movin' on.
Next phase....the dossier....gathering official documents (birth certificates, marriage records, police clearance, employment verification, health overview, completion of 20 on-line courses, reading and reporting on 3 textbooks on adoption, and a partridge in a pear tree) several of which must be certified, notorized and then sent to the Secretaries of State of 3 states (Florida - for marriage verification, New Jersey - Don's birth state, and Massachusetts - Be's birth state). Our photos as well as photos of our home are included in the documents for the dossier.
After this package of paperwork is forwarded to the Chinese Center for International Adoption by our agency, the referral (matching the child with the prospective parents) can take place. An adoption date is then set and a 2 - 3 week trip to China is scheduled. For about 14 days, we are then observed by a staff person from the orphanage (both in and out of the child's familiar environ) to ensure that child and parents are compatible. A formal petition is made to the High and Mighty Grand Poobah of Chinese Adoption and then...........the 20 or so hours for the flight home, child in tow with parents he/she has only known for about 2 weeks.
Lots of red tape and official procedure for what would seem to be a no-brainer. This is what happens when you have a late calling into parenthood..........

In the near future, I'll elaborate on some of the items we can expect when adopting a toddler from a different culture. This whole process is sending us into this chapter of our lives with eyes wide open.

We're waiting

This post is from Be. Thought I'd update you on our progress. I talked with Bethany Christian Services today and asked when our social worker, Harold would be coming to visit us again and how many more "home studies" we would need. She said there was only 1 home study and she is waiting for the report so it can be sent to Immigration. Harold should be coming back this month to instruct us about our dossier and other things we will need to get together for China. We have started to network with other families at church who have adopted from China. My co-worker Cindy got us in touch with Sharon, a nurse in the Sand Lake Hospital outpatient unit, who has adopted a little girl in the past year and will be returning to China in the next 7 months to get their second child. There is also a local chapter of Families with Children from China that I have emailed for information. Please pray for our prospective child/children and that the adoption process will progress without delays.

Maroon 5 & Adoption

Don here......

I was listening to my Maroon 5 CD (a 54 year old who listens to Maroon 5?) while on the road the other day and heard a lyric that goes "I know I don't know you - But I want you so bad" from the song "Secret". Although the song was written for a much different reason, the lyric reflects the longing in the heart of the prospective adoptive parent in waiting for their child.

Our first home study

Update from Be

We had our first home study today and met a very nice gentleman named Harold, who is our Social Worker. He was very positive in the interview and passed our home safety checks. He will be writing a report about us to Bethany's home office. He told us that he would be visiting us again in October where he will be briefing us about China's specific adoption process. Please pray that the Lord would guide the process to His honor and glory.

Immigrations Aggitations & Illuminations

Don here........

As part of our adoption process, we had to have our fingerprints electronically forwarded to Washington for a FBI investigation. I found this procedure annoying for 2 reasons: 1) I've had several of these background checks done as an airport employee at OIA and 2) How come the coke addicts and teeny boppers don't have to go through an FBI check to have a baby? Anyway, that's beside the point..........

So, we arrive at the Department of Immigrations (in a deteriorating strip mall at Hoffner & Semoran in Orlando). The Immigrations Nazi of the day hands us a clip board with a form and a pen-on-a-chain. He directs us to a seating area where we fill in the form (both of us - 2 separate forms) which could have been downloaded from the internet and filled out in advance....then I realized.......we were the only Americans in the place (except for the Nazi and a few other staff). Everyone else was trying to get into the USA and they probably could not have downloaded the form from their country of origin......so, I cut them some slack. Keep in mind that I'm thinking "MY tax dollars at work, here."

Our Nazi then directs us to the next seating area of similar plastic orange stacking chairs to wait for the Nazi with the official stamp to officially stamp our forms. We sat in the second row but did not realize that we MUST sit next to the person occupying the seat in the front row. So, we pick up our stuff and schlep on up to the front row. The guy next to us then gets called up for his official stamping......10 seconds elapse and the Nazi comes over and tells us that we have to fill in the vacant seat......and we're the only ones in the area! It reminds me of the scene from "Meet the Parents" where Ben Stiller is the only one in the boarding area and must wait for the gate agent to call his row. Maybe they got the idea for that scene from the Department of Immigrations. So, I say to Be "Do you suppose that we can get some party hats and play some cheezy music and get a game of musical chairs going here?" Be says "DON'T SAY ANYTHING !!! LET ME DO THE TALKING !!!" I clammed up. Then the Nazi sees me take a sip of water from my water bottle. "You can't have that in here!" "REALLY?? I can't have a sip of water?" "You must take it out of here immediately." I began to respond "Tiny kingdom, tiny king" but before I could get the second word out, I felt the numbing pain of Be's elbow in my side. We were called into the next waiting area where we were entertained by a video of "The Wiggles" (it was a Saturday morning and I suddenly had a mental image of me being cast in a Fellini movie) and the process was over in not too long a time.......and it left me wondering if it was worth fleeing an oppressed nation and being introduced for the first time to the freedoms of the USA in the manner I had just observed. My bewonderment was quickly refocused when I read a quote in a magazine in the waiting area from England's Prime Minister Tony Blair......."A country should be judged by the number of people trying to get in against the number of people trying to get out."

After 90 minutes, we were free to go have some Chinese food.......

We Have an Appointment for Our Home Study

Just got word from our adoption agency that our first appointment (of probably 3) with our social worker is scheduled for Septamber 12 @ 2 P.M.(our 24th wedding anniversary - we'll go out to eat to celebrate after the interview - let us know if you'd like to join us.). This will probably consist of interviews with Don & Be together and separately. The worker will most likely tour our home and make recommendations for child safety. Your prayers for this event are much appreciated..........we'll add rambles in the meantime...........

Surprize, surprize......Be and Don are in the 5th month of the adoption process of a child (possibly 2) from China. We had been working on the idea for a few years, however, life's circumstances did not permit us to go forward with it until this year. The plan is that Don will retire from US Airways next year to coincide with the adoption closure. At that point, Don's new full time job will be father to whoever God sends our way. Be will continue to work at ORMC in her real job.The adoption process is quite involved with a mountain of paperwork, required reading, online courses, home studies, physical exams and blood work, FBI approval and then there's the referral and acceptance process and travel to China for up to 3 weeks to live and bond with the child.China has a model adoption program (mostly because they want to get rid of unwanted kids) and even though the process seems extreme, it's the best fit for Be and myself with our circumstances. So, we're looking at April 2007 until our new arrival comes back to Orlando with us. Your prayers during this process are much appreciated. We figure God has quite a sense of humor ........ a Chinese kid with the name Schafhauser?

As things progress, we'll keep friends and family posted with this page...........