Here is our beautiful daughter! This picture was taken when she was 13-14 months old and she is now 20 months old. I know you guys want some info- so I am going to share!
In January she was 19.5 pounds and 26 in tall. (so anyone want to guess what size clothes she will need??)
She likes to be held, and we knew she was ours when we read that she does not like to sleep (she is like her brothers already!!) She does not like to be by herself (just like our Noah). She is a good eater (also just like those brothers!) The nannies said that she is extroverted, impatient, and loves music.
She had her cleft lip repaired on Scott's birthday last year.
She will be 2 on December 23. We would love to either be in China then or have her home by then- but that would take a miracle. We do know Someone in the miracle business- so we are asking for this selfish prayer to be answered, and would love everyone to pray with us.
Before we travel- there are several steps. China first has to approve our dossier and they will send a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) when that happens. This is the step that pretty much determines when we will travel. Travel usually happens about 10-12 weeks after LOA. Soooo if we want to travel 12-15 then we would have to have LOA by the first week in October. China usually takes 3-4 months to issue LOA- so getting it that soon (2 months from our dossier getting to China) really will take a miracle.
Before we travel we have to come up with the rest of the money. So far we have paid about 6K in agency fees, 1150 to the chinese government, 620.94 to UPS for sending the dossier all over the place, about 650 dollars to get the various seals on all the dossier papers. That is close to 8,500 so far. There can't be much left, right???
Well, we have one more agency fee- 2,200, the orphanage fee 5,500, plane tickets 4,000 (we are guessing- 2 round trip and 1 one-way!) in China travel 3,300 (hotels, plane tickets in China, cab fares), Spending money for China 3,000 (food, tips for the guides, and money for various paperwork that has to be done in China. This is what our agency says to bring, and if you want a bunch of souvenirs to bring even more!) So that is about 18,000 we still need. This also does not include the time I will take off work- I don't get paid if I am not there since I work part time, and the deductibles and co-pays for Claire's medical needs.
Obviously we are scrimping and saving. I worked extra this summer. We don't buy many "extra's" including cable TV. We don't eat out unless our parents treat. I tuck away some cash every time I get paid. We are collecting all of our change in a big jar that will go toward the spending money in China. I am borrowing a suitcase and a jacket from friends when we travel.
We are doing a huge fundraiser- and we really could use more help. If you want to help-let me know. We are doing a both hands project- http://bothhandsfoundation.org/scott-and-kathy-gilreath We are repairing a widow's house and the workers send out flyers asking for sponsors for the day. The money goes to help fund adoption expenses. (Both Hands disperses the funds to our agency- we don't just get a big check). We still need workers to help that day, and we need addresses to send the flyers to. If you would be willing to share you Christmas card mailing list or whatever- please let me know. If you want to donate- you can do that on our project page. We do not want to take away from ministries that others already support- and those not interested will just throw the flyer away and not think twice about it. But every dollar helps- even if someone sends in 5 dollars instead of spending it at starbucks- we would be grateful. So help an orphan and a widow and join in!!!! It will be fun and rewarding, I promise.
I get to mail Claire a package. I am including a photo book so she will be able to look at her family. Hang on our little Claire Bear. We are coming. Hopefully soon!!!!!
