We still need your help? Pretty Please!! 2 weeks from today-- We LEAVE!!!

13 more days and we are outta here!! 

Dear Friends,

Our countdown is on!  We are getting closer to bringing Riley Jiner Handy home!   We are less than 2 weeks away from heading to China to pick up our little girl!!  Flights are booked and doctors appointments are being made!  We will receive Riley in our arms on Monday, March 11th!  Feel free to follow our trip through China at http://rileyjiner.blogspot.com/.  

Her room is painted pink!!  Her Chinese name, Jiang Jin Er is written on her walls.  The rocker has been delivered and her furniture will arrive this week!  We are preparing and gearing up for her arrival back here in Kansas!!  The kids are so excited to have their little sister, who they have prayed nightly for almost a year, home with them forever!! 

We believe God is bigger than all things.  We are relying on faith that He will provide for her.  We knew starting this journey that we would need to come up with a lot of money to bring her home and the end is almost here!  We have already raised $2,000!  We can't thank you enough!  Our adoption will cost approximately $35,000.  I know that sounds like a lot and don’t get us wrong, it is, but we are hoping we will receive $12,000 from the Adoption Tax Credit.  The rest will be up to us!  Just as the Great Wall of China was constructed one stone at a time, we are relying on God for $1 at a time.  We would be incorrect if we didn't also ask for help from our family and friends who would be willing to donate funds to rescue our precious daughter from the inside the walls of the orphanage so she can come home to family and many friends, who will love, adore and support her.   

We have the pleasure of working with a non-profit organization, Adopt Together, who help families like us raise funds for adoptions.  All donation are tax-deductible.  We are set to leave Tuesday, March 5th.  Shawn, Angela and Rheagan will travel to China for a stay of 18 days before arriving back home Thursday, March 21st at 7:30 p.m.  We have set a goal of raising $15,000.  We still have a ways to go however we truly believe this can be reached.  Can you help us out?  $25.00, $50.00, $150.00 or even more.  Any amount helps us reach our goal!!  Remember our donations are 100% tax deductible!!  We can not thank you enough!  

Please donate online at  https://adopttogether.org/rileyjiner/   Your donation will not go not waste!  We have two weeks to raise the remaining amount!  Please help us!!  Every dollar helps bring Riley home!!  If you would like to mail a check instead, please write Riley Handy on the envelope and on the memo line of your check and mail to:  

                  Adopt Together

                  251 West Central Ave. #278

                  Springboro, OH 45066

Please keep Riley and all of us in your prayers as we travel many, many miles to rescue her. Please pray that God will provide the remaining funds we need.  If you know of a company or business that would be willing to donate, please share our story and letter with them.  If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate and call or email us.  Thank you for taking the time to let us share our journey with you.      

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Love, Shawn & Angela Handy                                                          

"And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me."  Matthew 18:5

Scheduling Apointments

Is it too early for a countdown.....  We are already counting down!!

19 DAYS UNTIL WE LEAVE FOR CHINA!!

First, we have tickets IN HAND!!  It seems like every day the reality of us bringing home another child is becoming more real!  We are becoming more nervous, scared, anxious, happy, joyful, and excited each and every day.  The kids all made Riley valentines today and are starting to include her in every conversation we have.  :) She is fitting in already without her actually being here!! I can't wait to be a family of 6!!  I know...crazy... 4 kids.... are a lot but when you think of every day I have 7 kids at my house anyways..what's 1 more.  I love being able to help both my sister and sister-in-law with their children...4 in total!!! I know all the kids truly can't wait for Riley to be here!!  Of one my nephews, Carson, cleans out his room and closet and finds all sorts of gifts for Riley!!  He also is a little artist and makes her cards and pictures too.  I think we have a couple bags full of Carson gifts!!  I know she will love ALL OF THEM!!

We have been talking with the nurses and staff at the International Adoption Clinic at Children's Mercy Hospital since we were match in late October.   They have been very helpful and we just scheduled our very first doctors appointment for Riley!!!  Again, it is becoming more real!!   Friday, April 5th she will be going in for a full evaluation/exam with blood work!  They will be directing us on what specialist we will need to see!!  I have also called Johnson County Infant and Toddler Services.  They helped out so much with Ryan's speech delays that we are hoping they will be able to help out with Riley too!         

Happy Valentine's Day!!

We are enjoying a Chinese meal with the family in honor of Riley!!

We have a plan.... Itinerary for our trip!!

Our flights are booked and we are ready to go!!  Even though we still have 3 weeks from today until we leave ... we are gearing up!  Just reading over our itinerary gives me goose bumps.  Here is what our 17 days will look like...

Our China Trip:

• Tuesday, March 5th- We are Beijing bound!!  We fly out at 4:25 in the afternoon.  Arriving in Chicago.  We leave about 8 pm Tuesday night..  We will land--
• Wednesday, March 6th -- in Beijing- 11:30 pm!!!  
• Thursday, March 7th- Beijing-- relax day!!  Nothing scheduled YET!!
• Friday, March 8th - Beijing- We will explore JuYoungGuan Great Wall and Hutong Lane
• Saturday, March 9th- Beijing  Off to visit the Forbidden City & Tiananmen Square.  We will have lunch with our agency, Holt's staff!!  Happy Birthday Ryan!!  We will be celebrating with you from over here in Beijing!!
• Sunday, March 10th- IN COUNTRY PLANE RIDE #1- Fly to Shanghai
• Monday, March 11th- Shanghai-VERY SPECIAL DAY!!  We meet Riley and have her in our arms forever!!  
• Tuesday, March 12th- Shanghai-Adoption processing: registration and document notarization
• Wednesday, March 13th- Shanghai- Free Day-- We are meeting up with one of my high school Friends- Tiffany Buck Powell!  Very excited to see her and her family!!
• Thursday, March 14th- Shanghai- Free Day
• Friday, March 15th- IN COUNTRY PLANE RIDE #2- Fly to Guangzhou
• Saturday, March 16th- Guangzhou-Visa paperwork and medical exam
• Sunday, March 17th- Guangzhou- Free Day
• Monday, March 18th- Guangzhou- Pick up all medical results
• Tuesday, March 19th- Guangzhou- VISA APPOINTMENT and OATH TAKING CEREMONY
• Wednesday, March 20th- Guangzhou- Visa Pick up-- IN COUNTRY TRANSPORTATION- Ride to Hong Kong
• Thursday, March 21st- WE FLY HOME!!!  Hong Kong to Chicago.. and then KANSAS CITY!!  We will arrive in at 7:30 pm with Miss Riley Handy

I know the next 21 days will fly by!!  We are having both Rheagan (2/24) and Ryan's (3/9) birthdays in the next couple weeks!!  I have been busy trying to schedule, plan these!!  We are also trying to fund raise and collect our remaining funds....three weeks LEFT!!   

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year.  Today is the Chinese New Year!!!  Friday night we attended the Chinese New Year Party at the Nelson Atkins Museum.  It was a good introduction for the kids to the Chinese heritage and culture!  There was so much to see we actually didn't get around to everything.  Between the Chinese drums, yo-yos and Lion dances the kids were glued!  We also met several other families that night that had adopted also!  The connections and friends we have made through this journey is unbelievable and we can't wait for when we actaully have her here and the many more connections we will make as a family! 

 

More pictures from the Chinese New Year:

 

 

Rheagan was selected to try her moves out with the lion!!  She made one cute lion head!!

She was following exactly what the guide told her to do!!  It was a lot of fun!!  Great expereince for her.... that's for sure!

TA was issued!!

Day 12 of the wait and we received the phone call.  Our Travel Approval was issued!!! We are heading to China... That is what it means!!! We couldn't be more excited and we are ready.  We are finalizing everything here at home and are ready for the adventure to begin.   We should hear by Friday on our Consulate Appointment date! That is the last thing you do in China before we will traveled back to the the states!! Our trip should be booked and finalized this weekend! That is hard to believe!! 

We are all getting excited to have Riley home with us!!

Keep praying for us as travel approaches and throughout a trip in China.  

We Received Our Article V

Woo Hoo!!  Our Article V was approved!!  After speaking with Holt today, I will say that everything that has happened the last couple weeks was for a reason!  God knew the Plan- I just didn't! We still do not have an exact travel date however we are closer to finalizing one.  With the Chinese New Year on Feb. 10th and government offices close for a week (Feb. 9-15th) it does throw a wrench it scheduling. :(  It makes it very hard for them to give us exact dates until after the New Year!!  We can not book until we have our US Consulate appointment.  As hard as it is for me to wait, I know it is HIS timing. We have waited 11 months whats 1 more, right??!!!  Here is an overview on our trip, regardless of when we leave!!!

Wednesday- Fly out
Thursday- Arrive in Beijing
Friday- Beijing
Saturday- Beijing
Sunday- Fly to Shanghai
Monday- Shanghai
Tuesday- Shanghai
Wednesday- Shanghai
Thursday- Shanghai
Friday- Fly to Guangzhou
Saturday- Guangzhou
Sunday- Guangzhou
Monday-Guangzhou
Tuesday-Guangzhou (1st day of Visa appts)
Wednesday- Guangzhou
Thursday- Fly home

Total trip should be about 16-18 days!!!!

(The Consulate does Visa appts. on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays.  Whenever we get our consulate appt. day- we will fly home two days LATER!!)

We have spoken to Lotus Travel who will plan and book our entire trip..Start to end!!  We have started a file with them and should receive more information tonight about on travel plans.  :)

While we wait for our Travel Approval (TA), I am praying God is working on Riley and preparing her for a big CHANGE!! I am also praying for him to prepare our hearts and minds for this BIG change. I have no idea what we are getting into... God does and I know he will provide!!!   The saying...God does not give us what we can handle; God helps us handle what we are given.....is speaking LOUDLY with me right now.

So when do we leave?  As of right now......

 WE WILL BE HEADING TO CHINA-

Wednesday, March 6th!! 

 Countdown is on!!!  After receiving our LOA (Letter of Acceptance) we were told of three possible travel dates...This is the last of the three but the one that will work out the best for all.  Why???

• Rheagan will only miss 7 days of school compared to 13 days because of Spring Break!
• Riley's furniture has been delayed now 4 different times...it WILL be here before we leave!!  We will be able to set it up and not have to count on family to put it together while we are gone!

• My mom and sister-in-law are both in education and they will have off 1 whole week due to Spring Break and are able to watch the boys for us....day and night!!
• Shawn is in the process of taking on another company and merging it under his.. this has been a very quick and recent event and a little stressful so this gives him more time to finalize all plans and get everything in working order prior to us leaving.    
• And last.. It gives me more time to shop, shop, and SHOP for Riley!!  I am keeping all receipts however her closet is quite full already with clothes and shoes, and shoes, and more shoes!!  I have every size from 3-5 in there!!!

We are one LEAP and a JUMP away from heading to China.  Please pray not only for us and Riley but that God will help with bringing in the remaining funds we still have to raise!!  

Our love is in China just waiting for us!!!

 We are coming, Riley Jiner Handy...we are coming!!  

Two weeks and counting...

Today it has been two weeks since our agency forwarded our Article V letter to the Guangzhou office.  We are still anxiously waiting for the Consulate to issues our Article 5 b.  Holt International, our agency, says this normally takes two to three weeks and it has been TWO weeks to the day!!  I am staying by the phone and checking the answering machine as soon as I arrive back home just in case they called.  Every time the phone rings, I am hoping and praying for the caller ID to say HOLT INTL!!!  :)

We have been busy in the last two weeks, Riley's room is actually a girl's room now!!!  We have painted over the blues and now it is ALL Pink!!  Her name is up on the wall and clothes are hanging in the closet! We are just waiting on the her furniture!  It has been delayed ONCE again but I know it is coming!!

Over the weekend my family throw me a shower for little Riley.  It was very neat, very special and very different from all the other ones I have had.  I could breathe easily, sat comfortably, and looked quite small for being in my 11th month of paper pregnancy!!  However, the wait from these last 11 months has put some weight on me!!  Ha, HA!!!  At least I have some excuse!!  Riley received tons of diapers, wipes, clothes, shoes, all kinds of bathing supplies and lotions and even some good books!!  I can't wait to love her, hug and kiss on her, read to her, bathe her, cuddle her and rock her to sleep!!!

 

We are starting to think about what we need to pack/take to China.  I have washed several things and purchased her baby bag!  It was even personalized for her.  We are taking over just a couple outfits as I am still not sure what size she is.  We have found some toys we will be taking over too.  Rheagan, Ryan, and Reece just can't wait!!  Neither can WE!!!  We told the boys...After Christmas, Riley will be coming... Well,  I have been reminded often that it IS after Christmas and our baby is still NOT here!!  Now I am saying..  I am waiting on the phone CALL so we know what day we can leave and go get her!!

A couple we meet, Mark and Tammy, through a mutual friend left yesterday for China to pick up their son!  We are following their blog often and can't wait for our turn to go get Riley!! We are all praying that God will prepare our hearts and HER heart as we bring her home to a unknown place and unknown people she has only seen in pictures of a book we made her!!