PICS?!?!

Yes, one of my mom's dear friends, Laurie, (whom she met through Yahoo groups) is in China right now, picking up her dear daughter, Avery Ya, and sent us pictures! (from just yesterday!) It turns out that Avery Ya and Caelyn Yi are in the same class at the orphanage (we think they are seperated into age groups). Laurie told us that Avery Ya showed her pictures of "Yang Yi" and spent time drawing pictures of herself and Yang Yi together! :) How neat!? Then when they went to the orphanage the director let them see their classroom, bedroom, lunchroom, etc. Avery did not go because she was crying. When her parents asked why she was crying, a little boy passing by said, "Because she does not want to come back to this place." When I read that my heart broke. But it was great to see the early stages of attatchment between Avery and her parents, and really encouraged me since she and Caelyn Yi are such close friends! Anywayanys, Laurie said she got many pictures of Caelyn Yi and a video (which we haven't gotten just yet). Here are some of the pics:

My family had a hard time picking out Caelyn in some of the pics, which is why I edited them (using Picnik.com). It is strange trying to pick out your daughter/sister whom you have never seen before, except in pictures which are obviously posed. It's great to see Caelyn in her normal every-day life and it makes us even more excited to meet her!!!

Thank you for your prayers. We are having a shower in a couple of weeks. :) Thanks everyone who planned/are planning that!

In Him,

Chelsey :)

It's been a long time coming...

It's long process, but let me tell any of you who are considering adoption: It is so worth it.

June 15, 2008- Home from China missions trip
July 27, 2008- Initial paper work finished
August 2, 2008- First official home-study meeting
December 3, 2008- Fingerprints complete
April 6, 2009- Complete Home-study sent to Immigration
June 15, 2009- Immigration Approval
July 27, 2009- DTC/Docier to China
September 16, 2009- Official Referral for Yang Yi
September 17, 2009- LOI/Letter of Intent sent
September 28, 2009- LID/Log In Date
October 12, 2009- PA/Pre-Approval
November 16, 2009- LOA/Letter of Acceptance
November 27, 2009- I-797C (application recieved)
December 16, 2009- Visas recieved from China
December 22, 2009- Article 5 Letter completed and arrived in America

!!!!!!! Article 5 to America !!!!!!!

This morning we recieved a call from Karla saying that our Article 5 Letter was just successfully turned in to the CCAA! We will now begin our wait for the Travel Approval (TA) and we are approximately 3 weeks from it! This is so exciting! Each time something moves along, reality sets in just a little bit more! This is really happening! Its been happening for a year and 5 months, but now we can all see the finish line! :D



We have decided that my parents, my little sister Carli, and I will be going to pick up Caelyn Yi. Carson and Casey are indefinite as of now. My parents have refinanced our house, and we are now financially prepared to travel- thanks be to God! :)



Please pray for my Chinese! :) It's a very tough language, and I can't imagine speaking it as a fist language and trying to learn ESL (English as a Second Language)! I'm learning slowly but surely! We'll see how well I'm doing once we get to China, but I do have to remind myself incessantly that I've only been taking it for one semester. Also, my family wants to learn a little Chinese. :D On the subject of learning, please pray that whenever we do travel, we wont get too far behind in school. When the time finally comes, Carli and I will be missing atleast 2 weeks of school. Just the thought scares me, especially as a Junior in my high school. We would appreciate it if you'd keep us in your prayers as we travel!



Today was a great day! We got the call from Karla, and soon after that a very encouraging call from our beloved relative in an Atlanta treatment facility. He seems to be doing very well, and even creating beautifully artistic Christmas presents for his family since he has no money. It was so neat to hear him sounding so healthy!



Thank you for your prayers! And thanks to anyone who has donated stuff for Caelyn Yi! In case anyone is wondering, we believe she wears a size 4 or 5T, shoe size: 10 (I can't remember exactly... don't write that one down.) Thanks again!



In Him,
Chelsey :)

Via Visa

Earlier this week we got our visas from China! They look the exact same as the ones my dad and I got last year. Its basically a sticker that says you're approved to go into the country, and it has a time-frame. We have approval for a year, which is good. :) It was very fun and exciting to see something move along- and this time have a visual appreciation!

Speaking of visuals, we are hoping to get new pictures of Caelyn Yi soon... we haven't heard from them since we sent our first package. And speaking of packages: we just sent her final (hopefully!) care-package yesterday! In it we sent some more personal items: a Mickey Mouse plush toy, a Mickey Mouse Playhouse puzzle, a kaleidoscope (sp?), a Hello Kitty activity book, a big bag of individually packaged Gummy Bears (to share with the other children), a box of Crayons, some little eyeshadow palettes for the Nannies, and a letter to Caelyn Yi. We stuffed all of this in a box and shipped it off to China. Shipping- $42... whoo... In the last package we sent there was a pre-stamped letter so Caelyn could send us a letter. I'm kind of thinking this won't happen...

Please continue to pray for my family! So much has happened in the past year; we need prayer and support!

I know this seems petty, but we have misplaced our family digital camera (our only camera). Next week is Christmas, and we would love to take pictures, as you can imagine! As simple as it sounds, please pray that we would find that camera! Thanks!

In Him,
Chelsey :)

I-800? Article 5? Letter of what? WHAT?

This past Monday, my mom sent me a text while babysitting. It read: "Our file is in China! Already!" Now honestly, I had no idea what this meant. It was progress, so I sent back a short reply, "yeah!" but then began the endless text-talk discussion with my dad about what exactly that meant, what we had left, and when we get to go. All that to say, I think we decided that this is what's left:

~Article 5 Letter must be prepared and taken to the CCAA or ABAC (I'm not sure which)
~We will begin our wait for TA (Travel Approval)
~We will recieve our appointment with the Chinese consulate (in China)
~We will prepare final paperwork.
~We will plan our trip to China around the consulate appointment
~We will finally go to China to bring home Caelyn Yi!

So as you can see, we are not far away at all! It could very well be anywhere between 1-3 months now! So exciting! I can't believe we're so close!

Once again, I ask you to pray for us! Pray for Kris (he's doing a little better, but has now moved to a different treatment facility), and our visit to see him over Christmas. Please pray that we will be prepared both in heart, mind, and body to bring home Caelyn! Please pray that God will provide financially for the trip to China and any expenses included. Thank you all for your support! We appreciate your prayers!

In Him,

Chelsey :)

P.S. The date for the shower has been set, thanks to the lovely Melanie O'Keefe! :) We love and appreciate you!

Meaty Meeting

Long story short: Life is flying by so quickly that its taking forever. I know that doesn't make any sense, but parts of my life seem to be snail slow (school...) while others seem to be flying high (adoption...)! Needless to say, exams are next week, so it's only gonna get tougher.

Today we went to an "Adoption Travel Meeting". However, it wasn't all about travel as I anticipated. It was almost 3 hours long. I was not excited. After having been there, done that, I am so glad that I went! There was so much information that I am not sure how to sum it up! Basically its a huge super long tedious process, and we're so close (relatively)! We are waiting for a certain form to be cabled from America to China, signed off there, and sent back here (should take a weeks or so, but a family we talked to has been waiting for over 3 weeks...). Then we begin the wait for Travel Approval (TA), which should take about 3 weeks. It's all so exciting, and only just now beginning to feel real! I can't believe this is actually going to happen! :)

We got the gist of the trip when we will finally to China as well as some advice about when we get back. Basically, they encouraged moms to be the ones to care for the needs of the child, the dad to be the assistant, and the children to be the playmates. Our case is very different from all of the other families in that we have 4 older children, and she is 6, not a baby. So, my mom will be following up with a social worker about post-adoption (for our specific case) later.

We also got financial estimates. Excuse me as I go pull my hair out...

...

...

I know God will provide for us, but that's a lot of money. Please pray :)

So as you can see we feel very close, and the anticipation is building, but still have a month or two to go. But I believe in miracles. :)

In Him,
Chelsey :)

It's Never Not Time to be Thankful

Well, I'm not sure what to say. I suppose "Happy Thanksgiving" would be appropriate, but the current aura in our house says something different. It doesn't feel like Thanksgiving, and quite frankly, the Bennett household is not in a particularly celebratory mood. Our family has been on extaordinarily high stress levels all week. One of my close relatives is now in a treatment facility for depression/anxiety/insomnia, etc, which is adding emotional turmoil to the family. I love this individual so much that I share in his suffering. Granted, not nearly as much as my his parents, but the mutual burden remains. If you get the chance, please pray for him. He just went through an emotional break-up, and is now being housed in a treatment facility (unfamiliar to him) away from his family during the holiday. (I don't release all information simply beacause it is not necessary. God hears us when we call, and he knows our hearts. You don't have to know someone's name to pray for them.)

Beyond the constant reminder of this individual's absence, my family is very excited about the adoption. We are incessantly reminded of God's divine plan for us, Yang Yi, and our relative in need. We know it is not our plan, but God's and we know that He fulfills His promise for our own hope, benefit, and future (Jeremiah 29:11). We don't understand everything that's going on right now, and we don't know how treatments will go for our loved one... all we know is that a sovereign, loving, all-powerful, all-knowing God is watching and holding onto us for our dear lives. (And we will always remember to have H.O.P.E.)

It seems that there's never a dull moment in the Bennett household. Theres always some sort of drama, stress, or waiting. Then again- that's life. God promised us that we would suffer. Life is not all "honky-dory". We are sinners in need of the cleansing blood of Christ, and being constantly reminded of this is something to be thankful for. I never want to go a day without being reminded of Christ's steadfast love and abundant mercy.

So, on that note, I want everyone to know that amidst the pain and suffering, beyond the yearning and waiting, I AM THANKFUL for Christ's love and mercy, and I am thankful because of it. I am thankful for the beautiful ways that He's touched my heart (and used other's hearts to touch mine). I AM THANKFUL that he made this treatment opprotunity so clear and gave his parents wisdom. I am thankful that Carson, my brother got to come home for Thanksgiving, I AM THANKFUL for IHOP, where we ate Thanksgiving dinner (no one really felt like cooking or cleaning given the circumstances). I am thankful for God's beautiful creation and the people He's used to further our knowledge of it. I AM THANKFUL for so much in my life right now! Yet the cool thing is: I will never be able to appreciate all of what God has done for me. never. and for that: I AM THANKFUL. I am so thankful that I will never be too thankful. I am so thankful that God will always be more than enough for me. I AM THANKFUL.

I want to encourage you all right now, that even if you're not celebrating Thanksgiving in the typical way, it's never not time to be thankful.

In Him,
Chelsey :)

painting, showers, and THANKS-GIVING!

My school has graciously given their students an entire week off for Thanksgiving break! :) I am so Thankful! We've been painting a lot in our house. We're painting Carli and Yi's room, my room, and both of our vanities. Carli chose a brown for their room and a yellow for her bathroom vanity, I chose two different shades of green. Hope they turn out well! Carli finished the brown base yesterday, and will be adding polka dots today. I will be finishing my vanity and starting my room today. So that's what is currently going on in the Bennett house- painting and sore arms!

Of course its exciting to be thinking about Yi while we paint away! We decided to let Carli choose how to decorate because it's her room. And I wont be here much longer (wow!) if they hate rooming together (which i doubt) then maybe Yi can move to my room... or vice-versa... thats a long way away, though...

My mom has been discussing dates with a friend for a possible "baby shower". People can support us by giving things to Yi (whether clothes, toys, books, etc). If you think about it, people usually have a lot of things built up in their house by the time a child is 6 years old. Yi will be 6 1/2 when we get her (hopefully) and at that point will have a backpack filled with belongings. This is more than the typical orphanage supplies. Yi's orphanage (Zhongshan CWI (Child Welfare Institute)) is fantastic and well supported by the government!! (We've just found out that among the many bedrooms, cafeteria, playgrounds, classrooms, there are two "wading-type" pools!)
All that to say: we're very excited, and a shower would be a great way for people to love on us! After it is confirmed and decided, I will announce the date...

Thank you everyone for your prayers and encouraging words of wisdom! I admit at times I feel as though I am typing all these messages for mine and my mom's eyes only. But even if that is the case, I know God has a perfect divine plan for me and this blog. I still find it hard to believe that I actually have a blog, but true it is. :)

In Him,
Chelsey :)

Let's See How Far We've Come

The "new and improved" timeline: So neat to see God's work :)


June 15, 2008- Home from China missions trip


July 27, 2008- Initial paper work finished


August 2, 2008- First official home-study meeting


December 3, 2008- Fingerprints complete


April 6, 2009- Complete Home-study sent to Immigration


June 15, 2009- Immigration Approval


July 27, 2009- DTC/Docier to China


September 16, 2009- Official Referral for Yang Yi


September 17, 2009- LOI/Letter of Intent sent


September 28, 2009- LID/Log In Date


October 12, 2009- PA/Pre-Approval


November 16, 2009- LOA/Letter of Acceptance

(This is a picture of my parents just after they signed the LOA this morning)

December 16, 2009- Visas recieved from China

December 22, 2009- I-800 completed and sent to America

NOW- Completing a few forms, in the process of turning them into the US government, then a few more tedious steps, and we wait for the TA- Travel Approval. That will be the next BIG news... and very possibly the biggest! This feels so surreal... in a good way!

In Him,
Chelsey :)

Nothing Less Than a Miracle

Yesterday we recieved the LOA! It was so exciting! My mom says she couldn't hold back the tears as Karla surprised her with the call. I told you about the detailed Monday I had yesterday, but that was before the rest of the day had begun...

My sister and I got home at about 3:00. We were excited and sat down to chat with my mom at her computer. I updated the blog, then- litterally- the minute I got off of the computer the doorbell rang. A package? My shaking hand signed on the dotted line as the mailman handed me a small package. I immediately noticed the chinese scrawled all over it. The bracelets! I exclaimed as we headed to the living room to open the package.

My mom carefully opened the package and we proudly donned our official Red Thread Bracelets! Now we match Yang Yi! At least we think- there was an extra child's bracelet in the package so our hope is simply that Ann of Red Thread was feeling generous :)

This was exciting in itself! LOA and bracelets in one day! wow! THEN about an hour later my mom recieved an e-mail from China! It was Yang Yi's answers to our questions that we sent her about 2 weeks ago! How wonderful! We were shocked. So much happened in one day! At this point Carli remarked, "At this rate we could get her by Christmas! Heck- tomorrow!"

So as you can see we are very excited. We actually ended up going to Wal-Mart and bought her an outfit and a stuffed animal. :) I love all these beautiful surprises God keeps giving us! This is such a fantastic journey! Hard and long, but good; truly good.

"Life is hard, God is good."

In Him,
Chelsey :)