DSC_0166
DSC_0202We awoke this morning to witness the three inch carpet of snow that had formed overnight.
Both of these pictures were taken on Thursday, March 1, 2007 just a few minutes after 7:00 AM, which was about 20 minutes after sunrise.
Saturday, March 3, 2007
Saving for College
March 1, 2007 (Thursday)
College Funding 101
Because the cost of post-high school schooling has been rise and continues to rise at twice the rate of nearly everything else (except health care costs, which are also skyrocketing), one role of a parent these days is planning, saving, and investing for their child’s college education. This task should start as soon as the child is born or is adopted into one’s family because in investing, time is the most important factor.
SiowFong and I took one step towards that task today when I mailed in SiowFong's application for Lydia’s prepaid tuition plan.
For those who are not familiar with such plans, below is a straightforward article from Jane Bryant Quinn, a very highly respected female personal finance columnist who writes for Newsweek magazine and who is known for her practical, straightforward advice.
Quinn: Prepay Your Child's Way to College
A plan that's simple, provides peace of mind—and gives buyers equal access to federal student aid. What's not to like?
By Jane Bryant Quinn
Newsweek
Aug. 14, 2006 issue
How have your investments done since the 2000 market bust? Up 40 percent? Probably not. But I'll tell you where you might have gotten that kind of return: from a conservative, prepaid college-tuition plan—the type stockbrokers scorn but savers love. New rules on financial aid for families with prepaids make them even bigger winners—that is, if you can get them. Fewer than half the states maintain plans, and new ones aren't in the works. The country is stepping away from that kind of middle-income student support. But I'm getting ahead of myself. First, some background.
Almost all states offer college-savings programs known as 529s. Gains on your account come free of federal tax when used for higher education. Half the states give you breaks on state taxes, too.
There are two types of 529s:
Savings plans. With these, you invest in various mutual funds and use the proceeds for expenses at any accredited school. In the very long run, stock-owning mutual funds do well. Over shorter terms, you're taking some risk. Bond funds are safer but don't keep up with college inflation. Most states offer savings plans; you can also join the plan of another state, restriction free.
Prepaids. These plans provide guarantees. You buy a certain number of credit hours or semesters at today's prices. They'll be honored in the future, when your child goes to school, no matter how much college costs at the time. Most prepaids cover tuition and fees but not room and board (only Florida has a dormitory plan). The guarantees apply only to in-state public colleges and universities. But you can transfer the dollar value of your savings to a private college or an out-of-state school. You or the beneficiary usually has to live in the state to join the plan.
Currently, 18 states maintain prepaids. Four plans (Kentucky, Ohio, Texas, West Virginia) are closed but may reopen. There's also a prepaid for private colleges called the Independent 529 (Independent529plan.org). It sells future tuition at a discount, usable at more than 250 schools.
Why do I like prepaids and wish more states would get onboard?
First, prepaids are simple. You put up some money and buy a fixed amount of future education. Period. You also know the exact dollar figure you need to save.
Second, guarantees give you peace of mind. You don't have to worry when stocks go down—a matter of special importance to people who can't afford to risk losing any money they've saved. The states stand behind their prepaids, directly or indirectly. You'll receive the value of all the credits you bought.
Third, buyers of prepaids now enjoy equal access to federal student aid. Formerly, the aid formulas favored the savings plans. But starting this year both types of 529s are being treated alike.
Finally, investments in prepaids are showing spectacular gains. The return on your money equals the increase in your state's college-tuition rate. Average rates for four-year schools are up 40 percent since 2001—hence, a 40 percent return for the average plan. Some states charge you more than the current tuition cost to build up a financial reserve. That lowers your investment return, but you'll still do well—especially if you start when your child is young, says Joe Hurley of Savingforcollege.com (the go-to site for information on every state's 529).
So how come more states don't offer prepaids? The issue is how to keep them financially sound. When a state decides how much to charge for its plan, it estimates how fast tuitions will rise. Since 2000, inflation at four-year public schools has averaged 7 percent a year—well above its historical 4.5 percent rate, the College Board reports. That's more than the prepaids expected. Ohio's plan closed in 2003 after tuition hikes in the 10 percent range eroded its reserves, says director Jackie Williams. Ohioans, she adds, would like it back.
Tuitions are soaring because the states aren't giving their colleges as much support. Enrollments are up an unprecedented 14.4 percent since 2001, says Charles Lenth, of the State Higher Education Executive Officers association. Last year, however, the states provided an average of just $5,825 per student in public institutions, down from $7,117 in 2001, and a 25-year low. That figure will probably rise, Lenth says, but states are generally content with requiring students to pay more.
Even so, most of the states with prepaids have steered them successfully through these shoals. "All we need is for tuitions to be predictable," says Betty Lochner, head of the fast-growing plan in Washington. Virginia's plan closed in 2004 and reopened in 2005 at a higher price. Florida's $6.5 billion plan is so large that its very existence stops the state from letting tuitions run away. The outlook, however, is high costs for parents and students. States should give them prepaids, so they can save without risk.
P.S.: A bit of good news for investors in both types of 529s—your federal tax exemption was slated to expire after 2010. Last week Congress made it permanent. College tax breaks are here to stay.
Reporter Associate: Temma Ehrenfeld
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14205572/site/newsweek/page/2/
© 2007 MSNBC.com
College Funding 101
Because the cost of post-high school schooling has been rise and continues to rise at twice the rate of nearly everything else (except health care costs, which are also skyrocketing), one role of a parent these days is planning, saving, and investing for their child’s college education. This task should start as soon as the child is born or is adopted into one’s family because in investing, time is the most important factor.
SiowFong and I took one step towards that task today when I mailed in SiowFong's application for Lydia’s prepaid tuition plan.
For those who are not familiar with such plans, below is a straightforward article from Jane Bryant Quinn, a very highly respected female personal finance columnist who writes for Newsweek magazine and who is known for her practical, straightforward advice.
Quinn: Prepay Your Child's Way to College
A plan that's simple, provides peace of mind—and gives buyers equal access to federal student aid. What's not to like?
By Jane Bryant Quinn
Newsweek
Aug. 14, 2006 issue
How have your investments done since the 2000 market bust? Up 40 percent? Probably not. But I'll tell you where you might have gotten that kind of return: from a conservative, prepaid college-tuition plan—the type stockbrokers scorn but savers love. New rules on financial aid for families with prepaids make them even bigger winners—that is, if you can get them. Fewer than half the states maintain plans, and new ones aren't in the works. The country is stepping away from that kind of middle-income student support. But I'm getting ahead of myself. First, some background.
Almost all states offer college-savings programs known as 529s. Gains on your account come free of federal tax when used for higher education. Half the states give you breaks on state taxes, too.
There are two types of 529s:
Savings plans. With these, you invest in various mutual funds and use the proceeds for expenses at any accredited school. In the very long run, stock-owning mutual funds do well. Over shorter terms, you're taking some risk. Bond funds are safer but don't keep up with college inflation. Most states offer savings plans; you can also join the plan of another state, restriction free.
Prepaids. These plans provide guarantees. You buy a certain number of credit hours or semesters at today's prices. They'll be honored in the future, when your child goes to school, no matter how much college costs at the time. Most prepaids cover tuition and fees but not room and board (only Florida has a dormitory plan). The guarantees apply only to in-state public colleges and universities. But you can transfer the dollar value of your savings to a private college or an out-of-state school. You or the beneficiary usually has to live in the state to join the plan.
Currently, 18 states maintain prepaids. Four plans (Kentucky, Ohio, Texas, West Virginia) are closed but may reopen. There's also a prepaid for private colleges called the Independent 529 (Independent529plan.org). It sells future tuition at a discount, usable at more than 250 schools.
Why do I like prepaids and wish more states would get onboard?
First, prepaids are simple. You put up some money and buy a fixed amount of future education. Period. You also know the exact dollar figure you need to save.
Second, guarantees give you peace of mind. You don't have to worry when stocks go down—a matter of special importance to people who can't afford to risk losing any money they've saved. The states stand behind their prepaids, directly or indirectly. You'll receive the value of all the credits you bought.
Third, buyers of prepaids now enjoy equal access to federal student aid. Formerly, the aid formulas favored the savings plans. But starting this year both types of 529s are being treated alike.
Finally, investments in prepaids are showing spectacular gains. The return on your money equals the increase in your state's college-tuition rate. Average rates for four-year schools are up 40 percent since 2001—hence, a 40 percent return for the average plan. Some states charge you more than the current tuition cost to build up a financial reserve. That lowers your investment return, but you'll still do well—especially if you start when your child is young, says Joe Hurley of Savingforcollege.com (the go-to site for information on every state's 529).
So how come more states don't offer prepaids? The issue is how to keep them financially sound. When a state decides how much to charge for its plan, it estimates how fast tuitions will rise. Since 2000, inflation at four-year public schools has averaged 7 percent a year—well above its historical 4.5 percent rate, the College Board reports. That's more than the prepaids expected. Ohio's plan closed in 2003 after tuition hikes in the 10 percent range eroded its reserves, says director Jackie Williams. Ohioans, she adds, would like it back.
Tuitions are soaring because the states aren't giving their colleges as much support. Enrollments are up an unprecedented 14.4 percent since 2001, says Charles Lenth, of the State Higher Education Executive Officers association. Last year, however, the states provided an average of just $5,825 per student in public institutions, down from $7,117 in 2001, and a 25-year low. That figure will probably rise, Lenth says, but states are generally content with requiring students to pay more.
Even so, most of the states with prepaids have steered them successfully through these shoals. "All we need is for tuitions to be predictable," says Betty Lochner, head of the fast-growing plan in Washington. Virginia's plan closed in 2004 and reopened in 2005 at a higher price. Florida's $6.5 billion plan is so large that its very existence stops the state from letting tuitions run away. The outlook, however, is high costs for parents and students. States should give them prepaids, so they can save without risk.
P.S.: A bit of good news for investors in both types of 529s—your federal tax exemption was slated to expire after 2010. Last week Congress made it permanent. College tax breaks are here to stay.
Reporter Associate: Temma Ehrenfeld
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14205572/site/newsweek/page/2/
© 2007 MSNBC.com
New Hope's Closure
February 28, 2007 (Wednesday)
New Hope’s Closure
Today also sadly marks the end of an era. After 30 years of functioning as an adoption agency, New Hope formally shut down its operations today.
With respect to the China program, our group, number 7 of 2005, was the last one to travel to China to complete its adoptions. The later groups of 2005 and those in 2006 were transferred to the care of Journeys of the Heart, an agency based in Hillsboro, Oregon, last fall.
June 19, 2006 New Hope Letter
Last summer, the impending closure of the agency shocked SiowFong and me when we received the letter dated June 19, 2006 from Diane Lostrangio, New Hope’s Executive Director. In part of that two page communication, Ms. Lostangio explained the following:
“A combination of factors has resulted in the decision to commence closure of the agency. Lower numbers of adoptions in our domestic program have impacted our continued viability as an agency. In addition, increasing costs of providing quality service to families and children coupled with the added challenge of a dramatic decrease in the number of China adoptions caused the leadership here to determine that the likelihood of New Hope remaining financially viable is low. We have had financial challenges over the last few years however, CRISTA [New Hope’s parent organization] has helped us weather this period without having to come to such a drastic decision…Having reevaluated our situation over the last few months, we have concluded that New Hope should move toward closure at a time when we can still allow for adequate time to serve families who have referrals through to adoption. Our planned closure date of February 28, 2007 was established to enable us to do just that.”
New Hope’s Closure
Today also sadly marks the end of an era. After 30 years of functioning as an adoption agency, New Hope formally shut down its operations today.
With respect to the China program, our group, number 7 of 2005, was the last one to travel to China to complete its adoptions. The later groups of 2005 and those in 2006 were transferred to the care of Journeys of the Heart, an agency based in Hillsboro, Oregon, last fall.
June 19, 2006 New Hope Letter
Last summer, the impending closure of the agency shocked SiowFong and me when we received the letter dated June 19, 2006 from Diane Lostrangio, New Hope’s Executive Director. In part of that two page communication, Ms. Lostangio explained the following:
“A combination of factors has resulted in the decision to commence closure of the agency. Lower numbers of adoptions in our domestic program have impacted our continued viability as an agency. In addition, increasing costs of providing quality service to families and children coupled with the added challenge of a dramatic decrease in the number of China adoptions caused the leadership here to determine that the likelihood of New Hope remaining financially viable is low. We have had financial challenges over the last few years however, CRISTA [New Hope’s parent organization] has helped us weather this period without having to come to such a drastic decision…Having reevaluated our situation over the last few months, we have concluded that New Hope should move toward closure at a time when we can still allow for adequate time to serve families who have referrals through to adoption. Our planned closure date of February 28, 2007 was established to enable us to do just that.”
Thursday, March 1, 2007
The Wonder of Snow
March 1, 2007
Enchanted by Snow
“Old Man Winter” paid yet another visit to the area yesterday when snow began falling during the day and continued falling throughout the evening.
During the day, one thing that Lydia likes to do is to stand on the living room sofa next to the large window in order to gaze at our neighbor’s home, the tall conifers, and the sky. Ma Wee commented that when Lydia saw the steady shower of snow yesterday morning, she squealed with delight. With a wide smile on her face and one of her hands pointed towards the gray sky, she kept uttering “Ah! Ah! Ah!” as she watched the white stuff descending towards the ground.
“Blessed by Wonder”
One fascinating fact about snowflakes is that no two snowflakes are identical. Lydia’s reaction to yesterday’s snowfall reminds me of something that Jill Carattini wrote entitled “Blessed by Wonder”. A portion of her essay from www.rzim.org follows below:
“Ravi Zacharias once recalled a professor of his, a quantum physicist, describing the first few microseconds of the creation of the universe. The contraction and expansion ratio had to be so exact and the margin of error so small. His professor described it profoundly. He said the exactitude demanded of that moment was such that it would be the equivalent of taking aim at a one square inch object twenty billion light years away, and hitting it bull's eye.
I wonder what we can call that if not miraculous? Can you call it chance? Tightly knit and intelligible seems fitting.
Now think of the fantastic glory of the universe which surrounds us: the marvel of creation, the wonder of love, the beauty of relationships. Yet somehow we have reduced it so much that we now believe it can all be explained by random cause, and we just happen to be here—the product of a mindless collocation of atoms. When that is all it is—the process of impersonal chance—it is wonder we have extracted.
Charles Darwin described something fascinating in his autobiography. He said that when evolution had become absolutely entrenched into his consciousness, he lost all interest in the arts and in music. Isn't that interesting? The romance of life was drained of usefulness, when the focus became the mechanization of it all.
Moreover, if we are merely thrown together as products of chance, can we have value? Or meaning? If we came into existence through such impersonal measures, why do we have this desire to be personal? To be loved? To be known? This concept of wonder is built into life, and when we take it away, life becomes something less.
Few have captured the meaning of wonder more eloquently than the words of Henry van Dyke put to the music of Beethoven. That magnificent hymn proclaims, “All Thy works with joy surround Thee, earth and heav'n reflect Thy ways; stars and angels sing around Thee, center of unbroken praise; field and forest, vale and mountain, bloss'ming meadow, flashing sea, chanting bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in Thee.” (Joyful Joyful We adore Thee, words by Henry Van Dyke, 1852-1933, music by Ludwig van Beethoven, 1770-1827.) Wonder surrounds the Truth of God.
Gerard Manley Hopkins proclaimed, "The earth is full of the grandeur of God!" And the Psalmist urges you to see it: "Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see—how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him." (Psalm 34:8) Blessed are you who run to Him. That is both true, and wonderful.”
Enchanted by Snow
“Old Man Winter” paid yet another visit to the area yesterday when snow began falling during the day and continued falling throughout the evening.
During the day, one thing that Lydia likes to do is to stand on the living room sofa next to the large window in order to gaze at our neighbor’s home, the tall conifers, and the sky. Ma Wee commented that when Lydia saw the steady shower of snow yesterday morning, she squealed with delight. With a wide smile on her face and one of her hands pointed towards the gray sky, she kept uttering “Ah! Ah! Ah!” as she watched the white stuff descending towards the ground.
“Blessed by Wonder”
One fascinating fact about snowflakes is that no two snowflakes are identical. Lydia’s reaction to yesterday’s snowfall reminds me of something that Jill Carattini wrote entitled “Blessed by Wonder”. A portion of her essay from www.rzim.org follows below:
“Ravi Zacharias once recalled a professor of his, a quantum physicist, describing the first few microseconds of the creation of the universe. The contraction and expansion ratio had to be so exact and the margin of error so small. His professor described it profoundly. He said the exactitude demanded of that moment was such that it would be the equivalent of taking aim at a one square inch object twenty billion light years away, and hitting it bull's eye.
I wonder what we can call that if not miraculous? Can you call it chance? Tightly knit and intelligible seems fitting.
Now think of the fantastic glory of the universe which surrounds us: the marvel of creation, the wonder of love, the beauty of relationships. Yet somehow we have reduced it so much that we now believe it can all be explained by random cause, and we just happen to be here—the product of a mindless collocation of atoms. When that is all it is—the process of impersonal chance—it is wonder we have extracted.
Charles Darwin described something fascinating in his autobiography. He said that when evolution had become absolutely entrenched into his consciousness, he lost all interest in the arts and in music. Isn't that interesting? The romance of life was drained of usefulness, when the focus became the mechanization of it all.
Moreover, if we are merely thrown together as products of chance, can we have value? Or meaning? If we came into existence through such impersonal measures, why do we have this desire to be personal? To be loved? To be known? This concept of wonder is built into life, and when we take it away, life becomes something less.
Few have captured the meaning of wonder more eloquently than the words of Henry van Dyke put to the music of Beethoven. That magnificent hymn proclaims, “All Thy works with joy surround Thee, earth and heav'n reflect Thy ways; stars and angels sing around Thee, center of unbroken praise; field and forest, vale and mountain, bloss'ming meadow, flashing sea, chanting bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in Thee.” (Joyful Joyful We adore Thee, words by Henry Van Dyke, 1852-1933, music by Ludwig van Beethoven, 1770-1827.) Wonder surrounds the Truth of God.
Gerard Manley Hopkins proclaimed, "The earth is full of the grandeur of God!" And the Psalmist urges you to see it: "Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see—how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him." (Psalm 34:8) Blessed are you who run to Him. That is both true, and wonderful.”
Lydia's Exercise Photos
DSC_0075
DSC_0077
DSC_0079
DSC_0080
DSC_0081
On this evening near her bedtime, Lydia began doing these exercises, which nobody had ever taught her. She continues to amaze us because of the things that she does.
The above sequence of pictures were taken in the upper landing area within a one minute time span from 9:26 PM to 9:27 PM on Saturday, February 24, 2007.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Some Significant Events of the Last Two Weekends
February 26, 2007 (Monday)
So much has happened in the last two weekends. Here’s a partial recap.
Lunch with Ann Lawrence
Ann Lawrence, the social worker who worked with us during the pre-placement phase of our adoption in the spring of 2005, came to our home two Saturdays ago at 11:00 AM on February 17 to meet Lydia and Ma Wee and to eat lunch with us.
As we shared a meal together, she asked about our trip to China, our time back in the United States, and our future child care plans for Lydia. We inquired about the details of her life, and we also asked her about the current state of international adoptions. As a self-employed social worker, Ann stated that she has appointments with two different clients each week, which allows her ample time with each family and adequate time to write the reports from those visits. She does a fair amount of domestic adoption work, and she emphasized that the vast majority of her international adoption work is related to China. Very few families who are adopting from overseas consider other countries, such as Russia or Guatemala.
Ann also commented that the Chinese are beginning to follow the example of the South Koreans with respect to encouraging domestic adoption to reduce the need for international adoption.
During the lunch, we disclosed to Ann that we are excited about the prospects of adopting a second daughter from China. We informed her that we would have to choose another agency as New Hope Child and Family Agency is closing its doors at the end of this month because of recurring financial losses in its domestic adoption program. We asked Ann if she would be available to help us with the pre-placement part of our second adoption, and she joyfully agreed to do so.
Our Book Recommendations for International Adoption
At the end of our two and a half hours together with Ann, she solicited our recommendations about the books that we had read during our adoption journey so that she could pass this information to other adoptive families who are her clients. Below are our favorites.
SiowFong loved reading first person accounts about adoption. Her favorites include the following:
Evans, Karin. The Lost Daughters of China: Abandoned Girls, Their Journey to America, and the Search for a Missing Past. Tarcher / Penguin: 2000.
Horner, Susan and Martindale, Kelly. Loved by Choice: True Stories That Celebrate Adoption. Revell: 2002.
Kingsbury, Karen. A Treasury of Adoption Miracles: True Stories of God’s Presence Today. Warner Faith: 2005.
Prager, Emily. Wuhu Diary: On Taking My Adopted Daughter Back to Her Hometown in China. Anchor Books: 2001.
Here are Tom’s selections, most of which focus more on the details of the adoption process:
Albers, Lisa et al. International Adoption: Medical and Developmental Issues. Pediatric Clinics of North America. Volume 52, Number 5. October 2005.
Bentley, Lisa. Saving Levi: Left to Die…Destined to Live. Tyndale: 2007.
Erichsen, Jean and Erichsen, Heino. How to Adopt Internationally: A Guide for Agency-Directed and Independent Adoptions. Mesa House: 2003.
Gillespie, Natalie. Successful Adoption: A Guide for Christian Families. Integrity: 2006.
Maclean, John. The Chinese Adoption Handbook. Star: 2003.
Miller, Laurie. The Handbook of International Adoption Medicine: A Guide for Physicians, Parents, and Providers. Oxford: 2005.
BKCHC Baby Shower
Erika Tejada, one of my coworkers, organized a baby shower for Lydia that occurred two days ago on Saturday, February 24, 2007 at her home.
We had known about this special event over a month ago. Less than a week after we returned home, I received a phone call from another coworker, Maria Jose Otalora, to notify me about the event. Erika called me on Saturday morning to remind us about the shower, and during that brief phone conversation, I learned that during the last few weeks, Erika had even been informing former colleagues about this occasion. We later enjoyed seeing a number of them at her home that afternoon.
When Lydia, Ma Wee, SiowFong, and I arrived at Erika’s home, we found her living room festooned with pink balloons, ribbons, and baby shower banners. Sitting on the coffee table were a number of pink party hats. In one corner of the room, a dark hardwood baby bassinet was already partially filled with gifts. In the dining room was a circular table with an array of food.
In short, the company was wonderful; the food was good; and most significantly, the welcome that Lydia received was tremendous. For example, three Hispanic families, who do not even work with me but who are close friends of Erika, Danny (Erika’s husband), and Sonia (Erika’s mother), came bearing gifts for Lydia even though they barely knew SiowFong and me.
Throughout the whole event, which lasted nearly five hours, Lydia did well even though she missed her typical mid-afternoon nap. Despite being tired, she did not cry, and as she opened her gifts with SiowFong’s help, she examined each one closely, touching each one. After most of the guests departed, Lydia fell asleep in SiowFong’s arms after drinking a bottle of formula.
During and after the experience, I felt humbled and grateful for the attention, care, and thoughtfulness that had been lavished on Lydia.
Throughout our entire two-year adoption journey, God has revealed His faithfulness, mercy, and grace to SiowFong and I so many times, and this past Saturday was yet instance of His goodness.
Dinner with the Foleys
Many friends and coworkers at Amgen have helped SiowFong during the past two years. Two of these individuals are Todd Foley and Carolyn Pastoriza, husband and wife respectively who work full-time at two different Amgen sites. Carolyn, a very detail-oriented person, befriended SiowFong in 2006 and during a number of conversations and many emails, she provided SiowFong with lots of practical advice about the last stages of the adoption paperwork chase and preparations for the trip to China.
Working with an out-of-state agency that only does China adoptions called Great Wall China Adoption which is based in Austin, Texas, they adopted their first daughter, Vivian, from Jiangxi Province (the same province in China where Lydia was born) in December 2005 when she was just eight and a half months old. They are adopting their second daughter from China through the same agency. They submitted their dossier in mid-December 2006, received a January 4, 2007 dossier log-in date from the Chinese Center for Adoption Affairs, and are now waiting for their referral.
The family of three came to our home last night for supper, and the two and a half hours passed quickly. Carolyn also brought two special items for us to see: a lovely family scrapbook that highlights her life, Todd’s life, and Vivian’s life and a customized photo book filled with poems, text, and plenty of pictures of their China trip and Vivian with captions that was created at MyPublisher.com through the Costco website.
So much has happened in the last two weekends. Here’s a partial recap.
Lunch with Ann Lawrence
Ann Lawrence, the social worker who worked with us during the pre-placement phase of our adoption in the spring of 2005, came to our home two Saturdays ago at 11:00 AM on February 17 to meet Lydia and Ma Wee and to eat lunch with us.
As we shared a meal together, she asked about our trip to China, our time back in the United States, and our future child care plans for Lydia. We inquired about the details of her life, and we also asked her about the current state of international adoptions. As a self-employed social worker, Ann stated that she has appointments with two different clients each week, which allows her ample time with each family and adequate time to write the reports from those visits. She does a fair amount of domestic adoption work, and she emphasized that the vast majority of her international adoption work is related to China. Very few families who are adopting from overseas consider other countries, such as Russia or Guatemala.
Ann also commented that the Chinese are beginning to follow the example of the South Koreans with respect to encouraging domestic adoption to reduce the need for international adoption.
During the lunch, we disclosed to Ann that we are excited about the prospects of adopting a second daughter from China. We informed her that we would have to choose another agency as New Hope Child and Family Agency is closing its doors at the end of this month because of recurring financial losses in its domestic adoption program. We asked Ann if she would be available to help us with the pre-placement part of our second adoption, and she joyfully agreed to do so.
Our Book Recommendations for International Adoption
At the end of our two and a half hours together with Ann, she solicited our recommendations about the books that we had read during our adoption journey so that she could pass this information to other adoptive families who are her clients. Below are our favorites.
SiowFong loved reading first person accounts about adoption. Her favorites include the following:
Evans, Karin. The Lost Daughters of China: Abandoned Girls, Their Journey to America, and the Search for a Missing Past. Tarcher / Penguin: 2000.
Horner, Susan and Martindale, Kelly. Loved by Choice: True Stories That Celebrate Adoption. Revell: 2002.
Kingsbury, Karen. A Treasury of Adoption Miracles: True Stories of God’s Presence Today. Warner Faith: 2005.
Prager, Emily. Wuhu Diary: On Taking My Adopted Daughter Back to Her Hometown in China. Anchor Books: 2001.
Here are Tom’s selections, most of which focus more on the details of the adoption process:
Albers, Lisa et al. International Adoption: Medical and Developmental Issues. Pediatric Clinics of North America. Volume 52, Number 5. October 2005.
Bentley, Lisa. Saving Levi: Left to Die…Destined to Live. Tyndale: 2007.
Erichsen, Jean and Erichsen, Heino. How to Adopt Internationally: A Guide for Agency-Directed and Independent Adoptions. Mesa House: 2003.
Gillespie, Natalie. Successful Adoption: A Guide for Christian Families. Integrity: 2006.
Maclean, John. The Chinese Adoption Handbook. Star: 2003.
Miller, Laurie. The Handbook of International Adoption Medicine: A Guide for Physicians, Parents, and Providers. Oxford: 2005.
BKCHC Baby Shower
Erika Tejada, one of my coworkers, organized a baby shower for Lydia that occurred two days ago on Saturday, February 24, 2007 at her home.
We had known about this special event over a month ago. Less than a week after we returned home, I received a phone call from another coworker, Maria Jose Otalora, to notify me about the event. Erika called me on Saturday morning to remind us about the shower, and during that brief phone conversation, I learned that during the last few weeks, Erika had even been informing former colleagues about this occasion. We later enjoyed seeing a number of them at her home that afternoon.
When Lydia, Ma Wee, SiowFong, and I arrived at Erika’s home, we found her living room festooned with pink balloons, ribbons, and baby shower banners. Sitting on the coffee table were a number of pink party hats. In one corner of the room, a dark hardwood baby bassinet was already partially filled with gifts. In the dining room was a circular table with an array of food.
In short, the company was wonderful; the food was good; and most significantly, the welcome that Lydia received was tremendous. For example, three Hispanic families, who do not even work with me but who are close friends of Erika, Danny (Erika’s husband), and Sonia (Erika’s mother), came bearing gifts for Lydia even though they barely knew SiowFong and me.
Throughout the whole event, which lasted nearly five hours, Lydia did well even though she missed her typical mid-afternoon nap. Despite being tired, she did not cry, and as she opened her gifts with SiowFong’s help, she examined each one closely, touching each one. After most of the guests departed, Lydia fell asleep in SiowFong’s arms after drinking a bottle of formula.
During and after the experience, I felt humbled and grateful for the attention, care, and thoughtfulness that had been lavished on Lydia.
Throughout our entire two-year adoption journey, God has revealed His faithfulness, mercy, and grace to SiowFong and I so many times, and this past Saturday was yet instance of His goodness.
Dinner with the Foleys
Many friends and coworkers at Amgen have helped SiowFong during the past two years. Two of these individuals are Todd Foley and Carolyn Pastoriza, husband and wife respectively who work full-time at two different Amgen sites. Carolyn, a very detail-oriented person, befriended SiowFong in 2006 and during a number of conversations and many emails, she provided SiowFong with lots of practical advice about the last stages of the adoption paperwork chase and preparations for the trip to China.
Working with an out-of-state agency that only does China adoptions called Great Wall China Adoption which is based in Austin, Texas, they adopted their first daughter, Vivian, from Jiangxi Province (the same province in China where Lydia was born) in December 2005 when she was just eight and a half months old. They are adopting their second daughter from China through the same agency. They submitted their dossier in mid-December 2006, received a January 4, 2007 dossier log-in date from the Chinese Center for Adoption Affairs, and are now waiting for their referral.
The family of three came to our home last night for supper, and the two and a half hours passed quickly. Carolyn also brought two special items for us to see: a lovely family scrapbook that highlights her life, Todd’s life, and Vivian’s life and a customized photo book filled with poems, text, and plenty of pictures of their China trip and Vivian with captions that was created at MyPublisher.com through the Costco website.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Some Recent Pictures
DSC_0017Lydia with her party hat and hair band
Bothell-Kenmore CHC Baby Shower
Erika Tejada's Home
Kirkland, Washington
February 24, 2007
DSC_0022Lydia placing her head on a soft velvet red pillow
Lydia loves soft things, such as her assortment of teddy bears
Bothell-Kenmore CHC Baby Shower
Erika Tejada's Home
Kirkland, Washington
February 24, 2007
DSC_0040Lydia's Three Baby Shower Cakes
Safeway grocery store bakery made the two in the foreground, which were yummy and brought by Angelica Rosas,
and the one in the background, a homemade one by Laura Nelson, which was also very tasty
Bothell-Kenmore CHC Baby Shower
Erika Tejada's Home
Kirkland, Washington
February 24, 2007
DSC_0161Lydia attired in pink and wearing her hair band in preparation for Chinese New Year's dinner
The highlights of the dinner were the three entrees made by Ma Wee
Living room of our home
February 18, 2007
DSC_0170Lydia touching the Tower of Time Handprint Kit
This gift, one from Karen Rongren, is for the first 5 years of life.
Living room of our home
February 18, 2007
DSC_0273Lydia hugging her "My Dearest Daughter" bear while asleep for her morning nap
She is laying on a fleece throw and sleeping next to her big stuffed dog
Lydia prefers napping in the living room in the morning where there is light and where she knows Ma Wee is near (she takes her afternoon nap in her room in the crib).
Living room of our home
February 19, 2007
DSC_0285Lydia asleep during her morning nap as she is laying on top of the carpet of the living room
Living room of our home
February 19, 2007
DSC_0312Lydia asleep during her one and a half hour to two hour nap in the morning
Living room of our home
February 19, 2007
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