Brighton's Birthday is Today!

Today is Brighton's 9th birthday! I really wish we could have sent him something. We are praying that we will have him home before his 10th birthday. It gets harder every day to wait. Please pray for patience for me. We are going to have a little family birthday celebration today for Brighton.

We should be able to have our paperwork turned in this week! I'm so excited! Hopefully China will send their PA (pre-approval) quickly. Then I can mail him his soccer pillow and photo album.

We are getting things ready for the yard sale on the 29th. I've had several people offer donations of items to raise funds to bring Brighton home. We should have several of the girls' adoption awareness bracelets available too. We are trusting God will provide the necessary funds at just the right time.

More than anything, I feel so blessed to have had the chance to meet so many wonderful mom's who have a heart for orphans. It truly is a mission for them! There are so many people praying over orphan photos for parents for these sweet children. Brighton had so many people praying for parents for him that I feel like I have an extended family.

Thank you for the donations of your time, items for the sale, funds to bring Brighton home, and especially your prayers!!! The prayers are the most important gift we are asking for.

(love), Tina

As God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12

Hello again! Several people have asked me what the steps are in the adoption process, or what paperwork needs to be filled out. I'm going to try to briefly list what's involved. I may leave something out because I've not got it all down quite yet. It does help to keep going over it.

We are nearly through with the paperwork to get the homestudy started. As frustrating as it all is, when the paperwork is completed there will be many months of nothing but waiting. We'll probably be wishing we had paperwork to do to keep us occupied! We have filled out about an inch thick stack of papers, and we're not close to being done. So far we've filled out the application, IAP, LOI, home study packet, USCIS forms, passport forms, and we haven't even started on the dossier!

The home study packet has the forms with all of the personal questions about your childhood, marriage, who you dated in high school...Ok, maybe not the dating in high school question, but they're pretty personal! We are hung up on the net worth worksheet right now. It's a little more involved when you're self-employed. Once we get these turned in, the home visits can begin. The social worker will visit us in our home 4 times as required by China. One visit will be a tour of our home and yard to ensure it is safe. She said she does not look under beds or in closets, so guess where everything's going??? :P

We must call the states we were born in to get new birth certificates issued because they must be less than 2 years old. Same thing with the marriage certificate and David's divorce papers. Our physicals and blood work are next week. We must have a notary meet us at the doctor's office to sign the medical report. There's the financial status form, employment letters, and power of attorney form (because I'm traveling without David). We must get local police clearance and CIS (center for immigration services) approval. That requires that the form be sent with copies of birth certificates, etc... and then an appointment is made in San Antonio for us to be fingerprinted. Everything must be notarized, copied three times, and then sent to the Texas Secretary of States office to be authenticated. Then I must send my passport and visa application to the travel agency in New York so they can take it to the Chinese Consulate for my visa.

Once all of that is done, (will take anywhere from2-4 months) the dossier is sent to China. Once China accepts it (about a month) we get logged in and are put on a waiting list for travel arrangements (anywhere from 2-4 months). During this time I will get all sorts of fun shots and start getting Brighton's room and travel back-pack together.

When we get our travel announcement, I must get prescriptions for antibiotics for Brighton and me, sulfur cream for scabies, RID, and get an emergency med pack together (Tylenol, Thermometer, Dramamine, Kaopectate, Benedryl, etc...). They have it all on a long list. It sure helps to hold Brighton's picture in front of me to keep me focused on the goal...to have our son home in our arms! The flight to China is 14 hours long. The trip will last 2 weeks. We will fly into Beijing, then Anshan, Guangzhou, and then fly home out of Hong Kong. I will be right over the border from North Korea when I'm in Anshan. I wonder if I'll be able to see Kim Jong-Il's hair? I'm praying that he doesn't decide to test any of those missiles in the opposite direction!

We also received our Attaching in Adoption book that is required reading, all 394 pages. At first we were frustrated because it seemed like just one more thing we had to do, but this book is great! It covers trauma, grief, attachment disorder, emotional age vs. chronological age, cultural change, race, prenatal exposure to alcohol and drugs, getting diagnoses, identifying and meeting challenges within the family, and forming a circle of support fort the family. It really helps to know how some of these children react to being torn from the only homes they've ever known. We will know what to look for and how to help Brighton overcome any grief or trauma he may have post-adoption, and to help him attach and bond with us.

A wonderful lady from Brenham called me yesterday to encourage me and offer help with any paperwork questions I might have. Her and her husband are waiting for their child from Russia. It was like talking to a family member! She was wonderful. We just feel so blessed that we have met so many like-minded people who have a heart for orphans.

David and I are really feeling the Lord pulling us deeper into the world of adoption and orphans. We really can't stop thinking about it. David calls me from work to talk about it! For someone who wasn't sure in the beginning, God sure has softened his heart. We would like to get involved in an adoption ministry, perhaps helping to raise funds when our adoption is finished for someone else to adopt who might not have the resources. There are so many great mom's and dad's out there who want to adopt, but just need a little extra help in order to add an arrow to their quiver.

I can't wait till I can send gifts to Brighton! While I was at Hobby Lobby, I saw one of those squishy pillows with the tiny beads like a bean bag chair. It was round and had material made to look like a soccer ball! Of course, I had to get it for my little guy who loves soccer. I also want to make him a blanket and get started on his photo album that we will be sending him.

It is really bothering me that Brighton's birthday is next week and we can't send anything. He will be 9 on the 18th. We were told that the children's welfare institutes in China do not celebrate the children's birthdays. It brought tears to my eyes, but then David told me that he doesn't even know what a birthday is. Won't he be one excited kiddo on his 10th birthday! Please pray with us that he'll be home in plenty of time.

These posts are getting longer and longer. Please know that this is not only a blog to keep friends and family updated, it's also my personal journal and helps me to stay focused.

Thank you to everyone who has been praying for Brighton and for us! We love each and every one of you!

Blessings!
Tina

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him? For from Him and through Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever, Amen! Romans 11:33-36

A New name for An Sheng

David and I decided on a name for An Sheng. He will be called Brighton An Sheng Anderson. Sheng is his given name and it means victory in Chinese. How appropriate! Brighton is Hebrew and means "the one who is loved." We really like it because he is loved so much by so many people.

I prayed over the weekend for things to go a little faster. Patience is a virtue that I'm having trouble with in this situation. Please pray for patience for me! God answered by speeding along two huge envelopes full of paperwork that we received Monday morning. It is a bit overwhelming to have ALL THAT paperwork spread out before oneself. Be careful what you ask for! LOL!

In that paperwork, CWA sent me a few more photos of Brighton. They are in B&W, very blurry and low quality. If I can get better copies I will post them here. They are really cute! I'm hoping that China will send a few updated photos when we get pre-approval from them. We are in the process of sending our Letter of Intent to China this week. Please pray that it will get there quickly and that China will not find any errors in the paperwork!

We have been blessed to find many adoptive families that live right here in the Brazos Valley and surrounding areas. The Forever Families yahoo group has put us in touch with wonderful Christian folks that we can get advice from and fellowship with. One family has 14 children, two biological and 12 adopted! WOW! God has blessed them indeed!

I found a poem the other day that really made me cry. I want to share it with you. It really echoes my love for Brighton.

THE CHOSEN HEART
Longing for a child to love,
I'd wish upon the stars above.
In my heart I always knew,
A part of me was meant for you.

I think how happy we will be,
Once I adopt you, and you adopt me.

I dream of all the joy you'll bring,
Imagining even the littlest things.
The way it will feel to hold you tight,
And tuck you in every night.

The drawings on the refrigerator door,
And childhood toys across the floor,
The favorite stories read again and again,
And hours of games with make-believe friends.

The day you took my outstretched hand,
A journey ended, but our lives began.
Still mesmerized by your sweet face,
Still warmed inside by our first embrace.

I promised to give you a happy home,
And a loving family all your own.
A house you've now made complete,
With laughter, smiles and little feet.

A parent is one who guides the way,
Know I will be there everyday.
Rest easy as each night you sleep,
A lifetime of love is yours to keep.

Longing for a child to love,
I'd wish upon the stars above.
In my heart I always knew,
A part of me belonged to you.

Teri Harrison


Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out His commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And His commandments are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:1-5

This is our little boy who was lost, but now is found, An Sheng. Is this not the sweetest little face you've ever seen? God grew An Sheng in our hearts literally overnight.

At first, I thought perhaps God just wanted us to pray for a forever family for An Sheng. But the more we resisted what God was urging us to do, the stronger He placed a burden on our hearts to bring him home to be part of our family. We began to strongly feel that this is our little boy and we need to bring him safely home.

An Sheng was found abandoned on a city bus on the evening of July 4th, 2001 by the driver. He was taken to the Children's Welfare Institute. (it just breaks my heart to think of a tiny little boy all alone, abandoned on a bus!) On July 18, 2001 he was given a physical exam and the report states that he was not in good condition. It was determined that he is congenitally deaf and mute. They estimated his age as being 4 at the time they found him. They named him and gave him the birthdate 7/18/1997.

The last update we have is from 2001. In 2001 An Sheng was in the 1st grade and was a smart and bright boy. They stated that he gets along well with others, likes cleanliness, and likes to help out. He is independent and self-efficient in his daily routines. He has no bad habits; has a loving heart; is very well behaved and intuitive. He is healthy both physically and psychologically. He wrote that he can't wait to go abroad to find his yellow-haired, blue-eyed momma.

The counselor at CWA told me that when the orphans see someone from another country adopting one of the other children, they get an image in their heads as to what foreigners look like. I hope he's not disappointed that I have brown hair and brown eyes!

David and I were not planning on this adoption. We had thought on and off again for the past 8 years about adopting, but we never pursued it. This is something that God put on our hearts rather quickly and intensely. This adoption isn't about our need to have another child to love, which isn't a bad thing mind you, but just wasn't the way this particular situation came about. This is about a little boy whom God chose to have a family to love and care for him. Most people who adopt save money for the adoption process. We have not had the time since this happened so quickly. We are confident that God will provide the money we need at the appropriate time because we believe this is His plan for An Sheng. We've already had two blessings at the right time, praise the Lord!

We have found several families in the past few weeks who have had An Sheng on their hearts and have been praying for a family for him. They all said they felt the Lord placing An Sheng on their hearts and calling them to pray for a family for this sweet child. Prayer is the strongest link we have to the Lord and each other. Prayer is POWERFUL and we see the proof of it if we open our eyes and our hearts. Thank you Father for the faithful prayers for An Sheng!

So...Here we are, in the process of getting our home study started and sending out our I-600A Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition to the U.S. CIS. We are waiting to be assigned a caseworker to help us through the adoption process and paperwork. Christian World Adoption has told us that a special needs adoption is processed by CCAA (China Center of Adoption Affairs) much faster than a regular adoption. It will take around 8 months to complete.

We were blessed one morning when CWA called to let us know that a sweet mom in Virginia had adopted An Sheng's best friend and wants to keep the boys in close contact. She let me know that An Sheng loves soccer, ping pong, and can read!!! This blessing came the morning after I stood in front of a sports themed boys bedroom set at Let's Go Dreamin', wondering if An Sheng even knows what a sport is. That night I prayed that An Sheng wouldn't have too hard of a time adjusting to being away from the only family he's known for the past 5 years. God has been moving quickly around here!

We ask that you pray and determine if you feel led to contribute in any way. Please search your hearts to find out where God would like you to help in An Sheng's or another orphans life. Whether it be financially if you're able, through prayer, or both! If you would like to contribute to our mission to bring An Sheng home, you can call us, write us, or email us, or you can send funds to Christian World Adoption, earmarked for An Sheng. If you feel led to pray for An Sheng and our adoption process, please let us know that you are partnering with us!!! It blesses our hearts to know others are standing with us in prayer!

Christian World Adoption is a non-profit organization and sisters with Christian World Foundation, which was established for humanitarian reasons. By law, CWF is allowed to accept funds earmarked for a particular adoption. Friends and family members can contribute to adoption couples' expenses and receive a tax deduction for their contribution. 100% of the contribution will go towards our adoption if the contribution is made with the intent for An Sheng's adoption. Should you choose to contribute, just mail a check made out to Christian World Foundation with a separate note stating the purpose of the contribution is for "An Sheng's adoption." Mail the check to:

Christian World Foundation
777 South Allen Road
Flat Rock, NC 28731.

You may contribute anonymously or as a known donor. Of course we would love to know those that contributed so we can properly thank you, but we also know that some prefer to give without anyone knowing they did so.

Our prayer is for a debt free adoption so that we can come home and provide for the needs of our children. We want each of you to be a part of their lives and look forward to introducing An Sheng to each of you. We know you rejoice with us in the blessing of this child. We will keep you updated as we learn more.

Much love and prayers,
David & Tina


Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27