As we approach late summer (hard to believe) we ponder our next step with the adoption process. Yesterday we spoke with our agency to confirm expiration dates of our immigration paperwork and to discuss time lines to update paperwork.

Our agency said there is a high possibility that the wait time for referral will reach 24 months from LID (Ours is Sept. 06). With this in mind we do not want to start too soon on updating our paperwork due to the possibility we will have to do it a THIRD time! The thought of this just sends us both into a mental breakdown!

Recently we received the necessary papers from our Homestudy agency to update our homestudy (which is nec for immigration). We plan to begin completing these and have them finished by the middle of July.

The USGovt did give a bit of "win" to all "waiting parents". As of July 31st the renewal fee (for the immigration paperwork) will be waived! Yea!!! However, should we have to re-new a 3rd time the fee will be re-instated. The only caveat here is that we have to re-new before our current paperwork expires (Sept 07). Thus we plan on waiting until August 01 to mail in our renewal paperwork (but no later than late August). Again, we find ourselves with our fingers crossed that this process will be over sooner rather than later.

Also, we asked our adoption agency what would happen if we received a referral before our paperwork was received from USGot.... luckily she said the agency would make calls for us in hopes of rushing the paperwork and if need be push back our travel dates until the paperwork arrived.

Another concern is what happens if we travel around the time of the Olympics (summer 08). She said the agency is already making plans to bypass Beijing and send adoptive families directly to their children's Provence's.

In the meantime we are starting to research other possibly quicker options. We are in the early stages of discussing ideas with our homestudy group. Likely at this point it may be just as well that we stick with the Chinesse adoption. We shall see and keep everyone posted.

Please keep us in your prayers as our journey to having our own family continues.