Xinyang Orphanage

Daniel is now living at the Xinyang CWI (Children's Welware Institute) in Xinyang, Henan, China


Here are a few photos of the building:

The playground area

From what I have read from other families that have visited, it seems to be a nice CWI. Here is a photo from the Half the Sky website showing the children inside doing arts and crafts:

And a few of the babies outside stopping to see the flowers:

I keep looking at the little guy in the middle of the wagon and wondering if it is Daniel. Very hard to tell. I'll pretend it's him :)

We have the option of visiting the CWI when we go to get Daniel. We are still undecided. We're going to wait and see how he is before we decide.

Day 60 on the LOA wait. Hopefully only another 20 days or so until we hear something.

Half the Sky

Nothing new o the LOA wait so I 'll talk about Half the Sky today.

Half the Sky is a wonderful charity that helps the orphans living in China's Social Welfare institutes. Their mission statement:

Half the Sky was created in order to enrich the lives and enhance the prospects for orphaned children in China. We establish and operate infant nurture and preschool programs, provide personalized learning for older children and offer loving permanent family care and guidance for children with disabilities. It is our goal to provide a caring adult in the life of every orphaned child and to ensure the chance for a brighter future.

We are currently sponsoring a little girl (almost 2 years old) at one of the orphanages in China. We receive updates on her progress 4 times a year. It is wonderful to see her photos and her little smile with her Nanny that loves her. Without Half the Sky this baby girl may not have the one on one relationship that she has with her Nanny. When we received Daniel's referral, I saw that his orphanage is a Half the Sky orphanage. I about did cartwheels! I was so excited and this put my mind at ease. I now know that my baby boy received more one on one contact and had lots more human interaction than other children living in China's SWIs. Besides having his basic needs met, like feeding and changing, he was taken out of his crib and given time to explore. Now that he is older, he attends a pre-school in the orphanage. They sing, dance and do all the things pre-school children do here.If you support any charities, please consider Half the Sky. They do wonderful things!Here is a short video:
http://www.halfthesky.org/children/halfthesky_masteredit384K_Stream.wmv

We received PA

Last week (8/7/07) our PA was signed in China. PA is Pre-Approval. Our agency did not think we would get this letter and that we would go straight to LOA (Letter of Acceptance). Pre-approval basically means Daniel is part of our family :) It really does not mean anything in our timeline although it's nice to know no one can take him away from us.

We are on day 49 waiting for LOA. Recently it has been taking approximately 80-85 days on average to receive LOA. We're hoping to receive LOA by the end of September and hopefully travel in mid-late November. Keeping fingers crossed! Until then, we wait.........................

Happy 2nd Birthday Baby Boy!

Happy 2nd Birthday Daniel!!!!!!

Two years ago today our baby boy was born. It's a bittersweet day for many reasons. First and foremost, I wish he were here with us to celebrate with his family. Will anyone there remember it's his birthday? I know he doesn't know or understand and that's a good thing. Next year he'll have a huge bash 3 years in the making

This also has to be a very tough day for a family somewhere in China. I know as each year passes they must be thinking about the baby boy they were unable to care for. I hope and pray that they feel a sense of peace and know he is being taken care of.

Leah and I plan on getting a birthday cake today as well as wrapping paper for the cool Bob the Builder Birthday set we bought! Danny will have many birthday presents to open when he comes home to us.

Happy 2nd Birthday Daniel! You'll be home with us soon!

Where is Daniel now?

Daniel resides in the Xinyang Children's Welfare Institute in Henan, China.

XINYANG Located in the southeastern corner of Henan Province, Xinyang’s metropolitan population is 7.6 million. Xinyang is an agricultural center.
Since the Tang Dynasty, Xinyang most famous agricultural product has been Maojian tea, which is considered one of the top ten teas in China. Though Xinyang is located at the edge of the arid North China Plain, its “five mountains, two pools” region is crisscrossed by streams and brooks that provide the mist ideal for producing tender tea leaves. Maojian tea is renowned for its bright, jade-green color, full-bodied taste and lingering aroma.
Just southwest of Xinyang City, Nanwan Lake is a large water reservoir that can be toured by boat. There are many small islands in the lake including, bird, monkey, azalea, snake and swallow isles.
The Jigong mountain area, located forty kilometers south of Xinyang City, is a national scenic area and nature reserve with abundant rainfall, lush, diversified vegetation, rare birds, a peaceful valley and towers, pavilions, and villas of various styles. The highest peak, “Rooster’s Head,” also called “Peak Heralding the Break of Day,” towers 784 meters above sea level; the Linghua Mountain and Changling Ridge flank it like a rooster's wings. Together the mountains form the shape of a crowing rooster. Most of the mountains are round in shape, offering a unique natural landscape.
The Lingshan Mountain scenic located 37 kilometers from Xinyang, offers beautiful mountain scenery, caves, brooks, lakes, abundant peach blossoms in the spring, the Dong Zhai bird nature preserve, and the Linshang Buddhist Temple. The temple, first established in the Bei Wei Dynasty, is more than 1,500 years old.