Halloween 2005
Mon Oct 31, 2005 at 11:30 pm |
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A Meet-Up With Some Friends
Sat Oct 29, 2005 at 11:42 pm |
events |
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Late this afternoon, the three of us headed to Winston-Salem for a meet-up with some friends we haven't seen since last summer.
Robert and Nanette have a biological son named Bryce and an adopted daughter from China named Sydney. They began the adoption process around the same time we did in 2001 but traveled to China much sooner because Sydney was an older child. She was almost 5 years old when they brought her home.
Tom and Hope have an adopted daughter from China named Lilly. Lilly and Eliana both came from the same orphanage and their birthdays are only one day apart so there is a special connection there.
We all met at Fuddruckers for dinner. After a good meal and a lot of catching up, Eliana and Lilly had some catching up to do of their own so they stole away to a private table and had a big conversation.
Afterwards, they entertained our table and everyone else in the restaurant with a loud and extended game of "Ring Around The Rosey" out in the middle of the dining room floor.
When the meal had finally settled, all three families went down the road for a game of putt-putt. We made quick work of those 18 holes, though, because it was getting quite nippy. The temperature was in the mid-40's but an occasional slight breeze made it feel cooler. Despite the harsh playing conditions, yours truly had three hole-in-ones!!! Too bad no one was keeping score...
Robert and Nanette have a biological son named Bryce and an adopted daughter from China named Sydney. They began the adoption process around the same time we did in 2001 but traveled to China much sooner because Sydney was an older child. She was almost 5 years old when they brought her home.
Tom and Hope have an adopted daughter from China named Lilly. Lilly and Eliana both came from the same orphanage and their birthdays are only one day apart so there is a special connection there.
We all met at Fuddruckers for dinner. After a good meal and a lot of catching up, Eliana and Lilly had some catching up to do of their own so they stole away to a private table and had a big conversation.
Afterwards, they entertained our table and everyone else in the restaurant with a loud and extended game of "Ring Around The Rosey" out in the middle of the dining room floor.
When the meal had finally settled, all three families went down the road for a game of putt-putt. We made quick work of those 18 holes, though, because it was getting quite nippy. The temperature was in the mid-40's but an occasional slight breeze made it feel cooler. Despite the harsh playing conditions, yours truly had three hole-in-ones!!! Too bad no one was keeping score...
The Empress Definitely Hit The Mother Lode
Fri Oct 28, 2005 at 11:20 pm |
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The phone rang at 7:00 this morning. On the other end of the line was Eliana's childcare provider.
"If you don't mind, let Eliana bring her Halloween costume because we're going trick-or-treating this afternoon."
A little odd since Halloween is 3 days away but we agreed without asking any questions. I suppose it's because our church is having a Fall Festival on Monday evening and she wanted the kids to visit some folks who wouldn't be there.
At any rate, she was still wearing her costume and carrying this big bag of candy when I brought her home. The Empress definitely hit the mother lode.
What was she wearing? That's our little secret.
"If you don't mind, let Eliana bring her Halloween costume because we're going trick-or-treating this afternoon."
A little odd since Halloween is 3 days away but we agreed without asking any questions. I suppose it's because our church is having a Fall Festival on Monday evening and she wanted the kids to visit some folks who wouldn't be there.
At any rate, she was still wearing her costume and carrying this big bag of candy when I brought her home. The Empress definitely hit the mother lode.
What was she wearing? That's our little secret.
Childhood Adoption Act of 2005
Fri Oct 28, 2005 at 7:18 pm |
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Where in the world have I been? Seems like I'm always the last to find out about anything!
On April 12, HR 1561 was introduced by Congressman Harold Ford of Tennessee to increase the adoption tax credit to $15,000. The proposed Childhood Adoption Act will increase the adoption tax credit and exclusion that the federal government grants eligible taxpayers for certain expenses paid to adopt an eligible child from $10,000 to $15,000. The Childhood Adoption Act will also increase the adoption tax credit for children with special needs from $10,000 to $15,000. In addition, the Childhood Adoption Act will make the credit fully refundable in order to make the adoption tax credit more meaningful to people with lower incomes.
On the same day, the bill was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee for review.
As of today, there are 20 co-sponsors of the bill. The most recent additions came on October 20 so that means the bill is still alive and kicking.
Here is a link to the text of the bill and other information.
Find your Congressperson(s) and Senator(s) and send them a letter like this:
----------
To: (fill in with name)
(fill in the date)
Dear (name)
Please support HR 1561-Childhood Adoption Act of 2005. This will increase the dollar limitation on the tax credit for qualified adoption expenses. HR 347 will make the credit permanent and repeal the 5 yr limitation on carryforwards for unused credits.
As a family (fill in your situation, ie: currently adopting, wishing to adopt), I can say the expense that is incurred in the adoption process is very high. These changes will enable all American families to realize their dream of adding children to their family, without the hardship and debt that often accompany the adoption process.
Thank you!
(Your signature)
On April 12, HR 1561 was introduced by Congressman Harold Ford of Tennessee to increase the adoption tax credit to $15,000. The proposed Childhood Adoption Act will increase the adoption tax credit and exclusion that the federal government grants eligible taxpayers for certain expenses paid to adopt an eligible child from $10,000 to $15,000. The Childhood Adoption Act will also increase the adoption tax credit for children with special needs from $10,000 to $15,000. In addition, the Childhood Adoption Act will make the credit fully refundable in order to make the adoption tax credit more meaningful to people with lower incomes.
On the same day, the bill was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee for review.
As of today, there are 20 co-sponsors of the bill. The most recent additions came on October 20 so that means the bill is still alive and kicking.
Here is a link to the text of the bill and other information.
Find your Congressperson(s) and Senator(s) and send them a letter like this:
----------
To: (fill in with name)
(fill in the date)
Dear (name)
Please support HR 1561-Childhood Adoption Act of 2005. This will increase the dollar limitation on the tax credit for qualified adoption expenses. HR 347 will make the credit permanent and repeal the 5 yr limitation on carryforwards for unused credits.
As a family (fill in your situation, ie: currently adopting, wishing to adopt), I can say the expense that is incurred in the adoption process is very high. These changes will enable all American families to realize their dream of adding children to their family, without the hardship and debt that often accompany the adoption process.
Thank you!
(Your signature)
The Best Therapy For A Traumatized Child
Thu Oct 27, 2005 at 11:32 pm |
events |
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Carmi took Eliana to get a flu shot this morning at the request of her pediatrician.
They called me on their way back home and Eliana informed me that she had a Nemo band-aid. There was a slight hint of disappointment in her voice that she didn't get a Dora band-aid but it was clear that Nemo would do in a pinch.
Carmi tried to convince me that the best therapy for a traumatized child is a shopping trip. I wasn't buying it but she easily convinced the Empress. The two went to TJ Maxx and Eliana picked out a very pretty dress to wear during our date with the photography studio on Saturday.
It was amazing how much better she felt by lunchtime.
They called me on their way back home and Eliana informed me that she had a Nemo band-aid. There was a slight hint of disappointment in her voice that she didn't get a Dora band-aid but it was clear that Nemo would do in a pinch.
Carmi tried to convince me that the best therapy for a traumatized child is a shopping trip. I wasn't buying it but she easily convinced the Empress. The two went to TJ Maxx and Eliana picked out a very pretty dress to wear during our date with the photography studio on Saturday.
It was amazing how much better she felt by lunchtime.
2002 China Journal
Thu Oct 27, 2005 at 4:15 pm |
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It's hard to believe but 3 years ago today - October 27, 2002 - Carmi and I boarded a jet in Charlotte, NC that was bound for Beijing, China. We were headed for the other side of the world to bring our daughter, Eliana, home.
We didn't have an online journal back then. However, we did email a long list of family and friends every day about our adventure...and what an adventure it was.
To commemorate the event, I will post each day's email into a journal entry which you can read by clicking on the "2002 China Journal" link in the sidebar.
We didn't have an online journal back then. However, we did email a long list of family and friends every day about our adventure...and what an adventure it was.
To commemorate the event, I will post each day's email into a journal entry which you can read by clicking on the "2002 China Journal" link in the sidebar.
Our Homestudy Visit is History
Wed Oct 26, 2005 at 12:29 am |
journey to karys |
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Our Social Worker, Melissa Robinson, came by for a visit tonight as part of our home study requirement. Melissa and her husband left China with their first daugher, Anna, only a couple of days before we first arrived in Beijing in 2002. In June of this year, they returned home with their second daughter, Lilly.
She was supposed to arrive at 7:30. Somewhere around 7:20, just as we were finishing supper, the phone rang. When I answered, a somewhat harried Melissa said, "Doug, I'm gonna be just a little bit late." [pause] "You know, kids and all..."
Hey, you're singin' to the choir.
She did arrive around 8:10ish and we had a good meeting that lasted until 9:30. Most of the typical topics of discussion were not covered because we've been through the process before. One of the main issues we did toss around was how Eliana might react to another little one in the house. She SAYS that she wants a baby sister - she talks about her all the time - but what will happen when Mommy or Daddy are holding another child and this child isn't going away? She has already made it abundantly clear to both of us that only I can hold her baby sister. Should be interesting...
Eliana won some brownie points because she colored a beautiful picture and presented it to Melissa before she left. Way to suck up, baby girl!
She was supposed to arrive at 7:30. Somewhere around 7:20, just as we were finishing supper, the phone rang. When I answered, a somewhat harried Melissa said, "Doug, I'm gonna be just a little bit late." [pause] "You know, kids and all..."
Hey, you're singin' to the choir.
She did arrive around 8:10ish and we had a good meeting that lasted until 9:30. Most of the typical topics of discussion were not covered because we've been through the process before. One of the main issues we did toss around was how Eliana might react to another little one in the house. She SAYS that she wants a baby sister - she talks about her all the time - but what will happen when Mommy or Daddy are holding another child and this child isn't going away? She has already made it abundantly clear to both of us that only I can hold her baby sister. Should be interesting...
Eliana won some brownie points because she colored a beautiful picture and presented it to Melissa before she left. Way to suck up, baby girl!
