We went out and bought a new outfit for Kaili to send to Taiwan and decided that she needed a color other than pink :).


Here are a few "coincidences" that we have had happen leading up to Kaili's adoption:

1. One day before Kaili was born, we had the completed homestudy in our hands. She was born early so it was like she was born as soon as we were ready with the paper work.

2. Before we even knew about her, we had picked out the name Kai (恺 )-joyful Li (莉)-part of the word for white Jasmine flower. When the orphanage called us, they said that they had named her Ai (艾)-to be just unfolding Li (莉)-same as the character we had picked out! How neat that the names which were picked out seperately were so close!

3. Money: a few years ago Matt's family started an "adoption fund" for us. They collected change and gave it to us each year on our anniversary. That money, plus the generosity of my family, and an anonymous gift we had EXACTLY(plus a hundred dollars) the right amount of money to cover ALL expenses. I think back and wonder at the needless worrying I did about the exorbitant amounts of money you need for adoption. This orphanage is amazing on how much they provide and God knew ahead of time just how much we needed. Oh me of little faith:)

4. Timing: It is looking like when we get her will be right at the end of Matt's schooling. He will be able to take care of her until I finish school and then we will have a semi-free summer where we can bond with her before Matt gets a job (hopefully in September after he takes his Bar Exam).

- we could look at these as a who bunch of cool coincidences OR we could look at it as coming from a LOVING GOD WHO IS IN CONTROL OF EVERYTHING. I choose to believe the latter!

God is Good

We got another picture today! It was taken when she was a month old after we sent the package to her. The outfit is my favorite of the ones we sent- they put the adorable headband on her! I can't wait to put this precious picture in her baby book. Thank you to EVERYONE who is praying for her. It is so hard to wait!!!!!!!

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. psalm 139:13-14

New Picture!

When I got into school today I was hoping for an email from Taiwan so much and there was a picture in our inbox! I love her cute little face...it does make the wait even harder to know she is growing without us. The outfit she is wearing is one that we sent for her. She is almost two months old in the picture.

Here is what the email said:

A BEAUTIFUL PRESENT!!

My dad was on one of his trips to the countryside last week and while there he bought the most BEAUTIFUL baby carrier for Kaili. We haven't actually seen it in real life but he sent us pictures of it. Apparently the women in the Chinese countryside use them all the time and you can use them to hold newborn babies and even two-year-olds. They work on either the front or the back. Hopefully I can figure out how to put it on!! I am excited to put Kaili in it!

This is my little sister holding the carrier
(it looks like it is big enough to hold her!)

Here is a close up of the embroidery- so beautiful.....I am going to be afraid to get it dirty :)

Trip to New York

Our trip to New York on Monday went well and was actually fun other then the fact that we had to walk in the rain everywhere we went and were SOAKING by the end but it was all an adventure with a good ending.


Our adoption papers are officially signed, signed again, notarized, sealed by the Secretary of state, sealed by the TECO office, and sealed again! We were then finally able to get everything sent to Taiwan and it should arrive tomorrow! That means we should be done with all the paper work on this side of the world so now it is the waiting game.


When the paper work gets to Taiwan, they apply for a court date which will be in 6-8 weeks...then after the court date they have to wait for the court papers which is another 4-6 weeks....THEN we can go get her, finish up what we have to do there and she will officially be our daughter to take home!! If you could pray for all of this to go quickly we would really appreciate it. It is so hard to wait- everyone keeps saying it will go quickly but it sure doesn't feel like it day to day :).


If all goes well we are looking at sometime in May...possible June.

Still Waiting for a New Picture

We still have not received a new picture from Taiwan yet. We check our email everyday hoping to see one but I suppose getting to bring her home will be the only truly satisfying step in the process. As soon as we do get a picture though....I will definitely post one!

Good news: we are almost finished with the paperwork on this side of the world and will soon be sending it to Taiwan. We actually have to drive to the TECO office in New York to take care of some additional, unexpected paperwork. I have to take the day off or work so we can drive up there but at least it means we can have the paperwork in our hands faster. I feel like we are constantly racing against the clock to get to get everything finalized as quickly as possible.

We also got our crib in the mail and set it up yesterday. I love it!!

Matt and I are tring to make a list of things to do before we have a baby in the house. So far we have:

1. Go to a movie

2. Go to Sight and Sound Theater in Lancaster and watch the musical Joseph

3. Go ice-skating

4. Sit in Panera for 8 hours and read

5. Any other ideas?

One Month Old

Kaili is one month old today! I try to picture what she is like at this age- I assume she sleeps most of the time :). It is so hard to wait to go get her knowing that she is growing without us being able to see it. I wonder if she has smiled yet..

Right now we are waiting for a new picture. We should get one sometime in January. We only have the one picture right now and I keep looking at it waiting for her to open her eyes.

We received some of her paperwork from Taiwan the other day. It had the home study translated into Chinese, her passport application (it had her name written on it: Kaili Hope McCloskey!!), our adoption contract and a few other papers. We got them all noteraized then we have to send it to the Secratary of State. After we get it back again we send it to TECO and THEN when they send it back we send it back to Taiwan and get a court date. Please pray this process goes quickly because the sooner it is done the sooner we can go get her!

Also, if you think of it, please pray for her mother. She is 32 years old and has a five year old son. We are so thankful she decided to have Kaili but I can't even imagine the emptiness she much feel not having a baby to hold when everything was over. Pray that she will come to know Christ as her savior and then maybe we can all meet her in heaven if not before.