We are Bill, Paula, and Will Cook. We are embarking on one of our grandest adventures ever - adopting a new baby from Vietnam. We are journaling about all of our family's experiences during this time!
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Many of you non-bloggers have asked how to contact us. You may e-mail us at billpaulaandwill@gmail.com at any time! We will be able to receive e-mail while in Vietnam, although we may not check it daily - we'll just be too busy having the trip of a lifetime! :)
Our Thanks Bank
My loving husband
The Infinite, Undescribable Grace of God
William Samuel Cook
Old Hymns sung with hearts that mean every word they are singing
Men who went to Vietnam 40 years ago (Thanks especially, Uncle Earl & Bob)
Two Sets of Parents who pray for us and our children every day
Laying in the grass looking up at the entire Milky Way
A beautiful sunset
The smell of fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies
Bing Cherries in the Summer
Fireworks, Hot Dogs, Baseball, and Hugging my son on the Fourth of July! (Next year I'll be hugging two sons - so much blessing!)
Four--no wait! That's FIVE now--sweet little ones finding families in one week!
No! No! That's NINE (I think) families that have new sweet little ones this week! Wow, is God great or what!!!
The first Giving & Receiving Ceremony at a brand new orphanage in An Giang, Vietnam!
School Supplies from Up Above (and so many caring hearts to help get them to Vietnam)
The blessings of a great job, a great boss, and great co-workers
A heart that keeps beating, lungs that keep breathing, and legs that keep walking!
Air-Conditioning when it's 102 degrees outside!
A New Niece and Nephew!
The paperwork part is done! :)
Four-year-old Soccer
Halloween Fun!
First trip to Disneyworld! Watch out Mickey - here we come! :)
SNOW! No, not real "no school, grab your sled" Colorado kinda stuff, but still! A few flakes make it feel like Christmastime!
A NEW SON!!!!!!!!!
10,000 Blessings as we are near the end of the process! Thanks be to God for His Indescribable Gifts!
Our Adoption Timeline
7/3/08 - Arrive in OKC from Hanoi/Tokyo/DFW at 1:00 p.m.
7/2/08 - Leave Vietnam to return home!
6/26/08 - David turns 9 months old!
6/24/08 - Received David's Visa from the U.S. Embassy
6/19/08 - Giving and Receiving Ceremony Date, where David became officially ours forever!
6/17/08 - Met David for the first time!
6/6/08 - Arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam
6/4/08 - Left Oklahoma City! We'll miss you, Will!
5/30/08 - Received Official USCIS I-600 pre-approval for David's visa! :)
5/1/08 - Request #1 for more USCIS documents
4/23/08 - E-mail confirmation received from USCIS that I-600 is submitted
4/18/08 - Notice that we are at Step 11 of 14!
4/17/08 - All Paperwork Submitted to USCIS for I-600 Approval
4/8/08 - David's Weight: 5.7 kg = 12.5 lb
3/26/08 - David turns 6 months old! Can't wait to see you, Little One!
3/24/08 - Notice that we're moving to Step 7! Moving is Good! :)
2/27/08 - Notice that we're officially on Steps 2-6 of 12! Our paperwork is moving!
2/14/08 - David's Weight: 5.4 kg = 11.8 lb; Height: 63 cm = 25 in
1/26/08 - Acceptance papers returned & I-600 submitted
1/17/08 - Referral of our son David!
10/31/07 - Log In Date!
10/9/07 - Dossier Sent to Vietnam
10/1/07 - Dossier Back from Consulate - Officially on the Waiting List!
9/15/07 - Received I-171H
8/14/07 - Fingerprints for I-171H
7/3/07 - Dossier Mailed to Dillon (complete except for I-171H)
6/28/07 - Homestudy Completion
6/9/07 - Second Homestudy Appointment
5/19/07 - First Homestudy Appointment
5/7/07 - Pre-filing I-600A with Immigration
5/2/07 - Formal Application Approved
4/23/07 - Formal Application Submitted
3/17/07 - Decided on Vietnam Program
2/17/07 - Pre-Adoption Workshop
1/28/07 - Preliminary Application
5/1/08 - Request #1 for more USCIS documents
4/23/08 - E-mail confirmation received from USCIS that I-600 is submitted
4/18/08 - Notice that we are at Step 11 of 14!
4/17/08 - All Paperwork Submitted to USCIS for I-600 Approval
Other Adoption Blogs
Below are some of the blogs we visit of other adopting families. Caution: surfing here can be addictive! :)
5 comments:
Great pictures Paula. Looks like you guys had a great time. Hopefully soon we'll all be taking pictures in Vietnam.
I love the pictures. There's nothing like seeing Cindy's castle to brighten your day.
Ready for my picture slideshow class!! Will, the K's are ready to lego!
Great photos! It looks like all of you had a fantastic trip!
ah, love the photos. we just got back a week ago - i miss it already. enjoyed looking at your photos :)
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