TA Rumors!!

Rumors are floating that TA's (travel approvals) are starting to come in. First stops are in Europe then those of us in the US should start hearing tomorrow if this rumor is true!!!

Visa's are back!!

We found out today (in a round about way) that our visa's have been issued and are waiting at our agency for TA's to arrive. No word on when they will appear but we still are assured we will more than likely travel by the end of March!

China's One Child Policy Back in the News

Saw this article yesterday. Very interesting... We were told that one family from a very rural area actually brought their daughter to an orphanage as she was their 3rd child and they were still trying to pay off the fine for their second child and just could not afford another fine. I can not imagine the agony it must have been to give up the baby.

China to Name Those Who Skirt Child Policy
BEIJING - Officials in eastern China plan to name and shame rich families who ignore the country's strict one-child policy and simply pay the fine for having a second or third baby, state media said.
Zhang Wenbiao, head of the family planning commission in Zhejiang province, announced Wednesday that his agency plans to expose a few such cases in the near future, the official Xinhua News Agency said.
"The public is very much aware that some celebrities simply pay money to have two or more children," Zhang was quoted as saying, without mentioning any names. "This kind of behavior must be stopped."
Xinhua said the province also has raised the amount of the fines for violators. In some cases, families will have to pay more than $130,000 for violating the policy, it said without giving details.
Different Chinese provinces and cities have their own methods of punishing family planning violators, including fines and work demotions. Fines are sometimes calculated based on a family's income.
China's family planning policy - implemented in the late 1970's - limits urban couples to one child and rural families to two to control the population and conserve natural resources.
The government said last month that although a recent survey showed that about 60 percent of Chinese people would prefer to have two children, there were no plans to relax the policy.
China has about 1.3 billion people - 20 percent of the global total. The government has pledged to keep the population under 1.36 billion by 2010 and under 1.45 billion by 2020.
Story from REDORBIT NEWS:

One more thing done!

We were instructed by our agency to bring 5-7 gifts for the Ayis (nannies) at the orphanage. We decided that travel sized items would be good and decided on Bath and Body Works. We begged the store manager for donations...didn't work...then we begged for coupons...didn't work...initially. When they saw how many items we were buying the manager suddenly appeared with a 10%off coupon that she had "forgotten" that they had. Oh well, every little bit helps! They threw in the red bags for free. I thought this would be a nice gift, one spray bottle of body cologne, one bottle of body lotion, one bottle of scented antibacterial hand sanitizer and one bar of scented glycerin soap. I'm still thinking about getting those little bottles of bon bons fingernail polish to put in each bag, but I'm not sure. We were told to not get anything that is made in China. You don't realize how hard that is to do until you start looking at the backs of different items!

Chinese Zodiac/Elements

I thought this was interesting. I'm sure those of you who like to eat at Chinese resturants have seen the place mats with the Chinese zodiac on them and figured out which animal you were in the chart based on your year of birth. I recently found out that there are also elements that are tied to the year of birth as well which adds another dimension to the zodiac. Once we knew Katie's estimated birth date, I looked up her symbols to see how she fit in the scheme of our family.

First, here is an overview of the signs and elements.

The Chinese lunar calendar is the longest chronological record in history, dating from 2637 B.C. when the first cycle of the zodiac was introduced. One complete cycle takes 60 years and is made up of five simple cycles of 12 years each. The 78th cycle started on February 1984, and will end on February 2044. Twelve animals were assigned to each of the 12 years when, according to legend, the Lord Buddha summoned all the animals to come to him before he departed from Earth. Only twelve animals came to bid him farewell. As a reward he named a year after each one in the order that it arrived. First came the Rat, then the Ox, the Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Boar. Thus, we have the twelve animal signs of today. The animal ruling the year in which you were born exercises a profound influence on your life. "This is the animal that hides in your heart".
THE LUNAR YEAR
The lunar year is divided into twelve months of 29½ days. Every two and a half years, an intercalary month is added to adjust the calendar. The addition of this month every third year produces the Lunar Leap Year. For easy reference, the beginning of each lunar month is the date of the New Moon marked on the Western calendar. You may be interested to know that on the first day of Spring, as indicated by the lunar calendar, a freshly laid egg can be made to stand erect on its base. Try it: I know this has to be seen to be believed. (In the Gregorian calendar, the first day of Spring always falls on the 4th or 5th day of February).
THE FIVE ELEMENTS
During the complete 60-year cycle each of the animal signs (sometimes also referred to as the twelve Earth branches) is combined with the five main elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. The element of your lunar sign will exercise their influence on your life. A fundamental part of Oriental philosophy is the interrelationships among the five elements. These are divided into Conducive and Controlling interrelationships, and are as follows:
CONDUCIVE
From Metal we get Water. In this context, the metal could mean a vessel or container for holding water, so we can say that metal traps water. In another sense, metal is the only element that will change into a liquid when heated.
From Water we get Wood. Water here means the rain or dew that makes plant life flourish, thus producing wood in the process.
From Wood we get Fire. Fire cannot exist by itself but is produced by burning wood.
From Fire we get Earth. Symbolically fire reduces everything into ashes, which becomes part of the earth again.
From Earth we get Metal. All metal has to be extracted from the earth.
CONTROLLING
The entire universe is composed of these five elements. They are interdependent and each is controlled by another. Hence we find that:
Metal is controlled by Fire. Metal can only be melted and forged with great heat.
Fire is controlled by Water. Nothing will put out a fire as fast as water.
Water is controlled by Earth. We dig canals in the earth to irrigate fields or build dikes to keep out or absorb water.
Earth is controlled by Wood. Trees and their roots hold the soil together and get their nourishment from the earth.
Wood is controlled by Metal. Even the largest tree can be felled by the metal blade of an axe.
Under this philosophy, we see that no element can be called the strongest or weakest. They are forever dependent on one another and are equal. They are linked by the chain of life that brings about their existence, and there is no power struggle. Each has its own place and function.

Ok...

Jim is a Wood, Dragon

Dragons are majestic creatures. These Dragons are the chivalrous knights and guardian angels of life, generous with their friendship, compassionate, even heroic, in their deeds. Showing great tolerance towards others, they move easily among all social strata and travel extensively, opening their minds to new things. Brave as matadors, their courageous lives are truly inspiring. Natural curiosity leads Wood Dragons to pursue very interesting career paths. The dichotomy is they are successful human beings but not all that successful in their careers, despite all the help they get from friends and mentors. Fortune comes to them anyway! Now, as you know, the chances of winning the lottery are pretty slim, but Wood Dragons just might do it. Rainy days or sunny, good fortune seems to shine on these money magnets, just like magic. The Wood Dragon is steady as a rock when it comes to Love & Relationships. They just don't believe in love at first sight. To them, love, relationships, and marriage follow a progressive course, evolving naturally and slowly out of friendship. Once the love bug catches them, their love is deep and passionate. The Wood Dragon partner is loving and supportive of the loved one's needs and love is never taken for granted. Famous Dragon People: Ringo Starr, Edward Heath, Dr. Seuss, John Lennon, Harold Wilson, Helen Keller, Pearl S. Buck, Salvador Dali, Francois Mitterrand, Hosni Mubarek, Maya Angelou.

I am an Earth, Monkey

Monkey people, on their merry way to becoming famous, like to strew memorable bits of impishness and practical jokes along the way. Lots of fun, they also possess a serious side and influence a good many people throughout their lifetime. They know how to accomplish the most difficult of tasks with the greatest of enthusiasm, concentration, and ease. Even so, they can easily get discouraged and confused and MUST do things their way! They often become great mathematicians, super chess players, researchers, entrepreneurs or scientists. And, great mentors! Monkeys have a burning passion for knowledge of every kind and they magically are surrounded by the finer things in life. Life is a big adventure!
Duck Soup and Rice are among the keys to good health!!

Optimistic always, nothing will keep the Earth Monkey down for long. They are self starters, both personally and in business. They don't like to work for others and always find opportunities to do it their way, solo. Their entrepreneurial spirit creates very successful business undertakings. They are very shrewd and avoid common pitfalls encountered by others. They possess enormous strengths which lead to a growing reputation for excellence, among them frankness, honesty, dependability and reliability. They sincerely care about others and are very attractive to the opposite sex, particularly the male. The female Earth Monkey needs to be aware of making mountains out of molehills with their constant worry, otherwise they will destroy budding relationships quicker than a wink. Their optimism usually comes to the rescue, however, because problems today, well, there's always tomorrow to make it right!
Famous Monkey people: Elizabeth Taylor, Charles Dickens, Lyndon Johnson, Eleanor Roosevelt, Nelson Rockefeller, Leonardo da Vinci, Simone de Beauvoir, Isaac Stern, George Lucas

Cody is a Water, Rooster

Rooster is often seen as the original strong silent type, not unlike the Humphrey Bogart and Greto Garbo prototypes. Most people consider them quite eccentric. Sad to say, relationships with other people are often strained. They are quite moody and can be too outspoken. They are often self-centered, but can be quite brave when the situation calls for it. On the other hand, Rooster People are quite talented and capable. They are always devoted to their work and have a reputation for being the hardest of workers. Rooster People are deep thinkers and are pioneers in spirit. They can experience the greatest of joy in complete solitude. Even though often alone, they rarely experience loneliness. Instead, they enjoy their own company and feel solitude helps them in their quest after knowledge.
Shark-tail Soup and fortune cookies are among the keys to good health.

Whispered sweet nothings lead to trouble for this one! Oh, my! Their very soft hearts relish love and the heartbreaking poetry of love trysts. They pamper their senses with indulgences and when they're not looking, they sink into a love trap more powerful than quicksand. Their relationships will last forever because they take very good care of their other half. They have a love for life, too, and want to right every wrong. Their idealism will lead them to become involved in life, oftentimes through political action or volunteer work, and they work hard to make life problem-free, for themselves and others. The Water Rooster is very intelligent, with quick reflexes, and has inexhaustible energy. For one thing, this Rooster rations its energy, in a leisurely, never hurried manner, taking all the time necessary to make decisions, rationally and analytically, whether it comes to business, friendship, or love relationship.
Famous Rooster people: Suharto, Deborah Kerr, Peter Ustinov, D. H. Lawrence, John Glenn, Emperor Akihito, Yoko Ono, Eudora Welty, Bette Midler

Taylor is a Metal, Dragon

Dragon people are the most eccentric in the Chinese Zodiac. Soaring high into the serene heavens, they can be stubborn, passionate, excitable, honest, and brave, wear purple and walk barefoot in public fountains. They listen to their own drummer, thank you very much, while the rest of the world stands in amazement. People always admire their individuality and feisty personality. Dragons are capable of doing great work for mankind and they inspire trust in almost everyone. The Dragon symbolizes life and growth and is said to bring the five blessings: harmony, virtue, riches, fulfillment and longevity.
Chicken Soup and Bamboo Shoots are among keys to even greater good health!

From a young age, the Metal Dragon enjoyed the fairy tale about Midas and has been smelling money ever since. Everything these Dragons touch turns to gold. They hold top positions of responsibility in their careers and are revered for their pearls of wisdom and dynamic leadership. The Metal Dragon, you see, has always had the "right stuff" to make it big, ambition, unflagging enthusiasm, supreme confidence, intelligence, and the quirky creativity necessary to make a beautiful life. Life is beautiful, no worries for the Metal Dragon, who is one of the few who experience the freedom of true security. Love and Romance are anointed, too, by "the touch." Both male and female Metal Dragons make good lovers. The Male is very expressive and needs to be the major focus of attention for his loved one. The female spends hours lost in romantic daydreams about idyllic love affairs, slow dancing under moonlight nights, intoxicated by the headiness of champagne. Love, too, is smooth sailing for these Dragons. Famous Dragon People: Ringo Starr, Edward Heath, Dr. Seuss, John Lennon, Harold Wilson, Helen Keller, Pearl S. Buck, Salvador Dali, Francois Mitterrand, Hosni Mubarek, Maya Angelou.

Katie is a Fire, Dog

Dog people are loyal and honest and obedient, guardians of the house at night. They can be counted on to keep secrets and for always doing the right thing. They can be emotionally distant and do not mix well in social gatherings where they are often seen as wallflowers. They do better with one-on-one relationships and find happiness in the happiness they bring to others, such as finding the most perfect gifts for their friends. While it is true that they have sharp tongues and are a bit stubborn and eccentric, in a work situation they tend to work very well with other people. What is more, they always seem to have money and make excellent leaders. Because of their high moral stance, they are inspiring beyond measure.
Sizzling Rice Soup and Chinese Cabbage are among the keys to good health!!

Right off the bat, let's say that Fire Dogs are very attractive! Not only themselves but all the people surrounding them are life's beautiful people. Their natural inclination is to conveniently turn an eye away from perversity. They view all of life through rose-colored glasses. Grays and beiges lead to momentary confusion. They don't know how to deal with adversity and when confronting a mountain, will walk all around the foothills for hours before even getting started. This person's life is filled with dichotomy. On the one hand, they know that hard work and effort will make things happen, but they sometimes accept the status quo. They dream of a bright future but wind up chasing windmills. And despite an overabundance of energy, their careers sometimes stand still. They see-saw from timidity to having grand adventures. They are on a sure course when it comes to friendship and love, though. Very well liked, their social circle is broad and their love life is full of energy and fire. You see, the firedog is a lovebird!
Famous Dog People: Chiang Chin-Kuo, Zhou En-Lai, Lee Teng-Hui, Benjamin Franklin, Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley,Jacques Cousteau, King Carl XVI Gustaf, Yitzhak Rabin, Golda Meir, Mother Teresa, Jane Goodall, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien

I thought it was very interesting that we have all five elements represented in our family with the addition of Katie. Some say that the CCAA uses the zodiac sometimes when placing babies to make sure their sign is compatible with the others in the family. She fits just right!

Still Waiting...

The next step of our process is getting our TA or Travel Approval back from China. This means that China has received our referral acceptance letter for Katie and they have started the paperwork process in her province/municipality for the adoption to be finalized. China offices are closed this week due to Chinese New Year so we probably will not hear anything until next week at the absolute earliest.

Chongqing Travel Info

Chongqing Travel Guide

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/chongqing.htm

Chongqing is a port city with the largest municipal area and population in China. It is situated in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers in southwest China. With an area of 82,400 square kilometers (31, 800 square miles), Chongqing shares borders with the provinces of Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Shaanxi. Besides the Han who form the majority of its total population of 30.9 million, numerous ethnic groups reside in Chongqing, including Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Qiang, You and Tujia.
Since its founding 3,000 years ago, Chongqing has been called Jiangzhou, Yuzhou, and Gongzhou, before getting its present name nearly 800 years ago. Since the Qin Dynasty (221 BC-206 BC), many dynasties have set up administrative institutions that have endowed the city with brilliant cultures. Perched beside the Yangtze, the "Golden River," Chongqing symbolizes Yangtze River civilizations and is the cradle of Bayu culture.
Today, Chongqing is a modern city, China's fourth municipality after Beijing, Shanghai, and Tianjin. Within its borders Chongqing encompasses a wealth of water reserves, mineral resources, dense forests, and abundant flora and fauna. The focal point of the unique Yangtze Three Gorges Dam, Chongqing is a tourist attraction as well as a commercial city.
Chongqing attracts visitors from home and abroad for its cultural heritage and other tourist attractions. The city is the starting point for the Yangtze River Cruise, which explores the stunning scenery of the Three Gorges. Other attractions include the Dazu Rock Carvings , valuable works of art carved during the Ninth Century, Gold Buddhist Mountain, a rich repository of diverse animals and plants; and Fishing Town, one of three ancient battlefields in China. Ancient Ci Qi Kou village lures tourists to linger in its streets to buy handicraft souvenirs.
Chongqing is famous for its hot Sichuan cuisine and world-famous hotpot dishes. Street vendors as well as restaurants feature exciting spicy delicacies for the adventurers.
Servicing western China, Chongqing provides convenient water, land, and air transportation. Hundreds of star-ranked hotels provide excellent facilities and services. Chongqing is ready to be the pilot in the Western China Development to usher in more investors and visitors.

Diangjiang SWI

Photos of the Orphanage and the 0-3 month babies room from 2006

Katie's Finding Place

Here is a photo of the front gates of Diangjiang SWI. This is the spot where Katie was left and the orphanage staff found her.

Katie's Name Translation

From mandarintools.com


江 - jiāng, river;
爱 - ài, to love; affection; to be fond of; to like;
春 - chūn, spring (time); gay; joyful; youthful; love; lust; life;

HERE SHE IS!!!!!!!!

Such a sweetie!!

Her Chinese name is Jiang AiChun. Jiang means River and AiChun means Spring. She is currently in Diangjiang Social Welfare Institute in Chongqing province - See province map below. We aren't sure when the photos were taken. She was born 3/20/2006 on Jim's dad's birthday. She weighs 16 lbs and is 26.77 inches tall. We will post more as we find it out!

Ni Hao Katie!!

We received "The Call" today at 2:04 p.m. Our daughter, Jiang AiChun, was born on 3/20/2006 in the Chongqing province. She is at Dianjiang SWI. We think her name means "Spring". She was born on my father in law's birthday which is bittersweet as he passed away 6 years ago. He must have had his hand in the matching process to let us know he has been watching over her!

Pictures will come later today! Thank you, Lord for the blessing of our daughter!