Rumor Queen

We've added a link to the right to the "Rumor Queen," which one of our travel buddies graciously shared with us. Apparently, the person who runs the site gathers information from people across the U.S. and from other countries. She also hears from agencies themselves as well as occasional tidbits from China. Apparently, you can discover CCAA referral processing dates and cut off dates from her site first. CCAA rarely updates their site until several days after this news is already available by rumor.

The news this past week was rather disappointing: CCAA seems to have only managed to send referals for log-in's between July 14 through July 22, 2005. That's a mere 9 days. As a reminder, our log-in is September 12, 2005.

According to our friend, there are some downsides to the rumor queen and to some of the yahoo china-adoption groups:
- People tend to gripe about things, especially because the wait is so long.
- Most of what the Rumor Queen posts is rumor, and she posts it as such. She rates her rumors on a scale based on how many sources (agencies) are hearing the same thing. However, you can't be sure if the rumors are true until referrals are actually sent. Fortunately, in most months, she has a very clear idea of what the next cutoff date will be about a week before referrals are sent.

Journey to Abigail


Beautiful Sample Journey, It's wonderful and romantic to watch

Well, here is Volume I, Issue V August 18, 2006 of International Updates, Status of Current Programs: China: We have our next three families packing for China as this is being written. They will arrive home with daughters from Shaanxi Province. Referral times have now exceeded the twelve month mark, unfortunately. We do not know how much farther the wait time may climb! ! added by Catherine. Travel time still happens predictably 6-8 weeks after acceptance.

Steve's mother sent a Whale Calandar for 2007 and Vicky is thrilled with the news of the adoption. There was news that Anli was coming from China but alas her VISA was denied and she is not coming. Perhaps there will be a picnic for Barker families and their precious little ones in the Autumn. On campus, we continue with our Jenny Craig diet and there will be a reception for the discussion of the new Dean & President here tomorrow. Steve will meet with the committe with Mitzi Budde, and John Yeih who is from Taiwan. They went to Taiwan and are now back. Joyce Mercer and her family moved in on the circle as well as Stephen and Cindy Hess-Edmudson who were flooded out of their house. They gave up and moved to the new faculty residence. They love the secular circle. A new host of dogs has gathered on the circle to roam.

Sample Adoption Journey to China



A beautiful sample journey undertaken in 2001. This video was just posted to YouTube this month (8/2006). To view, click where it says "YouTube" in the lower right, directly over where it says "share."