Mia's Tree

For Christmas 2005, Dan gave Elise a tree to be planted in Mia's honor. The tree is an oriental weeping cherry tree - a grafted tree.

The plaque has the following inscription: "Planted with purpose, grafted in grace, nurtured with love. Romans 11:17"

We fell in love with the following analagy found in the book, Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew, by Sherrie Eldridge: "A grafted tree. Magnificent to behold. One of a kind. Contrary to nature. Luxuriant leaves and intricate roots. Loaded with horticultural challenges for a gardner, but ultimately yielding a tree with unparalleled beauty. The adopted child. Magnificient to behold. One of a kind. Biologocial features often contrary to yours. Intricate roots that need to be healed. Loaded with behavioral challenges for parents, but ultimately yielding a life of unparallelled beauty."

Keiffer Becomes a Dog Phase 1

In November of 2005, we thought that maybe Keiffer needed to learn that she was not the center of our universe and therefore needed a little brother. So totally spur of the moment we went to Land of Paws, the petstore where we got Keiffer to see if they had any Yorkipoos. To our suprise they were getting a couple of Yorkipoos the very next day. We went the next day and fell in love with this little guy. After 2-4 weeks of waiting for him and visiting him everyday we were finally allowed to take him home (all 2 lbs of him) on December 2, 2005.

Boy did Keiffer not know what was in store for her!

More CHI Golf Tourney Shots

For the record, we did NOT just win the tournament because I had gone out and brought in some ringers. They WERE ringers, of course, but I distinctly remember a shot or two out of my bag that made a difference.

Dan Wins The Tournament

Dan and his team win the Children's Hope International Golf Benefit. Dan's team was loaded with powerhouse golfers: Josh Yerton, Jason Philips and Jeremy Paben.

Friends Gather to Pray

The Gazaways, Sunukjians and Jeremy Paben come over to listen to our heart about adoption, watch some videos (China's Lost Girls, Steven Curtis Chapman Story) and to pray with us. That night touched us all. My most memorable moment was when I jokingly said "So the reason we have gathered you here is to see who would be interested in also adopting from China to provide our daughter with a friend/family that looked like her" and Jeremy Paben quickly chimed in and said "I am in".

The Pabens however now have their hands full with twins born 1/25/2007.

Timeline

• June 2005 - Breakfast at Blue Bird Cafe and both agree that we wanted to adopt from China
• July 2005 - Attended information meeting at Children's Hope International
• August 10, 2005 - Journey officially began when we mailed in our application to apply to Children's Hope International
• August 17, 2005 - Received voicemail from CHI stating that we were accepted to apply
• August 20, 2005 - Signed contract with CHI and learned how to complete our dossier
• August 29, 2005 - Have friends over to tell them about our adoption, watch some China videos and to pray for us and our daughter
• Sept, 2005 - Elise's authenicated birth certificate got ruined on the front porch and had to start all over again. Lost one month waiting for this new document
• October 3, 2005 - Fingerprinted at INS/Homeland Security
• November 16, 2005 - Turned in final dossier to CHI
• November 18, 2005 - Dossier mailed to China
• December 2, 2005 - Got Bower from Land of Paws. Phase 1 of plan for Keiffer to adjust to being a dog and to have a friend
• December 13, 2005 - Dossier logged in with China
• December 25, 2005 - Dan gave Elise a new tree and plaque to be planted in Mia's honor
• December 14, 2005 - The waiting begins
• September 19, 2006 - Learned that our dossier was officially out of the Review Room
• September 20, 2006 - Bought Mia's highchair to celebrate documents out of the review room
• November 3, 2006 - Elise quits her job
• November 5, 2006 - Dan shares with the church that we are adopting
• December 25, 2006 - Dan finishes book "Keiffer Becomes a Dog". Story dedicated to Mia Grace Deeble

Our Journey Begins to Mia Grace Deeble

This is the story of our journey to our daughter, Mia Grace Deeble, whom we already love, deeply cherish and long to know.

About you, My Sweet, God whispers, "She is Mine!"