Bryson Update!

I woke up this morning to an UPDATE from Bryson's orphanage!  What a great way to start a Monday!  I've been on a Bryson high all day!

I received several pictures and three 10 second videos.  I am absolutely in love with him!

Bryson is 44.4 inches tall and 46.29 pounds.  That puts him right with Ryan in height and weight.  

I'm going to buy him A FEW clothing items for now.  Currently he's in a size 6, but I will buy size 7.  I looked at all of the conversion charts for clothes and a size 6 is for 110-116 cm and size 6x-7 is for 116-122 cm.  He is almost 113 cm right now.  The last measurements I have are from March 2015.  Since then he's grown 12 cm. He's currently in a size 10 shoe.  I'm not going to buy shoes until I get to China.  I'm sure once he's home he'll grow like crazy. 

They said "he can not speak and always babbles to himself.  He doesn't know the gesture language.  He loves toys with bright colors such as red toys.  He can walk, run and jump freely.  He can feed himself and go to the bathroom alone."  

I cannot wait to bring him HOME!!!

Thanks for following my journey!  

Have a great week!!!

~Jen

Update

Hi all!  It's been a few weeks since I posted so I wanted to update you all.

First things first ... my dossier!  I mailed my dossier (minus i800) off to Austin to get State authenticated on May 10th.  I received everything back on May 18th with all of their pretty little authentication cover sheets.  Basically they were checking to make sure the notaries were legit and provided documentation they are!  Today I mailed off my dossier with State Authentications to My China Docs which is a courier service in Houston for the Chinese Consulate.  They will deliver the documents, pick them up ... and then mail back to me.

I get fingerprinted by Homeland Security next week!  Hopefully soon after that I will get my i800 back.  Once I get it back ... it goes through the State Authentication process ... then Chinese Consulate.  Then ... then ... THEN ... to my agency for review before it's sent to ... CHINA!!!  There are several other steps ... but honestly ... I can't rattle them off at the moment.  Basically all paperwork.  I'm learning as I go!

So now that the real waiting game has started I need to focus on the financial aspect.

I am waiting on several grant applications I sent in ... pray I am able to get funding through these grants.

Yesterday I received an email saying I was approved for fundraising support through Both Hands!

Both Hands help families fundraise for their adoptions. A family gathers a team of volunteers and Both Hands coaches them to coordinate a service project fixing up a widow's home. Similar to a 5k race, the family and their team raise sponsorship for their day of service and the funds raised help an orphan be adopted into a forever family!  The average family raises about $12,000 for their adoption expenses and in the process forms a relationship with a local widow helping her with her home!  What an awesome project!

I have an account open with Both Hands and I am able to receive donations (which are tax deductible, ask for a receipt!)

Mail checks payable to:
Both Hands
PO Box 2713
Brentwood, TN 37024
Attach a piece of paper indicating your giving preference is “Ruppert #368 adoption” 

And if you've made it all the way through this post ...
Kendra, my BFF with agency has been awesome bugging her people to bug Bryson's orphanage.  This morning they told us that they would get me an update on MONDAY.  So pray that they follow through.  I'm hoping that I get pictures, video and all of my questions answered!!!

Thanks for following my journey!  Have an amazing weekend!!!
Jen

May 27th Fundraiser

Happy Monday!  I am excited to announce my next Fundraiser for Bryson!  Below is the flyer!  Please tell your family and friends to come by 3-6 and shop the bake sale, LuLaRoe and Arbonne!  Then at 7:00 come back to play BUNCO!  If you would like to donate something to use as a prize, let me know!  I will update the link above (look in the teal bar above "Fundraiser Donations") as I get more donations (I already have FOUR awesome donations!).  I will also need donations for the bake sale!  If you would like to bake, you can bring your goodies by at 2:00 Saturday or let me know and I can get with you before!  Please let me know if you have any questions!  jenruppert3@gmail.com

Thank you!  Have a great week!