Letter to Gordon Smith

Today Eric sent a message to Gordon Smith. Also our friend Keri passed on our information to Senator Smith's Chief of Staff. We hope we will get some support from Smith or Wyden.

Also, I have been in touch with fellow PLAN members that received RFEs also. Hopefully we can help each other with ideas and support.

We are waiting for further direction from PLAN.

Letter to Senator Wyden

Eric wrote a letter to Senator Wyden today. We decided we need all the help and influence we can get! Hopefully he will take an interest (and some action) with our case.

New pics of Pearl

Another family is at the orphanage picking up their daughter and sent some pics of Pearl. She looks so grown up!

Bad news...

On business day 43 of our wait for travel approval, we received an RFE (Request for Further Evidence). This means the US Embassy is questioning her orphan status. Recently the US has been hyper sensitive to hospital births. Birth mothers go to the hospital to give birth and give a false name and address. When the US goes out to do their investigation, they cannot locate the birth mother to question her...ah guys she gave a fictitious name because she does NOT want to be found. Nonetheless, the saga continues as we must fight to prove she was truly abandoned.

Fun facts about Vietnam

Here is some fun information about Vietnam:

1. Vietnamese national flower is Lotus flower.
2. Most common family name in Vietnam is NGUYEN (about 60% of population).
3. Biggest influence religion in Vietnam is Feudalism.
4. Vietnamese eat rice more than any country in the world.
5. Vietnam is #1 country in rice - export and second in coffee after Brazil ( 2007 ).
6. The biggest sport in Vietnam is football ( soccer ).
7. Vietnamese people often say "Where are you going?" instead of "Hello" when they see each other.

Adapted from www.vietvaluetravel.com

The beauty of adoption

My brother-in-law (Eric's brother) was adopted into the Groff family when he was eight years old from Korea. There has never been a distinction of a birth child versus adopted child in the Groff family.

Marty spent several years looking for his birth family and three years ago found them. He returned to Korea several times and this week his birth mother and extended family came to Portland. All eight of them!

Last night we met as one big family and it was awesome. It was the ideal adoption situation. Two families came together with happiness, joy and appreciation. The warmth and love that surrounded the room was surreal. I cannot imagine a better scenario than having two moms and the answers an adoptee must want. I can only hope Pearl is as lucky.