Arenson Update #2

Wednesday, January 30th

Hello everyone,

We are doing ok here. Bella's first night was almost unbelievable. We put her to bed at 8:00 p.m. & she slept straight through until 9:00 a.m. She seems to be adjusting, but doesn't want us to put her down when she's awake. I believe that is normal behavior until she knows she can trust us. While she is napping & Marc is reading I am sorting through the pictures on the disk they gave us from the orphanage. I have attached a few of the pictures. Two of the pictures are of her with a doll that we sent her:) We received many wonderful keepsakes from the orphanage & gifts from her birthmother & grandmother.

I also wanted to let everyone know that we are going to be delayed a few days. As of right now, we are unable to get her visa issued from the AIT (American Institute in Taiwan). Apparently, our original paperwork for adoption was sent to Guangzhou, China in August 2007 by the US Center of Immigration Services in Chicago in error. The AIT cannot process her visa without it. As of right now, the US Consulate in China is express mailing our packet to the AIT & they expect to receive it on Monday the 4th. We are hoping to leave for home on either Monday night or Tuesday. We will keep you posted. Enjoy the pictures!

Lori

Update from the Arenson's

Hello all,

Well, after 32 hours of travel (1st flight was cancelled, so we missed our second flight), a 45 minute ride to our hotel, a quick shower, a scary cab ride through the city & a run through the train station, we barely made it to St. Lucy to pick her up.

Here are some of the first photos we took with her. She has a great personality! She's actually pretty funny & loves to imitate everything. In the few short hours that we've had her, she has already started learning signs & loves to clap for herself when she gets it right. The only time she has cried is when I left the room and we can't believe that we laid her in the crib & she went right to sleep. It's almost unbelievable.

Mia & her will get along great & we can't wait to get home to see you all (we love you Mia). Enjoy!

Lori & Marc

They're Off!

Marc, Lori and Mia

Today Marc and Lori Arenson leave to pick up their precious new daughter, Isabella, in Taiwan. Their journey began in July of 2006 when they signed on with Journeys of the Heart (JOH) adoption agency to adopt a baby from China. As many of you know, in fall of 2006 China made some major changes in their policies and procedures which is currently making the waiting period about 3 years. The Arenson's were given the opportunity to switch to JOH's newly acquired adoption program in Taiwan. After much thought, Marc and Lori decided that the switch would be the best decision for their growing family. They already have a 4 1/2 year old daughter, Mikayla (Mia). About a year later, Marc and Lori received a referral for a beautiful baby girl. She will celebrate her first birthday on February 4th with her forever family.

Isabella

Isabella (Bella) is currently awaiting her parents arrival at St. Lucy Center in Tainan, Taiwan. St. Lucy Center (stlucycenter.org) is an orphanage run by the Good Shepherd Sisters. They saw a desperate need to help women in a culture where unwed mothers are shunned by family and society. The center provides loving care, education and adoption services for these mostly teenage mothers.

Marc and Lori will arrive in Taiwan on Jan 28th and receive their daughter at St. Lucy's center on Jan 29th. They will spend a few days sightseeing and completing adoption paperwork and will be home in less than a week. I will post an update on their journey in the next few days.

Lori is the Director of Taiwan adoptions for theAsianBridge. If you have questions about adopting children from Taiwan you may contact her at larenson328@yahoo.com.

Save This Date!

Mia and her forever family met on January 16, 2006.

On Saturday, May 17th, 2008, theAsianBridge will hold it's 2nd annual silent and live auction fundraiser. It will once again be held at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Glen Ellyn. Proceeds from the auction will provide financial grants for families adopting from Asian countries. We have many applications pending, and we'd love to be able to help each and every family provide an orphaned child with a loving family and home.

You can help more children find their forever homes by being a part of our fundraising efforts. There are many ways in which you can help including:

1. Obtaining auction items

* Solicit merchants in your community.

* Request auction items from the company you work for.

* Donate an item of your own.

* Purchase and donate an item.

2. Assist administratively

* Coordinate and log items.

* Help address and mail 300 invitations.

* Research cost of items.

* Help us plan.

3. Spread the word

* Bring your friends and/or family.

* Plan a night out with parents from your travel group.

* Send invitations to friends and family.

* Set up media interviews.

4. Help out at the event

* Set-up and take-down.

* Cashier.

* Bartend.

* Be a table captain.

* Help in the kitchen.

5. Help find a corporate sponsor

* Inquire within the company you work for.

* Inquire at the businesses in your community.

For more information or if you would like to help, please call Geoff Shaw at 630-665-0304.

TheAsianBridge Staff

TheAsianBridge staff would like to welcome you to our blog. Please feel free to contact us if you have questions about the Foundation or if we can help answer questions about Asian adoptions.


Dina Ackermann, Director of Communications
H: 630-213-3558 C: 708-363-2599
ackermann95@att.net

Lori Arenson, Taiwan Director
H: 630-372-9799
larenson328@yahoo.com

Pat Deck, Education Co-Director
Home: 303-862-7160 Cell: 719-244-5218
Pat_deck@comcast.net

Alyssa Ericksen, Special Needs Director
H: 303-459-2340 C: 303-880-1288
brennensmom@yahoo.com

Lisa Greder, Vietnam Director
H: 812-853-2105
lgreder@hotmail.com

Linda Mannix, South Korea Director
h: 630-588-8813, c: 630-835-6507
ltmannix@sbcglobal.net

David D. Mattern, Board of Directors
ddm52@ aol.com

Jan Merola, Education Co-Director
H: 719-391-5108
janillamaell@msn.com

Kristy Radcliffe, Single Parent Adoptions Director
H: 630-375-1432
Kristy.radcliffe@sbcglobal.net

Robert Shanahan, Board of Directors
RSHANAHAN@palatinebank.com

Geoff & Heather Shaw, Founders/Board of Directors
H: 630-207-9921/630-665-0304
geoffshaw@ameritech.net



Resources:
Manning, Debbie: Webmaster
Office: 630-668-0603
Fax: 630-668-4404
Debmanning1@gmail.com

Chinese New Year

February 7th, 2008, is the official start of the Chinese New Year. This has always been a fun time for our family. We celebrate by decorating the house with lanterns and decorations that we acquired in Chicago's Chinatown and on our last trip to China. I've had the privilege of attending my daughter's classrooms and teaching the kids some of the traditions of the Chinese New Year. We like to dress up in our fanciest Chinese clothing and each student goes home with a hong bao (lucky red envelope) with chocolate coins inside.

One of our families favorite Chinese New Year traditions is to go to an annual gathering put on by Sunnyridge Family Center, a local adoption agency. If you live in the Chicagoland area, I encourage you to attend. There is live entertainment (some adult entertainers and some children's dancing groups), games, crafts, vendors selling Chinese gifts, and a raffle. There is also Chinese food available. Staff from theAsianBridge will also be there so please stop by our table and say hello.

Chinese New Year Celebration

Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008

12:00 noon - 4:00 p.m.

Location: College of DuPage - Student Resource Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, IL.

Adults $11.00

Children $5.00 (children under 2 are free)

Activity Punch Cards $5.00

The Putian Welfare Institute Humanitarian Aid and the Special Needs Services through Sunny Ridge Family Center are among the programs benefitting from donations and proceeds of the Chinese New Year Event. For more information visit http://www.sunnyridge.org/ or call 630-754-4504.

Xin Nian Kuai Le!........................................Happy New Year!