Officially...

We have officially completed our dossier. It has been sent off to the powers-that-be to be translated.
After everything has been ok'ed we will be put on the waiting list. If I had to guess when we would get a referral I would say end of 08, travel in middle of 2009. This projection sounds great to Adam and I. We are in no hurry...
Lots of drama is still surrounding Vietnam right now and we are just praying that their adoption program will stay open and children will be able to come home to their forever families.
This feels like a repeat of our first adoption: We were in the Kazakhstan program, completed our dossier, then the country closed to Dillon. We had to pick a new country program, God told us immediately Vietnam. So we shall see what happens!

Tiger being a chicken!

Other official news.
Avi Joy knows all her ABC's by sight and can say them all.
She is completely poo-poo trained, just pee diapers now.
We had the best Thanksgiving visiting family!
We love our friends and are soooo thankful for their support.

Outside playing in Sarah Homans handmade Ao Doi (from Vietnam)

To see ALL our pictures go to www.perrymanadoption.com homepage under Pictures "Halloween- Thanksgiving 2007"

Grant news.
We have been selected by God's Grace Adoption Ministries to receive a grant that will match dollar for dollar up to $2,500 during the month of December.
GGAM seeks to help Christian families overcome the financial burden of adopting children. God's Grace Adoption Ministries believes that the placement of children into Christian homes ministers to their physical needs, but more importantly influences their lives eternally for the kingdom of God.
This is an opportunity for us to reach $5,000 towards our second adoption!
Please prayerfully consider supporting us by partnering with this ministry.
www.ggam.org
checks to: God's Grace Adoption Ministry
memo line: Perryman Adoption Grant
P.O. Box 4
Modesto, CA 95353
All gifts are tax deductible. All funds need to be received by December 31, 2007.

This quote was in the OrphanCare International packet this month(Dillon's Humanitarian Aid Program.)
"Sometimes I'd like to ask God why He allows poverty, famine, and injustice in the world when He could do something about it... but I'm afraid God might ask me the same question." Anonymous

A Surprise Trip!

Apple Orchard in Lincoln, New Hampshire


The beach in Ogunquit, Maine

To see all the beautiful New England pictures, go to the PHOTO section on the perrymanadoption.com home page under “September and October 2007.”

The week of October 23-27 my precious husband surprised me and cashed in his business frequent flyer miles/hotel stays and took me on a trip for my birthday. He made one of my dreams come true by taking me to New Hampshire and Maine to see the fall leaves and the ocean.
To my complete surprise (I mean literally- he said, we are leaving next week and didn’t tell me where) I began to pack and prayerfully prepare myself to leave Avi Joy for 5 days!
I knew she would have a wonderful time, which she did… she loved having her grandparents complete attention and she did a great job. I did well too, only a few times did I get sad that she was not with us. I know that couples need that alone time without their children. I am glad Adam pushed me to do it- we had the most wonderful time traveling throughout the two states.
I figured with saving up for adoptions (x4?) that maybe in 10 years or so after building our family we would someday head out on a vacation. I never expected to be able to take a trip any time soon. This is a good reminder that something great comes from Adam taking business trips! Enjoy the pics.

Adoption Update

The process for baby number two is going smoothly. We are currently gathering all our documents for our Dossier.
We had a very successful fund-raiser last week, A Chili and Pie Sale.
We also are Very Excited to announce that we received a dollar for dollar matching grant through “God’s Grace Adoption Ministries” up to $2,500!!!
The entire month of December we will be fund-raising and asking for donations to double our money and hopefully cut Dillon a check for $5,000.
The Lord provision for this adoption is amazing us. We knew it would be challenging, but He is paving the way!

Sum Hop Day



To see all our Sum Hop Day pictures, go to the PHOTO section of our perrymanadoption.com homepage and look under “September and October 2007.”

"O my Strength, I sing praise to You;
You, O God, are my fortress,
my loving God." Psalm 59:17

With Love,
Adam, Natasha and Avi Joy

Mere, Mon and Middle Finger

Things here are going well. We have a huge praise- the Silent Auction at Liberty earned Perryman Adoption Fund over $1,000! Yeah!
Our next fundraiser is a Chili day on October 20th. We are praying for favor and a great turn-out.

Avi Joy has learned two new words. Mere and Mon. She uses them often. Where did she learn these two essential words? From her mother saying "Comere" (Come Here) and "Comon" (Come On.) All she is saying is the mere and the mon part. Its very cute because she uses it correctly to get us to do something.

What is the middle finger part? Well I felt like being a little naughty today I guess... I really wouldn't shoot the middle finger at anyone, but we had three instances this week.
1. "Is she yours?" "yes," I say, "oh she doesn't look like you." (Well we all know children that do not look like us can't possibly be 'ours.')
2. "Are you gonna get you another one'a them?" (Like I needed to order another burrito from Buneo)
3. "I know why you had to adopt her... you had a baby that died in your tummy." (granted this was a 10 year old, totally false statement and NO, I didn't "have-to" adopt her. I desired too, she is the greatest gift of my life.)

I guess the questioning goes with how God chose to build our family. I just hope I can answer these questions with love- some day I will have a 17 year old standing next to me and I want to reflect the beauty of adoption at all times.



September 7, 2007
Refinalization of Avi Joy's adoption
(one year to the day of Sum Hop day in Vietnam)

With Love,
Adam, Natasha and Avi Joy
"Surely God is my help; the Lord is the One who sustains me." Psalm 54:4 -This scripture is dedicated to the Cleary family from our church who lost their 18 month old son last week.

Pookaboo where are you?

Avi Joy's favorite game is "Peekaboo where are you," it sounds like "Peek-boo Where Iiiiiii Uuuuuu" very drawn out. Is fun because she lets me know when she wants to play just by saying it.

Here is a boom video (it was storming outside) and Avi Joy saying her ABC's and numbers. Enjoy.




We are calling our Adoption Day, which is next week Sept 7th, "Sum Hop Day." This phrase is Vietnamese, “Sum Họp” means: to unite, to come together. Every year on September 7th we will celebrate our Sum Họp Day. The day we came together as a family.
We also were informed that our re-finalization of Avi Joy’s adoption (in U.S. court) will be September 7th! We could not believe that it was scheduled on the same day... that day just got a little sweeter.

Top 10 weird things about Natasha (long time comin')
1. I get very irritated when people invite you to something (wedding, baby shower, birthday) and they do not give you directions on how to get there. (I did call someone last month about how to get there and she said, "Mapquest it." OK yeah, I called you to tell me that! YOU invited me, I shouldn't have to do the work to get there woman!)
2. I have shoes on from sun up to bed time. Never barefoot, its uncomfortable.
3. I like paperwork. Organizing it one of my spiritual gifts. I am the administrator for our churches prayer team... its a teacher thing. (i.e. control)
4. I am amazed by people who like to run. Running is very hard work. I prefer to dance around the house to worship music or make up silly dances for friends.
5. This is a Big One: I hate people who point out when someones embarrassed. Its bad enough when you are embarrassed, people seriously, don 't point it out in front of everyone (your so red, ohhh your embarrassed)
6.I have to pray to do anything! I lived in bondage for over 10 years to anxiety and each day (driving, planning, resting, adventures, etc) I have to pray and pray to not be that old person.
7. I HATE uncomfortable panties. Some days I will change just because I am uncomfortable. No pantie lines can be seen, no riding-up, not too tight, not too loose, I am a very-picky-pantie-person.
8. I think one of the most rude things you can say when you run into someone is "Hello, Stranger." I know this is supposed to be funny, but it makes a person feel guilty. I am sure this person did not try to call you either. How about, "Let's get together soon!"
9. I adore my friends. I am an only child and my friends are my sisters. I want to be all that I can for them. I know I fall short often, but I love my best friends immensely.
10. OK, its out... I sleep with a blankie. When I turned 19, I was given this blankie by my moms friend. I have to sleep with it to get a good nights sleep. Almost 10 years now, blankie has kept me warm and cozy.

Well there it is, a little about Natasha

Top 10 weird things about Adam
1. I am whiter than white, yet am a black man on the inside. (skin is albinoish, but grew up in the hood.)
2. I have a mystery swelling issue. My case has been taken to Medical Universities and they have classified it as unexplainable. Its scary (throat swells, good thing for epi-pen)
3. I cannot, cannot cut fingernails on Avi Joy or our dog.
4. I am a computer genuis and stupid people irritate me. I am also an incredible driver (despite what my wife says) and bad drivers annoy me.
5. I am a man who loves to bake. Bake cookies, pies, any dessert. Regular foods too, turkey, mashed potatoes and steaks. Long line of men bakers in the fam: grandpa, dad and brother too.
6. I am head over heals in love with our daughter. People think I am married to an Asian when I am out with her alone and never ask me adoption questions.
7. I do not like forwarded emails, ok this has been forward 10,000 times and I am not passing it on!
8. I grew up a back row baptist boy and now I am a middle row charismatic.
9. I like computer games, Madden especially.
10. I like old man cars (according to my wife) like the Buick Park Avenue, Oldsmobile Aurora and the Chevy Novas.

Well Adam and I are sitting here with Avi Joy LOVIN our 3 day weekend!
We will post Sum Hop Day pictures in the next couple weeks. For current pictures, go to PHOTOS and click on AUGUST.

Adam, Natasha and Avi Joy

""For My thoughts are not your thoughts,neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher then the earth so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts then your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My Word that goes out from My mouth: It will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:8-12

What a month!

Avi Joy and I had the honor of working for Dillon International Adoption Agency this month. We worked in the nursery (birth-3) for China, Korea and India Heritage camps.
At Heritage camp, a child learns about their culture in many ways... they create artwork, dance, cook, eat, write, read, learn sports from their homeland and fellowship with children who look like them/adopted from the same country.
It was wonderful to see young children and adult adoptee's attend camp.

Dillon will begin a Vietnam camp next year. Within the next five years Vietnam camp will have lots and lots of kiddo's & will be SO much fun!
The Dillon staff did an amazing job organizing these heritage camps. They put their heart and soul into the children attending camp. The added bonus of camp is that parent classes are offered throughout each day. Families drove in from all over the country to attend camp. All the colorful families were a joy to see!

There are some pictures under the Photo section, along with pictures of Dillon's Fun Run and many others from July. Please take a look : )

Avi Joy likes to call this picture:
"Don't tell mom but when she went to get the camera,

I pooped on the kitchen floor!"

How is baby number two?
We are updating our homestudy. We have one more visit with Rebecca, our social worker, and we will have a homestudy in hand.
We have filed for our I-600A. An I-600A is a petition filed (U.S.) to adopt an unidentified orphan internationally.

We are looking forward to our upcoming fund-raisers.
* Silent Auction held at Liberty Elementary for teachers.
* Family Chili Day, October 20th
* Selling Adopt(ed) tee's for Christmas
So we have something planned for Sept, Oct and Nov.
Please keep these events in your prayers. Pray they are successful and blessed financially.

Special Visitor:
Thomas is a lawyer/social worker in Vietnam. He lives in Ho Chi Minh City and works for Dillon International. In country, he was our translator, lawyer, director, friend and every thing in between. Thomas was able to come to Tulsa and Dillon asked several Tulsa families to cook him an American meal.
Along with the Sweets and Homans we were able to cook Thomas an authentic Thanksgiving meal. He was able to try deviled eggs, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, rolls, corn, chocolate torte and of course, turkey.
He said all items were new flavors and he like the deviled eggs the best!
The evening was filled with laughter and we know it was a pleasure for him to see all three children doing so well.
We all prayed that he would feel Christ in our homes and feel His Light in our company.
The evening was blessed and Jynger, the director of the Vietnam program, said that in the future Dillon is going to try to plan Thomas' visit for during the Vietnam Family day (Vietnam Heritage Camp.) So that is WONDERFUL news for all families!

We regret to say that pictures will not be posted of our event. This decision is out of respect for Thomas' position as an international representative between countries. He has asked this personally in the past and we will grant his request.

Avi Joy is 15 months and is quite the talker, you may not believe us, but just ask our family...
here are words that she loves to say:
Uh-ohhh , Mama, Dada, NanNa, Papa, Amen, dog, bow, book, bath, diaper, bible, poo-poo, bye bye, hi, hello, cow, ouch, banana, up, baba, wawa (water), elmo, on, off... I can't think of any more right now...
She has said many one time words, repeating me (which all mom's know is sooo cute) but these are words she actually uses and knows the meaning of. All children have different gifts from the Lord and right now it seems she going to be a talker like her mama.

Hugs and Kisses
Adam, Natasha and Avi Joy
"Lord, I have heard of Your fame; I stand in awe of Your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known..." Habakkuk 3:2, A Prayer of Habakkuk the prophet from the Bible.

Ummm. .. is your daughter...

Once a year Adam and I make a video for our best friends.
(think 8th grade talent show/ great 90's rap song dances)
This year Avi Joy got to participate too.

We have Never been asked if Avi Joy is Asian. Its has always been, is your daughter... Filipino, Hawaiian, Native American, Hispanic, even last week at China Heritage camp a mom asked me is she was Guatemalan! But Never- Asian : )
(We think its the curly hair that throws them off)

SO, here is a silly skit about all her beautiful nationalities.
The Perrymans

Learning to sit

This rocking chair was mine (Natasha) when I was little. Now it is Avi Joy's and she has just learned to sit in it... and rock too! Enjoy.

Our Top Four

Vietnam Family Reunion:
The Vietnam family reunion was WONDERFUL! There were 26 families who attended. Families drove from OH, TX, AR, ND and many places in between. Thank you SO much for all driving into Tulsa!!!
Those of us who live here were privileged to plan the event and set up for the day. We had lots of butterflies as families started to arrive.
It was like seeing an old friend (that you have never met!)
The blog world has made it feel like a close family. We all respect one another and watching our children together was just awesome. We have watched each other from referral to in-country stay and it was great to put everything together in person.
I had tears once... when two little ones (who were 4) had not seen one another since December 06. They saw each other and hugged and their eyes just had stars in them. It was precious... their mom's began to cry and I did too. They were raised like brother and sister in the orphanage and I can only imagine how they felt seeing each other again.

We have pictures posted on perrymanadoption.com under Photos.

App part II:
We completed application part two for Dillon on June 22nd. It has not been approved yet, as they are waiting to receive our medical forms from our doctor app'ts.
A few of the items they needed include: autobiographies, 1040 forms, letter from insurance company, employment letters, bank statements, guardianship papers, 5 reference letters, 10 family photos and lots & lots of signed and notarized adoption paperwork.

Art Camp:
I hosted Creative Kids Art Camp last week and 18 students attended! It was so much fun and Perryman Adoption Fund will have a check coming- Yeah!
Thank you to you all who have called to get artwork, called for haircuts and even called for me to babysit instead of paying someone else.
THANK YOU. XOXOXO

Little Miss Avi Joy:
She is talking up a storm, walking all over the house, carrying her purse, drinking from her sippy cup, eating all real foods and is now 14 months old. She is such fun and is a wonderful blessing in our lives.
To see current pictures from May-June see perrymanadoption.com under Photos.



With Love,
Adam, Natasha and Avi Joy
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery." Galations 5:1

First Entry

đã đến lúc phải khởi hành
(It is time to start… Again!)

An exciting time is upon the Perryman family. On March 31st we sent the paperwork to start the adoption process for baby number two! We are using Dillon International Adoption Agency and sometime between 14-22 months from now we will be headed back to Vietnam.
We plan to do fundraisers that include: family chili dinner, silent auction, artwork, odd jobs, car wash, cleaning houses, re-budgeting, haircuts, forgoing Christmas gifts for donations and everything in between. Your ideas are welcome!!!
Natasha has added a link to ‘Perfect for You Watercolors’ on our site. 100% of all artwork earnings go to Perryman Adoption Fund.
If you would love to give a gift that lasts forever, please give her a call or check out www.perrymanadoption.com/art.

As you know, seeing a couple through an adoption takes a village and YOU are part of that village… thank you for your dedication to our family.
With Love, Adam, Natasha and Avi Joy

Psalm 33:11
“The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.”