Twas the Night Before...

Isaiah 43:5

"Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the East and gather you from the West."

We leave for China TOMORROW!! 

So here's the itinerary, in case you are wondering.

10/3: Depart for Beijing

10/4: Arrive in Beijing (really 10/4 won't exist for us due to the international date line)

10/5-10/6: Tour Beijing and acclimate to time change. 

10/7: Fly to Zhengzhou

10/8: GOTCHA DAY! (This is one of the terms used in adoption lingo- another is forever family day). What does this mean? Maddy is given to us. We become a family. All three of our lives are changed. 

10/9: Official adoption day with legal stuff. 

10/10-12: Work on passport & legal stuff

10/13: Fly to Guangzhou

10/14-17: Medical appointment, more paperwork, free time to shop and hangout

10/18: US Consulate appointment

10/19: Get passport. Depart Guangzhou for Hong Kong

10/21: Depart Hong Kong. Arrive HOME!

Lollipops?  Check.

 Miss Sassypants

Please send prayers & good thoughts our way for safe travels, good health and the best transition possible for our girl.  

**Thank you to Kelli Farha for sending me this verse. Couldn't be more perfect. 

Annie

Annie and I were a family before Chris came into our world. We became a family when I was a 2nd year med student and we learned a lot together. She taught me if you love something enough, you'll clean up all kinds of poop, pee and vomit (good preparation for parenting). You'll stay home just to be together and you're never alone. And there's always time for a snuggle. 

When Chris and I started dating, Annie took to him pretty quickly. I think she knew he was "the one" before I did. So she was pretty happy when we became a family of three. 

Annie is very good with children.  We watched our friends young son learn to pull up using Annie's beard. She simply backed up when he grabbed on- which allowed him to pull up- and looked at me like 'you've got to be kidding me.' She lets kids pet her and happily eats up their snacks. 

How will Annie react to Maddy? I think pretty well, especially when she realizes Maddy's a member of our "pack". How will Maddy react to Annie? That's the bigger question. Let's hope well. I think they'll be good friends. 

Annie trying out the crib. She gives it four paws up. 

And for anyone who is worried about Annie's whereabouts while we're gone... she's headed to Kansas to be spoiled with biscotti, swimming in the pool, playing with her brother and taking my dad's spot in bed. Rough life.

Under 1 week

Show Hope

While doing research over the summer, I learned that there are several sponsor organizations in the province of Henan, which is where our daughter is located. With the help of our agency, I was able to find the organization that funds her care.

Not only did I receive a kind email back from their public relations representative, Cathy, but they moved our girl into the "waiting to come home" board at the office.  We are thankful for the care provided by the nannies and nurses at the special care unit and her foster family as well as Show Hope who has funded this care. 

Please check out their site. Chris and I are happy to be sponsors and help support other children waiting  for their families. 

www.showhope.org

Leaving as two, returning as three

2 plane departing plane tickest purchased, 3 returning tickets purchased.

Our travel itinerary arrived today and tomorrow is the final travel arrangements phone call with our agency. We have real dates and times, hotels and flights for our trip. It seems a bit surreal.

One bag is out with baby girl things in it. Now, we just have to work on all the stuff for the big people. And about a million other things.

It's almost here.

12 days to go. 

9.9.10

Happy 2nd Birthday my little short stack. We are counting down the days until you are dancing with us.

With Love,

Dad

Travel Approval!

Our travel approval arrived on Friday, Sept 7! This is the final approval/documentation/step needed! We are ecstatic! Now our agency is planning our trip to bring our girl home. Unfortunately, we didn't receive the TA with time to allow our trip before the National Week holiday (9/30-10/7). However, we are looking forward to our departure date.... Oct. 3. 

Yep, our tentative departure is Oct 3 with our family day tentatively scheduled for Oct. 8. This is actually a pretty significant time of year for us. Oct. 7 is the anniversary of our first date (8 years ago this year) and our girl was found on Oct. 9, 2010. So, two years after she was found, our girl will have her family and we will have her. 

Next week we will get the details of the trip hammered out with our agency. 

But don't think the countdown hasn't started. 

T minus 25 days.