Looking Back February 11th

Jason and I slept from about 12:30 am to 4:30 am that first night (or morning really). I remember just laying there. It was too early to get up. I was exhausted. My stomach was SOOO hungry. So I just laid there and prayed.

Finally at 5:30 we both got up and dressed for the day. We went downstairs to the "free breakfast buffet" in our Hotel. We did not have high expectations, but this was the most glamorous spread of food I have ever seen. There was fresh squeezed juice...waffles.....eggs of all varieties....Half of the HUGE buffet was Asian food to include congee, noodles, rice tons of steamed veggies and fish. The other half was all American.

We ate until our stomachs couldn't handle it any more and met our guide and the Minich Family in the lobby at 9am to head to the Great Wall.  The Wall was majestic, beautifully breathtaking and awe inspiring.  To think of all the people creating this great defensive wall up the sides of a steep hillside without the help of ANY machinery. It was unimaginable.

Jason and I climbed one tower, but again, I will confess even in the midst of all this beauty..... Between lack of sleep and a heart for Josie, it was difficult to stay focused on anything other than meeting our daughter.

Looking Back Day February 8-9th

First thing first! Jason and I are praising God that we have completed our journey of waiting and began the journey of living the life of being adoptive parents. It was very difficult during such an amazing time to not be able to log on to my blog to update those who where praying us through our journey. My heart is still so full of emotions and memories that are etched into my most inner precious experiences of this life. I feel compelled to look back and share the experiences that we had in China..... meeting our daughter.... and God's perfect love.

February 8th, the night before our journey Jason and I tearfully dropped off Brady and Jadon at Nanna's house so we could fly out at 5:23 the next morning.  It was such a bitter sweet moment. On the cusp of something beautiful. The end.....yet the beginning of our adoption journey.... taking 14 looooong months of waiting.  Yet my heart was already mourning the children that I would miss so deeply over the next 15 days.

Here we are the night before.... Laying sleeplessly in our bed with wild anticipation of  all the wonderful what if's of traveling across the world to be united with the child God hand picked for us. The child that we have loved with heart wrenching joys and agonies from another continent for the better part of the last year.

At 3:30 Feb.9th, Jason and I awake to be whisked off to the Pasco airport . Our flight ascends into the beautiful unknown at 5:23 am.... Right on schedule. From beginning to end we hopped 3 planes and traveled 30ish hours to finally touch down in Beijing.  I will confess, it was one of the most difficult trips I have ever taken. I swear I have ADHD and sitting still for that long was a KILLER. It may not have been so bad if I wasn't sitting sandwiched between Jason (window) and business guy (aisle). Business guy was sleeping for 10 of the 13 hour flight so there was not even the luxury of walking around, not to mention, using the restroom.

We finally arrive in Beijing and are met by our wonderful guide Kandy.  At this, we are one day closer to meeting our daughter.

As soon as we enter our hotel room I attempt the net. In HUGE letters across the screen there is an alert. "Warning Facebook and other foreign sites are blocked" What? You have to know I did try it any ways. Sure enough....No Facebook. I was not that upset because surely google would be accessible.  Most of you already know that Google was a blocked site as well.  At that point I was totally exhausted and could not even problem solve. Off to bed, and again one day closer to Josie.

Flights Are Booked

After 14 months of preparation we finally have dates! My caseworker called us yesterday and told us the words we have been waiting for. We have a confirmed Consulate appointment for February 22nd! Praise God!

Here is the run down. Depart Pasco Feb. 9th. Gotcha Day Feb. 13th, Consulate appointment on Feb.22, pick up Visa on Feb 23rd, and return home Feb. 24th.

I am unable to find the words to adequately describe how wonderful I feel. In a couple short weeks, I will be meeting my beautiful daughter for the first time.

As we travel check in often because I will be updating daily!!!!!

Second to the Last

Monday morning, February 23, I was sitting at work pondering what kind of celebration the orphanage may have had for the Chinese New Year. This holiday is the most important in Chinese culture. The beginning of the "Year Of The Dragon" silently passed in my world here in Kennewick Wa.  There were several local celebrations to go to but for some reason I felt unmotivated to attend because it was just another reminder that the child I love so deeply is still a world away.

I have heard so many times in my life that God always has perfect timing.  I believe through faith that this is true, but must admit that at times in my life evidence of personal doubt has manifested itself in the form of worry, stress and complete and utter restlessness.

In this adoption journey, I have had these moments of faithlessness, but God is so good and He continues to remind me that ALL of HIS truths are just that...... TRUE. I have had the greatest peace knowing that we are so close to traveling to China to meet our beautiful God given gift.  And once again God has revealed himself to me in a magical way.

January 23 is the New Year, so there would be no word this week on our Travel Approval.  All Chinese Government is closed for at least two days, but staffing is limited  during the rest of the week as families travel home to celebrate with their loved ones.  My case worker informed me that if we didn't hear by the 23rd, we probably wouldn't hear until at least the 30th. So, there I sit at work dreaming of our daughter, at total peace knowing that our travels will most likely be the latter part of February.

My phone rings and Lauren (my case worker) tells me that we have Travel Approval (or TA).  She then goes on to tell me that the tentative date to pick Josie up is Feb. 13th, and suggests that we fly out on Feb. 9th.  What? Totally unexpected this day and such an amazing and perfect gift.  This is like 17 days away!! I am in such shock and total wonderment. What??????? It's the 23rd? I thought.... then I can't help to laugh. I thought. I thought.  Just when I begin to believe that I know what to expect, God gifts me with the unexpected. He is so awesome!

We are on the second to the last step. All we have to do now is submit our 5 picks for consulate appointments and wait for confirmation. We submitted Feb 20,21,22,23 and 27th.  As soon as we get our consulate appointment (or CA) we can book our flights and get outta here.

I am so blessed, so happy, so much in awe. I give all glory to God!

I pray that soon, I will be able to blog............. Flights are BOOKED!

February Travel!

I knew when I created this blog it was going to be a challenge for me to keep you all up to date.  I can't believe that I let the holidays pass without at least wishing each of you the most sincere and heartfelt wishes of peace and love as we celebrate the birth of our Savior! I do hope that Christmas brought you all warm memories and cherished time with loved ones!

Jason and I received one of the best gifts ever this Christmas. New pictures of Josie!!! We were able to send a package to her through Red Thread China and the orphanage staff sent us several pictures! My heart was melted instantly by this precious sight!!!


Josie and the most beautiful cake ever made!

Josie with her new ma ma and ba ba pillow

So, tomorrow is a big day for us. Prayers are appreciated. Tomorrow, January 5th is Jason and my 8th wedding anniversary AND our Article 5 is scheduled to be picked up at the US Consulate in GZ and forwarded to the CCCWA in Beijing. After the Article 5 is received we will get our travel notice within a few weeks. Then a couple weeks after that, we receive our consulate appointment! It looks as if February is our month of travel!!! I promise to keep you posted more often at this point.  God bless you and Happy New Year!!!!

Dance Central

Monday December 12th was a day just like any other. I got off work late (as usual) and did the kid round up.  This day, as I approached my mailbox I did not have even the slightest bit of anticipation.  I was in the place of total surrender. Of course, I was hoping that the I800 approval was there, but I was almost sure it WAS NOT!

I very distinctly remember being on the phone with Jason having a light and easy conversation about the days events. I open the mailbox and stopped DEAD in my tracks! Right on top there was a letter from the Department of Homeland Security. What??? Really??? I don't remember what came next the scream, the tears.... or the laugh.  I ripped open the envelope to discover that my amended I800a and I800  approval were both contained within!

I SERIOUSLY did a little jig at the mailbox. I cried, I laughed, and I danced and danced! Although contrary to my wild visions of  a lyrical hip hop number, the dancing was mostly contained within the parameters of my heart.  Again and Again I was reminded that we are EXACTLY where we are supposed to be in this journey. Smack dab in the middle of God's will..... HIS perfect timing.

From there, things have moved so swiftly I can barely keep up.  Thursday Dec.15th we mailed off our passports and applied for our visas. Friday Dec.16th I received the approval letter from the NCV and tomorrow this information will be sent to the representative in China.

We are getting so close. We only have a few steps left in the process, then we will be on our way! I'm praying for travel in January! I thank everyone so deeply and sincerely for all the prayers and financial support that you've blessed us with. Jason and I would not be where we are if God had not placed you in our lives to walk along side us in this miraculous journey. Thank you! Thank You! Thank you!

Restlessness to Peace

I know it's been a while since I've offered any updates on our journey. The sad reality is that there are no updates. We are waiting..... waiting...... waiting.  I filed the supplement 3 for our 1800a and received the receipt within a few days. I was encouraged by that at first, but since then I've been playing the mailbox game again.....  Standing in front, praying aloud, playing through the scenario of what kind of excitement dance to do around my neighborhood IF our approval is found within.....  Then open the box, riffle through every envelope and have that heart sinking gut wrenching feeling of extreme disappointment when it's just not there...... again.

You would think that by now it would be different. I do trust God 100% I know his timing is perfect, but I find myself wondering. Is He waiting for me to do something? Have I missed something? Is there some event or action that I am supposed to say yes to that I am oblivious to? Funny how in one moment I can say I trust God 100%.... and mean it with every ounce of my soul, then the next truly wonder what I am doing wrong. As if He needs me at all. His plan is perfect in design. HE and HE alone makes all things possible.

I realize that my biggest obstacle in this journey has been my own pride.  For some reason I have taught myself in life to be "self reliant", "Strong", "independent" "self sufficient". Are these qualities bad?  YES! Yes, they are because it puts me in constant battle for first place.  I'm am those things and in being so, I'm in the way.  Here you get a glimpse of my constant struggle "SURRENDER".

God's timing is perfect and I always return to the memory of a gift my father gave me for Christmas in 1990.  A nice blue leather Bible.  Inside he wrote me a personal message and referenced Colossians 2:1-5 " I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely the Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may  be deceive by fine-sounding arguments. For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is."

So back then at 14 years old my dad was praying that I would know God. It look 15 more years for that to truly happen. God knew that I was his. He had it planned. He knew the terrible choices that I would make, what I would go through.... and exactly how he would save me. So it always helps me a great deal to remember. His timing not ours.

He is in control. He knows what day Jason and I will go to China. He knows the day we will meet our daughter. He knows how all expenses will be paid. He knows..... He knows......

So, I am surrendering my heart of restlessness and giving it over to a heart of peace. Someday soon, whenever God makes it happen, I will be doing that dance around my neighborhood in celebration of the long awaited I800 approval.