Ughhh

Instead of emailing the agency called this morning.  Tell tale sign that it was not good news.  They could not get a Consulate Appointment in September.  They are talking of December travel but are attempting to squeeze us in before then.  I can't even go to thinking of December.  There is a rumor that travel approval is only good for 90 days so the agency rep was going to check into that as well. 

Matt could not sleep last night thinking that next week we would be leaving so he just went into work at 11:30.  We were all so optimistic especially after such a quick travel approval.  It is all in His timing.  I wonder how many times we have repeated that.    

Stunned

Yesterday, September 1, our wait for travel approval started.  It typically takes 3-5 weeks for travel approval to be issued and we were counting on it being expedited which meant roughly a 1 week wait for us.  This morning I received an email that said our travel approval had been issued.  Our agency's China rep took it upon herself to go to the director of the CCAA and plead our case.  He issued our travel approval IMMEDIATELY!!!!!  I have never, ever heard of this!  Our agency submitted a Consulate Appointment request and we should find out tomorrow if we are traveling in September and when.  Praying for one more miracle as we wait to find out about the Consulate Appointment.  

The kiddos and I are in Alabama right now squeezing in a visit to Dave, Mary and the cousins.  It is wonderful to be with Mary and have her be part of this anticipation.  We are all looking forward to Matt and Anna being part of our next visit and already have plans for places to go and things to do.   

First Gift From Her Family!!!

We were sent an an email today stating that our care package will be sent to Anna within the next two days.  Below is what we sent to her and her foster family/caretakers.  The service delivering it to her will translate our letter and include a disposable camera.  We are really, really hoping for pictures of her foster family and their home.  Please pray for this.  Please also pray that what we sent helps provide a solid transition for Anna.  We have duplicates of everything sent (except Brown Bear, Brown Bear is in English :)) so if she doesn't come to us with these items we are able to provide her with something familiar.  

 

Thanks to all of you who have been praying for us as we pack and make arrangements for leaving September 9!!!  The best word to describe how we are feeling is sustained.  We have moments when the amount of what we have to do yet and the reality of what we are doing weighs down on us.  However those moments are only moments and we are grateful for the peace and perspective our God is so graciously giving. 

The Ride Continues

We had our travel meeting tonight with our agency.  While there was quite a bit of info passed onto us and more things added to our already lengthy lists, nothing was a big surprise.  That gave me a boost of confidence.  

We are feeling very taken care of by our agency.  They have been promised by China Center of Adoption Affairs that we will have our travel approval issued by September 7.  The travel agency has seats on hold for a flight leaving September 9.  Unfortunately they have to release them for periods of time until we actually purchase them and we run the risk of them being taken.  Another potential problem is not being able to secure a consulate appointment to finalize her adoption and have her visa issued.  We can not secure a consulate appointment until after we receive travel approval.  This means we may not know for certain if we are traveling until September 8 (my conclusion).  Could this be any more intense?  I don't think so.  Its a good thing I don't get motion sickness! 

Down and Up

I'm going to try and explain this detailed, confusing process as simply as I can.  Last Friday (August 6) our I-800 approval was cabled to the US Consulate in Guangzhou.  To submit our paperwork for the Article 5, our agency's representative in China needs a letter from the government division that sent the cable.  This letter generally comes in about week after the cable via postal mail.  The paperwork for the Article 5 can only be submitted on Thursday.  If we did not make this past Thursday's drop off there would be no way we could travel in September.  AMAZINGLY the cable confirmation was emailed to me on Monday and then forwarded to the China rep on Tuesday (early Wednesday morning in China).  Equally amazing is that we missed the Thursday drop by just 45 minutes.  Couriers are involved and the physical paperwork does travel quite a distance so it is understandable but still incredibly disappointing.  We were now waiting until the very end of November to travel.  Its a bigger picture than we can see and we have no other option than to trust.  It is a place of peace but all to easy to wander away from. 

We made our list of pros for traveling later - Most likely have the immunization "catch up" waived due to a law change, more opportunities for introducing ourselves to Anna and putting more transitions in place, travel with two other wonderful and local couples, get projects finished...  And then on Friday Matt got a call.  The China rep felt terrible about us missing the Thursday drop and wants to try and expedite our case.  It is a long shot but she is willing to try if we want her to.  We will know on September 7th if she is successful in doing so.  If she is successful we would leave on September 10th.  (Yes, two entire days from travel approval until travel.)  Do we want her to try?  Yes.  Go for it. 

The countdown is on and my list is made.  If anyone has any verses to keep us at that place of peace we would greatly appreciate them.  You can post them in the comments below. 

Up and Down

On Monday we received our I-800 approval!!!  With receiving this the China Coordinator at Welcome House told us to expect to travel in October.  More good news!!!  Today though she informed me that after corresponding with their China rep, we have to travel by September 10 or wait until after November 26.  This is due to so many events happening in Guangzhou (where we finalize her adoption) that securing a hotel there will be next to impossible in October and November.  If we WOULD be able to secure a hotel we should expect to pay a ridiculous amount.  Travel by September 10 is equally next to impossible on account of having to wait for the NVC letter stating that our I-800 was cabled, the Article 5 and travel approval.  

I could use a glimpse of the big picture because all I can see right now is additional hurdles in attachment and more time needed in speech therapy because of this wait.  My biggest fear is that she was returned to the orphanage to when we submitted our Letter of Intent to adopt her.  It seems to be common for the Social Welfare Institutes to request that the foster families do so when they know a child is going to be adopted.  With looking at waiting until November to get her, this fear has sucked the breath out of me too many times today and made tears flow.  I trust in His plan and His timing.  I know that He redeems and restores.  Its just that a glimpse, just a bit of reassurance, would do so much right now. 

Fun Stuff

Yes, another visual change to the blog.  Sorry to those of you who momentarily think you are on the wrong site. 

We are still waiting for I-800 approval (US Citizenship & Immigration).  I'm expecting we will receive it by the end of next week or very beginning of August.  Besides being one step closer to pick up Anna, after we receive I-800 approval we can send her a care package.  Timothy, Elias, Natalie and I went shopping this week and they picked out items for Anna that they thought she would like.  Interesting that what they picked completely goes with their personalities: Timothy found the softest blanket EVER, Elias a toy that lights up and plays music and Natalie a "friend" to hug and love.