Article 5

Well, we got an e-mail from our agency and it looks like things are moving again. Our Article 5 was picked up on the 18th and it will be express mailed to Beijing and then hand carried to the CCAA some time next week. From that point we wait about two weeks to get our TA, so they say. This puts us at the week of April 5th. Once we get TA it should be somewhere from 2-3 weeks when we travel. Meanwhile, Longji turns 6 on March 31st. We ordered a birthday care package for him today. I will post pictures as soon as Ann e-mails them to us. This package does include a birthday cake so we are excited to get pictures from his party with the cake. While we were disappointed about not traveling before Longji's birthday (and with our friends, the Ferlands) we know that we will meet him at the exact moment we are supposed to. This is the very moment that God has planned out for us and we know it will be perfect. I will keep everyone updated as things move along.

We are still waiting!

Well, we are not leaving this month and it doesn't look like April will be our month either. This is not the news we wanted to hear, but we are reminded once again that our God has a plan for us. Adam will receive a birthday care package and in honor of his 6th birthday we plan on having Chinese food and a small birthday cake for him. I want him to know that we still celebrated his birthday here at home. We are probably looking at a May travel date at this point which has it's pros and cons, but again, John and I take comfort in knowing that this is all in God's plan for our family.

This last week John's team at his school threw us a shower and we had a fantastic time! Everyone was so sweet and Adam has more things to fill up his room. These include books, toys, golf clubs, clothes, baseball equipment, etc. This weekend we took some time to watch my niece play soccer and we had time to swing by Guadalupe State Park. We are hoping these next few weeks we can keep ourselves busy and time will fly by.

Care Package #2

Well, since our travel date is pushed back once again, John and I decided to send Longji another care package. This time we went through Ann at Red Thread China. We pick out a package and send her the necessary information and she pretty much takes care of everything else. She puts the package together and gets it to the orphanage. One reason we chose to go this route this time was the fact that all of her packages include a translated letter which we really felt strongly about. Looking at Longji's last set of pictures, I feel like he knows who we are and I pray he is smiling because he can't wait to meet us. I already have so much to tell him and I felt like a letter was necessary at this point. It was hard to write a letter for a five year old, but I think I did okay. Ann translated the letter and it is in the picture I am posting (in Chinese of course). Oh, I cannot wait to meet him. It is more difficult every day to not know when we are leaving. Ann e-mailed me earlier today and said she would deliver the package in the next two days. He is getting a set of pajamas, a panda bear, blanket, his translated letter and she is including some candies for the nannies and a camera. We have already sent two cameras in his first care package so I am looking forward to all kinds of pictures.

For all of you following our journey, please pray for our travel approval. We are getting close to Longji's birthday and I hate the idea of missing it. As adults, we typically take birthdays for granted...we actually avoid them, but this birthday is not just any day to John and I. This is a celebration of the day Longji was born. His mother has no idea what kind of gift she has given us. There are no words to thank her, but I can love him as any mother loves their son.

Yeah, an update!

Okay, so just when I was thinking I couldn't take it anymore, we got an UPDATE today! We got five pictures and a growth report. I am at a loss for words. Our little boy is just adorable and I can't wait to hold him and hug on him and tell him how much our hearts have been aching for him. I can't decide if the pictures and his updated growth report make it harder to wait for him or a little easier. His pictures are just beautiful! John and I immediately noticed the football he is holding in two of the pictures was the one we sent him in his care package. Now we know he definitely received the package. I hope he has seen his photo album. As for the trip itself, we continue to wait for TA (travel approval). Any day now it should be here.

Asian Festival

Just wanted to check in and let everyone know what was going on lately...nothing. Still waiting on TA. Meanwhile, here are some pics from today's Asian Festival. We had a fabulous time with some great food!

I800

Ok, so we finally got our I800 on Saturday. We have been eagerly waiting for this piece of paper for a while now and we finally got it over the weekend. It is basically our last okay to adopt from the United States. Now we just wait for our TA and possibly an update on Adam.

Really?

Ok, so is it really going to be this hard for this long? I just knew something would come in this week. I guess I really don't know anything. Once again, I am shown that my timing is definitely not God's timing. We did not hear from our agency all week long...ugh! I did, however, have the best celebration on Monday for Adam. Some fantastic people from work threw John and I an adoption shower/celebration. We had a great time and Adam's room is slowly filling up with toys, books, clothes, etc. If only he was here to enjoy it all. Maybe next week will be the BIG week.