Update!

So excited for things to be moving along with our adoption process!  Just wanted to share a quick update with you.

On Tuesday, February 18th our Article 5 was picked up in Guangzhou and overnighted to Beijing.

On February 26th, I emailed our agency to see if they had seen our status in the computer change and if our Travel Approval had been issued.  She said that there had been no change.

Sad day for us, because we have friends in our adoption groups that had the same timeline and they had gotten their Travel Approval (TA) that day.  I was pretty sad and just began to pray that it would come the next day.

Then later that same day, the phone rang and it was our caseworker!  She said that normally changes in the system show up at the top of the list.  So when she looked and didn't see ours there she assumed it had not come.  She went back and looked all the way through the list and FOUND our TA!!!

One of the best phone calls ever!!!

So now we wait on the hard copy to arrive via DHL to our agency.

Once they have that, they will contact China and request a consulate appointment.  Our FIRST choice is March 31st.  Would you pray with us that we are able to get this date?  It would mean less time in China for us and save us on expenses, not to mention it would get me home to my hubby and other babies FASTER!

If we get our consulate appointment on March 31st....

Then our Gotcha Day would be March 24th...

And we would LEAVE on March 21st!!!  World Down Syndrome Day!!!!! 3-21

Woohooooo!!!!

I had hoped to leave earlier but our agency doesn't want us to have to rush and this will also help us be able to gather enough to better pay our upcoming expenses:

$4000 - estimated cost for in-country airfare, hotel, meals, transfers, guide/translator
$3000 - estimated flight from US to China for Ellie and Mommy plus flight back for MinLan
$500 - $1000 - for preparation of Chinese adoption documents and passport for MinLan
$5300 - orphanage donation
$300 - medical exam and vaccination for MinLan

I know what God has called us to, He will provide.  Please pray with us that we are able to tie up all the loose ends on our remaining fundraisers and be ready to go get our sweet girl.

Another prayer request....we have been denied twice when we asked that MinLan be able to stay with her foster family until we arrive.  Praying for God to work in a mighty way in this circumstance.

So now, we have to get busy!  My to-do list is growing everyday!  This week we'll start checking things off our packing list as we put them in the suitcase.  I hope to be able to start to get everything settled with my Awana responsibilities and other things I am involved in each week.  Hoping not to forget anything!

I am so beyond ready to go bring our sweet girl home!!!  Please pray with us for sweet MinLan.  This will be such a HUGE transition for her.  She will be leaving the only family she has ever known.  I will share more tomorrow about what we can expect during this transition and how you could help pray specifically for her.

Thank you so much for all of your support!  Thank you for loving our little girl!

We are coming sweet girl...soon!
Mommy