Our Miracle- We have Travel Approval!

Today was Day 9 of our Travel Approval wait time.  I knew it was a long shot, but I was praying that today would be the day.  At 12:30 my phone rang!  I ran to the back of my classroom praying I would see my agency's name.  Sure enough, it was them!  My students got to see the excitement on my face as I was told that our Travel Approval had arrived!  God is so good!  He has been so faithful to us since the day we obeyed the call.  I don't know why I ever doubt or worry!  So, now we wait two more days to find out when we will leave.  For now there are many things to pack and get ready.... too many to even comprehend!  Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow!  It has been a great day!

Officially Waiting for Travel Approval!

Our Article 5 has been picked up from Guangzhou and is on it's way to Beijing!  So now we just wait for Travel Approval.  Some families have received TA in 9 days and others have waited 20 days.  I am really hoping and praying we will get ours by November 30 so we can leave December 12.  Please pray this will come quickly!  We are overwhelmed with what we need to do before we leave, but are so ready to go!  God has been so faithful.  We feel so blessed!

Updated Pictures!!

Bella Mei... 21 months old

   We have waited two months for an update of our little girl.  I could not believe it when I got the email this morning with three pictures and updated info.  She has gained four pounds and her hair is starting to grow!  They bundle the kids up so much it is hard to see how little she really is!  I did get her shoe size with the update.  That alone was worth the wait!  I had no idea what size to bring with us!  So precious!!  We are coming soon, Bella Mei!

Spaghetti Dinner!

      

    We spent last weekend in West Palm with Tony's parents.  They planned another garage sale for us with donated items from several of their friends.  We have been overwhelmed with the amount of support and the willingness to help!  Pam cooked a ton of pasta and did what she does best!   We all had a great time!  Being able to share our story and what God is doing through this adoption is so special to us!  We are so thankful for all who came to support us.  You are all part of this journey with us and our prayer is that God would be glorified through all of it.  He has truly blessed us with wonderful friends and family!  We love you! 

Article 5

So, for those of you that are following each step of this process, our Article 5 paperwork has been submitted to the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou, China.  It takes two weeks to be reviewed and then is picked up and sent to Bejing for Travel Approval.  Our Article 5 is scheduled to be picked up November 21.  One step closer to bringing our Bella Mei home!

A Night of Prayer

Last night our family was surrounded by family and friends that have been praying for us.  It was a prayer dinner hosted by my twin sister, her husband, my brother and his wife. Everything from the decor, delicious food from Pei Wei, centerpieces, fortune cookie cupcakes and friends that have supported us made it an evening we will never forget!  Each family who came brought something we will need to bring with us to China.  I tried to explain, through tears, that this whole journey has been so much more than just an adoption.  Although Bella Mei will be blessed with a family that loves her and has prayed for her since before she was born, we have truly been the ones blessed!  The Lord has used these last two years to draw us closer to Himself and we have learned what true faith really means.  Although our journey with Bella Mei is just about to begin, we know that God has called us to this and He will carry us through!  We are so thankful to have so many friends and family members that love and support us.  Their encouragement has helped us get through these last two years!  It was a beautiful night!  Thank you Kim, Efran, Bobby & Susan.  You are a blessing to us!  

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  Colossians 1:17

We also found out yesterday afternoon that our corrected Letter of Approval arrived at our agency!  This was an answered prayer that we found out hours before our prayer dinner.  God is so good!  We are so thankful that it came so quickly and our Article 5 packet will be dropped off very soon!  This is the last step before we are given Travel Approval!  

 

And...We Wait!

So our paperwork is in China for the last set of processing before we can get Travel Approval, but now we are waiting on a new Letter of Approval.  My last name was spelled wrong on our original LOA.  I knew we were waiting for this, but it was a week ago that I realized that this small typo would hold us up.  It has been a very hard week for me knowing that we are so close to having Bella Mei home and now all we can do is wait!
I know that God has a plan and he knew about this typo long before I did.  It surprised me, but nothing surprises him!  Although I know this down deep, I still wrestle with my flesh that says, "my plan was better!" My devotion that day I realized all of this had a truth I will never forget.  It was titled "Master of the Wind & Waves."  It said "When all is well, our faith only needs a Jesus who is asleep in the boat." I will continue to trust even as we wait!