Getting Closer....

Almost to Nanning.... wow over 24 hours on planes, train, and automobiles is a long time! Everyone has done wonderful though and we are ready for SLEEP laying down. Here are some photos of the girls riding the moving sidewalk in Shanghai and us sleeping for some of the 9 hour layover there. The girls are having to get used to being celebraties. Faith already had a group of people want to take their picture with her when she was checking in with Clayton for our last flight. We keep telling Grace "Just smile and wave" and "Cute and Cuddly" to quote the penguins in Madagascar!

 

You can see all the photos by clicking on Joy's photo to the right! Thanks for your prayers.... we meet Joy Menqian in one day!

 

Love,

All of us

We're on our way.....

We love you Isaac and Joshua! Have a fun day with Nana and Papa!

 

In two days we meet Joy! On this day two years ago we were on our way home with Joshua… who would have thought?!

Test Post

Just testing to see if I can blog from my email account. One more day and the journey begins…. Joshua is trying to kick me out the door after he saw the bag of presents that we have for he and Isaac. He’s saying, “You go China NOW… me go Papa’s house open presents.” We have them a little something to unwrap once a day while we are gone. So nice to know his love can be bought. Isaac is just looking at him like he’s crazy and I just imagine him thinking, “I can’t be bought off and you, little brother, have no idea how long two weeks really is!”

 

Our flight leaves Friday at 6:30am so we are staying at my parents house to tuck the boys in and then 3:30am will come early to get up and out the door. Thanks dad for taking us… after getting into Atlanta yourself at 11pm Thurs. night.

 

I’m hoping to email posts to the blog but remember to click on Joy MenQian’s picture to the right to see all our photos and more of the journey.

 

Thank you for praying for a safe trip!

 

Our Travel Plans....

We are getting packed and ready to go. Here is our travel itinerary. One week from today we will, Lord willing, have met Joy Men Qian. Up until this point travel approval has been the finish mark. The end of the great paper chase. Next Monday it will be the starting mark. Life as a family of 7 instead of 6.

I look at these and make plans in my head but am reminded of Proverbs 19:21:

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."

Please pray with us that on Wednesday, April 28th and Thursday, April 29th we will be able to meet those that have cared for Joy MenQian including possibly her foster family. We also would love to have a party with some of her friends by being able to take them to McDonald's, the park, or something. Please pray that God would make a way for these things to happen. Meeting those that have cared for Joy and having a party for her friends are at the orphanage's convenience and discretion.

April 25: Family arrives in Nanning on Flight CZ3209 (1:30am), guide will meet them at airport and transfer to Majestic Hotel. Rest during the day.

April 26: In the morning, do paperwork at the hotel. In the afternoon, go to the Civil Affairs to meet their child and sign the agreement.

April 27: Go to the Civil Affairs again for the adoption registration, notarization and apply for the child’s passport.

April 28: Take the morning train from Nanning to Guilin, transfer to Guilin Bravo Hotel. Visit Reed Flute Cave and Elephant Trunk Hill in the afternoon.

April 29: One day Li River Cruise with lunch on the boat.

April 30: Travel from Guilin to Nanning by morning train. Pick up the passport in the afternoon. Fly from Nanning to Guangzhou on Flight ZH9579 (19:55-20:55), transfer to Victory Hotel.

May 1: Take visa photo for the child. Go to Guangzhou International Healthcare Center for medical exam and TB skin test.

May 2: Visit the Safari Park.

May 3: Pick up TB test result.

May 4: 9:00 visa appointment at US Consulate.

May 5: Oath-taking ceremony at the Consulate.

May 6: Pick up the visa in the afternoon. Take Flight CA1328 (19:00-22:00) from Guangzhou to Beijing. Transfer to Holiday Inn Lido Hotel.

May 7: Visit Tian An Men Square and the Great wall with lunch.

May 8: Leave Beijing for home on Flight CO88 (15:45), transfer to airport.

Phew... I feel tired, overwhelmed, blessed, and unbelievably excited just looking at it!! I am going to try to email posts from China to the blog but we will also be putting all our pictures in the Shutterfly account. You can get there by clicking on Joy's picture on the side bar. I am excited about this because the girls will all have little digital cameras and I'll put their photos into their own folders on our Shutterfly page. It'll be neat to see how each child views the trip... maybe it will give us a glimpse into Joy's personality and heart.

Travel Dates!!

Sorry it took me 3 days instead of 1 to post our plans. True to the nature of adoption it took a little more time. We had to make sure we could get a hotel in Guangzhou during the last part of the Trade Show.

We have our tickets bought and are leaving on Friday, April 23 and will return on Sunday, May 9 (Mother's Day). Our Consulate Appointment is May 4th. As you can see from the photo above I am busying packing... well not really packing it's more like taking inventory. Joy MenQian's bag is packed though and as you can see from the wrapper on the bed so are the M&M's. I have heard that M&M's and Skittles can be used as distractions so we have quite few. After all an 8 year old or anyone else for that matter can't possibly do all her grieving and understanding of her life's journeys in a two week time period anyway so we might as well provide as many distractions (comfort foods and games) as possible. I have fingernail polish, hair bows, travel games, etc. Any other ideas that are cheap and easy to pack are much appreciated!

Please continue to pray for our journey, Joy MenQian's adjustment, trust, and attachment, and the boys with our parents and friends. Thanks for all your support, kind words and emails! We feel very loved and supported in every way.

Travel Approval and Windows into a Mom's Heart

I actually wrote this post Sunday afternoon since I had some time and was contemplating adoption. (We received our TA today, Monday and could travel as early as next Thurs., April 22nd. Still waiting to see if we get the Consulate Appointment for May 4th. I'll post tomorrow to let everyone know exact dates!)

Joy MenQian and China are even heavier on all of our hearts these days. We went to my parents this weekend and when we told Joshua we were going to Nana and Papa's he said, "You go China.". "No honey not yet but soon," I tell him.

I was purging and reclaiming MenQian's portion of the girls' room today which led me to alot of heartfelt, tearful prayer. The kind only a mom can pray for her babies. It is so amazing to me that I can love this child so much and only know about 7 pages worth of information about her. I have very few pictures of MenQian, none of which are of when she was younger. Adoption is best defined by the grafting in of someone that is not born in your womb but in your heart is something incredible. I took one last look at her bed as I left their room and just cried. I have a photo of her and her foster grandmother in there... I looked at it and just cried. I so want to meet those that have had an influence and will continue to have an influence, even from afar, in her life. People always joke about being overseas and getting to the Atlanta airport and wanting to kiss the ground. Me, I will want to do that when we arrive in China. I will soon share two children with the people of China and it makes China feel like a second home. I've always been intrigued by the people of China and it's culture and now even more so.

We will most likely have an opportunity to go to a Christian church in Guangzhou and I couldn't be more excited. Persecuted Christians have to be the most respected, amazing people in my opinion.

Our pastor preached on Ephesians 3:17-21 at church Sunday. The last verse sums up God's working in our lives and I just love being adopted into God's family.

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen."

God's plans always seem much bigger and much more amazing than anyone but Him could have ever dreamed for those that love Him and that know His Son, Jesus Christ, as their Savior from sin and death.

Please continue to pray with us for:

-A safe and wonderful journey in China
-Joy MenQian's adjustment, grief, and attachment to us
-For peace, fun, and safety for Isaac and Joshua with our parents and friends while we are away

We so appreciate your prayers. Whatever lies ahead I know it'll be comforting to know others' have made this journey before us and are praying for us all.

What to do when you're feeling discouraged?

Besides moose tracks ice cream I am really trying to stay very busy these days. Earlier this week everyone with the Article 5 date that we were supposed to have received their travel approvals so I just feel kind of bummed. We are making some guessing about when it could come but quite frankly I'm tired of guessing. So we went camping with some friends for spring break and had a very fun time just hanging out with them.









As I was cleaning out the camper today I did think about the fact that Lord willing next time we go camping we will have 5 kids in here. Didn't Clayton do an amazing job turning our 4 bunk camper into a 5 bunk one? He moved the top two bunks down some and then put in a fifth on top of the shelving unit in the back. Grace sleeps in the highest bunk and loves it. It's so nice to have a handy husband.






I also finished Joy's crosstitched verse for over her bed while we were there. I am reading this verse often as a reminder of it's truth.





Grace asked today why we didn't know when we were leaving yet. I once again explained the mix up between our agency and the person that was supposed to take our paperwork to the U.S. Consulate and the week and a half delay that happened as a result. She expressed her frustration that for about a month I've been saying we could travel in about 3-4 weeks to her. I proceeded to explain to her that I am as disappointed and frustrated as she is. I admit at those moments I'd really like to see God's greater plan. About 5 minutes later I heard her playing Jesus loves me on the piano and was grateful for the truthful reminder of God's working and love even when we can't see it in a situation.

I am so ready to get to China but I'm sure whenever we go will seem like the perfect time. Just ready to find out when that is!