Here we go!

Ok.  Here's what it looks like.

Thurs.  28th  Leave US for Beijing.
Friday. 29th  Arrive in Beijing
Sat.   30th  Tour Beijing (Great Wall, etc.)
Sun.  31st  Leave Beijing, go to hotel, then go to Chengdu orphanage and get Sophie!!
Mon.  1st  Adoption registration, notarization and apply for her passport.
Tues. 2nd  Happy Birthday Sophie!!
Wed.  3rd Tour Panda Preservation Site
Thurs. 4th Tour Wuhou Temple
Friday 5th  Receive notarized adoption documents & registration certificate.
Sat.  6th Tour Kuan Zhai Alley
Sun. 7th  Leave Chengdu for Zhengzhou
Mon. 8th  Gotcha Day for Hudson!!!
Tues. 9th  Adoption paperwork
Wed. 10th  Free day
Thurs. 11th  Free day
Fri. 12th  Receive Hudson's passport and leave Zhengzhou for Guangzhou
Sat.  13th  Kid's physicals and visa photo taken.
Sun.  14h  Free day
Mon.  15th  TB test read
Tues.  16th  Free Day
Wed.  17th  Consulate Appointment
Thurs.  18th  Free Day
Friday  19th  Leave Guangzhou for Hong Kong
Sat. 20th  Leave Hong Kong for HOME!!!


We have way too many free days because we bought our tickets before we had TA.  I wanted to make sure we had tickets to get there!  I know I will be ready to come home long before it's time. When I think about how long I will be there it makes me  homesick.  24 days is too long!

Gotta go pack.  Again.
Or unpack.  Again.
Because my luggage weighs too much.

TA!!!!

We got our TA today!!
I think I will classify that as a miracle!

I will meet her on Sunday.
That's all I know.

Details coming soon!


Oh, and horsey pictures.  I was too exhausted both Saturday and Monday to post any.
Sunday I packed ALL day.
And now it's Tuesday and I'm still packing and trying to put my house back together.

Be back as soon as I know anything else!

Article 5

Our Article 5 was issued in one day at the Consulate in Guangzhou, China yesterday and was picked up by our agency's rep  and sent directly to the CCCWA in Beijing.  This is where they will issue our TA (travel approval) and we really need  it by Wednesday.  If it comes before that it will be a miracle.  I'm praying for a miracle!
Travel Agent Todd has been working on our flights the last couple of days.  It's a little nerve wracking buying tickets before you get TA.  There is a slight chance that they won't issue it in time- which means Sophie won't be adopted.  Or they might only issue TA for her and not Hudson.  I'm pretty confident I will get TA for both kids.  And I'm praying for Monday or Tuesday.  :  )  Anyone want to join me in praying for a miracle?

Horse show tomorrow!!
Pictures to come later in the day.

Trey and his new sweet, sweet horse, Blaze!

I want everyone to know what I think of my immigration officer.

I LOVE her!
She is so sweet.
Patient.
Understanding.
Hard working.
Speedy.
Dedicated.
Professional.
Kind.
Prompt.
Honest.
Sweet and kind!

There.
Now you know.


Once she was able to get her hands on my I800- she got it done.

The NVC office is another story.
Good gravy!!
Or.....mylanta!!! (as Lori would say.)

Article 5 has been picked up and I'm praying for a quick TA.
Although I'll be getting on a plane with our without it.
Sophie's birthday is only 12 days away.

I will finish packing tomorrow, finish painting the boys' bedroom, put the bedroom back together,
put the girls' bedroom together.... and then starts the County Fair!

I called my Immigration Officer yesterday.
She doesn't have my paperwork.  Said she should've had it a long time ago.
?????????What?????????

Agency is saying there is barely enough time to get there with the last few steps needed to get done.
And it's Friday again.  Two days of no work for the government.  Two days lost to get on it.

So.....I'm asking for prayers.
Pray that my I800 provisional approval is expedited to the NVC which then needs to be sent immediately  to the Consulate in Guangzhou.
Pray that we get TA as soon as possible for BOTH kids!  There is a chance they will make us turn around and make a second trip to get Hudson.
Pray that I can get everything done I need to before I leave for 3 weeks.

Mostly, pray that all this paperwork flies through at lightening speed so that Sophie has the chance at life with a family who already loves her.

I'm weary.

Weary of wondering when.

Weary of thinking.

Thinking what, how, how much, what, who, how.  

You know....all those things that run through your mind while you're waiting.

Waiting to double the amount of kids at home.

I'm weary and just want to hurry up and go.

Hurry up and get my kids.

And then hurry up and come home.

It seems for the last 2 months my life has been at a stand still.

It seems all I do is fill out forms.

Notarize documents.  Certify documents. Authenticate documents.

Read instructions.  Read lists.  Make lists.  Check off lists.

My garden is a jungle of weeds.

My house is a mess.

My kids watch too much tv.

But, I'm packing.   And moving bedrooms around.  And painting bedrooms.  

And buying beds.

(Only not in that order.)

I just want to hurry up and go and come home so I can have my life back.

I'm weary.

4th of July

It was a great day here on White Horse Drive!

We had family and friends here to celebrate my favorite day of the year.

Rodney, Joyce, Steve, Lisa, Wesley, Caleb, Colin & Chloe:

WE MISSED YOU!!!!!!

Trey and Jonah rang the bell at Kamp this year.

That means that they accepted Jesus into their hearts!

They could have been baptized at Kamp but wanted to wait and do it at home with family and friends.

Jace did this 3 years ago after he rang the bell at Kamp.

It was the highlight of the day.

Johnnye also made the decision to get baptized this year.

She chose to do it at Kamp and have Joe White do the honors.

She is a beautiful young lady both inside and out.

We had Sack Races!...

...lots 'o love...

...sweetness...

...daredevils!...

 ...beauty queens....

...good looking boys...

...adorable little girls...

...family...

...crazy people!....

...hot dogs...

...and Wiffle Ball.

 We ended the evening with Show & Share and Smores.

And it was a wonderful day.

Summer

This is the reason I LOVE summer.

Because I hate cold.

These are Trey's jeans wet and stiff from a cold day here in Kansas this winter.

So, on Monday, when it's over 100 degrees, you won't find me complaining.