A letter to our girls and... an epic lantern fail, lol

Dear Emily and Olivia,

Sweet girls, we are close.

This week we found out that an important paper has been picked up at the US Consulate and has now been taken to the powers that be in the government of The Peoples Republic of China. This begins our wait for TRAVEL Approval. I can't believe it's really happening. This approval could come in 3 days or 25 days. Daddy and I are praying for the least days possible. Most recently it took 7 days for the group just ahead of us. We will head to China about a week after approval. Girls we are over the moon excited!

I can't begin to describe our emotions and feelings right now but know that we are honored God has picked us to be your mommy and daddy. Of all the parents in all the world... For some reason He picked us. We will do our best to be the very best parents we can be. We are SO lucky. Emily, I remember reading in your file when we got it that "this child will surely bring good fortune" I've no Doubt that's true of both of you! 

Daddy and I talk every night about what you both will be like. I can't wait to get to know you and put my arms around you. We have loved each of you since the moment we saw your face. Actually, if you can believe it, since before we saw your picture. When you get THE CALL, I think most adoptive moms KNOW, in the midst of that conversation or even when we see the phone number pop up on caller ID.  It's an awesome thing to get that call. It's much like a movie, everything goes in slow motion while the rest of the world speeds around you. The agency tells all about the child and then asks "would you like us to send the file to consider this precious little one"?  You try try to sound sane and calm while screaming YES!!! SEND IT!!!  Then you wait... Wait for the email... Refresh refresh refresh. With both of you, that love was instant.  We can't wait to spend the rest of our lives showing you that love. 

The months have sped by. We are hoping the weeks and days left will do the same. We are still busy preparing our home for you. Working on the last of the painting, cleaning and the finishing of your room! I sure hope you love it, it has all certainly been a labor of love. 

We are praying for your transition and for God to hold you close. We can't wait to hold you sweet babies. Our dreams are finally coming true! My cup runneth over.  

We love you so very much. 

Mommy and Daddy

Ps. Grandma and some mommy's friends are having a shower for you two. Diana ordered some precious lanterns for us to release at the shower in honor of you both. They are called wishing lanterns. Today at work I had the great idea to send up a wish for a speedy travel approval and to test them out. Kazual and Diana and I went outside and...well... Let's just say it didn't go well. Here's a video. Hopefully the wish went further than the lantern! Hahahahaha

Note: Nothing was caught on fire in the making of this video :-)

http://youtu.be/ocWAJ93MTEw

Click the link for a laugh! 

Getting close!

We are getting close. So very close. 

Today the group of adoptive parents just ahead of us got their Travel Approval.  They are leaving for China next Wednesday. We will have our article5 pick up next Monday and then begin out TA wait. While they have been relatively predictable recently, this part is unpredictable. It's the hardest, obviously, because it's the last step. Wow, did you hear that? LAST STEP! But I have to prepare myself. It could be a week, it could be three days, it could be three weeks. God's ways are not my ways, ha!

I've made so many wonderful friends through this journey! Some that will travel after us and some that we might just get to travel together and meet face to face! These women... They're amazing. They keep me sane (ish) haha. Some have adopted before and are my compass in this adventure. Some are newbies right along with me and we share in the wonder, frustration, and excitement  in every step. I can't wait to see who I'll be traveling with. I'm hoping God has some experienced mommies and daddies in mind for us (I'm looking at you Katie Green!) Lord knows we will need help, advice, etc! It's an incredible community to be a part of. There are not words to describe it.

So... We are getting close to having the house ready, there will be a garage sale, baby shower, packing, much praying, crying and laughing.  I cannot believe that in a matter of a few weeks we will get on a plane, a couple, just the two of us and come home parents of TWO! I love how God works. I love that when His plan is revealed, it's ALWAYS better than what I had in mind. 

I saw this poem on fb recently, it touched me so.  God's hand is all over this, I can see it, I can feel it in every fiber of my being. 

 

Please continue to pray for our girls. That God will prepare them, that they will somehow, supernaturally know us. That He will comfort them and keep them safe. Pray for the end part of our process. That there will be no more slow downs and we will be on our way to China in the next few weeks.  

Thank you all, thanks for praying, buying tshirts, cheering us on! We love you and appreciate you! Thanks for being a part of such an important part of our lives.  

With Love and Excitement, 

Jenn & Rob

Last two steps and a great story.

This morning, I got this email.  This is notice that Olivia's paperwork has been sent to the US Consulate in China (as if you didn't just read that :-) ).  They now have paperwork on both girls and the last of the paperwork is in process. WOW.  On Monday a representative from our agency will drop off our "Article 5" paperwork at the Consulate in China and we will wait for the US Government to finish up their part.  This will take about 2 weeks.  They will actually give us a date that it will be picked up so it wont be a mysterious day in the future.  Thankfully.  The day it's picked up begins our Travel Approval wait.  That's the last one.  HOLY COW! I can't believe how fast time is flying by and that in a matter of weeks we will hold our sweet babies in our arms on the other side of the planet.  There aren't words to describe my feelings and emotions now.  I've been on "hold" emotionally the last few weeks while we've been waiting on getting to this point.  When I read the email this morning, I took a deep breath and have been on the brink of tears since.  This is the most special time of our life (this far!).  

Now, I have to share with you, about the gifts we received yesterday.

Yesterday I got to see a friend from College.  Peter Johns and I go Wayyyyy back.  Back in college (At Texas Tech University) I was very involved at the Wesley Foundation.  The Wesley Foundation is the Methodist Campus Ministry at TTU.  Some people at Wesley met some cool Brits while traveling/ on a mission trip/ help me Peter, i can't remember how it all started :-).  Well, long story short, the two guys moved to the USA and worked at the Wesley.  Peter was the music/worship guy and let me tell you... you've not worshipped until you've been in worship with Peter.  He is an incredibly talented guy and I don't think there's an instrument he can't play.  Never mind the music/ musicals he actually writes himself... He's amazing and talented in other ways as you're about to find out.  After graduation from Tech I went on staff at the Wesley and Peter and I worked together during my time there.  

In the 20+ years since (OMG.. how has it been that long??) we have reconnected via FB.  It's been so great to see how life/ God has carried us here and there.  Peter is now a US Citizen and living/working in Houston at Chapelwood UMC. OK.. I'll get to the point.  

Peter has been asking questions about the girls and cheering us on in this adventure throughout the process. He let me know he had a "surprise" for me and would be coming through town on July 10th.

Yesterday he gave us some amazing gifts.  Gifts that we will treasure.  I've known for a while that Peter learned to knit in memory of his Mom and has been a part of a knitting ministry at his church.  The ministry he's a part of knits Prayer Shawls for various members of their community/congregation.  They pray over these shawls as they're put together and give them to people that are going through cancer treatments, etc.  Yesterday I received two prayer shawls for our girls.  Peter knitted them himself.  They are BEAUTIFUL, as you can see.  :-) 

Now keep in mind, I was at work when I got them, so I had to hold it together while I was there (I had a client coming in to meet with me, so I couldn't be a basket case, lol) I could feel it coming though.  This is such a touching gift.  I can feel the love, thought, and prayer that went into them.  It's indescribable.  What a cool ministry! 

Here is the card that is attached to each blanket.  So So Amazing.

One of the most amazing parts of this journey is seeing how God has knit/is knitting together our story.  We think we know who cares about us and this journey has shown me that I have NO idea who is out there cheering me/us on! People that I wouldn't have dreamed, have been a part of this process.  People I've never even met and people that have been in our life for 20 years or for 41.  People sending emails, following our blog, buying tshirts, helping SELL tshirts, sending gifts, people praying for us, for our girls, and on and on.... I have certainly seen the body of Christ at work.  Some of you have NO clue how you have encouraged us and blessed us.  Thank you.  Thank ALL of you. 

There is NO way we can look at each detail and not KNOW in every fiber of our being that THIS is the path God has carved out for us.  His hand print is on every single detail. EVERY.  SINGLE.  ONE.  I'm overwhelmed by that and so thankful that God has made a way.  I'm so thankful that He chose US.. to be Emily & Olivia's parents.  

AND.... as if the prayer shawls weren't already too much... Peter knitted these for the girls.  

Adorable, huh?

Thank you Peter... there aren't words to express my gratitude.

During the next few weeks we will finish getting the house ready, preparing our hearts and then comes packing.  EEEK! So exciting!

So as you pray, please pray for the girls.  pray that God will prepare them for us, that he will cover them with His amazing love and keep them healthy and safe.

Thank you all so much for following along.  Each of you is such an important part of the girl's story.

With Love and Gratitude.
Jenn & Rob

New Emily pics!

Yep. She's adorable!

That's all. 

Jenn

Slowly but SURELY

We are getting SO CLOSE.

I keep pinching myself.  As hard as I try, I cannot wrap my mind around the changes that are just ahead.  We are excited beyond any excitement I've known.  There are so many unknowns and as we get closer, our prayers become more specific.  If you're praying for us, here's a few specific prayer requests.

1.) That God will prepare our girls.  That he will somehow, supernaturally, make them ready for "Gotcha Day" and our family. Pray that they'll "know" us, somewhere deep inside them, that we will be familiar.  Pray that God will protect their little hearts from the trauma of being taken from all that they know.
2.) That God will prepare US! We are old, we are set in our ways, we are selfish.  Life is going to change dramatically and I've no idea what's ahead.  That's super exciting but it's also super scary.  Pray that God will prepare our hearts for whatever Gotcha Day brings, be it tears, screaming, laughter.
3.) That we will use our time wisely to get "ready".  I realize we will never REALLY be ready but at least that we'll be as ready as possible.  (i.e. the house organized, room finished, meals prepared and frozen)
4.) That God will continue to provide financially.

Thank you in advance for lifting us up.

Now... where are we in the process?  I've no idea, lol.  This last bit is confusing to me, it's faster paced and i keep reading and re-reading the instructions I got from our agency.  No matter how it happens or how you mix it up... we are CLOSE.

We now have i800 provisional approval.  That's permission from the US gov't to make Emily and Olivia a part of our family. It's now on it's way to the National Visa Center to apply for visa's for the girls.  This info will go from NVC to the US consulate in China.  After a few weeks it will be back in China's hands and we will wait for Travel Approval (that'll take a couple weeks).  Once we have travel approval... off we go! Our visas are en-route back to us (this is scary to trust in the USPS b/c our passports are in that package, that's another prayer request... that they get back to us!)

It's exciting, this time next month we'll be packing and preparing for the adventure of a lifetime!

Thank you so much for all the love and support! Thank you for buying Tshirts and sending emails and contributing financially and prayerfully.  We just can't thank you enough.

With Love and Thanks,
Jenn & Rob