Woah!

I can't believe it.

Tomorrow we head to Houston.

Wednesday morning we board a plane to China.

I cannot believe it's here.  This time next week Rob and I will be parents of two BEAUTIFUL girls.

HOLY COW!!

Deep Breaths.

I'm just about packed.  Still have a small list of stuff to do in the morning.... ok... it's sizable.  LOL

Please pray for our trip, for our girls, for the rest of the details to fall into place.

God's grace is amazing.

It's REALLY here!!

My heart is about to burst!

Watch out China! Team Taylor is headed your way!

Yesterday was a whirlwind. Well, back up 24 hours and from that point it's a whirlwind! 

Yesterday was the Whirley-est part ( is that a word? Lol) 

I've been on the phone with travel agents and airlines and hotels and man talk about pressure! We've been watching flight prices over the last week and even had some tentative arrangements.  Yesterday morning flight prices were significantly higher and climbing by the minute. We weren't technically able to book our flights until we had a "confirmed US consulate appt" and agency approval but I may or may not have actually remembered to follow that while in my whirlwind. However it happened, everyone is great with our flight scheduled. :-) 

I cannot wrap my mind around the idea that this time next week we will be in China! This time next week will be Emily's second birthday! We hoped we could celebrate with her on her birthday but it looks like we will celebrate a few days late! I'm happy we will at least be on the same continent on her bday.  Making flight arrangements for our girls was surreal. I felt like I was doing it for someone else, not MY girls! Ha! 

Now that all the arrangements are made, I've GOT to get my head out of the clouds and get some stuff done! Tuesday will be here before we know it! Any packing experts in the Snyder area?!?

We covet your prayers as we prepare to travel and meet our children. Pray for our our preparation to travel, pray for rest, and for all the things I'm forgetting. Please pray for our daughters and their transition into our arms.  

We are SO close. God is so, so good. 

With love and excitement,

Jenn & Rob

Fingers crossed.

As you probably guessed, we didn't get Travel Approval yesterday. :-(  We DID get some sort of obscure email from our agency saying "while we don't have your TA yet, we expect to soon.  How do these travel dates look to you... If we get it soon enough? " 

Talk about stress-me-out!?!?!?!

So, I'm hoping the "package" containing our TA was simply late and maybe today we will get it. 

Fingers crossed!

Nervous Nelly

I can fully appreciate the fears an expectant mother has. Humor me for a second and consider if you were to give birth to a 2 year old... Walking, talking, personality to the max and multiplied by two.... Admit it, you'd be even more scared. :-) 

I'm a bundle of nerves. I'd like to think that travel approval will lead to some relief but, I doubt it. 😜 I won't speak for Rob too, but based on our on-edged-ness in general, I'd say we are BOTH nervous. I look at the week ahead of me and am not sure how I'll accomplish it all... My mom is hosting the shower at her house ( it's Saturday @2, come if you want to!)  so I've got to help her get that ready, she has, in turn, promised to get my house ready while we are gone. I've no choice but to let her, though I wish it wasn't so. Shower, travel arrangements (if we get TA tomorrow ), packing, organizing, cleaning, praying, etc... Thankfully my work is so very understanding. I have the best boss! Some time Monday afternoon I'll begin my maternity leave which will help me accomplish all that I need to. 

The undercurrent of the week is the awesome, amazing thought that soon, I will be a mommy. A mommy. Wow. A dream come true. So, now that the dream has come true, what do I do?!?!  I'm so worried I'll not know what to do and since they're mobile what if I don't pay attention for one second. Sheesh. Normally I'd be busy dreading a 14 hour flight. I'm actually looking forward to having 14 hours to prepare my mind and heart for the gift(s) of a lifetime. Life hasn't lent itself to much reflection time in the last 9 months.... I'm looking forward to catching up. 

As you pray this week, if you could add this to your list, I'd be grateful. 

1) pray for travel approval on Monday. 

2) pray that the pieces of this crazy puzzle will fall into place. 

3) pray that God will multiply the hours of my days so that I can get done with time to breathe 

4) pray for our girls transition, that God will supernaturally let them know us. 

5) pray for whatever else I should be asking you to pray for. 😄

We did get the girls room 80% done, here are some pics but know that they don't do it justice! Still need safety rails and some stuff hung on the walls! I put out all my old collectible dolls from my childhood. Even my original cabbage patch kids! Haha. It's sure fun putting it together. 

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