We Have Our TA!!!!!!!

The Lord has blessed us so and just continues to do so! We were called this morning and told that we have our travel approval! Thank you so much to all of you praying for us. This is such a relief. We are hoping to travel with a group leaving on September 14th. That would make our Gotcha Day, September 18th. (For those of you not familiar, that would be the day day we meet Claire!)

I do realize that we were only on day 70 of our wait for this piece of paper, but to be honest, I was loosing heart. I was starting to feel like we would never be able to go. I would look at Claire's photo or video and wonder if I should just stop for a while, incase we did not travel right away. Just as my spirits were falling, the Lord was there to pick them up. He is so amazing.

I saw in another website recently, the lyrics to a song shared and thought, I should share a piece to one of the songs that the Lord has given to me this last week to help me through. "I will follow, You Jesus, because I believe in God's plan for me. I will follow, You Jesus, 'cause I know for sure You hold my future and You love me so." We have been singing that at our VBS and it has meant as much to me as it has the kids.

I will update any information I get as it comes in. James is planning on being home before the 10th of September. Please continue to pray for him. He is having a hard time listening to me talk a million miles an hour about a very overplanned trip (on my part) and still yet very underplanned (as far as flight arrangements and consulate appointments). Poor guy!

God bless! Lisa

Consulate Appointment: September 28th 9:00AM

Travel Dates: September 13th - 30th

Sample Itinerary

What will our time in China look like? Here is a sample itinerary!

*Thursday: Depart US for China

*Friday: Arrive in Beijing

*Saturday: Beijing Tour; Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Summer Palace

*Sunday: Church Service, Great Wall & Beijing Duck Dinner

*Monday: Morning Flight to Guangzhou. Meet Claire! Paperwork

*Tuesday - Friday: Civil Affairs, Notary Appointments, Paperwork, Sightseeing and SHOPPING!

*Saturday: Claire's medical exam & sight seeing

*Sunday: Consulate Forms

*Monday: Consulate Appointment

*Tuesday: Pick up Claire's visa

*Wednesday: We are heading HOME!!

We look forward to filling in the dates of these events very soon! We are praying that our travel approval gets here in the next two weeks. If it is here before September 8th, we will leave with the next travel group on September 14th!! God's timing is perfect. I was praying and asking that God might show me why we were not able to leave with the next travel group going on August 31st. Before the end of the day, Tacia was trying on her new sweater to wear at school. It was then that I realized how important it was for me to be with her on her first day of public school. There is quite a bit that I can get done for Jace, Jordon and Tori those first few days of school also. God is good and does know what is best for us. He is faithful!

Video of Claire in Maonan

We Have Updated Photos!!!

What an exciting morning. Not only was our family getting ready to spend a day together playing at the waterslide park, but we also received emails from a very nice man in our yahoo group, Andrew, who had just visited Claire's and his daughter's orphanage. There she was!!! Sweet little photos of our Claire, as if that was not enough, he surprised us with a video. At first I was a little nervous about her reaction to everyone. She looks almost scared and then she suddenly waves!!!!! From there on out, she is all smiles! Andrew says that she is a "beautiful and very happy girl." She gets that from me, oh, did I say that out loud? If you did not get a copy of the video sent to you, just email me and I will send it to you.

James is off to California and Jace left this morning for church camp. He should be having a great time! Tacia is nervous with both dad and Jace out of the house. She has checked every window and door twice. James said that he feels very spoiled. He is sharing a very nice two bedroom appartment with another Cheif and that he will pick up his rental car tomorrow. They only have maid service once a week, so he will have to suffer until then. I am thinking that I will be due some "maid service" when he returns!

Since James is to return once we receive travel approval, I found myself almost thinking it would have been commical to have had a message when I got home from the airport saying that it was here. Of course that was not the case. I know that God has a purpose and a plan for this time before we go. I am actually starting to enjoy it. I found great ladybugs to put in Claire's room and I have Tacia all ready with uniforms and supplies to start school.

This leaves plenty of time to organize the pantry. Maybe I will post a photo when I am done.

Thank you for your love, prayers and support! I praise God for this journey. I cannot believe the way that it has changed me as a mother and a wife. It is amazing what God can do in us when we take a leap of faith and obey!

Claire's Room

By Monday night I will have officially finished Claire's room. My friends Stephanie, Jenny, Michelle and Deana helped to motivate me this last week. Stephanie brought over a mirror for above Claire's dresser, Jenny helped me get curtains, Michelle is sewing Claire's bedskirt and Deana helped me with the letters for Claire's name. I have gotten the "holes" in the wall filled, the mirror painted and the curtains altered. All that is left is touch up paint, picking up the letters at Michael's on Monday, painting them and hanging them on the wall. I would also like to pick up some ladybug wall decals if they have them, but if not, it is not the end of the world. There are many ladybugs through out her room already!

We have just learned a couple days ago, that James is to leave for three months on Monday to California. I continue to praise God that it is not further that he is going. It does make things a bit harder in preparing to go to China, but what can we do? God has a purpose and a plan for all that He does!

Many families from our agency received their travel approval today. We can only reason to guess that we are next in line for travel approval! Praise God. There is still some strong evidence that we might be staying three weeks instead of two in China. Another family adopting a little girl from Claire's orphanage, left early as to avoid the new rule of staying an extra week. With that in mind and the upcoming October travel difficulties, we may end up solo on our travel. We would love to go in a group, but if it will get us to Claire earlier, we will do what we need to do.

Thanks for stopping by and checking in on us! We covet your prayers and cannot wait to share more news about Claire with all of you!

God bless, Lisa