Leaving on a Jet Plane

Can you believe its here!!!!!

One Week from Today and I'll be leaving on a jet plane!!!!!!!!!!

OK We got our Final Travel Packet, I haven't even read it yet, thought I would update this first, because it looks like a lot of reading!!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited I just cant stand it!

03/26/08 Leaving Charleston (bright and early) 645 am arrive in Newark at 838


03/27/08 Arrive in Beijing, China at 2:00 pm

Our guide Helen will pick us up at the airport and us to Novotel Peace Hotel
(picture to right) for 3 nights.


03/28/08 Tour Beijing (she named them off but I didn't get them)
Tienanmen Square plus some other


03/29/08 Tour Beijing - Great Wall



03/30/08 Travel (hopefully by Train) to Tianjin
Well be staying at the Tianjin Holiday Inn (picture to right) 8 nights!



03/31/08 GOTCHA DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Complete paperwork for orphanage and apply for her passport in the afternoon


04/01/08 Registration Office for adoption registration & notarization


Looks like Helen will be still be our Guide. Note: It says our adoption is final at the time of registration. After that point, the Chinese government prohibits you from relinquishing your child to China. I'd like to see someone try and get her back. :)

04/02/08 Rest, relax, free time - it says to ask Helen for details. ????

04/03/08 Same thing, lots of rest


04/04/08 More Rest, hmmmmm or maybe some shopping

04/05/08 And More Rest - More Shopping, maybe we can find a park.

04/06/08 Waiting for paperwork

04/07/08 Travel to Guangzhou (Aboard China Southern- Gracies first plane ride) Guess
what our Guides name is???? Grace. She will take us to the famous White Swan
(picture to right)

04/08/08 Have her picture taken and get her physical.
Its says we'll be walking there, brings supplies and be ready to go.
Meet with Grace to prepare for CA.

04/09/08 Consulate Appointment

04/10/08 Oath Ceremony - No cameras allowed - that bites.

04/11/08 Travel to Hong Kong (midday - 24 hours after oath)

Leave for Hong Kong on China Southern.
Stay at the Kowloon Hotel

04/12/08 Tour Hong Kong (illness permitting)

04/13/08 Leave Hong Kong and Arrive in the USA 633 PM!!!!!! Continental 2751
Grace becomes a US citizen as soon as we step foot in Newark, NJ at 205 PM. Wow, I
may not want to leave home for a long time!

I haven't found anyone else in our group yet, maybe we're a group of 1. However, there will be lots of other adopting parents there.


To those ladies leaving this week, you'll be in my prayers for a safe trip. Keep in touch. I cant wait to see pics of you and your sweet babies. Heather, I'll see you Guangzhou.


Please keep us in your prayers. I hope my DH can put up with me that long. Just kidding. Don't let him fool you, he's just as excited as I am, except having to miss work. He's having issues with that.

I know Gracie is going to love all of you, it will just take a little while.

We got TA!!!!!!!!!

Well we finally got our TA after a very, very, very long wait. What an exciting day. Even though we were expecting them, it was still a thrill to get that phone call. It took my breath away.

Who would have thought two words could mean so much. TRAVEL APPROVAL!!!!

Congrats to the other ladies who got their TA's today. Stephanie, Heather, Marilyn and Patricia, I am SO Happy for you. They will all be leaving in the next week. Wish I were going with you, but I'm still thrilled for you. Where we are going, the government will not expedite Gracie's passport and you have to be there X amount of days, and with that Tomb Sweeping Holiday, it just wouldn't work out.

I need to start getting quotes on airlines, but still cant confirm anything until we get our CA appt. (Consulate Appointment) That could be the 9th, 10th or 14th! We're hoping for the 9th of course. So our trip looks something like this.

Leave around the 26th for Beijing. Onto Tianjin on the 30th, GOTCHA day on the 31st (Cant wait to hold that sweet baby). We're there until the 7th and then off to Guangzhou until I think she said the 11th or 12th. We'll then leave there and (thanks to my dear sweet hubby) its off to Hong Kong for one night for a little sight seeing before heading home with our sweet baby girl.

It wont be long now baby girl!!!!!! About 18 more days until your momma and daddy come get you.

New Referrals are in

Our agency finally got a new list of SN referrals, it is taking them a while to get through it.

I just want to say a Big Congratulations to Patricia at http://littlecabininthewoods.typepad.com/threeempresses on her referral. She is just beautiful.

Passing this along-

Bethany Christian Services are pleased to announce the Sheldon family has received their visas and are returning home from China this weekend. “We will continue to work with the family to make sure all their needs are met,” said John VanValkenburg, Public Relations Specialist for Bethany Christian Services. “This has been a difficult situation for the Sheldon family and Bethany would like to thank everyone for their prayers and support for this family, including the efforts of Michigan Congressmen, Vern Ehlers and Mike Rogers.”

Due to these special circumstances, Bethany is accepting contributions to support the family until December 31, 2007. Checks can be made payable to Bethany Christian Services and please indicate the Sheldon family on the memo line. Checks can be sent to Bethany 's Donor Records at 901 Eastern Ave NE, PO Box 294 Grand Rapids Michigan 49501 . Bethany Christian Services will give all donations to the family for their “Hope for Hannah” fund.

Dare to love completely

Update on family in China now....

The update when I got home yesterday was:
Sandi's mom asked that no more phone calls be made on her daughters behalf. There had been that many in one afternoon. The adoption communitiy is one that pulls together when something goes wrong. What a great group of people.

This mornings update from another poster.
"I am part of Sandi's travel group. I spoke to her this morning.> >She had a meeting at the consulate this morning and was told with > >95% certainty that she will come home with Hannah as scheduled on> >Saturday. I also should've made clear from the beginning that there> >has been absolutely fantastic and dedicated bi-lingual agency> >representative here with Sandi the entire time who is helping her> >through this process. Thanks to all who helped with the effort to> >bring her home. Our agency representative said all the phone calls> >did make a difference"
What great news that is!

Prayers Needed for this family......

I'm asking you for prayer for a fellow adoptive mom in China now picking up her daughter. Her husband had been traveling with her and died suddenly due to complications of his diabetes. We have received the following information from a family traveling with them in China and we need all the help we can get to bring this mom and baby home. Here is the message...

The US Consulate in Guangzhou has denied Sandi Sheldon permission to proceed with the adoption of Hannah. They want her to fill out a new I-171 and are making no guarantees after that. Sandi, of course does not want to leave China and leave Hannah here because she has no where to go. Sandi needs our help desparately! Please start a massive campaign of calling to her US Congressman and US Senator and urge them to intervene on Sandi's behalf. We have discussed this with Sandi and she wants our help. Please pressure these elected officials to contact the State Department and straighten this out. Sandi should not be denied Hannah's adoption because her husband passed away unexpectedly. The adoption has been finalized here in China. Sandi's congressman is Mike Rogers. His Washington office number is 202 225 4872. His Michigan office number is 517 702 8000, he also has a toll free number 1-877-333-MIKE. Sandi's US Senator is Debbie Stabenow. Her Washington DC number is 202 224 4822 and her Michigan office number is 517 203 1760. Everyone should try to help and call these people until we get final approval.

We should continue to pray that her adoption is finalized quickly and that Sandi can return home to Michigan with Hannah.

How Awesome is this diaper bag!!!!!!!!

August was the final month for our Secret Pal gift exchange. As always, my secret pal has outdone herself.

The Watts Family - Julie, Glynn and their beautiful daughter Annalee. Thank you so much for all the beautiful things that you have sent for Grace, we will always think of you when she uses them.

Thank you and lots of love to you in this journey to your second child from China.

This is what the CCAA website says, another month of 7 days referred!


The CCAA has finished the review of the adoption application documents registered with our office before June 30, 2006.
The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were registered with our office before November 21, 2005.

I was just looking at more adoption videos, yes I'm slowly going insane. I'm sitting here a blubbering fool.

I just watched one that is set to the prettiest song I have ever heard, of course it only adds to the tears, so be forewarned.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0jbtClsnRU&NR=1

I also found a website where you could purchase it:
http://adoptionshop.com/adoption_products/lullabies-for-chinas-daughters-their-adoptive-families.html

Congratulations to Glory and Kurt!

They are one of our church families that are adopting from China. They just got their referrals for a little boy! They are hoping to travel in March. We'll pray they have a safe and speedy trip.

There is another CCAI family in Goose Creek! Glenda & Bo / They are leaving on Thursday to bring home their daughter from China. They will be home on Christmas Eve. What an awesome Christmas Present. Let's keep them in our prayers for a safe trip. God is gonna have Gracie surrounded by little playmates that look just like her.

I just left Homeland Security a message as well as our Social Worker, trying to find out our status! I guess my patience has worn thin.

There is another CCAI family in Goose Creek! Glenda & Bo / They are leaving on Thursday to bring home their daughter from China. They will be home on Christmas Eve. What an awesome Christmas Present. Let's keep them in our prayers for a safe trip. God is gonna have Gracie surrounded by little playmates that look just like her.

I just left Homeland Security a message as well as our Social Worker, trying to find out our status! I guess my patience has worn thin.

Another Awesome God Moment . . . I got a phone call from a very nice lady tonight. You wont believe this, Not only is she a member of Cathedral, and adopting from China, She lives in Moncks Corner!!!!!

God puts us right where we belong and when we are suppose to be there! I cant wait to get to know her, there is also another couple in the adoption process from Cathedral.

Time for bed, our next visit with our SW is early in the morning!!!!