We are headed to China

We just got the call - we are headed to China!!! Our tentative date is leaving the 22nd of December, but we have requested a week earlier.  Pray that this can happen, but we are just happy to be near the end and will travel when we they tell us.

Now we really have to get house in order!!

Ornament Fundraiser

Worthy of the Prize is selling the attached Africa Glass Ornament as a fundraiser for our current adopting families to raise the $ they need to bring their children home! ALL proceeds go to the adopting families that we support {will be split evenly between them} and you will get your ornament in time for Christmas. They are ONLY available for purchase through December 7th. No custom orders {sorry!}.

 

Please buy one and/or more importantly, share this fundraiser on your blog/facebook/twitter/etc to help us spread the word!!

 

Go here to purchase: http://www.worthyoftheprizeshop.com/product/africa-glass-ornament

Artwork

When I opened my email this morning, we received an email the agency who did our care package for us.  Rui had drawn some pictures for us, with instructions from her teacher.  They included a note from her as well.  She hopes we love her pictures, and is looking forward to seeing her mommy and daddy very soon.  She also loved the presents we sent. 


The pictures made my day!! Here is one of them.

Come on TA!!

I thought I would give everyone a quick update. Last week our Article 5 was picked up and sent to the Civil Affairs office.  The Article 5 is Rui's visa info, and now we are waiting for them to approve her to travel and us to go and get her.  Once we get this, we will submit our day for our consulate appointment.  After all this - WE BUY PLANE TICKETS!!!  This wait is approximately 2-3 weeks, but could be shorter or longer (please be shorter!!)  We are praying we leave on my birthday (Dec. 14th) or before.  This would allow for cheaper plane tickets as well, and we would get back home before the end of the year.

Rui's room is almost ready for her.  I have had some nice people send me some hand-me-downs, which has been great.  I need to get her things put on her wall that I have.  I will try to post a pic one day.  It is hard to believe we could possible have our girl in less than a month.

We are so blessed to be able to do this, and looking forward to what Rui will add to our family and us to her life.  Thank you to everyone who has been praying for us along this journey. Keep on Praying!!

(Also, please pray for our girls as we go to get our travel shots.  This is not something they are looking forward too.  I have heard the typhoid shot is not very fun.)

VISA Application

We have filled out an enormous amount of paperwork for this adoption.  There is one set that has been a thorn in my side - VISA application! I have filled out this paperwork 3 if not 4 times and printed multiple due to mistakes I find.  We filled it out the first time and sent it in to be processed, but then the Embassy changed it's mind on something. Our agency sent it back. They also went from a 2 page application to a 4 page, because they want more info, like where you are staying, where you work, do you have insurance, etc. We also went from being able to use the Embassy to having to use the consulate in New York with a new courier.  So, we were going to wait till getting our TA before submitting it due to some extra paperwork we thought we were going to have to do.  Thankfully, with hubby in school, he can go on a student visa - YEA! This saves money and a few headaches.  Now, last week we receive an email from our agency telling us they can now do our visa paperwork and courier it for us at their rates.  PTL!! This saves us money, and we can go ahead and submit the application.  Funny thing is - I had already filled out the paperwork for the other courier, and with the new turn of events - I had to redo the application again.  If any one needs a visa application filled out for China - I am a pro!

Many are asking if we have a travel date, and the answer is - NO! We are closer though.  We should hopefully know something by the end of Nov. or first of Dec.  We are waiting on what is called Travel Approval and to now wait for our visas to come back.

Keep Praying!! Is it too early to pack?

MORE PICTURES

So happy to get these in the mail this morning.  Can we go get her NOW?!?!?! We could be leaving in as little as 6 weeks.  So much to get done.  We are coming RUI!! She has the album we sent her.