Travel Plans!!!

We now have travel plans! I was dissapointed to know that our group is meeting in Hong Kong instead of Beijing. Well, Jeff and I decided that we will leave a few days early and go to Beijing first!!!! I have been teaching the kids about China's history in school and so this will be a once in a lifetime opportunity. Who knows when we will get back there! We will be leaving March 11 for Beijing, March 14 for Hong Kong, March 16 for Nanchang (where we will pick up Rebekah!), and the rest of the travel plans we don't know yet. We will be coming home on the 27th! Just in time for KOA! KOA is when the whole church goes to a KOA campsite. WOW! Now for the packing and details of leaving the house for that long, kid's plans, dog's plans........

Consulate Appointment Approved!

We have all of the documents approved and have an appoinment for the Consulate!!!! This means we can start finalizing travel plans!!! I am so excited. We will be in Hong Kong on March 14th and leave Hong Kong for home on the 27th. More updates later.

Immigration comes through!

We got our I171h!!!!!! This means we can travel! I called CCAI today to see what to do next about our immigration paperwork. While talking I found out that if we get our I 171h this week we can travel with a group leaving March 13. Shortly after I hung up the phone I saw our mail truck go by. It rarely gets here before 3:00pm. Not thinking we would get anything today I opened up our mailbox and there it was. Of course I screamed!!!! Then the kids screamed! Jeff is now the one to be in panic mode! The next thing we need is our Consulate Appointment and we can book our airline tickets! Thanks for praying. WOW! The Lord is sweet!

TA!!!!!!!!

We got our TA yesterday! This is the document that says Rebekah is ready and can come home!!!!!! She is ours!!!!!!! Exciting. But now we are waiting on our USCIS (immigration office of our country) to sign a form for an extension. Something we have already done...just an extension. I can't get a hold of anybody to let me know when this will be filled out so the kids and I went to Representative Dennis Cardoza's office yesterday! The woman who took my info said she would handle all of it and she has done this before! We are hoping to get this info by the end of the week so we can join a group that is traveling together! Pray for this document that it gets signed today and mailed out today! I am learning a whole lot in this process about our government but I am finally ready to start learning about our little girl! Thank you for ALL of your comments! And to think.....the Lord choose this mom who is not very patient!!!! Growing pains hurt sometimes! (Labor pains too...maybe that is what this is! This is an extremely LONG labor...just wish she'd be born! HaHA.)

The New Look!

My blog got a face lift! This is fun trying to be computer savvy!

Well, yesterday was pretty frustrating! I have not received our I171 yet and we should be getting our TA any day. I called our social worker and at first she wasn't going to do anything for us. After a bit of persuasion she gave us the website for uscis. The website said that you need a receipt number to check your case. I don't have that! Then, the "chart" said that they are only through Oct. 17 07. That would mean another month before we get ours. After a few panic tears I called our social worker again...she left for a meeting so the dear Karen Ashby sent me to someone else! She gave me a list of things I need to do, included is to call Senator Feinstein's office to get the paperwork moving! All of these legalities and I have NO CONTROL. Kind of hard for a mommy to not be in control of one of her babies! The Lord has been sweet. My mom called today and picked me up a turtle. She had no idea what happened yesterday but picked up a gift for me. Turtles have special meaning between my grandma and me. She passed away shortly before we started this process. She would give me a turtle at every "hard" event in my life! All of my "growing pains" have been marked by turtles! Wasn't that sweet of our Lord to bring me a little sentimental gift to let me know that all is under His care! That is what this is - another growing pain! It is all in His time and I need to feel these emotions for I think they are a part of the bonding process...but I still need to trust in the Lord. One blogger has said it like this...To China In God's Time...TCIGT. So I will call it all joy and wait on Him...the Giver of all good things...including a little girl in China who will someday call me mom!

Rebekah's home...for now!

Well, if I could jump into this picture I would! Looks like an elegant building for an orphanage! Soon, we'll get a picture of us standing in the front of this place!

Figuring out this blog thing!

Well, here we are at day 40 something. The Chinese New Year really slowed things down. I called CCAI today to see if they have heard anything...they said no! They seemed to think that our TA will be here next week! The Lord has had us wait for 2 and a half years, I guess I could wait another month! I am hanging on to March 20 as Gotcha Day! If I could hold onto a day than I won't sit and stare at the computer anymore....sometimes I think I will find her in here! As much as I am looking, I can't find her!!!! Anyway, this is a way I am learning to Trust the Lord for His timing. AGHHHHHHH! I am not fond of the discipline process! I hope it will produce maturity in me. If the Lord does that then....BRING IT ON!

I was thinking the other day how many people think we are crazy for doing this. We thought we were too. However, we have an opportunity to bring another child into a full relationship with the Lord Jesus! How awesome is that. This was definately not a "build your family" project....some days, especially since I started Homeschooling, I can barely keep track of the 3 children I have now! However, if the Lord thought we could handle another child and love her into the Kingdom...then so be it...and I am honored! Honored that the Lord would think us capable of such a task. Many people say..."what about college?" Yes, we have thought about how we are going to provide! and yet if the Lord could provide this little one half way around the world with a forever family, can't He provide for her future as well? I have been thinking I would rather bring a child into this family that SO loves each other and the Lord than have a beautiful house...or more toys...or a new car, etc. I would much rather care for these children that the Lord gave to me in such a way that will lead them to live their lives in a glorifying way to the Lord than have a life full of "world travels" or luxury! When I meet the Lord face to face I'd rather be worn and tattered from the work that I have done to further His Kingdom than show Him pictures of my luxuries lived in this life! Thank you for your prayers. Continue praying for this transition. Pray for Rebekah that she will be as prepared for us as a 1 and a half year old can be! Pray for the children that we have to leave here. Sean is already trying to hold back the tears when we talk about our trip! He will have a hard time! Praise our precious Lord for bringing this one into our lives! and allowing us to experience this miracle!

February 15, 2008

I can't stand it anymore. I stay at the computer thinking I will find Rebekah in here! We should hear any day now when we are to travel. It is very cold in China....much colder than her province usually is. I just want her home so I know she is safe! Isn't it amazing at how I have grown another heart and I don't even know her. I was thinking the other day how the
Lord must feel waiting for us to come to know Him! He must be "sitting at His computer" counting the minutes in anticipation how we will meet! The only difference is He already knows the circumstances and the date!

The boys and I dropped MaggieAnn off in Chowchilla...my mom and dad are taking her camping this weekend! She was so excited to go! It will be a little quieter without her. I will miss her this weekend.

All right, I will turn the computer off now and stop looking for my little one in here. I do have to live the rest of life!