What a Day!!!!

Wow what a day- I love the progression of these pictures. It tells you exactly what has happened today!  I got a text from China last nite that Chan was in transit to the bridge foster home. I was in disbelief because just 24+ hours before we were being told it might be another week before he could be transferred. Sooo... I was about to crawl in bed, but, of course, had to know when he arrived. Sooooo... I turned the ringer OFF my phone, turned the vibrate ON my phone, and pulled the covers OVER my head so the light from my phone (from the incessant checking of messages!) wouldn't wake up David. I truly look like I was camping out in our master bedroom Well, what do you know- I dozed off for about 30 minutes and guess what happened? I missed the text that he had arrived! How ironic is that that the insomniac fell asleep!?!?!  If I had TRIED to fall asleep it wouldn't have happened. 

The new family has been absolutely wonderful to keep us in the loop of what's happening on their end as they know it. They said he was very scared and a little teary-eyed when he arrived, but then they got some smiles out of him. The second picture was by the end of their day (our morning). Chan was wrestling with their boys, being goofy, building Lego houses, and having a great time. How awesome is that?! He even ate chicken nuggets and mac and cheese (CFA, here we come!).

David and I had already made an appointment to go to the girls school this morning to talk to the headmaster about our possible travel dates, etc. About an hour after we got home we received an unexpected call from our wonderful agency that our TA (travel approval) was on it's way, and they should receive the hardcopy  Friday or Monday! Once they have that, they can then apply for our consulate appointment, and we can make our flight arrangements. Oh. My. Word.... I kept telling myself, "Breathe!!! Breathe!!! Isaiah 26:3, Isaiah 26:3, Isaiah 26:3, Breathe!!!! Breathe!!!!"  This exactly what happened with AA's adoption: wait, wait, wait... Then KA-BOOM!! Everything starts happening very fast!

After a minor little panic attack (not really...well, yeah, actually kinda!) and some prayer time with my man we were off to FedEx to mail Chan's last care package. 

As Abigail and I were driving home from her track practice we received a message asking if we wanted to Skype with Chan. Ummmmm, yeah!!!   I could not have asked for anything better. He was all smiles-so happy-and it was glorious not to be able to have to type my message, cut and paste to Google translate and stare at the screen and wonder if the beautiful people on the other side of the screen understood what we were saying. They understood because they speaka-da-English, but they also speaka-da- chinese! Woohoo! Blessing!  It was the first time we felt we were truly "talking" with him, asking him about his day, etc. He seemed pretty content throughout the call. We asked him if it be okay to call him Chan (well, actually it was translated into him... but you know what I mean!), and he grinned from ear to ear. They explain that Xiaoli was now called Audrey An, and he seemed to be completely cool with that (and guess what I got via email and hour later!? Him writing his new name in ENGLISH)! Guess what the other two things he smiled about-1. His baba had made Xiaoli fried rice tonite and 2. After we learned he went straight for the toy airplanes over the toy cars, his new baba told him he flies the fei ji (airplane)! Who wouldn't think their dad is super cool if he flies airplanes (now I need to find my super power!).  I think he's going to fit in real well!

I'm either going to sleep like a rock tonight or I will be completely wired tonight because I can't get that sweet face out of my mind. 

19 "For I am about to do something NEW.  See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?  I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland." Isaiah 43:19

MAMA in any language

 This past weekend I wrote my LAST care package letter to Chan because I won't have to mail something thousands of miles to him anymore come verrrrry soon. It was my FIRST letter to Chan that I signed it "Love, MAMA, Baba (dad), Abigail and Xiaoli". Gulp and double gulp.  That package will be flying the friendly skies this week.  (Abigail said, "Mom!  I'm the only one who doesn't have a chinese name!)

I woke up to two great emails this morning (both from China!): 1.  Our TA (Travel Approval)  Day 1 wait  starts now because our Article 5 paperwork is ready for picked up! 2.  Chan will be moving tomorrow (Tuesday...  Our Monday nite!) afternoon to the bridge foster family. Please continue to pray for this transition- for Chan, the bridge family, as well as the family who has cared for him the last 7 years.  As I type this it's 10:20 pm where he is, and it's the very last night he will ever sleep in that bed.  Wow.  Words just can't even express my excitement yet heartache for him.  They are ALL in my thoughts and prayers ALL the time. Such a change for all. Unlike Audrey An, he's going to have a period of "westernized" transition and will not be returned to the orphanage...praying for a smooth transition and PRAISING the good Lord for the family who's taking him in to love on him, teach him, and prepare him for the next huge transition!!!

My stomach has kinda been in knots for about 10 days anticipating (but knowing exactly when) his transfer. My heart has just aches imagining what his mind is thinking! We've prayed. Many people have prayed. We are praying. Many people are praying. I emailed the following last week to some of my prayer warriors: Pray God will release all his (and foster family) fears and give him peace and a sense of excitement. Pray that disposable camera will be returned with him- full of pics of his friends, school, village...all that is important to him." I know God's got this. God's got his heart and my heart. God's got all of my family's hearts. One of my favorite verses was sent to me this week- "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid for the Lord your God goes with you WHEREVER you go." Joshua 1:9. This verse has had very special meaning to mean since 1996, and I hope all my children will claim it in their lives as well. 

I emailed Chan over the weekend telling him we'd be coming soon and explaining kinda what to expect in the next few weeks. Oh, how I pray God's peace for him. I pray when he wakes up there will be a sense of anticipation for him, and these last moments with his foster family are very special. Psalm 68:6 "God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them JOY."

Coming soon, sweet boy!

 Let the packing dumping begin!

Chinizza!

9 cupcakes for one sweet 9 year old!

Yes, AA DID turn 9 back in December, but we never had a "kid" party...so I surprised her with her her bff, Grace, coming over for a sleepover Friday nite.  Audrey An walked in and said, "Who's birthday, mom????"  I said, "It's YOURS again, and she just lit up!"  With all the hub-bub of adoption paperwork and us preparing for Chan the man I wanted to make her very special and not think we'd forgotten about her.  I think her little love tank was filled.

 We kinda combined birthday, CHINese New year, pIZZA, and Valentine's Day and called it "CHINIZZA"---I kinda like it.  So, I declare a new holiday in honor of Audrey An Xiaoli.  We might have a "Chinizza" every year!

Goodness...could her smile get any bigger?!?

My sweet Valentines after church today

Do you see FLAT STANLEY with my handsome nephew, Steven?  Audrey An is doing a class project and mailed "Flat Stanley" to Nana and Papa D.  They went to see Steven and celebrated dad and Steven's birthday this week, and Flat Stanley went along for the ride!

Pretty, but I'm so over the cold....ready for FLIP FLOPS!

Remember in last post about our power outtage? Our friends, Cindy and Derrick, graciously let us hang at their place overnight, and we went "canoeing" down the hill...so fun!

Chan update:  Got word his bridge foster family will be ready for him this week.  Praying we hear from our In-country rep tomorrow that his transition will take place in the next couple of days AND that C*hina has prepared his current foster family for that!

Winter Jam, Crow Bar and Article 5 pick up!

 

Last weekend I was the super cool mom and went to Winter Jam with Abigail. It really was lots of fun, but I'm getting oooooold! My friend, Kim, invited us to join her and we graciously accepted then bumped to our great buddies- so fun! 

While we were jammin, David took Audrey An to CFA daddy/daughter date nite. Great Saturday nite for all!

The girls' school is canceled today and tomorrow (and probably Friday) for another ice storm. And what an ice storm and been! Our power went out at 8:30am, and it's 7:30pm and still out. I stockpiled food and firewood yesterday...ready for the ice apocalypse! David made a fire and lunch was...s'mores! Yeah, baby!!! I think we've only made one fire in our house so we don't even have a poker/stoker (whatever you call it) so we had to use a crowbar to stick the fire.

Got word today that our Article 5 Pick up is 2/24. That's our last piece of paperwork before Travel Approval. So, we are about 4 weeks out- hoping for a 3/16 gotcha day. Depends on what consulate appointments are available.  3/23 might be more realistic- just not sure. All your dates are based on the CA (consulate appointment ) then work backwards for Gotcha Day. The Consulate only has a certain number if available dates available each week. Wow. Just wow.

Praises!
We received a very generous donation to aid in our in-country expenses...so thankful and so unexpected!

Prayer requests:
1. God will guard Chan's heart. He will be saying his goodbyes to his current foster family and will be moving into the "bridge foster family" probably in the next few days.

2.  Guidance with setting up doctor visits upon our return.

3.  Discernment with travel plans.