Update on TA

Well, folks. Looks like all of the steps between RA and TA(travel approval) have been completed as of last Tuesday. With the new process that is required of us for this adoption (it was different with Adiah. Not as complicated) there are about 4 things that have to be done by us and other people before our TA can be issued to us. I found out this morning that our final step before TA (Article 5) was done on November 3. So we are a full week into our official countdown to TA. I would love to say we could get it before Thanksgiving and travel with the group already set to leave on Dec 3. I don't know if that's possible but I'm going to pray for it anyway!! If we don't receive it in time to leave on Dec 3rd then I really have no clue when we could go. Brian and I do not want to be gone over Christmas for many reasons. So we have decided that we would need to leave with the next group out after that which could be January or February. So I'm being bold in my prayers and asking for a miracle to have him home before Christmas. Would you join me?

Happy half-birthday, Rhett!!

Today Rhett is 2 1/2!! 2 years and 6 months without a mommy and a daddy....but its all about to change!! We can't wait to have our arms around you, sweet boy! Happy half-birthday!!

4 weeks since we got our approval from China.

5 months, 3 weeks, and 3 days since we saw Rhett's face.

But who's counting.....

Come on TA!!

Updated pictures!!!!

This morning I woke up to find 14 updated pictures of our Rhett from Angela at Ladybugs and Love!! I can't even tell you how it encouraged my heart to see this precious boy who God is allowing us to bring into our home! I'm just so thankful this morning!! And REALLY praying our TA will come soon!!!

Care package picture

Last week after we received our RA I was finally able to send a care package for Rhett. Our agency's policy is that we may not contact our son until we have approval from China(which was our RA). So on Thursday of last week I contacted Ladybugs and Love again to send a care package through them. There has been a holiday in China this past week so we just received a picture this morning of the care package that will be mailed to Rhett tomorrow. He should receive it on Monday!!
In the care package is a photo album with pictures of us and his new house, a teddy bear, a disposable camera, snacks for the care takers, a letter from us, and some money to buy a cake. Sending a cake is a good way to get updated pictures because the orphanage wants to show that they spent the money on what you asked them to! So hopefully sometime next week we'll get some new photos of our little guy. The most exciting part to me is that soon our lives will intersect with his. He will see photos and be told that we are coming for him. I'm praying that his little heart will be prepared and he will feel the love of his new family!

Ooops!

With all of the excitement the other day about getting our RA I forgot to tell you Rhett's Chinese name. His name is Hua Han Xing....thus the name Rhett Han Miller Woods. Ok, continue on with your day now!!

RA arrived!!

Today I waited around all day to catch the Fed Ex guy delivering our RA. ALL day, I tell ya! Actually we would have been home all day anyway because I have a kid with the sw*@ne flu. Dern pig. Emily needed to be dropped off somewhere around 3. Guess what time our RA arrived? 3pm! Thats right!! So I missed the whole delivery but took pictures of it on my doorstep anyway. Its so fun to see our names with our son's name on the same piece of paper!

So what happens now is we mail our RA back to AWAA and also mail our I800 form to the govt. Our agency says anywhere from 4-8 weeks before we'll get our Travel Approval(TA) and then travel as soon as possible after. Praying its more along the 4 week time frame!! We can't wait to go and get our son!!! Thank you all for your supportive comments to us and for being so happy with us! We feel the love!!


Our precious RA on the porch next to my chicken/rain boots! Yes, we are country folk!!

A sweet folder that our RA was in!!

Here it is!!

Signing our RA. We say YES!!
(Don't mind our lump of a dog in the background...it was such a pretty day to day and he was loving it!)
Daddy saying YES!