Concrete Travel Dates!!!

I'm so excited to say that our travel coordinator emailed this morning with our consulate appointment! Which means we can officially say we are leaving the day after Christmas to fly to China. We will get Rhett on December 28th!!! Actually it will be our Dec 27th during the night since China is 12 hours ahead. Most of the group is leaving on Dec 24th but we have asked to leave on the 26th and skip the Beijing portion so we can be home on Christmas morning with the other kids. We will return on January 8th! I'm waiting on a call from our agency so we can officially book the tickets today. Once that is done I'll let you know for sure! Yeah!!! We're coming Rhett!! We leave 3 weeks from tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, folks....We're going to China!!!

I really can't believe I get to type these words!! We got our TA today!!! At 9:29 this morning, our travel coordinator called and said the words I'd been waiting to hear since we saw Rhett's face in May...."I have some good news to share with you!". And the rest is a blur!! She will be requesting our Consulate Appointment tonight and once that is made we can book our plane tickets. It looks like there is a group leaving on December 24th. If the cost isn't ridiculously more expensive we will probably skip the Beijing portion of our trip and leave on the 26th so we can spend Christmas day with our other kids. I'll have more details later this week but I just wanted to share the good news with all of my faithful prayer warriors and blog followers.

Even though we know that God's timing is perfect it still hurts in our flesh when things don't "seem" to go right. My sister in law and her husband did not pass court last night in Ethiopia due to a reason beyond their control. So its been a very bitter sweet day. Praying that they will get to go to court again on the 8th and bring those sweet babies home!! Its all for His glory!!!

Stay tuned for more details!!

Let's look at him again, shall we? Oh, Rhett! We can't wait to hold you and love you and smother you with kisses!! And get you a dude's jacket!!

Are you wondering where I've been?

Probably not! But just in case you have been wondering I just wanted to say I'm alive!!!! Really, I'm at the point of not really having much to say until we get our travel approval. This Wed. will be 9 weeks since our RA.

Nine, people.

Nine.

9.

Thats alot.

And as disappointed as I was today about not receiving our TA I still know that my God is big. And there are probably things being worked out in the spiritual that my flesh can't see. And I'm so glad I serve a God who fights those things for us! I'm still waking up every day hoping that "today is the day" for some news. I would love it if you would pray with us about this. I can't wait for the day we can tell you it came and that we can go get Rhett!!! Soon!!!! And if you want something else to pray about why don't you hop on over to my sister-in-law's blog! God is so good!!!

Happy Thanksgiving, Rhett!! Even though we are not holding you in our arms yet we are so thankful that you will be home soon! We love you, little man.....

Timing...

Wow. I have so much to say...I'm not sure I can even put into words the things God is teaching me during this adoption. How He is stretching me and revealing places in my heart that need his refining. About 2 weeks ago I felt the Lord lead our family to a fast. The kids talked about it with us and they gave up some things that they really like and are used to doing for this season. With joyful hearts! I knew that we were to do this until we get our TA. We would be praying for Rhett and about getting him home and also about my sister in law's children waiting in Ethiopia. Well, just as God does he has done some things in my heart that I was not expecting. Breaking down some barriers and expectations....and it has been sweet! Painful at times but sweet!! And my kids. Well, what can I say but tell you I have some amazing and selfless children. I will share more after we get our TA and not be so vague but I'm still praying for a miracle that we could travel with the Dec 3 group. But this time...I can honestly say....I trust your timing, Lord!

God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.
1 Thessalonians 5:24

Update on Rhett!

This morning we got an update on Rhett! I contacted Ladybugs and Love again last week to do another orphanage phone call. I wanted some answers to some questions before we travel. This makes my heart ache so much more!! I'm ready to have that little sweetie home for many reasons....especially so we can get him some BOY clothes!!! But just check out that sweet smile!! I think we're going to have our hands full because one of the questions I asked was about his personality. This is what they said...

"He is out going, lively, active, and he likes to behave in a spoiled manner (petulance)."

"He sometimes wants to outdo."

Oh, dear. But I'm so glad he seems to be developing and healthy!! I'm so ready to have my arms around him!!




So happy to see a picture of his mommy and daddy, I'm sure!!