Friday, July 30, 2010

Only 11 More Days


It's official!  Our plane tickets arrived via FedEx this week. We are going to CHINA!!!  We leave the evening of Aug. 10, arrive in Beijing on the 12th, and head to Xi'an on the 15th (where Lia Day will occur!!!)...after a few days in Xi'an, we will fly to Guangzhou, where the U.S. Consulate is, to get all of her immigration paperwork filed, before heading back to the U.S. on Aug. 27.
 
It's really happening...  So this is a "test post", emailing my blog post to Blogger. Let's see if it works...
 

Friday, July 23, 2010

***TA*** Hooray!!!

Today I received word from my agency that my travel approval has been received. They are working now to set a consulate appointment for us, so until that is set we won't know our travel dates for sure - but it's looking like we will leave on or around August 11th!!!  Whoo hoooo...let the packing begin!

FINALLY - WE ARE GOING TO CHINA...SOON!

Saturday, July 17, 2010

A Whole New Look!

 Welcome to my new and improved blog!  It was designed for me by a wonderful young woman named Alexis, who uses her talents and design skills to raise money for orphans and mission trips - how cool is that? If your blog is in desperate need of a makeover (like mine was!) I highly recommend her. Thank you Alexis for designing a blog for me that really captured everything I wanted in my new blog!  :)

Friday, July 09, 2010

Article 5!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


"We just received an update from our Guangzhou staff stating that they have picked up your family’s Article 5 (signed 2nd acceptance letter) from the Consulate and now it is off to the CCAA. The Article 5 typically takes about 4-5 days to be delivered to the CCAA. Once the CCAA receives this document, they will have all that they need to issue your family’s travel approval. The CCAA typically takes about 2-4 weeks to issue a travel approval. We see this update as great news for your family as you are one step closer to getting you to China!"

Monday, July 05, 2010

A Quiet Fourth of July

We had a quiet, relaxing July 4th - complete with afternoon naps, steaks on the grill, and movie rentals - it was great! Everyone keeps telling me that I need to appreciate every ounce of sleep and relaxation that I can get "pre-toddler", so I am abiding by their words and doing my best to enjoy every opportunity to have "grown-up time" now while I still can...but at the same time, I am so excited about holidays to come with Lia! Not to imply that one thing is better than the other...but I've been enjoying "grown-up" holidays for over 20 years now - I'm ready to experience these traditions through the eyes of a child again!  :)

Independence Day also had me thinking (once again) about how lucky I was to be born in America. While I would be the first one to admit that America has it's problems, and that I often disagree with the politics and/or agendas of U.S. political parties and their leaders, the bottom line is - I have the FREEDOM to disagree! When I look at the many children around the world who are born into poverty, illness, war, and malnutrition it makes me realize how many families take it all for granted in the U.S. 

Whether or not we can "afford" it, we have access to amazing healthcare in this country. Children here are routinely immunized starting at birth for diseases that run rampant in other countries. We can drink water from taps in our kitchens and bathrooms without worrying about contracting parasites or diseases. We are not victims to days (or weeks) of blackouts because of energy shortages. Boys AND girls have an equal opportunity to attend schools and receive higher education...the list goes on...

For all these things I am so grateful, and I try to remember every day not to take them for granted. I hope everyone had a fun and safe Fourth...

God Bless America (and all the other countries that need his blessings too!)