Nice Surprise...

It has been pretty busy around our house, so I haven't had the opportunity (or energy - sick again!) to post. But, on Tuesday I got an email from a family that is adopting a child from Elli's orphanage. She had recently gotten an update on their daughter when she sent a cake for the kids. She sent me the pictures she got "just in case" there was a picture of Elli in the group of kiddos. Much to my very pleasant surprise - there was a beautiful shot of her face.

With all the kids very focused on their special treat in front of them, the odds of Elli turning from her snack so that the camera could capture her face, were pretty slim. I guess she just knew that her momma needed to see her face on Tuesday :-) Even though we are sooooo close to going to China, it still seems very "unreal". The same feeling happened with Anna...you just can't believe it is really happening until you hold them in your arms. I am so ready to finally be with Elli. To see her face, hear her voice, hold those chubby hands and kiss those cheeks...is it June 8th yet?!?!?

Ready & sending love to our Elli,

Rodney, Marcy, Carter, Jacob, Parker & Anna

Consulate Appointment - Confirmed...

We have a confirmed Consulate Appointment as of this afternoon...June 16th. That would put us leaving either June 4th or 5th, arriving in Guangzhou on the 6th and getting Elli on the 8th!! We would then be leaving China on June 18th arriving home some 25 hours later - the same day :-)

Right now we are just trying to decide exactly when to fly out. Our agency has told us that the circumstances are not typical, so we know that things, such as a cancelled appointment, could happen. We are just praying that it doesn't and we have a very smooth, enjoyable trip to bring Elli home.

Sending love & hugs to Elli,
Rodney, Marcy, Carter, Jacob, Parker & Anna

Total Frustration...

How can you take total elation to total frustration in less than 15 seconds??? I know...get an email from your agency telling you that the drama of this adoption continues!!! I would fill you in on all the details, but I don't even know them myself. There are so many "if"s involved that I would just get myself worked up, again, into a raging mess. Oh, sometimes my head could just burst!!!

What I do know, and likely you do too if you watch/listen/read many international headlines, the blasted swine flu pandemonium is raging in China. Travelers are being quarantined in their hotels, travel plans are being delayed and appointments in the civil affairs buildings are being cancelled. Right now, we are being told that we should be able to travel to China on June 4th or 5th...however, they could cancel our appointment or once we get there we could be told to stay in our rooms the entire trip or we could be quarantined and not allowed to leave the country for an extended period. The other flip side of this whole mess is that "they" think that China could place more restrictions on travel which could last well into if not past the fall...the fall!!

I seriously don't think that anyone could make this stuff up. From beginning to end Elli's adoption has been very non-typical to say the least. However, with that said...she is worth everything that we have been through. We will continue to wait, pray, work, and plan for her homecoming.

Yesterday, I got an email from Angela that came from the orphanage staff. The translation is a little choppy, but you get the meaning...

Dear Qing Zu Qiao’s adoptive family,
I have seen your mail. I can understand you very well now. We will do our best to take good care of Qing Zu Qiao, and we will do as you have told us. We won’t make you disappointed.

How sweet is that?? I know I won't be disappointed...I just want my girl.

Sending love & hugs to our Elli,

Rodney, Marcy, Carter, Jacob, Parker & Anna

Top Mother's Day Gift of All Time...

We got our TA for Elli!!!!!!

Late last night, I got an email from our agency coordinator confirming that our Travel Approval had arrived. Since she was expecting it any day, she had us to fill out our Consulate Appointment request form at the beginning of last week so that they would have it on hand as soon as our TA arrived to request an appointment. Hopefully, we will have a confirmed appointment by the end of the week and can book our flights!!! This is really happening....and soon!!!!!!!!!

Everyone was already asleep last night when I got the message. I woke Rodney up to share the news with him and waited until the morning to tell the kids. I was sitting at the kitchen table and the kids brought me their cards. I then told them that we had a surprise for them. I told them that we had our Travel Approval and the celebration began. The boys all started clapping and yelling and Anna soon followed suit...she really didn't know why she was clapping and shouting, "yeah!!!!", but it was fun, so she did it too!! When the party broke up, Parker was standing at the table and said, "I can't believe we are about to get Elli in 3 days". I am not sure where he got the 3 days, but we explained to him it would be more like a few weeks.

I have soooo much that needs to be done before we leave and yet, I am ready to leave now. I haven't gotten into that "nesting" mode like I did w/Anna, but I hope it kicks in real quick! I need to finish up the horrible mess I have started with the kids clothes (changing seasons) and get things more organized. It will all get done...it always does. And in the grand scheme of things, it really doesn't matter. What matters is just bringing Elli home. I couldn't have asked for a better Mother's Day gift...unless I could have gotten Elli herself! But that is coming in the very near future.

Happy Mothers Day & sending love to Elli,

Rodney, Marcy, Carter, Jacob, Parker & Anna

Care Package...

In the update that we just received, the staff said that Elli could use a few things...not that they didn't have them, they were just "old". We won the care package from Blessed Kids in the Love Without Boundaries auction that contained an outfit, stuffed toy, book, blanket and disposal camera. I have sent all the information to their contact and hopefully she will send the package in the next week. The staff also mentioned that she could use some shoes, so I contacted the lady that has done our other care package and updates for us. Ladybugs N Love prepared for us another care package that should arrive at the orphanage on Friday or Saturday. Along with a letter to the orphanage staff, Angela purchased 2 outfits and shoes for Elli. I think Elli will look pretty dashing in her new clothes...

In the letter to the orphanage staff, I asked that if at all possible, they try to help Elli understand about us coming. She has pictures of us and I suggested that it would be great if she was familiar with our faces. I just hope that the transition for Elli will be smooth. She is older and has much more understanding than Anna did when we adopted her. I know that Elli has a routine, friends and language. It has been my prayer for over a year now that God would prepare her for our coming...I have to trust that he is doing just that.

Not nearly as big of a deal, but I did also ask that since we were coming so soon, that they not cut her hair. I know that may sound silly, but for her own comfort and "fitting" in here in America, I didn't want her to come home with a shaved head. If she does, that's fine - she's beautiful hair or not...but I hope that they haven't cut all her lovely black hair off. Some orphanages don't cut the older girls' hair off so short, but I have seen some much older girls that they shaved. I understand the reasoning behind it from a sanitary stand point, but you know, how many girls want their heads shaved? Anna was so young, she didn't really notice or care for that matter...but it wasn't long until she began to love long hair and even now is totally consumed at times playing with her hair...it's just a girl thing.

When Angela emailed me the pictures of the clothing that she picked out for Elli, she told me that she got the height for Elli....95 cm or 37 1/2 inches. We measured Anna this morning and Elli is about 2 inches taller than Anna. So, she is bigger, but she isn't going to be as big as we initially thought. I think that 3Ts will do...especially if they are loose fitting and we LOVE loose fitting clothes around here :-) Last night I was changing out winter for summer clothes (torturing myself). I had a whole pile of clothes from my sister-in-law for Anna and Elli - THANK YOU AMY!! Lots and lots of cute dresses that I think will work out great for her.

Even though I know that we don't need to travel until June, I am getting very weary for our Travel Approval. Our agency was getting a package from China yesterday and we really thought our TA would be in the package - it wasn't. I was so bummed all night. I couldn't sleep because I was soooo disappointed. All night, tossing and turning - trying not to cry - just thinking about how it seems we have been "overlooked" again! I know, drowning myself in pity...yes, it does get old at times. I know that the timing will be perfect...it always is, but sometimes the wait is just hard. God has been faithful to us over, and over again. I know that his mercies don't run out, they are new every morning...and this morning - I was given her height. Small to some, but to me...not at all. Why? Because I now know that my baby girl is 37 1/2 inches tall. Something that I have wondered for over a year now. Those tiny nuggets of random information that we take for granted when we have our children playing at our feet...they are precious treasures when your child is half a world away.

Looking forward to things to come & sending love to our Elli,

Rodney, Marcy, Carter, Jacob, Parker & Anna