Just so you know, the coffee we had in China was actually really good (or maybe we were just THAT tired). And (I know you have to already know this) there is a Starbucks in Guangzhou. Go get 'em!
ok-- in your great wall of packing-- were there backpacks for the boys to hoard their goodies?? if not- then i see a trip to stuffmart- and don't buy just one silly! :)
(are you spitting out your 12th cup of coffee out yet?)
You'll get there and it will all be perfect because you will be together. Praying for a bit of calm for you in the days ahead as you anticipate travel. Happy packing and planning!
Ha! Great Wall of Packing! I love that! I'm gonna use that next week. I am actually counting on getting all the stuff we sent them in care packages back when we meet them. One of those packages were two backpacks filled with goodies so hopefully they will arrive with them. If not, I guess we'll pick up two more when we get there. I did that purposefully so that we wouldn't have to pack back packs. We'll see if it worked or not!
oh-- and eat all your favorite foods ( i would recommend q-doba's as china does NOT know how to do mexican food right) now and open your mouth in the shower because you'll be saying adios to that in 7 short days!!!
and fast internet and soft cushy beds get ready to gain 5 pounds at the breakfast buffet but you can always walk it off as you do laps around the island!!!!
hmmmmm simple card games?? like a kids version of uno? (as in thomas the train uno- very simple!) pepto bismal for the kids as their diet is going to change?
tylenol PM?
who's blogging for ya??? or do you have that figured out? b/c there will be a violent riot across america as we look to see your new post and it ain't there.
and don't you dare say-- "we have the boys! will post pictures later!" on your gotcha day-- pictures and video woman!!!!!!
and don't forget you have access to an awesome starbucks!!! the downside is that it is the same price as it is here- so a bit pricey-- but they do have awesome flavors we don't have here! if they have the bkacl cherry mocha-- i forbid you to leave china without trying it!
Can't believe your turn is almost here! I'm so going to wish I was heading back with you in about 7ish days. Well, maybe not during the travel part, but the rest would be nice. Oh, bummer...Danny's Bagel was too far from the White Swan to get delivery. The Papa John's was great, though. It looks like you have everything you need and then some from the earlier post...don't believe in "roughing it", do you?! Post lots while you're gone. The internet service is good so there's really no excuse...other than 6 boys who won't want to stay holed up in the hotel room so you can blog. Blessings, Monica
I second Emily's comment...so funny about the water in the shower...ahhh, it's the little things!!
Also, second her blogging comment...don't leave us hangin'!!
It's amazing how attached to our computers we become through this journey. I slept with mine when we were waiting to travel...I just felt like it was my only link to Wesleigh.
<a href="http://cheaperbythehalfdozens.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i53.tinypic.com/28rf9mr.jpg" border="0" alt="Heart for J"></a>
Jacob & Joey ~ Home January 27th 2011
Joshua 1:9
Joshua ~ Home September 24th, 2011 where he went directly from the airport to the PICU; blue and dying of an unrepaired heart defect. 20 days later he RAN out pink and full of life. I stand amazed.
Jason, Jordan, Justin & Jack ~ Home since they emerged from my loins on their respective days of birth.
I am a forgiven sinner madly in love with my Savior and mother to many somewhat smelly boys who recently returned from China with our two latest additions Jacob & Joseph. Orphanage mates from infancy, 7 months apart and teaching me daily what real love is. 3 months home with Jacob and Joey I found Joshua. Blue, sick, dying and needing a family. 4 months later he was home, healed and leaving me in awe of the healing hand of God. Glory. To. HIM.
May 25th-June 14th 2011 - New Home study June 14th, 2011PA June 16th, 2011 - I-800A sent July 1st, 2011 - I-800A APPROVAL! July 8th, 2011 - DTC! July 11th, 2011 - LID August 1, 2011 - LSC! August 12th, 2011 - I-800 Approval August 19th, 2011 - NVC Cable August 26th, 2011 - Article 5 September 6th, 2011 - TA September 19, 2011 - Gotcha Day!
Followers
Jason
18
Jordan
17
Justin
12
Jack
12
Jacob
11
Joshua
11
Joseph
10
Contact Info
Questions? Comments? Encouragement? Want to know more about one of these kiddo's? mommyof4jays@msn.com
Wednesday, February 10, 2010 Made the final decision to adopt after months of prayer
Friday, February 12, 2010 Signed contract with adoption agency and contract to begin home study
Saturday, February 13, 2010 Announced to friends and family that we were adopting through a really fun guessing game on Facebook. :)
Wednesday, February 28, 2010 Precious boy #1 File Locked! LOI sent in!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010 First Home Study visit(though 99% of forms needed for HS completion are already done including requesting all state clearances....all 8 states....thank you Air Force!)
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 Second & Third Home Study visit
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 PA! (17 days from LOI)
Wednesday, March 31, 2010 Fourth and final Home Study visit and lunch at the Cheesecake Factory to celebrate!
Thursday, April 16, 2010 All dossier docs county certified and Secretary of State authenticated! Just waiting on the home study!
Monday, April 19, 2010 Home study done! It's at our agency getting reviewed!
Friday, April 30, 2010 Fingerprints released from fingerprint purgatory(8 1/2 weeks for FP processing)
Monday, May 3, 2010 Final draft with prints sent to agency
Monday, May 10, 2010 Home study officially approved
Tuesday, May 11, 2010 Drove to home study agency to pick up completed home study and overnight-ed I-800A to USCIS!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010 Found out Joey and another precious boy that we fell in love with months ago are in the same foster home and are best friends. Sent 8.2 million emails.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010 All dossier docs except Home Study and Immigration clearance sent to Chinese Consulate for Authentication.
Thursday, May 20, 2010 Agency #2 says yes, they will release kiddo #2's file!
Monday, May 31, 2010 Found out all of our dossier documents were rejected at the C.Consulate. They don't take Fed-Ex right now.
Wednesday, June 7, 2010 Our dossier documents finally return to us. We decide to use a courier for the Consulate this time. It worked, over $300 and a week later we had all of our dossier documents sans the home study and I797-C forms authenticated!
Monday, June 14, 2010 am Sent our dossier sans the home study and I-797C forms to our agency for review.
Monday, June 14, 2010 pm Found out that we received a request for evidence. Our dossier isn't going to China this week. This was a hard day.
Monday, June 21, 2010 Request for evidence resolved! Our I-797C is on it's way to us and we are trying to get our dossier to China this Friday!!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010 Everything that could go wrong. Did go wrong. Our dossier is not going to China this week.
Monday, June 28, 2010 Home Study and immigration approval are with the courier! Our agency should receive it all on Thursday, dare I say we may be DTC Friday?!
Friday, July 2, 2010 DTC!
Thursday, July 8, 2010 LID!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010 6:01pm Received a phone call that we have verbal permission from the CC*AA for the dual adoption. Cried like a baby.
Friday, July 30, 2010 After 9 days of both agencies working out the deets, we submitted the required paperwork to have his file officially transferred to our agency.
Monday, August 23, 2010 8:11am Received a phone call that the CCAA is skipping PA for Jacob and moving right into LSC "asap"!
Thursday, September 23, 2010 LSC X 2! (ASAP in Mandarin apparently means 4 weeks)
September 27th, 2010 I-800 mailed
October 27th, 2010 I-800 approved(adjudicator called to let me know, we haven't yet received it in the mail however)
Saturday, October 30th, 2010 I-800 approval arrived in the mail
Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010 Cabled!
Friday, November 5, 2010 NVC letter/DS-230 & LSC's back to China!
I'm with ya, friend. I'm with ya....fill 'er up!
ReplyDeleteJust so you know, the coffee we had in China was actually really good (or maybe we were just THAT tired). And (I know you have to already know this) there is a Starbucks in Guangzhou. Go get 'em!
ReplyDeleteok-- in your great wall of packing-- were there backpacks for the boys to hoard their goodies?? if not- then i see a trip to stuffmart- and don't buy just one silly! :)
ReplyDelete(are you spitting out your 12th cup of coffee out yet?)
You'll get there and it will all be perfect because you will be together.
ReplyDeletePraying for a bit of calm for you in the days ahead as you anticipate travel.
Happy packing and planning!
Ha! Great Wall of Packing! I love that! I'm gonna use that next week. I am actually counting on getting all the stuff we sent them in care packages back when we meet them. One of those packages were two backpacks filled with goodies so hopefully they will arrive with them. If not, I guess we'll pick up two more when we get there. I did that purposefully so that we wouldn't have to pack back packs. We'll see if it worked or not!
ReplyDeleteoh-- and eat all your favorite foods ( i would recommend q-doba's as china does NOT know how to do mexican food right) now and open your mouth in the shower because you'll be saying adios to that in 7 short days!!!
ReplyDeleteand fast internet
and soft cushy beds
get ready to gain 5 pounds at the breakfast buffet
but you can always walk it off as you do laps around the island!!!!
hmmmmm simple card games?? like a kids version of uno? (as in thomas the train uno- very simple!)
pepto bismal for the kids as their diet is going to change?
tylenol PM?
who's blogging for ya??? or do you have that figured out? b/c there will be a violent riot across america as we look to see your new post and it ain't there.
and don't you dare say-- "we have the boys! will post pictures later!" on your gotcha day-- pictures and video woman!!!!!!
and don't forget you have access to an awesome starbucks!!! the downside is that it is the same price as it is here- so a bit pricey-- but they do have awesome flavors we don't have here! if they have the bkacl cherry mocha-- i forbid you to leave china without trying it!
ReplyDeleteCan't believe your turn is almost here! I'm so going to wish I was heading back with you in about 7ish days. Well, maybe not during the travel part, but the rest would be nice. Oh, bummer...Danny's Bagel was too far from the White Swan to get delivery. The Papa John's was great, though. It looks like you have everything you need and then some from the earlier post...don't believe in "roughing it", do you?! Post lots while you're gone. The internet service is good so there's really no excuse...other than 6 boys who won't want to stay holed up in the hotel room so you can blog.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Monica
I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou are SO way ahead of me. I'm going to zoom in on your list and see what I forgot to put on mine :)
ReplyDeleteI love that others are telling you that we had better hear some updates from China! :)
ReplyDeleteGet a refill and good luck with your prep! How exciting!!! I can only imagine the butterflies in your stomach right now. :)
I second Emily's comment...so funny about the water in the shower...ahhh, it's the little things!!
ReplyDeleteAlso, second her blogging comment...don't leave us hangin'!!
It's amazing how attached to our computers we become through this journey. I slept with mine when we were waiting to travel...I just felt like it was my only link to Wesleigh.
I'm so excited!!!