After a looooooooong LOA wait, and I mean long....like 107 days worth....it finally came on June 11th and I could not have been more relieved!!! Everything before and since that milestone has seemed like a piece of cake! I don't think it helps when your agency (who is very conservative) tells you that it'll be a 60-90 day wait.....and then you surpass that by 17 days!!! It is by far, worse than being pregnant!!! Since all the other milestones are significant, but not really, I'll just go ahead and list them out for you....that way any of you going through this process that are crazy like me, trying to find any hint of a pattern, can knock yourself out!!!
DTC (Dossier to China)- 2/14/2014
LID (Log In Date)- 2/19/2014
Matched with Jett - 2/21/2014
LOI (Letter of Intent)- 2/24/2014
PA (Pre-Approval)- 2/25/2014
LOA (Letter of Acceptance)- 6/11/2014
I800 Filed - 6/13/2014
I800 Approval - 6/25/2014
NVC Letter w/PDF - 7/3/2014
Article 5 Drop Off - 7/7/2014
Article 5 Pick Up - 7/21/2014
TA (Travel Approval)- 7/28/2014
Well there it is.....as you can tell the longest wait was the wait for our LOA. It was so hard looking at his picture daily and not knowing when we would be bringing him home....but after we received it, everything has flown by and now we are so close!!! So close to this little guy!!! I know I'm pretty bias, but isn't he just so handsome??? I can't wait to kiss those cheeks!!!
And those little hands and fingers.......
We could be leaving next Wednesday, the 6th of August, but we won't know for a day or two until we hear back about what day our consulate appointment is scheduled for. While this is super exciting, I feel like there is still so much to be done before we leave and not to mention leaving all of our kiddos behind is hard in and of itself.
Again, I just want to thank ALL of you that have supported us through your prayers and finances......God has used each and every one of you in such a unique and special way to "Change One"....our "one"! If you would continue to pray for us and with us, we would greatly appreciate it. Here are some specific things:
*Clarity of mind as I prepare for this trip and for the kiddos here at home....that I would not forget anything major!!!
*For the family and friends that will care for our kiddos while we are away....it is a HUGE undertaking, taking care of 4 kids or in some cases, taking on 4 more kids! We appreciate you so very much and know that our kiddos will be well loved on while we are gone. Thank you!
*For Delaney, Brooke, and especially Josie Jane and Jake, that they wouldn't miss us too much!
*This one is HUGE folks, for Jett, that God would prepare his heart for this big transition.....that God would make us familiar to him in some way. That he would know deep in his heart that we love him and will forever take care of him.....that he would learn to trust us.
God has been, and will continue to be faithful as we finish this part of the journey.....there is another journey ahead of us once we bring him home and I know he will be faithful in that as well.
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21
Jett, my sweet boy, I am so, so, so, very excited to meet, hold and kiss you!!!! I can hardly wait to see if we can get a smile on that face of yours!!! I am feeling so blessed that I will get to be your forever mama very soon!!! We are praying for you several times a day!!! Just wait till you see the brother and sisters, cousins and friends that already love you!!! For you, we have loved, cried, prayed, longed and waited for.....I love you little man......mommy and daddy are almost on their way!!!!
