TRAVEL APPROVAL!!!

We received an email late this evening that we have been granted Travel Approval!  Yay!  It took 13 long days but this is the last approval we needed for Noah's adoption.

The US Consulate is closed tomorrow in observance of New Year's Day so it will take another 2-3 days for our agency to nail down our appointments and for us to book flights.  As of right now we expect to meet Noah no later than the second week of February.

We are so thankful that God has continued to honor our prayers and led the way throughout this process.  We hope you all have a happy and extraordinary year in 2014!

Pictures I Found

I found two new pictures of Noah on the web this week! My husband thinks I'm crazy when I stay up late and read other adoption blogs but I have learned so much and continue to find these gems.  :)

No TA yet

No, we haven't received our Travel Approval yet.  I had really hoped it would come today; tomorrow will be two weeks since our Article 5 was picked up and the average length of time for a TA to be granted by the CCWA.

I did contact a new pediatrician today that specializes in international adoption and verified she does accept our new insurance (of course switching plans in January) and will accept him as a new patient once we are home.  I haven't had great responses from our children's current pediatrician and my gut has been telling me Noah needs to at least start with a specialist.

We are also working on setting up a new Skype account, choosing a VPN, verifying international calling/data plans and lots of little things to get ready for the trip to China and meeting Noah.  I know God has a plan-even if it isn't happening as soon as I'd like.

Please continue to pray for Noah-his health & safety while he waits and for God to prepare him to accept us as his forever family.

(Belated) Merry Christmas

I'd like to wish a belated Merry Christmas to all of our blog readers.  We had a great day celebrating with a lot of our family but someone special was missing.  Christmas was truly bittersweet this year.  It was the last time we will celebrate without Noah.

We are still waiting for our travel approval; our agency predicted it will come around 12/30.  Please join us in prayer that it comes soon and that God continues to watch over Noah.  We have received a lot of donations in the past week and are especially thankful for that support on top of all the other things people are spending money on that they have chosen to continue to support us and Noah's adoption.

Isaiah 9: 6-7 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Wish Granted!

Twenty-one days ago the church we attend, Browns Bridge Community Church, started a Christmas wish contest on Twitter.  They asked the congregation to "tweet" their wishes, with the offer to grant a few of those they received in time for Christmas.  I tweeted: My wish is for a one-way ticket (airfare) for our 3 yr old son we are adopting from China. @GrantUrwishBBCC @hopefornoah

This morning we were overjoyed to have my wish granted!  They will be paying for his flight home.  We are so shocked and grateful!  Thank you-Browns Bridge Community Church, Grant Urwish, our family that traveled to attend the service and all of our friends that retweeted and came to show their support.

A Big Party

Noah had a very special weekend and got to attend the 10th anniversary party for Bethel in Beijing.  It looks like he loved the candles, cake and balloons.  Good news-that's how we like to celebrate too!

Genesis 12: 7-9 From there he moved on to the hill country east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ali on the east; and there he built an altar to the Lord and invoked the name of the Lord.

Our Visas Are Ready! Article 5 Pick Up

Our Visas to enter China were approved and we received them via FedEx.  Our Article 5 was picked up in Guangzhou this morning and has been submitted to CCWA...we are officially waiting on Travel Approval!

Thank you for the faithful prayers and support; multiple donations have come thru in the past 3 days and we are so grateful to know such kind, giving people.  Please join us in prayer for a quick TA and for God to watch over and care for Noah.