So last Wednesday, around 1:45pm I received a phone call letting us know that China had approved our request to adopt our little guy! What an awesome day that was!!! After I was done running laps through my church (I was still at work), and once I was able to compose myself, I called Jodie and gave him the news. From there, I went to the girls' school to celebrate with them. Sam took one look at me and knew why I was there. She is such a tender heart. She ran over to me, wrapped her arms around me and we just stood there, in the middle of her classroom - with children all around us, and cried happy tears together. I will never forget that moment. Typing about it brings me to my knees. So I left there and went to find Georgia. Her reaction was different, but just as awesome. She wanted to run laps around the school like her momma! They are both so very excited about their brother coming home. We couldn't be more thrilled about how this journey has come together!
What's Next?
I knew when Jodie told me that he would have a meeting in SC last Wednesday that that would be the day we'd get the call, because the driving force of how long the rest of this story takes is totally dependent on how quickly you get the signed approval into the hands of US Immigrations for further approval. Because he was out of town Wednesday, we couldn't send it off until Thursday, so they should've received it on Friday. We only lost a day, so no big deal! So, based on that, the number crunchers on all the China Adoption support pages tell us that our preparations for travel should look something like this:
USCIS (Immigration) dropbox - 09/18
approval in 2 weeks - 10/02
GUZ (number assign to his immigration case) in a week - 10/9
National Visa Center Letter cabled to US Embassy 10/13 or 10/14
Article 5 (final approval from US) drop off 10/15
Article 5 pick up 10/29
TA (Travel Approval issued by China) 11/5 - 11/9
Little Man placed in our arms FOREVER 11/23 or 11/30 depending on TA
We are SOOOOOOO CLOSE!!!!! Assuming our Forever Family Day is 11/30, we would leave the US on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and would fly home, our son in tow, around December 9th. So, even if it takes a week or 2 longer than the estimate above, WE WILL BE A PARTY OF 5 BY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!! I AM OVER THE MOON! BOUNCING AROUND ON CLOUD 9!!
Introducing.......
Since we have received the approval from China to adopt this specific child, we are able to FINALLY share his picture with all of you. So get ready - Little Man OVERLOAD coming your way!
With tears on my keyboard, it is my most wonderful pleasure to introduce to you......
Li Yi Xiong - soon to be ? ? Nixon. Haha! That part remains a secret. LOL.
But here you go. Feast your eyes on this handsome young man!
Can you stand it? I sure can't! Haha!!!! I CANNOT WAIT to get my arms around him!
How you can pray
There are so many ways you can be praying us through this final leg of our journey. Our understanding is that Yi Xiong has been with the same foster family since he was a newborn. He will be 3 on October 24th, so we are getting ready to rock his little world. My heart breaks for him already, and for the family who has cared for and loved him for the past 3 years. This is going to be so hard for him. He won't understand that he was never going to be their forever child. He won't understand that he will be ours. He won't understand that this is what is best for him in the long run. We will be robbing him of everything he has ever known. And he will grieve. Deeply. Did I say DEEPLY? So that right now is our biggest prayer need - that God will be working in his little heart, preparing him for what is ahead, and funneling peace directly from Himself right into Yi Xiong's sweet little self.
Another way to pray is for our final stretch towards our financial need. Currently we are about $3500 away from our need, so again, we are very close! Every time I think about how God has provided financially throughout this process, and am amazed all over again, and I have no worries about that final little bit. We are so thankful to everyone who has come alongside of us supporting us financially. Your contributions have been truly amazing!
Finally, you can pray over our travel. Prayers for safety, health and strength while we are gone. Prayers for mercy and grace as we help Yi Xiong transition to life as a Nixon. Prayers for my parents and friends has they care for Samantha and Georgia. Prayers for grace and mercy on behalf of their teachers while we are gone. Prayers for Samantha and Georgia themselves. This will be difficult for them, but I am hoping to have enough planned that they stay busy and distracted.
Thank you!
There aren't enough words in the English language to express our thankfulness to everyone who has supported this journey. Your prayers, gifts, inquiries about where things stand... They mean the world to us. To know that we are not alone on this walk is very comforting. So thank you.
Now, KEEP PRAYING! He's almost home!!!
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