There's no place like home!: And . . . We're Off!

Friday, January 11, 2013

And . . . We're Off!

In a few hours we head to the airport.

I am nervous and excited!

We are almost ready but we have a few things to do on the home front!

The kids are a little concerned about us leaving.

Hoping skype will work so we can keep in touch and all the kids can meet before we get home!

So thankful we have an awesome sitter with the children at home!

We are going to miss them... a lot.

I am not going to show you a suitcase pic...
cuz...
YES, I did it AGAIN!
I overpacked...ugh!
I have packing issues...

God is so amazing- I know he will be with us every step of the way!

Giving thanks and praise to HIM!!

Will post again from Beijing!
Prayers are welcomed!!

16 comments:

Angie said...: Praying! Have a wonderful trip, and as always, I'm excited to journey with you all!; January 11, 2013 at 11:30 AM
Julie said...: Praying. Have a blessed trip in every way!; January 11, 2013 at 11:59 AM
Lisa said...: Safe travels!! Can't wait to hear about your journey while in China! This is therapeutic for me while I'm just beginning my home study, ha ha. God bless!; January 11, 2013 at 12:58 PM
Anonymous said...: Woke up this morning and prayed for all of you. It kills me that you'll be in L.A. on your way back but I can't meet you. Boo-hoo! :(

May God go before you and guide your steps!!!

Luana; January 11, 2013 at 1:11 PM
likeschocolate said...: I am so excited for you ! Yahoo! Jumping up and down. Have a great trip! I know the Lord is watching over you because you are one of his angels.; January 11, 2013 at 2:27 PM
Sherri said...: Safe travels and i'm so very excited for you. This has to be yet the BEST journey I have followed!! God Bless and be safe.
hugs from Florida
Sherri; January 11, 2013 at 3:07 PM
Vicky said...: Praying for you and your travel team and those at home!; January 11, 2013 at 4:05 PM
It's a Wonderful Life said...: I am anxiously awaiting the journey. I will be praying for you and the girls. Enjoy the moments.

Deanne; January 11, 2013 at 4:10 PM
Wendy said...: Jean, I can't wait to see the new little ones. Safe travels!!!; January 11, 2013 at 5:03 PM
Sally-Girl! said...: Loving you there and back again!!! Can't wait to hear from you!!!; January 11, 2013 at 5:05 PM
Rebecca said...: Blessings!!! Safe travels!!! Can't wait to see some pix!!!; January 11, 2013 at 5:29 PM
Sandra said...: Congratulations and praying for you!; January 11, 2013 at 5:56 PM
Sandra said...: Congratulations and praying for you all!; January 11, 2013 at 5:57 PM
Karin said...: You aren't the only over-packer! I do it every.single.time. I'll pray your hubby doesn't get a hernia schlepping the suitcases all over China. :); January 11, 2013 at 8:33 PM
Sarah said...: Yay!!!!!!

We probably passed each other in the air...we just got home and Kaikai is doing great....pretty excited to meet his brothers and sister!; January 11, 2013 at 11:45 PM
Jen said...: So excited for you all! Praying!; January 12, 2013 at 9:56 AM

Quick Update On Us!

Hubby and I have 5 bio kids that are currently 26-36 yrs old. As our bio children were leaving the nest we felt called to serve our Lord through the blessings of adoption!

We have adopted 17 waiting children from China! Anna came home first on August 8th, 2007 (at 16 months). She is currently 14 yrs old! Sarah came home on December 5th, 2008 (at 8 yrs 9mo.). She is 20 yrs old and being an adult! Emma and Ellie came home on July 19th, 2010! They are bio sibs, and were 8 and 10 yrs old when they came home! They are now 18 and 20 yrs old. They live at home with us! Next we brought home Sam at 4.5 yrs old and Ava Marie at 5.5 yrs old at the time of their adoption. They came home on April 1st, 2011 and are now 14 yrs and 15 yrs old.! Both of the kids are from Henan Province.

On our 5th adoption trip we journeyed to Abby and Luke. They came home at 5.5 and 3 yrs old. They have adjusted well! They are currently 14.5 and 11.5 years old!

We will traveled back to China for adoption trip #6 in January 2013. This time God blessed us with 3 lovely daughters from China! At the time of there adoption they were 11, 7 and 6. Mia is now 18 years old, Melissa is 14.5 years old and Madeline is almost 13.5 years old now. We feel so very blessed to have these darling girls in our family!

Our 7th adoption trip to China was to bring home our two boys- Ben 7 yrs and Joseph 5 yrs. The boys are now 14 and 12 yrs old.

Our next adoption was a domestic adoption and our amazing daughter, Jenny joined us in December 2015 at 10.5 yrs old. She is now 15 yrs.

Then we traveled to China one last time to bring home two treasures, Grace was 8.5 yrs and Jake was 9.5 yrs. They are now 12 and 13!

Last but not least our Mary joined us in May of 2019! She came to us through a domestic adoption right before her 11th birthday! She is now 12 yrs old!

Our family is now complete BUT we continue to be blessed with grandchildren! Precious beautiful little treasures! Thank you Jesus!

We have had many many procedures and surgeries over the years, God has been so very kind and they have been amazingly successful!! We still have more surgeries in our future and we will rely on HIM and pray our way through each day.

Hubby and I are passionate about special needs adoption. We feel called to adopt, God planted a seed long agao and it is pure joy to raise our amazing kids! We are loving every minute of it! We are both in our early 60's now. We can't think of anything we would love to do more than what we are doing right now! We are thankful for this opportunity to enjoy these wonderful children!

We have chosen to home school our children from China. When adopting older children they really don't fit into one grade, they are combination of many grades (including 2nd in math but Pre-k in reading/phonics). We also feel like we missed out on so many years with our wonderful children, we don't want to miss out on any more! Plus it is great for attachment and bonding!!

If you are considering adoption feel free to email or message me with any questions you may have!

Timeline to Emma Joy and Ella Mei

Saw the their pictures - March 2009

Got their referral! - April 2009

Accepted their referral - June 5th, 2009

(we had to wait to officially accept it until Sarah had been home 6 months)

Adam Walsh - May 26th, 2009 and May 26th, 2010

Homestudy done - July 30th, 2009

CIS approval - November 2nd, 2009

PA - November 12th, 2009

DTC - December 10th, 2009

LID - December 24th, 2009

LOA- March 15th, 2010

I-8oo Aproval - March 31st, 2010 (received April 7th)

NVC - April 7th (received Saturday, April 10th), arrived at agency on April 12th.

Article 5 - May 13th, 2010

TA - June 10th, 2010

Travel dates - June 30th- July 16th

Gotcha Day - July 5th

Consulate Appt. - July 14th

Home on July 17th!!

Thank you Jesus

Our Journey to Sarah Grace JiangMing!

Requested referral- Dec. 20th, 2007 ( the minute we saw her picture we requested her referral, but we needed to be approved by the older child committee in order to proceed.

Referral approved- Jan. 11th, 2008

LOI - sent February 14th, 2008

Fingerprints/ USCIS- March 5th, 2008 (Sarah's birthday!)

PA - May 17th, 2008 (never officially received)

USCIS approval - June 23rd, 2008

DTC - July 1st, 2008

LID - July 11th, 2008 (11 days)

LOA - Oct. 17th, 2008 (98 days)

TA - Nov. 10th, 2008 (24 days from TA arrival, 19 days from the date it was sent back to China)

CA- Dec. 2nd, 2008 (We received it on Nov. 13th)

Leave for China - Wednesday, November 19th @1:00!!

Gotcha Day - Monday, November 24th- Yippee Jesus!

Return home from China - Friday, December 5th

Thank you Jesus

Our Journey to Mia, Melissa and Madeline

PA for Mia- April

PA for Melissa- June

PA for Madeline- July

HomeStudy Done- June

I800A Sent- 6/27/2012

I800A Approved- 8/9/2012

DTC- 8/30/2012

LID- 9/11/2012

OOT- 9/19/2012

LOA- 10/22/2012 (41 days)

USCIS I800 Submission- 10/26/2012

USCIS I800 Approval- November 16th, 2012

NVC letter- November 28th, 2012

Article 5- December 18th, 2021

TA- January 11th- February 1st, 2013

Mia Gotcha Day - January 14th

Melissa Gotcha Day - January 16th

and Happy 31st Anniversary to us!!

Madeline Gotcha Day - January 21st

CA- Thursday, January 31st

Travel Dates-

Friday, January 11th - February 2nd

Timeline to Abby and Luke!

Our Journey to Ava and Sam!

PA for Sam - 6/21/2010

PA for Ava - 9/28/2010

Adam Walsh (local clearance)

Submitted 8/11

Approved 9/10

(this is where we lost a month in the process- this should have been submitted earlier- but there was a bit of a mix up)

USCIS - Submitted 9/21

received letter from Texas 9/27

(We do not need fingerprints right now)

Approved - 10/18/2010

Fingerprint Extension - prints done 11/26/2010

Dossier Certified - Oct 14th, 2010

Dossier Authenticated - Nov. 2nd, 2010

DTC - November 12th, 2010

LID - November 19th, 2010

LOA - December 17th, 2010 (28 days!)

USCIS Received Application - December 27th, 2010

I800 Approval - January 11th, 2011

received in the mail- January 15th, 2011

NVC Letter- January 25, 2011

Art. 5 - February 14th, 2011

(Delivered Feb. 16th)

TA - February 28th, 2011

CA - March 30th, 2011

Travel Dates - Thursday, March 17th - April 1st. 2011

Gotcha Day - Monday, March 21st, 2011

Thank you Jesus