We got TA!!!

We had Article 5 pick up on Monday August 17th, and the next wait was for Travel Approval. Weeks earlier TA's were being issued in 1-3 days, so we felt very hopeful that we would have TA by the end of this past week. As soon as we got our Article 5 pick up, the buzz was that TA's were back to taking 10 days or so. Remember I said that adoption was like a roller coaster??? Well after the ups and downs and anticipation, we decided that there just was NOT anything we could do, we would just have to totally (once again) put this in God's hands. Ultimately this entire adoption has been in God's hands, but as humans we have this tendency to try to play "give and take".   We give it ALL to God, and then we get a little comfortable with things so we start to take the reigns and "make our own agenda!" But, there is absolutely no way that we can have any control over the "waits" that are required---they are totally random, and mostly there's no rhyme or reason. One reason we really wanted a quick TA was because the last times that we could get Andrew was 9/13. If we couldn't travel then, the next time we would be able to get him would be October 11th. China has a Fall festival where they CLOSE DOWN for two weeks.

As you know, we got TA yesterday--which was DAY 4 for us. I was so surprised to get that phone call from our agency!! We are waiting on our Consulate Appointment, so it's still not 100% that we will get Andrew on 9/13. We had to list 5  dates to submit for our Consulate Appt. If we get one out of our first three choices, we will travel to China on 9/10. If we get our 4th or 5th choice then we won't get Andrew until October 11th. We should hear either late Sunday night or early Monday morning what our CA will be!!! Our Case Worker felt pretty confident that we would get one of our first three choices!! So we are praying, and we have totally given this ALL back to HIM!!!

We are also praying that we will be fully funded! We have raised $20,651!!!! Craig and I used the rest of our backup savings (and other resources) to come up with the initial $10,000 to pay for agency fees. We have raised the $20,651 through various fundraisers, donations from family and friends, and a matching grant through Promise686. We had a HUGE garage sale, and Laura has made and sold canvases, we have sold some personal belongings and we have put all birthday money, etc towards our adoption fund.  We still need $2912 in order for the girls and I to travel, and we would need $5382 in order for Craig to come. We have decided that in order to save money that Craig would stay home and work, and then be able to take time off when Andrew got home. There's not a perfect combination unless we all get to go, but we are trying to accept the fact that this trip is just different than Ava's and we won't all be able to travel. The most important thing is getting Andrew home. We will make our airfare reservations this Monday, so if we would happen to come up with $5382, then Craig will go.  We have had so much love and support during this journey, we would like to thank every person that prayed for us, said a kind word to us, bought anything from our fundraisers, donated to our adoption fund, donated to our yardsale, or just listened to us ramble about our little boy!! Thank you, we know we are blessed. If you would like to donate to the last of our travel fees, here's a link to our Reece's Rainbow FSP. It should read $4119 in order for the girls and I to be fully funded, and $6589 for our whole family to go!

http://reecesrainbow.org/89598/sponsorhyatt