Itinerary and Stuff

For those that want to follow the calendar of events while we are in China (aka mom) here is our schedule. Keep in mind, we will be 12 hours ahead of you at all times while in China:

August 7

Depart from Chicago.

August 8

Arrive in Beijing in the evening and check in to our hostel.

August 9

Visit Angel House in BJ where our son has lived the last almost four years of his life.

Visit the Great Wall of China.

August 10

Explore Beijing on foot.

August 11

Depart for Zhengzhou (capital city of Henan Province) by fast train.

August 12

GOTCHA Day!!!

We will be given temporary custody of Jordy.

August 13

Finalize our adoption and travel to Jordy's finding city to apply for his passport.

These four become the proud sibs of number five!!

August 14

Free Day

August 15

Free Day

Possibly traveling to the Shaolin Temple.

August 16

Get Jordy's passport and leave Zhengzhou to Guangzhou.

August 17

Jordy's medical appointment & TB test.

August 18

Tour Safari Park

August 19

Get the test results from medical appointment and TB test.

August 20

Consulate appointment to get Jordy's visa @ 8:30am.

August 21

Rest & pack for departure.

August 22

Leave Guangzhou headed for USA and arrive early morning Friday the 23rd.

But before we leave, we had the chance to relax this weekend camping as a family for the first time at Grandpa Barr's farm.  Food over the fire, hide and go seek. feeding the chickens, and the weirdest July weather ever but what a great time!

I also had the pleasure of sneaking away for my first Wine and Canvas session this weekend.  Definitely doing this again when time allows.  Supposed to make a horse but promised my girls I would improvise and make an unicorn.  Not bad for my first painting EVER.  Thanks for talking me into it Karoline.

Consulate Appointment Confirmed

Well the last step is finally here.  We have a confirmed consulate appointment.  I will do my best to update everyone on our travel itinerary once we get all of our travel arrangements finalized.

Are you tired of seeing this chart yet?  I'm not because we are officially booking step 15!!!!!!!!!!!

Travel Approval!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TA-Travel Approval-Step 13

I may not have nails by the end of next week.  We should be booking plane tickets and hotels/hostels and all that good stuff by the end of next week.  Pinch me please!!!  This can't be real.

Please pray with us as we hope to travel August 7th but prices are going to be insane and our choices will be limited.  God has this all figured out already.  I pray we just follow his lead.  :)

Article 5 Pick-up . . . and then???

We are in the final stages.  I'm so crazy excited and nervous and at some point someone is going to need to pinch me because this cannot possibly be real.  Right?  

Received an email tonight that our A5 (Article 5) was picked up which is step 12:

Dear Adoptive Parent,

 The Adopted Children's Immigrant Visa Unit (ACIVU) at U.S. Consulate General Guangzhou has finished processing your child's Article 5, and your file has been returned to your adoption agency's facilitator. 

 Next, your agency will deliver the Article 5 and Letter of Seeking Confirmation to the China Center for Children's Welfare and Adoption (CCCWA), which will issue the Travel Approval (TA).  The TA allows you to come to China to finalize the adoption, so once the CCCWA issues the TA, your agency can email us to request an immigrant visa appointment at the Consulate.  When your agency requests an appointment, they are required to submit your five choices in rank order.  The ACIVU strives to schedule every family for their top appointment choice on which we still have available visa appointments.  We do not reserve certain days for children of certain ages.  All appointments are open to adopted children of any age and medical condition, and they are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.  We then notify your agency of the scheduled date and time . . . 

This is the last leg literally.  We are waiting on step 13, TA, to happen.  Travel approvals are taking longer than normal right now because of issues with a computer system upgrade.  We pray that they work the kinks out soon because without it, we cannot book our travel.  A rep from our specific agency will be in country this week and we pray that perhaps she is able to pull some strings while she is there.  It's a long shot but we know God is excellent at long shots!!  We are also up against the relocation of the US Consulate in Guangzhou.  They are closing this week, July 12-23, to move to a newer, nicer, bigger facility.  What that means for us?  It means we cannot make our consulate appointment (step 14) until they reopen.  And, we may have to fight for an appointment since other families will also be waiting for the reopening.  If we don't receive TA while they are closed, it's a non-issue.  We know God's timing is perfect and this will all fall where it is intended to but having patience on this last leg is H-A-R-D!

We've received replies back on most of the grants we applied for, six total.  Unfortunately, this isn't the avenue God has intended for us.  I'll be honest.  It's hard not to be disappointed.  We didn't want to finance anything because we know that there will be medical bills upon our return to the US.  We've done the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University and have worked hard on becoming financially secure.  This adoption has stretched us financially and it's been hard.  However, we have raised and paid 2/3 of the total needed which is incredible.  I can't lose sight of what God has already done to provide for this adoption.  This is all according to His plan.  We've not yet gone to the bank to seek financing because we are trying to work out the final number needed to travel.  Continue to pray for us and financing as we are hoping for a particular type of loan but fear they may not like our requested dollar amount.  

Here are some new pics from this last week of our Jordy:

Circle of friends.  It breaks my heart that he will be leaving this group of kiddos soon.  If only I could bring them all home!!!!!

Is he going to fit in to the Petrosky household or what?

This precious boy will miss this volunteer.  They are very close!!