So, thinking ahead and talking tonight with Jay on where we are at in regards to being close to traveling. Here are two very possible (at least in my mind) scenarios (albeit no glitches occur either).......
Monday, Oct 31 - our agency will send off our Article 5 paperwork to the China. The turn around time for that is 10 business days (usually), which means Article 5 pick up will be Monday, Nov 14 (Happy birthday, Jadyn!). The 14th is a holiday, so pick up will be the 15th instead. Next comes Travel Approval usually 1-3 days following Article 5 pickup. That means we SHOULD have Travel Approval around Nov 16,17, or 18. Then, it's go time on booking flights, hotel, Consulate appointment, and all other appointments that will happen in country. Once we get TA, we are HOPING that all ducks line up quickly in a row and we are jetting out on Wednesday, Nov 23rd. Otherwise, it will likely be Wednesday, Nov 30th. Leaving on the 23rd means we miss Thanksgiving, BUT it means we are back home in time for our other kids' Christmas programs and school and church as well as all their class Christmas parties. And let's be real - our family ALWAYS looks forward to Jay's company Christmas party and we would be bummed to miss it too. (Just bein' real).
If we leave out Nov 30th, we wouldn't be home until the middle of December. We might ( a BIG jet-lagged, can't-see-straight-because-we-are-so-tired MIGHT) be able to make class parties, but we will have missed the kids' church Christmas program (and Jay's company party).
Yes, yes, I know.... this journey is not without sacrifices and in the big scheme of things, missing parties over gaining a new daughter - NO comparison. But, I know my Heavenly Father cares about even the smallest details/desires of our hearts. Will you pray that we are leaving on that jet plane by Nov 23rd? That would mean Annika would be in our arms on Nov 28th.....just 3 days after her 8th birthday. 🎈
Oh, and please keep those prayers coming on the rest of the funds for our trip. No biggie in God, our Provider's eyes. :-) We have two more grants we are waiting to hear from.
Annnddd, if you're still reading....Thank you. Thank you for supporting us, praying for us, encouraging and just being plain excited for us. What a journey! And the best is yet to come! 😍
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