It's True!

I keep having these little burst of realization.  It's true, it is really true.  We are really going to China and getting our Emma soon.  Yes, we really got our letter of acceptance.  It was sent back to China on Friday.  The word from the agency is that our travel notice should come in about 2 weeks.  I say 3 weeks, but I hope the agency is right!  Travel will come quickly after that, as soon as 1 week.  We have to get our appointment at the US consulate in China and that will determine our travel dates.  They can usually get the appointment in one to two days. 

I want to say thank you, thank you, thank you for all the sweet comments and well wishes.  It has been so fun to have so many people excited with us and for us.  We appreciate so much your prayers and support!

The scoop on how it all happened is this.  We were away from home all day on Thursday, but I had my cell phone on my hip and was able to check my e-mail a couple of times.  No word.  We went on our way that evening to eat dinner with friends, and didn't get home until just after 10 p.m.  I saw there was 1 message on the answering machine.  I quickly looked at the caller id, and it said Adoption Associates.  In disbelief, I clicked play and heard the quiet voice of our social worker telling us that our letter of approval had arrived at the agency.  Josh had gone downstairs, and I started screaming at him, "IT'S HERE, IT'S HERE!!!  OUR LETTER IS HERE!"  We all jumped up and down and squealed with excitement.  I was actually hoarse the whole next morning from all the screaming. Josh told me I was going to have burning thighs from all my jumping up and down! To flashback a bit, at 3 that afternoon, about the same time our social worker had called, I had just been telling Josh that I thought it was going to come that day or Friday.  He didn't want me to tell him that as he didn't think it was true and he would look forward to it to just be disappointed.  I fussed at him and said, "Don't you have any hope for it at all?  It is going to happen!!"  I just had to add that as an, "I told you so!"  Love you, honey!!! 

After screaming for a bit, we called our family and friends.  I even got Rhonda out of bed for this one!  Sorry!  :-)  We were too excited to sleep very well and worried about whether we would be able to get it back to the agency on time for them to mail it back to China on Friday.  We weren't sure if the agency ended up overnighting the letter to us or not.  As soon as they were open, we were calling their number.  They had overnighted it, and we would receive the letter by 10:30 a.m.  They said they could absolutely get it back to China that day!  Well 10:30 rolls around, and no UPS man.  By 11 we called back to the agency to get the tracking number.  The tracking said it was on time, so I called UPS and asked, "What time is ON TIME?"  They said it was 12 p.m. for residences.  Okay, so we watch and wait.  I had my camera ready and Katelyn was poised as a watch at the dining room window.  I had so much nervous energy, so I dusted and cleaned up the house a little.  Finally, she said, "He's coming!"  So we all rushed to the back window, snapped a couple of pics and then rushed to the front porch.  We stood there waiting for him as he pulled in our court.  We told him it was an important paper for our adoption, and he smiled and posed for the picture for us.  He was in a hurry, so off he went. 

We went in and signed carefully, checked the box that --yes, we want this baby!!!--and left for the agency.  We were so relieved to have the letter back in their hands and on its way to China.  They all oohed and aahed over the new pictures, and Mary told us to figure out what we want to do while we are in China as far as touristy stuff. 

I didn't write much yesterday, as my brain had turned into mush.  But now I am thinking a little more clearly!  It was 7 years ago today that I was sent to the hospital in early labor with our twins, not knowing if either one of our girls was going to make it.  Five weeks later, Katelyn and Sunshine were born.  Now we are in full labor for Emma for about 5 more weeks or less, but this time it is a good kind of labor, not scary or painful. We look forward to her "birth" into our family with joyous anticipation!  As my mom said yesterday, one joy really does scatter a hundred griefs--It's true!!

Comment posted by
at 5/20/2007 12:46:00 AM

I love to watch our redemptive God at work! To have you go into labor the same weekend as you did with the twins, only this time there is no fear or uncertainty...that's redemption! And you'll have Emma by Katelyn's 7th birthday...what better gift than to become a big sister! Thanks for sharing your journey so we can all celebrate with you!
Much love...Tracie

Comment posted by
at 6/4/2007 10:23:00 AM

Hi Amy,

Kelly and I were so glad to hear that things had finally broken for you guys to go to China and pick up your little girl. I know this will be an incredible adventure for you guys, and we are so excited for you both. May God bless you and keep you safe as you travel, and we look forward to hearing all about it! Maybe someday soon we can see you guys.

Karey Nickel