Consulate Appointment

Praise God! Sophie is fever- free!!

Warning:  picture-less post! Sorry!

Our appointment at the US Consulate was today. I was expecting a separate building like the Embassy in Guatemala, but in China, you go up and elevator and through a hallway and without much fanfare you're at the Consulate. Like Guatemala, there are no electronic devices allowed, so no pictures. I finally had some tears. I got kinda choked up when the officer was explaining the process about taking the oath that everything in our paperwork is accurate, including taking  care of our children and loving them and never abandoning them. She explained that as soon as our child(ren) hit US soil they become US citizens. Just the thought of finishing this part of the journey and being in the airport in Chicago and beginning the new journey of becoming a family brought tears of joy.

We have weathered this trip well, I think! All four of us here, and the others at home. Thanks to Matt, Josh, Aunt Diane, Grandma, Papa, Jennifer, Christie, Diane, Marianne, Coach, and all the others who have helped with childcare, praying, donating finances, encouraging, emailing, and commenting on the blog. You all have helped to make this not only possible, but doable and we give God the glory! This has been His plan from the very start. We are but weak and sinful people, and He has brought something glorious! A new family member, a new daughter, a new sister, a new friend, no longer an orphan! Just as it says in James 1:27 "Pure religion is this, taking care of orphans and widows in their distress." A HUGE THANK YOU to ALL of you who have been a part of this journey of faith."Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and  certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1 You all stepped out in faith with us. We didn't know how we would pay for this adoption. But it is almost totally funded! We didn't know what our little girl would be like, but she is AWESOME! We didn't know how manageable her special need would be, but so far, it's really been pretty easy. (Only a couple of accidents, and I'm not sure that they weren't because of fever and the other because she didn't want to stop watching tv!) We didn't know how we'd be able to handle being gone for 14 days, and now we're almost at the end of our 16 day trip. We are all ready to return to the US, our family, the clean air, the good food....HOME!

 I'm sure that in time, she will be doing school right along side her brothers and sister, and speaking English words, and understanding ours! It is just such a blessing to be a part of something that God has done!

After praying and listening the the wise counsel of others, we've decided to wait for a welcome reception until later in the week, or next week at church maybe. We need to reconnect especially with Katie and Zack who have really missed their mom and dad. We'll need some sleep! We need to show Sophie who her immediate family is! We plan to stay home from church this week because of jet lag, but we'll let you know when we are ready to introduce Sophie to you!

Tomorrow we are planning to go to the Safari Park that we missed on Monday. I'll try to get a post out tomorrow, but we also need to pack and get ready a 5am departure Saturday morning. Our flight leaves at 11:00am and arrives at O'Hare at 11:16 am (just 16 minutes later, or 14 hours and 16 minutes later!)

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. To him be the glory! Amen!"