Two loooong months

It has been two months since we were matched with Elijah. Two months since we first saw the adorable face of the child our hearts already loved. We are currently waiting on travel approval, which although it may be one of the shortest timeframes of this whole process, is seemingly taking forever. I've probably checked my email 1000 times already this week. I was so excitedly thinking of travel to meet him that I couldn't fall asleep last night. So much left to do to get ready, yet I would leave at a moments notice to bring him home!

Three rows done, fifteen more to go!

Article 5 Pick Up!

Today our adoption agency representatives in China picked up our Article 5 from the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou. For a year now I've seen others excitedly post about this in FB adoption groups. I wasn't quite sure why the elation, as it just seemed like another step in the journey. Then I learned that "Article 5" is the U.S. Central Authority's Approval for Hague Adoption, which is the last step before travel approval! Yay!!! Getting soooooo close...

I just learned from another CCAI adoptive parent that if we don't travel by January 20, the trip will be postponed until after Chinese New Year. So please pray we receive travel approval and travel dates soon!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas family and friends! Happy birthday Jesus! Happy half birthday Elijah!
The last two days have been a flurry of good food and great company. We've enjoyed fellowship with family and watching Ethan play with his new toys. Each little smile and giggle warms our hearts, especially knowing we have another sweetheart on the way. Ethan really enjoyed playing with his cousins, leading us to believe he will love having a brother.
We've been hoping for an update on Elijah. We submitted our five update questions to our agency in early November, but have not heard anything back from his orphanage. I also asked a parent traveling to Elijah's orphanage to snap a picture of him while visiting (if possible). The parent uploaded pictures today of children in Elijah's room, but unfortunately he wasn't one of them. My heart sank as I longed to see his sweet face again and make sure he is okay. Did he move to an older child room? Does he have a friend or favorite nanny in there? Is he living with a foster family? Is he at the hospital?  I don't know. In my heart, I want to believe he is in a safe place, celebrating Christmas with those closest to him. I'm so ready to pick him up right now!
God, thank you for the precious gift of your Son. And thank you for the precious blessing of my sons.

Elijah's Puzzle Page

Reflection

Last night I looked through lots of pictures trying to find a specific one. I was dreading this small task (as computers hate me), but turns out it was nice to reminisce. I looked through pictures of Ethan all the way back to delivery in the OR. Each baby phase had its trials, but oh how I loved holding and loving that sweet baby. I may not have pictures of us with Elijah to look back on, but I am able to reflect on our blog posts. I vividly remember the despair of each setback and the joy of each milestone. I hope this will show Elijah just how wanted and cared for he was, even before we saw his face.

Some pregnancies are planned while others are surprises, all leading to a beautiful little life growing in a Mommy's belly. Adoption journeys are always planned, as these children are longed for and fought for. Beautiful little lives already existing on Earth, but growing in a Mommy's heart. This journey has taught us so much, including the value of an orphan, love greater than understanding, and dependence on our Heavenly Father. Some day when Elijah has unanswered questions, I will remind him that we had plenty of unanswered questions ourselves, but everything worked out according to a greater plan than we could have ever dreamed.

Be One

Whatever is on your heart this Christmas, make a miracle of it.

"We don't feel ready
We don't feel steady
Question what we really have to give
Stay where it's safer
Claim faith, but waiver
Is this how we're really meant to live?

We pray but never move
We say but never do

A little something
Might feel like nothing
But in His hands it's all we'll ever need
To speak life to the broken
Watch the blind eyes open
It's who He's calling you and me
To be

We can be the change, be the hope
We can be the arms that don't let go
We can be a light in the dark
We are where it starts

It's time to get our hands dirty
Be love, there's a whole lot of hurting
Calling all hearts
Calling all hands
Calling all feet to take a stand
Why sit around and wait for a miracle to come
When we can be one"

Be One, Natalie Grant

New Beginnings

While we are waiting for Article 5 pick up, I'm daydreaming about Gotcha Day. When will we first hold Elijah in our arms? When will I kiss his cheeks for the first time? When will he lose everything he's ever known, but gain parents and a brother?
We won't know our travel dates for a little while longer, but today I've been reading about Chinese New Year. It comes on the first day of the lunar calendar, which is February 8 for 2016. Chinese New Year, also called Spring Festival, is a time for families to be together. It is the busiest travel season in China as people do whatever they can to see their family. (I feel like this describes our current situation pretty well as we are doing everything we can to bring Elijah to his family!) Cultural activities of Chinese New Year include firecrackers, dragon dances, hanging red lanterns, and giving gifts. People celebrate by eating lucky foods such as fish and Chinese dumplings. There are also superstitions like no cleaning, no crying, wearing red, and praying in a temple. All in all, a fun filled, week long holiday!

To the U.S. Consulate In China!

Yesterday we received our official letter from the National Visa Center, which we then forwarded to CCAI. On Monday, CCAI will deliver our NVC letter, DS-260 Confirmation, and other required documents to the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou. At that point we will be waiting for "Article 5" pick up and THEN TRAVEL APPROVAL! Can you believe it?! All I want for Christmas is my two little boys!!!

Add your name to Elijah's puzzle and help bring him home at www.AdoptTogether.org/hanks.

   

One line down, seventeen to go!

Another Step Closer

Exciting Day! Today we received Elijah's puzzle in the mail! I can't wait to put it together and start adding names! Phillip and I received our passports with Chinese visas. The National Visa Center emailed us our SIM number and Invoice number. This enabled us to complete the form DS-260 to apply for Elijah's visa. Now we're just waiting on one more email from the NVC before moving on to the next step!

December is awesome.

My birthday was Saturday. As many of you probably already know, I celebrate it for quite some time.   This weekend involved eating baked goods, watching parades (although not actually celebrating me, they gave us candy), gingerbread house decorating, and Chrtimas tree decorating. Today I redeemed my Starbucks birthday reward, opened more birthday cards in the mail, and opened our I800 Provisional Approval from USCIS! Sometimes I feel this paper chase is like a video game. "When you earn this, it unlocks these next steps!" (Disclaimer: The next steps are more of the same paperwork, but you are getting closer to the goal.) The difference is that I'm playing a game I can actually win, for once.  ;)
I hope Elijah gets as much joy from opening his care package as I have gotten from opening birthday and Christmas cards. They really make this season awesome!