THE POST I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR!!!

WE HAVE OUR TA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our social worker called at 11:59am today to let us know our TA is in!

I, of course, wasn't home (again!).

Every DAY for the last 40 days, whenever I come home and see that we have messages, no matter how hard I try, I get a little excited and hopeful. But, it's usually: a hang up, my son's friends, or someone else I wish hadn't called! So, today when I got home, I saw that we had 2 messagaes. I steeled myself and told myself NOT to get excited, NOT to anticipate anything. So, I went to the bathroom, put laundry in the dryer, anything to delay that utter dissapointment yet again. I was in the laundry room when I heard our SW screaming on the machine that I needed to call her NOW!! The next message was my husband telling me to pack my bags!!!

I cannot even express how wonderful it was to hear those messages.

THIS is what I've been waiting and praying for. I am just overwhelmed.

Overwhelmed with gratitude and shame.

I have been so FAITHLESS through this entire wait. I've moaned, complained, and given up.

I am humbled beyond belief that God still provides for me. He still loves me! I am in awe.

So, here's the nitty gritty:

We are leaving on 8/5 to go to Beijing to tour for 2 days and rest for a day.

We go to Guangzhou on 8/9 in the morning. I'm assuming that will be the day we get Lili--maybe 8/10!!!!!!!!!! (we'll be staying in Guangzhou the whole time----nice!)

Our Visa appointment is scheduled for 10:00am on Monday 8/20.

We should leave for home on 8/22.

That's a 17 day stay. wow. That's a long time. My SW said that too, but I told her it was OK because we never go anywhere!! :)

We should hear more by the end of the day from our travel agency. We should have a definite itinerary in the next couple of days.

EIGHTEEN MORE DAYS TILL WE LEAVE FOR CHINA!!!!!!!!!

Holy cow, I'm nervous!! :)