Wednesday, October 8, 2008
We're Leaving SOON!!
It's really here. The day we've been planning and packing for all year is upon us. I'm really almost ready, it's just so hard to tell yourself "it's done" and not pull out or try to do one more thing. I'm working on a blog just for the china trip at www.journey2emmafaith.blogspot.com and will hopefully have it finished soon. Our friends, Mark and Shannon, are already on their way. I've listed their new blog on Emma's site along with some of the other Jinhua families we've been so blessed to meet. I've got to work throught he last of my list and make one last trip to Amarillo, so today will be gone before I know it. Can't wait to say "We're in China!".
Saturday, September 27, 2008
China Itinerary
It's been a crazy couple of weeks, but we did get most of our travel confirmed last week. We leave Amarillo at 6:35am on the 9th and eventually fly out of Minneapolis to Tokyo, then to Shanghai. We arrive at 8:55pm and will be welcomed by our friends Jeff and Kristy who moved to China last year. It is such a blessing to have friends there and we are so looking forward to the 2 days we'll have with them. We leave Sunday afternoon (that's the unconfirmed part that we hope to have confirmed by next week) the 12th on the bullet train to Hangzhou, Zhejiang with Mark and Shannon. We will get our girls the next morning, October 13th!
The rest of the schedule is as follows:
-10/14 2 and 1/2 hour trip to Jinhua and visit to Emma's orphanage
-10/15 free day and appointment with local eye doctor
-10/16 tour of West Lake
-10/17 leave for Guangzhou, 3pm flight
-10/18 medical exam
-10/19 trip to Guangzhou zoo
-10/20 9am Consulate appointment
-10/21 swearing in at US Consulate
-10/22 8:20am flight home arriving in Amarillo @ 10:55pm!
We are continuing to pray for Emma as she waits and for Isaiah as he prepares to go back to China. There is so much transition ahead for all of us and our hearts desire is that we are knit together as a family and that we can press into Him on our rough days. We also are praying for Blake while he is home with family. There are a million little details that need to be taken care of before we leave, but I know that all will fall into place and Emma will be in our arms and her forever home soon!
The rest of the schedule is as follows:
-10/14 2 and 1/2 hour trip to Jinhua and visit to Emma's orphanage
-10/15 free day and appointment with local eye doctor
-10/16 tour of West Lake
-10/17 leave for Guangzhou, 3pm flight
-10/18 medical exam
-10/19 trip to Guangzhou zoo
-10/20 9am Consulate appointment
-10/21 swearing in at US Consulate
-10/22 8:20am flight home arriving in Amarillo @ 10:55pm!
We are continuing to pray for Emma as she waits and for Isaiah as he prepares to go back to China. There is so much transition ahead for all of us and our hearts desire is that we are knit together as a family and that we can press into Him on our rough days. We also are praying for Blake while he is home with family. There are a million little details that need to be taken care of before we leave, but I know that all will fall into place and Emma will be in our arms and her forever home soon!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Blog for Susannah
Susannah's family blog is open at www.roomforatleastonemore.blogspot.com for those of you who are praying and want updates.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Prayer request for family in China
I just got a request for a family in China whose little girl is in desperate need of a miracle. The little girls' name is Susannah and the family is having to wait on officials to give the okay to release her from the hospital to complete the adoption. At this point they have not been able to speed things up, which they really need to happen so Susannah can get the care she needs here in the states. All I know about her condition is that her lungs looked very bad, her heart is terribly weak, and the family was saying it would take a miracle for her to pull through. They are standing and believing for miracles, but it is very difficult when you're in a foreign land and feel so alone. I had the link posted to their blog, but it has been closed to the public so I'll post updates as I hear.
I'll try to post an update later on our travel plans. Right now we do have our flights and will be leaving the 9th and returning the 22nd. Hopefully the in country itinerary will be confirmed by Friday.
Blessings--Leigh
I'll try to post an update later on our travel plans. Right now we do have our flights and will be leaving the 9th and returning the 22nd. Hopefully the in country itinerary will be confirmed by Friday.
Blessings--Leigh
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Our Consulate Appointment is SET!!!!
We got an e-mail this morning letting us know our CA will be October 20th at 9am and we'll have Emma in our arms on the 13th! We are now in the mad dash to get flights confirmed and our travel details in order. We are even more blessed to be traveling with Mark and Shannon. We just knew our girls would be coming home together, but it was definately tried and tested several times over. We're praying for all the details of the trip to fall in place and the Father's continued hand to be on all we need to do.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Travel Approval for Emma!!!!!
We got the news that our TA arrived at our agency yesterday, September 4th...two days before Jeff's birthday and the day we got word of Isaiah's TA in 2006. We knew it was on its way on Tuesday and were hoping it would arrive in time for us to get our request back to China for the earliest possible Consulate appointment (CA) and it did! We've requested the first October date that we could which is the 13th. That would put us leaving on the 2nd and getting Emma on the 6th. Our second choice is the 20th and I'm not EVEN going to talk about the third option. We seriously are praying for the first date because I don't think my heart could take any later!?
Our friends Mark and Shannon (www.herewegrowagain.blogspot.com), who have their daughter Mavery waiting for them at Emma's SWI, have also received their TA and are still hoping to travel with us. We should have things finalized by the end of next week. We are praying on so many fronts for the perfect completion of this leg of the journey. After walking with Isaiah through his transition, I know all too well the loss and grieving that their little hearts endure, but I'm also so aware of the Father's bigger plan, His comfort, and the joy of a child finally home. I just know how much prayer does to pave the way and how much we need Him for the every phase of this journey.
I have to share another Isaiah story. Last Friday we were praying and Isaiah was asking for Emma to be home soon. He then said," thank you God that JinMing will be coming home on Tuesday". He finished and said "Today's Friday, tomorrow's Saturday, then it's Sunday and Monday and Tuesday and we get to go get my sister! " I said that I wished we could get her on Tuesday, but it would have to be a little longer than that. He then replied, "no mama we can go get her on Tuesday!" I then just said okay, Isaiah. When he got out of school on Tuesday, Brittany picked him up and told him the news about our TA coming. He said, "I told you JinMing was coming home on Tuesday!"
Why do I ever doubt what this little one hears? Isaiah has always had an ear tuned to heaven to hear what His Father says. What a blessing my children are and how I love to watch them grow in their giftings. What will Emma do and say that astounds me and makes my heart smile?
We have so many last minute details to take care of...flights, hotels, packing, and final paperwork that I know the time will fly and we'll be on that plane to China!
Leigh
Our friends Mark and Shannon (www.herewegrowagain.blogspot.com), who have their daughter Mavery waiting for them at Emma's SWI, have also received their TA and are still hoping to travel with us. We should have things finalized by the end of next week. We are praying on so many fronts for the perfect completion of this leg of the journey. After walking with Isaiah through his transition, I know all too well the loss and grieving that their little hearts endure, but I'm also so aware of the Father's bigger plan, His comfort, and the joy of a child finally home. I just know how much prayer does to pave the way and how much we need Him for the every phase of this journey.
I have to share another Isaiah story. Last Friday we were praying and Isaiah was asking for Emma to be home soon. He then said," thank you God that JinMing will be coming home on Tuesday". He finished and said "Today's Friday, tomorrow's Saturday, then it's Sunday and Monday and Tuesday and we get to go get my sister! " I said that I wished we could get her on Tuesday, but it would have to be a little longer than that. He then replied, "no mama we can go get her on Tuesday!" I then just said okay, Isaiah. When he got out of school on Tuesday, Brittany picked him up and told him the news about our TA coming. He said, "I told you JinMing was coming home on Tuesday!"
Why do I ever doubt what this little one hears? Isaiah has always had an ear tuned to heaven to hear what His Father says. What a blessing my children are and how I love to watch them grow in their giftings. What will Emma do and say that astounds me and makes my heart smile?
We have so many last minute details to take care of...flights, hotels, packing, and final paperwork that I know the time will fly and we'll be on that plane to China!
Leigh
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