HATS HATS HATS

look at all of these beautiful hats!





Several wonderful women have knitted hats for us to bring as a orphanage donation. The orphanage where Janae has been living is very poor so it's not the warmest in winter. These hats will keep the children's heads warm. I hope all of you wonderful women know how much we appreciate your love work and know you are making a difference in a child's life.

Thank you!!

Mary Lou - my SIL
Kari - my niece
Donna, Elizabeth, Kelly
Julie, Alli, and others that I don't even know who they are
all these women live Lyons and are our neighbors

40 hats we are bringing to China!!

Travel Call

The fact we are leaving in 5 days hit hard today. I did some shopping for the trip today and was at the Vitamin Cottage getting some supplements talking with the woman on what she would suggest for the girls. She asked me what we were doing and how old the girls were, so I told her we are bringing home a 3 yr old from China, she was so nice and supportive and thought what we are doing was amazing. She just shoved 3 different products in my hands and said "trust me you are going to need all three of these products"! Then I went to the bank to get a cashiers check for in China travel and the bank teller's were so excited they were just going on and on so nice. I was standing there looking at them so excited for me and just started crying! Then we had our Travel Conference call today with the owners of our adoption agency WOW this is real this is happening. 23 months and 2 weeks later we are going to go to China and bring home our second daughter! I just pray we have what's needed for Janae to make this transition as easy as possible for her.

Flights are booked!

Booked the flights today. It took two days of searching for the "best" deal.....and of course booked the flights with the first person I spoke with!
Our itinerary is on the side of the blog. I guessed at some of it cause we don't know all the details yet. This is what I do know:
3/11 Beijing
3/16 Henan and we get to meet Janae!!!
3/24 taking the Oath
3/26 fly home

Maybe just maybe I will sleep tonight!

TA

We received TA today!! This means the Chinese government has given us permission to travel to China to get Janae! We now need to wait for the American Consulate to give us a date that we will swear to provide her a good home and to get Janae's visa for the USA. This takes anywhere from 1 to 6 days. We need that date before we can book flights to China. Our agency says March 11th to the 26th, 27th, or 28th. We are planning on going a few days early to explore Beijing a bit more than the rest of the group and meet up with them on the 12th. I am so excited and overwhelmed right now. Next post will be our Itinerary!!!

View from the girls bedroom

Regina's Chinese Dragon she got for a present for Chinese NY

On a clear day you can see Mt. Meeker and Longs Peak Mt. in Estes Park from their window

Regina's and Janae's new updated bedroom

This is a map we received as a gift when Regina came to us, it is Hunan China.

We hope the girls will like sleeping with each other. When we first come home the crib will be in our room or she (Janae) can sleep with us or in her new room with her sister. Its a very small room but it will work, I took the closet door out to open it up a bit. The view from their bedroom is very nice also.

VISAS

Just greeted the Fed Ex man, we have our visas!! I'm so excited I can't stand it I wish TA would come......lets review:
Referral of Janae.......................Thanksgiving
Pre-approval from China..........Christmas
Letter of Acceptance.................Chinese New Year
So the way this has been working we should get our last big notice from China on Valentines!
Travel Approval........................Valentines? we got it today...Presidents week? will that work?
Travel Dates...............................My Birthday March 2nd to ?? travel Janae's b-day week!
I tried to take a picture of the Visa stamp but it didn't work....trust me they are very impressive and should be for what they cost us!! One Swiss man and two American girls waiting for TA!!
Sounds good.