Ashlyn singing

This is Ashlyn signing her Christmas songs from the recital that we will miss. Ashlyn did a great job singing!
We are also trying to figure out how to post videos from China since blogger is blocked. But You Tube might be blocked also?? Something else to think about!

What's new?

Well we are going to China in like 5 days!! Hard to wrap my brain around that. We have been busy with preparations for the trip & Christmas. The house is all decorated & a few Christmas presents are bought & wrapped under the tree. The schedules for the kids are pretty much done. We just need to do laundry & pack. And not stress out!
My heart has been heavy thinking about Sydney being taking back to the orphanage & her foster family grieving. She has been with the foster family a year this month. I just can not imagine the tears & sadness from them. Praying that Sydney has an easy adjustment with us.
A couple of people have asked how I think Sydney will react to us on Gotcha Day. Scream! Really loud. Not sure why I think she will scream. But this will be very traumatic & emotional for her.
Please pray for Philip & Ashlyn & the grandparents taking care of them. I'm really trying to not think about leaving them right now because it makes me cry. I'm tearin' up just thinking about it! I know they will have fun without us and the time will go by really fast. They have a lot going on. We are so close to being a family of 5!

Opening Weekend Pictures

PJ said he took this "artsy" photo for me!

Cute baby deer. And no they do not shoot baby deer.

Sharp-Shooter looks like a teenager here. Hurts my heart!

Philip in one of the blinds.

Short Version of this Past Week

On Monday, we received our consulate appointment (CA)--December 15th at 9am. How exciting! After you receive your CA, your travel arrangements can be made. We decided to let our agency book our flights. We knew that living in Amarillo makes flying more expensive. Everyone in Amarillo knows the joke--even when we go to heaven, we will have to go through Dallas. Lame I know! But we have to fly out to Dallas or Houston to get the other flights. So more $$. This is where the short version comes into play---four frustrated days later------PJ finalizes our flights. Huge relief!
We leave on Thursday morning (Dec 3rd) from Amarillo. Connections are Dallas to Tokyo to Beijing. Arriving in Beijing on Friday night. Later than we wanted but not a big deal. We leave Guangzhou (Sydney's current city) on Friday & fly to Shanghai. Then Tokyo to Dallas to Amarillo. Arriving back home on Friday night (Dec 18th) at 6:30pm!! If you live in Amarillo, come out & see us.
Hope everyone has a wonderful week!

Travel Approval

We received our travel approval this morning. Yeah! Travel dates should be December 3 to December 18th. I think there are 21 families traveling together! How awesome to see 20 plus kids meet their forever families!
This week has been an emotional roller coaster--so thankful that it ended like this. God's timing is perfect! I want to thank my waiting buddies. Thank you for allowing me to vent! Can not wait to meet you in person.
Also, thank you to our friends & family for your support during this last waiting stage. And thank you to my hubby! You always know what to say. I'm blessed to be able to walk down this path with you.
Here we come Sydney Hope! Well in 4 weeks but we are coming!!

Halloween Pictures

Hot Air Balloon Festival

Demi Lovato from Camp Rock (aka Ashlyn)