Adoption Update 8/1

Process Updates:

Well, it appears I was wrong.  Those of you who scoffed at my ability to predict the future were apparently correct.  Katie and I will NOT be leaving for China on August 17 as I officially decided a month ago.  We will, however, be leaving on AUGUST 10!!!!   Yep, ten short days from now we will be headed out on our way to BRING JACK HOME!  Hurray!!  Hurray!!  Hurray!!  I have official orders from CCAI to arrive in Beijing no later than August 11 and I plan to be the perfect order follower.  Our Consulate date is set for August 24 so we should be heading home on Thursday, August 26, with one cute little new American citizen in tow.  Yippee!

For those of you with lots of detail questions, I don’t really have many details to share at this point.  I am currently working with a CCAI recommended travel agent to arrange our flights.  (It looks like Katie and I will be meeting up in Atlanta and heading out through Seattle of all places.)  I do know that we are to arrive in Beijing on August 11– which will hopefully allow us to meet up with the Show Hope team heading back home at that time to at least say “hi” – and then going on to Zhengzhou, the capital city for the Henan province, on August 14.  I assume from watching several families go through this process ahead of us that this means Jack’s Gotcha Day should be Monday, August 15, but that remains to be confirmed by CCAI.

Right now, please just keep praying for Katie’s childcare coverage.  She has some really good leads and now that we have official dates she really needs some of them to fall into place.  I told her I am ready to buy her ticket unless she tells me not to, so you can take that to mean I am fully confident that God will provide.  Katie is also confident, however, the lack of details on that front is causing other discomforts among the larger picture as she does not have concrete answers to share with her husband, children, etc.  Again, we are both very confident that our traveling together is God’s plan and are willing to hold each other’s hands while taking a leap of faith, but we do truly covet your prayers for a quick answer and peace of mind for all involved.

And that’s about it.  Next week at this time, I will be writing to tell you I am packed and ready to go!  Okay, I will most likely really be telling you that I need to pack and get ready to go, but at least there will only be a couple of days left until I board that plane.  Did I mention by the way – that in just two weeks Jack will leave the institution lifestyle that he has lead for over three years and COME HOME!!!

Prayer Requests:

*We give PRAISE for God’s divine providence and THANK HIM for our Travel Approval and quickly coming travel dates.  May safe travel and smooth transitions follow.

*We ask for God’s continued guidance in finding childcare for Katie’s children as she prepares to travel.  Please pray that plans will fall into place smoothly as we prepare to travel.

*We pray that God will prepare Jack’s heart and mind for the changes he will encounter in just days.  May God provide a smooth transition, a clear understanding of the changes and situation, and a safe journey home.

*We pray for continued health and happiness for Jack, as well as God’s hand on his caretakers.   We pray for peace of mind and comfort for Jack.  We GIVE THANKS for all of his current and past caretakers as his days of orphan care near an end.

*We pray for smooth transitions for all involved in Jack’s homecoming – Jack, Dan and Deborah, Jolene, Becca, Sophie, Ellie and all of his extended family and new friends.

* We continue to pray that each person following this journey will feel led to participate in Jack’s “100 Good Wishes” Quilt so that Jack will have a true record of the love surrounding his journey.

Ways You Can Support Us:

PRAYER - Please continue to lift up Jack and all of our family in your prayers.  We greatly appreciate your prayers on all fronts.  Please continue to pray that final paperwork processing in China goes smoothly and efficiently and that everyone involved experiences smooth transitions, safe travel and peace of mind.