ITS OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL

YIPPEEEEE!

Today we received word that we have our LOA - the "Letter of Acceptance" from China. The China Center for Adoption Affairs has reviewed all of our affairs (and believe me, the mountains of paperwork we sent ensured they have every detail of our lives documented, stamped and sealed) and has officially said "yep, you can adopt Yan and Dong". This LOA came a full month earlier than we had really expected.

Now, we wait for our Travel Authority (TA) (Adopting internationally is a world of abbreviations! I thought the Army was bad, but it has nothing on this!), then our CA (Consular appointment), in preparation for GD (Gotcha Day. I think this is a dumb name but hey, it is the recognized name for the day you get your kids!). OMG. Realistically 4-8 weeks. Probably 6-8. But still, that means travel beginning in MAY. Happy birthday to me... Zhu ni shengri kwaile...

sooo much to do now. Yippeeee.

Happy Birthday, Dong and Yan

I woke up this morning to find a bunch of photos of you in my email in box. Yippee!!!! Apparently you received your birthday cake. It looks tough to eat birthday cake with chopsticks. We'll have to try it for Mary's birthday, I think. And no napkins - horrors! You're wearing winter coats indoors so I assume there is precious little heat there, and though it is 50 degrees f. or so outside, I know I would be cold.

Quilting Time

We just keep getting more quilt fabric. From neighbors, to Mary's social studies teacher, to old friends, and church friends, and family near and far...We have gathered this huge pile of fabrics and wishes. I think it is time for a party to put these together! We are indeed blessed.

Tomorrow is the kids assigned birthdays - the day they were scooped off the streets of Chengdu, three years ago, was 3/18. We have sent a cake, and musical birthday cards and more photos.

No word yet on when we'll go get them - it could be 2 months...it could be 4 months...who knows.