Updates From Referral to Travel Travel Mates Over the Christmas break, we were fortunate enough to have TeriLyn and Steve (from our Welcome House Travel Group) host a get together, for those of us able to attend. Our group is slightly splintered because we are located in several different areas. However, the Swales family from Virginia was in town to visit family, and Rachel from West Chester was able to drive in, and of course we are not far from Terilyn and Steve. We missed our other families, and look forward to getting to know them when our daughters are finally in our arms (doesn't that sound nice?). We will see TeriLyn and Steve tomorrow morning and can't wait to give some "congratulations" hugs! Speaking of travel groups, April and John, whom we met at Homestudy training have become dear and treasured friends. Though their dossier travelled to China slightly later than ours (they have a LID of 10-27-05), they have been a major source of support and caring as we have navigated this process. Their travel group included us in their monthly gathering last evening--what a fun bunch of people. We feel so blessed and plan to keep in contact with these folks and most certainly cheer them on until they hold those precious first photos of their daughters. Thanks April and John! (You are next!) Finally, on another travel note, our good friend, John, officially submitted his request to Starbucks (a little plug for the infamous coffeehouse) for a two week leave to help us bring Hannah home. His job is quite intense and requires tri-state travel, so it is not common to take leave beyond one week. John has been a friend for years and was extremely involved in the youth program when I was Youth Director for St. John's. He is an experienced traveler, and we are grateful beyond words for this genuine act of kindness. Feng Xin Social Welfare Institute     We have included three pictures of the SWI where Hannah is thought to be living right now - I say "thought" because I will be confirming this when we attend our match meeting tomorrow. There is a picture looking up the driveway, a picture of the infant room with all of the cribs, and a picture of the babies peeking out from their cribs. Though disturbing at first, I am so glad to have increased information about the little girl we adore already, so I will get over my own discomfort. A couple who just received their daughter from this SWI this week, posted to me this evening, indicating that the orphanage is very modern and clean. They also said the babies are totally loved and cared for--it is evident. Another mommy posted to me that this SWI provides the family with a photo album and a gift for the baby when she goes to be with her forever family. We will continue to seek information about Hannah and her residence as often as possible. It will help us answer potential questions for her later in her life. Thanks, as always, for checking in...I'm certain there be more to tell shortly! Love, Rob, Heather and Emily God has made everything beautiful for it's own time.-- Ecclesiastes 3:11 Our match meeting yesterday went very well. We were pleased with the English translation of Hannah's information. Some of the things we learned about her are: Feng Xiao Wei is a good-natured baby, and she has been physically and mentally developing very well. When tickled at two months old, she smiled sweetly. Her arms and legs became strong at three months, and at four months she was rolling over in her crib on her own. She distinguishes caretakers from strangers, and if she is given a single hand, will take it and stand for a long while (this was at 5-6 months). Their exact words -- Xiao Wei is very beautiful who is good-natured and extremely adorable. (We just loved that sentence.) She loves to play and giggles happily when picked up for playtime or a walk. Her favorite toy is the toy bells. Now, we begin yet another paperchase, and get all of our ducks in a row to prepare for travel and official confirmation of our intent to adopt Feng Xiao Wei. Her Chinese Name Feng Xiao Wei means something along the lines of tiny and small, enchanting, and abundant kindness. I would certainly say that she is small and enchanting. There is no definitive travel date yet. Our adoption coordinator advised us this could take up to 5 weeks to get travel approval (our invitation to China to receive our daughter). Keep praying for our precious girl and for all the minutae that needs to take place during this waiting time. Pray for her birthparents, who we are eternally grateful to. Thanks for visiting us - the outpouring of love has been astounding. Love, Rob, Heather and Emily (who found two more ladybugs today!) Among the people of the world you shine like stars in the heavens. --Philippians 2:15 And so...this wait feels far more excruciating because we have seen our shining star. The blessing of it though, is watching Emily do her own fair share of shining. She has wanted to be an active, integral part of every decision and all preparations for Hannah to be forever in our family. I have watched her go from indifferent to friends siblings to eagerly entertaining them and interested. Her biggest concern is baby drool and to some extent, I think I really understand that! Our Letters of Acceptance were sent to China last week and we have been assured that our China facilitator is working on getting us updated information on our children, as well as Consulate appointments and travel accomodations. We have our Travel Meeting scheduled for Friday, March 9 and then TENTATIVELY we are to plan for travel on or about March 22, 2007! Before we can officially plan, we must receive travel approval from China. The date could and may change, so pray...this would have Rob, John and Hannah returning home Easter weekend--talk about the Bunny bringing a big basket of joy! I have sent a care package to Hannah's orphanage which included a Chinese Baby Book, 2 disposable cameras, a baby blanket, a small toy, a toy phone with our voices recorded on it, a photo album of our family with Chinese and English translations, and some candies for the caretakers. It was fun putting it together and now, we just hope it not only makes it to her, but that it helps us get some additional information about our little girl's days. I have been nesting (those trash men must wonder what on earth is going on at our home) and waking frequently at night, so the body's responses are the same regardless of how one grows their family! Emily and I put together small bags for her preschool class to celebrate Chinese New Year--it felt like a good way to include her friends and their families as we go through the steps to bring Hannah home. We included the traditional red envelope with a gold coin (of chocolate), a year of the pig coloring card, and paper lanterns to usher in springtime. The stars feel so far away, yet they shine so brightly--that is the way it is with you, Hannah, you feel so far right now, but we are so close to having you right where we can see you all the time! Thank you for visiting - until TA... Love to you all, Rob, Heather and Emily The USPS workers took great pride in re-taping the box that enclosed these items: {a photo album in English and Chinese, a toy phone with our voices recorded, a cuddly blanket, a Chinese baby book, a duck rattle (Em's contribution) and some candies for the caretakers} They wanted to be sure it gets to Hannah - they each patted the box and one girl even kissed it - people are so very kind. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted. He saves those whose spirits have been crushed.--Psalm 34:18 Hello! The above scripture was one Emily chose, not because of the content, but because the picture in her devotional depicts a little Asian girl crying and the story tells of how "people who love you will take good care of you," and she says that is how we will take care of Hannah. (Now, what was that, Em, about drool and her not touching your things?) Anyway, lots to tell today. First of all, we have some updated pictures of our little cutie!! She definitely looks older, and we were thrilled to get some of her smiling! We have our travel meeting at Pearl S. Buck on Friday and we are anxious to get paperwork and sort through some of the needs that we have not yet focused on. Last evening we received a packet from our agency outlining all of the paperwork necessary to travel (Rob needs a U-Haul!) and a tentative itinerary that should be what we follow moving forward. As I mentioned before, we are waiting for TA (Travel Approval) which is necessary to make our consulate appointment in Guangzhou to receive Hannah's visa. Our agency anticipates TA being sent tomorrow (Thursday) and received in the states on Monday--we will need the original for our visa (to be couriered to New York) and also for the consulate appointment in China.       Tentative China In-Country Itinerary Jiangxi Province Dates of Travel: March 30 - April 11, 2007 Friday 3/30 - Sunday 4/1 - Travel to Beijing and Sightseeing Sunday, 4/1 4:40 PM - Travel to Nanchang Monday 4/2 - HANNAH! Escorted by the national guide and the local guide, Rob will meet Hannah and go through the adoption formalities required by the Chinese government Tuesday, 4/3-Thursday, 4/5 - Sightseeing in Nanchang, bonding with Hannah while the police station completes Hannah's passport process Friday, 4/6 - Pick up passport and Travel to Guangzhou Saturday, 4/7 - Hannah's Visa Photo and Medical Exam Big Paperwork Day! Sunday, 4/8 - Happy Easter! Sightseeing in Guangzhou Monday, 4/9 - Visa Interview Tuesday, 4/10 - Swearing In at the Consulate, receive Hannah's visa Wednesday, 4/11 - Leave Guangzhou for HOME!!!!!! This is all contingent on the TA and securing our consulate appointments. My brother raised an excellent question recently about Hannah's status, given that both parents are not traveling. We feel grateful that out of seven travel families, four of our group have only one parent travelling, so we share similar situations among our travelmates. Additionally, once Hannah is in the US, we will complete the process of re-adoption. If both of us had traveled, we would have completed re-finalization, in our scenerio, we will complete re-adoption with the assistance of our agency, and we all have been prepared for this from the time our paperwork was logged into China. Once everything is solid, we will post definites and confirm what we anticipate to be the actual travel plans. Finally, one thing I have learned through this process is the need to be hyper-organized while "rolling with it". As fate would have it, our friend John has confronted some heavy work related issues that will keep him home during the China trip. I have a dear friend Gerri, whose husband, Jim felt led to go on this journey. Jim has openly and joyfully made this committment, and we knew it was meant to be when the travel dates actually coincide with already scheduled vacation Jim had taken. God is very good. It is amazing to me the kindness that has been shown to us during this looonnggg haul. The nice woman who prepares sushi at the Genuardis weeps everytime she sees me. She can't wait to hold one from her own beginnings. The gentleman who took our passport pictures at New York Cameras asks every single time we are in the store when Hannah will arrive. He actually asked for our website and wanted to share our story with his family. The list goes on and on; what an amazing difference one life makes. Thanks so much for following...the best is yet to come! Love, Rob, Heather, Emily and Hannah WE HAVE TA and CA!! March 16, 2007 He chose us from the beginning, and all things happen just as he decided long ago.--Ephesians 1:11   We are overyjoyed to finally have official Travel Approval and our Consulate Appointment secured. We anticipate Rob and Jim will depart from Newark on Thursday, March 22 to arrive in Beijing on Friday, March 23. We have received our official notification, and it is full steam ahead! It is amazing how crazy this part of the process is. Rob will meet Hannah for the very first time on Monday, March 26. Wow! He will go to the Civil Affairs building to process the formalities by the Chinese government and actually get to bring Hannah with him back to the hotel. From that point forward, Hannah is our daughter. We will make it official in the United States in Doylestown at re-adoption at some point after our homecoming. The original itinerary is pretty close to the actual travel, but I will give a thumbnail of our revised itinerary. 3/23 - Arrive Beijing 3/25 - Leave Beijing and fly to Nanchang, capital city of Jiangxi Province, Flight MU 5188 The group for Jiangxi province will be staying at the Jingfeng Hotel. 3/26 - Forever Family Day!!!!! Hannah gets a Mommy, Daddy and Sister 3/27-3/29 - Remain in Nanchang while Hannah's passport get processed 3/30 - Pick up the passport and then fly to Guangzhou, Flight MU 5231, The group will be staying at the White Swan and will get to meet up with other group members adopting from other provinces. 3/31 - Hannah's visa photo is taken and medical check-up takes place 4/1 - Free Day - sightseeing 4/2 - THE VISA INTERVIEW (this was the meeting we had to secure!) 4/3 - Swearing in at the consulate 4/4 - HOME!!!! God is so very good and we are thankful. These weeks have been extremely stressful with the loss of Heather's grandfather on Thursday and the ever-changing itinerary and confirmation of processed paperwork. We truly did not know how much of a roller coaster this part of the process would be. Thank you to all who have stayed close by inquiring, encouraging and praying for our family. Many thanks to the Swales family who actually walked our passports to the embassy - how wonderful (they await their precious Kate Emerson). And we feel a debt of gratitude to Jim Bonner (and Gerry) for rolling with the punches and never even blinking at the changes that have passed this way for two weeks now! Emily and I are off to pack the bags! Keep praying for safe travel and the health of all who are going to receive their daughters and the little girls, as well. Love, Rob, Heather, Emily and Hannah   THE TA! DHL in our driveway as we receive our official approval to go to China.   Take one snowy day, mix with some boredom and some imagination and VOILA! - our own Swedish chef!       This page hosted by