Consulate Appointment: July 1.
Gotcha Day: the day we will meet our Mary for the first time: June 24
Leave for China: June 21
Hello! We will meet our baby girl in less than a week!
This news, of course, threw us into a flurry of activity like we've never experienced before. Joe quickly scooped up his list of duties (made by yours truly, of course) and set out to book our flights. Due to having to make such quick arrangements, we decided to skip the front-end touring altogether. Beijing and the Great Wall? Out. Sorry. We'll have to catch you some other time. Right now, we gotta get to our girl.
Joe's other items on his list included: 1) wire a whole bunch of money to China, 2) set up a VPN so we can Facebook and blog from China (our priorities are SO on point), 3) secure travel document packets from Lifeline, 4) get some more passport pictures made to attach to paperwork cause Mikki has lost them and does not have time to look for them and is willing to pay $6.00 so she doesn't have to, 5) tie up loose ends at work so you can be out for the next two weeks, 6) figure out how to put the carseat in the car, 7) stop the mail, 8) call credit card company and do whatever you do when you go to China, 9) get the dog cleaned up so he can go on vacation to Cullman, 10) complete whatever other tasks Mikki sets before you with a smile on your face and an eager nod.
He has done well. (And even made time to whip up two freezers of homemade ice cream for Max Powell's birthday bash at the lake with all his peeps yesterday. Cause doesn't EVERYBODY celebrate with a tubing, pool, pizza, cookie cake, and ice cream birthday party with 14 of your closest friends while trying to plan a trip to China in three days? Of course they do.)
MY list includes a few things as well: 1) PACK!, 2) finish gifts for guides and officials in China, 3) fill all prescriptions for travel pharmacy, 4) get new passport photos made cause... well.... you know...., 5) clean out the refrigerator, 6) clean the house, 7) get CRISP money to convert once in country (they won't take creased, folded, or smudged money....) my mom even tried IRONING it.... didn't work, 8)make appointments for Mary at the International Adoption Clinic for a few days after we return, 9) make appointment for our first post-adoption meeting with agency that is required just a few days after our return, 10) instruct my parents on what to do as they travel to Montgomery to pick up Jack from Stringfellows camp (did I mention that Jacker has been at Strings camp during all of this madness? Precious boy was a tiny bit disappointed to be missing the ending concert on Saturday, but, since he's gonna go to China and meet his sister and all, he's good.), 11) and other things that I can't even think of right now.
It's been a fun couple of days.
I'm somewhere about here:
It's all good. Totally got this. I'm not worried.
We can't WAIT to be a part of God's plan for Mary's life. Cause, I often remind myself, THAT's what this is all about..... not the lists or the packing or the errands or the documents..... it's about Mary Powell. Her sweet life has God's hand ALL over it. Always has..... always will. I am so totally thrilled to be a part of her story.
Thank you to all of you who have prayed for us, encouraged us, given us gifts..... we are blessed and we KNOW it. Joe's latest text to me today said, "Right now the whole Bible is just summed up in going over there. Very humbled in all my craziness today." Yep. Humbled and more grateful than I think I have EVER been in my WHOLE life.
Today's prayer requests:
1. Final preparations and packing go smoothly.
2. Safety in travel and easy connections on all flights: We go Bham - ATL - NY - Tokyo - Shanghai.
3. Mary. Pray for easy transition and PEACE. I love her so.
God is good, folks. If you ever doubted it, let me assure you - He. Is. Good. And He's got a purpose for us all...... The Powells are blessed that adoption is part of His plan for our family.
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