We are going to CHINA!!!

My mind is spinning!  It could be because it's the start of a new school year and I've got that teacher tired thing going on.  It could be because Mary had her tonsils out a couple of weeks ago and my brain has been consumed with pain management and soft foods.  It could be because ALL of our kitchen appliances STOPPED WORKING one by one throughout the last few months prompting a bit of a kitchen situation.  It could be because Jack finally came home after being gone for two months and I'd almost forgotten what he looked like.  OR IT COULD BE BECAUSE WE GOT TRAVEL APPROVAL AND HAVE BEEN TOLD TO GET OURSELVES TO CHINA!!!!!

I'm beyond.

I do not know what I'm doing.  I went into Max's room at 7:00 this morning to tell him to have a great day and then realized that he had zero school supplies.  I handed him a pencil and told him good luck.  I drove Joe's car to school today and literally spent 15 minutes looking for the keys to MY car in every school bag I own before remembering that I was looking for the wrong keys.  I just put Mary in the bathtub at 5:00 in the afternoon and told her we were going to bed soon.  I cooked spaghetti and meatballs and then realized that it's Wednesday and no one would be home to eat it.  I do not even know.  

ALL I KNOW IS.... I am going to China!!

For my friends in adoptionland, here are our latest stats:

I800 hits lockbox - June 25

I 800 approved - July 16

GUZ number - July 17

DS260 - July 17

Article 5 dropoff - July 19

Article 5 pickup - August 2

Travel Approval - August 7

Basically, all of this stuff means that the Department of Homeland Security/ Immigration (I800) says its okay for Lottie Gene Powell to enter the United States with us.  Then the US Consulate in China gathered all our stuff and read through it (Article 5) and said that it is okay for us to come on over there to China and get our girl (Travel Approval)!  

We have received our dates and will leave for China on September 5, meet Lottie on Gotcha Day on September 10, complete the US side of the adoption at the Consulate Appointment on September 18, and bring that baby home on September 21!

PLUS, we got another update!  She seems to be pretty small and very serious.  She received our care package, so they've been able to show her our picture and tell her we're coming.  I'm not sure if that helps or not, but I pretend in my head that she'll be super relaxed on Gotcha Day because HEY, I'VE SEEN THESE PEOPLE IN MY PICTURE ALBUM BEFORE.

I'm stepping into the next four weeks trying VERY hard to be in the moment and NOT TO WORRY. 

If I'm at school, I'm there 100%.  I'm gonna teach the pants off character traits, plot elements, and main idea and details.  I'll introduce the five types of figurative language, complete our fabulous first read aloud, and get everyone settled into their independent texts.  Then, I'll walk out of the classroom until Thanksgiving knowing that THEY WILL BE FINE until I get back.  Do not worry.

With Max, I'll attend the first two football games of the season and CHEER SO LOUD for #57 on the offensive line.  I'll grin when he hits somebody, wave at him when he glances up from the sidelines, wear my button with his picture on it, and have a strawberry banana smoothie and a 10 count chicken nugget meal waiting on him when he gets home after the game.  Then, I'll step out of the stadium for three weeks knowing that the grandparents and the other football moms will stand in the gap while I'm away and continue to cheer for my Maxer.  I'll believe with all my heart that the Lord will protect him while I'm away and keep him from injury or harm.  HE WILL BE FINE.  Do not worry.

Jack will be doing his thing at the University of Alabama, so I'll be excited to talk with him about his first classes, calendar dates for orchestra performances, and watch him step back into leading worship at church.  He and Max will fill my basement with boys and I'll love EVERY SECOND of the screaming and yelling (Fortnite, what ARE YOU?) coming from down there.  Then, I'll get on that plane to China knowing that Jack will keep things running at the house.  HE WILL BE FINE.  Do not worry.

This season with Mary brings her first weeks of first grade!  She had a fabulous first day back and we're already talking about the items she'll put in her bag to describe herself to the class.  (We're thinking washi tape because she loves to craft, chopsticks since she's from China, a picture of Lottie, her little pink Bible, and something Disney!)  She's going with us to China, so we are preparing her for lots of things..... being back in a country where everyone looks like her, being polite to people who speak to her in Chinese, trying new foods, etc.  We are also talking with her a lot about how Lottie might be upset and cry a lot.  We are looking at pictures of HER Gotcha Day and telling her all about the flight and what we'll do in country.  We're showing her pictures of the Great Wall and explaining why it's so neat to be able to see it in person.  There will be A LOT for her to process on this trip.  Will she remember the smells and sounds?  Will Lottie respond to her well and, if not, will Mary understand?  Thinking about taking my sweet Mary back to China makes me so emotional, but SHE WILL BE FINE.  Do not worry.

I've started packing for our trip.  The girls' room is COVERED with luggage and stuff.  I've packed Lottie's clothes, toys, bath stuff, and food stuff.  I want to have everything I need to make Lottie feel comfortable and happy.  I love her so much already.  And it breaks my heart knowing what the next month brings for her.  She'll be so scared and confused.  We don't look like people she's ever seen before and we'll smell funny to her. We don't speak the same language.  Who are these people and where are they taking me?  Where are the people that I know?  Where are my friends?  This isn't my bed.  This isn't my bottle.  This isn't the right food.  WHAT IS GOING ON?? It'll be oh so hard.  I've felt for some time that the Lord's been telling me that it will not be easy.... but that we are going to LOVE HER.  He's impressed on me that she is OH so perfect for our family! And that SHE WILL BE FINE.  Do not worry.

We will ALL be fine.  Do not worry.

The Lord has orchestrated some wonderful things in my life so far.... and I'm so very thankful that He has written Lottie Gene Powell into my story.  

It's busy and chaotic here at the Powell house, but WE WILL BE FINE.  Do not worry.

Just so I can look back and remember the chaos of this season, I'm dropping a few pictures below.  Some day, WAAAAYYYY in the future,  I'll find myself with nothing to do, so I'll hop onto the old blog and scroll down memory lane.  I'll remember how FULL and HARD and OHMYGOSH life was and I'll shake my head wondering how in the world did we do all of that?  But then I'll smile because LOOK - WE DID ALL THAT.  Thank you, Lord, for your blessings.  I might not know what day it is, but I DO know that I'm blessed beyond measure.  

For the 4th of July, Jack got to come home for a minute from his summer work with Mission Serve.  We were glad to have the whole fam in the car again!

Jack then spent more time loving on his dog than he did loving on his family.  Whatever, man.

Putting the final touches on the girls' room!  These are now painted pink and hanging on their purple wall!  Super cute!

Max got his football pictures back.  Getting ready for that O-line!  Go Jags!

Mary went to Cheer Camp at Northridge and loved it.

Mary was excited to bake cookies for her first "Stand for Orphans" lemonade stand.  She and her Daddy decided to have a stand this year.  We figured she might raise a couple hundred dollars.

So they built a little lemonade stand.......

We made a few signs......

Got all set up.......

And SO many people came!  Mary raised over $1200  which was matched by Rick and Bubba..... so we were able to donate over $2400 to Lifeline Children's Services - our adoption agency who helped us bring both Mary and Lottie home!

Mary and Buddy AFTER the lemonade stand.
Being a hostess is exhausting.

The man cutting a hole in my wall is Mr. Randall.  He can literally do anything to a kitchen.  I got real thankful for him this summer.  Mary liked him, too..... so much that she shared her popsicles with him after the tonsilectomy.

Did I mention Mary had to have her TONSILS OUT?
This was bad.

Here was the surgery prize she chose.... a onsie with a hoodie.  This was the only good part.

BEFORE the surgery......
In yet another onsie.... cause when you have surgery, apparently you get anything you ask for....

JUST before being wheeled back.....

AFTER the surgery.
This was not a good time.
But we had PRECIOUS people taking care of us (I'm looking at YOU, Suzanne Powell and Dr. Benoit!) Having good folks take good care of your babies makes me cry every time.

Once she was feeling better, Mary spent some time at Nana's catering shop.  She's very culinary.

And before we knew it, it was time for school to start!  I've now got a college sophomore (not pictured cause he was sleeping), a high school junior, a first grader, and a one year old (not pictured cause she's in China).  The Lord has a grand sense of humor.

Mary Powell is going to LOVE the famous Mrs. Denise Prowell!  And we will always deliver nice gifts, Mrs. Prowell, cause we know how our girl is..... and believe me, you're gonna need those gifts!

And in the midst of ALL OF THAT.... THIS FACE is always on my mind.
 She's waiting.... and she doesn't even know it.
But we are SO CLOSE.

Praying SO HARD that these days leading up to her are filled with joy and peace and memories and calm.  Praying for HER HEART as the Lord prepares her to join our family.  Praying for her China Mom.... that the Lord will give her a sense of peace and knowing that her baby girl is LOVED.

We leave FOUR WEEKS FROM TODAY.
It's FINE.  Do not worry.