Time to get Lottie! TRAVEL DAY. (AKA: OHMYGOSH)

 At 5:06, Wednesday, September 4, the Powell crew (minus two brothers who can't take too much time away from school) started our journey to LOTTIE!


We had a car service pick us up at the airport early Wednesday morning.  It was POURING rain!  The boys got up super early to pray with us and see us off..... our last few moments together as a family of FIVE!


Bag check, security, and flight number 1 went great and we were in Detroit before we knew it! We'd been preparing Mary for how rough Travel Day can be..... lots of waiting, lots of sitting, lots of being squished in, lots of not being able to make too much noise. Trying to encourage and make things fun, we made a deal with her (she's BIG on making a deal).... if you are sweet on the flight and don't whine or complain, you'll get to open a surprise at the next airport.  Worked like a charm!  She was a TOTAL TRAVEL ROCKSTAR the whole time!  Thank you SO MUCH, Disney Doorables, Legos, and tiny little craft packets..... you made Travel Day much less awful.


Here is Travel Day in pictures.  It was great.  Then it was boring.  Then it was AWFUL.  Then we got there.

 You see this stroller?  It is a YES.  Turns on a dime, I can push it with one hand and pull luggage with the other, Mary can sit or stand.... and the best part?  You see where the backpack is?  There's gonna be a little LOTTIE there in a few days!  Hooray!

Mary rode in style right up to each gate where the crew happily gate-checked it and had it waiting for us when we walked off each plane.  Easy-peasy.  Being able to ride helped through the chaos of an airport helped Mary relax and enjoy!

 Mary and her Daddy getting on Flight #1 - Birmingham to Detroit!

 This seating arrangement didn't last long.  Cause when things get rough (as flights usually do), that little black-haired girl needs her MAMA.  It was about ten seconds after this picture that Joe and I changed seats.  Ha!

 Between each flight, Mary stretched out and played, ran around a little, did a few cartwheels, and got a snack.  She'd just opened her first surprise and was THRILLED.  Ever heard of Disney Doorables?  I hadn't.  LOVE THEM NOW.


The Detroit airport was NICE.  It was very clean, had lots of great little shops and cafes, and even had a MONORAIL coming and going right there inside the terminal! 

 Flight #2 was a bit over four hours.... Detroit to Seattle.  This flight had MOVIES..... Mary was thrilled.  She watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, My Little Pony, and some of The Incredibles.  Meanwhile, there's always a little craft going on......

Uh.  Picture's upside down.... but here we are ready to tackle Flight #2. 

 Mary did great again!  We spent some of this time working on the schoolwork that we'd brought along.  She didn't mind.  Every time I'd mention working on some school stuff, she would happily oblige!  Her Dad also brought some of his schoolwork to do..... cause in the midst of ADOPTING A CHILD, starting a new position in his company, and traveling to CHINA, Joe has enrolled in an advanced law degree program at Texas A&M and had LOTS of reading and writing to do on the plane, too! (Yes, we are nuts.)  Mary thought it was fun that Dad had to do work, too! 

 Working on the work!  Getting a sister and getting smarter all at the same time!

This screen right here made travel SO MUCH EASIER.  I heart you, in-flight movies on Delta.

 The Seattle airport was not my favorite.  At this point, we'd been up for a WHILE, been flying for hours, and still had MUCH MILES to go.  It was HOT in the airport, it kinda smelled funny, and Mom got a bit queasy just sitting there waiting for the next leg.  Joe said the ceilings were low and it was CROWDED.  Mary, however, was FINE.  She pulled out her Legos and made herself busy while we waiting to board our next flight.  No complaining!

THIS was what we were waiting on! GET US TO CHINA, Delta Airlines!

We're in our seats for the next 12 or so hours..... this is the OHMYGOSH part.  Mama no like the journey.  She likes to GET THERE.  But all three of these folks held it together VERY well. 

 Having a cellist and a violinist in the family, this made us laugh.  Some folks had to buy a seat for their CELLO!  We talked to them as we went through security in Beijing and the man laughed and said, "Yes, this is why you encourage your child to play the flute."  Ha!

 There was more crafting......

There was strange food that we did not like...... (except for Dad.... he'll eat anything....)

And then things got rough..... about 6 hours in, Mary finally fell asleep.  PLEASE NOTE:  the Mama is STANDING UP.... cause the KID is sleeping across TWO SEATS.  This becomes the LORDHAVEMERCYONMYSOUL part of the flight. 

I mean, she's sweet and all..... BUT I GOTTA SIT DOWN.

I finally sat her up and she still slept! 

Poor baby.....

 We were right about HERE at this point.  See Seattle all the way over on the right?  Yes.  We were good then.  By the time the plane was off the coast of Alaska, I was NOT IN MY HAPPY PLACE.

This is the point where delirium sets in.....

Then you realize that YOU MADE IT.  You do not know what day it is, you are numb from the waist down, you look and smell funny, everyone on the plane is intensely quiet, and then the captain says those magic words (in English AND CHINESE)...."We have begun our initial descent in Beijing.  Please prepare the cabin for landing."  YES, SWEET LORD.... prepare the cabin for landing and GET ME OFF THIS PLANE.

Did you know that even after you begin your final descent, you're really on the plane for a LONG TIME MORE?  It's kind of an evil trick they play..... and it's REALLY fun when you've got a youngin sprawled all over you and you realize that on the way home, you'll have TWO youngins sprawled all over you.  Children are a blessing. 

BUT WE MADE IT!  Our guide, Helen, was waiting for us as we came out of baggage claim.  We made it quickly through Immigration fingerprinting, foreign persons check-in, security, passport checks, and baggage pick up.... and we were GLAD to see a sign with POWELL on it!  She walked us across the street where we had to wait in the car for about 45 minutes for the Interstate to open back up.  China and the African nations had been having a big Friendship Summit over the past few days, and lots of the African dignitaries were flying out of Beijing as we were coming in.... so they'd shut down the Interstates so they could come into the airport. 

Helen took that time to give us the rundown on our schedule over the next couple of days, talk about things we'd be seeing, and give us tips on exchanging money and getting water and stuff.  We like her VERY MUCH already!

THIS is what we all looked like as Helen checked us into the hotel.  Needless to say, we were asleep before our heads hit the pillow.  I think it was about 11:30PM by the time we got to sleep.

And here was our timer, door to door!  I slept exactly 36 minutes of that time. 

But we're here and ready to learn about Mary and Lottie's birth country.... and THEN, the good stuff happens!  LOTTIE girl, just a few more sleeps!

Tassels and Tambourines

Okay.  I'm starting to panic.  Well, not really PANIC, but I have sort of an uneasy feeling in my stomach and my to-do before travel list is growing faster than I can mark things off.  I'm trying SO HARD to do what I'd planned to do - BE IN THE MOMENT - but it's getting really hard.  Cause I'm thinking about my Lottie - A LOT.  We will meet her in exactly two weeks...... I can't believe it. 

This morning in church, the Lord reminded me to keep HIM at the center of my thoughts.  FOCUS on HIM and everything else will fall into place.  The sermon this morning was on PEACE.  I LOVE THAT WORD.  And I know where peace comes from - JESUS. 

But I forget.

I get lost in my worries and my thoughts and my what-ifs and my lists and I forget.  And then I lose that peace.

So the Lord reminded me of two stories about women in scripture.  He reminded me to BE LIKE THEM.

You remember the lady who'd been sick all her life?  She'd heard of Jesus and the healing He could bring, so she joined the crowd as they surrounded Him.  Jesus was walking down the road and the crowds were pressing in..... CAUSE THAT WOMAN WAS PUSHING THROUGH.  She just KNEW if she could just touch the TASSEL on the robe of Jesus that she would be HEALED!  She didn't have to have the right words or ask the right questions or have it all together - SHE JUST HAD TO REACH OUT AND TOUCH HIM.... and she would have PEACE.  She knew it.  And she PUSHED FORWARD to get to Him.  And Jesus immediately knew she'd reached out.  He was there and, in the midst of what must have been chaos and noise and people, He spoke DIRECTLY TO HER.  He knew her need.  He knew her desires.  He knew her situation.  AND HE MET HER THERE.  Just from a touch on His tassel - that desperate woman could finally take a deep breath and know that everything was going to be OKAY. 

That's my first lesson that the Lord gave me today - the TASSEL.

THEN, He reminded me of some other women in scripture - all the way back in Exodus 5.   Moses had just told the Israelites that WE ARE GETTING OUT OF HERE and they grabbed up their things and headed out of Egypt - very quickly - cause Pharoah immediately had armies chasing after them.  Can you imagine the chaos?  As a mother???  I mean, they had time to GRAB THE CHILDREN and your bread bowl (gotta feed those hungry kids) and RUN!  They'd JUST crossed on dry land across the Red Sea (again, probably holding the hands of their children VERY TIGHTLY....) and watched their enemies drown in that same sea moments later..... and what do they do?  THEY PULL OUT THEIR TAMBOURINES AND START PRAISING THE LORD.  Their tambourines??????  What in the world?  I'm not sure that in the craziness that those moments fleeing must have brought that I would have thought to bring my TAMBOURINE.  Forget the instruments - grab the kids!  BUT MAYBE THEY KNEW SOMETHING.  Maybe their FAITH and EXPERIENCE had taught them that GOD IS GOING TO DO SOMETHING AMAZING.  Not MAYBE, not PROBABLY, not HOPEFULLY - HE IS.  HE IS going to do something amazing.... so you better have your tambourine ready!  They worshiped with those tambourines and thanked the Lord for what he'd just done.  THEY KNEW HE WOULD DO IT.  And they were ready! 

That's my second lesson that the Lord reminded me of today - the TAMBOURINE.


So, as I step into my last week of school, help Max ice his swollen hands from football, watch Jack settle back into his schedule, figure out what's wrong with Mary's hurting ear, finish a million day's worth of lesson plans, wire a lot of money to China, make final travel preparations, pack, look for passport photos that I've lost AGAIN, get documents notarized, put strollers and high chairs together, schedule Lottie's doctor visits, watch travel videos, seek out only crisp bills at the bank, and ON and ON..... I will reach out for the TASSEL - cause just touching the hem of his garment will bring PEACE.  And I'll be sure to PACK MY TAMBOURINE.... I'll surely need it - cause HE IS GOING TO DO GREAT THINGS!

And here's that GREAT THING:

The Lord LOVES this one and He's allowed ME to be her Mama.  As she grows up, I'll teach her about the TASSEL and the TAMBOURINE.  I pray that her life and her story will give her FAITH and that she'll BE READY TO PRAISE Him for things He's YET to do!

Love you big, Lottie Gene.  I'll be there in a minute!

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.