The last couple of months have been a whirlwind! They have been filled with filling out forms, signing documents, applying for visas, obsessively checking for updates via email (by this I mean refreshing it at least 800 times a day), stalking China adoption facebook groups to see how others are progressing, calculating every different travel date scenario possible according to our latest approval, waiting, and lots of PRAYING!!! Here is our timeline for everything post home study/USCIS pre-approval for those who are curious about the process:
•DTC (documents to China)- 4/28
•LID (login date) & pre-approval- 5/9
•Received Ella's file- 5/12
•LOI (requesting Ella spefically)- 5/18
•LOA (approval from China)- 6/14
•I-800 approval from USCIS- 7/1
•National Visa Center cabled the petition for Ella's visa to the US Embassy in China- 7/13
•Article 5 (paper work to finalize Ella's visa) this takes exactly 2 weeks and will be overnighted to CCCWA in Beijing- 7/28
•TRAVEL APPROVAL-invitation from China to get our girl!! ???? Pray it comes 8/3 or 8/4 so we could possibly go ahead and get a consulate appointment scheduled in the books on 8/5....before the weekend!
What does all of this mean? As of July 13th we have officially jumped through ALL of the hoops (China now knows us better than we know ourselves), and we are just WAITING for China to invite us on over to get Ella!!! This could take two days or it could take two weeks after our pick up date (7/28). Ideally we would love to get travel approval the first week of August. That would mean we could leave 8/17!! So if you see me obsessively checking my phone or if I forget to text or call you back…please have some grace!!! My mind is in CHINA.
As you can see from reading our timeline, this entire process has only taken us nine short months- from November to August! Although at times it has felt like an eternity- in the adoption world, this is extremely quick! Average adoption times are around 12 to 18 months. I believe God had Ella waiting for our family as soon as we yielded to His calling to adopt!
These are such uncharted waters. It’s so difficult for me to put into words all that I’m feeling and thinking these days. I want to get our girl home as quickly as possible, but at the same time I am doing my best to be present with my girls and soak up time with them. I’m counting the days until we leave for China, but I’m nervous about being a mom of 4 girls! I’m so excited to meet her and hold her and love on her, yet I’m terrified all at the same time. Honestly, I think my adoption hormones and mood swings may be worse than pregnancy. But in spite of all of that, God continues to faithfully and gently remind me that this is HIS plan. He is entrusting Ella to us as our daughter. And HE will give us grace with each step we take. He reminded me again with an unexpected blessing and donation tonight!! (Side note: God has now provided almost $20,000 from all of you who have been obedient to his call to give. This is HUGE.) I’m so thankful for this call to adopt. It’s been such a privilege and blessing to watch the Lord work. And I know it’s just the beginning. I can’t wait to watch him work once we get Ella home.
Please continue to pray for Ella's heart to be prepared for us and ours for her. Please also pray that we receive travel approval QUICKLY (by 8/4), and that we can find reasonable flights that will work well for our party of 6 traveling to China- and party of 7 coming back home. My mom will graciously be traveling with us to help with whatever we need. We are so thankful she is taking time off from work to hold our hands as we begin life with Ella. We are so grateful for all of your love and support, and hope to update you all with good news of definite travel plans SOON!!!
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