Well, it's T minus 4 days till we leave, and this Momma's emotions are all over the place. To say that I am a nervous wreck is an understatement. I am in panic mode. We have been waiting for this moment for a year, and now that we are finally here, I am scared to death. Not of the Adoption, Not of finally meeting our Daughter, Not of traveling abroad.....but of leaving my precious Boys. I have never been away from them nearly this long, and I begin to get a twinge of nausea mixed with an outpouring of tears, when I think about leaving them. We are the tightest little family. We love our time together...our hugs...our daily snuggles..
While I know that they will be absolutely fine with the 3 sets of Grandparents that will be coming in to keep them (they say it takes a Village!), I am just sad to know that I will be away from them so long. I worry about them getting sad, missing us...But hopefully they will understand that this is what we have to do to bring our sweet girl home. It's part of the process and we have known about it all along. But now that the tickets are booked, the suitcases are out, and the Boys daily itineraries are being written out....I'm sad.
In between my cry sessions, I am trying to pack. Boy...I'm staring at the pile of clothes and things on our bed and her bed, and I'm thinking..."It's all never gonna fit!!". I tend to be an over-packer, just when we travel on the weekends, so trying to cram 19 days worth into a rolling duffel...well, let's just say,it';s not easy.
We received our final travel packet the other day and had our Conference Call with the Director of our agency and other members of our travel group. There are about 8 families traveling in our group. We will all travel, tour and receive our children together. They say that these families become like families of your own while you are there. We share a bond already. We are in this together and will share this amazing journey together.
Below is our Itinerary while in China....
2/12.....Leave US for Beijing (layover in Korea)
2/13.....Arrive in Beijing 8;15pm
2/14.....Free Day, wait for remainder of travel group to arrive. Celebrate Valentine's Day!!
2/15......Tour Beijing (Tienanmen Square, Forbidden City, Hutong Tour)
2/16......Tour Beijing...(The Great Wall of China!!!)
2/17......Fly to Zhenghou. Prepare Mia's things...(and TRY to get some sleep!!)
2/18.......GOTCHA DAY!!! (The Orphanage Director will bring us Mia!!), complete paperwork
2/19.......Finalize Adoption!/Apply for her passport
2/20.......more paperwork/free day
2/21........Receive notary documents
2/22........Receive her passport
2/23........Fly to Guangzhou
2/24.........Free Day to tour (shopping!!)
2/25.......Mia's Physical Exam and Visa photo
2/26........prepare for Consulate Appointment
2/27.........CONSULATE APPOINTMENT!!! (This is the oath that allows Mia to become a US Citizen
once our plane lands on US soil.
2/28...........Receive her Visa packet
3/1...........Pack up, tour one last day
3/2............FLY HOME with the US's newest Citizen!!!!!
The steps to get to this point have been long, taught us about patience and faith. While we do not know what lays ahead for us, we know that God put this desire to expand our family through adoption in our hearts for a reason. We realize that we cannot change the world, by adopting a child. But for THIS child and OUR family, our world will change......for the better.....
We hope you will follow along on this wonderful, blessed journey.......
Blessings,
Angie
