So Close!

We are now officially waiting on our final step...Travel Approval. When we get the TA, we buy our plane tickets and go pick up our little sweetie. Our Passports have arrived. Our Visas have arrived. So hurry up TA!!!!

Updated Photos!

It makes for a real happy day when this cute face shows up in your inbox!

The whole family crowded around the computer with squeals and teary eyes. Even our oldest kids were here to share in the fun. It was a blessing to hear that she looks at her photo album every day, and often tells her friends that she has parents!

Oh my heart!! We can hardly stand it. We're comin' to get you Ivy!

Cabled!

Our agency has forwarded our documents to the US Embassy in China for the last step before China will issue Travel Approval. The Consulate reviews the file and signs off that everything is in order. So we await this  "Article 5"  letter and then we move on to Travel Approval!!

Photo Album to China!

We sent a photo album to Ivy introducing her to the family and some other soon-to-be familiar sights around the house. (Thank you, Nancy, for the inspiration) Hopefully someone will take the time to read the notes to her and help her understand that she has a family! Here's a sampling of the pages:

We had so much fun creating it. I hope she has just as much fun looking at it!

I-800 approval!

 US immigration has given their approval for us to adopt Huanyue! Next step..US Immigration communicates with the National Visa Center that we are approved. The NVC then electronically sends our file to the US Embassy in China. This is called "cableing". This is the approval of our visa petition. We hope to have this step completed in about 1 week. We're getting there!

Gifts and Celebrations

Yesterday marked the beginning of the Chinese New Year celebration.

Ivy received her first traditional silk outfit from some very dear friends at our church.

Celebrating the LOA, Ivy's sweet oldest sister and family blessed her with her first American dress.

Ivy, we pray this is the last holiday you celebrate alone.

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Introducing Ivy Ruth "Huanyue"

We hope to travel in April to pick up our little treasure. She will turn five years old in May, and has lived in an orphanage in China her entire life.

LOA! (Letter of Acceptance)

We watched all morning for the truck to arrive with our Letter of Acceptance from China, formally approving us to adopt our little girl. The driver looks a little surprised by the camera!

Signing the official document!