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6.06.2013

double happiness

It would be triple happiness if "the powers that be" called to let us know that because we are seasoned in this process now that they are excusing us from the rest of the wait and invited us to go ahead and come now for Natalie.

...Of course that could only happen in my dreams.  Which I should add it does from time to time and the family and I scramble to grab clean underwear and toothbrushes and run to the car to get to the airport STAT.  And then I wake up from my frantic yet exciting dream and realize that we still have several months at least to go in this wait to hold her in our arms...

But we have had DOUBLE happiness in the past week concerning our newest addition.  We received news late Wednesday night that we have completed one more stage of the wait.  Our official acceptance from the authorities that oversee adoption in China (our LOA) arrived at our adoption agency on the 29th.  Waiting for LOA can stretch out for months and we are rejoicing that we only hit the 34 day mark from the time our dossier was entered into the system overseas.  It also took the biggest guessing game out of our timeline as the LOA wait can last anywhere from 30ish days (somewhat rare) all the way to 100+ days.

At this point we are back in the hands of our own government as we wait for them to grant provisional approval for us to bring Natalie into the country to become a US citizen.  At the earliest we will be traveling in mid-August, but at least now we have a pretty good estimate of the time as the visa approval process takes about 6 to 8 weeks.  From there we wait a few days for our travel authorization (TA) and then book a consulate appointment (CA).  Once the  CA has been set, we are free to fly out as soon as we can secure airfare.  Our AMAZING case worker at Lifeline expects us to be on the ground in China in 2 1/2 to 3 months which may just give us time to sneak back into the country right before our three big kids begin their first and second grade school years.

We've been doing the happy dance since Wednesday night!  We are elated!

The LOA in and of itself is blog worthy, but I did mention DOUBLE happiness, right?

Well, on Wednesday night before I could go to bed, I finally requested an update on our sweet girl from Ladybugs 'N Love (we've used them for Caleb, Darcy and Daniel's updates and have been so pleased with their service...even got to meet Angela while we were in China once and she knew Darcy's Chinese name before I told her, she really knows and cares about her customers!)  Well, one week following LOA, we got our update.  Our ten questions were answered, we now know how tall she is, how much she weighs, and that all of her baby teeth are in.  But most importantly, we know that she feels pretty...


Can I just tell you the happy tears that spilled when I saw that smile?  It did somewhat take my breath away to see how much she's grown since that first baby picture I fell in love with...


...but there is some serious personality going on in that smile and I sure can't wait to get to know her!


Of course, as much as I am joyful that we are nearing the end of this wait to bring her home, I know what is coming for her.  By the time we get to her she will be nearly four years old and all she has ever known is going to change drastically.  Would you join me in praying for her heart to be prepared to leave her world to come to ours and become part of our family?

17 comments:

Julie said...

I didn't realize she was going to be four when coming home. How grown up she looks. And beautiful. So sweet :)

Valerie and Jeff said...

Thanks for the update! She has grown SO much since that photo--but she's been up to good things. She's beautiful! Joy will be yours very soon :-) The waiting must be agonizing--hang in there!--hugs, Valerie

Emily said...

Rejoicing with you, Kristi! And little Natalie is absolutely PRECIOUS! LOVE that smile of hers! Praying you speed through the rest of the process (and that 34 day LOA wait surely helped!)and are there and back BEFORE school starts!

Emily said...

And that would be me, Pam, that left the last comment. :)

Anneli said...

Oh Kristi... she is absolutely beautiful. Congrats on your LOA! Excited to follow your travel adventures to bring your newest addition home. :-) Praying for her heart to be prepared even now to meet you.

Ashley said...

Oh-congrats on your LOA AND so, so wonderful to see her sweet smile!! Can't believe what a little lady she has grown into and can't wait to see the five of them all together!!

Hugs, Ashley

Traci said...

i can hardly wait to meet this little one! Come on August!!!

likeschocolate said...

That is so exciting! Congratulations! It looks like it could be another 8 month before we go because we still haven't been matched. Our agency said it could be as late as October before we are matched. I keep telling myself it will be worth it and to be patient. Miss Natalie is growing to be such a darling girl.

Laurie said...

Oh, Kristi, she is just beautiful. She looks healthy and happy, and just so stinkin' cute!! :) Updates are the BEST!!

Heather said...

She is so cute! What a smile! Glad to hear things are moving along!!!!

Amy Murphy said...

I didn't realize how old she was! She is so little in that first picture that I thought she was going to be 2 or something like that. She looks so cute in that dress! I hope you get to travel the soonest possible!

Kathy said...

I am so happy to have new pictures. She looks confident and happy - what good care she must be getting. I am praying that the change to a new family will be smooth for her. I can hardly wait until August when we can hold her in our arms.

Anonymous said...

Yay!!!!! Been thinking about you guys. Can't wait to see you with your newest sweetheart.
Hugs to all of you.

jennifer b said...

My heart is overflowing to hear your "double" good news. She is absolutely precious!!

Nancy said...

She is beautiful!!! I am so excited for you and your family! Praying!

Lorna said...

So excited for your family! It is amazing to see such a grown up little girl after looking at her baby picture for so long. I am sure she will have a shirt adjustment into the loving Miller family! Let me know if there is anything I can do for you before you head to China!

Amy said...

Hi Kristi. I am friends with Melissa Roslevege and have followed your blog for years. I adopted my second daughter from China and she turned 4 while we were there for her. She is now almost 10 and has done great. She picked up English very well and quickly and went to kindergarted fully ready a year later. I will be praying for Natalie's transition to your family. My older daughter made Chloe's transition to our family much easier while we were in China as I know you have experienced already and hopefully will again.