Wednesday, September 19, 2012

The TA Wait Begins!!!

I was going to do a (Nearly) Wordless Wednesday post today with a photo of Jack from this past weekend with his face painted ... with a unicorn ... a pink unicorn ... with glitter. 

Instead, just confirmation that our "Article 5" (see this post) was issued today, and we are now formally "patiently" waiting for our TA (Travel Approval).  This is typically issued two to four weeks after Article 5, but there is a national holiday in China the first week of October so that may slow us down slightly.  We're still praying for our TA on the early end of October with travel in late October / early November (typically two to four weeks after TA, dependant on when we can get our appointment with the US Consulate in Guangzhou).  We received an e-mail confirmation from the US Consulate in Guangzhou today confirming that Article 5 was issued and this is how the e-mail ended:

"We look forward to meeting you and your new family member when you come to the Consulate for your visa appointment!"
 
An explanation point and everything!  Us too, US Consulate, us too!!!!  We cannot wait for you to meet this little one of ours.
This is one of the photos we got with an update in early August.  I hadn't posted it before because well, I'm kind of in love with this girl, and I was kind of selfishly hoarding and studying this photo.  You will notice the deep look of concentration as she studies her hand.  After following Ashley's blog HERE and their journey to bringing their "Little One" home, I find it fascinating to see that their daughter's comfort mechanism was her sweet little hands.  I have posted a link to Ashley's blog before, but this post and this post, from China, speak so eloquently to their daughter's comfort with her amazing hands.  Ashley wonders if it's just a phase of her daughter discovering her hands or if it is from hours in a crib with no form of stimulation ... I wonder too ...
 
And, I really shouldn't do this, but it's my blog so I'm gonna ... and, I'm pretty sure that this is going to end up in a high school slide show ... and, I couldn't just leave you wondering about Jack's face painting, I figured you might want proof yourself.  Crazy kid!

6 comments:

Nikki said...

Congratulations and lots of love! This picture of Nora is so precious, friend, and I'm envisioning you, as Mary, treasuring all these things in your heart.

And what ever would we do without these boys of ours who give us so much awesome material for their graduation slide shows?! :)

Kim said...

PRAISE HIM! YAY! Praying for you to get the Travel Approval before that holiday the first week in October! I am in love with her cheeks, squishy baby cheeks- there's nothing better. In honor of this post- I vote your whole family paint their face with a pink unicorn every year on 9/20;)

Jen Cruz said...

I am so excited for you and your family! Nora is beautiful and will look perfect in the family portraits! Congrats again!!!

Unknown said...

Congratulations! How very exciting. I love Nora's new pic. Love her name, too! I am a little jealous, as our Levi is right there with your Nora! Can you bring him home, too? We are praying to travel in December or January. Praying for peace and a quick travel date for you!

Unknown said...

I just realized that you don't know who I am! Sorry. I'm back to tell you :) My name is Melanie and I found your blog through Dana Goza's blog. I've been following you a bit, as we are close in the process. My son is in the same orphanage as your daughter. Here is our blog:
www.beautifulblessings5.wordpress.com. We may be part of the same yahoo group, too. I'll have to check on that :)

Unknown said...

I'd love to see the pics you have from July. Beth York also sent me some birthday pics from July. Levi was not in them. Maybe he'll be in yours. My email is mellichowski@gmail.com.
Thanks!