Update as of February 4th

As of today, we are still waiting on our issued court date in China.  Once that court date is set, we will begin to book our flights as well hotel and other travel needs.

In the mean time, we have applied for our travel visas via a courier service since they must be presented in person.  We got word yesterday that they were submitted to the Chinese Consulate in Chicago so we should have those back by the end of next week.  We have also applied to the US Department of State with our petition to make "Po" an immediate US citizen and be recognized as a member of our family once she touches down on US soil (legally this happens in China, but she will be fully ours and an American once entering).  This has been granted and we now have to apply for her travel visa so she can enter the US.  The instructions on this are anything but clear...but we'll get it figured out.  

Here is "Po's" loot: A personal blanket, a new set of clothes, treats for
all to share, a toy phone, a photo album, (with pictures of mom, dad,
and sister) and a special letter for the nannies to read to her.  Also
included are two disposable cameras and a flash drive for the nannies
to take pictures on/with.  We may never lay eyes on these items or
touch them, but it is just a little something we can send her while
we await travel.

Last week, we were able to send a care package through a Chinese woman who daily sends packages to children in orphanages and foster homes in China.  The main thing we wanted "Po" to have was a photo album with our pictures so the nannies can begin to show her her new family...that way she can begin to learn our faces and we won't be so scary (that's up for debate) on the first day. We made sure to send a bag of goodies to all the kiddos because these personal gifts can actually single out the intended child.  The other kids begin to pick on that child because of jealousy and longing for a family and a place to belong.  I wish I could do something special for each child, but I can't.  I pray each special child finds his/her forever family one day, as I can't imagine how hard it is knowing you don't have a family to belong to.  Are you feeling called to be a forever family to a special orphan?  If so, please don't hesitate to ask us questions or seek out other adoptive families to ask them questions.  This truly is a passion of ours and we would hate for a family to never say yes to that special child simply out of fear or lack of information!