Blessings Abound

Wow, we are humbled with hearts full this week. Sunday, our friends gave us a wonderful baby shower for Rachel. It's hard to describe the feeling of it all. The greatest thing is that the room was filled with amazing friends, family, and even our neighbors (who are great friends, too!). To see the room filled with moms, dads, grandparents, children galore, it was bliss. The Benekes, Cantwells, Lunas, Sassers and more roasted hot dogs, brought loads of food, arranged the official baby cake, and decorated in beaucoups of pink complete with ladybugs! It's about impossible to thank everyone and to even know all they have done. It was something to write all those thank-you notes this week and get to go back to each gift looking at the thought and sentiment sent in each one. I can say we are truly overwhelmed and find ourselves lacking in the proper vocabulary to really verbalize this experience. I was reminded that this shower was not about us, but about Rachel and all about God's great love and provision. Wow, this little girl is about to have her world turned around!

We Have Our Visas!

It's official, we received our Chinese Visas today! Another big milestone. FedEx showed up at the exact time this afternoon that I was sending a document to our adoption agency. Seeing lots of God's fingerprints lately! He is so in this journey, it's just bliss. So with visas in hand for all three of us, we now await our full itinerary from our China adoption facilitator. We will have a guide with us the whole way who will literally walk us through the 2-week process. On a side note, I got a haircut today to get the "new-mommy-do"...short and easy (if anyone needs the best hairstylist, it's Melanie!) Guangzhou is hot and humid....THINK MIAMI!

Airline Tickets Are Booked!

This morning we received confirmation that our date with the US Embassy in Guangzhou is May 22! That means we're ready to travel. We booked our tickets with American Airlines today. We fly out May 07 and return May 24. We are thrilled to have our tickets booked. The added bonus, or rather, added 'jet lag' element is that we will connect through Tokyo. So I told Elizabeth today, you get to see China AND Japan! Coming back we must spend the night in Tokyo. I'm already praying that this connection will not cause too much pain; that we'll have some super energy! On the flip side, I am so sad to leave my boys behind. I feel like I have the pregnancy emotions now! Delighted one moment, tearful the next. I plan on leaving the boys a 'surprise bag' for each day we are gone. Once they finish their day's homework, they are allowed to open one sack with a treat inside. So I better hit the store and candy shop soon! Lots to pack to take and lots to 'pack' to stay.

An Unexpected Baby Shower

Friday brought an overwhelming shower of gifts at Denise's office. I have had the rare priviledge of working for the same company for 19 years now. So, a lot of it is indeed an extended family. So, this extended family of mine surprised us with a shower. I got the blessing of sharing this celebration with another co-worker, Mandi who's expecting in May. She and I took turns opening up A LOT of thoughtful gifts. Honestly, for me, just seeing how so many people are just excited about the thought of bringing a new life into the world (and country!) is something I wish I could take a picture of. I take a lot of joy from that. Everything from crocheted shoes to a luggage set will be put to great use! Since Randy was in Malaysia at the time, I brought all the goodies home in their wrappings so he could have a shower of his own when he got home. The kiddos loved doing that! I am forever grateful for the amazing people God has placed in my life...and that's NO cliche.