Saturday, April 28, 2007

WE HAVE TA!!!

I received the call from our agency Friday morning at about 11 and the rest of the day is a blur. We will soon have Oakley in our arms!! After months of waiting, waiting, waiting, now we race to get everything done before we travel. Our agency has requested a consulate appointment in early June, and based on which date is granted, we expect to leave for China on May 23, 24, or 25. That's less than four weeks away! Once the date is confirmed, I can begin to make accommodations and plans for Hagan and Sullivan, who will remain here with family while we travel. It won't be easy to leave them but my little sister, Marla, has offered to keep them. We are comforted by the fact that they'll be in safe and loving hands while we're halfway around the world.

We were really hoping to be home for Sawyer's Confirmation and Finals Week at school, but it looks like we're going to miss both. Mike and I actually discussed postponing travel for a week but we truly feel that this is God's timing. We trust that everything will work out just the way He intended. Sawyer will also make Confirmation when we return and our church has granted permission for Shelby to remain his sponsor, even though he'll be at Boot Camp and will, more than likely, not be able to attend. Sawyer's fellow confirmation candidates will stand up with him as proxy in Shelby's absence. He may be able to take some of his finals prior to travel and he can make the others up when we return.

We also found out on Friday that our Shaohannah's Hope Grant Request was declined. Shaohannah's Hope is a wonderful organization dedicated to helping prospective adoptive parents overcome the financial barriers associated with adoption by awarding financial grants to qualified families already in the process of adopting. They receive hundreds of grants per month and simply cannot fund each one. I will admit that receiving TA on Friday totally trumped this bit of disappointing news, and as Hagan pointed out, "We probably didn't get the grant become some other family needed it even more than us." Out of the mouths of babes.

We began our adoption fundraising efforts with our neighborhood yard sale last June and it looks like we'll wrap up our fundraising efforts with our neighborhood yard sale, scheduled for Saturday, May 19! We feel fortunate to have another opportunity to raise funds this close to travel. I've been cleaning out closets and cabinets and have a growing inventory of items to sell. We'll also be soliciting items from family and friends who may want to get rid of unwanted items and donate them to the yard sale.

THANK YOU to all who have supported us in this journey of faith through contributions, prayer, friendship, compassion and understanding. We will keep you updated as soon as we know more and will post our travel itinerary when available.

Tomorrow I make my packing list!!

13 comments:

Unknown said...

wooooooohooooooo!!!!!!!! congrats!!!!!!!!

Mom 2 six said...

YIIPEE !!
Get packing !
We are so excited for your family.

Unknown said...

Yay!!!! I'll be home sometime in July to meet her...I can't wait.

4ever4some said...

Jana, I'm soooooo excited for you. Very soon Oakley can hold on tight to you, not just the little photo album you sent. Congratulations!!

Felicia

All 4 My Gals said...

You are so lucky it's so late! :) I would be calling you. I AM THRILLED! Her package from us arrived on Friday as well. So I'll be getting them to you soon. I can't wait to meet your little girl! We love you!

The Ferrill's said...

Jana I am thrilled to see you have TA! Wow, you are so close! We got declined last week from Shaohannah's Hope, also. We feel the same way...God will choose to provide some other way...and boy has He ever provided this weekend. We also are having another yard sale in May! I will pray for both of our yard sales...God is so awesome! Can't wait to see Oakley in your arms! Now, do share the packing list for those who are coming behind ya!
Love,
Laine

Beckyb said...

Karen shared with me yesterday that you had gotten your TA - I was thrilled - now for a speedy time here before you travel - blessings!!!!

Ken and Mystina said...

Jana and Family, congratulations on your TA! We hope to follow as much of your journey as possible and are sorry we will miss you all in Fuzhou.

Oakley, congratulations on becoming part of a beautiful family. May you feel God's loving Arms around you in the coming days as you transition into your forever family.

May God go with you all and keep you safe in your travels.

The Zummach Family

Tao's Mommy said...

Yayyyyy!!!! CONGRATS on your TA....soon, very soon you will have Oakley in your arms!!!!

Leslie said...

I'm so excited and happy for you Jana. I can't wait to meet you and your WHOLE family, and soon I hope. I'll be following your journey every step of the way.

(((HUGS)))
Leslie

Anonymous said...

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
I don't even have my referral yet (but we are going SN) so I don't know exactly the feeling of receiving your TA after 100+ days. But I bet it's pretty exciting!!!!!!!!!

MomOf4 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

I ran across your blog and was pulled in by your joyous writing! May God bless your travels and your growing family! -A MomOf3 from TX