I MUST be dreaming!!
We’re going to CHINA… in 17 days! After the anxiety of having to wait (and wait) lo these last 7 months and 2 days since seeing our son’s face for the first time, suddenly we have TA and now have a CA (consulate appointment)!! And doggoneit if it didn’t take me mere hours on the phone to book our flights! Whazzupwitdat? Every other China trip has cost me DAYS of time, gobs of hair pulled out at the root and endless anxiety over booking flights. Praise God, it’s all coming together and FAST! Our CA is confirmed for June 25, which means we need to be in China on the 15th (we’ll leave here on the 14th) and we meet Shepherd on the 17th! Exactly one year from the date I stood in the Civil Affairs in Fuzhou and met my precious Jude 🙂 How cool is that? Brothers, 9 months apart, with identical ‘gotcha’ days!
AND God has worked it all out so that Chris and I will be traveling together this time!! It means he and I will get a bit of togetherness that we haven’t experienced in, well, years. Since Asher to be exact, and Asher is about to turn 9 🙂 I mean, Chris… me… and only one adorable little peanunt? Easy peasy, baby!! My sister has graciously offered to watch our little ‘uns (I know, she deserves to be appointed to sainthood right now) and we quickly accepted, before she could change her mind. So we’re all set!
TA ~ check!
CA ~ confirmed!
Travelers ~ Chris AND Stefanie!
Flights ~ booked, baby!
God ~ in heaven and clearly blessing this process! Lemme hear an “Amen” 🙂
WHOOO HOOO!!!! Congratulations to you and your family!!!! I am crying with tears of happiness for your family. I can not wait to watch your journey unfold as you are united with your NEW SON!! God is amazing and you are so blessed!! You can actually start counting down the hours until he’s in your arms!!! Hugs to all!!
~ Julie
So excited….so EXCITED!!! Yeah Stef. Such happy news and what an amazing, awesome, saintly, stupdendous, fabulous, fantastic thing of your sister to allow you and your hubby to travel together!!!!!!! Wonderful news! God can make miracles happen. Can’t wait to see Shepherd with you at last!
Amen to that! This is truly awesome news. Congratulations. It is all truly working out in God’s perfect timing indeed! Nothing else can explain it!
Jenny G.
AAAAAAAAMEN!!!!
FAB FAB FABULOUS news!!! I am sitting here with tears of JOY!!!
God works in such amazing & wonderful ways!!! I LOVE the way this is all unfolding for your family!!
What an ANGEL you have in your sister to watch your family while you & Chris get time to enjoy each other & then enjoy the time with your new SON!!
I cannot wait to see you & Chris wrapping your arms around Shepherd!
Sooooo many blessings for your family, who are sooooo DESERVING!!!
HUGS!!!!
Patricia/rejoicing in NYC!
Amen!!! Woo Hoo!! Go get that boy of yours!!
AHHHHHHHHH!
I can’t WAIT to see precious Shepard in your loving arms. In mommy AND daddy’s arms. Prasie Him!!!
Saying “Amen” and pinching you, it is true, it is happening!
So happy for you! Soon little Shepherd will be in both his parents arms!!!!
Amen sister!! I am so excited and happy for you guys!!!
AMEN! And YIPPEE!!!! can’t wait to se ethose “gotcha” photos!!! but, of course, we do not expect you to post updates until the day you actually get shepherd…afterall, you will be all alone with your man!!!!
YES!!! God is GOOD – all the TIME! Can’t wait to follow along this amazing journey with you. Enjoy those few days together!
How EXCITING!!! This is fabulous news!! Shouting an “Amen”!!!
Blessings,
Jenn
That is awesome. I am so excited for you and Chris. Amen.
A BIG AMEN!!!!!! How exciting to see Him directing the path. I can’t wait to see you and Chris in China holding Shepherd!! I will keep praying!
Congratulations! Have fun in China and bring that wonderful baby home to his family.
AAAAAAAAMEN, SISTA!!!!!!
God is amazingly good. I can’t believe that your sweet China boys will be sharing the same gotcha day. What a blessing.
Can’t wait to follow you there.
Hugs,
Ohilda
I don’t believe I’ve ever posted before, but I’ve been reading for a while. I just had to chime in and say how excited I am for you!!! What wonderful news!
AMEN!
God is in the details 🙂
Can’t wait to follow along!
Margie
HURRAY!!!!! so happy for you guys.
Doreen in Montreal Mom to Faith-Jiangxi & Mia-Sichuan
Yeah baby now that’s what I’m talking about!!!! SO glad Chris will be going with you!!!
AMEN! I am SO thrilled for you!!!!!! this is incredibly exciting news! Yipeee!!!!!
Kim
Stefanie! I am praising God with you, and just in awe of how He is able to do immeasurably MORE than all we could ask or imagine! Eph. 3:20!
Smiling, singing, and dancing for joy on the beach for you! 😉
I have an AMEN for that!
I’m thrilled for you…and excited to follow your trip!
I’ll AMEN that and even give a toast with some sweeeet tea. All y’alls are on your way! Woo Hoo (that was in my best southern accent).
Tamera from California ;0)
AMEN!! This is awesome news Stephanie! I can’t wait to follow your journey to China again.
Love and prayers,
Erica
http://www.aaronandericahammond.blogspot.com
How exciting!!!! And how cool that he and Jude will share the same Gotcha Day. I can’t wait to see the two of them together; I bet they’ll be thick as thieves – a twosome to be reckoned with. Blessings and safe travels to you and Chris — it’s great that you’ll get to spend this time together. I’m SO HAPPY for you!!
Amen, Sister!
doing the happy dance here in NC!! We’ll be there the same time but we don’t know our gotcha day is yet. I imagine it would be the same time though because they are both from the same orphanage! I’m so excited! Who did you book your flights through? We haven’t even done that yet!!
Amen!!! I’m so thrilled for you! It is so neat to read how God has had His hand on y’all through each and every adoption. I can’t wait to follow you along on this one! I’ll be praying for you. 🙂
No way I am pinching you! I don’t want you to wake up from this dream!
Keri
YIPEEEEEEE AND AMEN!!!!! We can’t wait to follow along! 😀
YAY!!! So excited for you BOTH going to China….have a wonderful trip
Amen BABAAY!
You go girl now thats what I call BTDT! You could do this in your sleep.. Good luck with everything not that you need it but we’ll of course all help pray you there and back!
Goodness has it already been a year, sheesh time flies when we have a houseful dont it.
BLessings for you and your seet new baby, and have fun!
Cathy
That’s wonderful news that you two will be together! i know you are pinching yourself! Wow, God is Good! I’ll give ya a AMEN! ;0)
Keisha
pinch pinch!!! Your going to China!!! Whoo hoooo!!! I am so happy for you! I can’t wait to follow your journey.
OK I seem to be a bit behind with comment number 31
BUT HUGZ
I wish only the best for you and ALL of your wonderful family!
Oh AND I CANNOT WAIT TO follow your trip!
Hows the packing????
That is awesome Stefanie! What a blessing for you and Shephard to have Mommy and Daddy there to meet him. I can’t wait to see pictures of him with his family.
Tricia
how wonderful! we are just ready to send our letter of intent to China for a waiting little girl. This is our 1st adoption. Things took a turn of events…we were supposed to be going to Taiwan…so now we have a dossier there to.
I’m so nervous! I just dread this until we get that pre approval letter in the mail…until then I can’t breathe! I’m so scared we will get denied!
your news is wonderful! congrats!
WOW! AMEN , MY FRIEND! I can’t wait for the MisAdventures of the “Gotcha Day Twins”.
You guys are going to have a great time. And just think for you guys to travel with just 1 kid…. It’s really kinda like a vacation! 🙂
Happy for your sweet family.
So do you think TLC would go for “Chris & Steph plus Eight”?
Andrea
Chris and Stephanie – Wonderful news for you both and for Shepherd too! Can’t wait until you are boarding the plane.:) Stacy
How wonderful! Congratulations 🙂 This is just wonderful news!
ummm baby! This is one journey I’ll be on the edge of my seat following! You make us feel like we are right there beside you! Well, you can have the first 3 days alone…THEN DETAILS!!! 🙂
God bless your journey across the globe and back.
I am so VERY excited for you! I will be praying for you as you prepare to go! What a blessing that you and Chris will be able to go together! That’s just great news all around!!!
Oh Stefanie! AMEN!!!! I am so excited for you and Chris. I have goosebumps for you. I can’t wait to follow along. I showed my dad Jude and then Shepherd’s sites on MAW…he is in love, too.
Yippee!!!! Congratulations!
I am shouting AMEN here for you! How exciting that you and Chris get to travel together. Alone! How unbelievable that Jude and Shepherd will share the same Gotcha Day. God just knew that you didn’t need one more date to remember. 🙂 I’m so happy for you!!!
so happy for all of you! enjoy the time away just the two of you and the tme together to bond the three of you.
longing for the day that will be me. . . . . .
A great big AMEN!!! God certainly has His hand all over this!
Love you!
YAY! I’m so very glad you and Chris are able to go together. What an awesome gift for your sister to give you. And I truely LOVE that the boys will share the same gotcha day. All the pieces fit together perfectly, just as the should!
Congratulations.
Karrie in IN
Congratulations! Amen! So happy for you. Will look forward to following your journey.
Blessings,
YIPPIEEE!!!!!!!
What wonderful news to read first thing this morning. I am doing my happy dance!!!!!
Krista
A loud AMEN from me! I got goosebumps reading this post. Needless to say I’m soooo happy for you. Can’t wait to follow you on your journey, and see sweet Shepherd in your arms!!!!!
Yes! Smother him in kisses the second you get him.
Congrats and God Bless!
AMEN from me!! Even more than meeting Shepherd SOON; I got chills to think of you & Chris getting to spend that time together!! it really will be like vacation. I am so happy for you – God is so good.
AWESOME! I’m so excited for you guys and can’t wait to follow your journey!
OMG….how incredibly exciting! I am so excited for you all! Less than 3 weeks even! Yahoo!
Congratulations Stefanie, to you and your family! You’ll be bringing your little one home very soon.:)
AMEN! Congratulations to all of you, here’s praying for safe travels and a easy transition period.
AMEN SISTER!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh my gosh, I was just checking in to see what’s up, and I get the best news I have heard in days!!!!! I am so excited for you!! A new baby and a honeymoon!!! WOO HOO!!! Can’t wait to see that babe in your arms soon!!!!!
God is so awesome!!!!!!!
Blessings,
Diana
Yahoo!!! Oh…this makes my day Stefanie! SO very happy for you all. Praise God! 🙂
Stefanie,
That is beyond FANTASTIC!!!!!!
Thank you God!!!!!
My heart is filled with joy at what the Lord has done, IS doing and will do in your lives!!!
You should have the fabric and wish for Shepherd’s quilt by Monday!
Blessings,
Holly from Purpose Driven Family
How cool about the shared Gotcha Date!! Did you think last year you would be back so soon?? Love it! Cannot wait to see the little tyke in momma’s arms! You and dh can actually “talk” on the flight – if you don’t just pass out and sleep the whole time 😉
Marcy in KY
truly truly blessed my friend.
I cannot believe you have identical gotcha dates for the boys, I cannot wait for their first ‘anniversary’ together…and hooray that you and Chris can go together! This is a special trip to be sure!
love
Hooray! I love the way God has shown Himself in this journey. What an awesome start for two brothers who are sure to be great friends. Have a great trip enjoy your time with Chris. You have a great sister!
Hey Girl, I am excited for your family. I will be praying for you all.
Karen Whitt
What great news to hear – will be praying for you and Chris during your trip to China. Anxious to see pictures of Shepherd!
God Bless!
AMEN!!!!!! Hang on little Shepherd, Mama and Baba are coming!
Congratulations!! So happy for your family! I followed your journey to Jude on myadoptionwebsite.com, can’t wait to see you get Shepard!!
What a wonderful Sister you have!!
Karen
Amen from me here in Florida!! So happy for you, and how cool is that…”twin” gotcha days!! I wish you blessed travel and some wonderful couple time in China!
Fantastic news!!! And super great that you both get to travel to meet your new son!
This is awesome!!! I am so happy for you and so excited that you and Chris will travel together to bring your sweet angel home!
Charlene
Ahhhhh…how WONDERFUL that at last you and dear hubby will have time *alone* (alone, that is, until you receive your little Prince! 🙂 ). Neil and I traveled alone this past trip -June 2007 (remember seeing one-another in Guangzhou?!?!) with our other 3 at home. Although we were almost out-of-our-minds-missing-our-kids, I must admit that the 3 days ALONE together – prior to becoming a family of 6 – were SOOOOO APPRECIATED! LOL
Well get to packin’, lady! Your big travel day is just right around the corner!
Much love from Florida,
Mary Rodin
http://rodin.redthreadkids.org
http://www.ladybugsanddragonflies.blogspot.com
Congratulations Stefanie and Chris! It all sounds like such great news and I’m so glad you get to travel together. WooHoo!!!!!
That’s wonderful!!!! Have fun preparing for the trip!
I’m so glad you will be meeting Shepherd soon!
What a blessing that you two will travel together this time! I am so excited to follow your journey. Congrats!
Not a dream. Congrats!! So hapoy for you.
AMEN!! Woohoo, bad bloggy friends hasn’t chekced in a few days and look at what I missed! But it seems when I do this things move faster:)
Travelling with your sweet husband and sis watching the kids – this is out of a movie, I tell you! Praise God for the good things He has done. We are so happy for your family, Stef and yes, I do still have that quilt square!
Love to you all
Heather