01/08 Depart Newark at 9:58 AM for Beijing
01/09 Arrive Beijing at 3:00PM / Depart Beijing at 9:00PM for Nanning
01/10 Rest. Chill. Prepare.
01/11 Go to the Civil Affairs Office to meet Miss Vivienne!!!!
01/12 Go to the Civil Affairs for adoption registration
01/13 Travel to Guilin by train
01/14 Sight-seeing in Guilin / Hopefully visit An Orphan’s Wish!
01/15 Li River cruise / Fly to Guangzhou
01/16 Vivi’s Medical Exam
01/17 Sight-seeing in Guangzhou
01/18 Medical exam follow-up
01/19 Visa interview
01/20 Go to the consulate for the ceremony
01/21 Go to the consulate to pick up Vivi’s visa
01/22 Fly to Shanghai / Fly to Newark / Fly HOME!
We’re all set! Our visas and POA arrived this afternoon! And my tooth is fixed (if with a temporary crown, but it’s fixed!) and I can’t tell you how grateful I am for all your prayers. They were definitely felt, as getting the crown was less painful and less stressful than getting the filling the month before!
So to everyone who took a minute out of their day to pray for me, for us… THANK YOU 🙂
And, amazingly, we’re all packed. All the donations for An Orphan’s Wish somehow managed to fit into the four bags we’re allowed to check. We even had time to go out to celebrate Miss Sophie Lulu’s birthday a few days early, come home and have Hello Kitty cake and strawberry ice cream and play a final game of Killer Bunnies.
I’ll be posting updates here, as regularly as China will allow. As much as I wanted to have another My Adoption Website for this trip, I just wasn’t able to get it together in time. I’ve already confessed, I’m a bit of a last minute girl.
Maybe that should be a New Year’s Resolution.
Nah.
More good news is that Tori taught me how to shoot video with my Nikon, so I’m hoping to upload some video of my sweet girl. AND she loaded Skype on both the laptop and our desktop.
I’m going to be all over the ‘net, baby.
We’re loaded with snacks, pillows, moolah, tooth cement and baby toys… now all we need is our GIRL!!
yay! Can't wait to see her in your arms. Prayers for a safe and happy trip.
WOOHOO!!! You are going to China! Can't wait to follow along. We will be praying for you all!
Stefanie….
I was hoping we would be in China together. Our consulate appointment didn't work out, so we are about a week behind you.
I was SO hoping to meet you … ,maybe another time!!!
I still want you to know what an inspiration you are to SO many of us.
I can't wait to see little Miss Vivi!!!!
I hope you have a safe and wonderful trip!
Very excited for you!
praying for you tonight
glad your tooth is feeling better!
Good luck, good wishes, Godspeed!!
girl i will be praying … i am so sorry i haven't checked in lately, but i will be praying and checking on the updates … blessings !!!!
SO SO SO EXCITED !!!
And away you go! Our prayers are with you to China and back!
Praise the Lord, Vivi is COMING HOME SWEET HOME!
Thanks for the update. This is soooo exciting!!! Wishing you and Asher and Vivienne a wonderful, amazing, incredible journey together! I will keep you all (and there are a LOT of you) in my thoughts and prayers. Safe travels!
Safe travels my friend!! I'll be lifting you all in my prayers!!
Love ya!
So excited to see your little girl in your arms. Have a wonderful trip.
Amy
So wonderful…. will be praying.
God's speed,
Daleea
Have a safe trip Stefanie! Can't wait to see that precious girl in her mommy's arms!!!
Ok Girl!!! I have, and I will be lifting you, and your handsome escort up!!! And, of course for precious Vivi for what is yet to come!!! I will be anxiously waiting to see you three together soon!!! Honestly, I can't wait to celebrate with you! Thank you for sharing your journey with me…. You are such a role model for many of us!!! Thank you for sharing your amazing heart with so many! Now, go and get your girl!! It is time!
"The One who calls you is faithful, and He WILL do it!" 1Thessalonians 5:24
God Bless you my friend!
Love,
Diana
OH the memories are flooding back! We left 11 years ago tomorrow to get our first daughter from China. She turns 12 tomorrow and I can't believe it! Can't wait to see updates from the trip and I am so happy that the day went well! Travel safe!
Praying for safe travel. I look forward to following your journey to Vivienne!
Can you believe it's really THAT TIME already!?! SO excited for you!! I will SO be stalking your blog in the days (weeks) to come… can't wait to see that sweet girl in YOUR arms!
Praying for safe and healthy travels!!
Hugs,
Tanya
I am so excited for you and for Vivi and can hardly wait to see you in each others embrace. Knowing you are going to be so close is killing me. Wonder how I could swing a visit to Gullian?!!
We will be following along for every update and lifting you up in prayer from Hong Kong!
Love & Blessings,
Kim
Yeah!!!!
God bless you & Asher & Vivi!!!
Can't wait to meet you guys next week!!!!!
May God be with you once again! xoxo
whoops, I don't remember seeing Ambien on your list! Quick, get some!! 🙂
YOU GO GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
woooohooo!!!
whoo hoo I can't wait!!!! Godspeed ahead my friend…I'm sending prayers your way for a safe journey!!!
Yippee! Answered prayers.
Enjoy the journey, can't wait to see you w/ your Vivi!
YIPPY!!!!
Cant wait to see Vivienne in your ARMS!!
China here you come.
I will be praying.
xoxo Michele
Hey! We are leaving from Newark today too!!!! See you in GZ!!!!!
We're praying for you! Can't wait to see Miss Vivi in your arms!
Blessings~
Connie
Yahoo! Can't wait to follow your journey to your sweet girl. And, I don't think many people travel to China with tooth cement…but probably a good idea! 🙂
YIPEEE!! Praying for you and Asher and you travel daily. Can't wait to see Vivi's sweet litle face wrapped up in your arms.
~Branda
Praying..Psalms 91 for you,Asher and Vivi. I'll be praying for Vivi's transition. Praying for Chris and the children to stay safe and healthy while you are gone.
Praying for you and your family! Have a wonderful trip to your precious girl.
I tell you what, you ROCK Stefanie! You have handled everything so well from last minute dental to last minute deliveries. I don't know that I'd survive all those last minute hurdles. I don't believe in luck, just blessings so I'll say MANY BLESSINGS to you and your family as you get make it through these next few weeks
So glad to hear that you received your the rest of your necessary paperwork as well as fixed that darn tooth.
I will be keeping you in my prayers during your trip and can't wait to see sweet Vivi in your arms.
Hopefully we will not be too far behind you in getting Drew.
Blessings,
Mandi
I will be watching and praying! Congrats!
Yay!!! I'm so excited for you! And to God be the glory that everything came together at the last minute!
Prayers for your family will be constant, can't wait to see you and Asher with Vivi!
Your family is amazing and our family is blessed to have God intertwine our paths!
hugs
Yeah I can't wait to see you with your girl!
one more thing…now I know we can get our act together when the time comes…and get out the door! Wow!
Yay! Yay! I can't wait to see you guys holding little Miss Vivi and kissing on her and covering her in the Love of the Lord through your hands. I. canNOT. Wait! I am so excited for you all and will be praying. I just linked to your blog so my followers can follow the journey too!
Blessings for a safe, happy trip. Yay!
Have a wonderful safe trip. If you have a layover in Newark on the return and want a welcoming drop a line.
Many prayers and blessings to your family from ours ~ May you and Asher have an amazing time together ~ a journey he will never forget ~ May your bonding with little Vivi go smoothly ~ safe travels girlfriend ~
So thrilled for you!! Have a blessed and safe journey, can't wait to see all the pictures!! 🙂
I can't wait to follow along and see you finally meet your precious Vivienne!! Best wishes!!
So excited for you! Can hardly wait to see Vivi with you crew!!
While in Guilin keep your eyes open for two sweet sisters- Our Emma and Ellie (Qin, Fuyuan and Qin Fuquan).
Blessings on your journey!!
So excited for you!! Praying for your journey and transition 🙂
Hooray – I hope you have a safe and blessed trip – I can't wait to meet Miss Vivi!
Have a safe and wonderful journey to your new little! Can't wait to read all about it!
Safe Travels!! Cant wait to see pics of you holding your daughter!
hoooooray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! much love to you!!!
YAY! Very excited.
You are amazing! Now go bring that baby HOME!
Hugs!
YEAH!!! Go get your girl! Praying for safety & a wonderful Gotcha Day!!!
you are WELL on your way and i'm just so happy for you all!
Praying for you and the family! God Bless!
praying for a safe and WONDERFUL trip!!!!
Yippee!!!!!!
Prayers, prayers, and more prayers.
YAY!!!!! Have a wonderful trip Stefanie and of course our prayers go with you! Cannot WAIT to see little Vivi in your lovin' Mommie arms!!!
Well…you are probably flying somewhere over northern Canada right now…YAY!!! Finally, you are on your way!!
Praying for a safe & uneventful flight…praying for Chris holding down the fort…praying for all of sweet Vivi's siblings at home…praying for an easy transition for precious Vivi…praying for YOU, momma, that your fears & anxieties are calmed with the peace of the Lord!
I CANNOT WAIT to see Miss Vivi in your loving arms & in Asher's as well!! GODSPEED, my friend!!
XOXO
Patricia
Happy Travels!!! I'm so unbelievably excited for you and can't wait to see you with that sweet girl in your arms!!!!
Been thinking about you all day today! Praying for all that is and all that will be.
Can't wait to see pictures and video!
LOVE YA!
Sharon
Praying for you!!! Can't wait to see Vivi. trina
Can't wait to see Vivi in your arms!!!!! Major prayers for "Y'all"!!!
Doreen in Montreal single mom to Faith-Jiangxi& Mia-Sichuan
You sound so ready! I am laughing out loud. I wish I could spend just an hour with you! I know I'd be smiling the whole time! CANNOT WAIT TO SEE YOUR GIRL IN YOUR ARMS!!!!!!!
SO excited for you!!!! Covering you all in prayer roght now. Cannot wait to see Miss Vivi!
Yay! So glad the dentist visit went well. I'm so excited for you! I have always wanted to go to Guilin and try that Li River cruise. It will be fun to experience it through your blog. 🙂
Safe travels, Stefanie. We'll be following along, as I'm sure you already knew.
praying…praying….praying!!!!!
ABSOLUTELY cannot wait to see Vivi in your arms!!!!!!
Oh My. Just reading your itinerary makes me tired – I'm too close to the experience for comfort just yet. Have a wonderful trip. Take care of yourself.
Wow, you´ve made it!
Very, very soon you will hold your precious child .
And when you look back you can see God was with you! And you can just look forward, cause he won´t leave you. Even in the first days, when it´s not so easy.
I´m still praying for you , it´s just great what you are doing….
I love following your blog! I am a new reader and I have enjoyed reading all your posts! I can't wait to see your china updates and I am happy to know that I am not the only last minute person! Praying for you on your trip.
Blessings,
Melanie
Are you there?????
PRAYING!
Hugs,
Diana
Safe travels!
Waiting to hear you've arrived!!! WooHoo!!!!!
Stephanie – sorry that we'll miss you – we will wave tho….we'll probably leave for Korea on the 20th, then fly to Jinan on the 24th.
Maybe on the 'next trip'? 😉
hugs – aus and co.
Stef
we JUST got back today! Have fun! The island is a nightmare being under construction EVERYWHERE! Be careful as you have to walk in the street. 🙂 I hope to read updates!!!
Kathy T
mom to James since 12/28!
Hoping you're there safe and sound!
Praying!