We have PA!!!

After spending all Sunday afternoon crying that we didn't have PA, and couldn't do anything without it, it came today!! And, we didn't miss a day because our dossier still had to be sent to Washington, DC. So, now we're ready. On, Tuesday, our agency emailed us and said that the CCAA said it would be 2-3 weeks before we heard anything. I have been praying diligently for a miracle the past few days. I even told God that I didn't know how it would come faster but I believed that He would work it out. And boy, did he! I am overwhelmed with thanksgiving today!

Waiting for PA

These are some verses that I am going to post all around my house and I'll tell you why: Our dossier is complete. Our I-171H form came in the mail on Friday. I was elated- I made the copies, had them notorized, and took them to the Secretary of State on a very messy, rainy day. I then overnighted it to our agency-all in one day. On Sunday, I was told that we could not send in our dossier without PA. PA is preapproval granted by the CCAA in China. I thought we would have it by now and didn't realize that we had to have it before we mailed in our dossier. But we do. I cried all Sunday afternoon- like a baby. But, I am going to have faith that it comes VERY soon- today? And I am still praying for a quick travel approval. Now, here they are:

I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13
They should always pray and not give up. Luke 18:1
What is impossible with men is possible with God. Luke 18:27
For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55: 8-9

Still Waiting

I was hoping that my next post would be that we have our I-171 form. But it's not. It's to say that we're still waiting. I was really, really hoping that DSS would be a little faster. Nope. But, I have great hopes that we will still be getting our form this week and that we will be DTC by next week. That will be a wonderful day! Today I sent a small package to a family that will be traveling to Cate's orphanage. They will be leaving next week. We sent her a small baby doll, some gum to share with her friends, some pictures of our family, and a card. I told her that we love her and can't wait to meet her. I wonder if that will sound strange to her or if she will even understand that there is this family telling her they love her. But it is so true and I wish that she could understand how hard we are trying to get to her.

Disney Cruise

Chilling out with Chip and Dale.

Pressley had as much as he could take at Castaway Cay today and fell asleep while we were waiting for dinner.

Rion, Sophie and Pressley with Minnie on Castaway Cay. It was a beautiful day, and they were able to snorkel and just enjoy playing in the water in February!

Sophie, Pressley and Rion posing with Captain Jack Sparrow on the Disney Cruise. Do they look tough?

We're at DSS!

Our home study that is. It made it! Please pray that it gets moved quickly through DSS and CIS. I have great hopes of traveling for Cate in June. That's my prayer. George came home from the hospital on Tuesday and we are very thankful. He still has a chest tube but I hope that when that comes out next Tuesday he will be more comfortable. We really miss our George, and are ready for him to feel better. Today, Sharon, who is the director at our home study agency, left me a message on my phone and she ended by saying, It is so great to see your determination and hope because when you were waiting domestically it was more fear and uncertainty. She was exactly right, and it doesn't compare to the joy of knowing that we are following God's plan for our life.

Just rambling

I don't have too to report about our journey to Cate. We are waiting on our DSS child abuse clearance, and our home study will be ready to go to DSS. After DSS reviews it, they will send it to the USCIS office. When they are done, they will send us our I-171 H form which is the very last thing we need to make our dossier complete. I am so ready to know that our dossier is in China, waiting for travel approval. Please pray for us that everything goes smoothly AND quickly! Speaking of praying, we have been praying for George really hard. Praying that his lung and heart are healed and that he can come home from the hospital soon. He has been there too long, and I know he is feeling down. His biopsy came back negative, and for that we are so thankful! Please keep him in your prayers. For those that don't know, George is my stepfather, but I leave out the step, because he is my father. He is the one who has raised me and been there for us through thick and thin. And he is absolutely the best grandfather in the world. He would do anything for us. I'm going to learn how to post pictures soon, because I have some of our Disney Cruise this past weekend. We had a really nice time, and the weather was beautiful! It is so neat to think that maybe by our next vacation, Cate will be with us too!