Waiting for TA and Travel to China

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James 1:17

We kept ourselves busy checking out the New Day web-site searching for pictures, old and new of Shane as we waited to receive permission to travel to China from the CCAA. One day at work, I received an e-mail from Jenny. Jenny and her husband were also adopting a child from China and they would be traveling with us. Jenny and I exchanged e-mails and several phone calls as we anxiously awaited to travel. It was very comforting to have another mother to talk with and to share my anxieties with!

We sent Shane a care package in August which included a family photo album, a musical toy and a blanket. Karen at New Day sent me several pictures and the one you see was my favorite. The call came on September 21, 2006! We had permission to travel! Shane turned 18 months on the day we received the call. The bags were packed and we waited for our travel arrangements to be made by Living Hope. John and I drove to Richmond on October 22, 2006 and flew out of the Richmond airport on Monday, October 23rd for our trip to Beijing. Daron and Jenny joined us Newark, NJ and we spent the rest of our adoption trip with them and Helen. We will always be thankful for their friendship and all the help they provided us during our trip.

Shane was waiting for us in the Beijing airport. We were hoping to be able to pick him up at New Day and travel with him to Inner Mongolia but our flight to Inner Mongolia was only 4 hours after our arrival in Beijing so it was arranged for us to receive him at the airport. Anyone who has adopted a child or has given birth to a child knows what a BIG moment it is when you see your child in person for the first time. Words can not describe it so I won't attempt them. Shane transitioned very easily and started bonding with me exclusively. He never cried except when he was pulled off of my hip for picture taking, medical exams, etc. We spent 7 days in Hohhot. We toured the grasslands and a factory, visited a park, etc. The weather pretty cold and we took bundled Shane up each day to take him for strolls. The other picture was taken by Jenny in their hotel room and we e-mailed it home for family and friends.