We are DTC!!

I received an e-mail from AAI today that our dossier is off to China. We are DTC (dossier to China)!!!! We should be LID (log in date) in a few weeks! Once we are LID, the clock starts ticking for us to wait for China to give us our LOA (letter of acceptance). I am apologize to you folks that are familiar with these terms but I like to keep my extended family who have not adopted before up on what all the terms mean. As you might imagine we are extremely excited!

We also received pictures of Abigail opening her birthday gifts that we sent her so I am including a couple of them. I try never to forget how blessed we are that she is where she is and we have the ability to receive updates and pictures frequently.

The other highlight of my week was that John Anthony e-mailed me to say that he might be able to meet up with me while I am in California in December. This news puts a whole new spin on the trip as I would just LOVE to see my eldest and firstborn child again soon! Since I am thinking of him, I thought I would include a picture of him even though it is not "hot off the camera". The beautiful dog is Smokey. Smokey has been with him since he was a puppy and John lived at home with us. Smokey was orphaned very young and and is very much loved by John and Melissa.

We left for Blacksburg, VA on Tuesday (me, John and Shane). I had never been there and found it to be lovely. We stayed at the Virginia Tech Inn Conference Center and it was quite nice. Shane and John had an enjoyable time while I worked the conference and all in all it was a good trip. We returned home last night (Thursday). Shane was wanting to come home the first night. He loves home and it is going to be a long trip to China as when we are on vacation he asks every day to go home. He has a great time but at the end of the day he wants his bed.

More to come later!