Since this was my second time in the adoptwaiting process I thought the waiting would be easier. I thought I might be better at it. I was wrong. As this week started we were waiting for TA aka travel approval. So Monday started as any Monday does when your adoptwaiting,with the hope of news that your case is moving closer to the finish line. Soon into Monday I leanred that the computer system in China wasn't working so there would be no travel approvals. I was disappointed but there was a hint of hope because well Tuesday is coming and there is renewed hope that today is the day you get the news that your case is moving closer to the finish line.
Facebook is complicated. But if you are adoptwaiting and waiting for news well then Facebook is a virtual land mine waiting to happen. Because with so many adoptwaiting people gathered in one place it's bound to happen. Some people get good news, some people get not so good news but it is at least news and some people get no news. This was me on Tuesday. With every post of people getting travel approval and I wasn't hearing anything I let other news steal away my peace one post at a time. To the point where I was desperate for news of any kind. So desperate, in fact I was willing to push and try to make it happen. That always makes me laugh when I think about it later as if I could actually make anything with my adoptwaiitng process happen. But in the heat of the moment I was desperate. I was speaking with a friend who reminded me did I want this process to be about me or did I want show God's faithfulness. It stopped me dead in tracks. Of course I did not want this process to be about me. I wanted it reflect God's amazing handiwork and knitting together of a story in a way that only God could accomplish, not what Tracy could accomplish.
That Tuesday night I got a message that a family with our agency had gotten travel approval! I was happy for them. But at the same time I let it eat away at my peace and I started to worry. We had not heard anything! The minutes seemed like hours. I was certain if we did not hear by 10 p.m. We wouldn't hear anything. Not sure why I picked 10 p.m but I did. When I thought I could not take it anymore I sent an email to see if there was any news. Nothing. I was texting with another adoptwaiting mom when she said "We got travel approval check your email" I did and there it was, an email from our agency saying we had been approved to travel to China! They did not have any dates yet but they hope to talk to us tommorrow. I got that email at 10:09 p.m. so much for my thinking news doesn't come after 10 p.m. :)
Wednesday I got the call from our agency about dates when we could travel. Originally we had been told that it looked good for us to travel and get Mabel at the end of June. Of course with adoptwaiting all plans are made in pencil cause change is inevitable. So when our agency called, they told me how Mabel's orphanage was new to international adoption and we could not get her until July 13. At first, I was discouraged because we thought we would be going in a couple of weeks. I remembered of course that it doesn't matter when we go, Mabel is coming home!
We are so excited to see the finish line!! Mabel will be coming home! We will be getting Mabel on July 13. Our U.S. embassy appointment will be July 21. On July 24 we come home and start life as a family of 5.
We would love your prayers as we continue to prepare, and finalize the last details. We would also love your prayers for us and for Mabel as we get ready for this huge transition. There are still puzzle pieces left if you would like to be a part helping us bring Mabel home. If you want to read more about why we are selling puzzle pieces click here. So thankful for all of you who are sharing in our journey!
