So What's Next?

On monday we received our Article 5 notice!!!!!!!!

Timeline straight from CCAI:

1.5-3 Weeks - CCCWA will issue Travel Approval (TA)

1-5 Business Days After TA - Once CCAI receives confirmation, we will have set travel dates.  Travel plans will be finalized with CCAI staff and local Chinese government offices.

10-21 Days After TA - Travel to China!  We will receive our day-to-day travel itinerary 5-7 days prior to actual departure.

Brandy - Best case: we leave around December 10 and get back around Christmas Eve. Worst case: we leave at the end of December and come back after the New Year. Still praying hard for an early travel date! Our nerves are seriously on edge now! So much to do to get ready to go. We got our travel agent on go for when we get our dates, so that is a start! My heart is pounding so fast right now just thinking about meeting Jack! It's happening people! 

To tide you over, here are some pictures of Jack's room!

Article 5 Countdown

Right now, we are anxiously awaiting our Article 5.  We even decided last night to get the suitcases down from the attic.  What is an article 5?  We're not really sure either, but when we get it, we should get a travel approval (TA) within 1.5 to 3 weeks.  We were told to expect the Article 5 in two weeks, and we are on day 12.  Jack coming home is truly reality now. We're getting his room finished up, got his clothes hanging in his closet ready to be worn and toys ready to be played with.  Last night, I assembled his stroller, car seat, and Ninja Turtles Big Wheel.  I was most nervous installing the decals on the Big Wheel.  I meticulously placed every one on there trying my best not to get any wrinkles in the stickers.  Jack's dad makes a living making decals.  If his Big Wheel isn't the coolest on the block, we have a problem.  I wanted so bad to "test drive" it for him, but it said on the bottom, "Kids Only".  How bad would it be if I broke one of his toys before he got to come home and see them?


We are pleading with everyone to please pray for a few specific things:

Please pray for Jack at this time. Pray that he is being prepared by his caregiver to meet his forever family. This is going to be hard on him. We are already so in love with him however he doesn't know us. How scary for a child. Pray for us to have patience with him. Because Lord knows all we want to do is hug and kiss him, however they may not be what he needs at first from us. Hopefully we can bond while we are in China and gain his trust. God is so good and He receives ALL the glory! No matter what! 

We checked pricing to travel at the beginning of December and the middle of December, the price difference is about $2500.00 to fly later in the month! God can make anything happen so send up a prayer that the paperwork goes through and the travel dates come back to where we leave at the beginning of the month! I truly believe that if we pray loud enough, often enough and all in one voice, God can make this happen! As a family in Christ and in His name we pray!!! 

While going through our own adoption we have met so many sweet families.  This past Saturday, Brandy got to help Jason and Haley Bush with their yard sale to help bring home their son, Max.  It's so awesome to be a part of this adoption community.  All of the adoptive parents we have met have been super awesome.

Below, is a video Brandy shared about the orphanages run by our adoption agency, CCAI.  These are the people helping us bring Jack home, and these orphanages look very similar to the ones he has been in.

Post by Paul Adoption.

October Update Roundup 2014

October Update Roundup

All posts by Brandy Paul

October 1

We are so excited! We just sent off our I-800 (Jack's immigration) to be approved! The excitement and nervousness of getting our son home is setting in quickly! It is now reality that we will be able to touch our sweet Jack SOON! Two years is a very long time to wait for a child however I know God is perfect in His timing. So I trust Him fully! THANK YOU all for your encouragement and prayers! I don't think that I will ever really be able to express to each one of you how much it has meant to us! 

October 3

Things are happening fast. Got an email telling us what to expect during the "travel part" of the wait. We are actually talking and preparing to travel! Can't believe we are so close to getting our son! Hopefully Jack's immigration (I-800) will go smoothly so it won't hold the timeline up any. If things go as they should we will be in China mid-late December. How about that for a Christmas gift!  

October 7

Post by Paul Adoption.

Perry's Results:
It was close! Rite under 33 min! The spaghetti and meatballs at Scotty's Pizza in St. Francisville last night had me in a bind through the whole race. I stayed in the woods for a combined time of at least 5min -cleansing my body- of what I thought was some awesome sketti sauce! Either way I ain't "got" to wash anyone's ride! "But who knows what's liable to happen!"I wanna Thank everyone for helping me raise a little money for my friends! Y'all are AWSOME!

October 10

Update on what has been going on since we receive our LOA. TONS of emails with paper work that needs to be sent off and check writing! Getting visas in order, Jack immigration done, travel info started and paying those who get all of this going! THIS IS STRESSFUL! Prolly the most stress from the start of this journey. For me. personally, not only the stress of getting all of this done in a timely manner but also becoming a Mother. Knowing that my life will change and I will be raising a little boy to become (hopefully) a God fearing man. Emotions are running high over here! LOL

On a side note; I need to brag on my husband for a moment because he has truly been wonderful. He is the one handling mailing and getting everything notarize. AND he has been beyond patient with my mood swings! T.J., if you don't him personally, is one of a kind and is such a Godly man. I am blessed beyond words. Jack is so lucky to have such a Daddy!

Thank you all, again and again, for everything! For the support, encouragement and prayers! There is no way of expressing what it all means to us! Hopefully when you see Jack in our arms finally you know what it truly meant. And how big our God really is! Love you all! 

October 23
We received an update on sweet Jack! Here are some fun facts about him: He likes to eat. A LOT! Jack is talkative. I told TJ that he will fit right in with this family for sure! He did receive our care packages! Yay!!  He is in good health, development is normal and can walk, run and jump! His height is right under 40", weight 39.6 lbs and shoe size 8.5/9 toddler! The perfect size for a 4 year old! This update has made this Mommy very happy! 

Oh and one little minor thing I forgot to mention in Jack's update: WE RECEIVED HIS IMMIGRATION APPROVAL TODAY TOO!!!!!

So many blessing! And this morning I thought today was going to be an EH day! 
Brandy

October 28

We are still just filling out paper work and paying the fees as they come at us. This weeks big project is to get Jack's paper work in order. It's about 30+ pages of reading, filing in the blanks and signing. At this point we are robots doing as we are told just to get him home! LOL

Going through this journey we have met several people on the same path. Just listening to them go through the same emotions and joys as we did reminds me just how amazing this has all been. It's funny to think about how a little over 2 years ago T.J and I sat down (after 2 years of praying) to fill out the very first form. I still remember T.J turning to me after church and saying "We have a child out there waiting on us. Let's get them home." So thankful everyday for God's grace and a husband who is my partner throughout it all!