A VERY Big Day!!

So, the next step of our journey has happened and we are one HUGE step closer to Ellie!!!  As some of you know, since we got matched with our Ellie the next thing we were waiting on from China was something called LOA (letter of acceptance.)  Basically, LOA is the official paper that the Chinese government issues to say we’re definitely going to let you adopt this child.  It’s usually one of the longest waiting periods during the process – some families wait more than 6 months for this step to happen.  Well, since we waited a few months to get matched, we were hoping that this step would be sped up a little, as some of the processing can actually occur before matching.  So, January 3 in China began around noon yesterday for Georgia, and January 3 is Ellie’s birthday!!  It was sad to think that she would spend her birthday without her family, but it’s such a happy thought to know that this is the last she will spend without us!  J  We sent a little party with a cake and a present and some candy for the kids and nannies to her orphanage, but I just wish I could hold her while she blows out the candles and laugh as she rubs cake all over her face like I did with Kate!  Anyway, Kris and I were talking about how much longer it might be before we get LOA, and we decided that I should just go ahead and email our social worker to find out if she had heard anything.  So, yesterday afternoon, I did that.  She immediately emailed back and said she’d spoken with China just a couple of days ago and our case wasn’t even out of translation yet…….  That was a crushing blow.  I was expecting to hear that she didn’t know anything, but hoped it would be soon, but to not even be out of translation???  Who knows how long it could take to be approved from that point!  So, I began redirecting my thoughts to how she might be celebrating her birthday.  A few hours later I got an email from our social worker again that said, “Call me.”  Ummmmm, ok. My heart dropped…..no smiley face?  No explanation mark? No hint of what she might say?  Well, I’ll just tell you that Kris and I haven’t been the family that is calling our social worker for updates every other day.  God has proven over and over again that this is in HIS timing, not ours, so we’ve really been resting in His sovereignty as our excitement builds.  So, the times we’ve actually talked to our social worker have pretty much been the couple of times that she’s given us really big news.  So, with a very heavy heart I called her.  And of course she didn’t answer…..  So, I left a message and then I emailed her back and then I called again.  Not that I’m OCD or anything….  The next 15 minutes was grueling….thoughts raced through my head….did they lose our LOA?  Did something get messed up and now we have to start all over with the paperwork?  Is there a chance we might lose Ellie before we even meet her???  Finally, FINALLY she calls back.  And then she wants to chat about Christmas for crying out loud!!  I’m all, “yea, yea, it was great, yea yea, happy new year and all……now WHASSUP??????”  And she says, “well, I just called to tell you that I’m sitting here with your LOA!!”  Whaaaaa??  And I’m standing there with the phone in my hand going, “did that really just happen????”  I’m crying and jumping up and down and I pretty much didn’t hear a word she said after that.  Then I’m in a hug with my sweet husband, who I’m not sure even knew exactly what was going on at that moment, but could tell something good had happened!  Then Kate is dancing around and singing a song about Ellie!  And that’s how it happened!!  That’s how WE GOT LOA ON ELLIE’S BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!  Whoooooo-hooooooo!!!!  We are going to China!!!  We’re coming as fast as we can sweet baby girl!!!!!  We are looking at about 10 weeks until we hop on the plane now.  :-D  GOD IS AWESOME!!!!!!!!  Here are some pictures of LOA arriving at our house and of us signing.  In full disclosure, the Fed Ex guy actually dropped it off at our door and was back in his truck and halfway through the neighborhood before we realized it, so don’t think I didn’t go running after him barefoot in the rain in my jammies to get him in the picture that marks a milestone in my baby girl’s life!!! 

Psalms 33:20-22 “Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.”

Blessings!!

-allison