prayers please

It's been awhile since our last post. For those who haven't heard, we have our tickets to leave for China on May 14. We have been busy thinking about packing and having informational calls with our agency. We are anxiously awaiting our May 18 Gottcha Day!

HOWEVER, yesterday the CCAA issued a statement concerning travel and the swine flu. The statement does not prohibit travel but requires agencies to advise their families to consider postponing their trips because of the concern for public health. Following this advice, Holt recommends that all families currently scheduled for travel seriously consider the possible risks of travel during this flu outbreak.

Please keep us in your prayers as we make decisions about our travel. We know that God is in ultimate control and has things covered. He is bigger than the swine flu!

Travel Dates!

On Friday we heard from Holt regarding when we are supposed to arrive in China. The tentative schedule is listed below. We are working with a travel agency, Lotus Travel, to book our flights to and from China. We are thinking about arriving a day or two early to adjust to the time change and maybe even do some sight seeing. We'd like to see the Great Wall if possible. Get ready Zachary, we'll be there soon for ya. We'll meet face to face 5 weeks from today!

Beijing arrival	16 May
Holt orientation	17 May
Date to province: Gottcha! Day	18 May
Province destination	Taiyuan
Guangzhou Arrival	22 May
U.S. consulate visa appointment	26 May
Visa issued	27 May
First recommended U.S. return date	28 May

Dad was invited to this shower!

Dad (that sounds sooo strange) got to experience what happens at baby showers---the fam got together on Easter to spoil Zach with more fun stuff!

More fun stuff.....

Nancy's friends from Younker Rehab also had a shower last week.
Looks like we will be trying out hiking sometime soon! How much does Zach way again???!!! We better be lifting weights!

Zachary's showers.....

Over the last few weeks we've been showered with gifts for Zachary. I'm not sure who's gonna like this dump truck more...Zachary or Dad!

We got our travel approval!

We just got word today that we have travel approval for China. Our travel dates, which depend on the visa appointment schedule at the U.S. Consulate and the schedules of Chinese adoption officials, will be available early next week. Our agency tells us to expect to arrive in Beijing by mid May, but we will not know the exact dates until we receive confirmations for all the necessary appointments.

Over the past month, we have been reading up on attachment, arranging to get the yard fenced in, and organizing the house. We think that God is preparing us for some sleepless nights, as we are having a hard time sleeping lately. Just excitement all around! My memory is going downhill too; my pregnant friends tell me that this comes with pregnancy and being a mom!

We have our first "toddler shower" for Zachary this weekend back in Charter Oak. Can't wait to see all the fun stuff Zachary gets.

We will keep you posted when we have our travel dates.....