Skype

We are using Skype with webcams to talk to my parents and Sarah. Yesterday afternoon here, while 4am in China (they couldn't sleep because of jet lag), we talked to them on the webcam and it was a lot of fun! Sarah kept saying, "they're not real" about me and my sisters on webcam because she thought it was a video of us. To prove that we actually were real, she started asking us addition and multiplication problems (which she does not know). I couldn't help but take a bunch of pictures of my Sarah while talking to her. She's my cutie!! Just a few more hours til gotcha!!!! They're coming Chayah!!!!

Sarah smiles for me on the webcam :)

"They're not real..." We are, buddy! We are really talking to you right now!! ;)

This is Sarah jumping on the bed in the background, at 4am after a flight to China. I thought it was really cute how this turned out, and if anyone has seen Steven Curtis Chapman's "Cinderella" performed in concert, it reminded me of that. ;)

The Miracle of Adoption

As I was laying in bed, I started thinking about my parents and Sarah in China. They are in Beijing and it is 5pm on Saturday, Jan. 10th. Suddenly, I realized that in a few hours when Chayah goes to sleep for the night, it will be her last night at the orphanage. Tomorrow (Saturday night, my time- Sunday morning, China time), Chayah will be in my parents arms and reunited with Sarah. After all of the waiting that we have been through, finally, in practically just a few hours, Chayah will finally be with our family! It blows me away to think about this, because, it shows me a glimpse into God's beautiful miracle of adoption! Chayah is now six years old. I do not know what her thoughts on having a family have been her whole life, but I do know that she has watched the babies (Sarah Lu, for example) be adopted, while the older children remain in the orphanage. I do not know how our "gotcha" moment will be, whether it will be hard on everyone or a smooth and easy transition, but I do know that God has placed Chayah in our family. In just a few short hours, all of the waiting will be over and Chayah will be with her mommy annd daddy and mei mei, Sarah! Of course, I still have to wait a little longer until a day coming up at the airport, but Chayah's wait for her family will be over and our wait for Chayah will be completed.

Safe in Beijing

We just got off the phone with my dad. It was a little late (10pm), so they were all sleeping (until my dad woke up) and we're going to try again once it's morning there. We only talked for a moment but they are safe in Beijing and Sarah has done really well with the flight and all the travel in general. I'm so proud of my girl! :)

Landed!

Just a quick post to say that according to the United airlines website, their flight has landed and is now taxiing to the gate in Beijing, China!! They are so close to Chayah now!!! I'll post again as soon as I hear from them!

Take-Off!

I just got off the phone with my parents and Sarah Lu. They are at the airport and were called to board the plane! Sarah was so sweet on the phone!! When they gave the phone to Sarah, I said, "Hi Sarah! Where are you?" (seeing if she would tell me about the airport and what she thought of it) and she said, "I'm on your head!" and then a moment later, "I was just playing a joke on you." Yep, that's my Sarah! She's a silly girl!! I am going to miss her so much for the next two weeks!!! I asked her if she thought the plane was big (cause she could see it out the window) and she said, "No... it's small, they're all small.. But it's actually big!". She was enjoying chocolate milk and a cinnamon bun. :) They're leaving from the same gate that we left in for Sarah's adoption, so I can imagine just what everything looks like. I miss that time, but this is so amazing and I cannot wait until the 24th when both of my sweet mei mei's will be home with me!! I made them promise that they would write to me as soon as they could in Beijing, so until then, they're flying on their way! :)

And it begins...

1/7: My parents and Sarah Lu leave home to stay near the airport.
1/8: Flying to Beijing!
1/9: Arrive in Beijing
1/10: Free day in Beijing
1/11: GOTCHA DAY!!!!!!!!!!! Receive Chayah at her orphanage in Langfang. Drive to the capital city of Hebei, Shijiazhuang. Stay there overnight.
1/12: Adoption Day! Drive back to Langfang to apply for Chayah's passport.
1/13-16: In Beijing.
1/17: Fly from Beijing to Guangzhou.
1/18: Free time on Shamian Island.
1/19: Chayah's visa physical and photo.
1/20: Consulate Appointment.
1/21: Go to the US Consulate to take the oath.
1/22: Depart Guangzhou for Hong Kong.
1/23: Free day in Hong Kong.
1/24: Flight home!!!!! I finally get my Chayah!!!!!!!!!!! :)

I'll be posting on this blog- When Love Takes You In- as much as possible, hopefully at least once a day. Although I am not going on the trip, I will post emails and photos that my parents send to me. I cannot even believe that this is finally happening! It seems very surreal that after all of this waiting, my parents and Sarah will actually board a plane tomorrow and not too long after, be IN China! And just a few days later, have Chayah in their arms!!!! And then... she will be HOME!!! Our God truly is an awesome God!!!!

Five Days!

Even more new pictures of Chayah! She is so adorable!!

Only five more days until my parents and Sarah leave for China! Wow!!!! I can't wait until she is home! But for now, I'm off to help with the packing. :)