It's been a busy couple of weeks as we try to redo some of the adoption paperwork that's set to expire, begin to think--and slowly gather--some of the items that we'll need for the trip and paint and clean out every square inch of the house in preparation for Caroline's arrival. The last task is a self-inflicted--and probably an unnecessary--torture as Darrin often reminds me. It's madness I also imposed on myself before Drew was born. I think they call it nesting and I've got it bad this time around.

To bring everyone up to date. Our paperwork is all on track. Our homestudy has been updated, we've been refingerprinted (No. 3 for Darrin and No. 5 for me--we must just have that criminal look about us) and our Passport with Visa is on its way from Houston. The biggest news of the week: we received approval from China to enter the country, received our consulate apppointment and booked our flights. We'll be gone for 15 days and Drew will be staying with a combination of brave family members.

Here's our itinerary:
Feb. 9: Leave Orlando at 7:30 a.m. (should be interesting for us nightowls)
Feb. 10: Arrive in Beijing at 3 p.m.
Feb. 11: Beijing tour: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and Summer Palace
Feb. 12: Church service, Great Wall and duck dinner
Feb. 13: Fly to Wuhan (capital of Hubei) to meet Caroline for the first time!!!
Feb. 14: Valentine's Day in China! Civil Affairs and Notary appointments (these are similar to judges in the U.S.)
Feb. 15-17: shopping, sight-seeing and the flight to Guangzhou
Feb. 18: Caroline's medical exam
Feb. 19: Paperwork
Feb. 20: More paperwork
Feb. 21: Consulate appointment
Feb. 22: Pick up Caroline's visa
Feb. 23: Flight from Guangzhou to Hong Kong and more sight-seeing
Feb. 24: Flight from China to U.S.--arriving at Orlando at 7:15 p.m.

We are so grateful for those of you who have come alongside of us in our journey in so many ways. It's been awesome to know that others have been thinking about this little girl before her tiny feet even touch U.S. soil. Please continue to pray for the following: that Rhonda's mom would continue to improve and feel strong enough to make the trip to meet her first granddaughter upon our return, that the remainder of our funds would come together, that Rhonda can meet her writing deadlines, that Drew would not stress about 2 weeks without us (and us without him) and that Caroline would take to us like she's always been a part of us. Mighty big prayers, huh? But God has been faithful every step of this crazy journey and so we expect no less as it nears the end..or beginning, depending on how you look at it.