Wal-Mart and Taiyuan

This Wal-Mart was more crowded than the Waycross Wal-Mart the Saturday before Christmas. You could hear American 70's music playing in the background. I know the people thought I was crazy going through the store taking pictures. How about some Mother's Korean Barbecue Dried Beef cubes?

Would you eat anything with a nose like that?

Doormat for Sale in Wal-Mart

This is a typical sidewalk scene in Taiyuan.

People and Olympics

If you come to the Great Wall in tourist season, be prepared to fight crowds, really push through a sea of people. Can you count all the heads in the photo? Can you imagine there were that many people up and down every hill and mountain on the Great Wall at Badaling?

Bird's Nest--Olympic Stadium

Olympic Aquatic Center

Olympic Tennis Center

This picture's for you Caleb.

More Pictures from our Tour Day

Robbie and Bobbie on the rickshaw--The smell was less than pleasant, a sewage smell a lot. Last time, I guess the sewage was frozen, because I don't quite remember the overwhelming odor.

Who says a 4 year old won't enjoy China?

This is where Mulan saved the Emperor. Well, they weren't refurshing the place at the time.

See why we brought Aunt Bobbie to China!

I love the signs in China. This one was at the acrobatic show.

This one was in the line at the Forbidden City.

Our Life in China

Somebody will have to email me and tell me if you can read this. I can access the page where I post to blogspot, but I can't see the MeiMeiMakesFour page. I decided to post some extra pictures here so I could save the 5 I'm allowed on Journey to Me for Ellie pictures.

Rick, here's an editing assignment for the students. See if they can figure out how many things are wrong with this shirt.

Stan found Chinese food he liked. We found Chinese food in China, and it was good!! We paid less than $16 American dollars for more fried rice and Pork with Pineapple and Sweet and Sour sauce than we could all eat. The rice was "different" but it was really good. It has some kind of lettuce in it, so Stan wouldn't eat it. Bobbie and I tried chopsticks and were somewhat successful.

We went to this supermarket last night. Today we read the sign. There's a little tiny corner of the sign that says, "IGA." Would you think that...IGA in Beijing. Somebody tell Peggy Wall.

Leaving Tomorrow

Thank you, everyone, for all of your prayers and support. Our clothes are packed, and we'll soon be on our way.

Because Blogspot pictures are sometimes blocked by filters, we are going to use a different site for our travels.

Follow along at www.journeytome.com
Click Adoption Stories, and then search for Ellie MinChun.

Please pray for our health and safety, while remembering to pray that the LORD prepare Ellie's heart for her name family.

Praising the LORD!
Robbie

I797 and Itinerary All in One Day

Praise the LORD! It's been a banner day!
This morning, during planning, I called senators' offices again, emailed our SW, made the rounds. Everyone promised they were checking.

Around 11:15, I was getting ready to pass out homework when I felt this peace from nowhere, a noticeable peace. I stopped what I was doing long enough to make a mental note and speak to the LORD, "Everything will work out.'

In less than 2 minutes my cell phone rang. The USCIS officer had contacted our international adoption assistant at Bethany in Atlanta. She would be allowed to pick up our renewed 797. So, Courtney picked it up, and she has overnighted it to us!! Praise the LORD!!!

We have our itinerary. We're leaving October 9th, landing October 10th, meeting Ellie "unofficially" October 11th, touring Beijing, until the 14th. We meet Ellie October 15th, one day after my birthday. Then on the 10th, it's off the Guangzhou and the White Swan. We'll finish adoption work and then on the 24th, we'll visit Josie-Tatum's SWI and the town surrounding it.
On the 25th, it's back home to complete our family!

Thank you, thank you for your prayers.

Still No I797

I've called the senators' offices more times that I ever could have imagined. I've never been one to "bug" somebody, but I've done some serious bugging.

I swing from peaceful to anxious several times a day. Yesterday, after multiple phone calls, I finally heard something from both senators' offices. The orphan office as USCIS, we were told, is aware of our case and the need to expedite matters. Once our fingerprint reports are in the computer, she will complete our I797. She will even allow us to pick it up if this is not done in time to receive it in the mail.

Well, today is Tuesday, and no news of a complete 797 today. There are only 3 more business days. Please pray that we get this important document.

Robbie

Many Prayers On Monday

We're going to be fingerprinted tomorrow, Saturday, morning. We're getting up at 4 a.m. to leave at 5 a.m. to go to Atlanta. We'll do a little shopping after being fingerprinted and come home very exhuasted Saturday night.

Monday's the day to be offering up many prayers. Our agency, along with both senators and our congressman, have requested that our new I797 be mailed Monday, October 1, to ensure we get it in our hands before we leave for China. Pray, pray, pray!!!!

And, tonight's a big football night in Pierce County. I'm going to yell and yell, let out some nervous energy, cheer on Caleb's best friend, Brandon, aka my blonde headed son.
Go Bears!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Praise and Prayers

Thank you, Jesus, for this trial as we await our fingeprints and our renewed 797.

For, without our TA, we would have not trial.

Thank you, Jesus, for our TA. Thank you that I can cast all my cares on you, for your care for me. Thank you for the peace that passes understanding. Thank you for the body of Christ, the saints who are praying. Thank you for those who have taken time to tell me their stories, the paths around a similar problem.

My Redeemer is Faithful and True!

We need a miracle.

I'm so tired of Satan. After our record wait for TA and LOA, we're having problems with the ATlanta office of USCIS. Does anyone know how I might call the president?

Short story:Pray the LORD speaks to the heart of someone who has the power to intervene, that the power Chrsit gives us can tear down this stronghold.

Long Story:Our fingerprints expire Oct 1. We applied for re-fingerprinting many weeks ago. We finally received appointment for Septmeber 29, only 10 days before we leave for China. That's cutting it close to be able to process and receive our new 171/797 before travel.
In addition: We did not receive a fingerprint appt for our daughter, Whitney age 19.
OUr agency has called on our behalf. Our senator has called on our behalf. Our congressman has called on our behalf.We are told, the appointments have been scheduled, and the orhpan officer is out of the office this week....so no one else can reschedule them?Well, our appts are later than we need them, and, if they are scheduled, where is Whitney's? No one else can find out if Whitney's were scheduled? Was her appt mailed? Was it lost in the mail?
We've been on the phone and faxing congressman for over a week, talking with them everyday.
We need earlier appts, we need WHitney's appt, and we need our new 797!

Please help us pray. My God parted the Red Sea. Please pray he parts these troubled waters and we cross the other side on dry ground.

Thank you, all of you, for your prayers and support during the long, difficult journey to our precious Ellie!
May God receive all glory and honor!Robbie

TA!!!!!!!!!! TA!!!!!!!!!!! Praise the LORD!!!!!! TA!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my goodness, I didn't know how good it was going to feel to post those letters.

Just around lunch time our social worker called. We have TA. We leave on October 9th and return on October 25.

There's been so much to do today. We've been looking at flight schedules/plans/rates. OH my! May our Jesus provide.

Please pray, too, for our fingerprint appointments. Our fingerprints are expiring. We've been waiting on our appt to drive all the way to Atlanta. It finally came today. The appt is for Sep 29, only 10 days before we leave for China......After the appt, though, there must be time for the fingerprints to be processed, a new I797 to be issued and mailed to us. We've been on the phone and faxing congressman. We're praying for an earlier appt this weekend. Not to mention, we didn't receive an appt for Whitney. She has to be fingerprinted, too. We sent the requests for all 3 of us at the same time.

I know old Slew Foot wants my joy! Well, I'm going to sing and shout and praise the LORD!!! Please join me.

We're going to China, we're going to CHina, we're going to China!

Hip, hip, hooray!

Robbie

Still Waiting for TA

I have truly been resting in the goodness of God. We still wait for our TA, but I know it can't be much longer. It's been over 3 weeks since our LOA, and most TA's come in 4 weeks or less. Surely, it's coming soon.

I see that many of you are checking, and I can't thank you enough for your thoughts, prayers, and encouragement. Hey, my friend Debbie, thanks for that good old hug in the car line at BES!

We are hopeful for October travel. Others with our agency have been told our TA is expected soon and October travel is likely. It may cost more with holidays and the trade fair in Guangzhou, but we'll trust our MIGHTY GOD to meet our needs! We are ready to get our baby.

Blessings to all of you and goodnight!
Robbie

Good News From a Far Country X2

In my distress I cried unto the LORD and he heard me.

This morning, I received these beautiful pictures of Ellie Chun Chun. About a 1/2 weeks ago, I sent 2 outfits to Ellie, summer clothes I knew she would not be able to wear now that summer is almost gone. So, her guardian angel gave her the clothes and took her picture, and sent me pictures.

And, you know what? I knew she was a little petite. But, those pants are supposed to be capris. It looks like she'll be wearing all those clothes I bought for her next spring anyway!

But, the best news!!!!!!!!! The best news!!!!!!!!!!! Are you ready???????????????????????????
Pictures this morning, and this afternoon
LOA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our LOA arrived at our agency today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please excuse the overuse of punctuation, but can you hear me shouting? I was at school when I received the email, and I clapped my hands, and stamped by feet, and shouted, "Woo Hoo!" My students thought I saw a rat. LOL

Oh, happy day! Thank you, thank you, all of you for your prayers.

Now, in about 6 weeks we're going to China. We have to wait now on our TA, Travel Approval. Let's pray for speedy TA. Then we'll have our exact dates.

Look out Ellie, your mama is coming. She has been waiting for you a long time, and she's going to smother you with hugs and kisses.

O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.

News of Ellie and Now with Pictures!

No news for our LOA, but I did hear from Ellie's guardian angel.

I thought I'd share the message I received tonight. It brought comfort to picture Ellie being cared for so well.

"I just got back the day before yesterday and spent yesterday afternoon at Ellie's foster home. Ellie is doing really well. Her hair has grown out so she has two pigtails. She is really, really cute! One of the first things she said to me was "I'm going to America!" Poor dear! I thought for sure she'd leave while I was gone, but several more children have left before her. Nevertheless, she is in good spirit. Praise the Lord! Her nanny Mali is very patient and loving with her. Yesterday at the playground, Ellie went up and down a curved ladder that lead up to a rather steep and high slide. She didn't want to be picked up and put on the slide, but insisted to climb each rung by herself. Even though it was difficult to lift her little leg way high (the rungs were very far apart), she persisted with vigor. Her little feet kept slipping off the rung. So, Mali and I helped her to keep her feet on the rungs. When she got on top of the slide, she was proud and happy with her accomplishment, and slided down the slide without fear. Ellie is also talking alot. When I saw her helping push our 4 month old baby "Hong Hong" on the little rocker, all the while singing "Yao ya, Yao hui jia..." (rocking, rocking homeward..." she looked so adorable that I made a mental note to be sure to tell you. I will get some photos of Ellie today and send them to you soon. Take care and God bless you! It is very hard to wait, for you, for Ellie, for us... and God is waiting too."

Pleae keep praying for us, for our LOA, for Ellie,
Robbie

Mournful

I pray the LORD will forgive me for my thoughts and feelings today.
It's raining outstide, the skies are gray, and my heart is a mirror of the weather.

Today is my last official day of summer. I go back to work on Monday. When we were matched with our Ellie, Dang Min Chun, on Dec. 4th, I never dreamed August would be here and our Ellie would not be here.

None of this is normal. Our homestudy took longer than it should. Our 171 took longer than average. Then other things held up our dossier going to China. Once logged in on Feb. 26th, the expected time frame for travel was 3-5 months. It's been over 5 months and we still don't have LOA. When LOA comes we have to wait on TA. When TA comes, we have to wait to travel. Our agency sometimes has people wait 4 weeks from TA to travel. It's looking like our wait from LID to travel could be 8 months!!!

I'm tired.
I'm sad. I have a closest full of summer clothes for our Ellie, an entire wardrobe of clothes she may never be able to wear. Several of her outfits match ones I bought for Josie-Tatum, even 2 matching bathing suits. I had such visions of our girls in those precious suits. I had visions of them in their matching lady bug suits. It's hard when you lose your vision.

My baby girl is growing older and changing everyday, and I don't get to watch it. She is cared for and loved where she is, but my heart hurts that we are not with her to care for and love her.

My head knows our Savior loves her more than I do. I know he only does what is best for all of us, but my heart can't feel that today. I only feel such disappointment. I want to cry and cry all day, but the tears won't come. I guess I could go stand in the rain and pretend those are my tears flowing down my face.

Please pray for me,
Robbie