Awesome Things!

"…you did awesome things that we did not expect…"

Isaiah 64:3

Travel Approval – the formal invitation from the Chinese government to come to their country.  This is the final piece we need before we can make our travel plans to bring home our baby.

It came today…eeeeeeeeeeeeeee!  We knew we were getting close, so the past week and a half the whole family would dive towards the closest called I.D. to see if it was our adoption agency calling with the good news.  We are looking at a possible departure date of  November 28^th.  Less than 3 weeks!

 Our close friend Noreen was also waiting on Travel Approval.  This time however, she’s not the one adopting, but she’s traveling along with her friend to China to be a second pair of hands, while her friend’s husband and 2 children wait at home.  Wouldn’t it be amazing for Jim and I to wind up in China at the same time as our dear friend Noreen?

This morning during a bible reading and prayer time with the kids, we prayed (like we have been every day for the past few weeks!) that today would be the day to get the “Travel Approval Phone Call.”  In fact we prayed that not only would we get the good news today, but that Noreen and friend would get their Travel Approval today too.  In fact, we prayed that we would get the phone call and Noreen would get the phone call while she was at our house today tutoring Anna.  And somewhere in there Christian had added, “Wouldn’t it be cool if today Daddy got the promotion that he applied for too?”

A few hours later…

Noreen takes a phone call on her cell.  They have Travel Approval.

A few hours pass.  No phone call for us.  Tutoring is over.  Noreen joins our family for soup before going home.

We joke that she can not leave until we get our Travel Approval because that is what we had prayed for.  Jim tells her that the kids let the air out of her tires.  I tell her that I had siphoned the gas out of her car.  The soup is gone.  Jim, with coat on, in the garage, is heading towards the car for an afternoon appointment.  My cell phone rings.  Mia’s been babysitting the phone, so she gets to if first then announces, “It’s Tiffany!”  Jim hears phone, steps back inside.  I get the good news.  Noreen and I both cry.  We all pray.  We let Noreen go home.

Jim and I, as well as Noreen & friend will be making travel arrangements over the next week or so.  It’s looking like a real possibility we will be traveling over the same dates – both groups starting in Beijing and ending in Guanzhou. Wouldn’t that be amazing to share this experience together in China?

A few hours later...  I’m still texting and emailing friends and family with the great news.  My cell phone rings.  Christian gets to it first and announces, “It’s Daddy.” I am handed phone.  Husband tells me he got the promotion.”  We pray a prayer of thanksgiving.  How much good news can one family take in one day?!

Thank you Lord.  You did awesome things that we did not expect.

Celebrating at Tsukasa.  Our days of dining as a family of 5 are numbered.