Time for this new blogger to get in gear!

This is my first post.  Ever.  It is time to get in gear because we are now just waiting for travel approval to get Meili from China.  We are all excited!  We started on this journey in January of 2012.  We were matched with Meili in May 2013.  Now it is almost time to go get that girl!  I am over the moon excited, nervous, anxious, thrilled, terrified, elated, you name it.  So...if you are reading this you probably know something about our family.  Here's a review...

Andrew (11)

Alex (13)

On the first day of 8th and 6th grade.
Notice Alex's shirt - "I heart my little sister."

All of us at the beach this summer

And now to add our girl in the next few weeks...  A little girl who went from being just a little girl to being our daughter, our sister, a granddaughter, a niece, a great niece, a cousin, and a friend with just the stroke of a pen and a lot of help from God.  So... here she is...Wait for it...wait for it....

Meili Brace

Little Meili!  To be more exact - Mary-Meili Rose Brace, Mary after her Grandmother Mary Lou Brace, and Rose after her Great Aunt Rosezetta Wert.  I could not begin to count how many times I have looked at these pictures.  So we're getting ready to go to China!  Got her suitcase packed with plenty of clothes and toys.  Room just about ready, her furniture arrives Thursday.

We are waiting for "Travel Approval" from China saying that we can go.  Our China visas are applied for and should arrive this week.  Once we have TA, our agency will book a Consulate appointment for us to sign final paperwork and be sworn in as Meili's parents (I think that is what we do there) and then we can book our flights and travel.   Stay tuned!

And, please bear with me as I embark on the unknown world of blogging:)  Here goes!