Saturday, September 28, 2013

Room almost ready...Leave for China on October 10th!

We are getting closer and closer to getting our girl.  Plane tickets bought and we leave on Thursday, October 10th for China!!  We'll fly into Beijing and stay there for two days before taking the Bullet Train to Meili's province.  "Gotcha Day" (the day we meet Meili), will be October 14th.  Return home to Lexington, SC, on October 26th...

Need to put some finishing touches on her room but it is getting there....


Dad and Alex are putting it all together...

Meili's Room

Love the sweet kitty and dreamlite from great friends...
Hope our girl will sleep well in this bed!
Purple trunk - love it.  Thanks Krista!
Every girl needs a full length mirror
Raggety Ann and Raggedy Andy in place and ready-
 These were gifts from Mimi and Papa

Time to get packing!!!  In 12 days we leave for China...
Mary-Meili Rose Brace...See you in 16 days!

Friday, September 20, 2013

September 19, 2013 - Travel Approval!!!



Twenty-eight days we waited for this call.  Everyday I said to myself, 
"this is the day!" But I was wrong...until today!

Someone won 400 Million bucks yesterday with a winning Powerball Lottery ticket that was bought in our town of Lexington, SC.  It has been all over local and national media.  Well, today, the Braces won the lottery, too!!  Travel Approval "TA" from China to go get our little Meili.  For those of you not familiar with the international adoption process, I would describe TA as the start of the last roll of a long series of rolls of red tape before you meet your sweet one.  The tape is peeled open, the first adhesive pulled from the roll with a tab, and now there is nothing that can prevent us from getting there and getting her!

This girl right here

Meet my Sister

I'll admit, after 20+ days we were getting frustrated - why isn't China approving our trip!?!?!  But, ...breathe, and, be still, and know.... God has the best timing, he knows....And I am so thankful now it was His timing and not ours.  God knew what was best!  God knew that I would meet and get aquainted with three other adoptive Mommas yesterday at a Chickfila casual get-together.  God knew they would be such an encouragement to me...God knew they would pray that my TA came soon and check with me today before I got the news!  He knew that Aaron wanted to go on a golf weekend with the guys next weekend but would have given it up with no problem if our travel dates fell sooner, but now he can go.  God knew that there would be the largest Typhoon/Hurricane in the world this year rolling toward south China this week and, while we are concerned for those that are there, we are thankful not to be in the path of that storm!  Oh, how we really hate hurricanes!  He knew that Meili's curtains would arrive by UPS today, too, letting us put the final touches on her bedroom!  And now we can plan to get going...Thank you God!

Can't wait to meet you, Meili!! We're coming to get you soon--  Working on booking flights tonight!