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!