It's finally time!

So many of you have been praying for years for us and Eme (even before she was born). We are incredibly thankful for all of you. Can I just say that we're so freaking excited to finally be going to get our baby girl!?! Below is our itinerary and  how you can be praying specifically for us, Eme, Jack and Erin's parents who are coming to stay with Jack.

1/19     Leave U.S. for Beijing.
Pray for good weather, that our flight isn’t overbooked, that we can rest on the flights

1/20     Arrive in Beijing
We meet our Beijing guide Forest
Free time.
Pray for Jack and Erin’s folks, that they have a great time!

1/21     Tour Beijing. Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Hutong Tour, and optional acrobatics show
Pray for our nerves and that we connect well with the other 3 couples as that’ll make the trip so much better.

1/22     Tour Beijing.  Great Wall and Ming Tombs
Pray for Jack and Erin’s folks

1/23     Depart Beijing for Zhengzhou
Pray for safe flight, that all arrangements are solid, no overbooking, etc.

1/24     Take a bus to the registration office to receive your child this afternoon!
Pray for Eme and us as we hold each other for the very first time. Pray for us as we have NO idea what to expect or how she’ll react.

1/25     You will take a bus to the registration office to finalize adoption!
Pray for all paperwork to be perfect and in order and that Eme slept well.

1/26     Free time or rest.
Pray for Jack and Erin’s folks.

1/27     Free time or rest.
Receive your notary documents in the afternoon. Pray for correctly filled out paperwork throughout the next few days

1/28     Receive your passports in the morning.
Leave Zhengzhou for Guangzhou
Go to the White Swan Hotel
Pray for safe travel, that our passports get back to us, and that Eme’s doing well.

1/29     Have your child’s visa physical and visa photo taken this morning.
Pray that Eme is healthy enough so there won’t be any complications getting her out of the country. Pray for Jack and Erin’s folks.

1/30     Meet with CCAI representatives to prepare paperwork for the Consulate appointment:
Pray for us as we’ll be missing Jack

1/31     Today is your Consulate appointment.
Pray for us as this appointment has me nervous for some reason. Pray that all paperwork information matches and that it’s all in order.

2/1       A CCAI representative will go to the U.S. Consulate to receive your child’s visa packet
Prepare to leave for home.
Leave Guangzhou for Hong Kong
Pray for us as we get ready to come home. Pray that our luggage defies the laws of physics and is lighter than when we started. Pray for our relationships with the other families. Pray for Jack.

2/2       Leave China for the U.S.
WELCOME HOME!
Pray for our health as we’ll be tired, planes are full of germs. Pray for safe travel and  no overbooked flights. We’ll be at the end of our emotional / physical ropes so any delays at this point will be killers. Pray for a safe drive home from Columbus.

Please don't stop praying even after we get home! The trip is over but the adventure has JUST begun! (wow that's corny but you get the picture).