The Brown Stork!!

The long awaited delivery has arrived!!

The Brown Stork himself!!

Giddy!!

Here she is!!! *tears*

Today we eagerly awaited a delivery from the "brown stork" (aka UPS guy!) containing our approval papers for Lucy. When he came this afternoon we really wanted to get a picture of the moment but felt silly asking him, but I really didn't want to miss a fun photo! He was thrilled & readily agreed, saying that he has three adopted sisters. He told us he would love a copy of the picture since he has never had such a delivery! I forgot to get his email address though so I could send him a copy. So, I guess I will just have to do a little shopping online so he can make another delivery! Great excuse for shopping.

We signed the papers & immediately took it to the UPS store to overnight it back to our agency. They will send it to China & then they start working on our travel approval.

One of the pictures in Lucy's album

"In the morning O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." Psalm 5:3

I am yet again in awe of our great God. I heard Ann Graham Lott (Billy Graham's daughter) on Easter Sunday say that biblical hope is not a wish or even a desire, it is confidence. I love that because that's exactly what my hope in the Lord is, confident. He is the same yesterday, today & tomorrow. I know I can confidently trust Him. And His faithfulness has been declared once more. Today we got our SCL!! We were told it would probably come in May, but I talked with the Lord about that & He graciously granted me my request. Wow. Yipee Jesus!

So, now we wait for our TA (travel approval), which shouldn't take more than a month. Then watch out China...here come the Gardners!

Still Waiting....

We are on Day 56 since our letter of intent was sent to China. It is not unusual for it to take around 100 days to get the SCL. However, it could certainly come sooner! We are really hoping to travel by mid June.

Our care package for Lucy was sent last Friday (March 14). They said it would take about ten days for her to get it. It contains a little doll, a photo album & a disposable camera that the nannies in her orphanage can use to take pictures of her home there & her friends. Then we will develope it later. I really pray that Lucy somehow understands that the family in the album is her new family.

Yesterday I took the boys to get the shots they need to travel to China. Well, Nick was a nervous wreck at the thought of it & tried his best to talk me out of it (he was certain he wouldn't catch anything in China)! Brenden was tough as nails & got three shots. Then when it was Nick's turn Brenden was trying his best to make Nick laugh, then in all his goofiness (is that a word?) he started feeling queezy when he saw the needle come out of Nick's arm....then down he went! The nurse called for help (I was filling out paperwork) & I told her that he was just messing around (he is always trying to embarrass me in public!)...then I saw him laying flat on his back, not moving & no color in his face!!! I felt horrible! Well, after some pampering from the nurses he was fine.

Well, that's all for now...hopefully my next entry will contain some great news!!!

Lucy's care package...