Children's Welfare Institute in Beijing

Well, we leave in 9 days! If everything gets scheduled tomorrow as planned, we'll leave next week. YIKES! There is so much to do.

I came across this picture on the Internet of the front of the orphanage where Levi is waiting for us to come get him. We just can't wait to meet this sweet little guy! Hopefully, the orphanage has prepared him, showed him our pictures, and given him the teddy bear we sent.

We pray for Levi every night. We ask for God's protection on him physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. We ask that God will keep Levi in HIS care and that he will have a smooth transition and bonding time with his forever family!

Please join us in praying for our safe travels and for little Levi.
We appreciate and need your prayers.

We would also ask that you add to your prayers those children who are left at the orphanage--that they too will find their forever family very soon and that God will keep them in His care. It must be so difficult to watch your friends get adopted and to feel like it will never be your turn. My heart aches for these little ones.

That's all for now. Back to cleaning, packing, preparing for our journey ahead! :)

Happy Chinese New Year!

I added a new picture today of Theo and Ruthie decorating our 2009 Confetti Cake. It is our tradition to bake and decorate this fun cake on each New Year's Day! I wanted to post it today as I was thinking about Levi waking up in Beijing this morning to the start of his Chinese New Year! I wonder what kind of celebrations he will get to take part in. We can't wait to learn about his Chinese traditions and to teach him about ours as well!

Well, that's all for today. HAPPY 2009! We're off to a very blessed beginning.

Monday, January 19, 2009 TRAVEL APPROVAL!

We got our travel approval this past week- on Monday the 19th. This means that we are just waiting for the Consulate Appointment confirmation and then make travel arrangements. YIKES! There is so much to do. We don't know our dates yet--but we know we will travel in February. We just can't wait to meet our little guy.

We sent Levi a care package with a little bear, candies, and a disposable camera. We wrote a letter that was translated for us asking if the Nannies would take pictures of Levi and give us the camera when we come to pick him up. I know he will treasure these pictures later in his life as he looks back on his childhood and where he came from. We also sent him pictures of us, his new siblings, our house and backyard.

We painted the boy's room brown and did a sports theme. It looks too cute. We've still got to put the finishing touches on, but we're almost there. I think Levi and Theo will enjoy sharing such a fun room! They even have bunk beds! How much fun is that?

We've started packing. I raided the travel section at Target this week and got some items crossed off our packing list. Still...so much to do and so little time.

More later when we know our actual travel dates....

More Pictures of Levi at the Beijing Orphanage

I have no news today. I am just thinking about Levi and wanting to bring him home as soon as possible. Ruthie, our 4-year old daughter, cut out pictures of Levi the other day and made a collage that says, "We love Levi!". It was so precious. It was completely her idea. Theo, our son, keeps talking about how he is going to teach Levi how to play soccer and t-ball. So cute. We are all anxious to have Levi here at home in our arms as an official member of our family.

I added more pictures of Levi that the orphanage sent with his file. Hopefully, I will have more pictures and news very soon. We are waiting for our Travel Approval (TA) which should arrive in about 2 weeks. (Hopefully before Chinese New Year vacation.)

More Later....