Nesting!

We have been busy little bees in the Wallace household these days!  As Matt says, I'm in full "nesting mode".  From a paperwork perspective we have made HUGE progress!  We received our 800 approval (US Government approving us to adopt Lily Grace officially), our Chinese VISAs are completed and we have received them, we received our GUZ# (big deal but not worth going into!), completed the initial process for Lily Grace's VISA which she will receive in China prior to our departure home, and received our letter from the National Visa Center stating they had forwarded our information to the US Consulate in China.  Whew. . . everything on our end that we can do at this point is done!  Tomorrow, our agency's facilitator in China should complete our Article 5 drop off at the Embassy and it will be picked up 2 weeks later.  This step is the process of reviewing all the paperwork, forms, etc thus far to make sure everything is correct and ready to go.  If so, once the pick up occurs, the paperwork is sent from Guangzhou to Beijing where the Chinese Adoption Agency headquarters is. We then wait for our Travel Approval (TA).  Once we have TA we can book hotels, flights, etc but not until then.

Signing Lily Grace's LOA and sending it off to China!

LOA signing, Letter of Action/Approval

At home, we are working on preparing for another little one joining the family!  Matt has been working crazy hard and helping to organize and arrange everything for Lily Grace's arrival.  He worked with our niece's boyfriend, Andrew, and friend to move essentially half of the furniture in our house one day!  I'm not sure Andrew will ever come back after all we had for him to do, but he and his friend were unbelievable helpers for us!  Our niece, Kayla, also helped clean and organize!  Taylor and Madelyn now share their new big girl room.  Madelyn is out of the nursery to make room for Lily Grace and they have loved their first few days together in their new room.  Madelyn has adjusted beautifully to her big girl bed.  We are so grateful.  And now, thankfully, we have a place to put Lily Grace's clothes and other items we have been slowly collecting and washing and purchasing!  It really is coming together!

Madelyn's first night in her big girl bed!

We are hoping to receive and update for Lily Grace in the next couple of weeks.  We are also in the process of sending off a care package to her in her orphanage.  We are including an outfit, lovey, small toy, camera with hopes that the nannies will take photos of her and her friends and caretakers at the orphanage, and a photo album of her family here so she can learn our faces and names.  We pray that she receives the care package but know there is no guarantee.  My sweet co-worker, Ying, who is from China was kind enough to translate the names of everyone in our photo album so the caretakers can teach Lily Grace who we are!  I am so grateful for her help and encouragement through this process.  It has been neat to have her perspective and understanding along the way.  The Lord is so good to place such special people in our paths throughout this journey!  

Ying, translating our names into Mandarin for Lily Grace's photo album!

Friends, travel is close!  If all goes as planned we will be leaving NEXT MONTH to bring Lily Grace home!  It seems to be happening so fast now.  My mind is racing with everything left to do, all the money left to pay, travel plans, adjustment once we are home and everything in between.  But I know the Lord is faithful.  He will provide everything we need in His perfect timing.  He is never late!  I am anxiously awaiting our trip and the day we meet our Lily Grace.  I am thankful for all of you for praying for us and supporting us along the way!