Cabled...again!!!

Yes!!!! My son's file was cabled yesterday!!! I have no idea why their file's weren't kept together at NVC, but WHO CARES now!!! Ha ha. The next step is my Article 5 is dropped off and then exactly two weeks from that date it is picked up. I'm speculating that it was dropped off today. For some reason my agency isn't notified of this next step. Some are, so I have no idea why mine isn't notified. 

Just to briefly explain the Article 5 stuff...the short of it is, it's just basically one last approval on all the final documents. All the documents that were in America receiving approvals here, are then finally sent to China so when we arrive, they will all be approved and in order. The Article 5 is the last step before we can receive Travel Approval!!

Cabled! And a reality check

Yesterday afternoon I found out my daughter's file has been cabled (emailed) to China!! That's great news; another adoption milestone!! I rushed to email the NVC to check on my son's file, to see if his had possibly been cabled as well. I didn't hear back, so it will likely be Monday. The good thing is I received an email yesterday morning and he is in the system. It's looking like he's just one day behind her. The bummer thing is, I probably could have called the NVC and had them expedite his to catch up to hers, but I was so busy ALL day, that I couldn't. I didn't even have 5 minutes to spare. So instead of catching him up, my agency has to slow hers down. :( My agency rep said they will hold her file until his comes in.

Which brings me to something else. When I don't even have five minutes to spare in my life, something's gotta change. Me not having five minutes just cost me one whole day. And in the world of adoption, it feels like an eternity. I will not be able to keep this crazy pace after China. I will not do it. I have way too many obligations to people and events right now, and I have decided that beginning in January, I'm going to be just a little bit more selfish (sarcasm, of course.) I'm tired of all the running. So my hubby and I have decided we're going to ax some stuff. We're going with a less crazy, chaotic life, and we're going with more family time, more time at home, a more simplistic content lifestyle. I don't think God meant for people to be flying out of their garages 900 miles an hour screaming, "We're gonna be late!" Especially when that's the 3rd time you've left the garage that day screaming the same thing. Or how about leaving in the afternoon, driving your kids to all their "social engagements" and you come home every night at bedtime. You have a house, but you're never in it. I'm done with that life. I don't want to raise my kids in the car while we're flying by the seat of our pants. And I don't want to come back from China and say, "Hi Le Hai, hi Xi Yi, welcome aboard, I'll get to know you on my death bed. For now I'll be your taxi, maid, and teacher. Mom? I don't have time for that. We need to load up in the car. You have a dance class you need to get to."

No way, I'm taking my life back.

Progress

Wow, a lot has happened in the past few days!! It's amazing once the I800 was approved, all of a sudden I hit the fast track. My children's visa's were sent to the NVC (National Visa Center) for approval. Once they are approved, they will be emailed or "cabled" to China. This is the part where I'm at. Once again, everything with my adoption has been bizarro so why would this be any different?  My children's files are to be processed at the same time from here on out...well, most people's, just not mine. So my little girl's file has been logged in at the NVC and has a case number...my son? Well, he's not in the system yet. You know, I'm so used to hearing, "This never happens"...or..."Gosh, I've never heard of that, I don't know what to tell you." I'm actually getting a kick out of seeing how many things can be in the category of "hmmm, that's odd" with this adoption journey. 

So after my children's visas have been cabled (emailed) I wait for something called Article 5. It's basically the last final touch on everyone's approval. That should only take a few weeks and then we wait for TA (travel approval). Once we're issued TA we could leave two weeks after that!! So far, it's still looking like Feb to me. 

Today I should be hearing back about being cabled. Please pray they catch my son's file up to my daughter's!!! I would love to receive an email today that says they are both good to go!!!

On another note, another huge milestone occurred in our adoption journey. Last night we had a phone conference with our adoption coordinator. You might be saying, "Ok, big deal. It's a phone call." In my book: huge. It's something that I've heard about. I've heard other adoptive parents refer to it. It means we're close. So very close!!!

Basically, it was a two hour phone call going over tiny details about our upcoming trip. Very informative and I loved every minute of it. We were able to ask questions which was great because I had a few. :) Needless to say, when it was all done, I was exhausted...just completely wiped out. It's amazing the adrenaline that goes through you while your in the wait, and once something major is finally accomplished, you crash. All energy leaves your body. Crazy. Well, I'm on another adrenaline rush as we speak. I've been up since 4:00 this morning waiting for a reply from the NVC. 

The wait never gets easier, but it's how you live your life while in the wait. Today? Well...I have peace.

Approved!!!!

I emailed, then called, then called again...and finally received the good news...both my I800s have been approved!!! Yay!!

It's hilarious how everyone finds out another step is done and they all say the same thing, "Now you get to go, right?" Uh, not yet. A few more steps to go. Let me break the next steps down:

NVC (National Visa Center)

Cabled (glorified word for sending an email to China)

Article 5 (Umm, I can't remember what this is, ha ha)

TA (Travel Approval)

China!!!!!!

Each step takes about 2 weeks (I'm rounding here) so that still puts me being in China in February.

It's very interesting my official approval date was yesterday...the day after I read that commentary and quit trying to control the process. Don't get me wrong, my motto in this whole journey has been "it is what it is," due to the fact that I knew I couldn't change circumstances or speed up the process. But I kept trying to do it in my own strength. I had peace knowing God was in control, but I was still trying to "help" Him. Does that make sense?

In other words, "let go and let God." 

Busted

Do you ever have times where you feel like God just slapped you upside the head and told you to get with the program?  Last night, as I was reading the Bible to my kiddos, I had one of those moments.  We've been reading in Exodus right at the point where the Passover had just taken place.  I have a study Bible so I was reading the comments to my children. 

Listen to what the commentary said:

"God doesn't always work in the way that seems best to us. Instead of guiding the Israelites along the direct route from Egypt to the Promised Land, He took them by a longer route to avoid fighting with the Philistines. If God does not lead you along the shortest path to your goal, don't complain or resist.  Follow Him willingly and trust Him to lead you safely around unseen obstacles.  He can see the end of your journey from the beginning, and He knows the safest and best route."

Wow! It was as if that were written just.for.me. It hit me like a ton of bricks.

Ok, God. I get it. I've had a long journey. Every part has been in the slow lane. I will not complain (I don't want to wander in the desert for 40 years, ya know?) So I will trust you and realize there's a purpose in taking the long route at this time. 

The reason God didn't want them to fight is because they were "newbies." They hadn't fought, and God didn't want them to lose faith right out of the gate. 

Technically, I'm a newbie when it comes to adoption. I've never done this before, and although I've been a Christian for two decades, I trust there may be some things God is trying to spare me from...I just don't know what they are.

Sometimes it feels good to get busted by God.  When He shows you He's bigger than you it takes the pressure off. 

And He may be leading me around "unseen obstacles." I love that. Because I know Him and how He operates in my life. Usually, I find out what those unseen obstacles are. Believe me, it may be months or years, but eventually I find out.

Ok God, my hands are officially off the wheel.  

I surrender.

We'll go to China your way and in your time.