Delta Delta Delta

Soooo after researching tickets and prices and talking to our travel coordinator, we have plane tickets and an intinerary!!!! That is a huge wait lifted.  We are leaving from Tampa on April 5th at 10:35AM *a day earlier than expected* and flying to Detroit, where we will catch our next plane to HONG KONG, CHINA!!!!  oh my goodness, this is fantastic.... As I type this I am grinning ear to ear, I can NOT believe it is here!!! eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek~

 I have met a lot of terrific people through this process and I am excited that my new friend Laura Beth and her family are going to be taking the same flight in Detroit to meet thier son, who is also named "Jaxson"!!!! I am thrilled about sharing this 15hour and 50minute flight with someone we know!!! Thank you Lord for another little glimpse of you!!!

GOING TO CHINA!!!!!!!

We are going to CHINA!!!! We got our travel approval on Tuesday March 27th!!!! This week has been amazing to say the least... After getting our TA we had to put in for a consulate appointment! This appointment is the finalization of our adoption on China soil - it is the LAST step before we come home.  I asked Kelsey if she would put in for the week of April 17th because we REALLY wanted to travel to China around April 6th! Trade fair is quickly approaching and everything will cost more, so she agreed to try for that week!!! We were celebrating our amazing news that evening, when my phone rang again, it was Kelsey!!! She told me that she could not believe it but that our CA was already approved and they approved April 18th! We were elated and began dancing in the living room one more time!!! That meant that we could officially leave April 6th and meet Jackzhen for the first time April 9th! I still can't wrap my head around the fact that this is it, this is it!!!  We are finally leaving!!! It has been 9 months of a paperwork roller coaster.  It put the saying "hurry up and wait" to true meaning for our family! God's hand has been all over this adoption from the beginning! He burdened our hearts, led us to this perfect child, and has carried us through this process the entire way! There were times when I would fall on my face crying out to God, "Please hurry!".  I would remind him that Jackzhen needed us and we needed him, but He knew all that.  He would comfort me through my amazing husband, supportive family, a song on the radio, a friends kind words, and remind me to focus my eyes back on Him and let Him continue what He had started!  Though sometimes just a glimmer, my faith never failed! I chose to trust God and He indeed carried this awesome adoption through! I heard a song on the radio yesterday and again found myself blubbering away behind the steering wheel - it hit my heart and spoke to me in such a way that I could not contain myself.  The words to the song went like this....

Welcome to your life
You’re everything you’ll someday be

There’s a weight off my shoulder
There’s laughter in the air
You are the answer to every midnight prayer

You’re mine to love
We have all been waitin’ on you
You’re mine to love
Come into these open arms
It took some time to wait it out
But I see it now, you’re worth all the dreaming of
You’re mine to love

SERIOUSLY!!!! This was written for my Jackzhen, because he is mine to love!!! And he is worth all the waitin'! Thank you Jesus for loving me even in the midst of my doubt, thank you for never giving up on me, and for allowing me to mother this amazing little boy! I have heard the adoption quote many times through this process that says, "not from my womb, but born in my heart!" And I contend that this is true to the fullest meaning of the phrase!

Blessed beyond measure to be given this love in my heart~ In a few weeks there WILL be ONE LESS orphan in this world ~  Now I have to do laundry because we are going to CHINA!!!!

His pouty little lips....

I am working on some picture work tonight and much to my amazement, I got an email from Ann with more pictures! This was a great surprise as I have been daydreaming all day about our travel approval.  Seems like the travel approvals are trickling in again, a FB friend of mine that had a pick up date 3 days before me, got hers today!!! We are next... Soooo this little email is helping me pass the time and ease the anxiety.... Here is my sweet son and his pouty little lips.... He is wearing the gray vest we got him for Christmas!!! I can't WAIT until we can take those silly pink arm cuffs off of him - he will trade them for some swim trunks and arm floaties SOON!!!!

Did I mention how much I love him???

Jackzhen 101

I asked a few questions with our last package, here are the responses.... He loves soft foods so it only makes sense that he does not like hard foods right?!?! whatever that means, hahaha - I will definitely steer clear of candy canes and candy apples!!! HA

他最喜欢的食物是什么？What is his favorite food?

答：他最喜欢吃软质的食物，如：面包，蛋糕，肉碎等。

     He most likes to eat soft food, such as: bread, cake, no meat on the bones and so on

他最不喜欢的食物是什么？What food does he not like?

答：他最不喜欢吃硬质的食物，如：带骨头的肉，硬质坚实的水果。

    He doesn't like eating hard foods

他晚上睡觉时需要什么东西吗？Does he need anything to go to bed at night?

答：他晚上睡觉时喜欢吮手指，趴着睡。

He loves sucking his finger, bending over to sleep

他害怕什么东西吗？Is he afraid of anything?

答：他害怕突然被大的声响惊吓。

He was afraid that sudden noise frightened

他是害羞还是喜欢说话的？Is he shy or does he like to talk?

答：他的性格活泼，聪明；喜欢说话、唱歌。

His disposition is lively, clever; like talking, singing

他会一些英语吗？ Does he know any English?

答：他能说一点语句，如“Good morning、Thank you、I love you”

He can speak a little English, such as“Good morning、Thank you、I love you”

他最喜欢的玩具是？ What is his favorite toy?

答：他最喜欢踢球、有声响的电动玩具。

He most likes playing football   The sound of electric toys

Making a Joyful Noise.......

I was browsing on baidu.com tonight and came across an article about Jackzhen's SWI.  I was totally giddy when I scrolled down to see that part of the article mentioned Jackzhen (QiuQiu) and his outgoing spirit! He grabbed the mic from the reporter and sang his song! here is a little clip from the article... "Wu Zhenqiu prominent children 2-4 years old class, they like to sing, the teacher play the piano and will sing along to the music."  I am a proud mama and I am thrilled about teaching him new songs so he can keep making a joyful noise!!! Not much longer little one!!!