China, Here We Come!

We are so excited to announce that we got our Consulate Appointment today!

But, I'm getting ahead of myself.  Let me back up.

On Friday the 7th we got a call from Wasatch informing us that we got our Travel Approval (TA)!  We were so excited.  This was the final step of the 14 month journey!  All we had left was to choose 5 dates that we wanted for a Consulate Appointment at the US Embassy in Guangzhou, China.

After a lengthy discussion, we decided that we would ask for September 27th.  We knew it was a long shot.  For several reasons.  First, it was only 20 days away which meant we would have to leave in just 7 days.  Second, it was the last appointment before the whole of China shuts down for about 2 weeks to celebrate The Moon Festival.  And third, it was really short notice to make arrangements: Plane tickets, hotel reservations, Eric's work, school, Grandma and Granddad Sharp, etc.  It seemed crazy to request that date.

But, we did.  We knew that if we didn't get to go in September then we would have to wait until November to go because of scheduling conflicts in October. 

And of course, against all the odds, we got it!

I actually sort of knew we would get it because it seems like most things in our lives end up being done in the craziest, most inconvenient manner.  Why should this be any different?

So, we leave for China in just 4 days.

We get to meet Hazel on Monday, September 17, 2012.

She becomes a US citizen on Thursday, September 27, 2012.

We bring her home on Sunday, September 30, 2012. 

Luckily, I feel totally prepared since I had the round of nesting right after Emmett's surgery.  And of course, we have done this before.  Experience brings confidence.  So, I know we can do this!

We can do this!