TRAVEL APPROVAL!

It. came.

Our travel approval arrived and by the end of the month, we will officially be China-bound!

We have tickets, we have dates, we have a LOT of details to iron out, and a packing list a mile long but we're doing this thing.

I can hardly believe it.

While the above is not too shabby of a way to celebrate Valentine's Day, Brad and I have even more to celebrate:

It's our adoption anniversary.  Brad and I sent in our pre-application to adopt on Valentine's Day 2018 making it officially one year since we said "yes" to adoption.

It's also National Heart Month.  And we are bringing home a sweet CHD baby.

Is this real life?

At this point, we're no longer primarily talking with our state-side caseworker but with our agency's in-country China Travel Coordinator; like the 12 hours ahead of us, he works while we sleep, we work while he sleeps, person.  It's bizarre to be talking to the other side of the world. 

It's even more bizarre to think that we'll be there soon.

To be honest, it doesn't feel very real.  The planning and the details can, ironically, get in the way of it being a reality.

In preparation, my brain is swirling with to-do's and what-if's and just-in-case's.  But in the back of my mind, Jesus keeps whispering for me to keep my eyes on Him and keep my eyes on Benjamin.  To be honest, it's been hard for me to do.  I'm Type A which can make me a very productive person... but also one that misses a lot.  It's not the paperwork, signatures, or checklists I miss, it's the big picture.  I can miss the forest for the trees if I'm not careful. 

In this whirlwind of a month, I'm praying that Jesus would slow my mind, slow my steps, fix my eyes, and place our feet along the paths they need to trek to get to the finish line.

The finish line that also marks another great starting line.

Ready, set, go.