It's close to our story--different folks, but one God

And that's what matters.

Promises of Pink Balloons

Apparently Rich will take us to the airport when we go.

Valerie has promised to meet us at the airport, pink balloons in hand, when we return.

Mourning and Joy

Sixteen months ago, we lost Brian's grandma--his mother's mother. Five years and seven months before that, we lost his mom. In a nutshell, Grandma's will left each of the five boys 5% of her estate--the portion that would have been Sarah Ann's, had she survived. The money comes before we pay for our trip to China. Amazing.

If you saw our "Big Praise" post and if you saw David Wecker's column (and he, upon my request, graciously left Grandma's part out), you know that God's been there financially and in every other way He could be. I know He's at it again. We knew it weeks ago when we found out this was happening and we knew it even more today when we got word that, essentially, "the check is in the mail."

I wish we could have our cake and eat it, too. I wish Grandma and Grandpa Stahl and Sarah Ann and Grandma and Grandpa Bishop and Grandma and Grandpa Taylor and Uncle Richard could be here to meet Charissa. I wish we could see their eyes sparkle when they were around her, because I know they would. I know they would enjoy watching her grow up right along with us and they'd be cheering us all the way now as we prepare to go.

But even though they'll never see her or play with her or watch her grow up like we hope to, they played a big part in this--financially to a degree; in our hearts a whole lot more.

=D

We get to meet Ting's parents while we're in Beijing! I have no idea how we'll communicate, but we at least get to meet!

Travel dates, at last!

What an eventful week!

Monday, we received word that TA's were here. Tuesday and Wednesday were more "hurry up and wait" days, but that was OK, considering we were looking forward to Brett's Class Night. Then yesterday, David Wecker's column appeared in the Post and we had a lot of excitement about that. Then today, at long last, we received some dates!

Dear Families,

Ok so we finally have this all worked out. The entire group will leave for China on June 9. Please look at the list below to see what day your visa appointments will be on. The is absolutely NO way for us to change the day that you have your appointment.

June 20:

Bacon Murphy BudakCaulfield DiPietro Dunham Fischer Fried Berne Gallagher Hague Johnson Lee Roberts

June 21:

Little
Oliveira
O'Rourke
Paterno
Patterson
Reedy
Reid
Soohoo
Wilson

When you get to Guangzhou there is a slight change in the typical trip. There are not rooms available at the White Swan for the entire time you are in Guangzhou. We have reservations from June 17-20 in the White Swan. You will then check into a hotel closer to the airport on June 21 for the remainder of the trip(I don't know the name of it yet). Those of you with visa appointments on June 20 will get your child's passport with her visa on June 21st and then depart on June 22nd. Those of you with visa appointments on June 21 will get your child's passport with her visa on June 22nd and depart on June 23. I hope that is clear. I just want to state again that there is NO way for us to change the day you have your visa appointment.Those of you making your own international travel arrangements please go ahead and do so now. Pay very close attention to what your return day is. If you have any questions about timing please contact us before your finalize your arrangements. People who are making their international flight arrangements should try to get us your itinerary as soon as possible. Sherry needs that information so she can contact China and make your in China arrangements. The travel meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 1, from 1-3pm in our office. Out of state families will be Fed Ex'd their travel documents after the scheduled travel meeting. Someone will need to sign for this package so please let us know where we should send it. When you receive the package you should call for a phone travel meeting. It is up to you to contact us! Families with only one spouse traveling should both plan on attending the meeting and staying a little longer to complete the extra paperwork. Please bring the emailed travel package we sent a while ago, your checkbook for travel fees(which we WILL NOT have before the travel meeting!!), and your documents with you to the travel meeting.Let us know if you have any questions.

Have a WONDERFUL weekend!
Melanie

TA's have arrived!

China let our group know today that they are ready for another parental invasion. Unless something unforeseen happens, we will travel from June 9-June 22.

Charissa will be with us this time next month. Brian won't get to celebrate his birthday and Gotcha Day on the same day, but he won't have to wait long. By Father's Day, they should be playing together.

I SO hope so.

Oh, yeah!

Visas came today! Actually, they came late yesterday afternoon, but I got them today, so...

Visas came today!

DW and the lady who wouldn't shut up

I met with David Wecker yesterday so that he could tell what we know of Charissa's story-- which is mostly our side, of course. For some reason, until he got there, I was a jittery mess. Never have figured out why except that maybe the thought of having our story "in print" (even though he is an excellent writer) combined with Brett-and-Kelsey trauma from the night before (I'll never get comfortable with being "the other woman") was more than I could handle.

But we did the interview and I told him our past year plus's history in a little over an hour. The "dad genes" kicked in and I got REALLY comfortable talking about everything.

0=)

Not much time to write still

I'll try to catch up eventually, but right now I will tell you that CAWLI expects travel dates somewhere around the 2nd or the 9th. No surprises.

Regardless, Brian will be celebrating #43 in China. The question is will he be celebrating by waiting for his daughter or will he be celebrating with her...