WE GOT OUR 171!!!... and other hodgepodge

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It's true... WE GOT OUR 171!!!!!!!!! Thanks for praying with us on that, and thanks to CB, who may or may not have had any influence on it. . ;o) . And of course, thanks most of all to the One who makes all things possible!!

Anyway, it arrived on Thursday, so Bill had it copied/notarized, etc. on Friday, and along with all our other MD documents (physicals, application letter, financial statement, etc.), took them to the county courthouse to have the notaries authenticated, and then took them all to MD's Secretary of State, to have the county's authentication authenticated. Yes, I said that right. The state has to say the county's seal is authentic... after the county says the notary's seal is authentic. "But wait, don't call yet..." after that, the US has to say the state's seal is authentic. And then, "if you're one of the first 20 to call," THEN you take it to the Chinese Embassy for them to say the US's seal is authentic.

Those last 2 steps (US and China) are what Bill and the kids did on Monday... for all but one document (don't get me started)... and it'll all be ready to pick up on Thursday... to the tune of around $35 per document ($1 for county, $5 for MD ($10 for VA, NJ and DC), $8 for US and $20 for China)... for a total of 14 documents... $490, but who's counting.

And actually, it's $514, when you factor in that last document... Ok, I'm started... the last document is my employment letter. I received it without too much heartache on 3/17 and held it until we got our homestudy, so that they both could go to VA's Secretary of State (Commonwealth) together. Makes perfect sense, right? But it came back, unauthenticated due to a notary problem on 7/1 (HS was fine). So on Thurs, 7/2, I attempted to get it corrected... on the day before a 3-day holiday weekend. Right. Nevermind... I don't want to relive this, nor for you to have to hear me say mean things. Just think Keystone Cops and be glad with us that it's finally today on the desk of VA's Secretary of the Commonwealth, hopefully to be FedEx'ed back to us today so we can put the 1-day rush on it at the Embassy and have all the documents done at the same time on either Thursday or Friday.

Then over the weekend we'll put the final, finishing touches on the now 1-inch stack, fondly known as a dossier and it'll be ready to deliver to our agency next week (before noon on Wed's). More fees due then - ugh. They'll review it, pray over it, and whatever else they do, and it'll be on it's way to China on Friday of next week!!! PRAY!!!

So then it'll all be in China waiting to be reviewed and such, and hopefully in 3-4 mos, we get yet another form to sign saying, "Yes... we really do want the child we already told you we want." We dutifully sign it and send it back, hoping that in 1-2 more months, we get our Travel Approval. Then we and the agency can start making travel arrangements to get that boy HOME!!! We're coming Sammy, just as fast as we can!! Wouldn't it be cool if God, first helped us afford it, but then also timed it so that we'd be traveling while the kids are already out of school for Christmas!!?!?!! He's a really big God, you know. . :o)

Other news: I have some great pictures from Johnny's graduation party and Faith's birthday party (same party), but cannot, for the life of me find which memory card they're on. It was a wonderful day - thanks to all who came to celebrate. Also have the promise of some great 4th of July pictures... hoping to get them tonight and will add to this post. That too was a wonderful day - thanks to the Weikel's for hosting.

Johnny and Tamra are busily making wedding plans - invitations, photography, cake, dresses, reception, etc. The girls are beside themselves at their invitation to be in the wedding... Faith as a Jr. Bridesmaid, Theresa Lin and Abby as Flower Girls, and Alex, Sir Alex, as the Ring Bear (yes, that's what he thinks... bear). Had a great meeting of the families get together at Tamra's folks' house last weekend... what a fun time we had!! They're almost as nutty as we are. Johnny is here until the end of the month. . :o{ . Then he heads for TX, has a few days to find/set up an apartment, and then straight back to more classes/work. Tamra's trusting he knows how to pick out an apartment, and several folks have given him pointers. They bought a bed and are having it delivered there, so he'll at least have something to sleep on while he awaits his bride. He'll be by himself for 2 months, then fly up for the wedding. Hopefully he can get all the helping he can do for the wedding done before he heads out.

Faith's on a church youth trip this week and has her best bud Melany with her. Pray they're safe and have a good time, but also that she/they pay attention to more than just each other and learn a little something while they're at it. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, TL/A&A are having a good time doing little kid things, w/o trying to be all grown and keeping up with Faith.

'Nuff for now - hope to add pics later. Thanks so very much for praying!!

Let's Roll!!