The Package Has Arrived

Received the following e-mail from China this afternoon:

Dear Donna ;

I got your package this afternoon !!

Guess what,the staff from China Post Office copy my home address wrong ,they tried to deliver your package to another address two times ,that was why they never deliver your package to me...I went to China Post Office this afternoon and asked them why they were not honesty on your package delivery part, then they found that they made a mistake on my home address ...fortunately they sent me email about your package !!! I will mail your package out tomorrow ,love,Ann

So happy to learn they had sent the package back to us.  Now I can worry about whether or not Lilly will ever get the package.  We can only put our faith in the system to deliver it to her.  The Chinese New Year starts February 3rd and tradition says you should wear new clothes to celebrate, so Lilly should be all decked out with new pants, tops, socks, hats & gloves and she has a new doll, too.  Wish I could see her little face when she gets the package.  Every day we get one day closer to " Gotch Ya Day".

The Postal Dilemna

What is is with our family and the U. S. Postal system.  It seems as if we have a time sensitive or important letter or package, somehow the USPS wrecks havoc with us.  Recently we sent an important letter to a Athens, a week later and no letter delivery.  Because it contained a check that was under a time sensitive period, we immediately sent a overnight letter with another check.  Letter arrived in Atlanta the next morning and from there no one knew what happened to the letter.  Guess what, if the USPS does not deliver on their overnight promise, they just say, Oops, Sorry.  Four weeks later the letter was delivered.  No explanation as to where the letter had been all that time...

So Jan. 7th I mailed a package to Guangzhou to be forwarded to Lilly in Wuhan City.  Heather and I had labored over what to put in package, as it was a small package.  The package arrived in Wuhan City on the 17th and has not been delivered yet. The tracking says they tried to deliver it on the 18th & 19th. It was going to The Red Thread China office and they are open every day and someone is there during business hours.  Local PO says if they tried 2 times to deliver, they will probably send the package back to US.  Ann at RTC is trying in China today to find package.  It was filled with new things for Chinese New Year and most importantly a photo album for Lilly.  Our hearts will be broken if it comes back to us, plus it cost $45 to send it to China and another $33 to forward it on to Lilly.

Advice is not to use Fed-EX to send package to China, as they have problems with delivery. I sent our visa applications, by Fed-EX on Monday and they arrived in Washington state on Tuesday. Of course that was not cheap either, but at least it got there...

Will keep you updated on package dilemna...

A Journey Begins

The ancient Chinese Philosopher, Lao Tzu, is quoted, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step".  While on the outside it might like look as if we have not take that one step, you only have to look closer to see how many steps have already been taken.  Where is this journey taking us...to of all places..the birthplace of the ancient Philosopher...China.  That's right this "on the go" Mammy is heading to China.  I feel like Dora the Explorer heading out into uncharted areas hoping my trusty backpack, map and hidden clues will guide the way. Actually I don't have to worry about any of that as everything down to the smallest detail is being taken care of by seasoned professionals.

Sometime in the next few months, Randy and I will join our oldest daughter, Heather and her husband, Brian along with their 2 sons, Hampton & Walker to travel to Wuhan City, China.  Their precious daughter, Lilly awaits us there to join her forever family.  We are so excited and anxious to get there and finally put our arms around her and welcome her into our family.  She will be two and half years old by the time we get there.  Lilly has been living with a foster family following heart surgery in June of 2009.

The adoption process is a long and arduous one.  You just can't imagine all the paperwork that is involved.   Heather has compiled a huge notebook during the last 2 years.  Just think, about the time the process was begun, Lilly, was born and has been waiting for us to come get her.

We know she is the child God has planned for our family and this was confirmed to us by just her name.  Her name has always been going to be Lilly Rae.  Lilly because her Mom loves the name and Rae, for her precious Great-Grandmother, Rae Nance.  When we first saw her picture that Monday afternoon we immediately fell in love with her.  Her name is Wu Qi Hao (Shee Wha).  Wu because she was found in Wuhan City. Qi Hao means, may she grow as lovely as a flower (Lilly) and happily face the sun (Rae).  Now you tell me....did God not plan this child for our family?

So come with me as I take you "along for the ride".  I'm excited, scared, anxious and above all else trusting in the Lord to take care of us as we travel to China and back.