HIP HIP HOORAH....LOA

LOA you say, "What's that?" Well my friends, it is the coveted piece for paper referred to by those of us waiting for it as the "Letter Of Acceptance" or LOA. I don't think that is what is is officially called, but that's what we call it.

So it came TODAY on Day 55! That's amazing speed when other families are well over 100 days waiting for their letter. I have no idea why ours came so quickly, but it did and for that I am thankful to God above. Thank you Lord, for hearing the cries of my heart! I can now say that Gou Si Yuan is officially our daughter and I have posted her referral photos!!!!! She's quite the chunker, isn't she! I can't wait to kiss those cheeks!

These photos were taken when she was a little over 7 months old....

She looks like she is getting ready to do something. Hopefully nothing bad, HA! I won't be that lucky!

She has the chubbiest cheeks!

Look at those rolls....just what ever baby should have, rolls!!!

Amelia is now 14 months old. I received an email from a family that is Chengdu right now and they have 3-4 photos of Amelia for me. I can't wait to get them. I hope that she can send them to me sometime late next week. I'm trying not to pester her too much since she is adjusting to her new daughter and all, but it's difficult!

Travel will be in 6-8 weeks. I'm banking on a July 3rd departure date. That gets me back from Philmont on the July 1st, a day to recover and leave the next day. What do you think? Lift up those prayers Warriors! We need them!

Now I have to recount how we got the call. It's Thursday, and I have the "much awaited" appointment at the beauty shop to get this head of hair highlighted. It's summertime and time for some blonde people (plus it covers the gray ;-0 ) I drop off Empress Elise at my dear friend, Joan's house. Fortunately for Joan, Elise has fallen asleep for a bit. Joan has a pug named Chloe and Elise is petrified of her. Little dogs scare her to death, big dogs, she loves. Go figure, but I digress. After getting them situation, I head to the "Pagoda". My appointment is at 3 p.m., I arrive late (much to my chagrin) at 3:05 p.m. I'm sitting in the chair, telling Amanda to foil the entire mop, she's wrapping my shoulders with a towel and my cell phone starts "dancing", it's 3:09 p.m.. Well I reach for it since the 15 year old is suppose to call me ASAP. I see the number, don't recognize it, so I don't answer it.

Now remember, it's only day "50 something" for me. I refuse to get into counting the days yet, so I stick with the generalities. There's no reason for me to even begin to assume that this call could be from my agency. The quickest anyone has received their LOA has been Day 79 and the families in front of us in the wait are at Day 99. So I'm not even thinking that this call is important. Then at 3:13 p.m. the phone rings again....same area code, different number. I ignore it again (I have gotten unwanted calls on my phone before). Now I'm curious. My stylist has gone to the back to mix my color. I call Steve and ask him to look up the area code for me (wondering if it might be Harrah's, but only wondering). He says, "You need to take that call."

"What do you mean", I say. "Tell me who it was."

Steve responds with, "It's Harrah's. That letter came today!".

I about jump out of that chair and start yelling stuff like, "You've got to be kidding me!" "It can't be! We're only on Day 55! The other families are on Day 99!" "Holy Cow!" "I need a Cosmo!"

Well, the entire beauty shop is staring at me (big surprise). I have to get the pictures out and start showing everyone and explaining the process etc. I was in such shock and it didn't really sink in until I left the shop two hours later.

So here I am, at 10 p.m. I'm still in shock, but totally thrilled! The next step is Travel Approval and then our travel arrangements.

The posts will be more frequent as things start to move along. I still have another hike next weekend (two nights), to prepare for Philmont. Sleeping on the ground is going very well for me. It's going to be problematic for a 12 day period if I don't figure something out to make me more comfortable. Pray about that please.

I'm off to accomplish something, maybe sleep (HA!)....What a day!