The Polar Express Train Ride

GREAT Way to Kick-Off The Holiday Season!

There is a train ride that runs from Palestine to Rusk, Texas that has runs year around with different themes.  This time of year it's the "Polar Express" and it is a fabulous experience for any family! 

The theme is the storybook & movie, "The Polar Express."  The train ride starts off with hot chocolate and snacks served to everyone.  The servers are dressed in chef outfit, just like the movie and they dance around and make the children laugh.  Once all snacks are passed out, the story is read over the speaker while children follow along in the book. 

The train stops at the North Pole, decorated with lights, Santa and his elves.  Santa boards the train and it starts once again for the return ride back to the train station.  Santa visits with every child on the train.  The train ride is a little over an hour and, I failed to mention, everyone is encouraged to wear their pajamas. Fun, fun, fun!!  The return train ride is very festive, with everyone singing Christmas Carols.  If you happen to live anywhere in Texas, it's worth the drive!  We drove almost 3 hours and we plan to do it again, next year.

Sterling was in HEAVEN throughout the entire ride.  He was in complete awe over the train.  He has a facination with trains..as with most every little boy.  He shrilled with excitement when the train made it's grand entrance, steam, whistle and all!

ANTICIPATION

Still Waiting for word on our TA

Remember the old ketchup commercial with the kid, waiting for the ketchup to pour from the bottle and it moved ever so slowly, as the song, "anticipation" was playing in the background...well, that's a little of what it's been like this week!!!  Ever since learning we have a very strong chance of receiving our TA this week, the days are dragging by.....once the afternoon hits, I begin checking my cell phone repeatedly to ensure I haven't missed "THE" call from our agency. Torture.....complete torture.

I did some detective work this afternoon.  I called an international shipping service and asked them how long it would take a letter package to arrive Delaware in the US (our agency's location) from Beijing, China and she quoted us, tomorrow, Thursday, 11/11 by 4:30 pm, providing there's no glitch with customs. So, there's still a chance we will see our TA, this week!!  Another bit of hopeful news, other families who are aware their TA is coming in this batch, hasn't received their TA, either.  So, the wait continues................

We viewed airline prices tonight to see how close we can book flights without them being astronomically high in price....it appears that even as short as 7 days, we can still manage reasonable prices.  Thankfully, this buys us more time to receive our TA and in turn, contact China for our Consulate Appointment.

For those not familiar with China adoptions, it's both the TA and CA that are equally important with regards to travel.  One must have TA to travel into China but a family must also have a CA before traveling.

Prayers for our TA & A SPEEDY TURN-AROUND WITH CA!!!

It's Beginning to Look Alot Like.....

CHRISTMAS & THANKSGIVING!!

As we prayerfully anticipate our travel approval arriving this week, we decided to begin decorating the house for Christmas, so that when we return home with our beautiful daughter, the house will be decorated and ready for Christmas!  A first Christmas for both of our children. Sterling was home for Christmas last year, but had only been home a few weeks and was completely overwhelmed and oblivious to anything around him...this year, he will have a much better understanding and is already in awe over the decorations, especially the 12ft Christmas tree! The dinning room table is decorated for Thanksgiving, with a fun, child-like theme but the remainder of the house, looks like Christmas!

Please be in prayer with us as we await our travel approval AND receive confirmation of our consulate appointment that we may travel, the day after Thanksgiving!

Stockings are hung by the chimney with care....

Sterling's Christmas Train

Dinning Room Chandelier

Our 12 Foot Christmas Tree

Indoor Wreath (one on each side of the tree)

Thanksgiving Table

Fun & Playful Place Setting

Mayflower & Turkeys

Travel Approval-Could It Be?

This upcoming week???!!!

A batch of Travel Approvals were processed and on their way to the USA!!!

A family we've been in close contact with emailed today with news their travel approval is on its way from China!Their agency has a way of knowing when TA's are processed.  We are sharing in their joy and pray they are able to travel at Thanksgiving. 

The additional joy in all of this is that our Article 5 was delivered to the CCAA before this family....4 days earlier!  Our Article 5 was delivered on 10/25 and this family's Article 5 was delivered on 10/29. 

TA's are processed in batches.  We have a strong feeling our TA was processed in this batch and now, making it's way to our adoption agency. 

We also received an email from a different family to say they heard that 100 Travel Approvals were processed today...or rather last night, which is Friday, China time.

Prayers for TA next week!

Family Christmas Pajamas

Mama has her matching Christmas pajamas!! 

I've always thought it would be fun to have matching Christmas pajamas, as part of a holiday tradition.  It never made sense in years past because it was only Earl and I and my grown son wouldn't be keen on Christmas pajamas, but now with the younger children, it's going to be fun!  We are fanatic Disney fans and found the pajamas at the Disney Store.  We also bought Christmas Mickey and Minnie stuffed animals, for Sterling & Miao.

Hotel Reservations in Guangzhou

COME ON, TRAVEL APPROVAL!!!

As of today, we have hotel reservations in Guanghzou!!!  Earl has been working deligently toward getting our hotel reserved to ensure we have lodging once we receive TA.  There are major events being held in Guangzhou, currently the Asian Games which are making it a challenge for families to find hotels for their adoption travel, especially those families wanting to travel quickly after receiving TA.  No more sweating it for us, we have a hotel!!!!

Fortunately, with all the business travel Earl has done over the years to China, we are able to receive a discount, confirmation of the executive floor and couple of free nights!  While we don't like daddy traveling on business, it is once again, paying off!  Thank you daddy for all your hard work and many nights of waking at 2:00 am in the morning...while in China or back at home when readjusting to the time change!!!!

COME ON TA!!!!  WE'RE READY AND WAITING.....AND A HOTEL ROOM RESERVED!!!!  YEA!!!!! 

Next stop on the list of things to do...purchase the gifts for China officials, orphanage director and general gifts for the orphanage children.  Many other "to-do's" on our list but taking it one step at a time.......

Sterling's First Halloween

Wow, hard to believe it’s already October and the end of October, at that!!! It’s now been 11 months that our lives were blessed with Sterling. 11 months of joy and love!!! Our son is very affectionate and a caring little boy. We’ve been blessed beyond words!


He celebrated his first Halloween party today, at school! He was pretty much at a loss with what was going on around him but at the end of the day, when leaving school and taking with him a bag of “goodies” he was giggling and smiling, ear-to-ear!!

The day started off with a costume parade of all the children at his school. Each class walked around outside, in front of parents. Sterling came to me a couple of times for hugs but overall, he did very well and remained seated with his class, while I sat across the way.

I took a day off work and so glad that I did…..it was a memorable day to have shared the parade and Halloween party, with him.