Travel Approval!!

China finally issued our Travel approval on October 18th!!  GWCA received a batch of TA's the day before and we were not included.  It was our anniversary and I was sick so I was hoping for some good news.  When our TA didn't come I was so upset and mad at myself for making a mistake on our I-800 form.  When our travel counselor called with our TA on Thursday we so excited and relieved! I guess there was a shipping glitch the day before with our package. Jenny submitted our request for our consulate appointment that day.  We were told it would take 2-5 days for confirmation but we got our appointment the next day!  It was about time we caught a break.

 It's hard to believe that we will be leaving for China on November 15th!!!!  We fly into Beijing on the 16th and will tour the city on the 17th.  On the 18th we will fly to Nanchang, Jiangxi and be joined with Ava!  This day will forever be known as Gotcha day! We will be able to tour her province for a few days before we fly to Guangzhou on November 23rd.  While we are in Guangzhou we will again tour the city but we will also have medical appointments for Ava, attend an oath ceremony on the 28th and pick up Ava's passport and Visa on the 29th.  On November 29th we will take a train to Hong Kong where we will board a plane on November 30th to fly home!! 

After hours on the phone Friday we booked our international flights with United and booked a hotel in Hong Kong.  GWCA will be booking all of our intra-China flights, tours, and hotels.  So the countdown has begun, we leave for China in 22 days!!  It is so surreal and overwhelming.  We were hoping to be home for Thanksgiving but we will be celebrating in China instead.  There is so much to be thankful for this year!!

Every step is complete!  One more step to Ava!!