Travel Approval!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am SO excited to share with y'all that today..... we FINALLY got.... TA!!!!!!!!! This is our travel approval... China's official invitation for us to come and get our baby!!!!! We have waited so long for this day and it is finally here. And the funny thing is, after all this waiting, now I feel rushed!!!! I still don't know what day we will leave, or what day GOTCHA day will be, but I do know this..... it will be SOON!!!

We were also thrilled today to get an update on Tulah. We were able to get some updated measurements, and to find out that she is now only in her braces at night and at nap time!! This is HUGE!! Her little feet have come such a long way! She has also started walking with a walker and, apparently, LOVES this new freedom!!!

We also got a new picture!! This picture was taken just 3 days ago!!!

Have you ever seen such a precious little girl?!? Look at her hair!!! I know... I'm just a little bias!!! I showed this picture to Zoee and Grayden and they just can't wait to get her here either!!!

As excited as we are, I also carry a heavy heart for her in the next few days as she prepares to leave all that she has ever known. Her world is fixing to be turned upside down. Please join us in praying that God has already been preparing her heart for our family. Pray that He will provide peace and comfort for her until we can get to her, and that she will allow Michael and I to comfort her as she grieves for those who have loved and cared for her.

I am still in amazement that just a year ago, my heart was HEAVILY burdened for a child I did not know. And that Michael's heart was HEAVILY burdened by not sharing those feelings alongside me. There were some hard days when I questioned why I couldn't turn away from this burden. Why would God place those feelings on my heart when my husband, my soul mate, far from felt the same? In those hard days, I clung to God's word for comfort and peace.... specifically Hebrews 10:23.

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful"

Hebrews 10:23

Indeed, He is faithful!! While God gently nudged, guided, and whispered to me.... He had to ROAR to my husband. And whether He whispers to our family, or roars (!), we will be faithful and follow Him.

God is good, all the time!!!!!!!! I will keep you posted on our travel dates as soon as we know something!!

A few more pics.....

Here are a few more pics from our day at Brookgreen Gardens.......

Grayden loves "gators"....

 And so does his Daddy!! He thinks he's so funny!!

 Me and my buddy!!

 In the Butterfly Pavilion, the butterflies were fluttering everywhere, and they would happily land on us!

 My beautiful Zoee girl!!

I SO loved the huge oak trees covered with Spanish Moss.... BEAUTIFUL!!

We decided that this would be a new Easter weekend family tradition.... and next Easter... we will have this little girl to experience this with us!! It won't be much longer!!!!

A Day at Brookgreen Gardens

It has been a family tradition since I was in elementary school....every year at Easter, my family heads to the beach. Though most every year, it is too cool to hang out on the beach, I really thought that this year that would NOT be the case. You see, here where we live, it was in the high 70's and even 80's the whole month of March! But, once again Easter brought its' cold chill to the beach!

On Saturday, the high was only supposed to get to about 70, and with the wind on the beach, that feels really cool. So, in an effort to find some activity to occupy our day, I finally got my husband to take us somewhere that I have wanted to go to FOREVER.... Brookgreen Gardens. I have driven past this place for years, and it looked so beautiful, but that was nothing compared to the beauty that was found inside.

The property is HUGE. I'm not sure just exactly how many acres this place covers, but you could spend an entire day, or more, exploring everything they have to offer. We visited the zoo there, an indoor butterfly pavilion, immaculate gardens with beautiful flowers, fountains, sculptures and quaint paths. I haven't been that relaxed in a long time. And it was such a good, family time! If you ever visit near Murrell's Inlet, SC, it is worth your time to pay this beautiful place a visit.

Enjoy some of our pictures from the day!!!

After these 3 pictures, Blogger has decided not to let me upload any more pics tonight:(( I will add in some more pics tomorrow!!