VIVIEN AT 21 MONTHS

This week was a big week for us in our adoption journey. All of the U.S. side of things is done and on its way to China. Our Article 5 (ha, yeah, I don't really even know what that is) will be done on March 13th and then we should get our Travel Approval (TA) one week later. Families typically travel two weeks from TA. So it looks like we will be in China at the beginning of April. I was hoping our trip would overlap with Stella's very long spring break at the end of March, but that is looking like it isn't going to be the case. Oh well, we certainly have no control over that. This week we also got our passports in the mail with our China visas now included. It was super scary to me to have our passports just off in the world somewhere, but I didn't let myself think about it and thankfully it all worked out.

I requested and paid for an update on Vivien. We finally got these five pictures and a video of her on February 10th. It was amazing to see how big she was now. However, what really honestly surprised me was that she speaks Chinese! I know, I guess I should have figured that she would, but it was amazing to see her listen to her Chinese caretakers and then answer them IN CHINESE! In the video she is just chilling and hanging out with some toys and I've watched that thing so many times now I have every tiny movement memorized.

The thing I was mostly interested in were her measurements. And they told me she weighs 11.2 cm. So I am not sure how accurate any of the information is.  I suppose much can be lost in translation. I assume they meant kg, which would make sense. They also say she is not afraid of strangers, and that she likes to play with balls and ride a bicycle. She is walking and running. She also likes candy and treats. Also apparently she is with a foster family and not in an orphanage now. I hope this means she has gotten better and more personal care, but there is no way of knowing this for sure right now.

It is amazing how much my faith is just kicking in and giving me peace about things I can't control. I know she is going to be safe and watched over because I know she belongs safe here with us.

I just think her face is so beautiful, and her cheeks are so kissable and I can't wait to meet her. I'm preparing for her to be scared and probably not really like us much at first, but I hope that the spirit will intervene and that she will soon feel the love of a family and also the love of her Heavenly Father through us.

Even though I wish they had sent more, I am so grateful to have these pictures because now I know this is what she looks like right now. I can't seem to see a pink puffy jacket these days without thinking of her...