February 12- Plane tickets are here!!!

Yep, here they are- OUR PLANE TICKETS!!! These arriving today makes this seem all the more real to me. We're NOT waiting anymore to find out about Elizabeth. She IS real!! We ARE going to get her NEXT WEEK!!!

Why are there 5 plane tickets? Aren't only 4 people going over? Well, the fifth ticket is Elizabeth's for her trip HOME!! The four adults have round-trip tickets but Elizabeth's is one way- the way home.

And yes, the ticket is in her Chinese name (Yang Chun Hua Bing) because she will be issued a passport with her Chinese name. We will change it all to Elizabeth Ann once we arrive back home. :)

Comments

ok ok ok thay got the tickets, all that is left is to go get her next week yahoo troops!!!
Posted by: walter on February 12, 2007 at 06:19 P.M.

Congratulations!!! What an amazing day for you all! Just a few more days and she will be in your arms!!!Marywww.oneblessedfamily.com
Posted by: Mary on February 13, 2007 at 01:57 P.M.

I love the sound of "one way ticket".....kinda makes me think of our salvation...there's no turning back!
Posted by: Melissa on February 15, 2007 at 09:33 A.M.

February 10- SHE SMILES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Once again, the Lord has blessed us with another photo of Elizabeth Ann!!!

This picture was taken on December 28, 2006. Another family was there visiting the Yangchun Comprehensive Welfare Institute (otherwise known as an orphanage) where they adopted their daughter from a few years ago. They were able to take pictures of almost all of the babies in the orphange and Elizabeth just happened to be one of them!!!!

We are SO excited about this photo because it is the first picture we've received with her SMILING!!!!!!! Her whole face is smiling and we are thrilled to death with that big grin!!!!

Comments

Oh Shari!! What a beautiful smile Elizabeth has! And look at her little teeth!What are we going to do for the next 11 days??
Posted by: Jill on February 10, 2007 at 09:58 P.M.

Oh my gosh! That picture is beautiful! She looks so happy as if to say "I'm happy you are coming to get me Mommy!" And look at those bottome teeth!!!
Posted by: Kim on February 12, 2007 at 08:59 A.M.

Her face is saying, "I'm ready Mom and Dad for you to come get me."
Posted by: Big Brother on February 15, 2007 at 08:51 A.M.

February 9- The Flight...

We just booked our flight with our travel agency, Lotus Travel, Inc. Here's what the schedule is. Remember, when reading this, take into account the time differences in each state or continent.

DL=Delta CZ=China Southern airline

DL 395T 21FEB WE Atlanta/Los angeles 530P 732PCZ 328G 21FEB WE Los angeles/Guangzhou 1150P 650A + 2 days (arrival on 23 Feb)

CZ 327H 09MAR FR Guangzhou/Los angeles 900P 550P

DL 986L 09MAR FR Los angeles/Atlanta 1155P 700A + 1 day (arrival on 10 Mar)

Next week we should have an itinerary from our adoption agency, CCAI. We will share it as soon as we have it.

Comments

ok you got yout schedule next going there & back, be careful & be safe ok
Posted by: walter on February 11, 2007 at 06:12 P.M.

WOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! I know how excited you are!!!!!! I can't wait to follow along your journey and see pictures of you holding, kissing and loving in Elizabeth!!!!!!!!! Have a wonderful trip.
Posted by: Melissa Ward on February 11, 2007 at 07:25 P.M.

February 8- A shower for Elizabeth!

We are so blessed. Our sweet church family gave us a shower this past Saturday for Elizabeth. Sooo many wonderful ladies showed up and I had the best time with them!!!

The yummy cake for the shower was from Balloon Delights in Thomson. I think this is the CUTEST cake! Years ago, I saw them decorating the cake in their store and commented that I wanted a cake just like that if I ever had a baby shower. Well, they remembered and this cake was at the shower on Saturday!!! Not only is it simply adorable, but it tastes HEAVENLY!!!

The "cake" looking thing is a diaper cake!! Yes, a cake made of diapers!! The lady that made this took time to roll up 90, yes NINETY, diapers and stack them all up to look like a big tiered cake!!!! She lovingly wrapped it in ribbon and fastened so many little things around the cake for decoration- hair bands, socks, scrunchies for bathtime, hair bows, etc. It was topped with a stuffed bunny rabbit that plays "Jesus Loves Me" when you squeeze him! It was SO lovely and I hate the thought of taking it apart.

I truly had a fantastic time and was so very happy to spend those few hours with family and friends.

We are so very blessed indeed!!!!!

Comments

Katie has the exact same bunny! That is her first song that I sang to her and she loves to listen to her bunny sing it too. See they both have so much in common besides just being southern girls!
Posted by: Kim on February 8, 2007 at 12:10 P.M.

February 7- We have our Consulate appointment!!!!

PRAISE THE LORD!!!

We've just heard from our adoption agency, CCAI, and we have a confirmed Consulate appointment!!!!!

The US Consulate in Guangzhou (which is the city that we will be staying the entire time in China) is the last official stop Americans have to make before returning home. It is here that we will received Elizabeth's Visa and her passport. Once this visit is over, Elizabeth will be officially our child according to China and the US. Once her feet hit US soil, she will be declared a full citizen of the United States of America.

Our appointment is March 7, 2007, with the US Consulate but that's not the BEST date that I have to share. We have just learned that Elizabeth Ann Upchurch will be PLACED IN OUR ARMS on Sunday, February 25, 2007!!!!!!!!!!!!! All these years of waiting and praying for her to be with us will come to an end on that day. Of course, we will STILL be praying for her for the rest of our lives, but we will not have to pray for her to come home with us anymore after that day. She WILL be home. :)

We should have travel plans finalized by Monday, February 12. I will definitely update y'all when we find out the exact dates and times.

Soli deo gloria!!!!!

Comments

PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!!!!!! I'm SO excited to hear that you have your CA and your Gotcha Day is scheduled!!!!!!! Elizabeth has no idea how loved she really is, yet. I can't wait to hear your travel plans and see Elizabeth in your arms!
Posted by: Melissa Ward on February 7, 2007 at 11:07 A.M.

WOO HOO! I can't wait for Elizabeth and Ella to meet! -Noelle
Posted by: noelle on February 7, 2007 at 01:27 P.M.
Dear Upchurch family,though I have only met you once during my visit home to see my family in january, I am so very happy for you that GOD has blessed you with this wonderful child. I along with many more, I am sure,will pray for your safety and the blessing of that beautiful child that will be placed into your capable hands. May the Lord continue to bless and keep you all.
Posted by: Kaye Bartlett on February 8, 2007 at 12:05 A.M.

February 5- More pictures of Elizabeth- 2 months old!!!

We are truly SO blessed!! The Lord has allowed us to be in contact with another family that visited Elizabeth's orphanage. This kind lady took her daughter, also adopted, back to the Yangchun orphanage to see where she lived for the first few months of her life. While there in July of 2006, the orphanage director apparently let this lady take pictures of all the babies in the orphanage.

She recently posted these pictures online and we looked at all 124 photos hoping to find Elizabeth. We had NO idea how we would recognize her. I mean, she was only 2 months old at the time. But when we found these two photos, there was no denying it- THIS IS OUR ELIZABETH ANN!!!!

She is only 2 months and 4 days old in the pictures and we think she is the loveliest of all children that the Lord ever created!!! We cannot wait to bring her home!!!

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.His mercies never come to an end.They are new every morning, new every morning.Great is Thy faithfulness, O Lord, great is Thy faithfulness.

Comments

I'm not being snarky, I promise, but MAN, I hope you know just how blessed you are! lol Our son is 2 and in a SWI that no one is allowed to visit. So, no updated pictures. :( Elizabeth is beautiful and those 2 month old pics are definitely her!
Posted by: Mary on February 5, 2007 at 07:01 A.M.

She is wonderful-I can't wait to follow along on your trip.
Posted by: Anne, Gunther and Lexie on February 6, 2007 at 10:49 A.M.

How awesome is that! 2 priceless pictures of Elizabeth so young. Hey, how about that CA? Do you know when you are leaving yet? I know it's starting to eat at you...you've got her picture and just so bad want to hug and kiss her and let her know how much she is loved!
Posted by: Melissa Ward on February 7, 2007 at 08:19 A.M.

February 1- Lots of good news!!

We received LOTS of good news today!! Our agency notified us that we received our travel notice (or travel approval to some people). This is China's official "okay" stating that they will allow us to come and adopt from their country. Now we will be awaiting our consulate appointment date and then we can make all the travel plans with our travel agency. WOOHOOO!!!

Also, we received updated information about Elizabeth!! On January 4, she weighed 18 pounds and was 26 inches tall!!! And she already has 2 teeth!! How exciting!!

These are the two newest photos we received of Elizabeth. Apparently they were both taken on January 4 when she was 8 months and 2 days old!! Have you ever seen a more beautiful child????

The Lord is good and He does good!!

Comments

YEAH!!!! I've been waiting to hear this news!!!!!!!! I can't wait to hear that you are leaving and on your way to get Elizabeth. I've got tears for you just thinking about the wonderful trip and awaits!
Posted by: Melissa Ward on February 1, 2007 at 11:08 A.M.

Woo Hoo! How very, very exciting for you all. Have you any idea when you might be leaving?Blessings,Debbie
Posted by: Debbie Yuck on February 1, 2007 at 11:47 A.M.

Yeah! I'm so excited for you guys. I hope you get to leave soon. The pictures are adorable.Jen
Posted by: Jennifer Cannon on February 1, 2007 at 01:04 P.M.

Shari,Elizabeth is such a beauty!!Can't wait to meet her. It will be soon! But not soon enough. I want to go NOW!!!Jill
Posted by: Jill on February 1, 2007 at 03:37 P.M.

I just love the SNOOPY shirt.She is a girl after my heart!I love and miss ya'll! Casey
Posted by: casey on February 1, 2007 at 05:52 P.M.

Congratulations! Those are WONDERFUL pictures! They'll get you through until Gotcha Day! :)Mary
Posted by: Mary on February 1, 2007 at 09:53 P.M.