Prayer Requests

In the days ahead, I would appreciate your prayers for a number of things in these final days of the journey to Molly.

Prayer Requests:
1. There is a slim chance we could leave for China as early as Feb. 2. This date would be especially significant to me as it is the 2nd year anniversary of Dennis' death. I'd love to have a new memory attached to that date.
2. Flights - I can't book flights until we have travel approval from China - about two weeks before we would leave. Please pray for prices to be reasonable and available for the dates we want to go.
3. Continue to pray for the final financial needs to be met.
 4. Most importantly, please pray for Molly as she prepare for the loss of everything in her life that is familiar.

Thank you all for your part in Molly's journey to our family. I see God's hand in so many of the details. Just recently China stopped granting any waivers to their rules. Had that been in place a few months ago when I requested to be matched with Molly, I would not have been able to adopt her as I needed an waiver due to my age.

Each one of you is part of her story as you have upheld us in prayer and supported me in so many ways. Thank you.

Almost Done

On January 12th my documents will be picked up from the consulate in China and then all I have standing between me and bringing home Molly is a travel approval from China. It is very likely I will be able to leave for China on Feb 9 and get Molly on Feb. 13.

Merry Christmas Molly

Merry Christmas Molly. This will be your last Christmas without a family. I love you and can't wait to meet you in person in a few months. Next year you will know about a Savior who came to earth to provide for your redemption.

Documents in China!

My documents will be delivered in China for their final review on Thursday. Usually this steps takes two weeks but with the holidays in there it will most likely be three weeks. The last step after that is a travel approval from China. Please pray the travel approval comes before Chinese New Year so I can travel right after the holiday.

Molly's VISA

One more step down. I got my case number for Molly's VISA today and filled out her VISA application also. I need one more piece of paper from them and then the paperwork heads to China for the final two steps before I can go get Molly. It is getting so close.

Praying for Grants

Will you all please pray for the grant applications I have submitted recently. Travel is around the corner (even though it seems like forever) and I really need to raise the rest of the adoption money. I mailed one grant application a few weeks ago and two today. Please pray for favor with those reviewing the applications.

i800 Approval

One more step done - i800 approval yesterday. This is immigrations approval for Molly to enter the country.

Today I had a phone conference that went over the details of the actually adoption trip to China. It really makes it seem like the trip is coming up quickly. Can't wait to get to China and bring Molly home. :)

Molly and Jade

Another Mom who is adopting from Molly's orphanage just sent me this picture. I LOVE IT!

Waiting for Immigration

My immigration approval should come early this week. Please pray this step happens according to normal time frames. I am so ready to be in China and get Molly and each day is agony. If things slow down at some point, it will be so hard.

Pictures

Another family was video calling their daughter at Molly's orphanage and guess who else was there? And she sent me a screen shoot! Her expression is priceless!

Pictures!

One of the things that keeps you going during the wait to bring home your child is updates and pictures. Molly has grown two inches and gained over 10 lbs. (I'm guessing her earlier weight was wrong as it was much too thin for her height.)

VISA

Brooklyn and my VISAs were picked up yesterday and will arrive in the mail today. One more step done. Next week our immigration approval should move to the VISA center for Molly's VISA processing. By Christmas, all of the paperwork on this side of the world should be done and the last two steps in China will happen in January. We hope to be leaving for China around Feb. 10th if all goes smoothly.

Can't wait to have his sweet girl home with us.

Crunch Time

It's crunch time. The reality of how close I am to leaving to get Molly came home today when I received an email about a travel meeting conference call. This is the meeting where the core information about travel is discussed. It is next week!

It also made me acutely aware of the financial needs that still need to be met. There is about $7000 in fees alone while we are in China. Another $8000 more in travel expense. (The cost of flights could increase that estimate a bit.) Last week I paid my final fees to the agency and that was over $3000.

PLEASE consider helping bring Molly home by giving an end of year, tax-deductible gift to help cover the expenses I still will have to bring Molly home. You can give at www.purecharity.com/hierl-family-adoption All gifts given through this site are tax-deductible. Thank you so much for your gifts.

Timeline

At this point in the process of adoption, timeframes become much more predictable. There can always be unforeseen delays and with both countries celebrating holidays over the next few months, anything can happen. With that said, here is a potential timeframe for the rest of the process. (Don't worry about what each step means. If it is in the US it is part of immigration and the VISA process. The steps in China are a final review of all paperwork and an invitation to come and get Molly.)

Immigration approval - US - 12/14
GUZ - US - 12/21
RTF - US - 12/23 or 24
Article 5 Drop-off - China - 12/28
Article 5 Pick-up - China - 1/13 -17
Travel approval - China - 1/25
(Chinese New Year Jan 27-Feb. 2)
Leave for China - Feb. 9 or 10
Family Day (When I get Molly) 2/13
Home - Feb. 25 (this date will likely change by a day or two in either direction)

Please pray for each step to move smoothly and quickly as the holidays and staff vacations can really slow things down. Its getting so close and I can hardly wait to meet her.

Answered Prayer

Answered Prayer - I did get an update on Molly this week. Thanks for praying. It did not have new height and weight measurements but did have a foot measurement. I have height and weight from last summer so I can go from those if needed, although my agency is asking for those as well. I'll take a best guess size and safety pins for if they are too big. That worked well with Brooklyn.

The update also did not include new pictures. :( The agency is asking for those as well.