Surprise! Wait.. you're not really all that surprised, are you?

So much story to tell. We're going back to China again. We're adding another child to our crew. No one seems particularly surprised by this... well... no one but me! 

I'm working on writing out the full story. I can't tell you when it'll be ready to post. These are busy, busy days in Green-land. Leah is going in for the first of two surgeries next week (the second will be mid-November). Between pre-op appointments, adoption paperwork flying back and forth, Annie's birthday, and... oh ya... homeschool, this week was absolutely insane. Next week promises to be even crazier. So, pardon my lack of blog efficiency. We will get there someday. 

In the meantime, a few quick items to catch you up:

The key word for this whole process thus far is WHIRLWIND. It has all happened really quickly, and my head is still spinning. 

(For the record, I'll take whirlwind spinning over sitting around twiddling my thumbs anyday)

We decided to go back to China in mid-August and got the paperwork rolling immediately. 

About a month later, my friend Tyra texted me in the middle of the afternoon and told me to look at our agency's website. There was a little girl they'd just posted (meaning they didn't have another family whose Medical Conditions Checklist matched up with her file... sound familiar? Same situation as Leah). I called CCAI in the middle of the afternoon and requested her file. 

A few days later, we submitted our Letter of Intent to adopt this little person. This past Monday, China gave their official Pre-Approval. 

So... here is our daughter! 

We haven't decided what her English name will be yet, but her Chinese name is XiaoXi. She's two, and she's from the same orphanage as Leah. 

The kids are all thrilled! Truly. A few of them had been praying that we would adopt again even before Josh and I had talked about the possibility. They're all completely smitten with their new MeiMei... we all are!

So, timeline? Well, we're busy paperchasing. The majority of our dossier is currently traveling back & forth between the Secretary of State and here, and will soon be sent on to the Chinese Consulate for authentication. We're waiting on our fingerprint appointment notice from USCIS, and as soon as we get that taken care of, we will be waiting for our 1st immigration approval (I-800a a.k.a I-797.... I still have no idea why it has 2 names). I'm really hoping to be DTC (Dossier to China) in mid-November. Given the crazy fast speed of this journey so far, I'm hopeful! 

Looking at current timeline statistics, we could be in China by early spring. Of course, we have to remember that this breakneck speed could come to a screeching halt at any moment... there are all sorts of holidays - here in the U.S. and in China - that could slow our paperwork down if we get caught in the wrong cycle (I'm looking at you, Lunar New Year). 

But here's the thing... God is orchestrating every single step of this story. This is so far beyond anything we're doing. He is taking us by the hand and walking (sometimes it feels like running... and again, that's totally fine by me) us through this road. So, right now I'm completely peaceful that it's going to unfold in His timing.