Best Christmas Present...Ever.

Twenty-two days ago, Santa delivered us our present early. Nearly every minute of those twenty-two days we've been looking at photographs of our daughter, searching her expressions, her eyes, her mouth, her hands, her feet even! "This is our girl", we almost have to say out loud, because really, we still need convincing.

Yesterday, Larry shipped off a package to Ella's orphanage. In it was a very special blanket, chocolates for the caretakers and a small photo album with pictures of us, our cat and our home. It is our hope that it will make it to her. We know there is a chance that it will not. But we had to try, no matter the expense or hassle in shipping half-way across the world. We bought this blanket over the summer (with extra help from our friend Brynn) and have slept with it ever since. We are told that this helps the child in becoming familiar with our scent which will be much different from what she has known. We will do anything we can do to help with Ella's transition. And when we meet her and she doesn't have the blanket or photo album with her, well then, perhaps another child is being swaddled in it. That's OK, too. We had the much-needed help of Sarah, our Chinese UT grad student friend, in preparing a letter to the orphanage staff explaining the delivery.

Last week, we sent a care package through a company who specializes in assisting adopting families. In that package was a teddy bear, a disposal camera and a letter asking the caretakers to photograph Ella in her surroundings. Again, we hope the camera is returned to us so that we have glimpses of her life before us. Once developed, those photos will represent Ella's very limited history. We will cherish them.

Just this morning, there are indications that families who received referrals the same time we did are receiving Travel Approvals. The TA is needed before we can purchase plane tickets. The TA tells us when we will be leaving! We have not received TA yet. But this is fantastic news and much quicker than we had thought. There seems to be no question now - we will be meeting our daughter in January. Happy New Year to us, huh?

Thanks for helping us unwrap the best Christmas present ever. It wouldn't have been the same without you. H&L