Priceless!

• 2 round trip, nonstop tickets to Moscow: approx. $1530
• 6 nights lodging in the most expensive city in the world: approx. $1547 (if we get the apartment we want. Otherwise, $4500 or more!)
• Meeting our child on MY Birthday, Monday, March 17: PRICELESS!!

Yep - we’re Moscow bound! C from our agency called to confirm our dossier had been registered today and that we are officially invited to visit Moscow March 15 – March 22. We will meet, hold, play, love, hug and cuddle with our child for the very first time on Monday, March 17 which is my birthday! How wonderful is that?

We haven’t confirmed all of our travel (airfare & lodging) but will by Monday. Unfortunately there is some type of expo or conference in Moscow from 3/19 – 3/21 which is making lodging not only scarce, but EXPENSIVE as well. We’ll work it out though. I have lined up Dr. T to meet us at the orphanage on Monday the 17th to examine Baby C and give us an expert opinion as to Baby C's health, development, etc.

When we made our trip to Asheville back in January to meet C in person, I felt in the week leading up to that trip that we would be able to hand deliver our dossier to her despite the hurdles in our way. As it turns out, God provided the means for us to do that and I was absolutely thrilled! I have felt all along that we would travel on my birthday and today God answered that prayer as well!

Let the packing begin!

Prayer Request: Please pray with us for speedy return of our 171H, immigration approval. We can make our first trip without it, but we absolutely need it for our court date. The current processing timeline puts us as receiving the 171H around 3/14/08, but it may also take as long as 4/11/08. By traveling without the 171H, we are putting our trust in God that our paperwork will be processed without interrupting our potential court date in April/May. Also, please keep Baby C, the orphange director and caregivers, and our agency staff in NC and Moscow in your prayers as well. Finally, please pray this weekend that we will be able to find reasonable accomodations in Moscow. Thank you everyone, for joining us thus far on our journey!