They arrived in HCMC and took an $8 taxi ride to their beautiful hotel ($40 a night). I sure wish American prices were more like that, we could possibly afford a vacation. They struggled to figure out their AC, but managed to get it up and running. The hotel they are staying at is right next to a shopping center (more like a market) that has plenty of last minute items that they will want such as sodas and water. They leave for Can Tho Saturday morning. They will have had two days of rest and recovery before a 6hr taxi ride through the south end of Vietnam. Thanks for keeping them in your thoughts and prayers. We will keep you all updated on their trip as it unfolds!
Friday, October 31, 2008
Their Journey Continues in HCMC
Sometimes you don't think about what time it is on the other side of the world. I spent most of the day on Wednesday trying to figure out what time it was for the Blackwells as they traveled across the globe. They left from Charlotte on EST to San Fran and gained 3 hrs in the air, only to lose an entire day when they travelled across the International Date line. I spent all of Thursday wanted the Blackwells to wake up, just to report on the sites of Ho Chi Minh City, their hotel, the weather... Finally friends, we have a report.
They arrived in HCMC and took an $8 taxi ride to their beautiful hotel ($40 a night). I sure wish American prices were more like that, we could possibly afford a vacation. They struggled to figure out their AC, but managed to get it up and running. The hotel they are staying at is right next to a shopping center (more like a market) that has plenty of last minute items that they will want such as sodas and water. They leave for Can Tho Saturday morning. They will have had two days of rest and recovery before a 6hr taxi ride through the south end of Vietnam. Thanks for keeping them in your thoughts and prayers. We will keep you all updated on their trip as it unfolds!
They arrived in HCMC and took an $8 taxi ride to their beautiful hotel ($40 a night). I sure wish American prices were more like that, we could possibly afford a vacation. They struggled to figure out their AC, but managed to get it up and running. The hotel they are staying at is right next to a shopping center (more like a market) that has plenty of last minute items that they will want such as sodas and water. They leave for Can Tho Saturday morning. They will have had two days of rest and recovery before a 6hr taxi ride through the south end of Vietnam. Thanks for keeping them in your thoughts and prayers. We will keep you all updated on their trip as it unfolds!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Almost there...
Well the Blackwell family has arrived in Hong Kong! They should be arriving in HCMC shortly and hopefully can get some much needed rest. I will keep you posted on their journey as we all continue to pray. Apparently both of their flights were completely full and a bit uncomfortable, but they made it! WOOHOOOO!!! More excitement to come from the Far East!
Monday, October 27, 2008
And off they go!!!
It is truly happening. The Blackwell family boards a plane tomorrow bound for Vietnam via San Fran and Hong Kong. The plan is to arrive in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday, travel to Can Tho on Saturday (
about an hour from the baby home) and then finally to the Hau Giang baby home on Sunday to meet their son. We are hopeful that they will have their Giving and Receiving Ceremony sometime between Monday Nov 3rd and Wednesday Nov 5th. They will then drive back to HCMC, where they will have a few appointments and medical exams before flying north to Hanoi to receive Zane's visa to come home. We are hopeful that they can be home on Thursday November 13th. Please keep them in your prayers, as we know that the government officials have been more than difficult with the time frames. We have been blessed to know this family, and pray for this family throughout their adoption. We met up with the Blackwells this weekend for a farewell and to give them a care package for our Dillen. Please celebrate with us and lift them up in prayer as they journey to their son!
about an hour from the baby home) and then finally to the Hau Giang baby home on Sunday to meet their son. We are hopeful that they will have their Giving and Receiving Ceremony sometime between Monday Nov 3rd and Wednesday Nov 5th. They will then drive back to HCMC, where they will have a few appointments and medical exams before flying north to Hanoi to receive Zane's visa to come home. We are hopeful that they can be home on Thursday November 13th. Please keep them in your prayers, as we know that the government officials have been more than difficult with the time frames. We have been blessed to know this family, and pray for this family throughout their adoption. We met up with the Blackwells this weekend for a farewell and to give them a care package for our Dillen. Please celebrate with us and lift them up in prayer as they journey to their son!On a side note, we still do not have an update on our travels. The director of our agency was supposed to email us last week to give us an update on when our paperwork would be going to Hanoi and the cost of that, we did not hear from her. We asked for a receipt for our adoption expenses thus far nearly two months ago, and we still have not received that either. We do not know when this madness will end for us. As the economy seems to slip, we are more and more concerned about the debt that we are acquiring in this process. Please be in prayer for us during this time. We were unable to receive any grant money and both of our second jobs put us in more of a financial need than before. It seems like we can never catch up and it is very unlikely that we can get ahead of where we need to be to afford this adoption. We do not take your prayers for granted.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Another Family to Travel
As unfortunate as it may seem, we resigned ourselves to believing that we would not have any more updates, at least until the next two families travel.... and it's here! We just received word that the Blackwell family could travel sometime next week to pick up our beautiful son-in-law to be. Most of you will not be able to follow their blog because it's private, but we will continue to post their praises and prayer requests as they travel. Let's think of them as they scurry around getting ready for this amazing trip and prepare to leave a precious child behind for a few weeks. We'll continue to pray for their travel arrangements to go smoothly along with their in country experience. For some of you that don't know, this family has become dear friends of ours. Our heart breaks that we are not on the plane with them, however we rejoice knowing that they will hold our little girl, and finally be reunited with their son. This is good news! This also puts us one step closer to Dillen Marie!
Monday, October 20, 2008
A vacation would be nice right about now....
Hi Friends! Well again it's Monday, and as we begin another hopeful week, I can report that our agency has received our Name Affidavit, just in case the officials in Vietnam ask for it. Our friends the Blackwells will be able to take it with them to Vietnam when they go to pick up their little boy. This Monday is special because we have a new friend in the neighborhood, little Anya should have arrived home last night to SC. We are so excited to welcome her home. If you don't mind, continue to pray that our report will be taken to Hanoi and the Blackwell family will get their Invitation to travel. We are hoping for a productive week, but this is the email response you will get from our agency if you happen to be waiting to bring your child home from Vietnam... Thanks for emailing. I am on vacation until November 24 with limited access to my email. I will respond to your email as quickly as I can.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Updated Measurements
Monday, October 13, 2008
Another week begins
Thank God for Monday!
I know, I know all of you reading this just rolled your eyes. You see, in our house, we eagerly welcome Mondays because we are able to get more news about our adoption. We keep ourselves busy on the weekends... just to get to Monday.
This weekend was beautiful. Saturday morning I had some friends over for a babyshower for a dear friend. It was a bit of a crazy start, as I almost burned my house down making Monkey Bread. I spent the rest of the afternoon planting pansies and relaxing as Chris went off to work. Sunday it was off to church to hear the last sermon in the series One Month to Live. We have been blessed with a wonderful church home where we continue to grow our relationship with the Lord and each other. Then off to Fall for Greenville. Those of you reading that are not locals, this is a festival downtown where many of the Greenville restaurants set up tents out on the street and sell some of their famous foods in smaller portions for a fraction of the cost. This allows you to taste food from lots of restaurants so you know who you want to go back to.
What can you pray for this week, you ask? Pray that our Police investigation FINALLY goes to Hanoi. It's been complete now for two weeks, but it hasn't been submitted to the official so it can go to Hanoi. Also pray that the Blackwell family and the Lopez family get issued Invitations to travel to bring home their sons. Thanks for the positive vibes! Lets pray for a good, productive week.
I know, I know all of you reading this just rolled your eyes. You see, in our house, we eagerly welcome Mondays because we are able to get more news about our adoption. We keep ourselves busy on the weekends... just to get to Monday.
This weekend was beautiful. Saturday morning I had some friends over for a babyshower for a dear friend. It was a bit of a crazy start, as I almost burned my house down making Monkey Bread. I spent the rest of the afternoon planting pansies and relaxing as Chris went off to work. Sunday it was off to church to hear the last sermon in the series One Month to Live. We have been blessed with a wonderful church home where we continue to grow our relationship with the Lord and each other. Then off to Fall for Greenville. Those of you reading that are not locals, this is a festival downtown where many of the Greenville restaurants set up tents out on the street and sell some of their famous foods in smaller portions for a fraction of the cost. This allows you to taste food from lots of restaurants so you know who you want to go back to.
What can you pray for this week, you ask? Pray that our Police investigation FINALLY goes to Hanoi. It's been complete now for two weeks, but it hasn't been submitted to the official so it can go to Hanoi. Also pray that the Blackwell family and the Lopez family get issued Invitations to travel to bring home their sons. Thanks for the positive vibes! Lets pray for a good, productive week.
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