We're going...soon!

This week, we received our travel approval to go to China! I was actually very surprised, as we had been told it might be another couple of weeks.

Surprise #2: We are leaving Thursday. Less than a week. Right before Christmas. Thursday.

Even if I thought that we would receive our approval when we did, I never would have believed that we would travel so soon. I mean, its the holidays, its the end of the year, it takes time to get these things done, etc. Because it normally takes so long to get the paperwork through, it's oddly ironic that we somehow have to pretty much drop everything and go. And yet, we've been planning this for a while....

It always ends up until the last minute. Even if I thought I were ready, I will not be. That's the way it is. Russ and I had a babysitter tonight, so we went shopping for gifts for the boys and to buy some clothes and sippy cups and stuff to take with us. We both were wondering aloud why we were doing this so last minute, especially when there is holiday shopping, Christmas parties, and any other number of things to do right now.

I am so excited to go, but there is a minor twinge of sadness because of it. The boys are staying here. That means I won't get to see them on Christmas, I won't be here to tuck them in on Christmas eve or see them open their presents this year. We had found a fantastic deal on a train set this summer that we bought for them and Russ has been setting it up in the basement for them to see and have on Christmas. But it is going to have to wait. More than that, I get sad thinking about their sweet faces and their silly songs. I know it is only 2 weeks. Asher cried and threw a tantrum at me a couple of days ago and I thought, "ok...I actually won't miss this..." I know we can't take them with us--it would be very hard on them with the traveling, the food, the time zones, etc, etc, etc. I know they will have a wonderful time with my parents and it is only 2 weeks. And we are coming home with someone very special.

I mostly just don't think about it right now. I don't want to miss them before we are even gone! So, I'm anticipating our travel, looking forward to meeting our girl, and hugging my guys a little bit tighter these days.