Two more days until "blast off"!!! We are putting together the final details of our trip and trusting God for a few more to fall into place. Please pray these loose ends will be tied up!
We want to take a moment to thank all of you for your support in so many ways. Whether simple encouragement, financial gifts, prayers or giving of basic needs for Victoria, it has all helped to bring our daughter home. We are so grateful to all our family and friends who have rallied around us the past 2 years.
We ask that you continue to pray even more for us as we bring Victoria home. Pray that she will bond well with each of us and to be comforted by the true Comforter during her time of grief from separating from her foster family. Pray for Will and Logan that they will have understanding and simply have FUN with their little sister. Pray for them as they are separated from us as we travel. Pray for Mom and Dad, too!
We have a rainbow of emotions as we prepare to travel. We stand upon the promises God has given to us concerning Victoria over the past 2 years. We will need Him even more and know He is faithful to equip us for the task ahead. And we can't wait to watch the blessings continue to rain down.
We will try to update our blog as we travel. Thank you for all your prayers and support!
Friday, October 23, 2009
Our Itinerary
Monday, Oct. 26 - Depart Indianapolis at 5:50pm
Tuesday, Oct. 27 - Arrive in Delhi 8:45pm
Wednesday, Oct. 28 - Hang out in Delhi
Thursday, Oct. 29 - Go to Agra/Taj Mahal
Friday, Oct. 30 - Fly to Bangalore, drive to Shamalas in Mysore
Friday Oct. 30 - Wed. Nov. 4th - Visit with Shamalas
Wed., Nov. 4 - Drive to Bangalore
Thurs. Nov. 5 - Hang out in Bangalore
Friday, Nov. 6 - VICTORIA DAY!!!
Saturday, Nov. 7 - Play with Victoria in Bangalore
Sunday, Nov. 8 - Fly back to Delhi
Monday, Nov. 9 - Do Visa processing (blah, blah, blah)
Tuesday, Nov. 10 - Pick up Visa - fly out at 12:55am that night
Wed., Nov. 11 - 9:50am - Will and Logan meet their little sister for the 1st time at the airport in Indy!
And the adventure begins!!!
Tuesday, Oct. 27 - Arrive in Delhi 8:45pm
Wednesday, Oct. 28 - Hang out in Delhi
Thursday, Oct. 29 - Go to Agra/Taj Mahal
Friday, Oct. 30 - Fly to Bangalore, drive to Shamalas in Mysore
Friday Oct. 30 - Wed. Nov. 4th - Visit with Shamalas
Wed., Nov. 4 - Drive to Bangalore
Thurs. Nov. 5 - Hang out in Bangalore
Friday, Nov. 6 - VICTORIA DAY!!!
Saturday, Nov. 7 - Play with Victoria in Bangalore
Sunday, Nov. 8 - Fly back to Delhi
Monday, Nov. 9 - Do Visa processing (blah, blah, blah)
Tuesday, Nov. 10 - Pick up Visa - fly out at 12:55am that night
Wed., Nov. 11 - 9:50am - Will and Logan meet their little sister for the 1st time at the airport in Indy!
And the adventure begins!!!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Pre-Departure Report
Below is some information from Victoria's Pre-Departure Report. She is still at 26#. Our little pumpkin is toilet trained and knows some English. Whew!! I hope she's not disappointed when this mama doesn't serve "all fresh home made food". And I'm not sure about the 8:30 dinner. The boys won't like it that she's eating while they're going to bed. ;-)
Eating Habits:
Victoria Rani has all fresh home made food.
Her mealtimes are as follows:
8.00 a.m: Fresh milk with Horlicks – (Pasteurized milk)
9.00 a.m: Breakfast – Dosa a pancake made with ground rice and lentils and
idli’s steamed with the same batter, Chapathi/ Uppma, a snack
made with broken wheat etc.
11.00 a.m: Snacks – biscuits, sweets or fruits
2.00 p.m: Lunch - rice with dhal/ greens/ veg or non-veg
(Chicken/mutton/fish)
4.00 p.m Milk and snacks
8.30 p.m: Dinner – Rice with veg/non veg.
Sleeping Pattern:
Victoria sleeps with her foster mother in the same room. She sleeps around 9.30
pm and sleeps well at night. She also has a nap in the afternoon.
Toilet Habits:
Victoria has body bath daily and head bath twice a week. She is toilet trained.
Health:
All her medical reports are attached in the file. Please refer to physical reports
and doctor’s report for medical information.
Personality:
Congratulations on having Victoria as a new member of your family. She is a
friendly child and loves to play with the neighbors children and the foster sisters.
She understands English and also the local language – Telugu – which are more
often used by her foster family. She is very much attached to the foster family
and knows the names of each of members in the foster home.
She is interested in drawing, colouring, and also loves dance. She can repeat A
to Z and 1 to 10.
All her responses are normal and age appropriate.
Eating Habits:
Victoria Rani has all fresh home made food.
Her mealtimes are as follows:
8.00 a.m: Fresh milk with Horlicks – (Pasteurized milk)
9.00 a.m: Breakfast – Dosa a pancake made with ground rice and lentils and
idli’s steamed with the same batter, Chapathi/ Uppma, a snack
made with broken wheat etc.
11.00 a.m: Snacks – biscuits, sweets or fruits
2.00 p.m: Lunch - rice with dhal/ greens/ veg or non-veg
(Chicken/mutton/fish)
4.00 p.m Milk and snacks
8.30 p.m: Dinner – Rice with veg/non veg.
Sleeping Pattern:
Victoria sleeps with her foster mother in the same room. She sleeps around 9.30
pm and sleeps well at night. She also has a nap in the afternoon.
Toilet Habits:
Victoria has body bath daily and head bath twice a week. She is toilet trained.
Health:
All her medical reports are attached in the file. Please refer to physical reports
and doctor’s report for medical information.
Personality:
Congratulations on having Victoria as a new member of your family. She is a
friendly child and loves to play with the neighbors children and the foster sisters.
She understands English and also the local language – Telugu – which are more
often used by her foster family. She is very much attached to the foster family
and knows the names of each of members in the foster home.
She is interested in drawing, colouring, and also loves dance. She can repeat A
to Z and 1 to 10.
All her responses are normal and age appropriate.
Tickets Are Purchased!
Big sigh! And a deep breath for continuing to plan our itinerary. We are scheduled to depart on Monday, October 26th, pick up Victoria on Friday, November 6th and return home on Wednesday, November 11th. We are currently in the process of booking hotel rooms and assembling other details of our trip.
Families generally allow 3 days to complete the embassy processing in Delhi. However, we are running into Veteran's Day. We plan to process in 2 days, which can be done. We're just taking a bit more of a risk. Pray that we will be able to get it all done in those 2 days and not have the extra expense and head ache of extending our trip.
We are so excited to go explore India, to meet our daughter for the first time and get back home to our boys.
Families generally allow 3 days to complete the embassy processing in Delhi. However, we are running into Veteran's Day. We plan to process in 2 days, which can be done. We're just taking a bit more of a risk. Pray that we will be able to get it all done in those 2 days and not have the extra expense and head ache of extending our trip.
We are so excited to go explore India, to meet our daughter for the first time and get back home to our boys.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Passport is in!!!!
VCT finally received Victoria's passport and we received a scanned copy of it yesterday!!!!!!!!!!! Praise the Lord! We knew this day would eventually come and now it's finally here!!!! We are working with our travel agent to get airline tickets and hotels booked. Prayerfully we will be able to purchase our tickets on Monday. We plan to depart in about 2 weeks.
There is simply so much to do! I am thankful that Will and Logan are on Fall Break so I can spend more time with them and I won't be subbing either. God works all the extra waiting for His good!
There is simply so much to do! I am thankful that Will and Logan are on Fall Break so I can spend more time with them and I won't be subbing either. God works all the extra waiting for His good!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Passport Should Be On It's Way!
We are still awaiting Victoria's Indian passport. Holt asked about it and found out that her passport was mailed from the passport office to VCT on Monday (our Sunday night). When VCT gets it, they will scan a copy to Holt and Holt will e-mail us a copy. And they'll finally call us, too!!!! Yes, I think we're truly about to get "the call"!!! My heart jumps when the phone rings, and yes, I've been short with some people when it hasn't been Dean Hale or Mary Reynolds.
This past weekend was very difficult. I truly did not want to go another weekend without any news. However, God's mercies are new each and every morning. Sunday morning was amazing in such an intimate way with the Lord and a dear friend gave a Word from God over Victoria and I. Once again, I marvel at how He works and His love for us.
Today a friend came by and dropped off some gifts for us. She gave Victoria two beautiful dark dolls. One looks so much like Victoria. She also had a Bible for her and some good ol' cash for the boys. What a fun blessing!
The boys are on Fall Break for two weeks beginning next week. As much as I wish we were in India right now, I'm looking forward to having time off of school, too and being able to spend those two weeks with them, albeit doing a lot of packing and planning.
This past weekend was very difficult. I truly did not want to go another weekend without any news. However, God's mercies are new each and every morning. Sunday morning was amazing in such an intimate way with the Lord and a dear friend gave a Word from God over Victoria and I. Once again, I marvel at how He works and His love for us.
Today a friend came by and dropped off some gifts for us. She gave Victoria two beautiful dark dolls. One looks so much like Victoria. She also had a Bible for her and some good ol' cash for the boys. What a fun blessing!
The boys are on Fall Break for two weeks beginning next week. As much as I wish we were in India right now, I'm looking forward to having time off of school, too and being able to spend those two weeks with them, albeit doing a lot of packing and planning.
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