we have been cabled!

this is really a sort of small, but exciting step.  it happens all outside of our control and without our efforts, even.  suddenly, you get an email saying you have had your paperwork sent from one government office (National Benefits Center - NBC) to another (National Visa Center - NVC), and that the NVC is sending it all to the US Embassy (consulate) in guangzhou, china!  once at consulate,  more processing takes place.  then, about 2 weeks after arrival at consulate, we will be notified that another document (called Article 5) has been produced.  Article 5 is then delivered from consulate in guangzhou, to beijing and is immediately carried to what used to be called the CCAA (China Center of Adoption Affairs), but is now called CCCWA (i have no idea what that stands for!).  regardless, the CCAA/CCCWA is the sole governing body of adoptions in china.  the ONLY adoption agency, so to speak.  :)  they will take about 2-4 weeks to review and compile all the many documents and will then issue our coveted TRAVEL APPROVAL!  our TA is the last thing we need.  once we have that, we will be 1 to 2 weeks from travel!

so, the long and short of it is:  cabled.  Article 5 in two weeks.  TA in 2 to 4 weeks.  china two weeks later!  wow.  seems like time is SCREAMING BY.

we are willing to accept loans at this point!  the "chipin" has never been a successful strategy for us, although we are HUGELY HUGELY grateful to those who have donated and that money is so desperately needed.  thank you.  but we realize at this point, we will probably not raise the rest of the $$$ through "chipin" and that is perfectly okay.  what we did raise is already spent (virtually) on the upcoming fees and travel stuff.

in light of how fast things are moving, though, we are entertaining new options.  we are pushing IRS hard to get the rest of our ATC (Adoption Tax Credit) back asap.  but IRS does things at IRS's speed.  :)  and we all know that!  :)

also, i am nesting like crazy!  we have the basement almost completely cleaned out.  a marvelous marvelous occurrence!  we are also going through all the storage spaces and cleaning those out.  it feels great!  i have given all sorts of stuff away this week, stuff that i tried in vain to sell and couldn't.  still, it had to go.

i'm open to any new fund-raising suggestions or even loans (with reasonable payback conditions, of course).  i think we are going to try the bank soon.  we have to go there anyway and have them stack up clean bills in great condition for our trip.  that is next.  and packing, i guess.  we will have to start thinking about packing.  also have to buy gifts for the officials...  a lot to do, still.  tick, tick, tick!!!!