AIT

Yesterday we had our appointment at AIT which is the American Institute in Taiwan. They give us the final go ahead to take Rayanna out of Taiwan and give her a visa to America and everything went well. Today we returned to AIT to get her Passport and all the very important documents stapled together and sealed in a brown envelope to not be opened until we give it to customs in America. They will go through it and verify who she is and that all documents are origional and official and allow her into America as a US Citizen! So until we get back to LA we guard it with our life.
Yesterday we had our second very fancy meal with Stephanies family. It was so good, the food was all traditional dishes from the north of China. They have been such wonderful hosts and so thankful to us. We are so thankful to them for being so wonderful to us! The food was so fancy, most of it was unrecognizable, and we were all very brave to try it. Joe and Jesse did so well. I was really impressed with Joe who has been tring and eating everything from grilled whole squid to duck beek and brains. yes folks, duck beek and brains. Oh and don't forget the Duck and Pig blood. Both the girls of course loved all the food and Rebecka missed it and really made up for it. She couldn't get enough of the Duck Blood. That was one of the few things I couldn't get past my lips, but most everything else was very good and sometimes surprisingly so. Looks can be decieving.
Today we are going to Snake Alley and the Toilet Diner where you sit on toilets and eat out of miniature toilet bowls. sounds like fun, especially the soft serve chocolate ice cream.
This morning before we went to AIT, we went back to the orphange to go to Rayannas school to meet her teachers and classmates. It was very touching, her teachers were crying and her best friend couldn't let her go. They were both very upset and I had a very hard time holding back my tears. Especially when her teacher told me how thankful she was to us for adopting her and the wonderful opportunities she will have. We also went to see Rebecka's teacher and she was so happy to see "Ai-Ai" She also told me how thankful she was to us for adopting her and said Rebecka changed alot and looked very healthy and happy. And she also said she was "Nicer" Hmmmm.. I wonder what that meant.
OH, and Rayanna told Stephanie to tell us, especially Joe to call her Rayanna not Xiao-Mei. Imagine that! I almost cried. Joe insists on Calling then Ai-Ai and Xiao-Mei. He has always called Rebecka Ai-Ai. I told them it will be special from thier older brother when they get older that he calls them by thier origional names.
Sorry again I am so short on time. I wish I could tell all the details but we are off again to explore some more. Thank God for Stephanie, she has been with us and the best tour guide ever. Have I mentioned how horribly terrably upset I am going to be to leave her.
talk to you all soon,
Love all of us!

She's ours!!!!

hello everyone. we picked up Rayanna yesterday and it has been going very well. She is very cute and not as shy as we had thought. Rayanna and Rebecka are getting along wonderfully and holding hands all the time. AWe have been very busy doing lots of stuff and sorry I have not updated my blog. I ams hort on time now also but wanted to post a few pictures. they do tell a thousand words. I'll try to write more soon, seems we are on the go 16 hours a day...LOL

WE'RE HERE!

Hello Everyone. We made it to Taiwan. The flight didn't seem to be as long as it was the last time, but we were all greatful to land when we finally did. We had no trouble at all getting through immigration and getting our luggage. Very beat up luggage, missing wheels and and a few rips and tears, but at least it was all there. And packing neatly was a waste of time, I think they rifled through all the bags. When we got through with that and entered the main airport lobby, our driver was right there holding a sign with our mane on it. We felt very VIP...LOL.
Our hotel is quite a bit different from where we stayed last time, but the Ceaser Park was a bit out of our budget this time. The Feeling Hotel was more in our budget. It's very small and not nearly as elegant, but the staff have been very nice. We got in at about 1200 at night and we were all excited and couldn't sleep. We went for a walk outside and found a 24 hour store where we bought some snacks. We went back to the hotel and at 2 am decided we had better get to sleep. We were all up by 530...LOL..don't ask me how after we hadn't slept for what felt like 3 days. SOOOOO at 7 am this morning we were walking the neighborhood again, we found a good bakery not too far away. (note taken). we will find that again.
Stephanie met us at the hotel at 9am.
We went to church at a place called Taipei International Church. It was an English speaking service. When we were walking the neighborhood in the morning we found the church which was a total blessing since i knew we wanted to go there but had no idea where it was. It only being 2 block away was a blessing! Some of the music was familiar to us which was nice and praising the Lord here was much like it is back home.
Right now we are at Stephanies house. Meeting her parents have been great and they are all so nice. Her brother is very shy so far and her sister is really friendly. I will be forever greatful to them for allowing Stephanie into our life. We will be going out to dinner with them tonight. It's wonderful to spent time with them and get to know them. I am using her computer right now. She will let me use her laptop and I believe the hotel has internet access, so I will try my best to update my blog. If I can figure out how to get pictures through that computer I will. OH , now that I think Of it I didn't bring my cord for the computer. Well, maybe Steph can use her camera, and get pics into her computer. I know everyone is going to want to see pictures.
Tomorrow is the big day. We will be at the orphange at 10 am to pick up Rayanna.
Wish us luck, and say lots of prayers that it will go well for everyone and that Rayanna will transition well.
Talk to you soon,
Jaclyn

Here We Goooooooo!!!!

Hi Everyone, we are just getting ready to leave and wanted to let everyone know I will try to update my blog while we are there. We are soooo excited. Joseph is coming into Tampa at 1045 tonight and our plane leaves at 7 am tomorrow morning. Say a prayer for us!
Love,
Jaclyn

A Day At The Beach With My Best Friends...

This weekend we had a great relaxing day at the beach with my friends Shona and Karen. We had great fun spending the day together. Thanks guys for a great day! Heres a picture of us in our "Surf Diva" t-shirts. Thanks Karen!

Love you guys!

Our Last Web Chat

We had our last web chat with Rayanna before we leave to go get her. She was very happy and excited. She did say she was nervous about meeting us and I told her I was nervous too. She is still very nervous about the plane ride and asked me if I could bring her her some medicine to help her from getting sick. I wonder how she knows there is such a medicine. But I did tell her I would do that and I plan on taking some dramine with me. It's going to be a long ride with a vomiting child the whole way. Hopefully that won't be the case.

The social worker was calling her Rayanna, I wonder if they have been using that name since we told them what it was. It was nice to hear them saying her name so naturally and her answering to it like it's always been hers.

OH, and they cut her hair again after I asked them not to cut it anymore the last time I talked to her.. She is still so beautiful anyway.

LEAVING IN 2 DAYS!!!!

Stephanie's Home...

Well Steph called at 8am this morning from her house in Taiwan to let us know she made it home OK. I was so happy to hear her voice and know she made the long trip and changing planes 2 times by herself OK. See you next week Steph!