Med day done!

We have now been a family of 5 for a whole week.  As a family we've now traveled on a bullet train, taken a trip on an airplane, had many long bus rides, taken a river boat ride and as of today survived the dreaded medical appointment.  We were so thankful that the medical stations went fast and the boys were mostly happy until the blood draw for the TB test.  Of course Blair was waiting with a camera to capture their pitiful crying faces as the nurses brought them out to us.  The cries didn't last long and our afternoon was filled with plenty of fun and even Starbucks for mom and dad!  We now wait in the hotel room tomorrow for the results of the TB test and pray we don't get called back for a chest x ray.  Then the next day we have our consulate appointment and then wait 48 hours for the visas to arrive so we can travel home.  We are thankful now to say with each day that it is our last Monday, Tuesday, etc.  Again we thank all of you for your prayers as we near the end of this portion of our adoption journey.

Sweet and Sour: The Past 60 Hours

The much anticipated Gotcha day was on Monday and we were so anxious to become a family of 5.  We had no idea which boy would arrive first and were excited to see Caffrey was already waiting for us.  The pictures are on our camera and so we will have to post the actual reunion another time.  He was scared and cried most of the time we were there.  Cavin arrived about 20 minutes later and began making friends with the american children and didn't shed a tear.  Once all the initial paperwork was signed we were able to go back to the hotel to begin bonding.  The rest of the night went really well and the boys enjoyed playing with the few toys we brought with us.  Gibson did great keeping them entertained.

Day 2 with our boys was busy with a trip to sign and receive official adoption certificates for both boys.  This 2 hour adventure was followed by a trip to get Caffrey's passport photo and paperwork started.  When we returned last night we were exhausted but extremely excited to hear the boys asking for us to hold them and calling us mama and baba already!

Day 3(today) has been filled with challenges.  We had to wake the boys at 6:30 to be able to take the bullet train to get Cavin's passport started and to visit his orphanage.  The boys did well on the trip to the city but on the way back the early wake up and the fact that they both missed their nap made for a restless ride.  Once back at the hotel it was too late to put them down for a nap and so we did our best to keep them busy by visiting the pool.  Neither were huge fans, but they tolerated the water and even started splashing toward the end.  Since both boys were tired we didn't want to venture too far from the hotel for supper so we ate at the hotel's italian restaurant.  This was asking too much from our sleepy crew.  Many tears and tantrums later we did finish our pizza and got back to the room for a very early bedtime also filled with tears.

We are so thankful that our only trip tomorrow is here in the city to visit Caffrey's orphanage.  We should not miss naps and should get much needed rest.   Living out of a hotel in a foreign city with children who do not speak your language isn't ideal but we know this part of the journey will soon be over.  Please pray for needed sleep.  Overall we are so thankful that both boys seem to be bonding to us well.  Gibson too has been phenomenal and does all he can to make sure the boys are happy!    

Here are a few pictures we've taken with our phone.  Both boys have great personalities and their smiles just melt our hearts!

Bedtime stories with BaBa

Cavin's Nanny

This guy is a ham!!

Mommy's All American Boy

Bullet train to passport office

His bedding/nametage were still there just in case we decided no

He loves Daddy's sunglasses

Officially a Benefield

Officially a Benefield

Breakfast with Mommy

Beijing adventure

Wow!  That's about the best word to describe the last 4 days.  We had a long day of travel to get to Beijing (almost 24 hours from the time we left home until we arrived at our hotel in Beijing).  Even though it was long it was a smooth trip.  We even ventured out from our hotel and had our first local meal-Pizza Hut.

The next morning we met up with our travel group and began touring the city.  We visited Tiananmen square, the Forbidden City, took a ricksha tour of Old Beijing and ate lunch with a local family.  In the evening we were exhausted and on our own but we did find a Starbucks and walked around a shopping mall.

Today we got an opportunity of a lifetime, and walked on The Great Wall.  After climbing for about 2 hours we stopped at a Jade showroom.  Then we ended our afternoon with a acrobatic show.  We were so worn out we decided to skip dinner, walk around and take in the local food at the street vendors, and just pack up for our early flight in the morning.

Below are a few highlight photos from our last few tour days.  Thanks for all those who are continuing to pray for us.  We are so close to meeting our boys and are getting very anxious.  Our next blog will include pictures of our boys in our arms.  We can't wait to post those pictures!

The last wait

We received notification that our article 5 was picked up in China today.  This means they recognize we have visas to travel and now we just wait for their invitation to travel.  It is the last unknown wait left in our journey.  The wait could be short but will feel so long!  We are so excited to make it to this step but here is the reality.  We must get the travel approval by September 1st (in 4 days) to travel by Septemebr 9.  That seems crazy to even ask or imagine but our God does amazing things.  It's also scary because that would mean we would get approval and leave just about a week later!  As much as we have prepared for this day there seems like a million things to get done if those dates work out.  If we do not receive approval by September 1, we most likely will get approval soon after and travel after the big Chinese holiday and leave October 8.  Either way our boys will be home soon.  Thank you to those continuing to follow our journey!  We appreciate the support we have been shown and ask that you continue to pray for God's timing.  We look forward to updating the blog next as it will mean we have travel news and the big question , "When will you get the boys?" can be answered!

Good News and New Names

Well today was another big day in our journey to get the boys.  Our Article 5 (proof that we have applied for their U.S. visas) was dropped off at the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou today.  The turn around is a standard 2 weeks and then we wait for Travel Approval.  We are still praying that God would do a miracle so we can travel in early September to get the boys.  If we don't make the cutoff we will have to wait until mid October to travel.  In order for a Sept 9 travel date we need either
a) the Article 5 to not take the entire 2 weeks or b) if the Article 5 takes 2 weeks, the CCCWA to give us travel approval within a few days of receiving our file.  Both A and B would be even better!!!  Whatever the outcome we know God is still in control and we praise Him for another milestone in the process today.

On another note, many have been asking about the boys' english names. Well ask no longer because we decided that when we got to Article 5 drop off we would reveal their names.  Drumroll please....... I now would like to introduce you to...

Cavin Tao Benefield (Tao is his Chinese middle name)

Caffrey Xing Benefield (Xing is his Chinese middle name)

Now that you know their names, we would love for you to pray for them by name.

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
and favor is better than silver or gold.
Proverbs 22:1

Critical Week

The question we get most often now is, when will we be traveling?  Well this week could provide that answer.  We received pre approval from immigration via a letter on Saturday.  That letter was also sent to the national visa center where we are issued a "number."  We need that number to complete the 2nd to last piece of paperwork before we get travel approval.  If we get issued our number tomorrow we have a chance to get the final 2 steps completed within the next 2 weeks and therefore could be issued travel approval for the final "gotcha day" in September.  If we do not get the number it is almost mathematically impossible to complete the final 2 steps and get travel approval before the big holiday at the end of September.  Of course we know God can do anything so I hesitate to even type the word impossible!    Either way we will know soon and should be able to definitively answer the most asked question!

On a side note we received updates on both boys from families who are currently in their province picking up their own newly adopted children.  One even sent a video as they told one of the boys that his mommy and daddy were coming to get him soon.  It was a very special moment and we are so blessed by the adoptive community we have met who have helped us keep in contact with our boys!

Here are the most recent photos taken by the families there this past week!

 

Also stay tuned because once we get this number and complete the step this week we will be announcing their new names!  Thank you again for your continued prayer and support!


Continuing to remind ourselves that God is in control and He is sovereign.

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
Proverbs 19:21

Big News!

So if you read the previous post we ended with a prayer request and said we would update when God answered.  We were waiting for our official approval from China and were praying to receive it before Blair left for Mexico.  Once again God had the perfect timing and we received email news on Tuesday stating we had received approval and then received the hard copy today. Plenty of time to sign and return before Blair leaves for Mexico on Monday!  The approval came just 40 days after all our paperwork was officially logged in in China.  The amazing thing about 40 days is that one of our prayer warriors mentioned a few weeks ago that God was saying 40 days was significant!  Love how God works!

Also for those of you following along on our financial journey to bring the boys home, we have big news in that area as well.  We have been blessed by your giving and have reached the $4,000 mark, which means we will get our matching grant from Lifesong!  We received this blessing within hours of receiving our official approval from China and the timing was again so clearly God designed.

With the big news this week comes the excitement of knowing travel is coming soon.  Our agency says to expect to travel within 9-12 weeks.  We mentioned before that at the beginning of October is a big National holiday in China so there will be no traveling during that time.  If we get travel approval to go in 9 weeks we would be able to go before the holiday.  If not we will travel in 12 weeks after the holiday.  We are praying for 9 weeks, but trusting again in God's timing!

The Official Documents!!