Completed Itinerary
Wow! What a day this has been!
Heather called me a little after 1 pm ET with the good news. I could tell something important was up because I haven't heard her that excited in a long time!
I told my boss and co-workers I wouldn't be at work next week, and waited for the call from New Hope, our adoption agency. When they called with news and details, I started making the arrangements. It took more than two hours on the phone with Delta in a crazy attempt to use my 250,000 miles in less than three days for the weekend between spring break and Easter. Not too successful, but I managed to get a duct taped itinerary that had us barely arriving in Taiwan in time, and leaving at the first possible moment, only to spend Easter weekend in LA.
I reserved it, then started looking into other options. One of those options is named Todd Gallinek, a travel agent that specializes in adoption travel and came highly recommended. I can't help but continue to recommend him.
Todd was able to work out a better itinerary, using my points for the domestic flights and paying for the international side. It cost a bit more, but with the upgraded seats, it will be much more comfortable...especially on the way back with Ian.
So we're off to Taiwan Sunday afternoon from Mobile, going through Atlanta (where else?) then San Francisco to Taipei. We'll get to Taipei Tuesday morning, so essentially it's time travel since there won't be a Monday, right? We'll then drive to Taichung, pick up our son and meet his foster family (and maybe his birth mother), and then head back to Taipei for the night. Wednesday we'll have an appointment to get Ian a visa with the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT). Thursday we should get the visa, and then enjoy the city and culture until we leave Friday afternoon.
The plane must have a flux capacitor for the way back to the states too, because we'll leave Taipei Friday afternoon and land in LA (Los Angeles) two hours earlier...? Strange, but true! We'll spend the night in LA, then head back on the first flight Saturday morning, arriving in L.A. (Lower Alabama) Saturday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Heather has been scrambling to get all the paperwork together and bags packed, and her Aunt Barbara scheduled a last minute meeting with the Customs Department in New Orleans to get a last minute passport. She'll have it either Friday afternoon or Saturday morning (just in time!). Once Heather and I have some forms notarized Saturday, we should be about ready!
!!! <-- (Random exclaimation marks since I'm using so many tonight...) I'll wrap this long boring post up with just one more thing... The events surrounding this adoption, especially the last few days, have been directly controlled by the Good Lord. From the two big pay raises since August, Hurricane Ivan's financial windfall, new roof, and freshly painted nursury, my promotion, the paperwork and how everything has simply fallen into perfect order at the last minute; I can't believe that any other explaination makes sense.
It's sad in the first aspect, but the fact that a chosen son could not be cast off, leads us to better understand God's love for us as adopted sons and daughters through Christ. It is a bond that cannot be broken!
My prayers go out to you all tonight in thanks for your love, support and prayers for us throughout this journey. Please continue to visit often, as I will update you along the way as best my internet connection allows.
God Bless!
James
Heather called me a little after 1 pm ET with the good news. I could tell something important was up because I haven't heard her that excited in a long time!
I told my boss and co-workers I wouldn't be at work next week, and waited for the call from New Hope, our adoption agency. When they called with news and details, I started making the arrangements. It took more than two hours on the phone with Delta in a crazy attempt to use my 250,000 miles in less than three days for the weekend between spring break and Easter. Not too successful, but I managed to get a duct taped itinerary that had us barely arriving in Taiwan in time, and leaving at the first possible moment, only to spend Easter weekend in LA.
I reserved it, then started looking into other options. One of those options is named Todd Gallinek, a travel agent that specializes in adoption travel and came highly recommended. I can't help but continue to recommend him.
Todd was able to work out a better itinerary, using my points for the domestic flights and paying for the international side. It cost a bit more, but with the upgraded seats, it will be much more comfortable...especially on the way back with Ian.
So we're off to Taiwan Sunday afternoon from Mobile, going through Atlanta (where else?) then San Francisco to Taipei. We'll get to Taipei Tuesday morning, so essentially it's time travel since there won't be a Monday, right? We'll then drive to Taichung, pick up our son and meet his foster family (and maybe his birth mother), and then head back to Taipei for the night. Wednesday we'll have an appointment to get Ian a visa with the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT). Thursday we should get the visa, and then enjoy the city and culture until we leave Friday afternoon.
The plane must have a flux capacitor for the way back to the states too, because we'll leave Taipei Friday afternoon and land in LA (Los Angeles) two hours earlier...? Strange, but true! We'll spend the night in LA, then head back on the first flight Saturday morning, arriving in L.A. (Lower Alabama) Saturday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Heather has been scrambling to get all the paperwork together and bags packed, and her Aunt Barbara scheduled a last minute meeting with the Customs Department in New Orleans to get a last minute passport. She'll have it either Friday afternoon or Saturday morning (just in time!). Once Heather and I have some forms notarized Saturday, we should be about ready!
!!! <-- (Random exclaimation marks since I'm using so many tonight...) I'll wrap this long boring post up with just one more thing... The events surrounding this adoption, especially the last few days, have been directly controlled by the Good Lord. From the two big pay raises since August, Hurricane Ivan's financial windfall, new roof, and freshly painted nursury, my promotion, the paperwork and how everything has simply fallen into perfect order at the last minute; I can't believe that any other explaination makes sense.
Eph. 1:5 -- He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ. (NIV)Under Roman law, I've heard that a man could deny a son of his own blood and sell them into slavery, but if a son was adopted, the legal obligation could never be broken because he had willfully chosen him as a son.
It's sad in the first aspect, but the fact that a chosen son could not be cast off, leads us to better understand God's love for us as adopted sons and daughters through Christ. It is a bond that cannot be broken!
My prayers go out to you all tonight in thanks for your love, support and prayers for us throughout this journey. Please continue to visit often, as I will update you along the way as best my internet connection allows.
God Bless!
James
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