GETTING CLOSER!!

First things first, we received our letter from the National Visa Center today. We can officially check one more step off of our list of approvals needed. We should receive our Article 5 in about two weeks, and then travel approval a few weeks after that. Then we GO TO CHINA!

So speaking of going to China, we have decided that I will travel with Julianna. We have prayed about it, talked about it, and thought about it. We just have peace about this decision. I know a lot of people disagree or worry about that idea. However, I am not “typical” in most respects. Let me tell you a little story…

When I was 16, my brother arranged for me to fly to Dallas from South Carolina to spend some time with him and his family. He worked for American Airlines at the time and arranged for me to fly on some standby/employee ticket. Everything started off just as planned. Apparently, however, I had a little too much time on my hands during the layover in Raleigh. I decided that I didn’t want to go to Dallas. I wanted to go to Boston. You see, the New Kids on the Block lived in Boston. I really wanted to see the New Kids on the Block. So, I got the bright idea to go to Boston instead. I marched myself right up to the ticket counter and told them that I wanted to go to Boston. I guess since my ticket was an employee type ticket, they never questioned it and I boarded the plane to Boston. I should probably point out here that I didn’t tell anyone I was doing this. Anyway, I get to Boston, figure out how to take the train to Dorchester (where NKOTB lived, of course), and off I went. I spent the day hanging out, doing my thang, having a blast. When I was done seeing what I wanted to see (which unfortunately did not include any New Kid or any New Kid houses), I headed back to the airport.

When I got to the airport, I was told the flight to Dallas was too full and I would have to wait until the next morning. Um, no. I did not want to spend the night in the airport. I quickly decided that I would go to Los Angeles next. I arranged that and waited for my flight. So I went to LA. Long story short, I did finally make it to Dallas, but not until sometime the next day. I had a BLAST! I went to five major cities on two different coasts in 24 hours. Did I mention I was 16 and alone?
There was another time that I decided to chase the New Kids (yes, I was an unruly teen. Jealous?). I went to Atlanta and Knoxville. I was 16 (man, my mom had to have had an ulcer that year) then too. Anyway, so all of that to say (wow, I was chasing a rabbit there, wasn’t I?), that I am very go with the flow. I am not easily intimidated. I anticipate challenges and stresses on our trip to China. I understand there are a lot of unknowns. I believe I will be just fine.

So there you have it. A decision has been made. Whew. It feels good.

**Edited to add- Can you imagine the trouble I would have gotten into as a teen if there had been internet back in the day? Oh lawsy.