TRAVEL APPROVAL!!!

WE GOT OUR TRAVEL APPROVAL!
Beijing issued us final approval to come to China and finalize Fiona's adoption.  That means that as far as the Chinese government is concerned, we're good to go!  Only one thing remains.  We need to make an appointment with the US Consulate in Guangzhou (on the southern China coast) for Fiona to get her US Immigration Visa approved.  Her adoption will be finalized in Zhengzhou (her provincial capital), then the last step is just making sure all of our ducks are in proper rows for her to enter the US as a child of US citizens, which will make her citizenship automatic as soon as she sets foot on American turf. 

The bad news: Today is China's National Day - the birthday of the People's Republic of China.  Why would that be bad news?  Have you ever tried setting up an appointment during the week between Christmas and New Year?  Yeah, kind of like that.  All offices in China shut down from October 1-7, then the US Consulate is closed on October 8 for Columbus Day (darn you, Columbus, you're delaying me here!).  So, the soonest we would hear from the Consulate is October 9.  Some time between Oct 9-11 we will get our official appointment, then we will know our travel dates and can arrange airfare, etc.  We were given two choices: 

1 - Leave between Oct 24-26 and return Nov 9-10
2 - Leave between Oct 31- Nov 2 and return Nov 16-17

Of course, we'll take the first option if it's available. 

So... now we have 3-4 weeks until we leave, and I'm doing what Erins do best - I'm making serious logistical assignments to keep everyone busy and get everything in order before we go.  :)

In true FLYLady style, this week we focus on decluttering and deep-cleaning shared living areas, next week on kitchen and bathrooms, third week on bedrooms, and the last half-week back to shared living areas.