Oh me oh my!

So a few days ago there was a buzz going around about potential closings in China. Most of the facebook group members had mixed feedback about closings from their agencies. I sent an email out to our agency to see if they had heard anything about the closings. Our agency replied last night with this:

"The CCCWA will unfortunately be closed on the 7^th – 12^th along with the rest of the city."

Noooooooo.........! Last year when we were waiting on our Travel Approval, the U.S. Consulate was closed due to the fact that they were moving. But once business was back up and running.. we were the only family in our agency to receive our TA. This is why we traveled solo last year. No big deal, right? Well here's the rest of the email:
"We received two TA’s on Tuesday for families whose Article 5’s were issued a week before yours. I am hoping that we will be receiving your TA at some point next week. If I receive your TA by next week Tuesday, November 4^th, I can look into adding you and Phil to the travel group that leaves for China on November 12^th. However, this will be dependent on whether or not we are able to solidify a Consulate Appointment for you which might be difficult since it will fall during the week of Thanksgiving (the Consulate is closed Thanksgiving Day). I believe that you will be leaving for China at some point during the month of November, it’s just a matter of waiting to hear what that date will be."

Wait, the 12th? Ahhh we're so not ready for that!

And then.. dun dun dunnnnn...  we receive a phone call from our agency (TODAY) letting us know that we were approved to travel! WHAT? Our travel coordinator mentioned the 12th once again.. and I let her know that we were not comfortable with that date. SO she said that the next potential date for travel would be the 19th! Yes! That works sooo much better. So we'll be traveling on the 19th of November. Gotcha day will be on the 23rd (praise the Lord!) On Monday we'll know whether or not we were able to get a December 2nd appointment with the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou. So if our appointment is on the 2nd, we'll fly home on the 4th.

*Breathe*

So now I must get my stuff together and prepare for travel! I cannot believe that we will be spending Thanksgiving in China. Now that's something to be thankful for! We'll see you soon... Bennett!!!!! :)