Travel Planning

I finally got the ok to book my travel.  Yay!!!  As previously reported, I will be meeting Sara on Monday, January 14th at 8AM.  The appointment is now officially on the books.

My mom and I will be flying on January 12th to Colombia.  (That's 5 weeks from today!)  When I was talking to the agency rep, she kept saying I should fly on the 13th.  I finally stopped and told her that I would be flying on the 12th.  After all the bad travel experiences I've had, I'm not risking missing this appointment to save the price of one night in the hotel.  Plus, I'm flying from Chicago and my mom is flying from Buffalo.  Chances are good it will be snowing in at least on of those places on January 13th.

I told a friend that we would spend the 13th settling in and exploring the neighborhood.  She replied:  "You mean standing outside the orphanage gate yelling Sara's name?"  I laughed but she might be on to something....

I emailed the travel agency on Thursday after I got the news but didn't hear back from them on Friday.  BOO!!!  I'm going to call Delta today and see what I can get on my own.  Their website says they have special fares for adoption but it seems like you have to actually get someone who knows that on the phone.    I really want to book these tickets!

I am also waiting for a confirmation from the hotel with the pricing package.  (Makes it sound like some elaborate vacation.)  My legal rep in Colombia is friends with the owner of the hotel so she's hoping to get me a good deal.  (Yet another answer to prayer!)  I've researched lodging arrangements quite a bit and decided this is where we would stay before I knew there might be some connections there.

My visa appointment is scheduled for Friday at the Consulate downtown.  I was going to have to take a day off anyway to get some stuff apostilled so now I will make a day of it.  I'm hoping the weather is nice so I can enjoy being in the city at Christmastime a little bit as well.  I have all the paperwork notarized and ready to go.  I just need to go get my pictures done.  Not my favorite thing but I doubt I can pull of the defiant, pouty face quite as well as Sara did.  

After months and months of working to bring my little girl home, it's finally starting to feel real.  I can't wait to have my tickets and my visa in hand as I head to my parents' for Christmas break.