FLIGHT ITINERARY

I wanted to post this because I thought some people might like to know what our flight schedule is. A few people asked for this so that they would know where we were so that they could pray more specific at different times depending on where we are. Keep in mind with these time, they are in real time, so when you see time and location at that time, it is the time of day for where we are at that moment. For example, if it says we are in Chicago, Illinois and it says that it is 2:20 p.m. then that is the time here in Mississippi too. If the location is in Japan or Taiwan and the time says 8:45 p.m. then it is actually 7:45 a.m. in Mississippi. Japan and Taiwan are 13 hours head of us here in Mississippi, so be sure to make that adjustment and not to yourself when you are looking at our itinerary.

Tuesday, April 28:
UNITED AIRLINES Flight 6706
From: MEMPHIS, TN
Departs: 6:00am
To: CHICAGO OHARE, IL
Arrives: 7:45am
Duration: 1 hour(s) and 45 minute(s)
Mileage: 486

Tuesday, April 28 - Wednesday, April 29:
UNITED AIRLINES Flight 0881
From: CHICAGO OHARE, IL
Departs: 12:13pm Tuesday, Apr 28
To: TOKYO NARITA, JAPAN
Arrives: 3:00pm Wednesday, Apr 29
(This is 2 a.m. on Wednesday, April 29 in Mississippi.)
Duration: 12 hour(s) and 47 minute(s)
Mileage: 6283

Wednesday, April 29:
UNITED AIRLINES Flight 0853
From: TOKYO NARITA, JAPAN
Departs: 6:15pm
(This is 5:15 a.m. on Wednesday, April 29 in Mississippi.)
To: TAIPEI, TAIWAN
Arrives: 8:45pm
(This is 7:45 a.m. on Wednesday, April 29 in Mississippi.)
Duration: 3 hour(s) and 30 minute(s)
Mileage: 1330

We hope to meet Isaac the next morning on April 30 Taiwan time.


COMING HOME WITH ISAAC!

Thursday, May 7:
UNITED AIRLINES Flight 0838
From: TAIPEI, TAIWAN
Departs: 10:00am
(This is 9 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6 in Mississippi.)
To:
TOKYO NARITA, JAPAN
Arrives: 2:15pm
(This is 1:15 a.m. on Thursday, May 7 in Mississippi.)
Duration: 3 hour(s) and 15 minute(s)
Mileage: 1330

Thursday, May 7:
UNITED AIRLINES Flight 0882
From: TOKYO NARITA, JAPAN
Departs: 4:55pm
(This is 3:55 a.m. on Thursday, May 7 in Mississippi.)
To: CHICAGO OHARE, IL
Arrives: 2:20pm
Duration: 11 hour(s) and 25 minute(s)
Mileage: 6283

Thursday, May 7:
UNITED AIRLINES Flight 6023
From: CHICAGO OHARE, IL
Departs: 4:00pm
To: MEMPHIS, TN
Arrives: 5:41pm
Duration: 1 hour(s) and 41 minute(s)
Mileage: 486

PACKING, PACKING, AND MORE PACKING!

As everyone can probably imagine, it is mass chaos at the Henley house. I had forgotten from when we adopted Olivia back in 2005 how much planning goes into getting ready to travel and be gone for almost 2 weeks. It can be overwelming. We have made lists and are trying to mark everything off as quickly as possible as they are done. I would say that I am about half way packed. There are of course some things that can't be packed until the last minute, but I am trying to get most things packed by this weekend. The problem I am having is keeping myself from not over packing, which I have a tendency to do. It is so hard to decide what we really need. I am the type of person that thinks that if I don't take it, I will end up needing it. I have lost count of how many times I have been to the store, how many loads of clothes I have washed and how many times I have packed, unpacked and repacked items in the suitcase because I can't decide whether to take something or not. Please pray for my sanity.

WE ARE LEAVING FOR TAIWAN ON THE 28TH

I received the most exciting e-mail from Isaac's orphanage this morning. Isaac's adoption papers from the judge came through yesterday. They want us there by April 30. We are leaving on April 28 to travel to Taiwan to bring our son home. We are over the moon. Please pray for safe travel and for a smooth transition for all of us. Pray that God prepares Isaac's heart for this huge change in his little life and helps all of us to have a smooth bonding process starting in Taiwan. The director's of the children's home and all of the other workers there are already working very hard to get him ready for us to come, but we will also need God's help when we get there to help him to feel safe and comfortable with us before we leave for America.

I am not sure if I will have time or the opportunity to post while we are in Taiwan, but if I can't, I will try my best to post as soon as I can when we get home.

Thank you for your prayers.

CELEBRATING EASTER AND OLIVIA'S BIRTHDAY

I hope everyone had a blessed Easter Sunday celebrating the resurection of our Lord Jesus Christ. After a wonderful service at church, we went to hunt eggs with the kids. This year, Easter Sunday was also Olivia's birthday. We got her a Dora backpack to carry her toys and books on our plane ride to Taiwan. We also got her an MP3 player so that she can listen to her favorite music on the plane. Here are a few pictures of her hunting eggs at my aunt's house and from her birthday party. Click on any of the pictures to see larger versions.

UPDATE AND NEW PICTURE OF ISAAC

I got an update and new picture of Isaac this morning from one of his caregivers at the orphanage. She said Isaac is doing well. She said he is such a sweet boy. Friday morning he went on a walk with his friends, and when they got back, he was coloring. He was being silly and didn’t want her to take his picture. He said, “No, no, no, no, no,” but he was smiling the whole time.

I was told by a family that traveled a few weeks ago that Isaac doesn't speak any English, so I thought it was pretty funny that the English word that he does say is "No". If anyone ever says, "What was your son's first English words?" I can say, "His first English words were, 'no, no, no, no, no."

PRAYERS WERE ANSWERED!! COURT WENT VERY WELL!!!

I got word from the missionary who is taking care of Isaac and who spoke for us in court on Tuesday. He said that court went very well. The birth mother came. She said that she would like for us to adopt her son. WOOHOOO! The judge asked her if she would like to waiver her right to protest and she said yes. The missionary said that because she waived that right, the process will go much faster than normal after the first paper (civil decree of adoption) arrives. I am not exactly sure what that means about travel time, but we are getting ready.