Day 12- Consulate Appointment

We headed out bright and early to Luke's Consulate Appointment. Craig and I are learning that the different appointments are extremely important to get from A to B.... but at the same time participating in the actual appt sometimes feels quite like a Seinfeld episode.

Cameras are not allowed inside and we had to go through another body scanner...pretty commonplace these days.. so we only have a few pictures today.     

Leaving our hotel for his big day.

The appt was the last appt needed for Luke's citizenship and visa paperwork to be complete for him to leave China. This gives him US citizenship upon entering the US on Thursday evening.  

A part of the appt was an oath-taking ceremony.  We expected it to be really formal where the two of us would stand before important officials and make promises as his parents and as US citizens.  It actually was a large room of about 15+ other adoptive families and children all sitting in seats facing a booth with a US official. We were to all simultaneously repeat after him with our right hands raised.  Well, by this point in the appt Luke and the other 15+ Kids and siblings were done being quiet. So, Craig decided to walk with Luke while I waited for whatever we needed to do... The highlight of the appointment was when we suddenly were to all rise, raise our right hands and repeat-- I looked to my left towards Craig, except there was no Craig or Luke. I ran into the hall where I found my two guys playing on the elevators. I told Craig the oath-taking ceremony was already going on and we were suppose to be in there oath-taking... we 3 rushed back in and followed the other families- I raised my right hand, and when I looked at Craig he was raising Luke's right hand, thinking Luke (the children) were suppose to be taking the oath!!! 😭 we have laughed the entire morning about this- because it's totally par for how our appts have gone in China!  

The countdown is on for travels home.  We leave tomorrow night 7:00 pm US time and arrive into Memphis Thursdsy evening 8:45!  

All prayers appreciated, not looking forward to more flying✈️ But ready to be back in the USA!!!!!!🇺🇸