Sunday, December 14, 2008

Day 3: Dec 14, Nanning

We arrived at our hotel to find it lit up for Christmas. The entire lobby is surrounded with mini twinkling lights , and there is even a "snow covered" house in the back. According to our coordinator, David, this is about as close to snow as Nanning sees. He said they have a green Christmas instead of a white Christmas.


David has been fabulous at making us feel welcome and answering our million and two questions.


This is the little walkway just a few steps down from our hotel. When CHI said they were putting us in nice hotels, they weren't exaggerating. The hotel in Beijing and the one here are beautiful.

This is part of the newer section of Nanning. Lots of construction in a city of 6.4 million people, but all still very beautiful.






Saturday, December 13, 2008

Day 2: Beijing Dec 13, The Great Wall of China


Mac's Team visited the Great Wall of China today!!! We love you Mac!!!
See the first watch tower? We climbed up to there and then turned around. Those steps really do go straight up.








We also visited the Forbidden City, and Tiannamen Square today, but the Great Wall was by far the most spectacular.
Tomorrow, we fly to Nanning...



Friday, December 12, 2008

Day 1: Dec 12, Beijing

Highlights from today...

The Chinese Acrobat show:





Our tour guide, Sandy was wonderful and very knowledgeable about the city.


Drummers. We had to climb some very high steps that seemed to go straight up to get to the top of this tower. The way down was not my favorite part, but the drummers were great.

Rickshaw ride through the first part of the Hutong tour:

Lunch. All of the food so far has been very yummy.

The Temple of Heaven was quite beautiful. I can only imagine what it would be like on a bright, warm day.






This trip is a blessing in so many ways. We have had the pleasure of meeting 4 other families who are getting ready to meet their new child too. Three more families come in tomorrow.
Wow is all I can say.
Until tomorrow…

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

We Leave Tomorrow

How many times can I check items off my list? We are packed, with just a few last minute items to throw in. We have tickets, documents, passports, documents, visas, documents, camera, documents, clothes, gifts, and did I mention documents? Hopefully all electronic gadgets will cooperate while we are there and I will be able to update this blog as we go. If not, fear not, I will add all the good stuff when we return. I am excited, exhausted, wired and worn out all at the same time. My head is spinning and I am seriously hoping for a good nap this afternoon.

Last night we had Jackson's first middle school orchestra concert. He is getting so good with his viola. I was so proud of him up there. I got to bring the new camera too and got some good shots, all zoomed in on him. Tonight, Jacquelynne has her choir concert. I am thankful that they are at least different nights, and that we are still here to see them, since we will be leaving the house at 4am to head to the airport.

God is so good. His timing is perfect.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

You Never Know What Kids Will Say Next

In getting ready to go to work tonight, I pulled out a top that I haven't worn in a while. Jenna promptly asked if it was a work shirt, and I said yes. She stated that she didn't remember it, and I responded that I hadn't worn it in a long time. Her response, "Well, it's a good thing it still fits."

How am I supposed to respond to that???

:-)

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

One More Week

Well, it is almost upon us! One week from right now, I will be in an airplane on my way to meet our new daughter. Let's see, yesterday I...
... went grocery shopping to stock up the freezer and pantry before we leave so Mike and Cindy (who will be guarding the rest of the Funny Farm while Scott and I are away) will only need to pick up milk and fresh stuff while we are gone. The back of my truck looked like I was stocking a food pantry. I guess I was, Ha!
... took Cindy to the schools to make sure they had the proper contact information while we are away.
... received an email from our agency with our final itinerary and cost schedule.
... promptly drove to the bank to pick up a certified check for our expenses and overnighted it to CHI.
... let Jackson cook dinner for us because he asked if he could do it. We had homemade pizza, half cheese, half pepperoni, yum.
... looked at the suitcases in my bedroom and mentally checked off what I still need to purchase before we leave (again).
... Snuggled with my kiddos and watched a show before bedtime. I think I am missing them already.
... let my Jenna Boo sleep with me last night since Scott was away on business.

Right now, I am...
... excited beyond my ability to express in words.
... nervous, I hope she likes us.
... constantly thinking about trip details.
... so much in love with this little girl, I tear up just thinking about her.
... looking forward to 2 whole days in Beijing with my hubby sightseeing before we fly to her province.
... worried about making sure I can fit everything in the suitcases. Of course, all of her clothes and gifts will fit, I just hope I can squeeze in stuff for Scott and me.
... grateful to an awesome God, Emmanuel, Jehovah, Savior, Messiah, Great I Am, for the gift that He gave us in Jesus.
... thrilled that we get to celebrate our Savior's birth with Julia's "birth" into our family this year.
... humbled that God in all His infinite wisdom chose us to parent these 5 beautiful children.
... sad that in order for our new daughter to gain a family, she must give up everything she has known for the past 6 years.
... wondering what it will be like to see Julia in person for the first time.
... longing for the touch of her little hand in mine.
... wiping tears from my face as I write this, because that is just how all of these emotions break out of me.

Monday, December 1, 2008

10 Days Until We Leave

And 15 days until we meet Julia Grace. I have given thanks until I cried, shopped until I dropped, wrapped until we ran out of tape, and just started to pack the suitcases. Oh my. We purchased plane tickets, have our visas ready, copied tons of documents, and there is still so much to be done. But ready or not we leave for Beijing Dec 10th, and arrive there on the 11th. We will be arriving back home on Christmas night. I still cannot believe that we can do the countdown in days, not weeks or months. Yahoo!!!!

On this side of the world, we had snow this weekend and the kids made a snow fort in the backyard. They didn't come in until their teeth chattered. Winter is soon upon us, and the first snow of the season is always a treat. It makes for an extra nice Thanksgiving treat when our first snow arrives on a long weekend.

Till next time :-)