We're here!

Exhausted, but here. Checked into the hotel in Beijing and hope to just get dinner in the hotel. I'm having to prop my eyes open to stay awake as I just can't sleep on planes. More tomorrow.

A new email address

While we are in China, I am not sure I'm going to be able to access my home email account. I've added a link on the blog for a google mail account that I will be switching to once we're home, so if you need me, use that one please.

(Check on the right hand side of the blog, where it says "Email Me." There is a link you can click on to send me an email.)

Thanks!! :)

In the final days before we leave....

So we need several thousands of dollars and in the newest bills we can find to take with us on our trip. I knew this ahead of time, but for some reason, forgot about how difficult this might be.

This morning I called the bank. (Because yesterday, of course, was a holiday. And last week? Well, last week, I kept saying we had a week left before we got on the plane. I don't know what I was thinking.)

The conversation goes something like this:

me: "Hi there. I'm getting ready to leave for an adoption to China, and I have been told I need to bring $$$$ with me in the newest bills I can find."

unlucky bank teller who answered the phone (sounding slightly panicked) "In Chinese Yuan?"

me: "Oops. Sorry. American."

bank teller (calmer now): "Okay. Well, when do you need it by?"

me: "Ummmm.....tomorrow."

bank teller: *crickets chirping*

In the end, I have two branches that are gathering the money for me. Thank heavens.

So, I will be carrying $$$$ with me, split in half with my husband, in money belts. By the time we arrive, those bills should be nice and sweaty and crumpled. Don't you think?

(I did buy one that went around my neck for me. I can't imagine flying for hours with something around my waist. Yuck.)

our visit to Siping Center

If you are interested, you may be able to watch our visit to Eli's foster care center. We are scheduled to visit on March 2nd. For those in the US, this will be the evening of March 1st, around 9 pm EST. (We will be 13 hours ahead of our time at home, so it will be morning there.) We've been told that family might want to start checking around 8:30 pm in case we are early.

To see the webcam, click here.

The foster care center is a wonderful place, funded completely through donations. The adoption agency we used for Norah (and found Eli through) are the ones who raise money for the center. Eli has lived here almost his entire life, and we are so thankful for the work that they do.

A must-read

Last week, I came across a blog article that speaks to the many questions I get asked about Chinese adoptions. Things like: "How did you get a boy?" or "Why are there so many kids with special needs being abandoned?"

Although I thought I knew the answers to many of these questions, I was surprised to find out that I actually only knew a small piece. In fact, the information shared in the article was so good, I immediately emailed it to family members and friends. It is well worth the time to read it.

To read the article, please click here.

Our Itinerary

So, I've been a terrible blogger lately. However, we plan to update during our trip here, so if you are interested in following along, this is the place!

Our itinerary looks like this:
2/24 Leave for Beijing
2/27 Arrive in Eli's province
2/28 Adoption Day! (or Forever Family Day or Gotcha Day....take your pick)
3/4 Leave for Ghangzhou
3/10 All paperwork is finally finished, and we leave on a train for Hong Kong
3/11 Fly HOME (Yay!!)


I think some of the reason I have been so bad about posting lately is because I'm just not sure what to write. My emotions have been all over the place the past couple of weeks. We are super excited to be going, and oh-so-ready to finally meet Eli and add him to our family. Yet, we aren't new to this game. We know the transition that lies ahead, and while it will all be worth it in the end, we know that it will likely be really tough before it gets better.

I say this simply because despite how prepared we feel we are mentally, it is a whole different ball game when dealing with things in reality. I know we can do this, and we want to...very much. But certainly, there have been moments here of feeling overwhelmed and a little anxious and definitely nervous as we begin our newest adventure.

So, we do what we have learned to do over the past 8 years of parenting. Take a deep breath and dive in head first, praying for wisdom as we go! The countdown is on!!

It came, it came!!!

We received travel approval yesterday, and this morning, we received the much-prayed-for consulate appointment. It came just as the government over there shut down for Chinese New Year holiday.

We are busy working with the travel agent, but it looks like we'll be China bound around February 24th and have him in our arms on February 28th!! Oh, happy day!!

Can't wait!