We Made It and Happy New Year!

After 24 hours of flying yesterday we finally made it to Guangzhou at 8:45p (China time). We were really looking forward to celebrating the New Year China style only to find out that they do NOTHING for New Year's Eve. Nothing...nada...zip!!! They only celebrate Chinese New Year which will be in a few weeks for them. So we were a little disappointed. We had hoped to see one spectacular fireworks show. But in the end it was ok because after we skyped the children at home it was 10:30pm and I was going to bed.

We actually slept very well last night. I made it to 5 am and Donny some how made it to 7 am. We have just been hanging around the room this morning. We are looking forward to celebrating New Year's with our kids in a little while. We are going to skype so we can all be together for the countdown. That's better than any fireworks display!

Our schedule is all out of whack since they changed the holiday days around, so we don't know what we will be doing on what day. We do know that we meet Makinley on January 4th, but the rest is still being determined. I think our guide said tomorrow we would be going to Shaiman Island to shop, but we still have not heard what time yet. When we know, I will post it. (My daughter likes to follow along and know what we are doing and when).
Hope you all have a wonderful New Year's!!

The Number of the Day is......

Tomorrow we will be on a plane to China!!

This will be my last post until I return after the 14th of January.

If you would like to follow our trip please click on the link below:

http://www.journeytome.com/journal_view.cfm?journalid=3438

Thanks so much for your support and prayers.

Update: Change of Plans

We just received word as to why our Gotcha Day was pushed back a day.  It seems that the Civil Affairs office decided not to reopen from the holiday until January 4th. 

Change of Plans

I just received our final itinerary at it seems that the day we meet Makinley has been moved to January 4th.

Feeling very sad right now.

I hate leaving my children and knowing that I will be sitting in China for three days before I can even meet her (when I could be home with my children) is kinda yanking at my heart.

I know that God has a plan.  And I will enjoy the time alone with my husband.  It is just a long time to be away when you have littles and bigs at home.

Good news is, we do leave in two days.  I know I will feel better when I get there.  I am just already missing my children and I haven't even left.

The Number of the Day is......

And the plan for the day is packing.

Well, at least to finish packing.

I will be shopping for food for those we are leaving here and then I will be washing clothes and finally finishing up the packing process.

I have to say that as excited as I am to get Makinley, I am also so very sad to leave my children here for such a long period of time...AGAIN!!

I know I will feel better once we actually get there.

The 25 hour flight is not helping in the excitement area.

You all know how much I LOVE planes.

I still can not believe that we only have two more days!

Don't forget to follow us here:

http://www.journeytome.com/journal_view.cfm?journalid=3438

The Number of the Day is......

The Number of the Day is......

Can you believe it??

Only four more days and we will be on a plane!!

I am so ready to meet my baby girl.

China, here we come!!

The Number of the Day is......

Merry Christmas!!

The Number of the Day is......

Praying you all have a wonderful Christmas Eve with your family and friends!

One More Week!

One more week!

I can not believe that there is only a week left!

More importantly, I can not believe that our Makinley will be home in three weeks!!!

So if you want to follow our journey while we are in China, we will be using this site:

http://www.journeytome.com/journal_view.cfm?journalid=3438

Just click on the link above and it will take you to our page.

Or you can go to Journey to Me and click on adoption journals.  Then you just click on Journey to Makinley and it will take you to our page.

We will be posting every day so try to keep up with us...

We do appreciate your prayers and support.  PLEASE email and comment on our posts.  It gets pretty lonely there, even when you are busy all day long.  We loved all of the emails and responses last time and we look forward to seeing who is following along with us.  We read EVERY ONE OF THEM!!!

Also, please pray for us as we will be meeting Makinley on January 3rd at 2:30pm China time.  That would be 1:30am at home (eastern time zone).

Love you all and have a very Merry Christmas!!

The Number of the Day is......

I had a very hard time sleeping last night.

I kept waking up and lists would start running through my head.

Things to do for my business.

Things to remember to pack.

But mostly, I kept dreaming/thinking about the day I will meet my sweet baby girl.

Praying that God wraps her in peace and security that day.

Praying for an easy transition for our family.

The Number of the Day is......

Single digit!!!

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And with only five days until Christmas it has been a bit busy around here!

I am missing my sweet cheeks.  I so can not wait to meet her!!

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Almost there....

The Number of the Day is......

I have a friend who just visited the orphanage today, but she was not able to see Makinley.  I am a bit sad, but I do understand.  We will be there soon and they wanted to focus on seeing children that still have to wait for their families a bit longer.  Praising the fact that there were 11 children on the list for her to go visit.  That means 11 children will have a family!!

My emotions are a bit here and there the past couple of days. It is my favorite time of the year and right after Christmas we get to go and get our baby girl.  I am not feeling overwhelmed, just like I can not focus on one thing.  I want so badly to enjoy Christmas with the kids.  I also want to be as excited as I was when we were leaving to get Ashlyn.  It is kind of weird how I feel. 

I will be happy when in 12 days I am getting on one of many planes to FINALLY head to China.  I am also looking forward to celebrating the New Year alone with my husband in China.  Who gets to say that they were in China on New Year's Eve!!  After all, they did invent the firecracker!!

The Number of the Day is......

Thirteen more days!!!!

TWO WEEKS!!!

I need to finish packing.

I guess that with the holidays I have just not been totally focused on the fact that in two weeks I am getting on a plane and traveling half way around the world.

It just seems very surreal to me.

So blessed to be on this journey again.

It is absolutely life changing!

How Many More Days???

That's right, just 15 more days!!



Let the Countdown Begin!!!

Because we only have 16 more days until we get on a plane to China!!!

And because I am ready to start the count down!!

How Many Days????

That's right, just twenty-one more days and we will be on a plane to get our precious baby girl!!

Here is our itinerary for the trip:

December 30th:  Fly to Guangzhou, China

December 31st: Land in Guangzhou at 9:00 pm (8:00 am home time) and celebrate New Year's Eve!!

January 1st:  Free Day

January 2nd:  Free Day

January 3rd:  Meet Makinley at 2:30 pm (1:30 am home time)

January 4th:  Civil Affairs for adoption paper work

January 5th:  Visit Makinley's orphanage

January 6th:  Medical exam for Makinley and visa picture

January 7th:  Yuntai park

January 8th:  Yuexiu park

January 9th:  Chen Family Temple

January 10th:  Get Makinley's passport

January 11th:  Free Day

January 12th:  American Consulate appointment

January 13th:  Get Makinley's visa and fly home

January 14th:  Return home to our family!!

We are so excited and can not wait to meet our baby girl!!

One Month From Today....

In exactly one month from today we will be meeting our sweet baby girl!! 

I am so excited, I can not even stand it!!!

Twenty-seven days until we leave for China.

I am so ready to go!!!!