We made it!

After a fourteen hour flight, we arrived in Beijing at 2pm yesterday! As we
boarded the plane, we were pleasantly surprised that it was a very new plane
with touch screen video games, tv shows and movies! The kids loved it and were
entertained the whole time. I think they watched enough tv and played enough
games for a month! They also loved the kids meals on the plane and they were
hesitant to get off when we landed! I am not kidding!
Our guide met us at the airport and brought us to our downtown Beijing hotel. I
was SO relieved to find out that it is clean, huge and very nice and in one of
the best areas of the city..phew! We have two bedrooms and it is very
comfortable.
Last night we were wowed by their super modern malls and we ate dinner on the
7th floor in a restaurant. This was our first experience with the food and we
kind of failed! It was a "hot pot" restaurant where you cook your meats in a
soup in a pot that is inset to the table. This would have been great but the
meats were all things that we would see people eating on those reality shows
where they eat different parts of animals to win. There was frog, fish with
heads, parts of cows I will choose not to name and what looked like worms.
Needless to say, we had some good laughs and ate rice and really good breads for
dinner!
The people here are very kind to us and they LOVE the kids. So far Sydney has
gotten two hugs and Nathan got one hug and a kiss on the head from very kind
Grandma's that are enthralled with the fact that we have four kids.
Last night we stopped at a market by the hotel to get some food and we left the
banannas on the counter. The store clerk drove his scooter to our hotel to get
them to us! We cannot believe how kind everyone here is and that is just one
example!
Thanks for your prayers! We are also praying for the people affected by the
earthquake and Tsunami.

Snacks for our stay

Our Hotel in Beijing

Here is our schedule:

Thursday, March 10-fly to Beijing

Tuesday, March 15-fly to Singapore to visit my brother, sister in law
and their two kids

Sunday, March 20-fly to Kunming where Vivienne is!

Monday, March 21- We get finally meet her!

March 25-fly to Guangzhou

March 30- train to Hong Kong

April 1-Fly home!

Thanks again for your prayers!

Yes, we will need a luggage cart, thank you

We're packed!

I am happy to say that after fourteen months of being in this adoption process and five months of knowing who our little girl is, we're SO ready to go!  Our bags are packed and as we leave our house tomorrow, we know that when we come back will have Vivienne in our arms and in our family forever. 

I would be lying if I didn't admit that some fears have surfaced for me in these last few weeks.  There are so many unknowns and we're about to travel to five cities with five kids!  Our Associate Pastor preached a sermon a few weeks ago and used a great analogy.  There was a balance beam.  He compared us walking across the balance beam with us serving Christ.  When we're willing to take the walk across it, even though it's scary, we're serving Christ. The other alternative and be comfortable and sit on the balance beam and cling to it where it's safe.  Months ago when we decided to do this adoption, the walk across the balance beam was something that we were excited about.  Serving God is exciting.  Over the last couple of weeks, I have definitely had some anxiety with all of the unknowns: what Vivienne's personality will be like, Sydney giving up the baby status, etc.  The amazing thing is that in my daily devotions, God has been right there to hold my hand as I try to stand up on the beam.  Here is what was in my "Jesus Calling" devotional today:
"Walk by faith, not by sight.  As you take steps of faith, depending on Me, I will show you how much I can do for you. When I gave you My Spirit, I empowered you to live beyond your natural ability and strength. That is why it is so wrong to measure your energy level (keep in mind I have been packing for 7 people) against the challenges ahead of you.  The issue is not your strength but Mine, which is limitless.  By walking close to Me, you can accomplish My purposes in My strength." The verse that went with it was 2 Corinthians 5:7, "For we live by faith, not by sight."
I am SO human and it is so easy for me to try to think I have to do all of this with my own strength.  Then I read scripture and I am reminded that I can ask God to help me. 
I will be posting our itinerary tomorrow night from Chicago.  Thank you for all of your prayers, support and encouragement!

We finally got Travel Approval and a Consulate Appointment!

We are thrilled to announce that we finally received our TA on Monday.  We thought that was the end of the waiting, but apparently the Consulate Appointment takes a few more days..ugh! We finally got that today and we have started packing.  I have made so many trips to the travel sections of Meijer, Walmart and Target that I know all the products by heart!  Seriously, if you're taking a trip, I can give you the lowdown on any toiletry item out there!

The Consulate appointment is what our whole trip is based around.  There is a ceremony that will take place at the US Consulate in Guangzhou (with tons of other adoptive families) where Vivienne will be sworn in.  This takes place at the end of the trip and the whole trip is based on that date. 

John has been working on our flights ALL day.  Since we are bringing the kids, we're trying to get the best rates possible.  I'll post the itinerary when we have it finalized.

Meanwhile, the kids and I are laying out clothes to bring, packing backpacks and trying to get our house in order for a baby! 

Haven't seen one of these in our house for quite a while!