We Made It!

Just got to our room in Beijing about an hour ago...it's now 7:41 pm  here...after a 2 hr delay from Chicago it has been a long, long day. Traffic is horrendous here in Beijing. Our guide "Water" is so nice. We are staying at the Holiday Inn-Downtown Beijing. If I weren't so exhausted Ashton and I might go look around. But I think I'm gonna take a rain check for now.

Headed to The Great Wall/Forbidden City & Tiananmen tomorrow...Will post pics later...

The Night Before Forever

Well, here we are! After 5 days of haggling with ticket agents and trying to adjust agendas, not to mention a little incident that came up with our agency, I can honestly admit I am exhausted!!! Physically, mentally and emotionally. The excitement of this journey still hasn't set in yet. Not sure because the travel came about so quickly that I haven't had time to enjoy it. But I think it was a saving grace of going now rather than later. If I had to wait two more weeks to travel, like we were supposed to then I think I would be a basket case, well more than I am now.

Ashton and I are headed out in the morning. We leave RDU @ 0745 headed to Chicago not much of a layover there. Then headed to Beijing. We arrive there Friday China time at 240 pm. Headed to Tiananmen Square BEFORE we check in to our hotel. By that point, I'm sure I will have shut-down. But in an attempt to get acclimated to our new time zone, I think it's the guide's duty to keep us as awake as possible.

Sunday we leave Beijing and head down to Guangzhou. We get Nat on Monday at 230 pm. Then the fun begins. I pray that she will not have hard feelings towards us because we are taking her away from all she's ever known. But I hope she will understand that a family and sisters and home...it will be good..I just know.

Headed out at 840...forgot to get my passport pics done...ugh! Where has my head been...

Until next time....Beijing!

T

MIA, I Know!

Well, soo much has happened since my last post! We received TA on Wednesday 25th. Originally requested 28th of September for our CA (consulate appointment). However, noticing that the 25th is on a Tuesday, the week after the Autumn Moon Festival in China. The Chinese offices will be closed the whole week before the 28th not allowing enough time to get Natalie's paperwork to take the CA appt that is mandatory. Thinking of how hard it is to already leave for 2 weeks, I asked our agency rep to see if it were possible to get an earlier CA. It will be so much stress on us initially but at least I won't be sitting in Guangzhou a whole week with nothing to do and still risk the possibility of not getting her documents. After sitting on pins and needles all yesterday afternoon and most of the night, I wake up to an email from Kerry stating that we got our appt on 09/14 @ 1030 am. Yippeeeee! I know it's gonna be tough but I also know that sitting here for another 2 weeks waiting to leave would be tougher. Let's get this show on the road! I will be home on September 17. The bad news is I have to depart/arrive from Raleigh..Ugh...that 2 hr drive home after flying for 30 hrs..not too enticing. I think Todd and I have decided to just stay in Raleigh that Friday night after we arrive home. Just to get some rest and get the girls together asap!

So, FINALLY, it is happening! After sooo many years of waiting! Your prayers and support have been tremendous! Thanks again for everything!

T

Monday,...Again!

So off to a new week. I've decided that I wanted to make these little envelopes for Caroline & Claire to open each day we are gone to China. So, after trying to figure out how to come up with something that wouldn't make them sad and something that would let me finish them without bawling my head off again I had quite a successful trip to Party City today. Bracelets, lipgloss, soccer ball erasers and who knows what else is in that bag. I plan on starting tomorrow. Because I STILL don't have a travel date, I'm not sure if I have enough goodies for every day. So, I will just keep waiting and waiting and waiting...and surely it will come sooner or later!

Friday night...I just had this huge tear fest...I mean downright boo-hoooing...it had no specific origin...It just finally sank in that my oldest will be a senior in 4 years....I can't believe it..I mean I still remember the ultrasound to confirm my pregnancy...where does it go? They are all changing so much...Claire has been asking me for a year if she could shave her legs when she turns 12. Poor little thing is a hairy little beast...so I caved...yes, against my best wishes I now have 2 daughters that have crossed into the dark side of being a woman...ugh! I want my babies back! I want them all to wear matching St. Paddy's, Halloween, 4th of July, Easter t-shirts & scooter skirts just like they did not so long ago!!!!

It's a harsh reality. Ready or not they will grow up and leave and then come back with more....YIPPPPPEEEE cannot wait!

Keep praying for a TA soon!!!!!

First Day of School

We did it!!! First day of school has come and gone! Wooohooo! Girls survived, everyone is glad to be home and the best part is tomorrow is Friday! I could sooo get used to this! Still nothing from China...geez..get on with it now people! Got a sweet little girl waiting on me who probably thinks we are never coming!!!!

Research-China.Org: Trees in the Forest V -- Finding Locations, Part 2

Research-China.Org: Trees in the Forest V -- Finding Locations, Part 2: "#10 -- Bridges
No finding location strikes me as stranger when I am doing research than our next finding location, bridges. Often have I stood on a bridge in the middle of the countryside, looking for some reason why a family would leave child there. Often one finds a reason: a bus stop, a house, or some other explanation, but often there is no apparent reason. Nevertheless, in 2006 a little over 2½% of children found were found at bridges. There is one common thread that connects most bridges, and that is that they have heavy foot-traffic as farmers, students, and women walk to fields, schools and markets."

School Daze!

Well it's only the Tuesday before school starts and I am already exhausted!!! I know that this year is going to be full of surprises, ups/downs and new beginnings for all of us. Yesterday I think I was in this huge state of denial...cannot believe that summer is over and still no news of travel. But the rumor tree is rustling it's leaves....from privileged sources it is believed that our TA should come by this week's end or early next. Allowing for travel either first or second week of September, depending on available Consulate Appts. Then the mayhem will commence. Reservations, flights, scraping that last chunk of money needed to take with us. The scary thing is a huge amount will have to be carried on me while travelling..Am I excited about that...ummm no!!! But I am a very cautious person by nature...so I will make sure I am safe in every regard!

So as soon as I hear something so will you guys! Wish me luck as I embark on a new year of 3, soon to be 4 little girls but with the Lord's blessing we all will be fine!

Talk soon!
T