1st day in China

Well we didn't get to our hotel until around 1:00 am China time!  Two of our bags were lost and Sherri Johnson lost 1 bag!  We think Ivey left her camera with the video diary on the plane :'( I could not make myself understood whenever I asked about the camera.  We learned that when an Asian says YES...it means I heard your voice!  It does not mean they understand, it does not mean they are working on it.  It means...shut up & move on crazy woman!

Our lost bags held our shampoo, all hair care products, gifts for the orphanage director, and gifts for the orphans from Ivey's village!!  I took a shower and got cleaned up the best I could under the circumstances (I used the lotion as conditioner)...there will be NO pictures of me until I am in possession of my luggage!!

We ate breakfast at the hotel.  Weird combinations of food offered for breakfast...corn juice, make your own soup, fried noodles, warm milk for cereal, congee, make your own eggs...yes again poor Ivey was looked upon as the special needs Chinese girl who couldn't understand a word they said!

We went out this morning to try to exchange our money to Chinese currency and to also buy a SIM
card so we could make local calls since we would be leaving our group to head to Longyan & meet Ivey's foster mother.  Can I just say WOW!?  You have no idea, none at all how isolated you are and rely on others.  We finally found a bank to get some money & a nice gentleman walked us blocks & blocks to find a cell phone store!

The people at the cell phone store were wonderful & it took forever but we are now proud owners of a Chinese cell phone that we cannot read to work :) We are relying on everyone for even the most simple of tasks.

We are awaiting our luggage, Peter from the orphanage, and FOOD!  You wouldn't believe how hungry you are...and thirsty.  Missing cold water already :)

January 26, 2014

San Francisco - Beijing China

We got to the airport in San Francisco with less than an hour to get to our next gate.  We were starving.  No food on the plane and we last ate at 6:00 am Virginia time (was then 3:00 pm Virginia time).  We had to take a shuttle, run run run to make it to our gate as they were boarding the plane.  There were so many people I sent the kids to get us some food.

I have fallen in love!  There was the CUTEST baby ever sitting one seat up in the row beside us.  His whole body lights up when he smiles and then he gets shy.  I think Ivey has fallen in love as well! My best friend better beware I have eyes for another ;)

Arrive in Beijing

Ivey & Timothy are a little freaked.  Ivey is NOT the minority...Timothy & I are!  We get stared at & people smile sweetly. Everyone talked to Ivey in Chinese.  Poor thing doesn't understand a word of it.  I bet they are going "retard Chinese Girl don't understand nothing"!  The kids asked if I was "freaked" and I said NO.  I am very much at home.

To get to China from San Francisco the plane heads north up the coast to Alaska then over Russia & down into Beijing!  I am so glad my best friend hooked me up with "Long Way Around" about a motorcycle journey from England east and ending up in New York.  Because now I was seeing the places from the show under our plane.  I looked out the window and saw all white.  I asked is that clouds?  No I was told, that is Siberia, Russia!  Oh if only my best friend could experience this with me :)

January 26, 2014

Charlotte - San Francisco

Looking out the window on the plane heading to San Francisco.  The sky is red with mountains in the distance with patches of snow.  The earth is cut in gorges where a river runs.  It is winter...no sign of green, only red, brown & white.

The mountains are chiseled & cold where our mountains in Virginia seem so soft and gentle. I look for houses along the river bank but see none.  But at this height could I?

I am in awe at Gods creation...the quilt of a landscape.  I want to capture it.  I want to create a real quilt out of what I see, but I know I could never do it justice.

Time is quickly approaching!

It is so hard to believe that in 23 days we will be boarding the airplane for the adventure of our lives!  The kids have their immunizations...health department is scared to give me shots due to my allergies.  So I might have to go on a wing and a prayer for no exposure!

As soon as I get all the suitcases I have been promised I will lay them out and start packing the things that can be packed this early!  I am gathering documents to take, taking care of paperwork, etc... I really hope to send off for our VISA's on Monday!

She was such an "interesting" baby...and has grown up to be even more "interesting"!  I guess God had a plan to make her fit right into our craziness.  And she has a brother that is equally as interesting.  They have always been friends as well as siblings...but they are also BEST FRIENDS!  And together they return to her homeland, and together they will work with others who were not lucky enough to be adopted.  How will we all be changed from this experience?  I can't wait to find out!

Keep us in your prayers and thoughts!