We are in Wuhan!!!

We arrived safely in Beijing late Thursday night. Friday we met the Hunters at breakfast and enjoyed a twelve hour day of touring. We visited the Forbidden City, Tiannanmen Square, Temple of Heaven, Hutong neighborhood including a rickshaw ride, visiting a school and eating lunch with a local family. We toured a silk factory and ended the day with an amazing acrobatic show. We were all exhausted and could barely keep our eyes open! Saturday we visited a jade factory, climbed the Great Wall and visited the Summer Palace. Greg and the Hunters went to dinner at the renowned Peking Duck Restaurant and I stayed at the hotel and tried to catch up on my sleep. Then today we flew to Wuhan. On the trip from the airport to our hotel, the White Rose, our guide, Eric, told us we will depart from the hotel around 8:30am tomorrow morning and will receive our children at 9am(6pm Sunday evening for everyone back home). We actually drove across the bridge where Sarah was abandoned on the way to our hotel. We are hoping to go back and get some pictures of the bridge later this week. We checked into our hotel and walked to Carrefour with our guide. For pictures you can also check the Hunters blog www.hubeiboy.blogspot.com .
We are very excited that tomorrow is Gotcha Day and our anniversary!! We can't wait to finally meet our Sarah Michaela Mei. We will post pictures as soon as we can.

Two more wake-ups

I think it is starting to sink in! We are leaving in less than 48 hrs! The suitcases are almost filled. The shopping is done......I hope. My parents are on their way to our house to watch the kids. Thank you to all of you who have left messages recently. I am still in recovery mode from being sick but I greatly appreciate hearing from you!! Also, I want to thank Brenda, a very dear lady from my church, who has translated a letter to Sarah's foster parents for me. Thank you, thank you, thank you Brenda!!! This means so much to me to be able to share a little of our hearts and life with them. Of course, we will not know if they ever receive the letter. All we can do is ask the orphanage officials to deliver the gifts we have brought for them. I pray they will receive them and the letter will bring peace to their hearts. As for Sarah, only seven more wake-ups.....precious daughter we can't wait!

5 days!!!!

Only 5 more days till we leave! We are scrambling to get ready because mom(me), who is never sick, has been sick since Sunday! We have clearance for travel from the doctor thank goodness. It seems I just have a viral infection with nose/sinus/ear congestion, lightheadedness and a fever. I am feeling much better today, I am just tired. Just picked up some medication in case I need it on the plane for my ears. I'm so glad to get over this before we travel. If we had been in China, Greg would have been Mr. Nurse and Mr. Mom. Please pray that I will not pass this on to anyone else! Okay, I'm off to clean, pack, and finish my shopping.

Andrew, Josh, and Hannah Update!

I just had to update my picture of these three together, the other one is from over a year ago. I asked them what they would say to Sarah if she could hear them right now. Andrew says "Sarah, I can't wait to see you and be funny when you come home and make you laugh!"
Josh says "Sarah, I love you! I hope you come home soon! I hope you have fun here!" Hannah says "Sarah, I can't wait to go to the park with you and have you sleep in my room with me!"

TWO WEEKS TO GO!

In just two short weeks, we will be boarding a plane headed for China! I have been praying for Sarah and her foster parents. I'm sure this transition that is so exciting for us is heart-wrenching for them. This is the only part that is so sad. As far as I know, Sarah has lived with her foster family since she was six weeks old. Her foster mother saved her life by taking her in when she was not growing and thriving in the orphanage. Her patience, devotion, and love is why Sarah is alive and well today. In Wuhan, adoptive parents are not allowed to meet foster parents. I have had months to prepare myself for this fact. We so enjoyed meeting Hannah's foster parents and I am heartbroken that we are not allowed to meet Sarah's. We sent disposable cameras in a care package and I am hoping to gain some insight of Sarah's first three years of life when we develop them. Although, I know they are careful to only take pictures of the foster child in their care, I pray they have been compelled to take a picture of Sarah with them too. We continually pray every need they have will be met, comfort for their hearts, and blessings to follow everywhere they go.
For Sarah, we pray that her heart is being prepared to join our family, that His peace will surround and guard her heart, and that she will know God is with her, giving her a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 "I have it all planned out-plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for." The Message Bible

Let the countdown begin!!

We have booked our tickets and started our countdown! We leave for China on Wednesday, August 29th. We receive Sarah on Monday, September 3rd (our anniversary) and we arrive back in the USA on Wednesday, September 12th. Only 26 days till we hold Sarah in our arms and become the parents of four wonderful children.

TA! TA! TA! TA! TA! TA! TA!

Yes! We officially have travel approval from China! Sarah your family is coming to bring you home. All the kids are dancing and singing TA! TA! TA! throughout the house. Due to Greg's work schedule it looks like we will be leaving the last week of August. Our gotcha day should be Monday September 3rd (our 13th anniversary)! Thank you Father God!!

Psalm 37:3 "Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart."