China Bound

Tickets are booked, camcorder purchased (now to figure out how to use it), drawer and cabinet locks installed (almost), still trying to determine how to fit everything into two suitcases and still have room for our clothes (seriously)…

Our departure date is getting closer. We thought we would be leaving on June 23 but that date was dependent upon confirmation of a visa appointment on a specific date during the week of July 5. That didn’t happen and so our trip was pushed back by one week. We are now confirmed to leave on 6/30 and will return on 7/15. We will be flying to Beijing and spending a couple of days sightseeing before flying on to Nanning on Sunday, July 4th. That is where we will FINALLY be united with our girl. Our Gotcha Day will be July 5th. I think 5 has become my favorite number – we were logged in to China on 4/5/06, Journey was born on 2/5/09 and we will finally get to hold her on 7/5. We will be in Nanning (Guangxi province) until Friday taking care of the adoption process with the local government. On Friday evening we fly to Guangzhou where we will have various appointments for medical exams and finishing up paperwork to bring Journey home. Back to Beijing the evening of the 14th and then catch an early morning flight on Thursday to Dallas. I think the travel time to and from China is about 20 hours each way.

The past three weeks have gone by pretty quickly. Doug and I celebrated our 15th anniversary on May 26th and he surprised me with tickets to see Brooks and Dunn at an outdoor concert in Dallas. I’m not a big country music fan but I became hooked on this duo several years ago when I happened to hear their song ‘Neon Moon’ on the radio. The concert was very entertaining, including the performers. The amphitheater’s record-breaking crowd consisted of hundreds of beer-drinking, hootin’-and-hollerin’ rednecks (not meant in a derogatory way – after all, I am from Montana and I’m blessed to have several lovable rednecks in the family) who started the party early in the afternoon by tailgating in the back of their pickup trucks. Leaving the parking lot after the concert was an adventure, too, one I would liken to riding in bumper cars. Really, it was a pretty great time, sitting on the grass on a balmy Texas evening listening to some good music. Doug did suggest, however, that next time we just buy the dvd. ;o)

We had an opportunity to take a weekend trip to Albuquerque with some good friends the week before our anniversary and had a wonderful time sightseeing there and in Santa Fe. The weather was perfect for being out-and-about for two days and it was extra special for me to visit Albuquerque - I had spent some time there as a teenager after my best friend’s family moved there. It brought back some very good memories.

This past week or so we have been baby-proofing, booking tickets, getting together the paperwork we need to take with us, and gathering all the recommended items to bring for Journey, which are mostly medications. Lots and lots of OTC medications. I think we’ll almost be ready when it’s time to leave…

Thank you for all the prayers and support we have received from our friends and family. Please be praying for Journey – that she will have an easy transition and quick bonding to us, and that all three of us will stay healthy during our time in China