Ahhhmerica

So funny how much we take for granted. Just picking up the laptop and accessing any website we want, whenever we want. Being able to look up and get answers to questions. Using our phones...calling from here is becoming a challenge (sorry mom). Anyway we rode a bus from Shanghai to Hangzhou today, it was dirty and slow, and the driver kept hocking up loogies and spitting into a bucket! Gross! Oh btw breakfast was good, I had rice mixed with egg and a sort of hash brown, a croissant and a small sweet pastry. Of course we cannot drink the water and were warned by a native that milk here is gross and NOT to drink it. So we stuck with canned Coke :) Anyway, back to the trip, we arrived in Hangzhou, which is very pretty, more what we expected china to look like, but as we got deep into the city we ran into what I call "NewYork on crack" Ppl everywhere and no order, cars run all over ppl cross the road when and however they want. Lots of honking a quick stopping. We took a taxi fm the bus to the hotel, we were warned not to take a ride fm unregistered cabs. They were very aggressive in trying to get us in their cab. It was funny, david and I and all our luggage running to a real cab and a little Chinese man was following us yelling and waving his hands over and over, he didn't want to take no for an answer! Once at the hotel, which is very nice, we met one of the other families adopting fm the same agency. We spoke to our rep and were told to rest for the night. Tomorrow we will go to the bank and to a toy store to buy toys for our orphanage visit on wed. We will meet Ariana on monday morning!!!!!! Ahhhhhh! I so miss the comfort and ease of America but now that we are in Hangzhou with other ppl and a rep I feel much better. We are still adjusting to the time. Sleeping at odd times to make it through. Hopefully tonight we will not wake up. I hope u all know we are so thankful for your prayers and support, God is definitely guiding and caring for us. I will keep trying to get updates through.

Love u all!
Kathy
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Update

For those who havent heard, we are in Shanghai.  We arrived last night, exhausted, but safe and comfortable.  Gettin luggage was interesting since everyone crowded around a vlow moving luggage belt and fought to get our bags. Going through customs was quick and efficient.  It was eerily quiet as we entered the airport,  there were signs up telling us to remain quiet.  Then after we went through customs it felt more familiar.  We found our hotel quickly because signs were in both English and Chinese.  This was a huge comfort for me :) After some botched communication we got our room and found out how to catch our bus for today.  We slept well, but woke up around 3 ready for the day, I guess our clocks are off :)  I am still feeling the effects of flying, feeling lightheaded and quesy.  Our room is very nice, and our bed is round lol.  It was pretty comfortable temp wise last night but it is as if the AC is off this morning.  So we are off to breakfast... hoping to find something that looks familiar.  I will let you know. Sorry for the spelling a grammar, I blame exhaustion.   Love you guys, keep praying for us.

 

Kathy

Leaving,,, again. :)

Ok so the plan is to now leave Detroit today at 230. We will see :D the weather here is cool and our hotel was comfy, we got to sleep in a little so that is good. Anyway off to grab food with our meal vouchers. Love u guys!
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Adventure... I think

Well after three hours in the air we are now back in Detroit. We had a control malfunction and couldn't completer the flight, we circle for a while before they told us we had to come back. Then because we had to much fuel and thus to heavy to land we had to dump fuel. Now there is something VERY wrong with flying in the air in a massive plain filled with ppl and watching out the window as fuel gets dumped from the wings for over an hour! Then we, upon landing, were met with fire truck, ambulances and police because it was an emergency landing... Now as far as we know they followed protocol and we were not in danger... At least that is what the pilot was selling lol. So here we sit in detroit with meal vouchers waiting to see if we will fly tonight or not... Adventure.. Yes... The kind I like... Ummm not really, although we passengers had some fun while waiting for enough fuel to dump.. Of course that could be because we were feeling woozy from flying in circles.

So to wrap this up, pray people, for safety, staying here a night won't hurt our plan, since we were early. I will update asap.

Love,
Woozy in Detroit
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Landed

We arrived in detroit, and for some reason the nerves have hit me. I am nervous about this next looooong flight and about being in a country soon were I cannot communicate Aaaaahhhhhhh!! We did come through the coolest tunnel ever between terminals it was like a giant plexiglass tube with cool sounds and a light show... If I hadn't been to busy trying not to fall on my face on the giant treadmill I would have taken pictures :) pray for us, for safety and good health and to calm my nerves :) and for all of our kiddos.

God thank you for safe travel and making this possible... All the glory is yours alone.

Now it's time for food...
Kathy

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Hey guys, this will probably be my last post before I leave.  I am soooo emotional right now.  So excited and overwhelmed with all that is taking place.  Keep us in your prayers... I dont want to forget anything important. My post will be via email from this point so I won't be able to link them to facebook, so check back for updates... feel free to pass on the link to the blog for people to keep up with us... Thanks for following us... back to last minute packing!

Love, Kathy

Blessings

Exactly two weeks from today we will be on a plane headed to China.  Somehow it doesn't feel real, like it is just some distant dream.  We are really going to China, that in and of itself is crazy, but to know we will actually be united with our daughter is overwhelming.  To be able to hold her and touch her, for the face in the photos and videos to be right in front of us, is the most beautiful dream. I have checked rechecked, and will probably recheck a million more times before we go, our packing list.  I am doing my best to not pull the suitcases out until one week away.  I can pack Ariana's stuff, hopefully that will help curb the desire.  I am sure I am bringing so many things we won't need, but I am bringing them none the less.  My type A side is running the show right now. :) Everyone please be praying for our trip, and for our first meeting.  Pray for this precious baby that it not be to hard for her, and for us that we know how to comfort her.  I have learned so much, I've read and studied and yet I know most of that will go out the window as we get to know her.  I know that God has been with us, and He alone will walk us through this time...

To my sweet Ariana Grace, I cannot wait to meet you, and although I know this time will be hard for you, I trust that it is for you good, I promise to love you with my life, to fight for you and teach you all I can... but mostly I promise to point you to God everyday.  To do my best to teach you that although I will fail, God will not. 

To Ashlyn and Destin, you are so precious to me, you have filled my life with joy and laughter,  I am so proud of you both.  So proud of the love you have both shown for this little one you have never met.  You have already become her big sister and brother. I am so excited to take this journey with you. I cannot wait to see you together.. I know she will adore you both.

To my hubby, my love,  words cannot express how proud I am of you.  You have worked so hard to make this possible.  Thank you for every moment, for fighting for her, and our family.  You have worked countless hours, and made a million calls, you have truly taken every step of this journey with me.  You could have stood back and let me handle it all, but you jumped in and carried the load.  I love you with all I am, and I cannot wait to see our baby in her daddies arms.  :)

For all these beautiful gifts... the glory belongs to God alone... thank you Father
Me