Few more pics from day 2

It's Sunday morning here and we're just relaxing a little before church. Jay wanted me to post a few more pictures from yesterday (we took about 120:).

First off, our dinner last night. Actually looks a lot more appetizing on the pic than it was. This is why we are so hungry for breakfast in the morning!

The second was one of the dozens of huge pots that they kept water in at the Forbidden City. Avery's there to show you how big they actually were. Then the food vendors are everywhere! The sweet potatoes were being cooked in a metal garbage can on wheels.....anyone hungry? Lastly, the Olympic sites...the cube and the birds nest. We didn't get to tour these but drove around the Olympic village to get pics. Sports here is viewed totally different than the US....I asked the guide what they used the Cube for now....he said, "Nothing....you can't do sports everyday, you know!" HAHA! The Chinese government spent hundreds of billions on this stuff and here it sits.

**Also, i'm going to take the lock off on anonymous comments....so if you want to comment, please just leave your name after it...but no need to join blogger just for this....sorry De'na! Also, thanks Julie and Pam for your comments for Avery..she said to me..did I get anymore email??!! She loved getting the little "hugs" from home as much as we do! Keep them coming!

Day 2...we walked...and walked...and walked....

Today we got up nice and early, thanks to our body clocks that have been so thrown off! About 4:45 we were up and ready for breakfast! Unfortunately the breakfast buffet didn't open till 6:30...and when it did, we hit it with a vengeance! It is really the best meal of the day..tons to choose from and very western. Next we bundled up and headed out for the day. At Tienanmen Square, Avery was approached about three times as people are fascinated with her blond hair! They all asked if they could take her picture...Jay is thinking tomorrow he's going to charge!

Next we headed through the Forbidden City..where the emperors lived and ruled. It is really indescribable...very large and the buildings are amazing with color. Next stop was lunch. Not too bad...."pizza" (ok, not), and a buffet with everything from fried rice to french fries. We're not too adventurous when it comes to meals here so we fill up on rice and chicken and drink a ton of water. We can't have the ice because of the water so everything is lukewarm....yum.

Then on to the pearl factory. Avery got selected to choose a pearl out of the water and it had 13 pearls inside! We got each of the girls a pair of pearls to wear on their wedding day, and some other goodies as well.

Next stop was the summer palace....summer home of the emperor. The lake in the middle was frozen solid and it was sooooo cold. Again, hard to describe but very pretty and soooo big. We finished off the tour with a trip to the silk factory and then dinner. Dinner was more interesting than lunch, as even our guide couldn't tell us what some of the dishes were! We picked through rice (again) and chicken (stayed away from the feet:) and warm drinks. We are all so so exausted! Avery has been a trooper but she hit a wall tonight and actually slept through dinner in her chair. We're all looking forward to a good night's sleep!

Tomorrow we go the the International Bible Fellowship Church and then to the Great Wall!! Thank you sooooo much for all the sweet comments...they really really make us feel like we're not so far away. We can actually "feel" the prayers...and I truly mean that in a way I cannot describe. We love you all!! Only one more day without Ashley!!! Can you believe it?? Beijing is great and all...but we want our baby!!!!!

China is a looooonnnggg way away....

Good Morning! (or night?) We are totally off our schedule so we're not sure what it is!! Actually here it's 5am, and we're all awake. A little more detail about the way we got here...

We started in ATL early Thursday morning. Made it to Chicago and met up with about 6 other families from our group. We had a short layover and boarded the plane bound for China. God decided to surprise us right off the bat, as the airline has bumped us up to "Economy Premium" seating! yeah! 5 more inches of room is all that amounts to, but 5 inches is a LOT when you're 5'10 and 6'3! Avery and I were in a 2 seat row and Jay was behind us with "Jing" (see pics). This sweet woman is from Tulsa, OK and travels home to China very often. She taught us so much!

Other highlights:

*Watching the sun come up at 9pm our time, over Siberia...beautiful.

*Avery saw her first snow (couldn't touch it though!) out the windows at Chicago, O'Hare.

*Most of the time the air temp outside the plane was -80 degrees

*Airplane food lived up to it's reputation...yuck. We had two "meals" and a snack. The Chinese noodles were the best thing...Jung taught Avery how to eat them with chopsticks!

*Total Sleeping on the plane:

Avery-4 hours

Mama-3 hours
Daddy-0 hours

*The terminal we flew into was built for the Olympics. It cost 4 Billion dollars and was built in 4 years. It was AMAZING. Jay's comment was great..."see how much you can accomplish when you don't have to vote on things!"

*On the plane, Avery did wonderful! At one point she said, "Mama, PLEASE tell them to stop talking like that, it's annoying me!" (they say everything in Chinese and Eng....get used to it baby!!)

*God has put people in our path already....Candace at the hotel in ATL that let us take her car to Wal Mart because we couldn't get our computer to work and needed a new cord.

Joe the bus driver that prayed with us before we got to the airport.

HE has truly gone before us.

*As we flew, on the IPOD was "His Eyes" by Steven Curtis Chapman. As we flew over Russia, hearing the words,
"His eyes are always upon us....His eyes never close in sleep...and no matter where you go, you will always be, in His eyes"

Today we do the whirlwind tour! T'square, Forbidden City, and Summer Palace. It's COLD. Pray for these three SW Georgins....we're cold wimps!

WE'RE HERE!!

We made it safe and sound! After 27 hours of traveling, we are totally wiped out. I'll update in the morning, so check back tonight!

Just Keepin it Real....

Tonight I had "grand" ideas about getting the girls together before bed and all praying together as we spend the last night in our house as a family of 5. Yeah. So much for the idea....the intention was great but here's how it went down:

Ally: totally mad because she had to quit watching Dora. Tells me that she " DOES NOT CARE" if i'm going to be gone for 14 days. Really.

Annalyse: totally naked in pure "annalyse" fashion. Refuses to hold anyones hand. Telling Ally to "stand up!" during the entire prayer.

Avery: mostly rolled her eyes at Ally, and failed to get Annalyse to hold her hand.

Daddy: Prayed quickly, reminded me that "God knows our hearts"

Mommy: Crying the entire time

So much for my "moment"

*smile*

Email this morning from our agency...

Dear Travel Group 142,

The day you have long been waiting for has finally arrived! You are about to meet your precious child face to face! The America World staff shares in your joy as this day quickly approaches.

Like most incredible life experiences, your trip to China will be both amazing and challenging. As Paul encouraged the Romans, so we also encourage you with this verse: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
(Romans 15:13)

Please know that you will be in our prayers throughout your time in China. We look forward to talking with you upon your return, and hearing all about your trip. If you will be posting pictures or updates to a blog while you travel we would love to have the link and follow along. We are thankful for the blessing of walking alongside you throughout this journey. May God bless this final chapter of your adoption process!

Paperwork is DONE (for now:) Bags are *almost* packed, tickets are here, and we're headed on the journey of a lifetime!!! China here we come!!!

Three more days till takeoff!

I CANNOT believe that I just typed that....three more days!! My stomach does a little "flip flop" every time I think that! This time next week, we'll be sleeping (ok, maybe NOT sleeping:) for the last night ever without Ashley. It will be her last night in her foster care home. The moment we have waited for for almost 2 years is coming very soon!

I know that many of you....because you have shared privately with me.....have been reading our story and following it and that God is speaking to your heart about what He wants you to do for orphans. Let me just tell you....please do not be afraid. All the fears you have (and all those we had) He will get you through. It sounds so cliche but where He guides, He provides. Not just in financial ways, but in so many others.

This week we've been amazed at how God has provided for us. We've received gifts for our adoption expenses almost everyday in the mail. From people we haven't seen or talked to in years. From new friends and fellow adoptive parents who just felt God leading them to give. We had a conversation with our pastor this week about how most people who do have a ton of money, hold on to it so tightly. While those who depend on the Lord to provide, just give and give. It has been such a lesson to us, me especially, about the way the Lord wants us to give. i love what one friend wrote on her letter to us...."this is so much FUN!" WOW. The bible says God wants us to be "hilarious" givers....and this friend was certainly living that scripture out. Her very large check she sent was an incredible gift, but those four words spoke so deeply to me.

As we prepare to leave this week, let me just go ahead and say thank you....you all know who you are.....although those words seem so so inadequate, we are truly grateful. You will always be a part of the story we tell our daughter, about the Great and Mighty God we serve...and how He loved her and He loved us so much that He used some pretty incredible people to bring her home.

I'll probably update once more on Wednesday.....packing calls!!!!