Well, we had expected to be in the air by now, but we've only made it to Chicago. Our flight to Beijing was delayed for a few hours, so we are enjoying our five hour layover by getting to know two of the families traveling with us. So far we've met Jacquie and Erich, and Robin and Bryan. They are all first-time adoptive families, so I've been bombarded with questions and have enjoyed some of the reminiscing over our past three adoptions. It's been a few hours well spent. Helps the time go by.
I have found this time around has a completely different feel to it than our previous adoption trips. When we went to China to get Katie Mei, there was a sadness because I felt like it was probably our last adoption and she would be our last child. I was somewhat nostalgic thinking that that would be our last trip to meet a child. I guess I really wasn't ready for it to be over.
This time I have such a good feeling that this IS the last time around and I am ready for it. I don't know if it's just a personal thing because five is enough. But I have a feeling its more along the lines of God just giving me that peace that this is what He intended and we've met His goal for our family. I'm happy, and know I won't be holding these children for the first time with the same sadness I felt when I met Katie Mei. It's a very good feeling.
So now I sit and wait, and just enjoy the fact that we're almost on our way. Looking forward to that yummy fish for breakfast we'll probably get on the flight to China.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Bags are packed!
Well, after printing up more passport photos than I originally thought we'd need, stuffing my suitcase and putting everything else in Jay's suitcase, and filling a carry on, I think I'm almost ready to go. I'm ten pounds over the limit for China Southern Airlines, but we'll just have to suck it up. I cannot go with anything less. Packing for two children has been a challenge. But I'm ready to get this show on the road and don't want to ponder my luggage situation any longer.
The crib is set up, the house is fairly clean, and whatever is not in order yet is just going to have to stay that way. I miss my kids and I just want to hurry and get home again.
I will send posts to Mindy along with photos, and she'll be updating the blog from here on out. Thank you Sweet Friend! I'm going to miss you!
See you all on the other side!
Love,
Petrie
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Travel plans
We have received our itinerary and I've come to the the stage of trying to pull myself together and actually plan for the trip. I've done this enough to know that once the travel approval comes everything spins out of control, so I should be able to prepare for that, yet I never do. I have spent almost a week trying to gather paperwork, get the kids packed and ready, prepare schoolwork for my absence, and get baby items purchased. And I have completed none of that. I still don't even know what size diapers I should buy. When you don't start out with newborns, there's always a bit of chance involved in choosing sizes for everything. With Merrilee everything was too big, and with Katie Mei everything was too small. With two kids, I'm just stuck. I love it, but it makes planning much more difficult.
We are leaving on October 27 from Atlanta and will be flying into Beijing on the 28th. We will be traveling for about 18 hours, which is remarkably short compared to other trips we've had. We will spend Saturday the 29th touring Beijing and on Sunday will fly to Gansu province to meet our children. This is a big change from our previous three adoptions. We have always had two days to tour Beijing, so I don't know what will be left out of our trip. I'm almost disappointed that we won't get to go to all the usual places, especially the international church service we're used to enjoying, since I know this is our last adoption trip. But I'm also excited that we'll have our babies by Sunday morning back home, and will hopefully be able to share those photos with everyone before they go to church.
Our Civil Affairs appointment will be on Monday, October 31, when we will officially be made the parents of Joshua and Sarah in the eyes of the Chinese government. Then it's three more days of appointments (passports, notary offices, etc.) and sightseeing in province, before we head out to Guangzhou on Friday, Nov. 4th.
The remaining seven days will be getting the children's medical exams, doing paperwork for the American portion of the adoption, and more sightseeing and shopping. Our Consulate appointment is on the 9th and we depart Guangzhou for Hong Kong on the 10th.
We will leave the morning of the 11th from Hong Kong to return home, and will arrive the evening of the 11th in Atlanta. It's going to be a very long day.
Merrilee, Jacob, and Katie Mei will be staying with my parents while we're gone, and I'm already starting to miss them terribly. It will be a little over three weeks without them, and my heart is having a hard time already with the separation. The last time we were apart for very long was while I was in the hospital with Katie Mei for her surgery, and it was so difficult for me then. Please pray for all of us as we muddle through such a long span of days. It's hard on the children as well, but I'm so thankful that right now they're very excited to go see their grandparents. They've been talking about it non-stop for days.
We are leaving on October 27 from Atlanta and will be flying into Beijing on the 28th. We will be traveling for about 18 hours, which is remarkably short compared to other trips we've had. We will spend Saturday the 29th touring Beijing and on Sunday will fly to Gansu province to meet our children. This is a big change from our previous three adoptions. We have always had two days to tour Beijing, so I don't know what will be left out of our trip. I'm almost disappointed that we won't get to go to all the usual places, especially the international church service we're used to enjoying, since I know this is our last adoption trip. But I'm also excited that we'll have our babies by Sunday morning back home, and will hopefully be able to share those photos with everyone before they go to church.
Our Civil Affairs appointment will be on Monday, October 31, when we will officially be made the parents of Joshua and Sarah in the eyes of the Chinese government. Then it's three more days of appointments (passports, notary offices, etc.) and sightseeing in province, before we head out to Guangzhou on Friday, Nov. 4th.
The remaining seven days will be getting the children's medical exams, doing paperwork for the American portion of the adoption, and more sightseeing and shopping. Our Consulate appointment is on the 9th and we depart Guangzhou for Hong Kong on the 10th.
We will leave the morning of the 11th from Hong Kong to return home, and will arrive the evening of the 11th in Atlanta. It's going to be a very long day.
Merrilee, Jacob, and Katie Mei will be staying with my parents while we're gone, and I'm already starting to miss them terribly. It will be a little over three weeks without them, and my heart is having a hard time already with the separation. The last time we were apart for very long was while I was in the hospital with Katie Mei for her surgery, and it was so difficult for me then. Please pray for all of us as we muddle through such a long span of days. It's hard on the children as well, but I'm so thankful that right now they're very excited to go see their grandparents. They've been talking about it non-stop for days.
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