Count down to take off!!

ALMOST there!!! ...

We leave at 6:10 AM TOMORROW (2/12)!!!!

I have butterflies in my belly... 

Had trouble sleeping last night - kept having bad dreams about Meisi grieving and rejecting us...this is our biggest prayer request - We are taking our sweet little girl from everything and everyone she has ever known.  The next week will be full of transitions for her.  Before meeting us she will also be taken from LWB Heartbridge unit where she has spent most of her life back to the orphanage where she was her first two months of life.  Then we come - looking funny, smelling funny, wanting to cuddle and kiss her...  But through her eyes, all this transition....please pray for her and us - that we bond quickly, that she can feel our love and accepts it rather than reject it, that even through grieving she feels comforted and safe in our arms.  She is such a brave little girl and will have gone through much that she can't possibly understand at this young age, maybe ever. 

We are hoping having Aili and Ian with us will help her transition, but also ask that you pray for their hearts.  For them this is a new culture, a possibly grieving little sister...  Thankful that my mother in law is traveling with us to help with Aili and Ian.  We know Meisi will be getting loads of attention from Brian and I and are so thankful Karen is coming to make sure Aili and Ian get just as much attention from her. :) 

We are flying to Beijing and will arrive 2/13
2/14 Dropping off bags of donated supplies to New Hope and LWB Heartbridge Unit
2/15-16 Home School Field Trip :)  - visiting Great Wall, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven...
2/17 - we fly to Meisi's province (Anhui) - Prayers greatly appreciated for no delays in flight
2/18 - "Gotcha Day"  - hallelujah!  We finally get to be with our sweet girl FOREVER!!!
2/19 - Fill out paperwork - she is officially ours ON her birthday!!  God is so awesome!!!
2/20-22- touring her province, working on her passport
2/22- fly to Guangzhou - Prayers greatly appreciated for no delays in flight
2/23 - Medical Exam - Prayer greatly appreciated this day!! 
2/24-2/26 - more touring, paperwork...
2/27- Consulate appointment - woohoo Meisi will be a US citizen when we touch US ground!
2/28-3/3 - Go to Hong Kong
3/3 - Fly home :) 

Prayer requests -

1. That God is preparing Meisi's heart for us and us for her, and that we bond quickly. 
2. For everyone to stay healthy - Meisi, Brian and I, Aili, Ian and Karen.
3. For Godly attitude and love with one another while on the trip regardless how tired we get :)
4. For all of us to transition well to the cultural change and living in hotel for so long.  Brian and I have traveled a lot, but our kids and mother in law have not and we haven't traveled overseas before with our kids....
5. For safe travels and all flights to connect with us on them!  The most important ones because the schedule is tighter - are the ones inside China (from Beijing to Anhui and Anhui to Guangzhou). 
6. For the kids to adapt well to having a new little sister and that their sweet hearts and love for her is lived out. 

Praise God we are at this point!! 

We are going to try to continue to update our blog while there.  If we can't my dear friend Debbie is going to update it for us! :)  This will be the best place to check on us! 

We can't wait to post pictures of our little Meisi WITH us!  Aili and Ian are super duper excited!  Ian first words each morning this week has been, "4 more days until we go to China, 3 more days until we go to China..". :)   He had me buy a frame yesterday and put a picture of Meisi in his room.  :) He is going to be such a good big brother. :)  Aili cleaned her room which they are sharing and paid special attention to Meisi's crib. :)  She is already an amazing big sister. :) Can't wait to see them all together. :)

Here is Meisi's room waiting for her arrival! :)

These are two precious items my friend Debbie put together at our shower for Meisi.  Each person wrote a Bible verse or a well wish on each heart and around Meisi's picture frame.  I LOVE that they hangs above her crib.  So thankful for all who have shown such great love and hope for our precious daughter already!  Thank you for all your prayers, love and support, we certainly feel it!!!!