China....

China…

 

I am taking a minute while on the plane to Hangzhou. This is where Isaiah lives. I wanted to document our journey for our children’s sake, and figured if I actually get this written I’ll plan to share! You all have been part of the reason this journey has been so joyful…your prayers and your good vibes all together!

Hmmmm so our excursion began last Wednesday with Guangzhou a husband and an almost 4 year old venturing from a 4 hour flight to LA, a trip to the Santa Monica pier, a few stops at my favorite SM spots, to an hour drive to Disneyland, to a 15 hour flight overseas to Guangzhou China. 

Where is Guangzhou you ask? It is semi close to Shanghai to put in simply. It is close to 10 million in population. We are 12 hours ahead. We hopped off that plane, luckily caught a good night’s sleep since we didn’t sleep much on the plane. That is until our sweet Caden decided he was wide awake at 2am! Thank goodness for iPads is all I can say. He was content to spend the next 2 hours watching cartoons while daddy and I slept!!! 

 

 

We are so fortunate our agency, IFS, sent a fabulous man named David from Guanzhou over to the airport to pick us up and cannot to basically serve as 24/7 side kick and partner on this China journey. Where he goes we go, where we go he goes. He  not only steps in to translate for us but he has already educated us so much about the country, culture, and more! 

Since we were up before the birds this am, we decided to head down to breakfast at 5:30am before flying out (Sunday) to Hangzhou. This was an awesome culture experience. The hotel’s loaded Chinese breakfast buffet had everything the Chinese people eat it was so fascinating. And by the way they are not big coffee people here, they prefer tea! And as David said this am, and what we noticed right away, is many forego even tea and eat soup for breakfast! That is their liquid intake as he said. Soup for breakfast! What I am more mesmerized by, is the fact they can get by without the caffeine. How I wish!!! Their coffee is quite mild too, 5 cups is equal to our 1 or maybe Ryan and I are already tired?! I can’t tell if so because our adrenaline and excitement have us moving right along! A quick visit to countries in Europe or China make me often realize how us Americans are addicted to speedy lives and busy minds (i.e. COFFEEEEE!!!! MORE OF IT!!!). Even the airport is more calmer and slower paced here than ours back home. Mind you, an airport in a city of 10 million!

We loved breakfast with David. It was insightful and fun! Caden as picky of an eater as he is, he amazingly ate a big breakfast! AMEN to that! Caden has been such a light for us. We miss lane so terribly. In the nerves of excitement in getting Isaiah, quickly bring me back to those same I had before heading to the hospital to deliver Lane. Ryan and I both agree…it’s a new emotion but the same in terms of joy for a new child. Caden has been so much fun. He even speaks a few Chinese words well, like his daddy he can mimic well! He has learned “don’t touch” already….so he can make sure Caden doesn’t touch his train track when he gets home. ;-) He has eased our anxiety in leaving Lane, he has been our joy in sharing in this excitement. Caden is so precious…I am so thankful for this one on one time we have had!!!!!! God is so good, He truly has arranged every single detail when I wasn’t even aware that He was. I get humbled so quickly when I realize how undeserving I am and HOW MUCH he covers us in faith and favor every step on the way in our life and specifically this calling for our family.

So here we are…Sunday morning, landing in Hangzhou. I am about to wrap up and as we are headed to the hotel next. We will be here for 5 days. TOMORROW (Monday Oct 24) we will be headed to the city court where we will pick up Isaiah. David will be taking us, he said the process is quite simple. Caden has Isaiah’s toys all picked out to bring. Thanks to sweet English and William Luke, we brought Louisiana to China, a stuffed Alligator of course. We have suckers and a few other little knick knacks to show him. His grandparents also sent awesome gifts as well…we are blessed he is loved by both sets of grandparents already. They have been faithful in prayer.

We will get our sweet Isaiah…and life is about to change in such amazing ways. Even better, we get to watch our prayers all intertwine into this beautiful story. We get to watch God take what seems impossible and make it all possible, the bonding of our growing family! Caden has asked repeatedly if we can get him TODAY so I will be thankful when tomorrow comes! Soon enough…more to come. And TO TOP IT OFF GEAUX TIGERS!