GOTCHA Day! July 21, 2008

Back in the hotel, playing contently with her stacking cups.


It's official! She is ours!!

Pictures

In Zhengzhou

Our flight was delayed about 20 minutes due to the plane waiting for late arriving passengers. Our guide met us at the airport. We are staying at the Sofitel Hotel in Zhengzhou about 50 minute ride for the airport. The driver was great! The traffic and people everywhere was amazing. We walked around a little with our guide after check in, then we napped. We are not adventurous so Americans among many,many, Chinese, we feel out of place.

We are anxious to meet Jiu Hong (Sarah) tomorrow!!

Our son was able to get our blog going today, thankfully. He doesn't know what he did, but it works! He is asleep now, so maybe tomorrow I can get some pictures posted.

To our family and friends back home.....Thank you for your prayers!!

In Beijing

We arrived in Beijing as scheduled at 9:35 pm China time on Friday, July 18, 2008, very tired after 27 hours and short naps on the planes. We also lost 12 hours do to the difference in time zones. Three of the six families in our travel group met up in Detroit Airport, Another family joined us in Toyoko, and we met the six family Saturday morning. We slept about five hours before touring all day Saturday, July 19. We visited Tian An Men Square, Forbidden City and Great Wall.



Sunday morning at 7:30 am we met our van for ride to airport. Our flight left 10:35 am for Zhengzhou.

Sarah at Swallow's Nest Foster Care in July

Our most recent picture of Sarah.

This is a photo of Sarah (Jiu Hong) at the Orphanage 6/24/08

Preparing to Leave

We are packing and doing last minute things getting ready for our journery to Sarah. Andrea and Susan my sister-in-laws are driving us to Lexington Airport early in the morning.
On 7/17/08 our flight leaves Lexington at 11:15 am arrives in Detroit at 12:309 pm.
Leave Detroit at 2:25 pm, arrive Tokyo at 4:20 pm on 7/18/08.
Leave Tokyo at 6:45 pm, arrive Beijing at 9:35 pm
Check into hotel for some sleep.
Saturday, 7/19 at 7:30 am we begin touring
Sunday, 7/20 fly to Zhengzhou 10:35 am - 12:00 pm
Monday, 7/21 Gotcha Day!! We meet Sarah for the first time.
Tuesday, 7/22 Visit Zhengzhou Orphanage 9:30 am
Wednesday 7/23 Bus to Shaolin Temple
Thursday, 7/24 Visit Henan Provincial Museum
Friday, 7/25 Fly to Guanghzou 7:30 pm - 9:25 pm
Saturday, 7:26 Meet in lobby for Sarah's visa photo and have medical checkup
Sunday, 7/27 Morning Walk to Church afternoon tour
Monday, 7/28 Visit pearl & jade market; take red couch group photo
Tuesday, 7/29 Visit Yuntai Botanical Garden
Wednesday, 7/30 US consulate appointment
Thursday, 7/31 Oath c
Friday, 8/1 Fly fro Guanghzou to Tokyo, Detroit, Lexington Arrive in Lexington 4:20 pm
HOME!! Arrive home with Sarah