12 Hours from now......

We will be on the flight back to the US in 12 hours.  I can hardly contain myself!!   We have had a great  deal of fun on this little adventure to Harper, but we are all so wanting to get home.  Home to our own bed, our own showers, our own everything.

At times it doesn't feel like we've been in China for 14 days.  Other times, it feels like 14 years.  We have had so much fun and never once have felt unsafe..... well, maybe the cab ride yesterday from the pearl market, but other than that, we've felt very safe.  Oh, and the bumpy flights within China.... but other than that.... very safe :)

This trip is one that I am, in many ways, very thankful to God.  Of course, I'm very thankful we were able to make this trip so we could add the person that's been missing from our family.  It will no longer feel like someone is missing from our dinner table.  It's hard to believe that Harper has only been with us for 10 days.  It feels like she's been with us forever, that's how well she has fit in.  I can't imagine having to live one more day without her in our lives.  She has brought us all such joy in the little bit of time we've had her.

I am also very grateful that God has kept our boys healthy!  That is a huge answer to prayer.  We've not had to break out the nebulizer once on this trip.  Not once.  Griffin has needed his inhaler all of two times, but after actually seeing the pollution in the air,  and being around a ton of cigarette smoke, two times is nothing.

I'm a bit sad to leave the friends we have made on this trip.  They are all scattered throughout the US, but we've exchanged email addresses and have promised to keep in touch.  I hope we do.  They are the people that have been on this crazy journey with us.   They know some of the frustration about figuring out a child you really know nothing about.  They also know the pure excitement when that child, who also does not know anything about you, gives you a slobbery kiss or an infectious giggle.  It will be bittersweet tomorrow as we go our own ways.  Luckily, some of us are on the same flight to Chicago tomorrow.

As for today, we spent the morning gathering our things and once again stuffing them into our luggage that looks like it can't take it anymore.  I'm done with lugging all our crap around.

Anyway, after things were packed, we went to 7-11 to get some snacks for Hoover Harper for the train and plane rides we will be taking.  It stormed pretty good, so we didn't do much more than go there and hurry right back.

As usual, there are always things that just make me laugh in this country.  As we were roaming the aisles of 7-11, all 3 of them, I came across this um.....snack.  Chicken feet anyone??  I cannot figure out what is so delicious about the nasty foot of a chicken.  Don't they know what those chickens step in every day??

We got our few items and walked back into the hotel.  On the street level of our hotel, there is a Starbucks that we've become regulars of.  We stopped in for our usual drinks and this time, Harper wanted some.   Griffin was sweet and let her have a taste of his caramel frappuccino.....

Brannen was not as nice and sent her back to Griffin.  Poor thing!

 In the end, he let her lick the straw

 Our whole group loaded up on the bus and headed to the train station around 3:00 this afternoon.  Harper had not had a nap so we were prepared to pay for her crankiness once again.  To our surprise, she just laid back and took a cat nap on the 30 minute bus ride.

 At the train station,  Michael had our documents waiting for us from the Consulate.  We all then said our goodbyes to Michael since he would not be traveling with us to Hong Kong, and headed for the train.

 Harper likes to 'pinch cheeks'

On the train, the train attendant (is that what you call them? not sure, but we'll go with it) took our orders for drinks.  She mentioned they had beer, so Scott and I thought we'd each get one.  You know, we had to get rid of our Chinese money somehow!  Anyway, she brings us back these!  Not only were they HUGE, but they were also in mugs!!  It felt like we were on the train to Germany instead of Hong Kong. 

Everyone in our group were all seated around us, and we all got a good laugh at the size of the mugs of beer she brought us.  Well..... we must've been too loud because a very cranky Chinese lady two rows in front of us got up, turned around, and told us we needed to be quiet.

Oh.... no. she. did. not.  

This was the wrong group to be saying that to.  We were tired ourselves and were also toting around babies/toddlers who were done with this whole travel stuff.   However, we all stayed calmed and toned it down.  I guess on the positive side..... she yelled at us in English rather than Chinese.  haha!!

Griffin catching up on some homework on the train.

The train ride seemed to pass fairly quickly, and we all boarded a bus to our hotel.  Our hotel is just 5 minutes from the airport which will make it an easy commute tomorrow morning.  What I failed to realize..... we are 5 minutes from the airport which makes for a noisy nights sleep.  Oh well, I think we are all tired enough that we won't mind.

And with that, please say a prayer for us as we make the 14 hours to Chicago and another 2 1/2 to Dallas...... all with a 2 year old!