Feel the burn!

We got up this morning and met our group in the lobby to leave around 8:00 am to go tour the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, and the Forbidden City.  It was such a cool outting.  I think I liked hiking the wall the best, even though our legs were burning by the time we got down again.

It was another long exhausting day, but this long day was much more fun than yesterday's long day.  We got to hang out with our group more, and really had fun getting to know everyone.  One family is from Austin, another from Kansas, Minneapolis and Michigan.  We passed pictures around of our children (all girls) that we will be picking up in 2 days (!!!) and just loved seeing their precious little faces and hearing the stories of each.  Tomorrow, we all go our separate ways into the provinces where our kids are, but we will all meet up again in 5 days.  I can't wait to see all of the girls together!

Our group

 Right before we started the climb

It was SO incredibly steep and the stairs were all different heights.  We all made sure to grab the handrail for sure!

We didn't go all the way up, just about half way

My 3 dudes in one of the towers

Griff resting his bones

 Brannen climbed up in the tower

 Scott and Griff making their way down

I couldn't resist taking a picture of this boy. Dang!  Look at that tail he's got going on!

A bunch of locks you could add to the wall as a sign of commitment to your significant other.  One little Chinese lady said in broken English "just another way they try to get your money".  HAHAHA!!!!

My 3 dudes in another tower

Brannen posing like one of the statues

Before leaving the wall, I ran to the restroom to open the door and find this.... a squatty potty.  Ummm.... no thanks.  I waited in line for the one 'normal' potty :)

Right before lunch we got to learn a little about the different types of jade and see some of the pieces they had made.  This pirate ship was a hit with all the boys, and really was impressive

The boys learning all there is to know about jade

Like every good tour, they drop you off in the store so you can buy stuff.  

I didn't, but man did I have to work hard at telling the sales staff "No!" 

They were intense.... or at least the one that was trailing us was!

Lunch was pretty good!  It was more like "American" Chinese food.

The boys really had a good time with their new friends. 

 Griff was sad that we all are going to have to split up for a while.

Tiananman Square.  We couldn't get any closer because 

their congress was in session, so we just took a quick pic and 

walked on down to the Forbidden City.

Lots to take pictures of, but after a while, it all looked the same

and it felt like we were never going to get out of that place!

One of the many HUGE doors

For whatever reason, a lot of the Chinese were taking pictures of us.  I know welook different, but we can't be the only Americans they've seen.  This little boy came up to us and said "Hi".  His mom wanted a picture with Griffin (Griffin's second request to have his picture taken with someone today).  However.... right before  this picture, this cute little boy peed all over the walk in back of us.  Apparently it's pretty common practice (ewww!!!).  His mom was even helping him!  haha!! All of us

crazy Americans couldn't help but stare in disbelief.

Some of the detail on one of the roofs

I'm pretty sure Brannen was not supposed to climb all over this ancient building

but Scott didn't seem too concerned.  I told him to get down, but not before  I got a picture! :)

Tomorrow we meet our group at 5:30 a.m. to head to the airport so we can all get to the province our girls are in.  Dang that's early!  However, it's one more step to getting Harper!

Sleep.....who needs it anyway

I thought since we got probably a total of 3 hours sleep in the last 24 hours, I wouldn't have any trouble catching some z's last night.

I was wrong.

I woke up around midnight and have been up pretty much ever since.

Tonight..... I'm popping some sleeping pills.

Scott was up too, so we turned on the tv.

Big mistake.

Because this is what we saw.....















There's no way to go to sleep after having that image burned into your brain..... no way.

We made it!

It was a VERY long day.  We woke up way before dawn in Dallas to catch our 7:30 flight, flew to DC,  and then a 14 hour flight to Beijing.

We landed, got our bags, found our guide and then made our way to the hotel.  We then went to the grocery store to get some bottles of water, and out for dinner..... at subway!

Here's some pics of this crazy day we had.....

Hadn't even left the ground in Dallas and he was already out.

It was all fun and games at the beginning of the flight to Beijing.

  It didn't take long before we were all ready to get off the plane!

Business class was just one row in front of us, and this was the view I had the entire flight. 

 It was like they were taunting us with their awesome seats.... and sundaes!

The boys loved tracking our progress on the map

Scott 'shopping'

Scott tried to get another plastic bag from her because the water bottles were 

starting to rip the bag she gave us.... and she totally yelled at him.  It was hilarious!!!

going to get dinner

Outside our hotel

And now..... ready for bed!  We're headed to the Great Wall, Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square tomorrow.  

24 hours

24 hours from now we will be on the plane heading to China!!  Well, with a stop in Washington, DC first, but still, on our way!

It still does not seem real, but I'm sure it will when we have to wake way before dawn tomorrow!!

Griffin shot the video below of Harper's room.  I had no idea he did until he showed it to me.  To  say he's excited is an understatement.

WARNING:  The viewing of this video may cause motion sickness.  View at your own risk.... and take dramamine before watching. haha!

One week from today......

In exactly one week, Harper will be ours!  It is so hard to comprehend that we are this close to finally meeting the sweet little girl that we've come to know in pictures.   I just pray the transition goes well.  It'll be rough, but I'm praying for the best.

In the meantime, we (or I should say, "I") am trying to get everything ready to be packed, the house and dogs taken care of, and a million last minute things.

I went for a check up with my dentist this morning, and they always check my blood pressure before they do anything.  Mine was a little raised -shocking!- and the hygienist asked if I thought there could be a reason for it.  She knew we were in the process of adopting, and when I told her we were leaving this week, she said to try and relax a little.  We both started laughing at how absurd that sounded.  I'm not sure that I'll be fully relaxed until we are back in the great state of Texas.

Until then,  I just keep reminding myself to breathe.

The Birthday Girl

We just got the pictures from Harper's birthday party from a couple weeks ago!  

So cute!  All the pictures are making us want the next week to fly by so we can hurry up and get her. 

I will say..... I'm reeeeeally hoping she's majorly bundled up in these pictures and the clothes are making her look bigger than she is..... because if not, I'm starting to wonder if any of the clothes we have for her will fit!  :)

pollution + sandstorm + wheezer brothers = my idea of hell

I'm not usually one to be anxious, but this is taking me there.  Note to self.... pack masks for our asthmatic boys.  At least they will match everyone else in China!

A pic of Beijing the other day. Yes, the city we fly into.

I see a lot of this happening on our trip

The coolest thing today.  As I was trying to get myself off the anxious train that was headed to the town of disaster, I looked up Phillipians 4:6.  It says "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done."

I have the app Jesus Calling. I use it at my daily devotional and love it.  I love it because more often than not, it's exactly what I need for the day. 

Today was no different.  Actually, I about fell over when I read it.

What would the topic be today?  Oh, about being anxious.  And what would one of the verses be at the bottom?  Just Phillipians 4:6.  

(you might need to click on the picture to actually read it)

So awesome!  If you don't have this app, I highly recommend it.  It's Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.  It also comes in book form.