2 Days til we are US Bound!!!

Yep!! 2 days til we head home but who's counting. Not like we can't wait to see all our kids, family, and friends!!! Or have ice in our drinks or brush our teeth with water from the faucet or maybe have a greasy hamburger!!!

We went to the US Consulate today to finalize our adoption!! Yea!!! Then we walked around in this really pretty park!! Guangzhou is very pretty even if it is home to 16 million people!! Jace got to eat popcorn at the park.

Tomorrow we are taking a van to Hong Kong and will spend the night. Then Thursday our flight leaves at 1130 am, arriving Chicago 12 pm the same day!! Guess it's kind of like being stuck in time for 12 hours!!

Have enjoyed our time but ready to be back!! Jace seems to be adjusting well. Pray for safe travels home for us. Also pray for 2 other special families who are heading to China to get their sweeties!! Vincent and Lucy Kate will soon be with their forever families!!! So happy for them!!

Even though the Race for Jace seems to be closing for us, it is really just beginning for Jace.
He has lots of changes and adjustments as he comes to America. Also he has many medical issues that need addressed which won't always be pleasant for him. Please pray for him and us to help him through this as he starts his own race with his forever family!!

Loving Guangzhou

Yesterday we left Jace's province (Shanxi) and flew to Guangzhou. Jace was very excited about his first flight! As he talked on his phone before take off. I love it here. It is warm.
80-85 degrees. And we have Starbucks in our hotel!!! Added bonus. Today we went for Jace's physical required by the consulate. Jace managed to sweet talk the lady dr out of a stuffed monkey she had on her desk. He also had to get a TB skin test which he didn't enjoy. Today we met some people from our agency. And Jace was so excited because Isaac from New Day is here with his family!! From the attached pics you can see where we ate dinner tonight. The French fries taste like fish!!! Yuk!!!!! At our hotel tonight they are having an adult Halloween party. Looks pretty crazy. Live eels and frogs in glass bowls!!
Tomorrow doing some site seeing.
Oh yea and have to say for Darren way to go Cardinals!!!

Day#2 with Jace

Quick update. So far so good. Jace seems very comfortable with us. Minds good. Likes to be held and eats alot. Think our grocery bill will go up! He loves taking a bath and washing his hair every night. He spends alot of time packing up his toys and occasionally left over food and hiding it. Guess he has never had his own stuff. He's a super sweet boy. Tells all the Chinese people on the elevator at our hotel we are his mama and baba. Pretty cute to see him carrying on a conversation in Chinese with people.
Enjoy the pics

Gotcha Day

This morning at 9 am we went to the government office to get Jace. We had to wait for Jace to arrive as he was eating breakfast. He took the overnight train from New Day in Beijing to Taiyuan, his home province. He instantly said mama, baba!! And started checking out all his toys we brought. He keeps asking, "For me??". He's so excited to have his own things!!
Attached are a few pictures from this am. Enjoy!!! We are so blessed to have him!!!

Touring Beijing

We made it safely to Beijing. Friday we spent the day with some VERY special people. Lots of fun. Today we went to Tiananmen Square then the Forbidden City!! Incredible! Then we went to the Great Wall. Even more amazing. We took a lift up, which for those of you who know Darren and his fear of heights he saw none of that. Eyes were closed and knuckles white!! Then we walked a good portion of the wall. Wow I am out of shape. We were supposed to take a toboggan down but the line was so long we walked the entire way down. Knew I would never get Darren on the lift again.
Tomorrow we take the train to Jace's province and will get him Monday am. That will be Sunday night your time. Can't wait!!!!
Will share a few pics from our adventure today. Lots of Jace pics to come soon!!

Leaving on a Jet Plane!!

Last Sunday Jace turned 5. That was officially his last birthday in China. We are so excited to finally be going to get him. I've been savings lots of birthday kisses for him.
We ask for prayers for safe travel. We also ask for prayers for our kids who will be at home and for the grandma's and grandpa's staying with them!! May be a long 2 weeks.
Below is our travel itinerary:

10/19 Leave for Beijing
10/20-23 Tour Beijing and meet some VERY special people
10/23 Take train to Taiyuan (Jace's province)
10/24 Jace's Gotcha Day
10/28 Fly to Guangzhou
11/1 Appt with US Consulate
11/2 Take van to Hong Kong
11/3 Fly home. YEAH!!!!

We will try to keep this updated during our trip. Thank you to everyone for your love and support!!