China Bound

Ok, Ok I am here to update! For those of you who reminded me what day it was and when I was supposed to be here....Thanks. Sometimes I need that little accountability push, especially now as time is ticking away (by the way the clock pictured here is my kitchen clock taken the time our phone call came in notifying us that our referral came in). In just 3 days we will be on our way. We are pretty much ready to go...just need to figure out how we are going to fit everything on the bed into the little suitcases allowable. In Tennessee, we found out with our business we will now be working with cell phone service, AT&T, Verizon, US Cellular and others just to name a few. If anyone of you would like new cell phone service let me know I can probably get you a really good deal. I will be doing some other new things with my business as well but I will get to that later. Right now, I told you I would be giving you our detailed itinerary so here it is....

Tues, July 28th Leave home to begin our journey

Wed, July 29th Lost day due to traveling over the International Dateline

Thurs, July 30 Arrive in Beijing ... relax go get some drinks and maybe some food, maybe
even a massage to help with the jet lag and sitting so long from plane to
plane (we will have approximately 24 hour total air time with layovers and
plane switching)

Fri, July 31 Free Day to do as we please as most of the group is just arriving on this day

Sat, Aug 1 Sightseeing with the adoption group in Beijing: TienAnMen Square and
Forbidden City, The Great Wall (Juyongguan) and then an orientation.

Sun, Aug 2 Fly from Beijing to Chongqing (Mikayla's Province)

Mon, Aug 3 In the afternoon, Meet Mikayla for the first time, Finally!!!!

Tues, Aug 4 In the afternoon, Adoption Process

Wed, Aug 5 Sightseeing with the group to the Zoo

Thurs, Aug 6 Sightseeing with the group: Ci Qi Kou Ancient Town

Fri, Aug 7 Get all the papers back, fly to Guangzhou

Sat, Aug 8 Medical exams for all the adopted children in the group

Sun, Aug 9 Free Day - Time to shop for those China memories

Mon, Aug 10 Free Day - Time to shop for those squeaky shoes and beautiful china outfits

Tues, Aug 11 American Consulate Appointment - to finalize the adoption, do visa
paperwork

Wed, Aug 12 In evening go to American Consulate to take oath and get visa

Thurs, Aug 13 Free Day for us, most everyone else will be headed home to USA

Fri, Aug 14 Departure to USA ...God Willing! Arrive in LA and stay the night

Sat, Aug 15 Arrive home with Mikayla......

All time not accounted for here we will be shopping, doing our own sightseeing around the areas playing in the pool or relaxing in our room. We hope to get plenty of pictures so keep following us as we go. I will probably not get much sleep with the new baby so I am sure I will be here at least once a day. Even if I do not get here while she sleeps I will be here while G gives me a break or two or three or four :)

The stork will arrive at our house the day we come home. We will post the flight home when the time gets closer. We will post the arrival time so if anyone would like to welcome us home and get a sneak peak of Mikayla before we whisk her off to her new home and we all crash, you are all welcome to do so. Please remember we will be very tired and Mikayla will be quite disoriented. We hope to spend some time alone once we get home and would appreciate it if you would all call before dropping by.

We are going to miss our boys while we are gone as I know they will miss us. I just can not wait until we are all home so we can all adjust and live the family life we so longed for. I am going to leave you for now and will probably not be back here until we arrive in China on the 30th unless there is time in layovers and I just pop in to let you know how far we have made it at that particular time. For my little accountability partners I am sorry to say you will not be able to reach me by phone but I will be checking mail and coming here. Keep us in your prayers for a safe and healthy trip. I look forward to getting back to you all soon.
Blessings to you all,
AJ