Last China Post

Our journey to China is coming to a close.  We have felt so blessed--the six years of waiting have been so worth it.  We never would have dreamed that Abigail would be a teenager when we actually began our paperwork for this adoption in 2006.  A few years ago we somewhat nixed the idea because the wait was so long.  We now know that we were destined for Lily Kate!!!!!!  She is perfect for our family and we look forward to giving her a bright and happy future.  We do not look forward to the 15 hour plane ride from Hong Kong to Detroit though--yikes.........

      Yesterday, Lily Kate had all of her necessary paperwork in order for her US Consulate appointment (with a little help from mom and dad.)  Today we will get her visa and then she will have clearance to travel to the United States.  We took a group picture yesterday of all the children and their family members in the lobby of the hotel.  It was "great fun" trying to keep all the children focused while our reps tried to take pictures with 20 different cameras.  We then attempted a picture of just the children sitting on the step.  It was hysterical watching them.  Some (like Lily Kate) just sat on the step and watched all the screaming and commotion around them while others tried to run up and down the stairs.  It made for some great and memorable pictures. Several of us bought the authentic Chinese outfits and put them in for the pictures.  She will probably never wear it again but it was very cute.  

 

Last night we took Lily Kate swimming for the first time and she seemed to really enjoy it.  Last night after I brushed her teeth, I told Lily to show daddy her clean teeth.  Instead of walking to the bed where Dave was, she tried to open the hotel room door.  I opened it for her and she pressed the elevator button (we are right by the elevator.)  I laughed because we forget that as many times a day as we drill our names into her head, Chinese is still her language and most of what we say is jibberish to her.  Poor thing--she was pointing to her teeth and wanting to go down the elevator to go show someone her teeth.  She always smiles at us so we hope that  MAYBE she is understanding a word or two here or there.  LOL

  Tonight we take a van to Hong Kong.  It will take 3-5 hours, depending on traffic.  Then tomorrow we will begin our 24 hours of flying home.   Hong Kong is supposed

 to be an awesome city.  I am not sure how much of it we will get to see because we are only there for one night.  No biggie--we have been gone almost a month and are just ready to get home!!!!!!!!!!  Oh, this is funny.  We just checked into our flight and they changed Lily Kate's seat.  She is no longer sitting with the four of us but is several rows behind us.  She is traveling on her Chinese passport so her name is different.  The airline must have thought it was a person traveling alone because her name was different than the four of ours.  We will fix it at the airport but we thought it was funny.  Have a great day everyone!!!!!!!!!