Okay. This is it. The time has come! We leave at 3 am for the airport. We will blog again when we get settled in our hotel room. Love to all. Thank you for supporting us and praying for us!
Blessings, Meredith and Tonya
February 13, 2008
February 12, 2008
We are Ready to Go!!
Hi all. We are ready to go. We leave home in 33 hours for the airport! Our bags are packed and the fridge is clean!!!! Meredith has to get a haircut, pick up his meds from the doctor, and load the van.
John Akiki, our friend, neighbor, and business partner, has graciously agreed to haul us to the airport in his 15 passenger van. 7 people and ALOT of suitcases!! We leave at 3am Thursday morning and our plane leaves at 7:50am CST.
My cousin and best friend, Karla Sessions, called me from Wal Mart today to see if I needed one last thing and I did!! Playdough. I kept forgetting to buy playdough. Well, Karla delivered it to my doorstep today, and wouldn't take a dime for it. She hasn't a clue how much that playdough will help me out with 3 little kids on a 13 hour plane ride. And that doesn't count the 3 hour flight to San Francisco and the 3 hour flight to Lanzhou on either side on the 13 hour ride!
It is very surreal right now. I just can't hardly believe that we will have Laura in our arms in less that 5 days!
Continue to pray for us please and follow our journey. It will be an exciting one, I promise!
Blessings to all.
John Akiki, our friend, neighbor, and business partner, has graciously agreed to haul us to the airport in his 15 passenger van. 7 people and ALOT of suitcases!! We leave at 3am Thursday morning and our plane leaves at 7:50am CST.
My cousin and best friend, Karla Sessions, called me from Wal Mart today to see if I needed one last thing and I did!! Playdough. I kept forgetting to buy playdough. Well, Karla delivered it to my doorstep today, and wouldn't take a dime for it. She hasn't a clue how much that playdough will help me out with 3 little kids on a 13 hour plane ride. And that doesn't count the 3 hour flight to San Francisco and the 3 hour flight to Lanzhou on either side on the 13 hour ride!
It is very surreal right now. I just can't hardly believe that we will have Laura in our arms in less that 5 days!
Continue to pray for us please and follow our journey. It will be an exciting one, I promise!
Blessings to all.
February 08, 2008
A new picture of Laura
WE got new pictures of Laura yesterday and she is a cutie!! We are very happy that LOVE WITHOUT BOUNDARIES has set up a Dingxi SWI Nutrition program and is sending formula and cereal monthly to 7 babies at Laura's orphanage. We got the newsletter yesterday and Laura's picture was in it. She was standing at her bedside. I am sure she was looking for me in the room but couldn't find me. Well, honey, I'll be there in 9 DAYS!!!! Oh, yeah!!!
Of course, I can't figure out how to get it on my blog. So, you all will just have to wait and see her in person!!
Blessings to all.
Of course, I can't figure out how to get it on my blog. So, you all will just have to wait and see her in person!!
Blessings to all.
February 03, 2008
Our Travel Itinerary
February 14, 2008 - Fly from DFW to San Francisco to Beijing to Lanzhou.
February 15, 2008 - Arrive Lanzhou and check into Sunshine Plaza Hotel.
February 16, 2008 - Tour Provincial Museum
February 17, 2008 - Gotcha Day!!!! Dingxi SWI director will bring Laura to out hotel. We will celebrate her arrival into our family AND Daddy's birthday!!!
February 18, 2008 - Adoption paperwork, visa picture, and shopping.
February 19, 2008 - Tour Water wheel Park, Mother and Child Statue, and have dinner at Yellow River Oasis Restaurant.
February 20, 2008 - Visit Dingxi SWI (Laura's Orphanage) and Laura's finding spot.
February 21, 2008 - Visit White Pagoda (a major trading spot on the Ancient Silk Road)
February 22, 2008 - Get Laura's passport and fly to Guangzhou in the afternoon. Check into the Victory Hotel on Shamian Island.
February 23, 2008 - Free day to rest and walk in the beautiful parks on Shamian Island.
February 24, 2008 - Go to church at local Christian church. Visit the Wild Animal Zoo with other CHI families and have dinner at Cow and Bridge Restaurant with other CHI families.
February 25, 2008 - Visit the Temple of Family Chen with other CHI families
February 26, 2008 - Medical appointment for Laura and visa photo for Laura.
February 27, 2008 - Visa appointment at US Consulate at 10am. Celebrate Sebastian's birthday in the afternoon.
February 28, 2008 - Pick up Laura's visa in the afternoon. Lunch at Lucy's with other CHI families.
February 29, 2008 - Leave Guangzhou via plane for Beijing to Chicago to DFW to home!!!!! Laura is now an American Citizen!!!!! We will sleep in our own beds tonight!!!!!
February 15, 2008 - Arrive Lanzhou and check into Sunshine Plaza Hotel.
February 16, 2008 - Tour Provincial Museum
February 17, 2008 - Gotcha Day!!!! Dingxi SWI director will bring Laura to out hotel. We will celebrate her arrival into our family AND Daddy's birthday!!!
February 18, 2008 - Adoption paperwork, visa picture, and shopping.
February 19, 2008 - Tour Water wheel Park, Mother and Child Statue, and have dinner at Yellow River Oasis Restaurant.
February 20, 2008 - Visit Dingxi SWI (Laura's Orphanage) and Laura's finding spot.
February 21, 2008 - Visit White Pagoda (a major trading spot on the Ancient Silk Road)
February 22, 2008 - Get Laura's passport and fly to Guangzhou in the afternoon. Check into the Victory Hotel on Shamian Island.
February 23, 2008 - Free day to rest and walk in the beautiful parks on Shamian Island.
February 24, 2008 - Go to church at local Christian church. Visit the Wild Animal Zoo with other CHI families and have dinner at Cow and Bridge Restaurant with other CHI families.
February 25, 2008 - Visit the Temple of Family Chen with other CHI families
February 26, 2008 - Medical appointment for Laura and visa photo for Laura.
February 27, 2008 - Visa appointment at US Consulate at 10am. Celebrate Sebastian's birthday in the afternoon.
February 28, 2008 - Pick up Laura's visa in the afternoon. Lunch at Lucy's with other CHI families.
February 29, 2008 - Leave Guangzhou via plane for Beijing to Chicago to DFW to home!!!!! Laura is now an American Citizen!!!!! We will sleep in our own beds tonight!!!!!
January 24, 2008
WaHooooo!!!!!! We got our CA yesterday. We will have our Consulate Appointment February 27, 2008 at 10am. We will take an oath to promise to love and provide for our little Laura February 28,2008 and then we are free to come home.
So, we will leave for China February 14 and arrive on the 15th in Lanzhou. Due to family matters that are unavoidable, we will not tour Beijing but go straight to Laura's province. We get Laura, just as we hoped, on February 17!!
We will fly to Guangzhou February 22. We will do some touring there while waiting for our CA.
We will return home February 29.
Please pray for a safe and uneventful travel for us! We are excited and looking forward to Gotcha Day, Februaruy 17. 24 days to Laura!!!!!!!
So, we will leave for China February 14 and arrive on the 15th in Lanzhou. Due to family matters that are unavoidable, we will not tour Beijing but go straight to Laura's province. We get Laura, just as we hoped, on February 17!!
We will fly to Guangzhou February 22. We will do some touring there while waiting for our CA.
We will return home February 29.
Please pray for a safe and uneventful travel for us! We are excited and looking forward to Gotcha Day, Februaruy 17. 24 days to Laura!!!!!!!
January 23, 2008
This is my sister Jonya with her 3 year old daughter Carrie Grace. We had just served lunch for over 100 people on Thanksgiving Day. Jonya was relaxing and visiting with some of the guests that we had served. 
She is a dynamic speaker and great teacher. They live in Tye, TX which is near Abilene. She has two other children. An 11 year old daughter and a 6 year old son. She is always laughing and encouraging people. Her husband works in their family business and is a very devoted father. He's a riot actually!!!! I am very proud of my sister and her family. May God bless them.
She is a dynamic speaker and great teacher. They live in Tye, TX which is near Abilene. She has two other children. An 11 year old daughter and a 6 year old son. She is always laughing and encouraging people. Her husband works in their family business and is a very devoted father. He's a riot actually!!!! I am very proud of my sister and her family. May God bless them.
January 21, 2008
Travel Approval
IT's HERE!!!!!! Our TA is here and we are going to China!!!!! Travel dates will follow asap. Praise the Lord!!!!
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