After 30 hours of travel, 3 planes and 6,000 + miles we are in Beijing. Our guide met us at the airport and after we told her " we are hungry" we found a 24 hour place got some rice and fried "thing"... Off to the hotel. We collapsed about 1:15am local time. Getting our computer to work is interesting to say the least! I am writing this from my phone..I can't get on from the laptop. I know very strange! So bear with me as I figure all of this out.
We visited the Temple of Heaven today. It was nice and cool this morning, but got very warm by the time we left. H was fascinated with all the people more so then the buildings ( me too). We found a great little place across from the hotel for lunch and we are now resting and catching up on email etc. BUT... We are about to go get a foot massage! Ahhhh .
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Monday, August 20, 2012
Finally.. here we go
After 10 days of having the proverbially covers over my head, thinking that if I dont think about it, Tuesday will roll around, everything will be taken care of and off we go.. Well.... that just didnt work out real well.
On Friday night after some great company with a dear friend who also has a daughter from China and some cheering up, I was on my way home, and I knew I needed help. I called another dear friend of mine, and all I said was " I Need Help"...... That is not an easy thing for me to ask for.. but I have learned that that really isnt a sign of wekaness as my mother always had me believe. Its actually a sign of strength to be able to admit and ask someone for help.....
Saturnday morning rolled around and after lunch , she was at the house, sleeves rolled up, and we tackled a huge list of things ( that she made me put together) and managed to cross off over 90 %. The other 10%, she really could not help with, as it entailed packing, and getting paper work together , etc..
Sunday, I ran a few errands, that were on the list such as prescription refills, and took H out for lunch, and then went over to my travel buddy, and she was packed and ready to go... We just wanted to make sure we were on the same page.... OK, so my head is still somewhere in the clouds, but I know she will make sure we are where we need to be, and when.... Typcially I am the in charge kind of gal... but I am gladly turning that over to her on this trip.
Monday rolled around, and well, that would be tonight, and I did work today much to everyone's surprise, and a neighbor took H for a playdate, which she desperately needed.
I am happy to report that I am packed, and ready to go..
To the friends that have helped me this week... THANK YOU. I could not have done it without you. You are truly a gift, and I feel honored to be able to call you a friend. I am blessed.
To all the calls from friends I received from near and far to wish us happy journeys... it means so much to me to know that you took the time and left messages and called to say you were thinking about me. If I didnt return your call, please know that I did receive them, and I am touched.
I want to treasure the memories of this trip, and let the craziness begin as we embark on your journey early on Tuesday August 21st. Stay tuned as we update the blog first from Beijing then on to Anhui and then down to GZ....... Memories of a lifetime!!
Thank you all!
On Friday night after some great company with a dear friend who also has a daughter from China and some cheering up, I was on my way home, and I knew I needed help. I called another dear friend of mine, and all I said was " I Need Help"...... That is not an easy thing for me to ask for.. but I have learned that that really isnt a sign of wekaness as my mother always had me believe. Its actually a sign of strength to be able to admit and ask someone for help.....
Saturnday morning rolled around and after lunch , she was at the house, sleeves rolled up, and we tackled a huge list of things ( that she made me put together) and managed to cross off over 90 %. The other 10%, she really could not help with, as it entailed packing, and getting paper work together , etc..
Sunday, I ran a few errands, that were on the list such as prescription refills, and took H out for lunch, and then went over to my travel buddy, and she was packed and ready to go... We just wanted to make sure we were on the same page.... OK, so my head is still somewhere in the clouds, but I know she will make sure we are where we need to be, and when.... Typcially I am the in charge kind of gal... but I am gladly turning that over to her on this trip.
Monday rolled around, and well, that would be tonight, and I did work today much to everyone's surprise, and a neighbor took H for a playdate, which she desperately needed.
I am happy to report that I am packed, and ready to go..
To the friends that have helped me this week... THANK YOU. I could not have done it without you. You are truly a gift, and I feel honored to be able to call you a friend. I am blessed.
To all the calls from friends I received from near and far to wish us happy journeys... it means so much to me to know that you took the time and left messages and called to say you were thinking about me. If I didnt return your call, please know that I did receive them, and I am touched.
I want to treasure the memories of this trip, and let the craziness begin as we embark on your journey early on Tuesday August 21st. Stay tuned as we update the blog first from Beijing then on to Anhui and then down to GZ....... Memories of a lifetime!!
Thank you all!
Friday, August 10, 2012
Here we go..............................
Its been an emotional 10 days. Waiting for the Travel Authorization ( TA) has been the most emotionally draining experience I have had in a long time. I thought I was handling it ok, until I was told that I was driving everyone crazy... ok, so maybe not doing ok. But we have TA!!!
So now I go into the mode of get it done, book flights, hotels, get everything in order at work, home, notify everyone and lets go. I get focused and my emotions get left behind..... sort of. I was asked yesterday if I was holding back my emotions, that I must be so excited but I was holding everything in. I realized that I am emotinaly drained, and exhausted. We have been waiting for this so long, and its finally here, and I can't seem to muster an ounce of emotion.
Maybe it just hasn't hit me yet. ( that's it) . I think I have to be in this mode to get everything done. I leave in about a week and then I go on FLMA, without income. I am trying hard not to think about that part... Part of my frustration is that I work for a fairly large company, and they do not offer ANY type of adoption leave with pay. I have been on a crusade to get this changed, however when I looked at the upper management, it does consist of all men. This company is not known to be too family friendly. Dave Thomas Foundation puts out a list every year of the top companies in the US that offers the best adoption leave. It is amazing.
H ( my 9 year old) is a bit anxious as well. She knows her life is going to change, just not sure how. she is very excited, but.... she has had me to herself all her life.
Dont get me wrong, I am ready for the little one to be in our family, I just need to be there......... Thank goodness my best friend is joining me on this journey.. she will keep me giggling, and laughing.
So now I go into the mode of get it done, book flights, hotels, get everything in order at work, home, notify everyone and lets go. I get focused and my emotions get left behind..... sort of. I was asked yesterday if I was holding back my emotions, that I must be so excited but I was holding everything in. I realized that I am emotinaly drained, and exhausted. We have been waiting for this so long, and its finally here, and I can't seem to muster an ounce of emotion.
Maybe it just hasn't hit me yet. ( that's it) . I think I have to be in this mode to get everything done. I leave in about a week and then I go on FLMA, without income. I am trying hard not to think about that part... Part of my frustration is that I work for a fairly large company, and they do not offer ANY type of adoption leave with pay. I have been on a crusade to get this changed, however when I looked at the upper management, it does consist of all men. This company is not known to be too family friendly. Dave Thomas Foundation puts out a list every year of the top companies in the US that offers the best adoption leave. It is amazing.
H ( my 9 year old) is a bit anxious as well. She knows her life is going to change, just not sure how. she is very excited, but.... she has had me to herself all her life.
Dont get me wrong, I am ready for the little one to be in our family, I just need to be there......... Thank goodness my best friend is joining me on this journey.. she will keep me giggling, and laughing.
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