Itinerary and tidbits

Our US Consulate Appointment is
Monday, June 27th!!!

Flights booked!

Total travel hours:

* 19 hrs: Home - Chicago - Beijing

* 23 hrs: Guangzhou - Shanghai - Chicago - Home 

Hotels booked!

* Crowne Plaza Wangfujing, Beijing

* The White Swan, Guangzhou

Following is our itinerary:  

(sightseeing and activities will be
planned with our guide once in China)

• Day 1: Thur. 6/9 Depart 3:10 PM
• Day 2: Fri. 6/10 Arrive Beijing 11:30 PM
• Day 3: Sat. 6/11 Free Day (sleep!!)
• Day 4: Sun. 6/12 MEET BENJAMIN!!!
• Day 5: Mon. 6/13 Civil Affairs (finalize adoption!)
• Day 6: Tue. 6/14 Free Day
• Day 7: Wed. 6/15 Ben's Passport Registration
• Day 8: Thur. 6/16 Free Day
• Day 9: Fri. 6/17 Free Day
• Day 10: Sat. 6/18 Free Day
• Day 11: Sun. 6/19 Free Day
• Day 12: Mon. 6/20 Free Day
• Day 13: Tue. 6/21 Fly to Guangzhou
• Day 14: Wed. 6/22 Ben's Medical Appt. (includes TB test)
• Day 15: Thur. 6/23 Free Day/Ben's Passport arrives
• Day 16: Fri. 6/24 Free Day (receive TB results)
• Day 17: Sat. 6/25 Free Day
• Day 18: Sun. 6/26 Free Day
• Day 19: Mon. 6/27 US Consulate Appt! (oath ceremony)
• Day 20: Tue. 6/28 Free Day (receive Ben's Visa)
• Day 21: Wed. 6/29 Fly/Arrive home 8:45 PM

** Benjamin will remain with us throughout the trip.
He will become an American citizen

when we land in Chicago @ 5:00 PM on 6/29! **

A guide will be available to us throughout the trip!
That's a good thing!!!
Mandarin??...not so good.

It's going to be HOT!
We expect the weather, particularly in Guangzhou,
to be very hot (like 90+ and sticky humid).
Packing lots of sunscreen and hats!

21 days away from Ellie and Jack...

It will be tough for all of us...but especially for me.

We've never left them a single overnight!
(maybe we'll Skype our goodnight kisses, songs & prayers?!)

Greg's mom will be staying with Ellie and Jack in our home

and they will continue in preschool...most days!

(gives Grammy time to recuperate and keeps

the kiddos in a normal routine).

We won't be out of touch!!

Greg and I are each taking an iPad2 and a Netbook...

with access to email, Facebook, Blogger & Skype!

We'll also have a phone for emergencies.

WE LEAVE 2 WEEKS FROM TODAY!!!

In a way, the journey has flown by...

8 mos. from submitting our agency application

to meeting our Benjamin!!!

In another way, it seems like forever!

We've watched him grow through photos and updates

and love him so much already.
The waiting has been hard but in the end,
we know he's our BenBen!!!

Benjamin will be 2 yrs and 8 mos. when we meet him.

He has lived his entire life in an orphanage.

As far as we know, he has only left the orphanage

one time (@ 15 months of age) for surgery.

He has no concept of family, or parents, or siblings...

He is likely not prepared at all for our arrival.

We will look, smell and sound different than anything

he's ever experienced.

Can't imagine what he'll be thinking!

Shortly after meeting him (at the orphanage),

and signing the necessary paperwork, 

we will whisk him away and he'll never return.

He'll likely never remember his life in China.

He will come only with the clothes on his back...

no link to his past or any personal belongings.

Everything in the orphanage is shared.

We do plan on visiting Benjamin's "finding spot"...

and this will be very emotional for me.

Benjamin was found on December 27th, 2008

in the Beijing West Railway Station...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beijing_West_Railway_Station

It's an AMAZING place! The Tajmahal of train stations!!!

Jack would LOVE it!!!

Benjamin was found wrapped in a cotton quilt 

at the gate of the 7th waiting room.

It is illegal to place a child for adoption in China.

Children are typically abandoned in high-traffic locations.

I don't presume to know the circumstances of

Benjamin's abandonment,

but I do know he was left to be found...

and presumably, lovingly cared for.

This we will ensure.



Travel Approval!!!!!!!!

TA!!!!

Our agency called at 10:43 a.m. this morning!!!

We are requesting (obviously!) the first available 

Consulate Appointment of Monday, June, 27th.

If granted, (which the agency believes is highly likely),

we will leave Friday, June 10th
and return Wednesday, June 29th.

That's a very long time to be away from

Ellie and Jack....really struggling with that.

Thank goodness for Skype!!

We will meet Benjamin on Sunday, June 12th!!!

...and he'll stay with us the entire trip!
Over the moon excited!!!!!!

I'll update once we receive final confirmation and itinerary!!

Legacy of an Adopted Child

We will soon have 4 children
...all through the miracle of adoption.

We've been so blessed to know the beautiful,
courageous and loving birth mothers
of  Sam, Ellie and Jack.

Sadly, we'll never know Benjamin's.

Thinking of them all today
and appreciating beyond words
the blessings they've entrusted us...

Legacy of an Adopted Child

Once there were two women who never knew each other.

One you do not remember, the other you call Mother.

Two different lives shaped to make you one.

One became your guiding star; the other became your sun.

The first one gave you life, and the second taught you to live it.

The first one gave you love. The second was there to give it.

One gave you a nationality. The other gave you a name. 

One gave you a talent. The other gave you aim.

One gave you emotions. The other calmed your fears.

One saw your first sweet smile. The other dried your tears.

One sought for you a home that she could not provide.

The other prayed for a child and her hope was not denied.

And now you ask me, through your tears, 

the age old question unanswered through years.

Heredity or environment, which are you a product of?

Neither, my darling. Neither.

Just two different kinds of Love.

-Author Unknown

Updated photos!!!

Benjamin's updated photos from the orphanage!!!

He looks so happy, healthy and well cared for.

I feel such peace in my heart for this little guy!

His spirit just shines...

and I must say, he looks like a Schultz!!!

Our hearts are sooo full of love....

Best Mother's Day gift ever!!!

His weight is now 30.8 lbs.

(up from 30 lbs. 3 months ago)

His height is now 34.4"

(up from 33.5" 3 months ago)

Come on TA!!!!!