Day 3 - Traveling to Chongqing

Our family's form of Journaling.  Bear with us and enjoy the reading. 

Our Sunday started early at about 630 am with a Skype phone call to our girls at home.  They are in "heaven on earth" spending time at grandpa and grandma's.  Such a special time! Thanks mom and dad!!!!

At 7:00am daddy decided we better pack up and head to the lobby to catch the 845am free shuttle towards the airport.  Our flight was suppose to leave until 1220pm but with our shuttle experience at this hotel we had better leave loss of extra time.  We are glad we did.  We actuallycaught the 8:00am shuttle at 8:15. Once atthe airport oh my the security and Immigration checks - if we never see another immigration form for ten years mommy won't be sad - about three or four times we had our Passports checked and bags scanned.  Ha.

Once through security with flight tickets in hand it was about 10am. We decided to find some food. We really haven't eaten a real meal since Dallas. We have just snacked on the food mommy packed from Kansas. The boys were craving McDonald's.  They found it. The boys ate for about 43$HK = $6.50.  Mommy was craving some Chinese.  She found a traditional spicy rice noodle soup with sprawns. Mommy spent 58$ HK = $8.00 but worth every penny.  Yummy!

We arrived at the gate with 2 hours to spare.  What a relief to get to the plane that would take us to Kalyn.  Oh my the emotions. When daddy and Jeremiah saw the airplane I just couldn't pass up a picture or two. 52 We left Hong Kong at 12:20pm. Mommy couldn't pass up listening to a song during take off. So Far To Find You by Casting Crowns         (w/ Lyrics): http://youtu.be/ooYWCAG3veo

****Emotions are so hard to describe.  I think mommy will just be beside herself when she first sees and touches Kalyn. Nervous, anxious,  scared,  nauseous,  excited, happy, you name it, mommy is feeling it. The boys?  They are excited and I am sure their tummys are in knots too.****

We landed at 2:52pm seeing the sunshine for the first time since Dallas.  Yeah! More security and bags checks - yes even on the way out of the airport.  Joys!

Our Lifeline guide, Michael met us at the airport exit.  So happy to connect with a tour guide. Being a foreigner in a country you are unfamiliar can sometimes raise your blood pressure or stand the hairs up on your arms. Being with Michael we have a sense of relief. We traveled 40 minutes in his car to our hotel. During this time Michael taught us a little about Chongqing. 

  *8 million people in the heart of the city
  *32 million people in the province (state)
  *One of the largest cities in the world
  *Grow garden in the side of hills-photo below.
   *Most people live in sky rises not single homes - photo below
   *Love Manor Orphanage opened 3 to 4 years ago and so most of the orphanages in chongqing transferred kids there and shut down
   *About 500 kids live at Love Manor (one less after tomorrow)
   *About 80 are adopted from Love Manor each year (heart breaking)

The Le Meriden Hotel is close to shopping,  a grocery store,  and one hour from Kalyn's orphanage.  Our room is wonderful with glass walls in the bathroom (check out Jeremiah's photo bomb below) and even space for A CRIB.  Oh my. A crib!!!!.  Now less than 23 hours until we meet Kalyn at 2:30pm Monday Feb 2.

After touring the shopping center with Michael he walked us back to the hotel and told us to meet him at 10:30 am with our laundry and more adoption paperwork. We will fill out more papers here in China to adopt Kalyn.  It's okay.  One or five hundred more forms.... Kalyn YOU ARE WORTH IT!

Sunday evening we walked back to the mall for supper.  Jeremiah fell asleep at the restaurant table so daddy and mommy got a date night!  We ate - pork crispy noodles and beef noodles with bean sauce - together. Cheap and yummy. Mounds of rice noodles we were stuffed!

Decided to crash in bed early so we would be rested for the emotional day ahead.

Thank you for your prayers.  We have always felt safe,  full, and for the most part calm as we journey to Kalyn thus far.

Tomorrow we meet our second son in person and we can hardly wait to touch him,  hug him,  and show him unconditional love just as Jesus loves us!
Enjoy the pictures from our journey to Chongqing. 

Jeremiah's High: The chinese kit kat bars we got as a treat for the airplane ride.

Jeremiah's Low: People thought I was cute and started at me.  That's just weird. 

Daddy's High: The food at supper and experiencing the culture here.

Daddy's Low: Tired when we ended the day and the room is hot.  

Mommy's High: The"fruit plus" candy chews we found at our Hong Kong Hotel. They are like little round laffy taffys. So addictive. Plus we are only an hour drive from Kalyn's orphanage. Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness!

Mommy's Low: The stares as a foreigner are hard to see.  Not knowing if they are admiring your beauty or thinking your crazy. I learned from friends that stares are ok here. Stares are normal. 
    

A selfie of the Hong Kong skyline while waiting to board airport shuttle.

Had to eat some

McDonald's

The plane that is taking us to Kalyn

 

Skyrises in city

View from hotel room

Jeremiah photobombed My picture of the glass walled bathroom

Kalyn's crib