Trip to China
Itinerary  |  May 26-27  |  May 28  |  Gotcha Day!  |  May 30  |  May 31  |  June 1  |  June 2
|  June 3  |  June 4  |  June 5  |  June 6  |  June 7

We are leaving for China to bring Ellie home the morning after Russ graduates from high school! Life has been so crazy getting ready for so many important events converging at one time, that I think we will collapse when we finally board our flight for China! To add to our craziness, wonderful news finally arrived from Dallas~ Russ has been accepted for admission at SMU!!! He has been invited to “walk-on” to the SMU football team as a punter! This is a long-awaited dream come true and we are all thrilled! Now that the lengthy paperwork involved in the admission process has been mailed back, the celebration has begun...just in time for graduation! The celebration will continue as we leave for China on Friday, May 26 to add another precious daughter to our family. We’d love for you to join us!

Here is our itinerary for the journey ahead . . . Friday, May 26- Doug, Lori, Sarah, and Kate will begin their very long journey from Houston to Beijing, with a stop in Tokyo. We covet your prayers on our behalf, as this is an incredibly long journey for a very happy, active 2 year old! She has no idea what adding a “sister” to our family will really mean to her little life. Please pray that she and Ellie will have an instant bond as sisters and that our time together will be very special. We long to sense God’s presence as we follow His leading to China again! Saturday, May 27- Arrive in Beijing 20 hours after leaving home Sunday, May 28- Worship at Rick and Kathy Laymon’s “Fellowship” in Beijing. Visit with Robin and Joyce Hill at Hope Foster Home. We met them and spent time there on our last trip- there are no words for the work being done there. We are thrilled to go back and see the hand of God in “human form” again… Monday, May 29- We will fly from Beijing to Changsha early on Monday morning and then finally meet Ellie on this Memorial Day afternoon! This holiday will hold new meaning for us as we form memories that will last a life time today!!! Please, please pray for Ellie today~ She is facing so many changes and though we feel as if we “know” her already, she does not know us! Pray that the supernatural love of God will surround her and comfort her as she meets her forever family for the first time. Pray for “mommy” too, as thoughts of today are very overwhelming… Tuesday, May 30- Today Ellie will “officially” become OURS! We will go to the Civil Affairs Office in Changsha to finalize all of the paperwork and apply for her Chinese Passport. Wednesday, May 31- Friday, June 2- We will be spending time getting to know one another and exploring our two girl’s beautiful province of Hunan. We will request a visit at ChangNing CWI where Ellie has spent the first 22 months of her life. We’d like to have the opportunity to see the area where she was born and take photos of the place she was found on July 29, 2004. We are also planning to travel to Yiyang to visit Kate’s orphanage and leave a poster where she was found almost 3 years ago. Pray that this will be a very special time for all of us as we spend time in this wonderful country that has blessed us with two beautiful daughters. Saturday, June 3- If we can get Ellie’s passport in time, we will leave our daughter’s birth place of Hunan and fly to Guangzhou today. Sunday, June 4- We will be staying at the beautiful “White Swan Hotel” awaiting Ellie’s American Visa. Will worship at the Chinese Church just down the street from the hotel- (for as long as two 2 year olds can stand it, at least! :) Monday, June 5- Today will include Ellie’s medical exam and Visa photos. I have a feeling that the day might also include some SHOPPING! Tuesday, June 6- Our Visa Appointment is this morning at 9:00. This is the last step before heading home with our new daughter! Wednesday, June 7- We will go to the American Consulate today and take our “oath”, clearing us to go home!!! Thursday, June 8- We are headed home! Touch down in Houston, where Ellie will become an American citizen, is set for 1:55 PM. Much prayer is needed for us today, as we will now make this very long journey with TWO 2 year olds! Pray that we are all still smiling when we arrive home! May we sense the Lord’s smile as we begin our journey as a family of seven...

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