C H I N A

This time next week, Tim, Sarah, and I will be on our way to Beijing, China! We will visit the Great Wall and the Forbidden City and see an acrobatic show. On March 20 (China time), we will fly to Chongqing City and prepare to meet our sweet Joy Meihua. The morning of March 21, which just happens to be our oldest son's 21st birthday (born at 9:18 a.m.), we will travel to the orphanage and be united with our daughter forever. I can barely let myself think about it because the emotions are so overwhelming. Yet, the vision of our daughter never leaves my mind.

I am trying to occupy myself with busywork to keep my longing for Joy from consuming me. I admit though, that I have prepared us so well for this trip, that there is not much busywork left. My checklist is just about completed. Now if I can get all our laundry done, I will be a very happy traveler!

All the China paperwork will be completed while we are in Chongqing. On March 25 we will fly to Guangzhou, which is where the U.S. Embassy is located. We will stay there for five days to complete the U.S. paperwork and spend some time seeing the sights. We return home on March 31.

I will miss my boys terribly. My heart already hurts thinking about being away for what seems like a long time. Two weeks isn't really a long time, but separation from loved ones can make it feel like forever.

Soon, very soon, our family will all be together--no oceans separating any of us.