Lilah-Kate's Forever Family Day

It is hard to put this day into words.  We left our hotel at 9am to drive to the Civil Affairs office to meet Li Xin Jing.  When we got to the office, we expected to do some paperwork while we waited for them to bring the baby to us.  Instead, we climbed a flight of stairs, came through the door and there she sat on the conference table all by herself!  She seemed very happy as we approached and even began swinging her legs back and forth.  What a surreal moment, here she was!  I held out my hands to her and she came to me quickly.  We spent some time getting to know each other while Sean signed some papers.  Then he got to play with her on the floor while I signed.  After, we carried her down the stairs and out into the sunshine and into her new life.

The first 24 hours we have her is called the Harmonious period, according to the Chinese government.  We are trying our best to be harmonious around here!  In the morning, we will finalize the adoption.  In the eyes of the Chinese government, she will be Lilah-Kate Jing McCullar.

We spent the afternoon eating lunch on the top floor of our hotel overlooking Westlake and then playing in the room and taking a nap.  She eats well and naps well.  She has some moments of fear and anxiety, but is clinging to me and allowing me to comfort her.  We just got a few REAL smiles playing peekaboo in the mirror!  It has been an amazing first day, which an answer to prayer.

Tomorrow we travel to her hometown to file a document and hopefully visit her orphanage.  We will be offline for these two days and will catch you up when we get back to Hangzhou.  Thank you for covering us in prayer today, we appreciate it.

Beijing to Hangzhou day 3

Today, Sean got up at 5:30am and went for a walk, while Jake and I slept. He got some good pictures of the Forbidden City entrance and the Tienanmen Square Drum tower and Bell tower. After breakfast we went to the airport to catch our flight to Hangzhou.

We arrived at our hotel, the Lakeview on historic Westlake. Westlake is one of the most famous vacation spots in China. We walked around the lake tonight with several thousand of our newest friends! Jake was, as always, a hit with all of the teenage girls. Almost everywhere we go, girls approach Jake and ask to take pictures with him.

After walking around the lake, we found a place to have dinner. It turns out it was my birthday dinner, but we were very distracted and actually forgot. From a distance, I spotted tablecloths through the window and thought it would be a good choice. As we walked inside, I saw a wall of tanks filled with turtles, frogs, snakes and fish (aka dinner)! This is a birthday I will never forget! When we got back to the hotel, a little birthday cake was delivered to our room. Tomorrow I get the best present of all.

Today was the last day we are a family of five. Today is the last day that Lilah-Kate is an orphan. Today is last day of the great wait. Tomorrow starts a new life for us all.

  

Beijing Day 2

Today was a full day! We started by visiting the Great Wall of China. It was amazing to see it in person! The first steps hinted at how difficult the climb would be. Jake made the climb to the pagoda watchtower (nearly to the top of the mountain) and got some of our best photos. The guide suggested we were running out of time for our stop, or Jake would have kept going. Sean made it more than halfway, until he stopped for a break and started talking to a group touring from the UK. Laurel made it a quarter of the way up, being surpassed by women carrying babies, grandmothers, women wearing high heels and grandmothers wearing high heels, carrying babies with a cane. But she definitely had fun!

Later in the afternoon, we visited the emperor’s summer palace. It was hard to appreciate the beauty of the place because the crowds were like the opening of Disney World times ten. There were many beautiful spots throughout the property and we enjoyed it a lot.

We ended our time in Beijing (aka Peking in Cantonese) with authentic Peking duck for dinner! We went to a beautiful up-scale restaurant called Da Dong. What a great meal and dining experience.

When we arrived back at the hotel, our travel guide had a stroller waiting for us to take on our departure to Hangzhou. It was another reminder of how close we are to receiving Lilah-Kate. She only has two more nights to spend in an orphanage...

Beijing Day 1

We woke up in Beijing and it felt good to finally be here. After breakfast, we went out and explored on our own. We ended up at an art show after a couple of university students that spoke English met us on the street. It was a good adventure! Also, we visited a park across the street from our hotel, the air smelled of lavender and cherry blossoms, it was delightful. Later, we met our guide and we toured Tienanmen Square and the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City was the imperial palace of several emperors and was very impressive in person. Later in the evening we went to the local shopping district. It was shocking to walk around with so many people in this city!  We made our way to an area of street vendors selling food and treats, it was full of interesting sights and smells!  We were tempted to try scorpion on a stick, but decided to pass this time.  In the evening Jake and Sean went for a walk and met two Shanghai University student who wanted to practice their English and invited them to a tea room. They shared interesting stories about each other's culture and learned about a traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony.  At one point, both students commented that Jake looked handsome like Justin Bieber and then they started singing “Baby, Baby, Baby, Oh...”! 

Great Day....

 

Travel Trouble in Tokyo

Well, we got of to an early start on Wednesday morning.  We awoke at 3:30am and arrived in Tokyo at 2:30am CSCT.  After a slight mishap (aka shopping instead of paying attention to the local time...) we wound up missing out connection to Beijing!  arrrgggg!  Fortunately, there was a Delta flight out in three more hours, and we were kindly booked on it.  Yet, here we sit, after boarding and de-boarding the Delta 747 due to some technical issue.  We get to wait another hour to depart and expect to arrive in Beijing after midnight their time (about 30 hours one way).  Needless to say we are little slap happy/sad, but we persevere.

Us leaving Chicago (over 20 hrs ago!)

One of the reasons we missed our first flight to Beijing...

Another reason....

We are very thankful that we all have good attitudes and are not towing a 2 year for this part.  Perhaps we have learned a lesson in international travel...

Sean

Before...

This is what we look like waiting for you, baby girl.  We will see you soon.

Like cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a distant land. Proverbs 25:25

Over the last several weeks, we have been waiting on travel approval from China.  It came on Monday!  Then we had to put in our request for a U.S. Consulate appointment and wait again.  After a slight delay due to Tomb Sweeping Day (there is some debate if this is too literal of a translation...), we got good news today!  We fly out in six days and will have Lilah-Kate in our arms in ten days!

Three of us will be traveling, Sean, Laurel and Jake.  After being in route for 25 hours (via Chicago and Tokyo), we will arrive in Beijing.  After a few days of touring and paperwork, we head to Hangzhou and to Lilah-Kate!  Four or five days later, we fly to Guangzhou to complete the U.S. side  of the adoption.  Then we will "enjoy" a 24 hour trip home with a 2 1/2 year old in tow!