Update on how we are doing... T minus 2 and counting!

Things are starting to line up for us! Praise the Lord! My in-laws are here!!!!!! They got out a day earlier so they could be sure to get here! Amazing!    I have a laptop for the journey thanks to Will! We set it up with everything needed so I can keep in touch during the journey!   We have our flights all fixed, hotels set up in Beijing for each time we hit there for our very long lay overs there (hmm great opportunity for me to stretch my 5'10" frame is a good thing I am thinking! )  My work just called and I have a snow day tomorrow so tomorrow is officially now going to be called " PACKING DAY!!!"  We have things all laid out but need to physically get it all in suitcases and then get them weighing less then 44lbs. NO easy feat considering it is VERY cold in Luke's province!  But it shall be done!!!  I am officially done work now until March 7th so that feels good to know that I am going to be able to take this journey and then have the time I need to be at home with my kids where I cant wait to be!   I think we have just about everything we need, we are getting there.  I got contacted today for another grant but I dont think it will happen as this organization will not give you a grant if you have already traveled and travel is in 2 days.....


I want to leave you with a note I posted on my adoption yahoo group as it is how I am feeling for sure!

The time is almost here and our sweet son is just about ready to meet his mommy and daddy! We first saw Luke (called Boyd when we first saw him)10 months,3 weeks and 3 days ago.. Not that this momma was counting or anything!! We are getting ready to fly out to Jinan and go get our son! We cant believe the time has finally come. It was starting to seem like it never would. We were told we would travel in October and the months just kept clicking by. I am glad I did not have to pack a shaving kit for Luke. I do love when we tell people that we are adopting for the first time, the first question is always "How old is the baby?" and I love the eye popping response when I say. "10 years old!" He is still my baby and always will be in my heart. No, I never had the chance to rock him to sleep as a baby, comfort him when he was crying for his momma as an infant or toddler. Change his diapers, read him bedtime stories, watch him walk for the first time, run for the first time or any of those other precious moments we cherish.. all the firsts of a child's life have been missed, BUT you can rest assured that there are going to be a MILLION firsts in our sons life from now on and they are all mine and his and our families to cherish and hold onto!!! I will be the first momma to tell him I love you and I will ALWAYS be here for you and truly mean it! For that I am so grateful! The Lord our God has blessed me immensely! I am in awe of how this handsome young man in just a few days is actually going to be my precious son and I am ready for whenever he is ready for me to lavish him with a million hugs, kisses, raspberries, laughs, tears of joy, sadness and laughter to share with him! He may be 10 and not be a baby, but he will always be MY BABY!!!!

I will get to hold you for the first time ever on Monday January 17th, 2011... Pretty good day and already a special day in my family as it is my sister, Heathers, Birthday!  So Heath I hope you dont mind but your Birthday is officially Luke's Gotcha day too!!!!!