Excellent!!!!!

See that pile in the below picture? It is now in my suitcase which is only about 2/3 full. Half of it is gifts for the China folks! I pack very light, and now that I know that there are big stores right by the hotel, who cares if I am missing something? The only thing I am really concerned about are the documents and "must haves." It will all come together....Now, to focus on work.....

I am in trouble...

Two days before departure and this is what it looks like...

Oh boy...

...I didn't get a lot of help....

We are so excited!!!!

The excitement is building! In just 10 days we will be on our way to China. I am loving seeing just how happy Mia is and how excited she is to be a big sister. She has been very sweet--drawing pictures for the baby every day and generally working to perfect her "big sister" skills. We will see how that goes in just a bit! ;) This pic is of Mia (age 5) and her best friend Friday on Christmas day....life is good!!!

I can't believe I am blogging

This blogging is pretty fun. Please bear with me and any glitches that I may have because I am new at this. In the words of my friend Matt, and I quote: "It’s quite amusing to see you doing the blog thing. Back when we were at LP together I remember you couldn’t even upload a picture from your camera." Thanks for following along on my journey!!!! Pictures below-- Mari is on the right.

Marika and friends

Marika and friends, all waiting for their families, all happy with each other! Marika is on the right. Friends forever...

Am I ready????

Well, I am just realizing that two weeks from now, Marika will be in my arms. We leave on Feb. 13, fly into Shangahi, and off to Nanjing on the train the next day. We will be staying in Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu province, for a week. Marika is from a town in the province of Jiangsu called Xuzhou, which is NW of Shanghai, between Shanghai and Beijing. It is closer to Shanghai if you want to check it out on the map. Am I ready to go? Mentally, absolutely. Physically, not even close!!!! I have to exchange money, get all my documents together, pack for three of us, and wrap up things at work, as I will be taking a three month leave. I am so excited to get back to China. I love it there. After actually getting Marika, I am most looking forward to going to her orphanage and then actually getting to visit Mia's orphanage while we are in Guangzhou. We are trying to arrange that now and I am so hoping that I can show Mia where she spent the first year of her life. It was the highlight of my trip when I adopted Mia in 2004. I wanted to be able to have some answers for her as she grows up, and I think taking her there may help!!! More later, with pics!