Day #1 in China- done!

     I wish there were words to describe this day.  There are none to suffice.  

     I will say that I always thought I wasn't made for foreign travel... and now I am certain of it.  Don't get me wrong.  I am going to enjoy every second I am here..... but....

     A couple of things... First of all, I don't think that I am sick from the food or anything else in China.  I had one of the worst headaches known to man.  Paul thought I was dehydrated (Who made him the doctor??)  So, he made me drink a lot of water.  The water was the only thing I threw up.  Then, I get all worked up about not feeling well and being in CHINA and my stomach goes crazy.  Hence, the vast amount of time in the bathroom- that's what happens when I get nervous.  Sorry for the detail, but I wanted to be clear that it was my nerves and not food.

     Next, he thinks we should go eat.  Before I go into detail about the eating, why didn't anyone warn me about the smell in China??  And, what in the world is the smell??  It's everywhere!  It makes my stomach do flips... and not the good kind of flips.  So, we go to eat breakfast in the hotel.  I could barely look at the food.  I got 2 tiny pieces of french toast and some cereal.  I took ZERO bites of anything!  The thoughts of the unrecognizable foods combined with the smell... no way I could eat!  We were to meet our guide at 10 am in the lobby so I ate 1/2 of a poptart that we brought.

     Then we were off to the Forbidden City.  It lies to the north of Tiananmen Square and rectangular in shape, Forbidden City is the world's largest palace complex and covers 74 hectares.  74 hectares is about 1000 miles... at least that's what it felt like.  It was interesting and very big!

     After the Forbidden City, we went to heaven.  Our guide took us to some massage place. It was beautiful.  Paul and I were taken into this room with really comfortable chairs and a tv.  We had our feet washed and massaged for the next 70 minutes.  It was amazing!  Then, we left that room and had our neck and back massaged for 30 minutes.  Yes, that is 100 minutes of massaging.  And, guess how much it cost??  For both of us???  $60 US dollars!  And, worth every penny.

     It was about 3 pm by then and we hadn't eaten so our guide took us to this restaurant next door to the massage place.  I left heaven because that smell smacked me in the face the minute I walked in the door of that restaurant.  As were walking to our table we passed lots of things floating in jars.  In one of the jars, there were sea horses, lots of them.  So, I asked our guide, whose name is Grace, "WHAT IS THAT??"  

     I gotta tell you, she may speak English, but I don't know what the heck she is saying half of the time.  I did get that it is some sort of alcohol... for men.  I didn't ask anymore questions.  And, those of you who have been here, I know there are things that I am going to see that are far worse than this, but I couldn't even look at the menu.  Salted duck liver, duck blood soup... I was done.!!  Paul ordered some form of Kung pao chicken and Grace ordered tofu.  I ate about 3 bites of rice and one bite of the chicken, while gagging!!  I am not sure if I believe anything is really chicken.

     After this, we went to an acrobat show.  That was amazing!  I LOVED IT!  I didn't know people could do things like that with there bodies.  It was really one of the best live performances I have ever seen.  But, the smell, yep!  It was there too!

     We were dropped off at our hotel for the evening.  We decided to play frogger down the road to find McDonalds.  Someone once said that the traffic rules in China were at best suggestions.  Truer words have never been spoken.  

     We made it to the Golden Arches.  The smell had followed us down the street and it too stopped when we stopped.  I choked down a cheeseburger.  Besides all the reasons listed above as being reasons why I would have to choke something down, I had another reason.  Last week when I mentioned to my brother that McDonalds was in China and that would probably be all I could eat... he told me that it was made out of rat meat.

     There really are reasons for everything.  Now I know why I gained 15 pounds waiting for this little girl!  (I am hoping to leave everyone of those pounds here.)

     Speaking of little Emme girl, I honestly keep forgetting why I am here.  That's why they send us to Beijing first.  They have to give us time to get used to the culture shock.

     So, we are going to bed.  It's 8pm and we are dead.  I am typing to the sound of Paul sawing logs while I watch the paraolympics  opening ceremony on tv.  Yep, there are just down the road.  Seems like I shouldn't be watching them on tv.

     Tomorrow Emme will spend her last day without a family.  We are headed to the Summer Palace and The Great Wall.  I wonder if the smell will be there??

P.S.  Please don't feel left out if you don't have a day to pray.  My friends had a shower for me and everyone signed up for a day.  If you don't have a specific day, that means you have to pray everyday.  And, as you can see, I need it!

Good Morning.... or maybe not

I have this group of people who are supposed to be praying for us, hopefully everyone is praying everyday.  However, I specifically have 14 people- one assigned to each day.  And, my question is this, who has Friday?  

Whoever it is.... can you pray harder??  I went to bed with a pounding headache.  I woke up all through the night with a pounding headache.  Paul made me drink a bunch of water this morning- thinking I was dehydrated.  I ate a granola bar that I brought and took a sinus pill and some motrin.  They I threw up.  Yes, me with the cast iron stomach - not Paul, who throws up all the time.  And, now, I can't quit going to the bathroom.  I don't know how in the world I am supposed to eat anything this morning.  So, please pray!  This is not the way I was hoping this would start, but GOd is bigger than all of this!  I know the enemy really wants to get at me!

I will post again later today after we move out and about and actually see some of Beijing- if I can stay out of the bathroom!!:-)

We are here!!

     Yea!!  We made it!  Wow!  That's about the only nice thing I can say about that plane ride. (Gotta keep the testimony up! ) 

It could have been worse!  There... that's another nice thing!

     I have a splitting headache because my body thinks that it's 11 am and it needs it's coffee.  But, my China clock says it 11 pm.  So, I am going to get to bed!

     However, I do have to mention that it is obvious people are praying for me!   I felt it all day!   I was so peaceful.  Meet up with a family in Detroit that I had met on line.  We traveled the rest of the way together.  In Tokyo, we met an amazing older gentlemen and his wife.  I heard her pray the sweetest prayer, out loud, with her eyes open about getting to her hotel and the Lord surrounding her.  How can that not bring one peace??  They, along with some other family members and friends, were going to go play with kids in an orphanage for two weeks.  We had a really fun conversation with them.  We also meet an American family whose son is competing in the paraolympics in Beijing.

     Tomorrow... Forbidden City and acrobat show!  More then!  Keep praying!  Emme only has 2 more whole days without a mommy and daddy!

   

Tomorrow, Tomorrow, I Love You, Tomorrow

     Tomorrow, Tomorrow, I Love You,  Tomorrow!!!!!!!!!  I feel like Annie today!   Sing it with me!!

    Tomorrow is the day we have been waiting for, planning for and preparing for.  And I, have never been so glad.  I am so tired of THINKING about going and TALKING about going.  I get tired of hearing myself!!  Just get me on that plane already!!  8 hours into that flight, I will be screaming to get me off, but.....

     So, I plan on posting on this blog daily. Planning is a big word and we all know how our plans go.  I am hoping that in China I won't have trouble getting onto this site, etc...  AND, I would love, love, love for you to leave comments!!  I have heard that sometimes the comments don't show up, so maybe you can copy and paste your comments in an email to me as well.  My email is isaacspartyof6@yahoo.com.

     Monday, September 8, 2008, we really will be a party of 6.  That's when we get Emme!! While you are sleeping Sunday night, our hearts and minds will be racing wildly in anticipation of someone handing us that precious little girl.  And, sometime while you are sleeping, when we hold her for the first time, all the work and the things we have fought against to get her, will be a distant memory.

     Today, we will finish packing and doing all those last minute preparations.  As time flies today, I am sure I will become more nervous.  Traveling to China was one of the things that kept me from starting this process long ago.  A huge part of me is doing this afraid, BUT I am trusting God.

     For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of sound mind.  2 Timothy 1:7

     Be strong, courageous, and firm; fear not nor be in terror before them, for it is the Lord your God Who goes with you: He will not fail you or forsake you.  Deuteronomy 31:6-8

     Please pray for us everyday.  And, please pray for my children as I think they are dreading this!!  Excited about the new sister, not so excited about mom and dad leaving!

     Watch out China!!  Here we come!!

2 days left

We leave in 2 days!! Yippee!! It finally feels real. I am strangely calm.... which makes me nervous. It also confirms that what Paul say is true. I look for things to worry about. I think I am addicted to worry. I need to be more disciplined in my thinking. I am working on it!!!

Happy Birthday Sweet Lil' Emme Girl

Little Emme is one today!! We think she's getting a great birthday present too.. our family!! And, how fun is it that her birthay is the day after mine?? Or is it???

I'll admit it. I am not always the sharpest tool in the tool box. My brothers used to tell jokes or say things around their friends that I just didn't get. On more than one occassion, I'd see them lean in to their friends and whisper, "She's really blond."

My father-in-reminded me yesterday China is 12 hours ahead of us. There's a real possibility that, on USA time, she WAS born on my birthday. So, what would you do?? Give her her own birthday or should we have the same birthday? I know some of you have never left a comment... so now is your chance. I've asked your opinion.

I really, really wanted to have Emme before her first birthday. It didn't happen so I'll just keep trusting that God's timing is best. And, it is my prayer that she would never spend another birthday without her family.

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY EMME!!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!

Happy Birthday!!

Happy Birthday to me!!!


I know one shouldn't really wish themselves a happy birthday. But, hey... how many people do you know that get to go to China for their birthday?? And, then, in China, that same lucky person gets handed a beautiful baby girl all wrapped up on a pink bow. Well, alright... maybe not the pink bow. The Chinese aren't much into fashion. Have you seen the outfits those babies come in? Wow! is about all one can say about that!!

I'm gonna go have a great day!!

P. S. My husband and oldest daughter are on a government field trip. They are going to watch John McCain announce his running mate...live. And guess what... IT'S HIS BIRTHDAY TOO!!!!