Day 1 Travel

Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you. He rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of Justice. Blessed are all who wait for him. How gracious He will be when you cry for help. As soon as he hears you he will answer you. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, “this is the way, walk in it!”. 

Psalm 30

This was what I read in my quiet time today. It seemed so fitting for THIS day, the day we set out for our new children, the day we say goodbye to 4 at home.  I can still remember over a year ago wondering are we REALLY hearing the Lord to move forward with adopting again? And when I finally heard it, Mark was surely not thinking he heard that voice! But today we go because God DID speak clearly, he told us the way! 

Saying goodbye is always so hard. But Sage & Mavery sure add comic relief to that process. Monday evening turned out to be a bit crazy. We had planned to have some family time complete with ice cream and prayers.

Makenna came home from school with a note from the track trainer that she might have a possible stress fracture. She has had terrible shin splints ever since she started track this year. If you know Makenna, you know she does not give in easily, You might recall that at 6 years old she walked around for 3 days with a burst appendix, “because her stomach did not hurt that bad!” So we called the doctor in a panic, who quickly got us in for an appointment and x ray.  Thankfully all looked clean and she is supposed to just spend the next week in the evenings elevating it with ice. Grandma’s are going to have fun with that. Because in her words “That is a waste of my time”. Oy!  Pray for her if you will, that her legs would heal and no other follow up would be needed while we are away!

So, the evening certainly did not go as planned, but we did manage to get ice cream and I wanted to especially take some time to talk with Sage &  Mavery. Their favorite thing is snuggle time in mommy’s bed. Mavery got the first turn and as I am talking to her about what would be going on, how things would be different with Syler and Mercie coming and then I pray over her. The second I say Amen, she asks me why some people have such different tastes. “Like why do some people really like spicy and others don’t.” And on went the random questions.  Brought Sage in and same thing. I am all emotional trying to breathe words of love into them. They are just excited about the presents I am leaving them each day and staying at Adleys house on Friday along with the grandparents and Ms Jenny staying.

It is often asked at my house when my next trip to China is coming so they can have some fun. J It is good to know that they are loved well while we go.

I actually did manage to sleep. Here is the biggest luggage/stress for me. Besides the flights, it is the packing. I start packing SUPER early, I make check lists and as I pack, I check off my lists. But then the day of I am just CERTAIN even though it is marked off my list, it was removed from my suitcase. So I am digging and redigging through the suitcases.  Last panic was the Team Chenzhou shirts I was bringing for us to wear together. Had to go through all 4 to find them.

Speaking of luggage…. As I type this I am on the flight. My luggage, ALL my luggage is checked. After our fiasco this summer with MISSING luggage I swore I would always take as much on the plane as I could. And then I remembered how much I hate taking luggage ON the plane. Plus the idea of packing some fot the plane IN CASE I lose things, well what is most important really? Of course clothes would be good. But gifts are really important. Kids clothes are a big deal. Girl scout cookies are a huge deal!  So really ALL of it is a big deal and I just checked it all. We have our backpacks with one change of clothes. Maybe, not even sure Mark has that. So I am praying that once we land, our luggage is ALL there, all in one piece!

We had just a short flight from St Louis to Chicago. If you know me well, you know that I despise flying. Like go into panic flying. WHY the Lord called me so far away, well it is OBVIOUSLY to teach me to trust him even on flying! Already scared of flying, and then the whole missing plane situation, I have been calling on my friends for prayer.  I even asked Sawyer to stay up all night and pray us there!

St Louis to Chicago was good. A smaller plane so a bit rough going up and down, only had one small panic moment and it was good. Watching the excitement on Malaines’ face helped!  The joy of being in the CLOUDS, the wonder of lake Michigan, the awe of it all helped me to try to see it THAT way instead of how I see it. SCARY!

Landed in Chicago with just enough time to rush to our next gate, where there was NO good Chicago food and board! We are flying Cathay Pacific for the first time and it was so talked up I worried I would have my expectations to high. This is my 7^th trip over, so I have flown a lot of airlines. And had some really rough schedules. But I am super impressed with my agent, my schedule and the plane! I wouldn’t say the seats are much bigger than some I have had, maybe a teeny bit. But the service has been amazing. It is a Hong Kong airline so that right there tells you it will be nice. They have been super sweet. Malaine got the best kids meals, our food was actually good. Snacks are available whenever you want. Entertainment system is great. I tried watching Thor, fell asleep all 3 times I tired. (Sorry Sawyer and Makenna!!) Did make it through Gravity. Fell asleep in Princess Diana. Mastered the solitaire game. Love having in seat chargers. OH and I am so happy that they have Frozen so Syler can watch it on the flight home in Chinese! Maybe it will even catch Mercies attention!

We now have just an 90 minutes left till landing. I have to say this has been the SMOOTHEST flight ever! A few bumps but never even enough to put the seatbelt sign on. I am going to believe that is back to that asking all my friends to pray me there, and I truly believe they are!! It is the calmest I have ever felt on a flight, I slept quite a bit of it and it really has not been bad. LONG, don’t get me wrong. 15 hours in a plane seat is just long. But knowing I do not have to have in country flights (praise the lord for the train!) and that I am SO close to my kids helps!

Malaine has been an excellent traveler, as we knew she would be. She is just happy and easy. She has not slept much on the flight, but has not complained at all. We will all be ready to get to our hotel soon.

We are staying at the Hong Kong airport hotel and will be doing a bit of touring there. Meeting up with my friend Alex, remember when we had Luke? He now has a baby sister so we are anxious to meet her!

We keep picturing what this will be like on our return. EEK!!! There are a few babies on this flight and all Mark and I can think of is bringing Mavery home. Who screamed the ENTIRE flight. I am hopeful that  Syler and Malaine will be ok with movies, games, etc. But baby girl?? Oh will you already pray for us??

Smooth landing! We are here in Hong Kong! We checked in our room, ate at McDonalds at the airport and are trying to connect to internet in the lobby. Yes, I know, McDonalds first night back in China. But it was easy and we are tired.

We just keep saying, we are so close, we are on the same hours now! Do miss my kids at home though and will be so excited to all be together again!