We made it to Beijing-- Another step closer to our boys!

After a long flight in close quarters because the flight was very full, we arrived in China! We met a nice couple from Maine on their second adoption trip and talked briefly on the plane but our seats were not close enough to talk very much. Still it was encouraging to be able to talk about all that God is doing in our lives and families.

At the airport in Newark we called Verizon to let them know we would be in China so we could make a few calls home-- but they said that we would have had to ask earlier and they would have sent us a phone-- so we could not call home and hoped that everyone knew we arrived safely.

At the airport in Beijing, we looked to see if our friend Lily was there, but we did not see her. We had a few moments of concern that maybe we had miscommunication and what would we do alone in Beijing. I had her phone number and every other important number in Bo's computer- which was now dead and needing charged and we brought a converter, but not for his kind of computer plug. So we had about a 1/2 hour of concern and then we went to an area to have her paged and then she came walking up. She had just gotten there and thought our flight was arriving later. She usually has a driver bring her but since it was just us, she drove her car and it took longer to park and all of that.

So we got into her Panda Car and drove to her mountain home. It was a beautiful drive and the area is so nice and so completely quiet except for trains that come through occasionally. She opened her home to us and showed us her garden. We went out and picked green onions and leaks and she made us an amazing dinner. After dinner we took a walk around the neighborhood. There are very beautiful homes near a small lake. It was very quiet and peaceful. We enjoyed sharing updates and sharing some verses with Lily before showering and going to bed early.

This morning she made us eggs and oatmeal and we packed up to leave. She drove us to the Great Wall to tour in the morning. It was very nice weather and because we arrived early there were not a lot of people. Bo and I went up to the point where I had gone when my students came in 2008 and then I showed him down the path that Lily had taken us down the side of the mountain on our trip. We did not spend long there but it was just enough time.

Then we drove back toward Beijing and parked at a market. There is an interesting thing here that Monday thru Friday each car registration ending in a certain number has one day that they cannot drive into the city and for Lily today is the day of the week when she cannot. So we parked outside the perimeter and took a taxi to find our hotel. She took us to a hotel right beside her apartment, but she found out that foreigners are not permitted to stay there so we drove a block or two and looked at 2 hotels side by side. One is a Super 8 but it was not very nice so we went next door and it is very nice and yet reasonable. She had to go to meet families who are coming for their adoption trip so we came to the hotel to rest and we will meet up with her this evening.

We are having a wonderful adventure and enjoying building our friendship, but we both are so anxious to get our boys! The anticipation is so great! I am grateful though that we have another 2 days to try to reset our clocks and rest and prepare to meet Brayden.

I will try to upload pictures of our adventure. I cannot access our blog, Thank you for following along and for your prayers!

We love you,
Glenda

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