Just killing time......

Hey there!

We are just about to head down for bkfast. Just killing time until we meet our guide in the lobby at 2 pm to go and get Logan at the civil affairs office!

We had a great day exploring around yesterday. Took the subway to the British version of Wal-Mart, had lunch out and about, then took an 8 hour nap. Yep, we all feel asleep @ 4 pm and woke up at midnight! We had a snack, chatted for about an hour, then went back to bed.

We are having a good time watching people try to figure us out. Mike was asked to do a video for a school project on speaking English to a tourist. He also discovered a very important sign in the subway.....read the second rule on the picture of subway no-no's.

Another funny thing is watching people's reaction when they hear Mia talk. Definitly not expecting English to come out of her mouth. If I didn't think I'd get arrested, I would take a picture of some of the expressions.

We are heading out. We will post all about Logan as soon as we can. Thank you all for the prayers, we can really feel them. Things are going great here, and we are feeling great and enjoying the trip.

Love,
Claire and crew

We are here!

Good morning from Guangzhou!

What a wild 28 hours, a total blur now, but we are here and doing great. Got in very late,@ 1am here. Grabbed a bite,showered and went to bed.

The flights were long, but everyone did really well. Even me!!! I didn't beg to be pushed out over the Pacific Ocean this time. Mia did great, just a little scared when we hit some serious turbulence for awhile on the way to Tokyo.

Mike got to spend a few moments in Japan, got the shirt to prove it, but no Japanese cars to be seen from the airport.

When we went through customs in China, Mia looked at the officer and then at me, and asked," Is that Logan!?" He did resemble him a little, it was pretty funny.

Ok, tomorrow is the BIG DAY!!! We will have gotcha day Monday afternoon at the Civil Affairs office. Our guide told us that Logan knows we are coming and what is going on. She said that they prepare the older children pretty well. Today is the last day without him,WAHOO!!!!!!!!

So, today we are going to head out and do some exploring, buy some munchies for the room and xerox some last minute paper work for tomorrow.

Hope all is well back home. We will post some photos when we find the transfer cable.(:

Love ya'll,

Claire and crew

A year and a half

What a blessing she is!! I was checking my calender for last minute travel things, and I realized that today is our 18 month anniversary with Mia!

I really could go on for hours about how wonderful she is, how funny, smart and loving she is. She is truly our Angel baby.

She has come so far in this time. When we first met, she was so scared, so quiet and just trying to understand what was going on. Those eyes just searched for something familiar, and when it wasn't found, she would put her thumb into her mouth and hide her face. But day by day she came to know and trust us. Fears faded, smiles came and she turned out to be a MAJOR snuggle bunny. Today, Mia is a happy,healthy, wild and wonderful toddler.

She loves to ride her bike, jump on the trampoline, swim, swing,and shop for shoes (:

I think Mike summed it up best a few months ago. We were just hanging out, and he asked, what did we do before Mia? We were really missing something.

Happy 18 months peanut, we love you more then life.

Yi huir jian!!! ( see you later!)

I think we are almost done packing! We are outta here on Friday! After plane changes in Detroit and Tokyo, we will arrive in Guangzhou, China some 30 plus hours later. Better not forget those toothbrushes in our carry ons!

We will have about a day and a half to get settled in before Logan becomes forever ours. Our gotcha day is June 16th. Monday for us, late Sunday night for ya'll.

The kids are excited to grab some Starbucks from the shop in our hotel, and take a ride on the Chinese subway. Hopefully we will meet a wonderful person who speaks English so we don't get lost.....this time. (:

Love,

Claire

Almost summer vacation!!!

One day of school to go, and 8 days until we leave for China!!

We don't have our in-country schedule yet, so we don't know our exact gotcha day date. It will probably be the 16th or 17th.

We are just SOOOO ready to go and to love on our little man. We have been praying that Logan has been told that his forever family is coming soon. And, that he will feel safe and comfortable with us. What a brave little man he is to be willing to leave all that he knows and start on this new life journey.

So in the mix of packing and preparing for travel, the kids are winding up their school year. Livy came away with an award for all A's all year, and Mike's school's ROTC unit competed at the all county ROTC exhibition. They came in 1st in many individual events, and 2nd place over all. It was amazing to see all of these young men and women so motivated and disciplined. Hard to believe that is my baby boy looking so grown up!

And to top off the week, we got a visit from a few of the kids cousins...Grace, Hannah,Phoebe and Aunt Lynn. Missed you Daniel and Uncle Danny!

Oh! Can't forget to brag about the baby! Mia has been doing a great job of using the potty this week. Out of nowhere, she has decided that she is ready. I was waiting until we returned from China before I even started this process, but we'll just go with the flow. No pun intended.(:

Love,
Claire

Travel Dates!!!

Oh yeah! Go God!!!

We received our travel plans today. We are leaving for China on June 13th and will be coming home on June 27th.

Mike is especially excited that we will be spending a few hours in the Tokyo airport during a lay over. He has always wanted to visit the home of his passion.....Japanese drift driving cars. Not sure he'll see any from inside, but it will be fun to watch him try.

We also received the great news that Logan has been given his care package, and will be told that his forever family is coming to bring him home soon.

So, with the official clock ticking....it is on to packing!

Love,
Claire

TA!!!!!!

TA!!!! TA!!!!!

What a wonderful way to start off our Memorial Day week end. We spent our time fishing, swimming and celebrating a great friend's birthday...Happy Birthday Matt!

As we were headed out of town to go camping with friends, we received THE call from our agency!!! We have our long awaited travel approval, and will be heading to China on June 13th! Give or take a day or so.

So, thank you God....this was our last get-a-way without Logan. We are so ready to go and bring him home.

It is just so amazing how your heart can long for someone that you have not met in person. But you know every line of their face, and you know that child is yours. Giving birth or not giving birth, it doesn't matter. Neither does race, color or creed. A child is such a gift from God, and I can't believe that He has blessed us with four of his children to love and care for.

I am also so thankful that God has given me such a wonderful country to live and raise our family in. A place where a child can grow up to be anything he/she desires to be regardless of their social cast in society.

Pretty awesome.

Love,
Claire