One More Week!!!!!!!!

We are counting down to everything right now at our house...  Christmas, Alex's birthday, Nick's birthday (which is in April, lol) but most importantly--- the day we meet our daughter!

One year ago, we were scrambling to submit all the preliminary paperwork and start a homestudy.  Now in one week, we will be boarding a plane to China.

Here is our itinerary:

Friday, November 16th- fly out at 8 a.m. in the morning/ lay-over in Chicago- fly to Shanghai
Saturday, November 17th- 2:50 p.m. arrive in Shanghai/ lay-over in Shanghai/ fly from Shanghai to Fuzhou

Sunday, November 18th- day of rest in Fuzhou... maybe we can find a church

We will stay at the Lakeside Hotel in Fuzhou.  Fuzhou is the capital of the province Fujian.  This is the province where Rylie lives but she does not live in this city.  She will probably have a long trip that morning by van over curvy roads to meet us.  Fuzhou looks like a beautiful city.  It is close to the ocean and is surrounded by mountains.  The best time to visit Fuzhou is November when the monsoon season is over and the days are mostly sunny and around 60-70 degrees.

Monday, November 19th- Gotcha Day!  This is the day we will finally meet Long Fu Lan or as you will all know her RYLIE!

Tuesday, November 20th- We will go to the provincial office to register the adoption.

Wednesday, November 21st- Apply for notary booklet/ Chinese passport

Thursday, November 22nd- Happy Thanksgiving!  We have no paperwork to do this day so we will most likely do a city tour! 

Friday, November 23rd- Pick up Rylie's notary booklets and Chinese passport/ 7:30 p.m. fly to Guangzhou (this is a short flight as Guangzhou is fairly close to Fuzhou)  Our first flight with Rylie!

We will stay at the Victory Hotel in Guangzhou.  The Victory Hotel is located in Shaiman Island which we will try to give a little more information about in another post.  Guangzhou is in the province of Guangdong and is a very important city as this is where the U.S. Consulate is located that approves the paperwork to bring Rylie home.

Saturday, November 24th- Photo/ Medical Exam/ TB test/ Review Consulate Paperwork

Sunday, November 25th- day of rest- pretty cool that we get a day of rest on both of our Sundays.  We are not sure what kind of church we will be able to attend but no matter what we will spend the day thanking and praising God for all He has done to bring us to this point in our lives!

Monday, November 26th- We will get the results of Rylie's TB test read.

Tuesday, November 27th- shopping, sightseeing, resting, etc.

Wednesday, November 28th- Consulate Appointment/ Sworn-in Ceremony  (This is all the important stuff that makes it possible for Rylie to enter the United States and become a citizen.  The United States won't let her enter without proof that she does not have TB.  Luckily, she will not have to have all the shots as Alex did.  The law was changed since then and we can sign a waiver stating that we promise to complete her immunizations within 30 days of coming home.)

Thursday, November 29th-   Check out of Hotel/ Pick-up Rylie's Visa from U.S. Consulate/ Depart Guangzhou on the train to Hong Kong/ spend the night in Hong Kong

Friday, November 30th- fly out of Hong Kong at 12:30 p.m. to San Francisco/  It will be 8:20 a.m. in San Francisco when we land.  We have a four hour lay-over which is needed to go through Foreign Immigrations. 

6:10 p.m.  We arrive home!!!!!!! (at least to the airport)  Rylie meets her brothers and grandparents and maybe some aunts and uncles and cousins and friends... I can't wait to be home!