September 15 -- Consulate appointment and packing to come home!
Sorry , but this post is going to be short today! We went this afternoon to the US consulate to get Klaire's passport and visa. It was very anti-climatic- all we had to do was raise our right hand and repeat the words that all the information we provided was correct. After that- we were free to go. Klaire will officially become an American citizen when we get off the plane in Newark, NJ and the official stamps her entry into the US!!!! How exciting!!!!
Tonight , we packed our mementos of China and our clothes into our suitcases. We had to have them outside our door at 9:00 tonight! We leave the hotel at 5:45 in the morning- which will be 4:45 pm Lebanon time. Please pray for us that we will have smooth flights and that we will make all of our connections easily! We have only an hour layover in Hong Kong and then 1 1/2 hr. layover in Newark. Please pray that Klaire will do well on the flights- this will be her first flight ever on an airplane and what a way to fly for the first time! ha! We will be on 3 different airplanes for a total of 18 hours and 45 minutes! Please pray that the Benedryl works! ha! I think I may drink the bottle myself! ha! It will help that we have 3 other AWAA families on our flight from Hong Kong to Newark! Some of the other families have already asked Karlee and Kassidy for their help. Joe said he would hire them out by the hour! ha!
One thing we will definitely miss about our time here in China is our new friends that we have made. We have all become like family! We will miss the nightly supper parties in our room and just going out into the hall and see who is crying , playing or just has their door open- which says- "come on in". After living with these people for over 2 weeks, you truly do become like family! God has placed such a special bond between all of us! I am so thankful that we were blessed to meet these wonderful people in our group!
Next time I post, we will be in the US!!! We will try to post after we get home and tell you all about the trip home! I hope it will be a good story! ha! Please remember us in your prayers- when you think about us! Klaire has had a little bout with her stomach today- not too bad - just some really bad diapers. Please pray that she will be alright on the flight home!
Good night for the last time from Guangzhou China!
Love to you all!
Joe, Julie, Karlee, Kassidy and Klaire!
Here we are at the White Swan!
Klaire is so excited about the Consulate appointment! ha!
Our 3 girls- Karlee got the hat for Klaire!
Joe and Klaire on the bus going to the Consulate
Getting ready for our Consulate appointment
September 16 -- "Home Alone" re-enactment!
Today started out in complete chaos!!! We were supposed to be in the lobby to meet our group to go to the airport at 5:45 am! We slept right through our alarm and woke up at 5:35am! It was a complete nightmare! We jumped out of bed, got the girls up and all ran and put our clothes on - grabbed Klaire out of her crib. When we grabbed Klaire- she had a blowout in her diaper over night- so she was a mess! Not good timing! I changed her, brushed my teeth and ran out the door, but not before our phone was ringing from our guide Amy wondering where we were! Thankfully, we had packed everything but the essentials the night before. We ended up leaving some things- but the main thing I looked for was our kids!!! We had them all! Hallelujah! We ran down to the lobby and everyone was on the bus waiting on us- of course! We actually all made it down on the bus by 5:55am! Record time to get 5 people up and ready! ha! (I can laugh about it now- but it was NOT funny at the time!) All I could think of was the movie Home Alone and how we just re-enacted the whole first scene that morning! We made it to the airport in Guangzhou and Joe was deathly sick! He was white as a ghost! I guess he had gotten what Karlee had earlier. Once we got in the air- it was a quick flight to Hong Kong! We had only a 50 minute lay over to catch our next flight. We were told that we probably would not make it- but guess what WE DID!!! We traveled with 4 other couples in our group on this flight and we all made it! We had a wonderful Continental worker (our angel) who personally took us to our gate and held the plane so we would not miss our flight! After the morning we had already had- I didn't think I could hold up if we missed it! It was definitely God who intervened to get us to the gate and on that flight to Newark!
Once on the flight, I thought maybe I could relax! ha! A 10 1/2 month old on my lap for 19 hours- forget it! I would suggest to all of you who are planning your trip to China- buy a seat for your baby on the way home! Our flight was packed -so there was no where to lay Klaire down- she and I were both miserable! Joe was sick- so he couldn't help me and the girls had passed out next to me- so I got up with the other 3 moms on our flight and talked and walked! I think Klaire slept a total of 3 hours out of the 19 we were in the air! I slept 30 minutes! Not a pleasant memory! ha!
We made it to Newark early and went through Customs and immigration!
Klaire's passport was stamped and the officials congratulated us- Klaire is now a US citizen! What a blessing!!! I couldn't believe we were finally to the good old USA!! We had made it!
We had to hurry again and catch our next flight to St. Louis- we made it early and the flight was full again! Klaire did really well on all the flights, but the last 15 minutes before we landed in St. Louis- she had had enough! She began screaming! I felt like screaming too- I felt her pain! ha!
We got off the plane and came around the corner and there was the most welcome site we had ever seen! All of my family and Joe's family were there and also our sweet friends the Tucker's were waiting on us! They had banners and balloons for Klaire- and guess what- she was asleep! Finally! ha! We went to the baggage claim and guess what- our bags did not make it to St. Louis! Go figure- they make it all the way from China to Newark, but couldn't make it from Newark to St. Louis! Oh well! We spent the night in St. Louis with our families and Klaire warmed up really quick to everyone! She was smiling and laughing for them! It was wonderful! Our luggage came in on Sunday afternoon, so we said goodbye to our families and went to the airport and got all of our luggage and then made the 2 1/2 hour drive to Lebanon! When we got home- our house was spotless (thanks, Jamie) and there were Chinese lanterns hanging in the kitchen. After we had been home for about 5 minutes, the door bell rang- it was our friend, Becky, she had balloons to decorate our house and a banner. She just couldn't believe we were already home! ha! It was hilarious! She went ahead and decorated(Thanks, Becky! Teresa too!) and some other friends came over to meet Klaire. We then got ready and went to church to introduce her. We were 5 minutes late (not good- since Joe is the pastor! ha!) and as soon as we walked in-the cameras started flashing! Joe told them about our trip and then they had a fellowship dinner for us! Klaire took it all in stride- when she was awake! ha! It was so great to see everyone!
We are finally home and our house seems so big after spending 2 1/2 weeks in a hotel room! Klaire is doing wonderful! I can't wait to see what all she is going to learn in the next few weeks!
We are so blessed to have this beautiful little girl in our family! God has been so good to us and we thank Him for all He has done over these last 2 years to get us to this point! WOW! I wouldn't have enough space to write down all He has done for us! He picked the perfect little girl to bless our family beyond measure! It feels like Klaire has been a part of our family forever and we have only had her 2 weeks! I just can't wait to see what God has in store for her and her life and our lives as well!!! We had a wonderful trip and we want to thank all of you for your prayers and e-mails while we were gone! We know that for us to have such a wonderful experience it was a result of a lot of prayer!!! Thank you!!! Our verse we have claimed throughout this whole adoption is Ephesians 3:20- "God is able to much more than we can ever ask or imagine!" God has done just that - He has done much more for us than we could have ever began to imagine! He is faithful!!!
I will update in a few weeks and let you know how Klaire has adjusted to life in Lebanon! So far - so good! Please continue to keep us in your prayers!
We love you all!!!!
Joe , Julie, Karlee, Kassidy and our newest "chosen" daughter Klaire!
Our family with our wonderful guide Amy!
Klaire is really enjoying her daddy's preaching! ha!
