Honey, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore...

We’ve arrived in Zhengzhou! Pronounced JenJoe, Zhengzhou is nothing like Beijing. Aside from the hot, bumpy airplane ride and scary landing, my first impressions of Zhengzhou are not favorable. It is cold; was raining, now snowing and very, very busy and dirty. However, as I type, Zhengzhou is closing their Chinese New Year with the most amazing display of fireworks we have ever seen! They have been shooting off fireworks for the past TWO hours in all different directions of the city. I’m not talking bottle rockets either. These are the big daddy fireworks. I keep expecting to hear “God Bless America” or a melody of patriotic songs and then I remember I’m in China! The fireworks are spectacular and the kids have had their fill of entertainment for the evening! They are all asleep!

We said a sad goodbye to George at the airport. He was a most wonderful, gracious and patient guide and I did actually shed several tears saying goodbye. I wasn’t the only one and the group agreed we would all probably become weepier as the day progressed and it has proven true. Have I mentioned how much I love my travel group? They are an amazing array of people from all over the country. For my personal recollection: We have Kris and Jerry from Maryland and they have a three year old at home; Regan and James and they adopted Sydney from China six years ago and they live in Colorado Springs; Sue and Charlie from Wisconsin (they are not with us in Zhengzhou, their baby is from a different province and we will meet up with them in Guangzhou) and Bob and Susannah from Denver, although Bob is originally from Texas and Susannah from Germany. They are such an interesting, fun couple and they will become parents for the first time tomorrow. Please pray for them tomorrow as they receive their son, Tyler. They are very nervous; although I have a pretty good idea they are going to be amazing parents!

Tomorrow is a big day! It’s John Asher Day!!! Tomorrow Jeremiah and I will become parents for the fourth time, Emilie Grace a big sister for the third time, Madilyn a big sister for the second time and Eli a big brother for the first time! We are really looking forward to tomorrow and as nervous and excited as we are, we are also trying to come into this with some very real expectations. We know he will be scared, we know he will probably be grieving. We know he is going to wonder what in the world is happening to him. But we also know that God is in control and has orchestrated this adoption from the very beginning. We trust that it is all in his hands. We pray that he will give John Asher a peace beyond all understanding that we are his family and he is right where he is supposed to be! We are also praying the same for our biological children, as I am sure they will be just as nervous and now have to share mommy (whom they all have been very attached to this entire trip) and daddy with another little one until he settles in. We ask for your prayers tomorrow. At 10:00 AM Monday morning in Zhengzhou we will be standing in the Registration Office preparing to receive our child. (It will be Sunday night, 9:00 PM EST). I simply cannot wait to share him with you all!!!!

Your comments are being emailed to me through my email so that I can read them each day. They are such a source of encouragement and strength to me and I have loved hearing from you all! Thank you for the prayers, the encouragement and the love you are sending many miles away! You’ll never know how much they lift our spirits to “hear” from home! Please, please keep them coming. My sweet, precious friend Leigh Ann is updating my blog and posting pictures for me while I am gone and unable to access blogger while in China. Thank you so much, LA for taking time out of your day to do this for me.

Two more prayer requests before I go to sleep for the night. 1. My sweet friend Tami from Sea Glass and Jade will be taking her precious daughter, Sophie for surgery tomorrow (Monday). Please pray for them, for the surgeons, for a safe and effective surgery and for Sophie as she is faced with a big surgery at a young age. I love you guys and my prayers are with you! While I am far away, thankfully the Lord is never far away and I know he will be there with you guys in the waiting room, with Sophie in the operating room and guiding the hands of the surgeons! Praying also for a very quick recovery!!! Can’t wait to see how she is doing! (PS – Jenna, will you email me and let me know how everything went?) 2. Pray for Jeremiah and I as we have a big opportunity to show the saving love of our Lord to people around us. Pray that we will be aware of the opportunities he presents us and we will talk about our Lord without hesitation.

Thank you for going alongside us as we experience this miracle of adoption!