One week down, One week to go

Today we caught a flight from Beijing to Guangzhou for the second half of our adoption.  When we got to the airport our biggest concern was our luggage.  China has a strict weight limit for domestic flights and we knew we were on the edge.  Well sure enough both our bags were overweight.  Our guide used "sweet words" (as she likes to say) to the guy at the counter and we prayed somehow he would show favor, and in the end he did.  He let us check our overweight luggage in at no extra cost!  Praise God.

Mercy did OK on the plane.  It definitely raised some concerns about our flight home next Friday.  She was restless and would not sleep, even though it was nap time and she was very tired.  She was all over the place between my lap and her seat and just could not be content to sit or play with a toy.  She would chuck toys on the floor and kept sticking her hand or foot between the seat and hitting or kicking the guy in front of us, who was getting annoyed with her.  So that was a three hour flight and a 15 hour flight home is still on the horizon...oh boy.

We landed in Guangzhou around 3:30 and our guide was waiting with a van service.  Guangzhou is so incredibly different from Beijing, and a very welcome change of scenery.  The greenery and flowers are breathtaking, but the heat and humidity are oppressive.  You feel like you are walking into a misty shower and you are sticky the minute you go outside.  I won't be seeing the sight of one good hair day in this place.  The driving is not different though and I had to close my eyes at one point when I thought we were going to be crushed by a bus.

We got to our hotel and checked in.  We were told that because of all the consulate issues this past week our reserved room was still being used by a family who got stuck here.  In return they upgraded us to an Executive Suite.  I cannot begin to tell you what an incredibly gorgeous room we are staying in.  Oh my word it's like we have died and gone to Chinese Paradise.  It's a suite so we have a bedroom and a living room/office area.  The bathroom has a huge tub and separate shower with gorgeous tile.  It's way nicer than any hotel we have ever stayed in.  We feel like millionaires.  You actually need to use your room key in the elevator because the elevator doesn't even go to the floor we are on unless you have a key.  It's crazy and so helping us settle in for the second half of this trip and the homesickness we have been feeling.  Don't get me wrong, we miss our kids, family and friends way more than we care about staying in this fancy room, but this fancy room is 10,000 times more comfortable than where we just came from.  God is so good to us.  I just don't understand and I certainly don't feel deserving of this room and all it's fancy amenities after the whining and complaining that I have done.  I'm so thankful for it though.  Last week we stayed in a dirty hotel where you didn't even want your crawling baby to touch the floor, the bed was so hard I barely slept and the air you breathed in made you physically sick.  Now we are staying in a place that is totally opposite.  It's mind boggling.

Tomorrow we head out at 9:30 am for Mercy's medical exam.  We would love you to join us in praying that all her tests are good and we get the medical approval to bring her back to the states.  Pray for her as she will have to have blood drawn and she will be taken away from us for a bit during some of the exam time.

I'll leave you with a few pictures of our day...

Air China Flight 39

Mercy's 1st plane ride

This girl LOVES music!!!

Lunch anyone?

There is an electronic shower curtain that drops down over the glass wall. 

Notice the cherry blossom tile design!  Only God!!!

His and Hers water bottles.

City View from our room

Mercy had a gift bag waiting in her crib.