Yesterday, we went to the American Consulate, took an oath and received Meili's Visa. Now all we have to do is get on a plane and bring her home! We are so ready! In some ways it seems like we have been here forever and in others it seems like we just got here. Either way it has been the trip of a lifetime and we have been blessed with an indescribable gift. I look forward to helping Meili learn about her China as she grows and I hope that she will be as proud to be Chinese as I am to have her as my daughter. I'm still processing what we have experienced here but I don't think I'll ever listen to 'It's a Small World' at Disneyland again without getting a tear in my eye. The world is definitely a smaller place now and that can only be a good thing.
We have to have our bags outside of our door at 4:30 am and will board a bus at 5:30 am for the airport. After a one hour flight to Hong Kong, then a 12.5 hour flight to SFO we have a 10 hour layover. Thankfully, Matt's mom is flying to the airport from LA to hang out with us and we might get to see my sister and her husband later in the day. We will finally land in Tucson at 9:14 pm after almost 33 hours of travelling. Getting here was one thing. Getting home with a baby in tow is going to be quite another! I'll be so happy to get home and sleep in my own bed!
Thanks to everyone who has followed along and left comments and especially to our friends and family who have supported us during our almost 4 year adoption process. Huge thanks to the Moodys and Posts and Bill and Debbie for helping out with our boys and the Mills family who have hosted our 80 pound lab for 2+ weeks while we have been away in what we consider the ultimate act of friendship. And last but certainly not least, the 'Grandparents of the Year Award' goes out to my parents (AKA Papa Jim Jim and Grandma Judy) who didn't just watch Noah and Xander while we were away but retrieved them from AZ and took them back to CA and kept them so entertained that they didn't have any time to miss us and then took them back to AZ again in time to start school. We love you guys and definitely couldn't have done it without you!
Next time, from US soil!!!!
7 comments:
Have a safe flight home...
Love following your journey..
can't wait to see you home with all your babies in your arms...
Hugs..
It has been so fun to follow your journey and get all the updates from China. Meili is one lucky girl! I can't wait to meet her in person. We definitely need to get together before you leave for good:(
Have a safe trip home!!
Can't wait to read the words that you are home! Lots of pictures please!
Alyzabeth's Mommy for Ten Months
It has been our privilege to help in any way we can. Xander and Noah did great today at the bus stop, and Xander sat next to Evan...they were both so excited! We can't wait to meet Meili!!!
Have a good return trip !!!
Friendly from France,
Geraldine, mum to Isaline, 6 years old.
Hey Jennifer....it's your cousin Kim. Your mom gave me your blog info and I just wanted to say congrats on your new little girl!!!! She is a doll. Have a safe trip home and we will talk soon. Your family is just beautiful!!!
LOL!!! I've missed your entire trip!! I think the last time i came by, you were just about to leave for China!!!
anyway, I've read back, and am very excited and happy for you guys that you finally have Meili in your arms! She's such a tiny little thing, isn't she?!
Congrats, Bouton Family! Hope you had a very safe trip home! Enjoy your new life as a family of seven! (you know, its the perfect number, right?!!)
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