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Hello friends and family!!
We were up very early this morning!!! Can you believe that I actually slept last night??? I fell asleep around 10:45 and woke up at 3:26am. *my alarm was set for 3:30
We were ready and out the door by 4:00am. I went a little nutty checking my purse for my passport...(ok, I checked at least 50 times) and I would not loosen my grip on our paperwork. Do you see me holding it there in the picture??? :) And I am still holding it when we got to the airport.
We had plenty of time to grab some breakfast and for me to BLOG!!! The laptop is working well and as you can see, we were able to upload pics without any problems.
I am still in shock that this is really happening. Carlton and I just keep looking at each other, we don't have to say a word, we just smile.... and we keep smiling.... I feel like I am living a dream. For so long, I have read other people's blogs about their journey to China and now here I am...getting on a big bird heading to China. Its surreal. Very, very surreal.
For the past few days, I have been praying for Lily and asking God to prepare her little heart for this big transition. We have been loving her for so long, but she does not "know" us. We are strangers to her. I pray that the transition would be easy for her. I am expecting a lot of grieving during the first few days. But you know...I know all about grief and I will truly understand her pain. I will grieve with her and just hold her and love her through this process.
SO....I know there are many, many people that are reading this blog. I would love for you to leave a comment and let me know you visited. This blog along with all of the comments will be printed off and made into a book for Lily. Even if I dont know you, please let me know you visited.
OK....the next time I talk to you again, it will be from CHINA!!!!
(is this really happening?????)
Love to all,
Aimee
65 comments:
praying for you both! have fun!
:)caitlin haynes
Hi Amiee, I just found your blog from RQ. I enjoy reading about your emotions. We have been with our son from China 8 months today and it still feels like a dream. I will pray for an easy transition for all of you and I'm looking forward to following your journey.
Stephanie
so excited!! Thanks for letting us be a part of this with you!!! Praying for good travel!! Drink lots of water on that long flight so that your feet don't swell (believe me I know that flight is long, but it will end!!) love you
Congrats!!! We have only been home three weeks and I miss it already!! All I can say is "WOW"!!! It really is the best.
I am so excited for you guys!!!
Praying for a safe trip. Can not wait to follow your journey to get your beautiful daughter!
love u!
Jessica
I am so excited for you! I am from the RQ blog and I just received a referral last month. I love following other people's journey and soon it will be me! Safe travels to you and a hopefully easy transition for you daughter.
Dana
We will be following along and praying for an easy transition for Lily. Enjoy your time in China--I am sure it will all go by way too quickly!
Love,
Elizabeth
How Wonderful! Your post brought tears to my eyes...
Enjoy this special time =0)
Praying for a safe trip, and for the sweet gift God has given your family! Lily is coming HOME! :)
I am praying for you guys and I am so excited for you. I am living with you, especially because I know it will be my turn in a very short time. I will be checking for updates every day.
God's Blessings upon as you receive your Sweet Baby Lily. I'm praying that she will warm up to you quickly and feel your love as you comfort her. I can't wait to follow your journey.
Sincerely,
Beth
(R.Q.)
I love your smiles...oraying for you!
SO excited!!!
Love you all,
Laura
Aimee and Carlton, Praying for your journey to Lily. Praying that her grieving will be lessened by your loving arms. Will keep up daily if not more to see and know that she is with you and you with her.
Oh sweet Aimee, I am so excited for you. This is going to be the trip of a lifetime!! I can't wait to read all your posts and see all your pictures. Hugs, LA
PS - There will be a package waiting for you and Lilly at your house when you return! :)
I am so excited to follow along on your journey! I will be praying for you and your husband and Lily, praying that your transition is a smooth one.
Angie
Hi Aimee! I am so excited that you are on your way! We are leaving on Sat. and will be at the World Trade Hotel. I still don't know how far that is from the Shanxi Grand...But I will be looking out for other Westerners and if we see them, it will probably be YOU!
Blessings, Terri B
Oh whew! I found your travel blog! I saw it linked over on the side of your other site...I was getting REALLY nervous I wouldn't be able to follow your journey and honestly, I was almost in tears...frantically searching through your back posts to find a link to this.
Can you say, obsessive? ;)
Aimee, Aimee, Aimee....I am praying for you...we ALL are praying for you and Carlton and sweet Lily and your beautiful babies at home. I cannot WAIT to see the miracle of adoption in your family!!!!!!!!!
Love you!!!!!!!! Sending BIG Alabama hugs!!!!!!!!
Congrats to you and your family! I will be praying for safe travel and smooth transition for Lily.
I can't believe this is happening either! You look so excited, I love it! I have been thinking about you guys all morning and praying for your safe journey. I pray that God will prepare your hearts and Lily's heart for this wonderful union. Can't wait to hear all about it! :)
Love you guys...
Christy Gilbert
Aimee and Carlton,
We are praying for safe travel for you. What an exciting journey you have been through getting to Lily! God has so much in store for you! Have a great trip and we will continue to pray for all of you as you add a new member to your family.
woke up at 4:30 a.m. this morning and instantly thought you are on your way! Said a quick prayer for you, Carlton and your children and then drifted back to sleep. I am so excited for you. Enjoy every moment and know we are all praying for you here in Anniston. I am praying the transition will go smooth and that Lily will quickly absorb all the love you have for her.
Love you,
Barb
February 2, 2009 8:44 AM
Congratulations!! Very excited for you! Visiting from RQ and will follow your journey. Thanks for the invite. It sure passes time as I wait for TA.
Good luck!
Jennie
Hey Aimee,
I'm thinking of you and praying for you today.
Love,
Susan Brewer
Wow!! A post already!! I have been thinking about yall all morning. Can't wait to here from you in China! Praying for safe travel!! I am so excited for yall!!
Kadles
Congrats!!! We are so excited for you. Aaron and I are praying for every detail, daily. Lots of hugs!
Lindsay Keegan
I have crazy, excited butterflies...ladybugs in my stomach for you! Praying for a great flight and all your luggage to arrive! Praying for Lily as the big day is getting closer!
Following every step! I can't wait to see your sweet baby in your arms!!
Tina H
Hi Aimee! I'm so excited for you. I can just imagine how you must be feeling. I'm praying for you and Carlton and sweet Lily. I hope it will be a smooth transition for you all. I'm sure Hannah Grace and Noah are well taken care of, but I'm praying for them as well! Love you all!
We are so excited that you are almost to China!!! We can't wait to follow you on your "Journey to Lily"!! Praying for y'all!
The Thirds and Coppocks
IT IS REALLY HAPPENING!!! Talk to you from CHINA! Safe travels sweet frined. Love you!
I'm happy that you are finally ON THE ROAD! I really hope you enjoy your time in China. I was so frightened (I'm such a big baby anyway), but I'll tell you - I fell in love with the Chinese people. Since then, Bob and I have gotten involved with several minis*tries aimed at bring the g*spel to the people. You'll never be the same!
Blessings from Northern Colorado!
praying for ya'll, safe flights, for lily, and for hannah grace and noah here at home!!!
aww Aimee and Carlton! This is such an incredibly journey for you. We are elated for you both and wait patiently for more news. We know you cannot wait to hold your new baby girl!
lots of love from England,
Amanda & Darren
Aimee,
I'm behind on blogging due to not having power (from the ice storm)for a few days so this is my first time at your travel blog. I love it! I'm also jealous of all the neat Olympic sites you'll be able to see while waiting to get Lily. I'm also soooo happy for you and your husband that you can finally make this special trip to bring your new daughter back home. I look forward to your updates! Praying for a safe trip for all of you.
Sincerely,
Amy
Kentucky
A friend of mine passed your blog on to me. My husband and I are in the process of adopting from China. Our LID is 6/24/08. We recently switched to the Waiting Child Program as well. I pray that all goes well for you.
I'm here...and I'm reading!!! I can't believe you are on your way to CHINA! Heck, I still can't believe I was just there. It's just now starting to all sink in...
I'll be praying for you and checking your blog every morning. It might be the ONLY blog I check during the next 2 weeks but I'll definitely be keeping up w/ you :) Does that make you feel special? It should, cuz you are :)
Hugs from Bama,
Erica
I have thought of the two of you and Lily so many times in the last 12 hours! The kids and I prayed for the flight and Lily before starting school today. Thank you for taking the time to update us. Looking forward to seeing China and Lily through your blog.
Huggy and Jennifer
Oh Aimee and Carlton, I literally have tears pouring down my cheeks reading your post. I am so excited for you guys and Lily has the most amazing parents coming to get her anyone could ask for. You guys have been on my mind so much lately as you prepare for this transition. I know the day cannot get here soon enough for you to get to "officially" be her mommy and daddy. We will continue praying for you, Lily,Hannah and Noah.
Congratulations! I hope the shower went well. Sorry I couldn't be there. I have a sick baby! I'm so unbelievably excited for ya'll. Thank you for sharing this journey with us. Lily already has more people who love her than she will ever need in this lifetime.
Hi Aimee, Can't wait to see you and Carlton with Lily. I'm praying for an easy transition. Glad you got the CD I sent. You'll be rocking Lily and listening to lullabyes very soon. Lou Anne
I am so excited for you guys I'm crying!!! I hope you enjoy your time, and I'm praying for all of you!!! Sweet little Lily is just days away from HOME!!
Aimee, Please know that I am praying for you and Carlton during your trip to China. I cannot believe that it is finally time for you to go. Give Lily lots of hugs and kisses. She is beautiful.
Love you both,
Heather
Yeah for Lily!! She will be with you soon! Praying for you all!
I'm so glad that you got some sleep last night! I prayed that you would! I've been praying today! I can't wait to read that you've made it to CHINA!
Love ~ Crystal Joplin
Aimee, Carlton and family--
My heart is just SMILING knowing you are on your way to your baby girl! What wonderful blessings await you all in your lifetime together! Congratulations and God Bless....
Always in my thoughts and prayers,
Tamara Gavin
Hi! I hopped, skipped, and jumped from blog to blog and eventually got here from Corie's blog. Congrats on being on the way to Lily!!! I got to go to China in 2002 when my sister and her husband adopted their second girl. (The first came from Shaoyang and the second from YiYang, both in Hunan.) We also stayed at the White Swan in Guangzhou. Oh, the sweet memories of that trip! My nieces are now nearly 11 and 8. They were joined by a bio brother nearly 5 years ago.
I ended up being blessed with a girl by domestic adoption and then a bio boy.
I'll enjoy praying for you and your loved ones at this time. Have fun!
Oh Aimee...I'm crying tears of joy for you! A new day has come for you! We will blanket your sweet Lily in prayer that her transition will be a smooth one. I know your love will get her thru!
Happy trails!!!!
Love,
Robin
Hey Girl
I miss you already. I knew I should have gotten that hotel room number. What will I do without talking to you. I cant wait to hear all about the flight. You are going to love Helen. Please tell her the Green's miss her and think of her often. You will just love her. Tell Helen you want to go to the same restaurant she took us and that you want that massage also. I will be up at all time of the night looking for updates. Im so glad I got to surprise you on Saturday. That made my weekend. I love meeting everyone.
We miss you and praying for you.
Connie
Happy for you! Enjoyed your blog. We are hoping to travel to China in about 4 weeks. Our little girl also has a limb difference in her leg. Keep us posted on your blog! Have fun!
Prayers are with you!
Michelle
Hi Aimee and Carlton,
I have been thinking of you all day and praying for your safety,rest and transition for your family.
Janis Sides
I am so excited for you and your family. I will be keeping you all in my prayers!
Kim Wade
Praying for y'all!! Can't wait to read all about EVERYTHING!! I am so excited that y'all are on your way!! YAY!! PRAISE GOD you are going to get your baby!!!!
Donna Kay!
mom your so close to getting lily.
yay
hey guys! We will be reading and praying for you. Don't freeze in Beijing!
Aimee.. I can't believe your finally going to china to get your precious lily. i love you and am praying for you both.
:)mary elizabeth.
Praying for you. Have a great time! It won't be long now until you have Lily in your arms!
Love you,
I found you on RQ. I love reading about the journeys of others. We (Dad, Noah, Heath, Elijah & myself) are currently waiting for our Hannah Grace. I thought it was kind of neat how we liked the same names. Looking forward to watching your journey. Blessings & may God give you a wonderful journey to your beautiful daughter.
-In Tennessee
www.amorrisfamily.blogspot.com
May your journey be blessed.......
Okay, I'm thinking you should be there by now and are probably "trying" to sleep. I can't wait to hear from you!!!
Love and prayers,
Erica
UGH, it is 10 AM and I have already checked this blog 10 times looking for an update! :) Can't wait to hear from you!
Hello Sister & Crawlton (haha) hope yall are doing good..happy to know u finally made it to China...I bet that trip was long and tiresome..I hope you will be able to get the computer working because Iam looking forward to talking with yall..We are counting down the days untill you get Lily..and then counting down more until we can actually meet her :) Love yall...be careful and learn some Chinese while you're gone!!! Love ya always Nicole
Hello, We are praying for a safe time and return. I am so happy for you all. What an adventure. Lily has been given such a wonderful mama and daddy.
Alicia
Praying for you both! Can't wait for new updates... especially the one with Lily in your arms!!
I have your gift from the shower... unexpected happening at the in-laws... sorry I missed it!
YES...its happening!!!! You are just hours away from your precious Lily!!!!! Wasn't the hot pot scrumptious!
Waiting with excitment in St. Louis!
Robin
I have been reading your blog and I am so excited for your family! Our prayers are with you! Love from Birmingham!
The Wood Family
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