We were all SO excited to be going to visit our friends in NE China! Earlier in the week Sophia prayed for snow. Doubtful, we told her, but she prayed on...every day she would ask, how many days until we go to YT? And she told everyone she knew that we were going on a trip.
Not only were we visiting some of our best friends that we had not seen in two years, but we also were going to meet up with a team from TCC-- we were also getting to see friends from the other side of the ocean!
It took us 3 flights and about 14 hours door to door, but we made it and were SO blessed for what became one of many late nights with the L family and other friends.
Our first flight in our city was delayed about an hour due to the dense fog. These men were having fun playing peek-a-boo with our girls. Most of our travels take us to Thailand, we had not traveled within China with our three kids ever, I forgot the fuss that would be made over our children. But the kids did great!
Sophia eating a snack and waiting. Waiting. Our local airport has an outdoor part to it upstairs so the girls and I went out there and ran around a bit, even though it was a little chilly.
I am supposed to be napping
In the provincial capital the girls got to ride on the cart. We packed on big suitcase for our family for the week and then another suitcase for gifts to be taken back to America. I knew we would be hauling things home, so the empty one came in handy.
Mid-day and weary. KFC in the provincial capital.
Tobin's meal. I really could not bring myself to spend 3 USD a jar for baby food, so I froze some homemade in jars the night before. It worked great. Pears and rice cereal. Thawed just in time.
We didn't really mind passing Tobin around, helped us out a little bit. And he was game. The girls love making friends on airplanes too.
I missed the picture, but this man to David's right started asking the men behind him where some place was on a map of China. I found this quite funny because they went back and forth a bit and then said the name of a pretty famous province.
The Shanghai airport was amazing. We enjoyed both Subway and Starbucks and complimented the kids on how well they had done without complaining! Then Sophia decided to walk the wrong way on the moving sidewalk to which I sternly rebuked her and a little mayhem ensued. But still they did wonderful, and who doesn't want to try walking the wrong way on a conveyer belt every once in a while?
And then we arrived, around 10:30 p.m. Wow. The team was at the hotel. John picked us up from the airport and Melissa was still up making really good bread. Bella was completely knocked out by the time we got in the van (from previous experience: do not put a very sleepy child on their feet and expect them to stand), she barely woke to get in bed.
We stayed up chatting with Melissa and John and getting settled in and ready for what turned out to be a fabulous week!
The next morning was Sunday, so a group was coming over, plus the team. It was GREAT to reconnect, and this moment was priceless: watching Uncle Travis meet his nephew for the first time:
Man, we miss this guy and his wife (my sis) and family. These reunions are so precious! We couldn't hog him because he was the team leader and marriage retreat teacher, but we had some good chats that make us anxious for our next visit home to continue to learn from his family!
The ladies (except I am not sure where Dana is? maybe taking the pic). L-R: Holly, me, Melissa, and Jessica.
Jessica made quite the impression on Bella, and we were very thankful, because we had no idea how leaving her for two nights was going to go. Bella loved her some Jessica.
