Wow! Breakfast buffet here at the White Swan Hotel is amazing. Even Ladybug was "stuffed" ~ and many of you know how much that girl can eat for breakfast! What was even more amazing was being surrounded by families with newly adopted children....well, babies!...and how that adds to the surreal-ness of this entire adventure. God is so awesome to allow us this opportunity!
We're up and ready for the day. We sat around the computer and read through the comments on our blog posts! How they encourage us! Please keep it up! You can also email us...we can easily read our emails!
Just wanted to say that we are so excited for today's big event. Around 2am in N-ville we will be meeting Emmy Xiang. We're working on the correct pronunciation for Xiang. So far, the general consensus is (soft t sound) tsee-ahng or tshee-ahng...the important "new" interpretation being the two syllable action. See if you can say it with us. Ready? Xiang. How did you do?
Gotta get off the computer so the Elf can work on the slide shows of pictures of past days and we can begin to develop a detailed post.
Thank you for your prayers and your comments of encouragement. Love to the family...love to the friends! Thanks K and J for watching Hank! Give him lots of hugs and kisses for us! Hello from the girls to all their friends. We miss y'all. Glad to hear the progressive dinner went well. Sorry we missed it. Love y'all!
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Hello from Guangzhou
I know the suspense must be eating at many of you...and we are so sorry for the lack of communication thus far. However, we have been from one fun or necessary activity to another for...well, I haven't a clue for how long...I rarely know what day it is at home, much less when days and nights are different at the same time (that was clear as mud, huh?). Also, we had a TERRIBLE time with computer, internet and electrical outlets while in Beijing, not that it wasn't available, no, we just had a rough start. Jim has it all figured out now, and we are safely here at the very nice White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou, which has wonderful internet service (as well as turn down service and chocolates...can someone remind me again why I stuffed my suitcases with good "American" chocolate, when it seems readily available here?!? No matter. I must say though, that God is so kind to us to allow us this awesome opportunity to fly around the world to adopt one whom we are prayerfully claiming to be His own child.
Before I go any further, I'll just take a moment to assure you that we will be updating each day's events routinely now, Lord willing, as well as going back in time to give you a detailed explanation of our brief stay in Amsterdam and Beijing. Jim has been taking A LOT of pictures, so we'll have to weed some out to create lovely slide shows to go along with each post. So, you see, you have much to look forward to!
Right now it is 9:19pm in Guangzhou and all three of the girls are asleep. We are preparing to be so as well. It's been a nice day, though we were up early (by the way...our bodies have adjusted quite well to the time change!) and spent three hours in a plane, and almost two hours on nice buses; we are ready to rest. We've been given the quick tour of Shaiman Island, visited Susan at Susan's Place, eaten some good American food (except for Jim!) at Lucy's, thoroughly unpacked, and finally sat down to catch up on emails and comments from you...so keep 'em coming!
I am going to resist the desire to stay up for many hours to type out post after post, because I need some sleep. In case you're not aware of the official itinerary, we are meeting in person for the first time, our daughter, Emmy Xiang! Can you believe it? The family sat around the supper table tonight sharing our thoughts on tomorrow. We simply feel like we're in some surreal dream. We can't believe we'll really know her tomorrow. Please pray for us, for her (she'll be taking a 5 hour drive to us tomorrow) and for that precious family from whom she'll be taken.
So I'll sign off now, reluctantly, but know that since our schedule slows down so much for the next week or two, we will be filling in the gaps...and most importantly, as soon as possible we will show you pictures of that daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin and friend we've all been waiting to see.
Much love to y'all....know that we are all extremely blessed,
Tammy and co.
Before I go any further, I'll just take a moment to assure you that we will be updating each day's events routinely now, Lord willing, as well as going back in time to give you a detailed explanation of our brief stay in Amsterdam and Beijing. Jim has been taking A LOT of pictures, so we'll have to weed some out to create lovely slide shows to go along with each post. So, you see, you have much to look forward to!
Right now it is 9:19pm in Guangzhou and all three of the girls are asleep. We are preparing to be so as well. It's been a nice day, though we were up early (by the way...our bodies have adjusted quite well to the time change!) and spent three hours in a plane, and almost two hours on nice buses; we are ready to rest. We've been given the quick tour of Shaiman Island, visited Susan at Susan's Place, eaten some good American food (except for Jim!) at Lucy's, thoroughly unpacked, and finally sat down to catch up on emails and comments from you...so keep 'em coming!
I am going to resist the desire to stay up for many hours to type out post after post, because I need some sleep. In case you're not aware of the official itinerary, we are meeting in person for the first time, our daughter, Emmy Xiang! Can you believe it? The family sat around the supper table tonight sharing our thoughts on tomorrow. We simply feel like we're in some surreal dream. We can't believe we'll really know her tomorrow. Please pray for us, for her (she'll be taking a 5 hour drive to us tomorrow) and for that precious family from whom she'll be taken.
So I'll sign off now, reluctantly, but know that since our schedule slows down so much for the next week or two, we will be filling in the gaps...and most importantly, as soon as possible we will show you pictures of that daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin and friend we've all been waiting to see.
Much love to y'all....know that we are all extremely blessed,
Tammy and co.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
The Great Wall of China
This is The Empress (aka Hannah) updating for the Brown family. Here are photos of the Great Wall of China!
Hopefully more photos to follow soon!
Friday, December 7, 2007
We made it!
We made it here to Beijing at 9:45ish am on Friday the 7th. All went well through customs and Pheobe, a sweet gal, met us at the airport. She gave us great news...we were going to the hotel...and we could get a shower. YEAH! Over 36 hours of traveling...and more of being "ready" had me feeling yucky!
On the trip, we stopped over in Amsterdam (in the late morning there) and booked a minibus tour of that city. Amazing...we saw a few windmills, visited a wooden shoe factory and saw the city. People and BICYCLES everywhere. The cars don't necessarily drive crazy down those narrow streets, but they certainly pay no mind to the bicycles and pedestrians, who also pay no mind to the cars and buses who they walk right in front of. It was fun...more later. Left Amsterdam EXHAUSTED...we even dozed a lot on that crazy bus tour.
When we got on the flight to Beijing we all slept great...even on the airplane. Jim and Tammy agree the food and service was great on KLM flight, the kids agree that the food was better on the NW flight. Hmmm....Then we arrived Beijing, mostly rested after a 9 hour flight.
We checked in our hotel, got settled and then met another couple from Phoenix and our guide Lisa to tour Tiannamen Square and the Forbidden City. That tour was AWESOME! I'll post pictures (hopefully) and tell all about it tonight, however, I only have a short 30 minutes on the computer to let all know that we're here and safe.
All is well, and I've only blown one outlet (and killed my curling brush iron...oh well), so we're ready for breakfast and a climb to see the Great Wall of China! Can't wait. We love all y'all very much. Keep praying, please. We've felt your prayers. The kids say hello to their friends.
Love, Tammy and company
On the trip, we stopped over in Amsterdam (in the late morning there) and booked a minibus tour of that city. Amazing...we saw a few windmills, visited a wooden shoe factory and saw the city. People and BICYCLES everywhere. The cars don't necessarily drive crazy down those narrow streets, but they certainly pay no mind to the bicycles and pedestrians, who also pay no mind to the cars and buses who they walk right in front of. It was fun...more later. Left Amsterdam EXHAUSTED...we even dozed a lot on that crazy bus tour.
When we got on the flight to Beijing we all slept great...even on the airplane. Jim and Tammy agree the food and service was great on KLM flight, the kids agree that the food was better on the NW flight. Hmmm....Then we arrived Beijing, mostly rested after a 9 hour flight.
We checked in our hotel, got settled and then met another couple from Phoenix and our guide Lisa to tour Tiannamen Square and the Forbidden City. That tour was AWESOME! I'll post pictures (hopefully) and tell all about it tonight, however, I only have a short 30 minutes on the computer to let all know that we're here and safe.
All is well, and I've only blown one outlet (and killed my curling brush iron...oh well), so we're ready for breakfast and a climb to see the Great Wall of China! Can't wait. We love all y'all very much. Keep praying, please. We've felt your prayers. The kids say hello to their friends.
Love, Tammy and company
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
"Do we have time to visit Graceland?"
Mammy here (new at blogging)......I am, as of this very moment, on the phone with Tammy.....
they made the flight to Memphis - albeit - two hours later than expected. Gracie says air travel is "THE WAY TO GO"!
Jim and Tammy say all is well in Memphis......Elvis is EVERYWHERE in the building. They are tired, but doing good...just waiting on the next leg of their journey. The Airlines gave them lots of food vouchers to use in any domestic airport, so Tammy and the girls have feasted and only spent 43 cents out of their pockets (isn't that information just SO Tammy?). Jim is looking forward to BBQ on "his voucher $'s" before boarding NW to Amsterdam in a few hours.
They would like to thank all of you for your continued prayers. Stay tuned..............
they made the flight to Memphis - albeit - two hours later than expected. Gracie says air travel is "THE WAY TO GO"!
Jim and Tammy say all is well in Memphis......Elvis is EVERYWHERE in the building. They are tired, but doing good...just waiting on the next leg of their journey. The Airlines gave them lots of food vouchers to use in any domestic airport, so Tammy and the girls have feasted and only spent 43 cents out of their pockets (isn't that information just SO Tammy?). Jim is looking forward to BBQ on "his voucher $'s" before boarding NW to Amsterdam in a few hours.
They would like to thank all of you for your continued prayers. Stay tuned..............
We're back......already?
3:30 am: Dad wakes up the children
4:15 am: Our pastor picks us up and drives us to the airport
4:30-5:30 am: Get tickets, eat, go through security, board
5:40 am: Find out the battery on plane is mostly-dead and will take 30 min. to charge
6:00 am: Battery not charging and Browns exit plane
6:10 am: Our airline begins trying to get a new flight
7:50 am: Browns exit airport with new itinerary
8:05 am: Arrive home, greet dog, wait...
This is a rough estimate of the Brown's morning. We are now scheduled to leave at 11:42 am. Our flight goes to Memphis then we go to Amsterdam (YES!!!!) and then finally arrive in Beijing, 12 hours later than originally scheduled.
We will post more later, just wanted to inform everyone of the new plans.
ElvenMaiden
PS At this point almost everyone feels like it is around 1:00pm and are ready for a nice nap!
PPS Keep praying, PLEASE!
4:15 am: Our pastor picks us up and drives us to the airport
4:30-5:30 am: Get tickets, eat, go through security, board
5:40 am: Find out the battery on plane is mostly-dead and will take 30 min. to charge
6:00 am: Battery not charging and Browns exit plane
6:10 am: Our airline begins trying to get a new flight
7:50 am: Browns exit airport with new itinerary
8:05 am: Arrive home, greet dog, wait...
This is a rough estimate of the Brown's morning. We are now scheduled to leave at 11:42 am. Our flight goes to Memphis then we go to Amsterdam (YES!!!!) and then finally arrive in Beijing, 12 hours later than originally scheduled.
We will post more later, just wanted to inform everyone of the new plans.
ElvenMaiden
PS At this point almost everyone feels like it is around 1:00pm and are ready for a nice nap!
PPS Keep praying, PLEASE!
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Tomorrow's the day
Well, we're packed and ready to go. Of course, Hank gets melancholy when we get out the suitcases. Poor Hanky! He'll perk up when he sees that he has house guests (thanks Kendra and Jessica!)
All we need now is rest...and LOTS of prayers.
Stay tuned...I so hope we can post and share our journey and pictures with you!
Thank you friends and dear family for your love and support.
WE'RE FINALLY GOING TO CHINA! YIKES!
Love,
Tammy and company
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