Leavin' on a jet plane...

**I had intentions all day of posting the basic outline of our trip. But "last minute details" took over and I never got around to it. I'm exhausted and the alarm at 3 am is going to come much too quickly, so here's a slightly edited email that I sent to family and travel buddies earlier today. Hope to post more from the other side of the world! Several backup plans are in place, including an alternative blog that I'll get posted here one way or another if I can't get here.**

After what seemed like an eternity, our journey to Darcy is finally here! Our suitcases are zipped and Ian is loading them into the van as I type.

This time tomorrow we'll be almost to Shanghai. Ian, Kylie, Caleb and I will spend two days catching the city sights (on our own) and perhaps more importantly, getting on the local time zone.

Friday afternoon we will transfer via hired mini-van with driver ~ we were advised against the train during CNY ~ to Hangzhou.

Then on Saturday morning (the 20th ~ but actually Friday night EST time) we will finally meet our Darcy Qingyou! It ended up working out that we will meet her 11 months to the day from when her referral file entered my inbox. I still remember so clearly the "jolt" when I saw her face clearly for the first time.

Here she is in the picture I first saw and fell in love with.

The Chinese side of the adoption process will take place Saturday through Wednesday there in her province (Zhejiang) and we'll have time to do some sightseeing in and around the provincial capital (Hangzhou, also the city Darcy currently lives in) which is supposed to be a beautiful city.

Wednesday night (the 24th) we'll fly to Guangzhou to begin the American side (medical exam, TB testing, vaccinations, immigrant visa processing). We finish up there late in the afternoon on Wednesday March 3rd and will begin our journey home early on the morning of the 4th.

Darcy will officially become a US citizen when we land in Chicago, and after customs, we'll board a flight back to NC where we're scheduled to land here in our city some 25 hours after our first flight begins. Just thinking about that makes me REALLY tired. I have to say that the trip home is what I'm looking forward to the least. Ian and I will be on "zone defense" instead of man to man AND there is the pesky problem of all the luggage to get through customs...

We know that many of you will be praying for us, and if you would like a few specifics of things to pray about (this is NOT an exhaustive list ~ my brain is somewhat unfocused due to extreme fatigue right now):
Health for all of us.
That Darcy will find comfort in either Ian or I and will not be frightened of her new surroundings.
That we will have safe, uneventful flights.
For Kylie and Caleb as they adjust to sharing Mommy and Daddy with a new sibling.
That we successfully navigate getting ourselves to our hotel in Shanghai.
There's so much more, but naptime is coming to an end and there is still much to do...

I hope to be able to post daily (or at least every other day depending on how tired I am) to our blog. I have a few other back up plans if we are unable to access fireworks and fireflies. We will be able to read our comments, and you have no idea how much it means to read them thousands of miles from home. Plus Darcy will be able to read them some day, so if you have a minute, or if something strikes you as you read it, please let us know that you were reading!

We love you all and can't wait to introduce Darcy (and still Caleb to some of you) to you after we get home and feel that she is settled!

Much love,
The M_____ FIVE