Well our schedule is set and we will leave for China on Feb.13th. and we will meet Sebastian on Monday, the 18th. It seems very sureal to finally be at this point. I have an amazing testimony of Faith that has just come to light this past week. As many of you know, we have endured one delay after another with this adoption, in fact it was so frustrating at times, I felt that if this had been our first adoption, I wouldn't have gone through a second. But through all the frustrations and delays, I kept repeating that God's timing is perfect and we will meet Sebastian when God wants us to meet him. Trust in God's timing it is always perfect! I really do believe that, but sometimes, it is so hard to understand. Well this past week I finally understood all the delays.

If we had traveled when I wanted and thought we should travel, we would have been stuck in the horrible storms that have shut down China this past week. We would have been stranded in our Hotel with no power, no supplies and no way to get home. There are literally tens of thousands of people stranded all over china, in railroad stations, with no food, no water and no electricity, right at the busiest travel time of the year for the Chinese; the chinese new year. I am truly grateful that God does indeed know best. We will meet Sebastian when we are supposed to meet him.

We will leave Chicago on 2/13 and tour Beijing for two days with Nikki and Annie. On Sunday, we will fly to Kunming where Sebastian is living . We will meet Sebastian on Monday morning and finalize the adoption on Tuesday. On Wednesday we will visit the orphanage. If Sebastian's adjustment isn't going very well, or he is having a hard time, one of us will stay back at the hotel with him. On Thursday we are scheduled to visit the Stone Forest, and on Friday we are going to visit the Minority Village. I'm told it is alot like Epcot at Disney World, except it showcases all the monority tribes from the area.
Kunming is called "The Eternal Spring City" in China and is supposed to be just beautiful all year. On Satuday we are leaving Kunming and flying to Guangzhou. All Americans must exit through Guangzhou because this is where the U.S. Consulate is located and where Sebastian will have his swearing in ceremony, his final medical exam and receive his exit visa to enter the United States. Once he clears customs in Chicago, he will become a U.S. citizen.

While we are in Guangzhou, we are having a birthday party for Sebastian with our travel mates. This will be his first Birthday party. I just recently learned that Sebastian doesn't know when his birthday is and has never had a birthday celebration. No child should have to go six years without someone saying Happy Birthday and celebrating the day. From now on there will always be someone to say "Happy Birthday Sebastian, we love you".

I hope you enjoy following us on this wacky road to China. It promises to be nothing if not interesting. Just managing the language barrier with Sebastian will be amusing I'm sure.

Stayed tuned....and we'll see ya in Beijing!
Michele