China here we come!

So the mad dash has begun. Off to Beijing, Zhengzhou, and Guangzhou in 10 days! A journey in the making since God laid it on our hearts over 10 years ago. A process we officially began in June of 2012. As I sit here and think about the process I am absolutely amazed, astonished to the point of pinching myself at times, that we are 2 weeks away from holding our beautiful, Ella. I mean over the last few weeks I have "blogged" myself out by reading packing lists, things to do, and things not to do when traveling to China for adoption. So many things to pack yet we can only travel with 40 lbs. once in China.

Why a precious one from China?  If you know me well, you know that I have always had a fascination with Asian culture and people. And to be brutally honest, I don't understand how the sex of a child determines the value of a child. My heart hurts to even think that a child is less valuable to a culture because they are born a girl. A woman is invaluable if you ask me as humankind would have ended without her!

So today after talking with another woman that is also adopting from China, I thought maybe I should record this journey in a blog after she asked if I had one. Hopefully, I can have some time in China to post as I have read mixed reviews about internet access.

Here is the last picture we received from the Xinyang Children's Welfare Institute in Henan province of our daughter.