Last day... can't wait to get home!

Yesterday we left Guangzhou around 4pm, traveled to the train station and got on the 5:30 train to Hong Kong and arrived around 7:30pm.  Somehow we managed to wrangle our luggage through the train station, through security multiple times (I think they scanned our bags three times yesterday) and on and off the train.  We're staying at the Sky City Marriott next to the airport. We had to wait to fly out until Saturday so we had to find something to do in Hong Kong today.  We debated going into the downtown area but everything in Hong Kong is so far from the airport and so expensive to get around.  So, we took the hotel shuttle to Hong Kong Disney and I used some of my reward dollars and we went to see Mickey Mouse.  We fully recognize this was not a day for Luke since he really is too young to enjoy it but the rest of us really enjoyed having a little fun and letting off some steam after a challenging two weeks.  Hong Kong Disney is the smallest of the Disney parks in the world and easy to get through the place in a day.  We spent about 6 hours there before we called it quits. 

We were reflecting at dinner tonight how crazy this whole adoption process is... who would want to spend almost two years working on paperwork, then travel to pick up a child you don't know and know so very little about, and have him/her scream and hit you for a few weeks and all the challenges that come along with raising a child whose had an early traumatic life. Like seriously... when you spend some time thinking about it... it's just nuts!   My selfish self thinks I'm crazy to do this.  It really is a divine sort of love that has driven me to take on this journey.  It is not easy... but then those things that are most worth it, are never easy.  Adoption is really a beautiful picture of how God pursues us... even when we fight him and reject him...  He still pursues us and adopts us into his family.  As I shared earlier on, this process of bonding with Luke was much harder than with Rachel.  I have struggled a lot with him but we've come a long way in two weeks.  I look back now and can't believe I was second guessing myself and why I was here.  This young boy is worth every hour spent on paperwork, every dollar spent to get here and every tear shed.  When I talked with Rachel this week and saw my beautiful girl and was reminded how far she has come in every area since we adopted her, I was reminded again why we do this.  I encourage you to consider opening your heart to adopting a child.  It's not easy in any respect so know it is a labor of love... but these precious kids whose circumstances have left them orphaned, deserve a mom and dad who will love them, guide them and care for them.  

I can't finish off my China adventure blog without saying how much I appreciate Priscilla for coming along with me and taking almost three weeks off of work to be here with me.  This is not a vacation.  This was a hard trip full of emotions and sacrifice and downtime.  Our agency requires us to have two adults travel with you because it's not easy and I was reminded again how important it was to have another adult.  I could not have done this without her.  I especially appreciate her humor... she had me laughing until I was crying much of the time.  Good friends are hard to find... she's such a blessing! 

Tomorrow we leave for the airport at 7am and board a 10:30 direct flight home to Newark.  Praying for a safe flight and no delays.  Here's a few shots from the last few days.... next post we will be home!!  Can't wait!

Luke made himself a seat out of Abigail's backpack on the floor of the train to Hong Kong.

We did get a lot of smiles out of Luke today... he especially loved the fountain that responded to music.

Main Street, USA (they said... if only)

On the train around the park... he fell asleep two minutes after the train started.

Luke got really excited to see Daisy Duck!  

Had to go shirtless at dinner... need these clothes to go home in tomorrow... totally out of clean clothes!!!