Although I will miss our time here in China I am ready to come home to begin our new life as a family of five. I'm afraid our house is not ready for this curious, mischevious, silly little two year old that we call YouYou. We will need to do some serious "YouYou" proofing when we get home! I can't wait to see her with the rest of our family and friends. We will need to spend some time at home "just as a family" for awhile but pretty soon you will be able to get to know her sweet personality just like we are discovering it each day. We would love to see any of you at the airport LATE on Thursday night if you are up to it :) If not, just give us a call and hopefully you can come by for a short visit soon after we get home.
As for the flight details, we are arriving into Newark on flight CO98 from Hong Kong. I don't have the flight details of the one into Birmingham, except to tell you it is the flight that arrives at 10:25 pm from Newark (Melisa, maybe you can share that on the blog if you have it?)
Tomorrow we go to the Botanical Gardens in the morning and then get packed up to go to our swearing in ceremony and straight from there to the train to go to Hong Kong. We leave HK Thursday morning and arrive Thursday night (but the flight is a lot longer than that sounds :)
Thank you again for your prayers and encouraging words!!!! Love, hugs, and enjoy these few pictures...
ya!!! U guys are about to come home!!!!! I cant wait to meet u guys at the airport!!!! We already have everything ready to go!!!! Oh and by the way Erica I am a certified babysitter now!!!!!!! With my card and everything else!!!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see your WHOLE family. I know that we'll be able to hear the welcoming party at the airport all the way up here! I'll pray that everyone does well on the plane ride back (children and adults). It will be the longest day of your life! but also one of the happiest, bringing your daughter home. It will be hard to stay away and let all of you get used to being back home. Let us know what we can do to help without getting in the way.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Mi
I know y'all will miss China when you get home, but I'm sure the word home sounds absolutely wonderful right now! We miss you guys! Love y'all!
ReplyDeleteElise
Hey Big Aaron, I was just going to let you know that I would definately not mind coaching both teams on Saturday if you still do not feel well or if you are just tired........ My dad will b out of town!!! Just let me know!!! Love you guys!!!
ReplyDeleteWow! What an awesome time for your family! We miss you so much but we are thrilled that God has given you this adventure and this precious gift.
ReplyDeleteI echo what Michelle said above. We can't wait to see ALL of you, but we understand you'll need your time and space. Let us know what to do and when. Know that we are continually praying for you.
See you at home!
Love,
Mary
Everyone - Here is the flight information.
ReplyDeleteThu, Jan 22:
CONTINENTAL AIRLINES, CO 0098
From: HONG KONG, HONG KONG S A R (HKG) Departs: 11:25am
To: NEWARK, NJ (EWR)
Arrives: 1:50pm
Thu, Jan 22:
CONTINENTAL AIRLINES, CO 2756
From: NEWARK, NJ (EWR)
Departs: 8:30pm
To: BIRMINGHAM AL, AL (BHM)
Arrives: 10:25pm
They will be leaving Hong Kong at 9:25 PM Central Time on (our) Wednesday. It will take them 25 hours to get home. Please continue to keep them in your prayers.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteYou don't know me, I am a friend of Lillie Johnson's. My name is Ginger. We adopted a little girl last year in Oct 2007. We are going back for our son in March. You're blog brings back so many memories and brought tears to my eyes, remembering what it was like when they handed my daughter to me! I cannot wait to hold my son. I pray that all will continue to go peacefully for you and that your plane ride home will be quiet and fun!
In Christ,
Ginger Hales
PS: you can look me up on facebook.
Oh mercy, 25 hours. Yes, I remember it well. We loved Continental, though. And listen to this! We had the same stewardesses coming home that we had going to China, and they got to meet Candace. They said that is such a rarity and were so excited to see the end (really beginning) of our journey. Praying you all home safe and sound and HEALTHY, Erica!
ReplyDeleteThe fun continues! Hopefully we will see you at the airport!!!!!!!!!! And yes, take PLENTY of family time...just the family. That is SO important. Your sweet friends and family are so wise to give you that time for a few weeks.
Last night I had a dream about yall coming home. Everything went well, and for some reason in my dream I was waiting on yall at your house, and your house was like a villa in some tropical place. It was really weird! And there were TONS of people at your villa, waiting on yall! And You You, when I saw her in person was so much tinier than I imagined...I wonder if it will be like that Thurs. night! Anyway, obviously yall are on my heart and mind a TON! And if you really own a villa, then I'm jealous! ;)
Love all the updates, I've felt like I've been right there every step! Thank you SO much for allowing us the privilege of sharing this special time...
I love you dear friend!
Laine
Thank you for allowing me to share your journey to get your darling little YouYou. I think she gets prettier with each picture.She is a DOLL! Can't wait to meet her. I know you all will be so happy to get home and get settled in. Lots of changes,yes, but wonderful changes-months and months of anticipation and dreams coming to pass. GOD IS GOOD-ALL THE TIME!
ReplyDeleteLove you all,
Faye
Hey guys!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this update. I have so much enjoyed these past 2 weeks. Your blog has been the highlight of my mornings!! I look forward to talking with you when you get home.
I will be praying as you travel home. 25 hours, oh me.
I love you!!!
PS. We wont be at the airport. We are going to get away for a few days since this is our 1 year anniversary of Sophie's birth and death.
ReplyDeleteI will be thinking of you...I will email you too. we will have our computer with us.
love you,
aimee
Get your booties back on our side of the world please!!! HAHA! I am just trying to be silly! I am praying for a very smooth trip home. I can't wait to hear your voice on American soil! YouYou is going to LOVE her new room. It will be so nice for you all to get settled in. Call as soon as you can...even if that means two weeks from now! I LOVE YOU!!!
ReplyDeleteMessages for Carter and Jackson---
ReplyDeleteFrom Avery: I hope you like Clara. She is very cute. She has cute outfits. I can't wait to see you when you get home. Avery
From Grant: I hope you are coming home so I can play with you everyday. Your sister is cute.
SUPER GLAD YOU ARE COMING HOME. WILL PRAY FOR SAFE AND SLEEPY TRAVEL FOR ALL. WE LOVE YOU ALL VERY MUCH!!!
TATUM
Hey Guys!!! We'll be praying for your safe travels and arrival back home in the US!! Can't wait to hear all about everything and meet little YouYou!
ReplyDeleteLove,
The Crane's
Erica-- I will be thinking of you on the flight home. I hope Aaron is better now and I will pray that your children are able to handle the long flight. I am surprised you want a whole crowd at the airport-- of course everyone can't wait to meet Clara You You, but I am cranky after a long long long trip and not up for visitors. So kudos to you! I wish we could visit you in the layover in NJ because by then I'm sure you'll want to see some fresh faces!
ReplyDeleteWelcome back home! You survived the journey and don't have to get on a plane again for AGES! Hooray!
Blessings to you and you all-- chris f