Saturday AM in Hong Kong

We've just finished breakfast and I'm sitting here waiting for my family to get on Skype before we take off for the day. I'm also waiting for my hair to dry... literally. The humidity is 70% here. I washed out my capri's in the sink yesterday... the nylon little excersize ones... that should dry quickly... still drenched!

It's about 8:30 AM here and we have plans to take the Star Ferry to the Hong Kong side and ride the tram up Victoria's Peak. There's also HK Park and a Botanical Garden right there, so I hope to get lots of pretty pictures. However, if you look at HK on the weather map, there's a big red swirl over it!

Last night we just stayed in and ordered room service... fish for Jack and I had amazing Macaroni Cabonara. The ice-cream was wonderful, probably the best I'd ever had... but the chocolate brownie was deceiving! This moringin we had eggs, sausage, hashbrowns and waffles! VERY GOOD! Lunch today will have to be out though... so cross your fingers!

I thought I'd go ahead and fill you in on the people we met from our agency! I noticed Sarah W. is following along - HI SARAH! So I wanted her to read this especially! While we were boarding the plane in MN, I noticed a guy coming down the isle with a name tag on that said CHSFS so I grabbed him and introduced ourselves. He was taking a group of Korean adoptees on a hertiage tour. We visited for a while and he was so kind. We kept running into him and when we were in Japan he offered to let us stay with his group so we weren't all alone trying to find our way around. Again... very kind! We went on, but as we were in line checking into our hotel, we were visiting with a guy from Austin Texas. He was on his way to Vietnam to visit his brother who was becoming a priest. I told him the reason for our trip and a lady behind me grabbed me and said "I heard about you!" She was with the CHSFS group, she's the head of the Korean program and was going on the heritage tour as well. We visited with her for a long time and the guy again as well. I didn't even realize they had all come to the same hotel and were behind us. Anyway, the entire group gave us their well wishes. We seen the gentleman from the plane the next morning as we were waiting for the shuttle for the airport. It was just really cool to see people from our agency, and even though they had nothing to do with our trip, or the delay, they were willing to take care of us!
I better go... rain looks like it's on the way and I really want to see some stuff today!
More later..... JMS

We've made it to Hong Kong!

So! I don't even know where to start! You have to know... we don't travel! We went to the Bahama's 3 times, but that was 16 years ago and we were with a large group. For us to take off on our own and make this trip is so out of our league.
We left KCI and made it to Minneapolis in plenty of time. We thought we better go find our connecting flight first and that turned out to be a very good idea! That was our first eye opener that we're not in Missouri anymore! They began announcing (in broken English) something about a volcano errupting in Carrille (?) near Russia and all Asia bound flights were being re-routed. I don't know how we were planning to go originally, but now we had to stop in Portland for about 50 minutes to re-fuel. This was making everyone possibly miss their connecting flights. They thought they may delay some of those, but of course... we got in Japan about 8PM last night. Our flight was scheduled for 6:40. God bless all those ladies on RQ who recommended an extra set of clothes in the carry on! The airline put us up in a hotel and rescheduled our flight to Hong Kong. We were about 2 hours going through immigration, customs and getting the new flight information. Then we ended up on the wrong bus to our hotel... it actually went to another. It's 10 PM and we're at the wrong hotel and the shuttle bus driver speaks no English.
This very kind lady with the most adorable baby sort of translated for us. They called a taxi to come and get us, but the taxi did accept US$$. So we were headed for the hotel to exchange money when the taxi pulled up and they lady said "I'll pay for it..." And she did. We couldn't convince her otherwise. She paid the driver and gave him our destination info. As we were getting in the taxi, we gave her $20 US... she tried to refuse but we insisted. I pray it was more than enough. I still haven't got my caculator out and checked it.
So we rode the shutle back to the Japan airport this AM got all checked in and headed to McDonalds. First let me tell you, our choices for dinner on the plane were chicken and beef. I had mine and Jack's hot roll! So I'm simply starving this AM!!! It was so late there was nothing open in the hotel last night when we got there and we just crashed anyway. So McDonalds! We had exchanged US $ into Yen and found the McDonalds. It was glorious! I NEVER thougth I'd find McDonalds glorious, but it was! We met another American there and he sat down beside us. He was headed somewhere on business, but we enjoyed our chat with him. Our flight from Japan to HK was about 45 minutes late because someone on the plane was sick and had to get off. So anyway! We've arrived in Hong Kong!
We left KCI at 12:20 Wednesday and we arrived in Hong Kong about 3PM on Friday. Oh, and apparently I can't sleep on a plane. I tried. I tried so hard to be still, close my eyes, and go to sleep, but I just couldn't. So we got a few hours in Japan last night, but had to be about 5 AM to get ready and ride shuttle back to the airport. So if this post is a little mixed up that's why. But I didn't want to wait to write it!
Another time, I will tell you about the people on the plane from our adoption agency! It was way cool! But my King size bed is calling me for a nap... Jack is already there!
Eternally His and Grateful! JMS

Zai Jian

Well - We're off! Jia here we come! Tomarrow (Wednesday) - we leave KCI at 12:20ish and we'll get to Hong Kong on Thursday night at 10:30ish! LONG FLIGHT!!!
Then we stay in Hong Kong until Sunday when we travel onto Guangzhou. On Monday, June 22nd we'll meet Jia in the afternoon! The next week will be filled with paperwork, paperwork and paperwork! Oh, throw in a medical exam, a bit of sightseeing and a LOT of shopping! On July 1st we'll take an Oath at the American Consulate office and pick up Jia's Visa. Then July 2nd is back to Hong Kong and all day July 3rd is travelling home! We leave HK at a bit after 8 AM and arrive in KC at 5:10 PM. Don't forget to figure in the 13 hours time difference though!
Can someone please make sure there's fresh milk in the 'fridge and oreo's a plenty at my house on Friday July 3rd. I have had oreo's and milk everynight before bed since... well, like high school. Can't sleep without them. I know that's the first thing I'm going to want, even more so than my bed!
The boys are staying at my mom and dad's while we're gone. They will be missed terribly.
It has been so crazy here though, I'm really looking forward to the long flight!
Before I go, I wanted to share about the 'surprise' party that Jadeth threw for us Sunday night. Actually, let me back up... Sunday was one of the best days ever for Jack and I. Church was just awesome and at the end, Pastor Randy called Jack and I up front and many come up and prayed for us. It was so wonderful. Then at 2PM was Run To The Cross! From our church to the large Cross East of Trenton is exactly 3 miles. Some ran, some walked and some were crawling, but soooooo many participated and made it to the Cross. You have to see the humongous hill that we had to go up to get to the Cross to really appreciate the run. The one who finished first made it in 22 minutes!
Then at 5PM we had church services at the Cross! It was so great! There were so many people and so many that sang, just a fabulous, fabulous time!
At 7PM was our 'surprise' party. I say 'surprise' because Jadeth spilled the beans, but we pretended to be surprised! Anyway, many of our family and friends came to wish us safe travels. We roasted hot dogs at our firepit and had homemade ice-cream! It was so wonderful and we were so proud of Jadeth to put it together and even purchase all the food on his own! Thanks Jadeth.... we love you! Still waiting to hear the toast!
Well, before I sign off.... here's a little slice of Heaven for you!

Jiana Ellan QiuWen Stotts!

4th of July Dress

I mentioned last night that I was hoping to make Jia a dress for the 4th of July!

I got that done! Check!

It's another pillowcase dress. These are pretty easy and I'm getting better at them.

Wah Lah!

Now back to this....! LOL!

JUST ONE MORE SLEEP!!!!!

Lengthy Update!

Here's what I've been up to! 2 sleeps and a wake!

Last week my mom and I made a new fountain for my yard. I had one like this, only covered in river rock.

Unfortunately, it sits near by the basketball goal and had been hit so many times most of the rocks were falling off. So when I decided to make a new one, I wanted to try something different.

We had a lot of fun going through the thrift store looking for glass to break!

Saturday night Jack and I skipped Covenant Couples and planned to go racing. About 2 they called the races off because the pits were too muddy. Since we didn't have arrangements for a sitter so we could go to CC, we decided to celebrate one last time as a family of 5. We ended up going bowling and getting a pizza.

It was a really great evening and one we all enjoyed!

Jory showing off his teeth... or lack thereof!

He wanted to sit in Jia's new carseat on the way to the bowling alley!

Here's the latest dress I've made for Miss Jia. It's the pillowcase style.

And as if I don't have enough to do already... I bought red,white and blue fabric to make another one before we leave, hopefully! Since we get home July 3rd, I thought she needed something special for the 4th! I haven't been able to find anything I just love and for what an outfit costs, I could just by fabric and make something I love... So that's my hope!

Okay... Here's just a small, small portion of the clothes I've bought over the last 3 years. These are some of my favorites! Enjoy!

She's going to have to change 3 times a day to get the chance to wear everything I've collected for her!

New Flower Pot

This is the story of my new flower pot....

A couple of weeks ago, Jack raced at Winston Speedway for the first time this season. I believe the story goes... he was passing for 1st in his heat race and the motor blew up!

Here's a picture of this years car.

This is a couple of days later, Jack has all the motor parts laid out before him, examining the damage!

What's those round things called? Ummm... I'm not sure but this is what their supposed to look like.

Here's one from the motor...

And yet another one... Oh, they're pistons! I just asked Jack!

Anyhoo, they're not supposed to be all chewed up like this! :-)

And this is called a 'cam' (?) It's supposed to be one piece, not two!

The block is also ruined and chewed up and while he was working on it in the garage, I got to eyeing it and thought it would make a fabulous flower pot! I think it would be sort of ironic, his dirty, icky, blown up motor... with my pretty, dainty and girly flowers planted in it! The perfect example of the 2 of us! LOL!

So that's the plan! When we return from China, we're going to put the motor block in front of the garage and I'm going to plant flowers in it! That will be another post!

Now just to let you all know... any avid racer has a spare! So Jack was back on the track this last weekend and got 4th in the feature! Yeah! Not bad for an actual first feature race this year! He's racing this Saturday and I'm skipping Covenant Couples to go cheer him on! Then he'll have to set out a couple of weeks while we're in China. We return July 3rd and of course there's a big race for the 4th of July. Will Jack be there? Stay tuned.....