Hey All!
Well, it is back to me (Molly) doing a post...
A HUGE Thank you to Jeremy for being such an awesome brother, uncle, blogger, photographer, guide, map searcher, and more, on this adventure in China!
We're so thankful Jeremy was able to go with us on this journey...and so thankful he is back in MN with his family now! :)
SUNDAY:
On Sunday we went with the group of families, that are here at our hotel in Guangzhou, to do some shopping and sightseeing. It was a very fun and full morning!
It has been such a blessing to finish this journey along with others going through much of the same thing! There is a lot of understanding and encouragement among the group!
We did some shopping at a pearl and jade market, an embroidery store, shopping for "silks" (traditional Chinese attire for Zeke) and a tea shop.
We also visited a museum that used to be a home for the "Chen" family.
Here they did many artistic things.
We were able to purchase a scroll of Chinese calligraphy that says "Zeke Shuo - Gotcha day Dec. 15th, 2014 in Chinese characters. An artist was working there and did the calligraphy right there for us.
We also purchased a Sindelar family "chop"
The same man that did our calligraphy for Zeke, also did the carvings for the chops.
MONDAY:
Today was another big milestone in our adoption process of Zeke!
We had our consulate appointment! We had a paperwork meeting prior to today to gather all the documents we would need in order to be prepared for todays visit to the consulate!
Much thanks to our guide Aron for doing such a great job in organization!
Much thanks to our guide Aron for doing such a great job in organization!
Within 90 minutes of being at the consulate, we had our interview, fingerprinting, and oath complete! Once we cross the U.S. border...little Zeke Shuo will be a U.S. citizen!
Right now Zeke is still "Shuo Yang" That is the name he was given when he was found.
We have been told it means giant, bright, and also Yang, Shuo is a place...a place that is known as the most beautiful place. :) fun to learn all these things!
We are finished with all logistics to the adoption process! YIPPEE SKIPPEEEEE!
Tonight was a "pearl dinner cruise" here in Guangzhou...this was a time of eating together as a group, and seeing a few of the highlights of the city.
We now are preparing for leaving China and coming home on Christmas Eve!
We will be getting Zeke's visa tomorrow night (Tuesday) and will be headed to Guangzhou airport Wednesday morning at 9:30am. Our flight is at around 1pm to Beijing (3 1/2hrs). We have an hour and a half layover in Beijing (yikes!) and have our flight to Seattle from there (approx. 12 hrs)!
We are set to arrive in Seattle at 1pm on Christmas Eve (yay for gaining time on our flight back!)
We want to extend an invite, to anyone that is in WA and would like, to come to our homecoming at the airport! We understand that it is Christmas Eve....please know there is NO pressure to come...we just appreciate and love all the support you have shown and are so thankful for how many of you have been a part of this journey. We are so happy to share our homecoming to the airport with you!
We will be greeting family first, then saying hello to friends. We won't be spending a lot of time catching up, and may not get to chat with everyone...it is more of an introduction of Zeke to home and are happy to have you witness that if you'd like! :) Like I said, we arrive at 1pm in Seattle...we will have to go through immigration and customs prior to being able to come out into the baggage claim area...so don't arrive earlier than 1:30/45...and you may be waiting a bit for us. We cannot guarantee a time :)
**Disclaimer ;) We want to ask that you do not come to the airport if you or your kiddos are sick or getting over being sick...We are so physically and emotionally worn...our immune systems are not up to par...so we want to avoid sickness as much as possible with just getting home .
**Disclaimer ;) We want to ask that you do not come to the airport if you or your kiddos are sick or getting over being sick...We are so physically and emotionally worn...our immune systems are not up to par...so we want to avoid sickness as much as possible with just getting home .
Please do not think we do not want to see you....we are just trying to be our best with what is ahead in our "new" home with Zeke! :)
Once we are home...we will be just that...home...hibernating for a bit while we work on bonding and getting Zeke more used to us and his new home. We won't be seeing folks for a bit while we do this. Believe us...we cannot wait to introduce Zeke to any and all of you someday, but are needing to take things a day at a time for our little guy.
Thank you so much for loving on us, supporting us, encouraging us...we are forever grateful!!
We appreciate prayers for safe, on time flights and for Zeke to feel calm with flying...perhaps I should say Justin and I for the calmness and patience! We have an active little man! :)
Love, Justin, Molly, and Zeke Shuo!
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