We survived!

We made it! 3 flights, 2 connections, and 19 hours in the air, and we survived!  And, all with a 4 and 5 year old in tow.  Maybe it was the arsenal of electronics we carried onboard: 2 I-pads, 1 Kindle, 3 phones, and a portable DVD player.  There was one point where Levi was watching Lego movie on the I pad while playing Angry Birds on the I Phone....I mean talk about every boy's dream!

I won't lie. It was exhausting. About 11 hours into the second flight, I got a little discouraged thinking about the next leg of the journey.  Once in Beijing, we had to get off the plane, clear immigration, claim our luggage, proceed through customs, transfer to the domestic terminal, recheck our bags, clear security, and make it to our gate for flight #3.  All in two hours and at 2am our time.  But, our kids were total troopers and made the long haul with excitement and great attitudes.

Now, it's 6am here in China.  After a few hours of sleep in our hotel, we are all awake watching movies and binging on Wheat Thins and Chips Ahoy.   Aahhhh, the good life!  We meet Zeke tomorrow!

Packing

This picture just about sums it up.  PACKING....ugh.

I hate packing. It stresses me out!   I procrastinated as long as I could, but I knew the time had come to get busy.  So, I dropped the kids off at Mimi's and got to work.  Zeke is packed, the kids are packed, and I'm almost there.  I (politely) told Adam he was on his own!  So tonight, he threw a few shorts and T shirts in the bag and called it a day.

China here we come, and whatever I forgot, we'll just buy there!

Getting close!

We recently sent a care package to Zeke which included a cake, stuffed animal, and a picture album of our family.  And, we were blessed with some new pictures and videos of Zeke opening the package.  I think he is just about the most handsome thing ever!

You may notice the sling on his right arm.  The orphanage informed us that Zeke fell and broke his arm but that he is receiving proper medical care for it, and his arm is on the mend.   Our family has been praying that the Lord heals Zeke's  body and prepares his little heart for the big transition coming his way.  The name Ezekiel means "the Lord strengthens" and this is our prayer for our son.

So, the countdown is on.  We leave for China on October 30th, and Gotcha Day is November 2nd!

Introducing Zeke!

Drum practice at Korea Camp

Our family recently attended Korea Camp, a heritage camp for Korean adoptees and their families.   Imagine walking into a room with over 150 Asian adoptees.   For me, this experience is profound. When I walk into that room, my heart begins to soar, and I feel a deep stirring in my soul.  I'm brought to tears by the smiles and the laughter of the kids.  I feel close to my Heavenly Father.

So, why is my reaction so powerful and emotional?  Because that is the way the Creator wired me.  He embedded deep into my heart a love of adoption.  He gave me a passion for an area of the world I have only visited a handful of times, and He gave me a husband that shares this passion.

As many of you know, our most recent experience with adoption was devastating and heartbreaking. We needed time to grieve and regroup.  But even as difficult as that journey was, it didn't change our love for adoption or our desire to grow our family through adoption.  And so, we press on......

I would like to introduce you to our son, Ezekiel Mufeng Williams!

Zeke is 2 years old living in an orphanage in the Guangdong province of China. and we can't wait to meet him!   We are hoping to travel to China in late October to bring Zeke home.  And when I say "we", I mean our whole family will travel together!  Adam and I may have completely lost our minds thinking we can travel internationally with three little ones who are age 5 and under, but if nothing else, it will make for some good stories, right?  :)

We feel blessed to have such a supportive family, friends, and church community, and we ask that you pray for our family as we welcome home our son Zeke.