First Pics off the Camera

Wanted to just share a little update. We are waiting to leave for our Great Wall your, I thought I'd pull a few pics.

Here is the stash that is going to get us through the next two+ weeks. I was pretty impressed because our big bags are at the appropriate weight for China in country travel. Also, we only checked the two large bags. We were able to carry everything else with us on the plane. We didn't even need a checked bag for Hope. So, this time we are definitely more efficient with our packing.



Here are a couple more pictures of our departure. Thanks again for the ride Grandma and Grandpa!









We were up at our usual time this morning of 5:30. YIKES! We are probably going to crash hard tonight after our tour. We wanted to go out to a market this morning to buy some water to have in our room, but nothing is open until 9:30 or later so I guess we'll have to figure it out when we get back. We did manage to find a geocache though. :) (GC2KQWP "Close to the Silk Market")


Also on our walk we saw these flowers. Guesses?


One last smile from the lobby of the Jinglun Hotel


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Goodbye Seattle, Hello Beijing!!!

Goodbye Seattle - You're beautiful from up here!


We left Seattle on time without a hitch. Our flight isn't very full at all. There are many many available seats. We are all very comfortable. Ron especially is counting his blessings for the extra leg room economy comfort provides.

(Side note: We're over Canada. Hope Has already finished some
M&M's and peanuts. She has her blanket and pillow and has declared it time to sleep. However, she just peeked out her window and asked if we are in China yet.) HA!

Yes, we decided for the long leg of our travel today to pay a bit extra and bump our seats a bit. Five years ago we were crammed on a very full plane. I was in a middle seat and Ron was on the aisle. Poor Ron also had a stash of life vests under his seat so he couldn't move at all. We are now stretched out with Hope and me on the left side of the plane and Ron across the aisle in the center. He has two empty seats next to him. He can't hardly believe it. It is definitely a different trip this time. *smile*


~~~~~


It's 12:45 am on Thursday. We've made it to our room. Our long flight was fairly uneventful. Hope was even able to stretch out and sleep in the seats next to Ron. We need to find a secret to equalizing the ear pressure for Hope when we land. Gum and yawning isn't doing the trick and she says it hurts. Let us know if there is something else we should try.

Everything went smoothly getting off the plane and meeting our nice driver. The plan is that tomorrow we see the Great Wall.

Night All

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Our Plane

This one is ours. Gate S1


We're ready. Just need it to be 8:25 now. Ron and Hope just left for a stroll around the terminal so I'm giving post number two a shot from my phone. Hope everyone has a good sleep tonight at home. When you wake up in the morning we'll be half way to Beijing. Thank you so much for all the prayers and for keeping us close in your thoughts. We are blessed. Continued prayers for good health, rest, and uneventful travels would be wonderful. God bless!

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Now Boarding

We are seated comfortably waaaay back in Row 43. Thank you to the wonderful woman traveling alone who was willing to switch seats so the three of us can sit together.


Excited passenger. Ready for takeoff.


Goodbye MSP. See you in Seattle.



Well, Hope's first flight was a success she slept for a couple hours after the excitement of takeoff. She woke up with time for a hearty pretzel/peanut snack and then some more window gazing at the beautiful sights of WA as we descended.


74 and Sunny in Seattle

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Updated Pictures of Luke

Since we're leaving tomorrow I thought it might be nice for everyone to catch a glimpse of the cute little man we're going to be holding in our arms in a week!

When we sent our first care package at the end of April I was disappointed not to receive any kind of update.  We had rushed to get the package coordinated and sent in time for Luke's birthday and had really hoped for a picture from his party.  I was eventually able to send an email directly to the orphanage director because a nice woman from one of my Yahoo groups had an address to share.  This is what I received a couple days later:

I'm so happy they organized a little party for him!

Looks like, in true Heutmaker fashion, Luke really experienced his food.  ;)  Notice the little bits of frosting everywhere.  You can't see it in this picture, but there is a big blob of frosting squished into the sole of his left shoe, too.

It was amazing to receive these pictures!  When all we'd had to prior to these was Luke's referral pictures (which we think was taken at about 6m.), it was quite a shock to see our little boy so grown up.  Oh how I can't wait to pinch those cheeks.

While we were waiting and praying for this update, we prepared a second care package.  We decided to send this one on our own through USPS.  You can read about both care packages in earlier posts here and here.  Well, this package arrived safely and we were blessed with photos again.  It appears that these may have been taken on 6/4/12 which was Hope's 5 yr. GOTCHA anniversary.  :)

Here you can see Luke wearing one of the outfits we sent.  I think it is safe to say that 12m clothes are TOO SMALL!  You can also see the photo albums from both care packages, books, toys, blanket, etc.

It makes my heart so happy to see Luke engaged and active with all of the toys.  I hope he's had many hours of fun and that he's shared well with all his friends there at the SWI.

I was a little bummed because we didn't get any clear pictures really of Luke's face, happy, smiling...etc.  (Just a Mama's heart wanting her little boy to be happy.)  Hopefully we'll get to see his joyful spirit shine in person very soon.  I'll close with my favorite picture received from the first update.

"Hmmm....So this is my sister?"  How much more lucky could a little boy be?

Current Stats:

Height - 72.5 cm

Weight - 9.5 kg

Chest - 49 cm

Head - 46 cm

Foot Length - 12 cm

8 Teeth and no longer on formula...Think we'll go back to at least a nighttime bottle for bonding, but he sure seems healthy and we are so grateful for his wonderful care.

See you soon little man!  Love, Mommy, Daddy, & Hope

Group 91 & Friends Retreat @LPBC 2012

It's 1:30 in the morning and I've been a packing fool. But, I can't go to bed without a quick update from our wonderful weekend. This also gives me another chance to test post from the iPad.

I was honored to coordinate the third annual retreat for our first China travel group at Luther Point Bible Camp in Grantsburg, WI. This is the camp I grew up attending and also the place where I spent two summers as a counselor, so it is hard for me to even express just how precious this place is to me. I welcome you to my happy place. I took these pictures quickly on Friday night. I was afraid I missed the sunset, but I was able to catch a couple shots.






Here are just a few more highlights from the weekend.
~ Spa Night ~


Group Pic - Right Away Sat. Morning






More from Saturday
























Sunday












The Girls of Guangxi...get the giggles. :)


One of our last "family of three" pictures???


There are many many more pictures and I'll have to find time to send some individually to families. We really had an amazing weekend. It was exactly what we needed (well, for me anyway). My emotions are running high and right on the surface right now. I can't believe that in just one short week we'll be holding our little boy! Anyway, this weekend did so much to just take my stress level right down. There is nothing like time at LPBC with family and friends.

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Special Hope Day

Hope and I started our morning with swimming lessons just as we have for the past week. This morning though, guess who jumped off the diving board!!!!! Check it out!




















After lessons, we went home to take care of the puppies for a bit and then hit the road to pick up Amy and Olivia for an afternoon at Como Town. A month or so ago, I purchased a 2 for 1 wristband pass on line and told Hope she could pick a friend to spend the afternoon with as sort of a birthday gift since we decided to forgo the 'friend' birthday party this year. We had such a great day! Hope even said, "Mom, you're so cool." I'll take it. *SMILE* Here are some of the highlights.
















We found a sprinkler by the sidewalk here. SQUEAL!




This one makes me smile. Don't you wonder what they're up to here?












It was the perfect day for the splash zone!




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