Travel to China

We received word on Tuesday that we received our Travel Approval and will be heading to China sometime between July 2-4th. Reality is starting to set in and now time seems to be creeping by. Since we have been thinking about this day for three years, I want our time in China to last, but I have a feeling it is going to go by so quickly, and with some sadness, we will be leaving China to come home. If it's like other trips I've had to Asia, after two weeks, you are very glad to get back to your homeland, we you are able to read the signs, understand the annoucements on the loud speakers, and just plain fit in, or at least not draw any attention to yourself.

I hope this will not be our last trip to China. I hope thi kids have a great experience and desire to travel more themselves when they reach adulthood. Though my parents enjoyed travel here in the US, I never really had a chance to go anywhere internationally until I was about 34 years old.

Right now, my thoughts begin to settle on how Sean(Shan An En) will react that first week, and maybe months. I try to image a total stranger taking me from the only people I know and taking m places I've never been. He is two, so he has some understanding of his own language, not ours; how is he going to hear us? My heart already goes out to him. What he does not know is I only want the best for him, I will not harm him, and I desire that he loves me as I will love him. As I write this, it is a familiar story, about another father who loves me like that. I'm not trying to be overly spiritual, but I can't help but draw the comparison to God's love and desires for me, even when I don't think He cares.

Anyway, in the coming days, I hope to make some sort of permanent mark on the internet with our trip to China...right here!