Well today was the day that we went to the US consulate and swore (with about 80 other families!) that all the information we had provided was right and true to the best of our knowledge. Then they passed out the "brown envelopes" which are to remain sealed until we reach our port of entry (Los Angeles) at which point we will go through the immigration line and they will rip it open, check all the documents, and stamp Joshua's Chinese passport. We also received his Chinese passport with the US visa in it. Pretty cool!! Afterwards we went to the river and boarded a dinner cruise boat to celebrate. It was wonderful food and some amazing views of the city by night. We were wiped out by the end of our day, but so happy and thankful that all is set for us to leave tomorrow evening. We will arrive home in Modesto around 10:30 PM and the drive from there to our home in Turlock, is only about 20 minutes!! We have had such an amazing time here and have enjoyed EVERY minute. But we are SOOOO ready to share this wonderful gift with our family and friends. We love you all and can't wait to see you!!!
Beautiful orchids in the White Swan Hotel.
The central lobby of the hotel.
The poi in the fish pond are amazing!
The "Grand Old Flag"
(which we kept singing and Joshua did not seem so impressed!)
Here we are waiting for the bus to take us to the US consulate.
A very patriotic terracotta warrior.
On the bus and ready to go!!
An amazing waterfall in the park across from the US consulate.
The dinner cruise boat that we took as a celebratory meal.
The dining area where the buffet was. Great chinese food!!
The all American boys checking out the sights.
Just a fraction of the amazing city lights we saw on the river cruise.
Our White Swan Hotel by night.
After lots of hard work
(mostly on the part of Rebecca here in China),
we have Joshua's visa to travel to America.
When we land in Los Angeles tomorrow, Friday,
he will be a US citizen!! HIP HIP HOORAY!!
Just a little end note. The lady at the US consulate told us all that they had processed 8,000 adoptions in 2005, a record number. They were just under that so far in 2006!
Beautiful orchids in the White Swan Hotel.
The central lobby of the hotel.
The poi in the fish pond are amazing!
The "Grand Old Flag"
A very patriotic terracotta warrior.
On the bus and ready to go!!
An amazing waterfall in the park across from the US consulate.
The dinner cruise boat that we took as a celebratory meal.
The dining area where the buffet was. Great chinese food!!
The all American boys checking out the sights.
Just a fraction of the amazing city lights we saw on the river cruise.
Our White Swan Hotel by night.
After lots of hard work
8 comments:
Man, that kid likes Cheerios, huh???? Wonderful news, and beautiful pictures!!!! Can't wait to see pics of ya'll when you get home!!! Amazing. You have a beautiful son!!!!!
Such gorgeous pictures! And such happy, happy faces, which we can hardly wait to see tomorrow(for us anyway)=^..^= Hurray! Have a wonderful,uneventful trip home,
y'hear. We are almost ready to receive "the family".Carol told me that Angus, (remember your other boy?) is very dirty. Holes in the yard, then rain, then more holes.hahaha! We can tell that Joshua is happy to be an American.
What an experience for a little boy! Love, mom and dad.
A question.... Do you have Rebecca's address? luvya. mom
Happy trails! We'll be prayin ya'll home safe. I'm having a hard time not being spontaneous and buying a ticket to CA for the homecomming!
love ya'll
Rob Shan and boys
Have a safe trip! Bring dat boy home!
I still can't believe you guys are (finally) PARENTS!!! :) Thanks for sharing this journey with us---I love looking at the pics. And thanks for being such diligent photojournalists. I look forward to watching Joshua grow up, even if from afar. :)
Sign us up. We're ready for our China doll. What an incredible experience....
So glad everything has gone well! Praying for your safe flight back to USA! Wonderful pictures and I have enjoyed looking at your updates every day!
Love,
Kell-ee
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