What a Jewel!

We can finally start to say now that we are getting close to our trip to China. We can actually allow ourselves to get excited, and to begin some plans. My cousin Jewell is going with us. This has been planned since we first were approved for adoption. Jewell had planned a few months before then to go on a mission’s trip to an orphanage in Russia. Because of a series of circumstances beyond their control the trip was canceled on the day of departure. It was a very disappointing and sad for their entire group. When she heard that we would be going to China she volunteered to go with us. Just like us, she thought that we would be traveling within seven or eight months. She has faithfully waited all this time and is getting excited again along with us.

It is a real blessing to have someone from the family to be able to go with us. There will probably be many times that we can use an extra pair of hands, and Jewell is fun to be with. She and her husband Tillman were over at the house a while back and Jewell said there was only one concern that she had about the flight to China. She wondered if the pilot would be sure and have the fuel tanks topped off before we left. I told her to feel free to remind the pilots just to be sure.

Now we are really curious about our referral and where our daughter’s home province is. It looks as if we will be traveling in the winter, and much of the northern part of China is really cold. Becky and Jewell have high hopes that we will get to see the Great Wall. I would like to see it also, but only if it is during moderate weather. I would not be too disappointed if we didn’t travel to Beijing if we had to go in bitter winter temperatures. It doesn’t matter though, I know that after I see that picture I would go to the north pole if that’s what it took to get that little girl home.

Thank you Jewel, we are so thankful you are going to be able to share this precious time with us.

Ronnie