Ni Hao Y'all

when east meets south

5 hours and counting…

until we meet Miss Poppy.

So grateful we got a good night’s sleep last night. I think I crawled into bed at 8:00 and other than a short span around 1:30 AM, I slept until 5:30. Seriously, a huge blessing for this mama who doesn’t do well without adequate snooze time.

Then we got up and got cleaned up. So glad to wash my hair after a 48 hour travel day.

And then onto the breakfast buffet, which was either really great, or we were really hungry.

Or most likely, both.

Then we perused the hotel grounds which includes, not-so-surprisingly, a beautiful garden. And, as any good mama would do, I made Zach stand in front of the waterfall so I could snap a quick picture on his phone.

Thank goodness we meet sweet Poppy today, I don’t think Zach can tolerate being the focus of many more pictures.

Our guide shared that Poppy will be making the drive up to Civil Affairs this morning.

Over a five hour trip. Sweet thing, there is no telling if she’s ever even been in a car.

And then, on top of that, she’ll be meeting some very, very strange looking people. And then she’ll have to leave all she’s ever known.

Praying that He gives me all the love, grace and patience to be all that she’ll need to comfort her on this day.

And praying for her sweet little heart, which surely will feel like it’s breaking.

So grateful for your continued prayers on our behalf… they are so appreciated, and definitely being felt!


Comments

  4. So excited for you. And your oldest boy is growing up. Praying for Poppy and her sweet heart and yours as you navigate this emotional day and al, of the crew at home. Blessings to all of you.

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  9. Prayers! I actually checked your blog for any new updates about five minutes before you posted the link on FB. 🙂

    Hoping that your meeting goes wonderfully and that your transition is smooth~

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  18. So many prayers for ALL of you, especially for that darling girl of yours. Praying you all feel God’s presence with you in these 5 short hours. Thinking of you…

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  19. What a blessing to be able to pray for your family on this special day and share in your excitement. Thank you for inspiring me and so many others! Can’t wait to see Poppy with her mama and big brother.

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  21. Oh Stefanie, I am just so excited for you! I wonder if you arfe holding her right now?? I just cannot wait to see sweet Miss Poppy in your arms!!

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  22. counting down the hours with you! we keep checking china time!!! and matthew ran into the kitchen this morning and said, “it’s Poppy day!!!!!”

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  23. Praying for your sweet baby girl as she leaves her familiarity and all she has ever known. Adoption is such a beautiful thing, but that in no way reduces the amount of pain that has to take place. Trusting that the Lord has His sovereign hand on her. Enjoy your precious meeting with her and cherish every hug and kiss you finally get to give her! I cannot wait to hear (read!) all about it!

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  27. Praying for you today on my morning run,
    then saw a poppy on the side of the road!
    It will be a great day!
    Love the photo from the garden hotel breakfast area!
    We’ve been there.
    much love
    press on,
    praying and praying,
    Joneses

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  29. So very excited for you all! Praying that everything goes as well as possible. Can’t wait for you to meet sweet Poppy ~ finally! Have a wonderful day!

    (We’ll all be waiting here for pictures … no pressure, of course!)

    All the best,
    Nicole A., now in LA

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  35. You are in my prayers! These hours right before are never easy no matter how many times you have done it!!!

    And BTW don’t you LOVE the Garden Hotel???

    Back behind the friendship store across teh street up the street is a Trust Mart (Mini-Walmart). We spent LOTS of time in there buying cheap presents to bring home and getting our food. If you need more specific directions, email me.

    The bakery across the street out the back door is yummy for an afternoon treat. Then the Italian Restaurant in the 3rd floor down past the Mcdonalds is very good too!

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  39. I’ll definitely be lifting you all up. Praying for a smooth and glorious transition and attachment! I remember the hours before my sister was brought to us… so slow!

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  40. Morning Stef – by now y’all have had Poppy for several hours – I make it about 1830 your time Monday night – so…

    HOORAH

    Loved the Garden as well – but – the bathroom floors will get really slick after you shower – watch out for knocked heads!!

    Great joy for you guys – the kind of joy that only those of us that have had a gotcha day can know!!

    hugs – aus and co.

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  42. Isn’t The Garden Hotel the Bomb!? We made a lot of photos in that garden area too.. We made some really great photos of our kids there…and it was a great spot for some photos of our daughter in her Chinese dress…

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  43. I must break my lurker status to comment on this post! First of all, congratulations on finally getting to bring Poppy home! While I was student studying abroad in Hong Kong, part of our time there was an overnight trip to Guangzhou. We stayed in The Garden Hotel and took many photos in front of the waterfall. I think the lot of us were just _so_ impressed that there was a large waterfall RIGHT SMACK DAB in the middle of hour hotel lobby. During our brief time in the hotel, we were always coming face-to-face with western families with goofy grins on their faces and their new son or daughter in their arms. I found your blog late one night while clicking through blog rolls and was immediately overcome with gratitude of the blogger who linked it. While standing in front of that very waterfall, over half a decade ago, I made a wish, chucked my $10 HK coin into the fountain, and made the decision to make moves to adopt a Chinese baby girl once I was older and had a family to welcome her into. Your blog is an inspiration to me, every single day, to stay focused on this goal and to make the decisions in the present that will lead me to that faithful day. I regularly dream about the day I’ll stand in front of that waterfall with a baby girl dressed in pink, whom I’ll be able to call “daughter,” making good on a promise to my future and fulfilling a life-long dream of mine.

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    • Wow, Amanda! Thank you so much for sharing that beautiful story! Many blessings to you as you work toward your goal of bringing your baby girl home 🙂

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