I am a plan kind of guy. I make my plan, then my backup plan, then my backup to my backup plan.

In China…

Plans are no good.

They told us when we first started this whole process to enjoy the ride and to go with the flow. I kind of chuckled to myself, eh, how bad can it be…

Very little has gone according to plan on this trip, but you know what? We have had the time of our lives. One of our kids back home is still sick, one refused to go to the bathroom for a week, we froze in Beijing, we were iced in Nanchang, we went 10 days without seeing the sun, we took a 12 hour bus ride with 7 other babies, costs have gone up, the dollar has gone down and it is raining here in Guangzhou. But in all of it, we have had the time of our lives.

Yes, there have been moments of stress, like when I did not catch the error on Mei’s Chinese adoption papers and had to pay more money, or when we received the finalized adoption papers, I realized that I had missed ANOTHER error…and had to pay more money. But we got through it and have been strangely calm in the midst of all that is going on around us.

Don’t get me wrong, Jon has had to talk me off the ledge a few times, but that’s what brothers in the Lord are supposed to do.

I hope next time we come to China it will be under more hospitable circumstances, but our little adventure, well, I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

So, if you are waiting to travel to China to get your baby or if you’re just an average Joe, enjoy the ride. You will still get to where you are going, but take time to enjoy life in the now.

Anyway, on to another topic: Our Guides.

Rule Number 1: Trust Your Guides

Rule Number 2: See Rule Number 1

Seriously, these guys have been great. Sim in Beijing, Bruce in Nanchang and Li Ping in Nanchang and here in Guangzhou, have been wonderful. We would not be where we are today without them. When they tell you something, it is ok to ask questions, but end the end, they have proven that they know how to get things done.

When we found out the airport was closed, they scrambled and got us train tickets, when they found out the train was not running, they had their heads in their hands, but they figured things out and got us a bus and two bus drivers in an hour. Always helping them have been younger ladies with cell phones. They are in the background, but they are doing amazing things to help us out. Bruce and Li Ping have thought of nothing but getting us to our appointments on time.

I am very grateful to have had such wonderful guides.

Bruce. He’s all business

Li Ping. He likes to talk and is very laid back.