November
2009
    November 10-11

    Zoe and Beth depart from Tampa, Shari
    departs from Denver.  We meet in Chicago and
    head to Beijing.  24 hour journey.
Nov 10, 7am

Last night was a mad rush trying to get the last minute things done.  I'm very
organized.  I even plan ahead for last minute things.  What I DIDN'T plan for
was an issue at school with one of the kids and I DIDN'T plan for 3 of the kids
to be emotional wrecks.  By the time I got through all that, got them all in bed,
it was 9:36.  Then I started my last minute things I thought I would get to by
4pm or so.   

Needless to say, 3:20am (when the alarm went off) came way too early!  

We knew it would be a mad rush at the airport as we're taking HUGE boxes
of donations for Annabelle's Wish (a wonderful non-profit who donates
supplies to special needs orphans in China).  We're also taking our own
gifts, donations, etc.  So our suitcases were HEAVY (I can have 50 pounds in
each and I had 47.8 and 48.8 pounds!)  Then we have 2 large carry on's ...
those are basically our things.  And don't forget our huge coats (since it's
snowing in Beijing.  And let's just say, Zoe is a great little helper but she can't
carry more than her body weight!

The airline people didn't arrive until 5am (we were there at 4:15 am).  Then
at the last minute, they went from a huge plane to a smaller one and not
everyone made it onboard! (Thankful that we did.)  There wasn't enough
room for everyone's carryon's.  I thought at one point there was going to be
a knock-down, drag out fight between this Chinese family and the flight
attendant.  (Flight attendant insisted they check their baggage ... they said
they would need it as they are flying for 24+  hours and they have things in
there they would need on the plane. It was awful!)

Zoe was so excited.  By the time the plane took off (late), she fell asleep.  
She missed the take-off.  (She'll have plenty more though, not to worry.)  
She's sleeping in my lap as I type this.

At Chicago, we met up with Shari, played in a playplace, ate at Chili's and
uneventfully got on a plane.  We didn't have the best seats, that's for sure
but it was a pretty smooth ride and Zoe was happy pretty much the whole
time.  (Blessing!)

Oh, and pictures to come as soon as I unpack the cord!
To go back to
the itinerary
page,
click HERE


    Thanks for joining us on this
    journey!  Should prove to be
    an interesting one.  
4:30 am waiting for security in the
Tampa airport.
Chicago airport waiting in a play
place