Our One Full Day in Hong Kong and then HOME!

(This is the post that we didn't have time to post before we left Hong Kong. Brie already posted the pics from this day, but we'll add a few travel day pics too)

Hi everyone:)

Here we are about 5 hours into our flight home at 33,000 ft:):):)

So far our flight has been smooth, and at this present time, all three of our children are sleeping:)

I am not sure how long it will last, so I thought I would take a little time and tell you all what we did yesterday as we tried to make the most of our one full day in Hong Kong:):):)

We all slept in a little and enjoyed a great breakfast at our Hotel:):):)

( Ben has been such a good sleeper.... On most mornings because of our agendas, we have had to wake him up:(

But yesterday we all slept in until about 9:00 am:) )

It was the Best Breakfast Buffet on our entire trip, and the kids loved it and so did we:):):)

When in China you never know what the day holds regarding Lunch and Dinner.... So it is Sooo Nice to have a normal breakfast... Or at least a somewhat normal breakfast:):):) There are some things on the Chinese Breakfast Buffets that most Americans would not label as normal...but all in all, eggs, bacon, toast, and fruit are pretty much the same in both countries:):):)

The kids asked who our guide would be in Hong Kong???

We said that his name was Mark ( daddy ) and he would be the Best Hong Kong guide ever!!!! :):):)

Since we had taken the trip up to Victoria's peak before when we traveled with Sam, Mark pretty much knew where we needed to go.... And what we needed to do:):):)

We then walked over to the pier and boarded a ferry to go across the harbour , so that we could catch a taxi to take us to where we could ride the cable trolley up the mountain to Victoria's Peak:):):)

The Lord gifted us with a beautiful, sunny, warm day and we had such a nice time sight seeing, taking pics and walking around and shopping a little at Victoria's Peak:):):)

I seriously could have stayed up there all day looking out over the city of Hong Kong and the Harbour..... It's Absolutely Breathtakingly Beautiful!!!!

We stayed up on the peak for a few hours, found a little place to pray together thanking the Lord for such a glorious day and letting us visit such a beautiful place, and then rode the trolley back down the mountain:):):)

That was really interesting because some of us were sitting in the seats that have you riding facing backward as you go back down the Mountain.... That was a very strange feeling and I didn't like it, so I was thankful when we were at the bottom and on solid ground again:):):)

We then grabbed a taxi and rode to the Hong Kong Observatory Wheel:):):)

It's a huge, enclosed Ferris Wheel right beside the Harbour with great views of the city and Harbour as well:)

We bought tickets and rode on it:):):)

I think that Benjamin was a little apprehensive at first, but he went along with us and ended up loving it...the girls loved it too:):):)

I am glad that the individual cars were enclosed, otherwise I think that I would have been nervous because Ben is still a little unpredictable, and he is 6!!!

He ended up doing great, sitting very still and smiling a lot  the entire time on the Ferris Wheel:):):)

After the Ferris Wheel, we explored the area a little more, and then took the fairy back across the Harbour so that we could go to dinner:):):)

We ate at a pizza place that we had eaten at on our last trip, so we were excited because we knew that the food would be good and it was:):):)

After dinner we walked along the Harbour pier walkway and had our picture taken by one of the street photographers:)

They take your pictures with all of the Beautiful Lights in the background and it was only like $13.00:):)

The picture turned out great and I was one happy mom:):):)

The only thing that could have made me happier is if all of our children, grandchildren,  and extended family were able to be in the picture:):):)

Two and a half weeks is a long time.... We are missing all of our family and looking forward to coming home:):):)

On our way back to the hotel, we stopped at a Starbucks so that I could get another Hong Kong Mug....the one I had was broken and I needed to replace it:):):)

We then headed back to our hotel to start packing for our departure today:):):)

The airport van picked us up at 7:30am.... It was a 45 min. drive to the airport, and Ben did fine, and so far he has been ok on the flight as well:):):)

We are so very thankful for Ben's easy going, go with the flow kind of personality.... He has been such a Treasure to us as we are getting to know him more and more every day and he has been feeling more comfortable with us:):):):) He is loving and affectionate and very sweet:):):)

YAY!!!!

Dear Jesus, thank you for loving us and carrying us all over China and Back Home again❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Thank You for our new little son Benjamin and for orchestrating every detail of this adoption❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Thank You for every person who has prayed for us, loved us, loved our children, or supported us in any way along the way❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Thank You for all of the Families that you are raising up to say YES to Adoption❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

And lastly, thank you Lord for every little child all over this world who will go to sleep tonight without a mommy and daddy or family to call their own... Please carry each little one close to your heart Lord and PLEASE find Godly, loving families for each and every one:):):)❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

We love you Lord Jesus, please Strengthen and Equip us for whatever lies ahead......in your mighty and powerful name we pray!!!

Amen!!!!

Thanks everyone for coming on this journey with us..... We are SO VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR PRAYERS:):):)

We love you all....

GOD BLESS !!!!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Our hotel room in Hong Kong and our breathtaking view!

Our last look at the city before heading to the airport.

On the way to the airport.

Abbie and Ben ready to head home!

At the airport in Hong Kong, ready for our long flight home!

More Hong Kong!

Hi everyone, 
It's Brie here. I wanted to post another update because my parents and siblings are actually on the plane on their way back home! Their flight arrives to the MKE airport at 3:08pm on Friday afternoon (Milwaukee time)...that's tomorrow!!!! We are so excited to see them all and finally get to meet Ben! The little boys have been asking about Ben ALOT!!!! Sam keeps telling me that Ben is going to come home and have lots of sleepovers:) Yep, he sure his! 

Anyway, I wanted to post some pics from my parents and sibs last full day in China:) My mom didn't have time to write another update. However, she did send me lots of pictures so I will share those with you and you can get a glimpse of their last day:) It was a beautiful sunny day in Hong Kong and they all headed to Victoria's Peak which has breathtaking views of the city! Enjoy the pics! And thank you all for your prayers as they have been traveling, God has truly blessed their trip! Please continue to pray...especially for Ben who will soon be meeting the rest of his big, loud, crazy, happy family!

Ready for our day!

With our happy boy!

Love these smiles!

Mom and Dad:)

More palm trees!! We are heading back to cold and snow...thank you Lord for  this nice weather in Hong Kong!

Thought our other little boys would like this pic:)

Victoria's Peak

In case you wanted to see pics of these massive gears at Victoria's Peak...here they are!

Abbie's second time here at Victoria's Peak!

Dad ....not looking like a tourist at all with the video camera strapped around his next;)

Having fun:)

We really can't get enough starbucks here in China!

More starbucks:)

Shopping:)

The view from the peak!

Such a beautiful day to see the views:)

Checking out the view!

Loving seeing Ben experience these new things!

Looks like dad could use some sunglasses too:)

Another view from the peak:)

Group pic:)

Mom with her tea!

Becca boo!

The happy parents of 8! Yep, 8 kids, 3 grandkids, 38 years of marriage and still smiling:)

Sibling love!

Isn't the dragon cool looking?!

Another view from the peak!

Great pic of the kids with mom:)

Ben with his giant singing pig friend!

Our hotel room in Hong Kong and our amazing view!

More Hong Kong lights!

We have loved our time in China and this special time with our sweet boy!

Dad and Abbers:)

Such a fun and colorful boat!

What a great picture of this sweet boy:)

So Beautiful:)

More beauty:)

The giant ferris wheel!

Riding in the ferris wheel:)

Overlooking the festival below:)

Ferris wheel again:)

Two of our B's

Last Day in Guangzhou & Travel to HongKong

Hi Everyone, 

Today is Tuesday, 1/27/15, and it was our last full day in Guangzhou:(

We had to get up really early today because our American Consulate Appointment was at 8:30 and we could not be late! (I told the girls that it was God's way of helping us get back in our school routine of getting up every day at 6:30!!!)

Everyone from America has to finalize their immigration paperwork at this appointment, and get their adopted children’s Visa's for traveling home. YAY!!! It is very important for things to be absolutely perfect at this appointment so that we can leave China and fly home to America with our adopted children:):):)

We had the first appointment of the day and it went very well:)

(Thank You Lord, and Elvin, and all who work at the American Consulate for helping the process to go smoothly and somewhat quickly as all of the children have to be there too... So it could get kind of crazy if a family had to wait a long time!!!)

We took a few pics all dressed in our red, white and blue, (Thanking God for America today..... for our Home of the Free and The Brave!!! ) and we were headed back to the hotel for breakfast about 10:00am:)

A little later we took a cab back to Shamian Island, as we had arranged to meet another sweet adoptive family at Lucy's for lunch:)

Also, there is a particular little store that we like to shop at on Shamian Island and it was closed on Sunday.

The name of the little store is " A Gift From China " and a portion of the proceeds from this little store go straight back into local orphanages so that is why we make a point of shopping there whenever we are here for an Adoption:):):)

Also, we seem to find the sweetest diaper bags, quilts and baby blankets there too, so I was extremely happy to talk Mark into taking us back there for the afternoon:):):):) Yay!!! Thanks Honey:):):)

A little while later, I can't even begin to tell you how wonderful it was to meet up with our new friends (The Lane's) and just sit together with our girls, their sweet cousin Brittany,  and our newly adopted sons, Owen (5) and Benjamin (6)  and just enjoy a nice lunch, good conversation, and the beauty of God's creation on Shamian Island:):):)

The weather was warm and our two little boys were just talking away 90 miles an hour to one another in Chinese:):):)

It was just So Precious to listen to the two of them just chatting away.... And later running and playing together, along with Abbie and Becca at the playground on Shamian Island:):):)

We are hoping that the two boys can maybe FaceTime when we get home so that they will have someone their age to talk to:):):)

Only problem is.... None of us can understand what they are saying :(:(:(

So, if you know Mandarin, or your kids know Mandarin,  please come and talk to Ben and/or Owen, and tell us what in the world they are chatting about!!!!!

I truly think that meeting the Lane's and having the boys spend some time together has brought some comfort to both boys the past few days:):):)

Thank You Lord for our new friends and for allowing us to share this Amazing Adoption experience together:):):)

We just LOVE how you continue to Move Mountains for your Beautiful Little Treasures and how you knit all of our hearts together in " LOVE "

AS WE STEP OUT IN FAITH AND PUT OUR TRUST IN YOU:)❤❤❤

Eventually, it was time to catch a cab back to our hotel, and get ready to meet Elvin in the lobby at six for the Pearl River Cruise :):):)

This is another event here in Guangzhou that we really enjoy getting to go to when we adopt:):):)

The cruise is only an hour long, but is just so fun and so beautiful, and usually the children really enjoy seeing all of the bright lights on the buildings, bridges, and all of the other boats going by on the river....... We love getting to go on this River Cruise, and it is a great way to end our time here in Guangzhou.... Many of the other families usually go on the cruise too, so it is a good way to visit a little, say our goodbye's to one another and prepare ourselves mentally for leaving China and heading Home :):):)

We all had a great time on the cruise, and then headed back to the hotel to begin our packing for Hong Kong tomorrow:):):)

As you can guess.... It was the end to a Long Day so some people were crabby and tired!!!!!

I won't say who.... But, no one was in the mood to pack or even try to figure out how we were going to fit everything we bought into our suitcases!!!!

We did it though and were ready to go on Wednesday at 2:00 pm:):):)

We had to wait around in the lobby for a couple of hours, until Elvin arrived with our packet of paperwork and our driver arrived to take us to Hong Kong:):):)

This time in the lobby allowed us to say goodbye to some families and exchange phone/E-mail information with a few of them :):):)

We said our goodbyes to our wonderful guide Elvin, and headed out for Hong Kong at about 5:00pm:)

Most of us were planning to sleep on the 2 hour ride to our hotel in Hong Kong:)

However, (notice in life how there are always Howevers? :):):)

We had been traveling for about thirty minutes and Abbie, Benjamin, and Becca were in the very back seat of the mini-van:)

Becca says, " Mom, Ben is rubbing his tummy and Looks really White!!! "

Mark turned around and looked at him and said " Honey, do we have any plastic bags???? "

Poor Boy!!!

He was carsick the entire way to Hong Kong!!!

I am telling you this part of our day because we were not prepared for this because the orphanage told us that Ben didn't have motion sickness..... Well, He sure did on Wednesday!!!! :(

Somehow I had grabbed a cloth Walmart bag with a handle and we had a plastic bag with snacks in it.... So, I quickly dumped all of the snacks into the cloth bag and gave Mark the plastic bag for Ben!!!! Not kidding.... About 2 minutes later.... Yuk, Yuk, Yuk!!!!!

But at least it all went into the plastic bag!!!!! This happened again about 20-30 min later!!!!!! :(

We were so packed into the van that we could hardly move.... Abbie and Becca handled it all so well and took such good care of Benjamin!!!!

Thank You Sweet Girls... You have gone above and beyond what big sisters are supposed to do!!!! :)

All Mark and I could do was hand them tissues and wipes and they held the plastic bag in front of him for almost 2 solid hours!!!!

The van was new and had leather seats......

no mess.... Thank You Jesus!!!!

Oh My....if we hadn't had that plastic bag.... It would have been COMPLETELY AWFUL!!!!

Ben was fine when we got to our hotel in Hong Kong and we got him out of the car!!!!

That is a van ride that we will never forget!!!!

The thought ( " stop because the child is sick" never entered our driver's mind....)  He just kept on going and got us to our hotel as quickly as possible:):):) He was super nice and needless to say we left him a big tip!!!!

He is probably still airing his car out as we speak!!!! LOL!!!!

After we checked into our Hotel in Hong Kong, we headed out to find a place for dinner. We found an Italian Restaurant close to our hotel and proceeded to order:)

About half way through our dinner the girls are covering their eyes and just giggling and laughing hysterically.... There was a couple sitting in their line of sight who were showing major displays of Public Affection for one another!!!!! I Mean THEY WERE CONNECTED AT THE LIPS IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!!!!

One family asked to be moved because they just wouldn't STOP!!!!

When that family moved I had them in my direct line of sight!!!! Oh Wow!!!! This was Completely Hysterical!!!!

By this time the whole Restaurant was giggling and watching because this couple were totally unaware of anyone else in the restaurant!!!

They were still going strong!!!!

Finally, after shushing my girls hysterical laughter.... The couple's food came and they took a few breaks to eat!!!

But, Seriously, they continued to kiss.... Passionately throughout their entire meal:):):) LOL!!!!

I seriously thought that if we were in America that the crew from America's Funniest Home Video's were going to show up!!!!

Abbie and Becca could not stop laughing and Becca looks at Mark and says.... " Dad, I'm never doing that!!! In Fact, that's so disgusting, I may never get married!!!! "

We all just laughed so hard and left with those two still hanging all over each other:):):) In all my years, I have never seen anything like this couple in a public place!!!! We had to get out quick so the kids didn't see anything more!!!!

And so YES, it was supposed to be a boring travel day.... But wow, we now have some major memories from our travel day to Hong Kong:):):) !!!!

Hong Kong is just Breathtakingly Beautiful at night and our hotel is right on the water.... This is such a great way to end our time here.... We only have one day... (Tomorrow), but hopefully it will be a great day and we will have more good CLEAN Family Fun!!!!

Again, thank you for praying and lifting us up as we press on toward the goal to win the prize that God has promised us in Christ Jesus:):):)

One More Day and we head home!!!! We are missing all of our kids and all of you SO MUCH and yet we are Forever Grateful to GOD for this Adoption Journey and for our new son Benjamin David Ming DiBlasi:):):):)

Please pray for Safe Travels as we prepare for that long flight home, and please pray for Peace for Ben and us.... Not sure how he will do on the long plane ride:(

This time we will try to be prepared if he gets sick.... But please pray that he doesn't:):):)

Thank You everyone.... Sorry that I am so long winded..... God Bless You All and again Goodnight from Hong Kong :)

Love and Big Hugs:)

Patti, Mark, Abbie, Becca and Benjamin:):):)  

Hong Kong at night!

Abbers hanging in the hotel:)

Ben, our happy boy:)

Booboo relaxing in the hotel:)

Playing together, warms this mamas heart:)

What's that? Why yes, that is all of our luggage on those luggage carts!!!! 

Group pic:)

Our Hotel in Guangzhou:)

Arrived in Hong Kong, Ben feeling much better!

Love!

More love!

Out for a little shopping:)

More Hong Kong at night:)

It really is a beautiful city....and a a beautiful China girl:)

Mom and kiddos in Hong Kong!

Ben and his robot buddy!

We really do see some fun and interesting things in China:)

Sweet boy with all the lights!

More palm trees! We are partial to palm trees!

One last Hong Kong at night pic:)