Getting Closer to Samuel

Hello Dear Friends and Family
Today we were up early and immediately started tidying up our room, getting our showers, and packing up all of our bags! It has been so nice to be in Hong Kong....but our sweet little boy is waiting for us in Guangzhou.....and it is Father's Day here as well as in America :):):) I had no idea that the Chinese celebrated Father's Day too! Happy Father's Day Honey, You are an amazing husband and Father and you are loved and appreciated more than you will ever know!!! What a wonderful gift for God to give us the blessing of adopting this precious little boy on the day after Father's Day:):):) Also, what many of you don't know is that Mark's Birthday is on the 17th of February and Justin's Birthday is on the 17th of October:) Samuel's Gotcha Day will be tomorrow, June 17th 2013, so that is significant for us as well!!!
We arrived at the Hong Kong train station and got our bags all checked in:) We didn't have a guide with us in Hong Kong, and we just pretty much figured everything out ( I should say that Mark just pretty much figured everything out :) Abbie and I are just following his lead!!!) We boarded our train and just talked and took in the sights as we headed toward Guangzhou:) There was a cute little boy sitting next to us who kept laughing and laughing...his mom was trying to get him to use her ear buds for his game that he was playing because it was so loud.... He thought they tickled so whenever she tried to put them in he would start laughing and laughing!!! His laughter was so sweet and quite contagious.... It made us laugh too:):):) Honestly, it felt so good to sit on that train and LAUGH!!!! So grateful that God brings us Joyful moments when we least expect them!!! We should all be able to laugh like little children do... we would have alot less stress in our lives if we did :):):) We have been seeing sweet little boys everywhere.... Like God is preparing us for Samuel :):):) We are hoping that eventually, our little boy will be laughing out loud, like the little boy on the train!!! Maybe he will come to us already full of JOY.....God has blessed us with children like that before!!!! :)
Ok now, moving on, we arrived at the Guangzhou Train Station, went through all the necessary checkpoints, retrieved our luggage, and met our Baas guide Elvin:) He is so nice and he quickly took care of us and brought us to The Garden Hotel in Guangzhou (this will be our home for the next 9 days!!! ) All I can say is this Hotel is Amazingly Beautiful!!! We are truly so Blessed to stay here.... The rooms are nice, the amenities are abundant, the swimming pool will be wonderful for the kids, and there is a Tea Room :) Yay, I am in Heaven!!!
We spent the next hour unpacking everything and preparing for Samuel's arrival tomorrow:):):) The Hotel has a bed all set up for him and sitting in the bed was a small orange backpack with a puzzle, some little toys, and a little stuffed Panda for Samuel:):):)(  Becca, it is a lot like the little Panda that the Hotel in Chongqing gave us for you :) How nice of the Hotel to have these little backpacks for the little ones... I am sure that Samuel will love it!!!
After preparing our room, we went to get some dinner and then went for a little walk exploring the area.... We met three other families from different cities in the USA:) They are all adopting as well, and all staying at The Garden Hotel :):):) It is always so great to meet other families and their newly adopted children... The heart connection we all have for one another is immediate and very unique!!!
Tomorrow is Gotcha Day!!!!! Yay God!!!! We will have the morning to have breakfast and pray and prepare to meet our sweet Samuel at 2:00pm :):):) We are so excited and would love it if everyone would please join us in prayer for this special, special, first initial meeting:):):) ( Lots of Butterflies in the stomach on Gotcha Day!!!) Thanks so much for following along and for praying.... We are Truly Grateful and can't wait for you to meet our new little Treasure from God!!!!
Much Love and Big Hugs to all:):):)
Patti, Mark and Abbie

Saying goodbye to our hotel room in Hong Kong

Last morning in Hong Kong

Mom and Abbie at the train station in Hong Kong!!!!

Love those smiles. : )  Excited to meet Samuel tomorrow!

Happy Father's Day, Honey!!!  You are a Fantastic Daddy and a wonderful Grampy, too! : ) : )

Abbie waiting patiently for our train to Guangzhou. Love having her with us : )

Train ride was fun. : )  Can't wait to get to Guangzhou!!!!

We are at the Garden Hotel in Guangzhou...Finally. : ) This hotel is BEAUTIFUL!!!!

Our hotel lobby : )

All settled in our hotel...Now dinner and Gotcha Day tomorrow. : )  Can't wait to meet Samuel! : ) : ) : )

Tea room and beautiful winding staircase in our hotel!!!

Samuel's guys all waiting for him!!!

They put up a crib...not sure he'll want to sleep in it, but his guys like it!!!

Abbie in our hotel lobby!!!  She adds to the beauty of this place. : )