December 1

I had so many worries about my trip to China. Would my luggage get lost? Would my baby like me? Would it be frightening? Would the language barrier be too big? Well, all of those fears easily disappeared. All of the flights on Northwest were fine. I booked the adoption fare and had no problem.

When we arrived in Beijing, the CHI staff members were waiting for us. We had a delay in Japan because of flight congestion, but the staff members were willing to wait until we got there. The CHI staff collected our luggage and delivered it and us safely to our hotels. The sightseeing the next two days was great. It rained, but I was glad. Why? Because it cooled us off!

When we got ready to go to our provinces, the CHI staff again had our luggage taken to the airport. We were lucky. We got Lina as our guide. She accompanied us to the airport and to our province. We went to Anhui. It was a small group of six families. We were met in Hefei by our city guide, Jane. Again, luggage and families were safely delivered to our beautiful hotel.

The next day we got our beautiful daughters. Mine was the only one that cried, and boy did she cry!!!! However, by the end of the day, she was MINE!!!!!

We had several interesting sight-seeing tours, including a visit to the orphanages. There were two different orphanages involved with this particular set of adopting families. My child came from a very poor city and a poor orphanage. They told us they are planning on building a new orphanage, and that made me feel better. I hope and pray they will soon!!!

When it was time to go to Guangzhou, our luggage was taken to the airport. Lina accompanied us, and we made it safely to the beautiful White Swan. Shopping was great, and the area was absolutely beautiful. Our visit to the U.S. Consulate was a breeze!!!

Again, when it was time to go home, our luggage was collected and sent to the airport. We rode a bus there. We had to check our luggage in when we got there. I had to pay about $2.00 for overweight luggage. Then we flew home!!

Lina was such a wonderful guide and made everything easy for us. Jane was a great city guide too. I was so impressed with CHI, and I felt we were treated as VIPs!!!!

As far as my daughter Gili is concerned, I have this to say. I am so blessed to have been given the honor to call this beautiful, intelligent, hysterically funny, sweet, and wonderful child my daughter. I couldn't have begged for a better match. God knew what he was doing when he matched her to me. She fits in so well with my family and friends. I have never known love like this, and I will be forever grateful to CHI and China for making my dreams come true. I am now a very luck Mommy!!!!!

Brenda