It’s 5:00 in the morning in Beijing and I couldn’t get back to sleep so here I is. Carmi? You know THAT girl is sleeping. Eliana is awake and on the floor drawing to lamp light. Very peaceful.

We were going to get up at 6:00 am anyway. The plan for the morning is to repack, eat breakfast in the hotel restuarant and check out by 8:30. Amy, our guide, will meet us and take us to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. Then we’ll board a train (which, by the way, she tells us is VERY nice) and take a 2-hour ride down to Shijiazhuang, the current capital of Hebei Province.

Continue to pray for Eliana. She still has a nasty-sounding cough.

We made it safely to Beijing after a l-o-n-g day of traveling.

This is how our morning started. My nephew showed up at the house promptly at 6:45 and it was pouring rain. Now we haven’t had rain in I don’t know how long but my first thought was still, “Why right now?” I was fortunate not to melt. We were loaded and out the door by 7:00.

The flight to Chicago was effortless. Eliana was quite comfortable and obviously not phased at all by the occasional turbulence.

As we walked to the gate for our flight out of Chicago, we met two families from our agency that are also adopting. We’ll be going in different directions in China but at least we had someone to fellowship with along the way.

One little bit of excitement to start the journey.

We had just boarded the plane to China and got situated in our seats when Carmi scolded Eliana for something. Well, Eliana started crying… and then she started coughing… and then she puked. Fortunately Carmi had packed one extra change of clothes for the Empress in a carry-on.

Our first meal was served up at 3:30. United’s first culinary offering was delicious and especially the salad with Asian Sesame Ginger dressing.

There was a little girl - 15 months old, I believe - in the row behind us who was just not happy. She cried and cried for the longest time until Eliana came to the rescue. Eliana started talking to the little girl and even shared her animals which is quite unheard of. Before long, the child was laughing.

Towards the end of 13 hours in the air, we saw this screen which brought a big smile to our faces.

We arrived in Beijing at 2:00 pm, a full hour ahead of schedule. That extra hour was used up, though, getting our luggage and trudging through customs. We were greeted by Amy, our guide for the next several days. Amy had arranged for a taxi to take us to the hotel.

Ordinary, everyday life in Beijing.

Our room at the Wangfujing Grand Hotel. Too bad we won’t be able to enjoy it but one night.

What’s on Chinese television? Sumo wrestling, of course.

Eliana schooled us in the fine art of eating with chopsticks at dinner tonight. The girl really does do well.

It’s now 8:30 and Eliana has already been snoozing for an hour.

Stick a fork in me and Carmi ‘cause we’re done… especially Carmi. I heard snoring and turned to see Carmi out like a light in mid-sentence.

I’m gonna be in so much trouble.

See you tomorrow!