June 24th, 2016

Today we are coming home!!  We could not be any more excited!!  We will have approximately 23 hours of travel, but we are ready to get it over with and be back home in Oklahoma with all 3 of our girls!!  I thought this shirt was appropriate for the day!!

 

We walked over to the airport and got checked in.  Grace enjoyed a ride on the luggage cart!!

 

 

We had some lunch and headed to our gate.  The Hong Kong airport is huge.  It was like an aiport with a shopping mall inside it.  Needless to say we ended up having to hurry to our gate because we did not realize how BIG the airport was!

 

 

We made it to the gate and got settled on the plane.  Here is a picture of Grace before take off!!  Sweet girl has no idea how her life is about to change.

 

 

Grace did great on the plane.  She is happy when John and I are together and she is in one of our arms.  She slept some, sat, ate, and did not have 1 fit the entire 15 hour flight!!  I am telling you this girl is amazing!!  Here is a picture when we landed at DFW.  Once we touched down on America soil she became an automatic US citizen!!  Can you tell how happy she is:)

 

 

In Dallas we headed straight to the mexican restaurant.  We had good food and I had a big unsweet tea withe ice!  Oh how I missed my unsweet tea with ice!  We had one more flight to OKC.  Grace passed out and slept the short flight to OKC.  We were greeted at the aiport with lots of family and friends.  It was AMAZING to hug our girls and see everyone at the airport.  Grace did amazing and even got down to play with some balloons showing off her big smile and laughing!  We are praising Jesus for this amazing journey he sent us on.  We are so happy to be home with all 3 of our girls!!  God is so good!!

 

 

 

 

 

We have been dreaming about this day for a long time and it was perfect!!  We can never repay the love and support we have received throughout this journey.  To everyone we want to say thank you.  We know God sent each of you to lift us up when we needed it the most.  We would not have made it without you!! Thank you for loving us so we could listen to God's call to love this precious baby girl!!  We love you Grace Mei Barnett!!

 

 

 











June 23rd, 2016

Today we got up early and had breakfast.  We went back to the room and grabbed our bags and headed to the train.  We are very happy to be saying good-bye to the squatty potty.  Unless we were at our hotel this was your option for a toilet.  Also you have to carry your own toilet paper.  If there are sinks to wash your hands there is no soap or paper towels.  We just bathed in hand sanitizer after you used one only as a last resort:)

We took a 2 hour train to Hong Kong and then a taxi to a hotel.  We did a 1/2 day tour of Hong Kong today before heading to our hotel at the airport.  Hong Kong is very different from China.  We got to visit the Victoria Peak which is the highest point in Hong Kong.  It was amazing to look down and see Island side.  The guide told us for every square mile in HK there are 6,500 people.  Also the average high rise is 70+ stories.  Again like China there are people/cars everywhere.  Here are a few pics from our day!!

 

 

After the tour we headed to the hotel at the airport for 1 more nights sleep before heading home



 

June 23rd, 2016

Today we got up early and had breakfast.  We went back to the room and grabbed our bags and headed to the train.  We are very happy to be saying good-bye to the squatty potty.  Unless we were at our hotel this was your option for a toilet.  Also you have to carry your own toilet paper.  If there are sinks to wash your hands there is no soap or paper towels.  We just bathed in hand sanitizer after you used one only as a last resort:)

We took a 2 hour train to Hong Kong and then a taxi to a hotel.  We did a 1/2 day tour of Hong Kong today before heading to our hotel at the airport.  Hong Kong is very different from China.  We got to visit the Victoria Peak which is the highest point in Hong Kong.  It was amazing to look down and see Island side.  The guide told us for every square mile in HK there are 6,500 people.  Also the average high rise is 70+ stories.  Again like China there are people/cars everywhere.  Here are a few pics from our day!!

 

 

After the tour we headed to the hotel at the airport for 1 more nights sleep before heading home



 

June 22nd, 2016

Today we decided to go to the zoo with another family.  It was really hot, but good to get out of the hotel for a few hours.  We navigated the subway system and got to the zoo.  We only stayed about an 1 1/2 due to the heat.  We did see some pandas, but even they were inside because of the heat.  Here is picture of John and Grace with the giraffes!

Here is another picture of Grace with Naomi.  Naomi is 13 and was also adopted this trip.  Please be praying that this sweet girl adjusts well in her forever family.  Here spirit is seen in the picture!  Grace only let 1 other person hold/touch her the entire trip besides John and I and it was Naomi.  She is just an amazing young girl!!

 

After the zoo poor John made the walk to Walmart to purhase items for donation to Grace's orphanage.  These items will be given to Grace's orphange!!  Thank you to all who donated and helped purchase these items!!

 

 

We spent the rest of the day packing and preparing to leave for Hong Kong on the train in the morning!  We cannot believe our time is up in Guangzhou, but we are very ready to be home!  



 

June 21st, 2016

Good Morning!  Today we met our group in the lobby to go to Shamian Island.  We do not have any pictures from Shamian Island because it was too hot, but here are some from the lobby before we left!

 

 

 

The island has a restaurant called Lucy's and it has American style food.  It was wonderful to get some American food.  We are really missing Mexican food and Chick-fil-a.  We are so excited to eat at the Mexican restaurant at DFW on our way back.  Grace ate her first grill cheese sandwhich and LOVED it.  She ate almost the entire sandwhich!!  After Lucy's we headed to the room to rest.  The hotel hosted a fun social with dinner, drinks, and music from 5:30-7:30 tonight.  It was so fun to get together with other adoptive families.  The kids had a great time!  Of course Grace was up in front loving the music and dancing!!

 

 

Here is a picture of Grace and I listening to the music!!

 

 

Here are two of Grace's first friends Charlotte and Junie!  We will miss you all once we are home.

 

 

I had to get a picture of her in her precious little dress!!

 

 

After the party we were off to the room for bed.  Grace had her first shoulder ride from Daddy and she loved it!!  One more full day here in Guangzhou and we will be off to Hong Kong on Thursday morning for a night!!  We are so excited to get home to Sydney and Claire.  Grace loves the other kids and we know she is going to be in love with her amazing big sisters!!  Please pray for safe travels!!

 









 

 

 

 

June 20th, 2016

Another great day in China!  We had our consulate appointment today, which was our last step in paperwork before bringing Grace home.  I cannot believe we are finally done with the paperwork.  We were there with several other adoptive families and did everything we needed to do!  We should receive Grace's Visa tomorrow and that will allow her to leave China and enter the USA!!  As soon as we land on US soil she will be an automatic US citizen!!  Praise God.  Here is a picture of her in her red, white, and blue!!

 

After the consulate we went back to the hotel for lunch and rest time.  We met our group in our lobby at 5:30 to go on the Pearl River Dinner Cruise.  We had a great time eating and seeing all of Guangzhou lit up in lights.  They also had some entertainment and Grace had a good time running around!!  Here is a picture of the 3 of us!!

 

 

Here is the Canton Tower!!

 

 

Here is one of Grace running around smiling at everyone!!  She is just so happy (except when it is time to sleep:)!!

 

 

After the cruise we were off to bed!!  Good night from China!!



 





June 19th, 2016

Happy Father's Day!!  We are missing Sydney and Claire so much.  Thankful John is getting to spend Father's Day with his newest little one, but we are missing our Big Girls so much.  Grace slept great again last night.  She just needs her mama and papa in bed with her and she goes right to sleep.  We woke up and headed to breakfast.  Could she be any cuter!!

After breakfast we met with all of the other families traveling from Lifeline.  Several other families arived in Guangzhou from their children's provinces so we have 9 families with us now.  It has been so nice to visit with the other families and meet their precious children.  We went and did some sight seeing and more shopping today as well!!  Here are a few pics form the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall!

 

 

Grace has her snack cup here.  I think she has eaten her weight in puffs.  She has been smiling and laughing more each day.  The only time she cries is if we set her down or it is time to sleep.  Overall we are in comlete awe of her spirit.  We cannot wait to get her home to meet her sisters, family and friends.  She is so full of Joy, Love and Happiness and spreads it wherever she goes.

 

June 18th, 2016

Good Morning from China!!  First I want to say that Grace slept amazing last night!  God has answered yet another prayer on our behalf!  I want to take a moment to thank Jesus for all he has done on this journey.  We are still in awe at what he has done for our family.  Grace is doing so amazing despite everything she has been through.  Last night when we went to sleep she would not lay down until John and I were both in bed with her.  John got up to get something and she got upset.  Once he laid down next to her she laid down and went to sleep!  God is so good!  Thank you Jesus for answering all of our prayers and the prayers from others on our behalf!  Here is a picture of our sweet angel sleeping last night!!

 

Today we had breakfast and fed the koi fish again.  The fish are huge and Grace loves feeding them!!

 

 

Here is a picture of Grace walking the trails at our hotel after feeding the fish!!

 

After breakfast we went to the playroom and Grace played for a long time!  We came back to the room for lunch and Grace took her first nap after a bit of a fight!  After naps we went to dinner at a place across from our hotel.  They had a band playing outside the restaurant singing American songs!  It was funny to here American music being sung when everything around you is in Chinese!  Grace got a balloon butterfly and was so excited!!

 

 

After dinner we  headed back to the hotel and were in bed early again!  Grace is ready for bed by 7:30-8:00 so that means John and I are also in bed then!  





June 17th, 2016

We had a great day today in China!  Grace slept almost 13 hours waking up only a few times.  She went back to sleep with me patting her back.  She is so happy today which is wonderful to see!  We had breakfast and fed the koi fish at our hotel!  Grace loved throwing the bread for them.

 

After breakfast we came back to the room and got our swimsuits on and took Grace to the pool for the first time.  She was very cautious and wanted to be held the entire time, but she did not scream so in my book it went great!  Also she could not be any cuter in her swimsuit!!

 



 

After our swim we went back to the room for lunch and attempted a nap.  She of course did not want to sleep so we gave up and walked to a mall near our hotel. We heard they had a play area for kids.  We got Grace some new shoes that actually fit and stay on her feet.  They also squeak which of course she loves.  We also got her a small toy and a cup that she can use.  She has already mastered the cup and likes drinking from it.  In the orphanage she had only used a bottle.  After shopping we went to the play area.  It was really neat and she loved it!!  I have several pictures from the play area that are great.  I wish we had something like this in OKC!!

 

 

 

 

After playing we found a store at the mall and were able to get Grace 2 forks that she can use that are her size!  They will be very helpful at breakfast in the morning.  She only wants to feed herself and the forks are as big as she is:)  We had dinner in the room and are hopefully heading to bed soon.  Praying she sleeps like she did last night!  Good night from China!!

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

June 16th, 2016

Today we met our guide and went to a Chinese park.  It was beautiful with a lake and trees everywhere.  There was even a children's playground.  There were groups of people everywhere exercising and dancing.  Most of the people in the park were older adults and grandparents with their grandchildren.  All of my pictures from today are on the camera so I will post them when we get back!!  We borrowed a stroller today from the hotel and she likes to ride in it, which has been a huge help!  She is very tiny, but still gets heavy!

In the afternoon we went shopping!  We got some traditional Chinese dresses and my main goal was to get wedding pearls for Grace from her 1st home.  I also got some for Sydney and Claire.  We went to a market called Onelink International Plaza, which we thought as funny because John's company is called Onelink Wireless. 

 

 

 

Here is a picture of our girl today as we were walking around the hotel!!

 

 

 

Since we had a rough night the night before we had dinner in the room and called it a night early.  We are praying that Grace sleeps tonight.  We have not gotten much sleep since Monday!  Praying God will calm her little heart and reassure her we will always be here when she wakes up!  



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 15th, 2016

Good evening from China!  We had another full day of appointments.  We had a rough night with Grace still struggling to sleep.  She is sleeping between John and I and is still restless.  Continuing to pray God will reassure her we will always be here for her.  We headed down to breakfast and she continues to eat great.  I was amazed after only 1 day of using a fork she wanted to do it all by herselft today.  The fork is as big as she is, but she did a great job considering it was her first time!  After breakfast we went to the medical clinic for her medical check.  Every child has to be evaluated before receiving their US Visa.  Grace did not like the doctors touching her and screamed when they did.  Luckily she did not have to get any shots or a TB test since she is under 2.  The clinic was crazy busy with people everywhere.  We were lucky they have a hall with a few rooms that are for international adoption only.  We would have been there all day if not.  Thankful this is over.

 

 

We thought it was pretty funny that they had a vending machine with wine on the bottom floor of the building with the medical clinic!!

 



 

 

After the medical appointment we went back to the room for down time before heading the the police station for more paperwork for Grace's Visa!  After the appoitment we went to the playroom and came back to the room for a bath.  She is definilty not a fan of the bath.  I am sure she will grow to love the water just like her big sisters!!  Here is a picture of Grace eating puffs.  The girl Loves them!!

 



 

June 14th, 2016

Tuesday was our first morning with Grace.  She woke up and we got ready for breakfast!  She ate like a champ.  She loves fruit and muffins and ate and ate and ate.  We are definitely going to be getting some meat on her bones!!  She loved getting dressed and even got excited when I put her bow on!!  She is definitely a Barnett girl!!  Here is a sweet picture in the lobby of our hotel!  These flowers are beautiful!!

 

 

After breakfast we headed back to the Civil Affairs office to finalize the China side of the adoption.  In China they let you take your baby home and give you 24 hours before they will finalize everything to confirm you want to adopt the child.  We went through 2 interviews and signed more paperwork.  Now according to China she is officaly our girl!!

 



Here is our picutre that will be used for her Visa paperwork!!

 

 

One more photo from the place we received Grace!  Thankful we do not have to go back for any more appointments.  After our morning we headed back to the room to rest.  Late afternoon we hit the playroom, had dinner, and were off to bed.  Grace is doing very well considering we have only been together for a little more than 24 hours.  She is having a really hard time sleeping so we are praying that God can calm her little heart.  That he can reassure her that we are not going anywhere and will always be there when she wakes up.  She did pass out in my arms for about 15 minutes after the appointments today!  She is definitely a snuggle bug!!