Hello New York!

We have arrived in Chengdu. It was about a 3 hour flight from Beijing. Let me start by saying that we made a new friend right before this flight. A young lady, 19 years old, was behind me in security check, and asked me if i was flying to Chengdu, told her we were. Said wonderful, another foreigner; she was feeling lonely in her travels. So i asked her to walk with us to our gate entrance; and we started talking. I asked her where she was from, and her answer just threw me back.. She told me she was from Colombia! I got all excited, because that is where my family is from. We have a lot of family that live in Colombia. Just amazing that i am in China, and i meet someone from Colombia! She was flying to Chengdu , and she is staying here for a year to study Mandarin. We exchanged emails, and will have dinner sometime this week. Such a small world.

We were picked up by our guide Emily; who is a ball of fire. She is go-go-go! We are driven into Chengdu downtown, and it was like driving into Times Square. I had this city pegged differently. I was thinking small city, maybe very rural..complete opposite. SOOOO MANY people! There are more stores to shop at than restaurants to eat at. Or maybe we just don't what things say. But we are completely blown away with this city. We are getting a lot more stares here than in Beijing; so that's a bit odd, and at times a little uncomfortable. You see people talking about you, and looking at you all up and down, and not able to understand what the heck they are saying. So many beautiful stores, and beautiful clothes! I wish i could go shopping crazy!

We just walked around for a bit; and bought something on a stick to eat. Please don't ask me what it was; because we don't know, and i rather keep it that way..just kidding. It was very delish believe it or not. and if you know me, i don't EVER eat anything that i don't know what it is. I am really stepping out of my comfort box here; Leo is very proud of me.

Other than that; this city reminds me A LOT of New York, Times Square..I will be taking some more pictures, since we are staying here a full week.

On Monday, at about 2pm we will be taken to the civil affairs office to meet Olivia. I have not reacted much to this, i am actually calm at this point; but it could also be that its 545 am and i am writing this blog entry.

I cant believe this day is here; that 2.5 years has been passed by, and we get here in literally 9 hours. Oh my stomach just flipped!

I will start preparing her little princess back pack with goodies this morning. I wish i can just take the whole suitcase; she has so many fun stuff. But i will just bring her back and let her go crazy in the bag. Merry Christmas Baby!

**I pray that we have a nice meeting
**I pray that that she doesn't freak out TOO MUCH
**i pray that we can cry together and it brings us closer
**I pray that we don't scare her off
**I pray that we can maker her feel at ease and comfortable

Please pray for us that everything goes as smoothly as it can for us and especially for her. I know she will feel pain from leaving her only home she has ever known; the nannies she has ever known. But i hope we can show her that we are here to love her forever. And that she has so much family waiting to meet her and love on her.

Okay, i need to see if i can sleep another hour or so....Til the next