we're here!

Thank you all so much for your prayers! There was definitely a peace throughout the days before we left and throughout our 28-hour trip, and we know it's because we are being lifted up by our friends and family. Praise the Lord, we are a HUGE step closer to Ayla!

It is 1:00am on March 2, and we just got checked into our hotel in Beijing. Unfortunately, the hotel was completely full and since we arrived so late, they had no choice but to upgrade us to a suite!! Any bed would have been welcomed at this point, but we are in a really nice hotel room for the next 2 nights. We are tired, but so excited to finally be here! Tomorrow (well, technically today) we are going to sleep in and then go to the Great Wall. 

On a funny note (maybe only because I'm sleep deprived), I wore a sweatshirt today that I got last summer. It has Chinese writing on it, but I had no I idea what it said...until today. We met a man in Tokyo in the security line who was really friendly. He teaches in Florida, but was coming home to China for Spring Break. He told me it said 5 yuan (the Chinese currency) and 10 yuan. Apparently, the whole sweatshirt looks like a Chinese bill. Random. So, as we are boarding the plane to Beijing, the sweet flight attendant smiles at me and says, "10 bucks." Not sure I'll be wearing it much more. Ok, so that isn't that funny.

Ok, here's a few pics...goodnight!!



Birmingham airport, 2/29 at 4:30am.







The plane that took us from Detroit to Tokyo...

we had a row of 4 seats to ourselves.

Lookin' a little rough in Tokyo...

Just landed in Beijing!!