This is it. It's 9:30 pm here in Zhenzhou, China. 7:30 am at home. We've just finished getting everything ready for tomorrow and will try to get some sleep. Tonight is the last night Penelope will ever spend without her family. Our last night as a family of 5.
Today was a travel day. We got up in Beijing and had breakfast, checked out of our hotel, and flew to Zhenzhou.
Gabe is the best of the 3 of us with chopsticks.
We were sad to say goodbye to Cecelia, our Beijing guide. She took great care of us!
Zhenzhou is the capital of the Henan province, where Penelope is from. It is another huge city, 9 million people. Much bigger than New York City. The smog is even worse than it was in Beijing. It looks like a thick fog. Lots of scooters everywhere. Again, pedestrians do not have the right of way here!
We went to Wal Mart for supplies. It's the same, but very different.
Look what was waiting for us at our new hotel! 
We have the diaper bag packed and the room as ready as we can...
Jason and I got name tags identifying us as Zi Shu's parents. 
So, this is it. I'm so excited but also so nervous. We leave our hotel at 9:30 tomorrow morning, which will be 7:30 pm Sunday night IL time. We've been told Luoyang, the city Penelope is from, is often the last to arrive.
Please, please pray for us. But more than us, pray for Penelope. While we have no doubts whatsoever that the best thing for her is to have a forever family, she doesn't know that right now. Tomorrow morning, everything she has ever known will change. She will be put in a car for a 2 hour car ride and then handed off to some huge white people who don't look, sound, or smell like anything she knows. Pray that Penelope's heart will be open to us and her grieving will not be too hard for her or us.
I will post pictures as soon as I can.
See you on the other side....
22 comments:
Can't wait for the next post. The best one.
Ya Ya is waiting for you!
I can't believe you are so close to
Being able to hug and kiss and just be there for Penelope!! One more night!! (isn't it the rule the sooner you go to sleep the sooner the day will come?) Im so excited to read the blog for that day and the first round of Penelope and family pics !!!It will finally be here All the tears and fears and waiting will be over, and the start of the new chapter will start! You keep saying its so hard to picture how small she is, so you are going have to put it in words how small your little princess bug is. Im sure as soon as the post is made that you have her there will be tears of joy in the US. its just amazing how many of us love Penelope already because of you guys. Thank you Fulton family for letting all of us be a part of this!
So very, very exciting and I'm sure scary too. Happily ever after isn't instant, but I know you'll all have it eventually. Now hurry up, tomorrow :)
Thank you for sharing your wonderful journey. I am so very happy for you all!
Praying. BAMN
Praying for Penelope and for all of your family. This journey has been so exciting. So happy that you shared it with everyone. What a precious little one :)
Best of luck tomorrow! We're enjoying following along!
Praying for all of you!! She doesn't know how much love is waiting for her.. Fulton boys, your life will never be the same with a little girl in the house!!! :) Thanks for sharing your journey!!
Praying !!
We are praying for you guys and for sweet Penelope. "Gotcha Day" for us was a wonderful, exciting, nervous day. Through it all the Lord's hand was so evident! Your first real life glimpse of Penelope will be a moment you never forget. May it be blessed!
Your friend,
Michelle Parker
Boys did great in Church this morning. We watched a movie this afternoon and now are playing Wii. We are thankful you are following God's plan for our family. Can't wait to see our granddaughter, she may be a little scared at first, but I am praying she will soon realize what a loving family she is coming into and will come to love us as much as we love her. We will have the phone handy whenever you get the chance to face time us. Anxiously waiting to hear from you. Love, Nanny
Praying for you all.....and what a wonderful gift you are giving to little Penelope. She is a very lucky little girl to have a wonderful family like yours. God is good....thank you for sharing your journey.
So glad that after this long journey you will soon have that sweet girl in your arms! The Zumbahlens are anxious to meet their new cousin & Hadley has one of her dolls picked out to give to Penelope. Its hard for her to understand how much you have been through and how far away you are right now but she does understand that China is not in Illinois and it's farther than the beach at North Carolina. Safe travels. Her love for you will come & she is so lucky that you guys have the rest of your lives to show her everything that all kids deserve. There is a whole community waiting to meet the lovely Penelope whenever she is ready. Love you guys!
Amanda
So excited, finding myself looking forward to your next post each day. Will be praying and can't wait for pics!
Of my gosh, I just looked at the time and realized you are only about 2 hrs away from seeing your little princess!! Josh and I are so excited for you and hope you have a wonderful "Gotcha Day"!! Good luck and prayers are going up for you and Penelope!! Can't wait to meet the little sweetheart!
- Stefani and Josh
Were waiting and praying? So excited!
Prayers from JC....Good luck. Kelly Hemrich
What an amazing journey. I will always remember Gabe's face when you were getting his first baby brother. He was with your parents and he beamed as he told me he was a new big brother. How exciting he is sharing China and this experience too. I can't wait to see your new baby girl and you all out as a family I am sure supporting the Eagles in some way. Prayers sent your way for safe travels and comfort and compassion through the rest of your journey. Jyn Eaton
anxiously waiting the pics of the new little fulton w/part of the fam...so happy for all of you
Almost 7:30 here. Tears in my eyes when I saw that crib waiting for you in your room. I asked the boys at church this morning if they were excited to see pictures of Penelope tonight. Dexter said yes very enthusiastically and Quincy was a very grouchy NO. I said aren't you excited to be a big brother and nope he's not he said. I told him you will always be the baby brother and he smiled. Dexter said he wanted to be the biggest big brother and I told him that would always be Gabe but he is still a big brother. They are so cute. Looking forward to the next post. So excited to see my sweet great niece. Penelope you are truly loved. We went to Brady's baby shower today and God sat me next to their neighbor who I had told how excited we were for today with our new addition and she told me about 2 families she knows who adopted children from China and one was two like Penelope and they have had her for nine months and she has totally adjusted GREAT to being in America. Another God wink. Don't worry about her, God has this and knew even before she was born that she would be your daughter. KNOW we are praying and love you guys very much. Happy Bonding and send lots of pictures. Sorry so long but I had to share about that family and the other one was a boy and the mom was the only one who could go get him, but when he got home he immediately bonded with dad. Love you Carolyn C
The Bierman family is waiting anxiously for the first pictures. Lucy has lots to teach Penelope, like how to sit on the porch. She's been out there once today already. Ready to do whatever you need. Love you guys!
Jill, Ben, Eliza, Lily, Gus & Lucy
She is so beautiful! Cant wait till you get home with her! Already looking at ideas for her next cake! We miss you here at work but we're so glad you are there with her.
G
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