3 1/2 weeks to go...

Good morning! I can't believe that it is just 3.5 weeks until we get on that plane!! As we are cleaning up from snow on Friday, we feel so fortunate to have all the resources we have here in Canada. The news out of China is not good as they are experiencing the coldest and snowiest winter in about 50 years. Please keep everyone in China, particularly the little ones in orphanages in your thoughts. Reports from Half the Sky (an organization that provides support to Chinese orphanages) are that many places are without heat, electricity and fresh water, and that food prices have skyrocketed. They are heating their places with coal - something I'm sure none of us could imagine.

We can't wait to welcome Quinn into our family and hope that he is safe and healthy through this weather. We are hoping we can somehow find out through Children's Bridge how they are doing. I went out yesterday and purchased some warm tops and pants to donate to the girls' and Quinn's orphanages - it's a drop in the bucket and probably too late for this year, but they will be there for any more cold days this year and next. We are also anxiously awaiting our Robeez donation - they have a wonderful program for needy children around the world.

So not wanting to sound all gloomy, we are very excited about our upcoming trip and will keep you posted as things progress. We should have our finalized itinerary sometime this week and will post it then. We will also be celebrating 2 great events this week - Hannah's 8th birthday on the 6th (where does the time go??) and Chinese New Year on the 7th. To celebrate both, we will be going to our favourite Chinese Food haunt for "New Years Eve" and birthday celebrations.

Gung Hay Fat Choy or Gong Xi Fa Cai!!! Happy New Years to all!!

Jane