Hi blog buddies!!! Jenny is in Bejing and she needs your help. After all of her planning and anxiety over packing her luggage has ended up in California. She is devastated. She has nothing for Abby as it is all in her suitcase. Yes she can buy a few things and get by, but they won't be the special things she lovingly selected for Abby. Please pray that her luggage makes it to her asap! I told her this is equivalent to a long, hard labor that she'll forget all about once she has Abby. None the less, she's extremely down and could use some lifting up from her blog buds. She's asked if I'd cut and paste your comments and email them to her to lift her spirits...so comment away! They were going to the Great Wall today.
On a lighter note Erin's doll is evidently whooping it up and getting photographed having a grand old time! Stay tuned for pictures.
34 comments:
Hi there! I've been following along since you received your referral. I'm a single waiting mom LID 12-13-06 and thank you for sharing your story online. It is helping me get through this looooong wait!
Don't be discouraged, I bet your luggage will make it soon!
You just concentrate on loving your sweet little Abby and it will all work out. I hope you have a wonderful trip despite the luggage fiasco. We are all rooting for you and I sincerely wish you the best.
Sara-
http://huckleberries-and-rice.blogspot.com
jenny, don't stress. i know that is so much easier said than done, but try. enjoy abby's country and soak it all in! this will be yet another one of thousands of stories you will look back and laugh on one day (soon i am sure). just think how much abby will appreciate the irony when she is older!! the luggage will get there. everything will fall into place just like it always has in the past. one of the many of "oh shits" you will continue to have for years to come. x's and o's
Jenny--
Hey, man, look on the bright side...this means that you can actually buy more stuff while you are there! HA!
Seriously, though, once you get Abby it won't matter what you are (or aren't) wearing...she will have your arms wrapped snug around her and that is all that counts. Trust me.
Take care and good luck!
--Jen Dolata
Delurking to say it will all work itself out- even if you have to buy all new everything! And they know where your luggage is, which is also very very good.
Try to relax and enjoy your time. I look forward to pictures!
Kristine
Sending good luggage vibes so that it all turns up.
And if it doesn`t...the only thing you need is you. Abby is waiting for you and that is all she needs!
Keep smilin!
Jenny, the same thing happened to us when we traveled for Jazzie. For the first few days I had nothing for Jazzie (and nothing for us). Your travelmates will come to the rescue, as did ours. People in our group brought us outfits for Jazzie, underwear for us (yes, I wore a stranger's panties!!!) and toys until our luggage got back. I was not happy about it, I cried every time I heard our luggage still wasn't there. It eventually came and all was well. I can laugh about it now, but at the time it was hard to deal with. Just think that as long as you have all your documents (which I hope were in your carry on!) and Abby, you
really don't need anything else. You will have plenty of days to dress Abby in all her cute outfits!
Trust me, I know you are sad and upset, I've been there. Just buy stuff in China, it will be so meaningful and a great reminder of your time in China to have all that after you come home.
Hugs,
Sandra
Jenny if you are reading this, breathe! That happened to two members of our travel group and they got their luggage quickly. In the meantime the rest of the travel group contributed some items to get you by. It will arrive, but in the meantime, you will have Abby which is all you really need. Hang in there!
Hi Jenny- it's hard but keep your sense of humor- this too will pass. You have a lifetime to dress Abby in beautiful clothes so don't stress about this. Not sure how many families you're traveling with but if they know the situation, I bet some of them will come forward with help. You can find pretty much anything you need for Abby in China so just try to enjoy yourself- the trip will go by so fast!
Luggage to Beijing...Luggage to Beijing... I'll be chanting it all night for ya!!!
Like someone already said.. the good news is that they know where it is.. that will make it get to you much faster.
Try to enjoy yourself... I'm praying that this is the only blip you shall have to endure!!
Oh man- this truly is horrid labor! You've got my hugs and prayers for your luggage to meet up with you before you meet Abby. On a lighter note, at least you will have on crazy story to tell Abby about your trip to her.
Hugs
Lisa and sweet puppy snuggles from Mesa.
Try not to stress about it. I know that's easy for me to say since I'm not the one in the middle of China with no clean underwear.
But really, it'll all work itself out. You'll make do until it gets there. And all you really need is your sweet baby girl.
But I'll send some happy thoughts that your luggage arrives quickly!
Wow, truly an adventure! The stories you will be able to tell and write in Abby's lifebook! =)
Plus you'll really be able to whittle down the need to pack lists for everyone because you'll *really* know what truly is essential! It sure has been a crazy ride so far, but you are all there safe and sound and you will be holding your daughter soon! Sending hugs!
Oh, that sounds like my trip to Europe last summer. Delayed/lost luggage is so stressful. We finally found mine a few days later in the lost and found at the airport. They hadn't delivered it to my hotel like they were supposed to. When I got home, I wrote a two-page letter to the airline, letting them know the inconvenience and expense that the lost luggage had caused me. I included all my receipts for the things I had to purchase to get me through whilst without my luggage. After three or four months, I received a check for $300, and a voucher for $125 from the airline. So, try and remember to write a letter when you get home. It could be worth it.
I'm sure you'll make do, and that your guides and fellow travelers will help you put together stuff in the meantime. Don't let it steal your joy!
At the end of this you will be laughing about the misadventures of your luggage. Hang in there. Your Angel will be in your arms and then nothing will matter.
Donna
Oh good lord, havent you endured enough?!? I'm so glad I saw you packed a chge of clothes in the colassal backback of yours. Sending good luggage vibes your way. Travelmates are the best...let them know. In the meantime, try your hardest to ENJOY BEIJING!!!!! You are finally on the SAME CONTINENT as your daughter. wow.
Kind regards from Miami
It WILL be okay!!! Abby won't care...she's going to be happy to have her mama at long last...with or without stuff!
Tiffany
Dear Jenny,
I know how hard you worked to pick out the right things to meet and greet Abby....it is a very good sign they know where it is....You are in my thoughts as always!
Have a wonderful time and enjoy your time in China! Can't wait to see photos!
Love, Randi
My adoption agency told us to expect the unexpected when we traveled to Russia to adopt Luke. By my predictions you got all the "unexpected" out of the way and nothing but great things will happen from here on out! Hang in there girly I bet you will get your luggage by tomorrow. Luke and I are doing our "get that luggage to Jenny" dance!
Oh the stories you will be able to tell Abby...
XOXOXO
Mary
Oh no! Don't worry - it will be ok! Try to hang in there! Praying for you!
Hey Jenny -
This is one of your many 'wing it, mama' moments to come.
Sorry about the luggage but I know you will handle it with grace. Once you have Abby in your arms, that luggage will fade to the back of your mind.
Smooch!
Hang in there girly..
They will get your luggage to you before you get Abby...
You will look back at this and laugh your butt off..
Hugs to you...
Can't wait for pictures..
The same thing happened to a family not long ago. They got their luggage in the nick of time. This will just be part of Abby's story that you can tell her about one day... it will add some color to her story. We all can't wait to see her!
The funny part is that almost everything you have in that suitcase probably says "Made in China" anyhow.
Hi Jenny,
Lurker here. When my friend went to China, they missed a connecting flight due to weather in Chicago -- they were nowhere near Chicago geographically -- and consequently missed their flight to China. They had to scrounge around for $3000 extra dollars(which left them with, literally, $300 for their spending money for 2 weeks) to pay for first class tickets so they could be in China on gotcha day. If they had missed THAT flight it could have been several more months to re-schedule everything.
She missed the Great Wall, The Forbidden Palace etc, but she got to her destination a couple of hours beforey the left for the SWI to meet her daughter for the first time. Once she saw that little face, it was just a blip on the radar.
It all works out!! Hang in there, good thoughts are being sent your way!!
Jenny dearm, I like the "Luggage to Beijing mantra and will hold it in my heart. I remember years ago, about 1987 or 88 going to a retreat for survivors of abuse in Pennsylvania by Greyhound, they lost my luggage! It went on to D.C. apparently. I started to scry, I was so anxious about what I was doing. One woman after another stepped up with an extra nightgown , underwear, a fresh toothbrush. I felt truely held and had forgotten that until now, and it still gives me a warm feeling. Last Christmas when Katie/Katherine was flying home from northwest, her luggage was lost with all of her beu\autifully made Christmas gifts, etc. They were jerks about it. She started to fall apart and then said, "No, I am not going to let this ruin my time with my family. It didn't the airlines brought her some clothes and the luggage arrived safely back in Portland, even though she flew out of Seattle.. You have dressed and redressed little Abby in your hear, when you see the real Abby, you won't care what you have to put her in, All shall be well, Love Aunt Laurie the first aka Daisy
So sorry that your luggage didn't arrive with you. Don't worry though, it will get there and once you get Abby, all will be well again!!! She is soooo cute!!!!
This is like the emergency c-section right??? You can do it, Jenny!! Have you practiced your lamaze breathing?
Just kidding around a bit. ;)
But on the positive notes: you know where the luggage is, you made it to China safely, you get Abby in just a few short days, you are sharing this wonderful experience with 2 people who you love, you'll have great stories to tell Abby when she's older, you can justify buying more cute things while you're there, you get Abby in a few short days, you have the next 10-ish years to dress Abby in all the cute outfits you can afford (until puberty hits and she's "way too cool" lol), and most importantly God is watching over you and your growing family to keep you safe.
Hang in there and trust that God wouldn't let you down after all of this.
~Abby in MA
My luggage was 2 days behind me in Chicago -don't worry as long as it comes before Abby ....I wore my clothes for days and borrowed from other folks. It will all be OK ...
Fret a little then move on. This will be the first of many events that will be more funny at a later date. Just be glad that big daddy did not lost his luggage as you would never hear the end of it. We love you. Virginia and her friend Madison say hi. They are having a sleepover. More later, Atlanta five plus Nikki
Oh Jenny...
When I left my 1st husband with what I could fit in my sister's car, I left behind a brand new house, brand new furniture and I had no car. What I learned was, ALL I LOST WAS STUFF. What I found was me, the real me. Your luggage may be in California (on it's way to you). What you'll find is the love of your baby girl. Cheer up sweetie. It'll be ok. promise.
Love,
Debbie
I know it's unsettling but as along as you have each other that's all that matters.
Thinking of you and hoping that everything falls into place. Chin up, sweet girl...precious Abby is all you need. The rest will be a blur afterwards.
A year from now the lost suite case will just be part of the adoption story.
She has YEARS to dress Abby in things lovingly selected. Besides now she has an excuse to go shopping.
Hang in there and don`t let this ruin a second of your journey. ENJOY EVERY MOMENT, you have waited a long time.
OMG! That really bites. It'll be okay though! Abby is what's most important and I'm sure there will be other parents that will help you out! Take a deep breath!
Jenny you have never looked so happy. She is just the most beautiful thing. Wow, she is ready to cruise and you are so in for it. Watch out kitty. Virginia gets on this as soon as she wakes up each morning. Many hugs from so many of our friends here in Atlanta. Love ya, Kelli
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