Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya, tomorrow. You're only a day away!

Yup, leaving tomorrow. Beginning our new normal. It's good.

All we have left is the oath ceremony in about an hour. We'll let you know how that goes. The last time I made an oath, I hitched up with Gary. That turned out great. It'll be so much fun to celebrate the Simon is officially a Sprick. Simon Yiyi Arthur Sprick. Simon after the disciple: so full of courage and passion. Yiyi is what he was called in the orphanage. Arthur is after Shanda's dad (it is his middle name) and Sprick. . . well you know about that one. We've had a couple of questions about Simon. He is 2 1/2. He does have a special need, although you probably won't ever see it. He had a lipoma on his back and a lymphangioma on his right thigh. Both are benign tumors that have been removed. We think he'll need surgery again as it looks like his scaring could be cleaned up a bit. There is still a bit of lumpiness on his thigh as well. We'll see what Dr. Waalkes (love her!) has to say about it. He runs, jumps, and climbs just like a 2 1/2 year old boy, pausing to point out the airplane, motorcycle, bicycle and dogs that he sees around him.

Things we'll miss about China:
Great food
Others cleaning up our hotel room
Brand new things to look at
A very different culture than what we are used to
Walking all over
Cheap cab rides when needed
Little stores
Chinese obstacle course television program
The Reigers
Learning learning learning
Two on one parenting
Early morning walks
Warm weather
Being encouraged by other adoptive families
Big and delicious choices for breakfast
And so much more. . .

Things we are looking forward to in the U.S.
Garrison and Noel
Clean air
Water from the tap
Fewer offensive smells
Vegetables we understand
Living in more than one room
Seeing our family and friends
Smokey (our dog)
The Amazing Race
Garrison and Noel
Obeyed traffic laws
Holland Heights Church
Fast internet
Standing in a shower that drains completely
Our beds
Seat belts
Stopping the flow of money
Garrison and Noel
And so much more. . .


Thanks again for all your encouragement and prayers. We still don't have seats together tomorrow on our first and last flights, but it is o.k. We are one aisle away from each other. We are together on the long one, the one that matters the most. Our family is meeting us at the airport. Boy, are we looking forward to some fantastic hugs!

Prayer Requests
Please pray for us tomorrow. As you go to bed tomorrow night, we'll be leaving. Our flight begins at 7:30 p.m. your time and we'll be landing at 4:30 the next afternoon. Please lift us up often as it will be a long day. We leave the hotel at 5:30 a.m.
Also, please pray for the transition that our family will be making in the days, weeks, and months ahead. It is going to be a big adjustment for all of us.
Praise God that Garrison and Noel are doing great. They have had such wonderful care. I'm thinking that Gary and I will seem quite boring upon our return.
Most of all, please join with us in blessing God for this amazing event. He adopted us as sons, and now we have adopted a son. My love grows more each day and I already can't imagine life without Simon. . . I don't want to.

You have been an important part of our journey. We bless God for you.

shanda and gary