Our Family's Travels
My Mommy and Daddy began their journey on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2001 (and my cousin, Clifton's birthday!). They left Virginia for San Francisco, California.
| There, they stayed with my Aunt Shelley and Uncle Dave and met 11-month-old Trent for the first time. |  |
Then, on the 15th (my Aunt Becky's birthday) they left San Francisco for Beijing. Here they are saying goodbye at the San Fran Airport to a tearful Aunt Shelley. |
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They arrived in Beijing on the 16th (my Uncle Jimmy and cousin, Mari Ashley's birthdays). They did some sightseeing (without me!) and got some great pictures and videos.
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They toured the Imperial Palace popularly known as "The Forbidden City". It was built between 1406 and 1419 and was where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties lived. |
| This is the Great Wall of China: one of the "Architectural Wonders of the World". Mommy and Daddy walked and walked and walked, but they never reached the end . . . |
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Then, on February 18th, they flew to Changsha, in the Hunan Province where they met !
| Our "First Family Adventure" was to the Welfare Home in Changsha. My Mommy took some gifts to the children there. |
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My province,
Hunan, is famous for exquisite embroidery. We visited - and did some
shopping at - the Embroidery Factory.
No, they didn't buy this one - even though they are beautiful - and they look like Tiana. |
Then, I took my very first airplane trip to Guangzhou on February 23rd.
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Guangzhou was
warm, tropical and very pretty.
This was one of the parks near The White Swan Hotel where we stayed. Yes, those ARE poinsettias in the Urn. |
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This was the
night view from our room.
It was awesome! |
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We really enjoyed our tour of the Guangdong Folk Arts Museum. The architecture was incredible. |
We left Guangzhou on February 28th (my Uncle R.G.'s birthday). (I know, this birthday thing is just way too coincidental. Could we ever doubt that I was meant to be a part of this family?!)
We arrived in Los Angeles, California, on March 28th, where I first set foot on American soil and became a U.S. Citizen! We had a big "Welcome Home Party" (which I almost slept through - it was a L-O-N-G flight!) I got to meet my Daddy's family. My Grandpa and Grandma Ann Davis came all the way from Maryland to see me and "Aunt" Gloria and "Uncle" Ken joined the party!
| We spent three days with Aunt Liz, Uncle Dennis, Clifton and Meagan. That's me - with the thumb in my mouth! We had a wonderful time! |
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Uncle Rick, Aunt Marda and Haley hosted a big family dinner for everyone on the eve of our departure. Then hosted us for the evening and drove us to the airport the next day. |
Then, on March 4th, we started our final leg back home. We were surprised to have another "Welcome Home Party" in Charlotte, where "Uncle" Matt and "Aunt" Kelley Parks were waiting at our gate with a teddy bear (named "Charlotte", appropriately enough!) for me. We then boarded one more plane for our final flight home to Virginia!
Join our family and explore the many aspects of our "Adoption Journey"!
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Bringing Our "Forever Family" Together - our Adoption Journey toward becoming a "Forever Family"
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The Joining of Our Hearts - pictures of the day I first met my Forever Mommy and Daddy
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Our Red Thread Valentine Connection - why Valentine's Day is so important to our family
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At Home in Virginia - a look at where we live and our happy family
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The Hearts Link Us - check out the bracelets I am making to keep my friends safe and help the children in China who don't have "Forever Families"
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Our Travel "Guides" - the many people and organizations who helped us make this dream a reality