#151 (31/5)

Today was more catch up, a cuppa with a friend, training for the ambulance and then home.

I'm loving being home, but it was also nice to catch up with my friend and have her offer to have her babysitter look after Eb while I did training too.  Graham away so that made a much easier night for me and much more fun for Eb.

#150 (30/5)

A day at home editing....and the first of the 3 final weddings are now edited on able to be viewed by the Groom and Bride.  Very grateful for that.

#149 (29/5)

I'm exhausted today after 2 jobs in the ambulance overnight and only 3 hours sleep (on top of Jetlag!) - but I'm so grateful that some work is coming in on the heels of our time away.  Much needed.

#148 (28/5)

Quiet start to the day for us - but a 6.30am start for the girls!

Grateful that Dick and Wendy could come and have lunch with us when they picked up Eb and we were able to share some of our China journey with them.

#147 (27/5)

Today was a lot harder.  The tiredness that had to come - came today.

But! we got to pick Ruby (one of Eb's Suixi sisters) up from her Dad and Mum in Chiltern for a weekend away, and take her to Discipleship group with Eb and then have her stay the night.  One happy little cherub.....one happy Dad and Mum!

#146 (26/5)

Even after so little sleep - I feel good!  That alone is something to be grateful for. I'm also grateful to be back in my own bed and back with my beautiful washing machine!

#145 (25/5)

We're home safe and sound - what more could I possibly say!

#144 (24/5)

Today we were able to let Eb sleep in and we actually went down to the Hotel restaurant for breakfast on our own while she slept.  I left her a note and she made her way down to us (hair unbrushed and face unwashed!) but happy. That's a big step for her.

Grateful that we were able to stay in our Hotel until 1pm and just enjoy the views and spaciousness.

#143 (23/5)

What an amazing day.  We took Eb to Disney World Hong Kong.  We dragged our feet a bit this morning because we all really wanted to hang around in the beautiful Hotel....but I pushed us and we got there (in 30degree heat with 95% humidity) at about midday.  To see the joy on our little girls face made the heat, the humidity and the sweat pouring of us all - worthwhile. 

Grateful for such an opportunity and grateful to see the sunshine in my little girls face all.day.long

#142 (22/5)

Tonight I feel extremely blessed.  We arrived at our Hotel and we had been advised to ask for an upgrade to a water front room.  I asked for the price and it was a bit out of our league.  We continued the booking in process and then, right at the end, the young guy gave us our key which showed a harbourview room - on the 19th floor.  I had tears in my eyes.  I feel like a queen!

#141 (21/5)

What an amazing day we've had.  The Great Wall of China at Mutianyu and then the Summer Palace.  Feeling so blessed to have experienced the things we have.  The Great Wall was pretty high on my 'bucket' list and now I can tick it off. 

#140 (20/5)

So many 'bucket list' items being crossed off!  Temple of Heaven, Tian'amen Square, Forbidden City! all ticked off today. Fun (although very hot) day for all of us.

#139 (19/5)

Today we woke in Beijing!  A bit tired after such a huge day of travel, but we managed to pick ourselves up and head out into the 37 degree heat and visit the Hutongs.  Another bucket list ticked off!

#138 (18/5)

Wow! today I got to travel at 300+ kmh in a bullet train!  What an amazing experience.  Feel very blessed for this experience :)

#137 (17/5)

Today Eb and I were able to take a Bamboo raft down the Yulong River.  This was on my bucket list for China!  I'm grateful that we got to do it (albiet I was a bit nervous after the rain!)

#136 (16/5)

Wow am I ever grateful that I can ride a bike.  We had an amazing day today riding around the Yangshuo countryside!  absolutely stoked...and exhausted!

#135 (15/5)

Today my little girl and I got to go to a Cooking school together in the countryside around Yangshuo.  What more is there to be grateful for???

We had a wonderful time together and I'm loving the adventures we are having!

#134 (14/5)

Another big day today.  A quiet morning but a big afternoon and evening.  Visiting beautiful and at times ancient places, then the light show.  What more of a gift could I get on this Mothers Day.  Very grateful again.

#133 (13/5)

A couple of gratefuls today.

One that I actually managed to sleep on a train that I thought I wouldn't stand a chance of sleeping on! and the other is the amazing things I got to see today.  The Loji ricefields at Longsheng and then our Hotel!  Both are amazing and I'm extremely grateful to be here.

#132 (12/5)

Huge grateful today.  So relieved that our trip back to Suixi SWI went far better than I could ever have anticipated.

To see Mr. Han walk out to the van and look so excited to see Ebony and welcome her 'home'.  That is my grateful.

This day could have been so very different - but it wasn't - it was a truly beautiful day and I think Ebony has a great memory of this day and, now, a positive one of her roots.

#131 (11/5)

Not our finest day today - all way too exhausted and, I guess, struggling with all the differences that come in a country that struggles with English speaking tourists.

My grateful? That we have this opportunity and that we could get to bed nice and early to be prepared for our huge and, undoubtedly emotional, day tomorrow.

#130 (10/5)

Today has been another difficult day in China.  So many hurdles to jump!  It's exhausting.

But we have an opportunity to embrace the journey we're on and not focus on all the hards that are happening.

Today, my grateful is for the ability to walk and walk and walk.  Some could never consider it.

#129 (9/5)

What an awesome day cycling around the streets of old and new Guangzhou.  We've had such fun and learnt so much.  Today I have to say though, that I'm grateful to have a China SIM card.  It's made it so much easier to get around this town and not worry about how we get back to our accommodation.

#128 (8/5)

Today was a bit of a blur.  Car, bus, plane, plane, bus, taxi, home for 2 days.  Finding our accomodation was quite a challenge but I'm more grateful than I can express to 3 young people who spoke some English but enough to help us get to where we needed to be.  Without them, we could still be sitting on the roadside with no idea where our bed would be feeling totally exhausted!

#127 (7/5)

The day has arrived!  I can't believe we're taking this journey.  So much to happen.  I'm excited and nervous but also incredibly grateful.  There have been times over the last year when I really didn't think this would happen.  But it has and the fun times are about to begin!

#126 (6/5)

Last day 'at home'.  Went and helped move some wood into a trailer for the Mothers Day stall at school, then we headed back into Wangaratta to sort out a few issues, then it was home for a final pack.  Last day before we leave!  It's getting so close now and we're all excited.

#125 (5/5)

A day in town doing all the final stuff for before we leave on Sunday.  I took Ebony out of school today so we could get to meet the newest member of the Bloomer family - little Fletcher Roy.  I'm grateful today because Eb was so happy to cuddle Fletcher.  She has never shown an interest in little people until today.  That made my heart very happy.

#124 (4/5)

Today was the last day fully at home before we leave to go.  Life seems a bit out of control in some ways, but I have to say that, in packing to go away, it seems that for the first time I can recall, we are way, way under weight for travelling!  That's a huge yay from me!

#123 (3/5)

Well - tonight we did our Pharmacology exam for the Ambulance Service.

I have been nervous for DAYS! I'm so, so, so grateful it's over!...but I'm making a promise to myself to get to know the pharmacology side of things heaps better so I don't go through days like these again!

#122 (2/5)

Today the packing started for our journey to China.

We leave on Sunday and it's taken me a while to feel excited about this trip - but it's now starting to appear.  I'm trying to be very wise with my packing so we don't need to carry much and there's no stress associated with baggage!  

I feel like, thus far, I've achieved what I want!

#121 (1/5)

My little girl and I walked to school today.  I'm so grateful for these times we have together.  Times to walk and talk about the things she wants to talk about.
I'm also grateful that she is happy to walk. The days are getting quite chilly now - but nothing stops this little girl.