Welcome to Beijing!

We made it to Beijing with no problems. It's a long 14 hour flight, but everyone did well. Christopher was amazingly good, and didn't die of boredom or anything. We were really careful to empty our carry ins of any snacks we'd have trouble bringing through customs (fruit and veggies), but other than stopping to make sure we had visas, no one even batted an eyelash at 5 people with enough luggage to be moving in permanently :) Our guide met us right at the end of the customs line, and helped us get loaded into the van and back to the hotel. She'll be with us most of the time we're in Beijing, right until we get to the airport to go to Changsha. We managed to change money on our own last night, sent my parents to the store for water, walked to a nearby restaurant to get dinner, and managed to point and order food without a problem. It's feeling pretty successful all in all. Right now, it's 4:00 am here, and I'm wide awake. Christopher has been awake off and on since midnight, but he got a lot more sleep on the plane than any of us did. Thank gosh of an iPad with a lot of Disney movies :). We'll be heading out today to the Great Wall, the Summer Palace, and one of the jade factories. There is another couple from our agency here at the same time, so they'll be coming with us as well. It feels like such a relief to be here after all this time planning. We will be in Beijing until Monday morning, and then will leave for Changsha early Monday morning to meet Benjamin! It seems a bit weird, knowing we're here and so anxious to get him, and he probably has no idea what is about to happen. If you can spare some prayers for him, and for all of us, we'd appreciate it!