Home Sweet Home!

Two continents, five cities, six flights, one train ride, 14,074 miles and we are finally HOME! I can't tell you what a relief it was for our flight to land and know that the four Hills are home for good. As we rode the escalator up to the lobby we saw a mob of family and friends waiting to meet Lucy. Poor Lu wasn't herself after the long travel day - she still had the stomach bug all the way home. But she did great as she met grandmas and papas and great grandmas and aunts and uncles and cousins and friends! She even started sharing - she shared her stomach bug with Papa and Jenna and Auntie Shell!

Four Hills home at last!

Meet the newest American citizen! Lu became a citizen when we landed in Detroit and they steamped her visa.

Grandma Sharon couldn't wait to hold little Lucy!

Neither could Grandma Berni!

Papa Rich with Lucy.

Great Grandma Monteith with Lucy.

Papa Robert finally got his turn.

We've spent the last week adjusting to the new time zone. Whew! That's a lot harder than I realized! Just when Bryan and I were feeling less exhausted and a little more normal the kids would be up all hours of the night. Jaden was waking up for the day at 3am for the first 3 or 4 days - yikes! Lucy, who was the best sleeper ever in China was waking up 3-4 times a night. We were exhausted. But I think things are getting ironed out and our bodies are almost nearly back on track.

Thanksgiving was wonderful this year! Bryan's Mom hosted for both our families so we were all together for Lucy's first Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for always, but this year more than ever. The Lord has been kind to our family and all of us were feeling a unique awareness of his goodness in the gift of Lucy. We are thankful beyond words for this blessing and are honored that he chose us to parent this sweet little girl. As we looked around at how much we are loved and supported by both of our families we felt even more thankful. Not only do we live close to both of our parents, but both of our brothers and their families as well. We all get along and all love one another and enjoy spending time together. Who could ask for more? God has blessed us beyond measure and we are truly grateful!

We hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that the holidays will be extra special for you this year as they will for us! We hope to get to introduce each of you to our little Lucy in the upcoming weeks and months! She is a delight! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all of your prayers, support and words of encouragement while we were away! We can never fully express our gratitude. The Lord was incredibly kind to us through the wait, through the trip and as we begin this new life together.

I'll leave you with some photos from Hong Kong Disney - what a fantastic day and a great way to end the trip of a lifetime! Jaden was completely surprised and thrilled that we weren't going shopping but were spending the entire day at Disneyland!

No way! You mean we're not shopping today?!

"Hill family, now that you've finally traveled to China to get Lucy what are you going to do?"
"We're going to Disneyland!"

Once you're inside everything is nearly exactly the same as Magic Kingdom in Disneyland and Disneyworld. HK Disney is smaller - there was no Splash Mountain or Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and some of our favorite rides, but there was enough to keep us busy for a day!

We loved that everything was decorated for Christmas. Unfortunately there was only 1 ornament to buy in the entire park! And it didn't say Hong Kong Disney. Bummer.

An Asian take on Cinderella's Castle.

Jaden LOVED Space Mountain! We rode it quite a few times!

Lu's hairbands are fashionable and functional. She kept pulling them over her eyes to block out the sun while she slept. I told you she was a smarty!

In Toy Story Land Jaden was able to pose with one of the toy solders. This is a real person in the outfit - totally cool!

Jaden in front of Toy Story Land - it was decked out with all the toys from the movie. So fun!

What would Disney be without the "It's a Small World" ride?! The babies could even go on this one!

Daddy and Lucy inside "It's a Small World".

Minnie Lucy!

Look how gorgeous it is with the mountains in the background!

HK Disney even had the big music and fireworks display at the end of the night - fabulous!

And a good time was had by all. A fabulous way to end the journey of a lifetime.