Passports, Typhoon,and Reagan

The end of July brought some friends from Tennessee to see us and that meant my brother, Reagan, came too.  It was so great to see him and spend some time hanging out in the hotel room every night.  We had a very sweaty week teaching English to 150 kids in a house, but it was a fun group of people to do it with!

The night before the group was to leave we received a phone call from a friend asking if we had seen the weather about Typhoon Vicente in Hong Kong. No, but we were all boarding planes in the morning heading to Hong Kong border cities.  Apparently the storm was beginning to hit those cities.  Our family got up the next morning and headed to the airport at 4am, hoping our flight wouldn't be delayed or cancelled. It wasn't, but we did have the ride of our life as the plane landed. Sadly, Reagan's team was delayed several hours, as they were on a different flight.  It made for an exciting beginning of the day.

Our next stop was the US Consulate.  I would like to say that at this stop it was very nice to be an American.  It was pouring rain and there was a HUGE, LONG, line. Once we arrived they ushered us past the line and right in to the office because we were passport holding Americans. YES!!   It seems the time has come for our kids to get new passports as theirs expire in a few months.  One of the things you have to do in getting new children's passports is present the old one and show facial changes over the last 5 years.  This was rather interesting and like watching time pass in front of your eyes.  I had printed a paper for each child showing them each year, and it was really amazing how much they had changed in the last 5 years.  And there it was, in proof, right in front of me, my kids had grown up. *Side note, it is a lot easier and faster to get a passport overseas then in America.

After lunch with great friends heading back to America for a few months, we headed to Hong Kong to meet up with Reagan's group again.  Due to the typhoon and following rain, it was a wet few days.  We decided to take a trip on the cable cars across to the largest sitting Buddha and for lunch and shopping.  I don't really care for being suspended for 25 minutes in a cable car crossing mountains and such, but this is my 3rd time to do it.  The view is always worth it, and I enjoy it on the way back much more than going.  However, driving wind a rain were a factor.

 In the words of my niece, Ainsley, "I really didn't love it," and neither did Hudson. But we got some cool pictures. 

 The view in front of us....flying into the abyss.

Looking down at the trees below us.

 Safely on land again!!

 Hudson, enjoying the bathroom signs, letting you know inside is a squatty, not a toilet seat.

 On the way back I was feeling better about the ride as it had cleared up and the rain had almost stopped. I sure do love this guy!

We were so happy and blessed  to have a chance to spend some quality time with Reagan.  Thanks, Brother,  for spending the extra days with us!!