Safe travels.
Seriously amazing connections.
Last night of CNY = Lantern Festival
Tons of fireworks!
BIG day tomorrow. T minus 12 hours.
Thank you for praying!
Love,
17
Feb
Feb
We’re Here!
February 17, 2011
15
Feb
Feb
Off We Gooooooooooo……
February 15, 2011
T
This is our luggage.
(With the exception of Matey, the cat.)
Plus a backpack for each of us.
The biggest hockey bag is donations for ND and so will be ejected off our quota once we hit Beijing.
And may I just say, it was all packed last night!
Family and close friends will understand the sheer miracle in those words.
Travel mates will be in awe of the lack of volume.
It’s one of those had to be there things.
(As in, you had to be there while we lugged 32 pieces of luggage through the Beijing airport.)
And if this makes it appear as though we have it all together? Have no fear.
The butterflies have multiplied, I started a round of Cold FX this a.m. and Steve is currently trying to figure out how to install a car seat for the first time in a decade.
Yeah. We’re calm like that.
And so, it is at this particular moment that I would like to remind those of you who pray, to take a moment to check out our Prayer Guide under the Adoption heading on the Home Page.
Sing with me now…
“If ever I needed the Lord before, I sure do need Him now….”
(Sung in your best Mahalia Jackson voice.)
P.S. Baby Autumn, Auntie would love to take you along on this trip! Unfortunately, I don’t think your new pigtails will allow you to fit into the strict carry-on requirements. Next time?
P.S.S. Lane, Martine, Anthony, Max, D, Joel, Ella, Matthew & Justin: We found a friend to join us on our travels. He’s riding in James’ backpack. Keep an eye out for “Spike” in our photos.
Much Love,
13
Feb
Feb
We are getting so close!
February 13, 2011
One more ring left on the paper chain in our dining room. 2 more empty days waiting for Cars stickers on our Samuel’s calendar in Beijing. Everybody’s doin’ the countdown.
Bags appear to be packed, but I’m sure some more shuffling is inevitable tomorrow. Last minute errands and a final tutoring session for one of the kids.
Housesitter has come for her pre-trip visit and gone again.
Final e-mails are coming in from China. “Why are you only staying for “x” number of days? Please come visit my home!”, they say.
Lots of questions from the kids. Lots of “Don’t forget to pack such and such!”, from the adults.
Absolutely tickled over this post on the New Day blog tonight. I love the absolute trust and innocence. Oh Lord, Jesus, that all people would be so gentle as that young lady!
Overflowing with thankfulness for our church family’s support and prayer. Unmerited outpouring of support from the virtual adoption world. A surprise gift from a beloved great-grandma, not to mention a box of cookies, devoured by my children (okay, and me!).
Reading Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. How is it that what He spoke to her a few years ago, is exactly what I need to hear today?
(Oh and btw, it comes in a hard copy too.)
Pondering the question: How did I get to be so blessed to be living this life, in this moment? And oh, am I thankful He picked me!
12
Feb
Feb
What lovely locks you have, my dear!
February 12, 2011
Grace has been trying so hard to grow out her hair. In the Spring, her hair finally kept clips in for longer than 15 minutes. In the summer, with the help of those tiny micro elastics, she was able to have pony tails. And today, finally, when we went to get our hair trimmed, our friend and stylist was able to french braid her whole head of hair!
Talk about glee!
(Click on each of the photos to enlarge them.)
11
Feb
Feb
Samuel Videos (from ND)
February 11, 2011
These were up on the ND video sharing site. Thanks Jess for reminding me to check there!
The dialogue, according to the note on the Vimeo site, goes something like this:
“In case it was hard to follow, Willa leans in close to Samuel and asks, “Do you love me.” Samuel grunts affirmatively. “I like you.” Willa tells him. She’s not sure that he heard, so she leans in a bit closer and says it again. “I like you.” Samuel nods and Willa’s satisfied. She settles back with pleased look on her face and Vincent’s singing commences to drown out any other action.”
And then in this older video is Samuel enjoying some icing when they decorated cookies at Christmastime. Love the little shudder of delight! James’ comment after watching it was, “We’re in trouble!” I had to remind a certain teenager of his glee over Halloween candy as a little dude. hehe
7
Feb
Feb
Samuel Updates #5 & #6 (December & January)
February 7, 2011
Samuel is 2 Years 11 Months Old. (January)
Samuel’s nanny wrote this update:
During our Christmas party Samuel got to help out in some of the performances that the children did. Even though the roles he played were not very important, he participated in a very positive way, pouring his energy into his role. Samuel proved that his character is cheerful and optimistic and growing every day. When we encourage him and clap for him Samuel shows his pleasure and smiles. I think that as long as we continue to encourage him and help him to participate in more activities, Samuel will grow healthier and stronger. I love my happy Samuel, he is such a blessing!
Samuel is 2 Years 10 Months Old. (December)
Samuel’s nanny wrote this update:
Our cute little Samuel has a happy surprise in store for us every day. Samuel is now capable of speaking long sentences. For example, one day when his younger sister was crying Samuel went to find her nanny and said, “Mom, sister is crying! Mom, hug!” Another day when some guests came for a visit he said, “mom, guest is here!” Samuel is a friendly boy and enjoys playing with the guests. Samuel likes to go to preschool with the children and when he gets back I ask him, “What did you learn today?” Samuel usually replies, “Uh-huh!” I thought that he was really cute when he said it.
4
Feb
Feb
Doing up CNY Flat-style
February 4, 2011
Have you all heard of the Flat Stanley series of books? I highly recommend them for the early chapter book reader.
My nephew Lane recently sent James and Garnet a “Flat Lane”. He drew a small cut out picture of himself and sent it along with a letter. The letter asked for James and Garnet to take Flat Lane on some adventures, document them and then send them back to him. Lane then has to create a report and present it to his class.
Here’s how it turned out:
#1
Gung Hay Fat Choy!
(Gong Hay Fah Choy)
Xin Nian Kuai Le!
(Shin Nyin Kwhy Luh)
Happy Lunar New Year!
I travelled to James and Garnet’s family and was just in time to celebrate the holiday with them.
It was exciting and a little dangerous.
You can follow along as you look at the pictures in order.
#2
Lunar Calendar
Many people around the world follow a different calendar than the one we are used to. It follows the movement of the moon and has a 12 year cycle, with each year representing a different animal. Have you heard? This year is the Year of the Rabbit. If you are born this year or are 12 or 24 or 36 or 48 or… this year, you are said to be lucky, kind and peaceful!
#3
Symbols of Blessings
There are many special foods and symbols that are eaten and used at this time of year. Eating a whole fish is said to bring you more money. Dining on long unbroken noodles will give you long life. If you want happiness and good luck, then eating eggs and round fruits like pomelo and oranges are said to help you. These oranges were delicious!
#4
Celebrating Spring
Lunar New Year marks the coming of spring time. Many families have fresh foods and flowers around to celebrate the return to warm weather and a new growing season. It’s not too warm here, so this family bought some flowers to add to their spring holiday.
Aren’t I beeeeeeautiful?
#5
Getting Ready
To prepare for Chinese New Year there is lots to do! I was there just as the family was getting ready. They all got new haircuts, a new suit of fancy silk dress clothes, the house was cleaned from top to bottom and lots of food was bought and made, including jiaozi (yummy dumplings with all kinds of fillings!).
#6
Bringing in the New Year is LOUD!
There is a story that talks about how the Chinese people were saved from a large and hungry Dragon. By using loud firecrackers they were able to save their people. In some places at the New Year, there are LOTS of firecrackers and even a dragon dance with people acting out the story! I hear the family is going to watch a dragon dance soon, but I had to head back to school before it began. I’m kind of happy as the one on the book scared me enough! Whew!
#7
Gifts
My favourite part! People like to give gifts at Chinese New Year, but they are different than the ones we give at other holidays. Children and unmarried young adults receive Hong Bao (Red Envelopes with money inside). Adults give each other flowers or fruit.
The family gave me some to share with you and your classmates! The money they used is really yummy!
#8
Family and Friends
Lunar New Year is a time for family to come together. People travel long distances to be together with their loved ones. There is much laughing and chatter as families make the jiaozi or set off firecrackers. I missed my friend Lane, so I asked them to mail me back to you. Thanks for sending me on such an exciting adventure!
Xin Nian Kuai Le!
3
Feb
Feb
How it Really is
February 3, 2011
From an e-mail I wrote this morning…
Hi Friend,
Ahhh, your blog has people calling me and saying certainly Grace and Grace’s friend must have some of the same DNA. Seriously! Okay, that isn’t exactly what they mean though. They are referring to the control issues, the anger, the sheer force of nature that is our girls experience right now.
I could’ve written every word that you have written lately. And that is why I haven’t Skyped or written or attempted to even call.
Am I a wimp? Yeah, maybe. How do I empathize without sounding negative? Some days drive me to the brink of the crazy house. And yet honestly we have come so far in a year. A year. And that is again, why I don’t write. It takes time. If someone had told me that we’d be fighting these battles still I would’ve burst into tears. I know why. I know it is logical. If I were chatting with another Mom and they were wondering why it is taking so long then I would have all the answers. But when you’re in the trenches, it is just hard to see it all clearly some days.
And right now Grace is fighting for control with all her being. We are facing her demons. The reality of the golden China that she dreams of is always looming for her and she knows or at least fears that it won’t be what she remembers. She is scared. I mean terrified. But we have to face it together. Hopefully on the other side of this trip she will have clung to us more and trusted what she can see without the mask of the confusion of the actual adoption clouding her vision. Really, when we visited the orphanage the day or so after the adoption, she was just plain shell-shocked and it was all rosy. And it’s only grown from there.
So as for talking with Grace’s Friend. Grace hasn’t been up to it. She has pushed away from her friends or at least the reality that her friends are actually adopted now too. It unnerves her. Of course it does. I think seeing that they are no longer in China will help draw her closer to the girls here in North America too. Perhaps finally she will see them as part of a shared experience.
All this to say that I am walking right beside you in this. Grace is struggling right now behind her brave face of control. Praying that once we are home again, we can begin again with her from a new place of understanding.
Love,