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!
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.
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,
1
Feb
Feb
Happy 3rd Birthday Samuel
February 1, 2011
Dear Samuel,
Today was your birthday.
I’m not sure if you were told, as your “family” at ND try really hard to be fair to all the children who share your life there. We knew though. We remembered you today.
Three. That’s a big boy now. You are so proud to show us how big and strong you are. We can see your little chest puff out when you show us your muscles. You are growing big and strong like your Daddy. You’ll like him. I can tell you already do a little. He’s really great at wrestling and snuggling and looking into your eyes when you talk to him. I just bet you two will be thick as thieves.
And me? Well, all I could think of today was how this will be the very last time you will have to celebrate your birthday without the hoopla of a big ole’ family to wake you, fill you with cake and let you have the first pick of all the day holds, just cause it’s your special day. The last time you’ll have a birthday without a pinata and cousins and a grandparents to call you and sing you your very own birthday song and ask what you want to eat at your very important Sunday birthday lunch. It’s gonna be great!
We ache for you buddy. It’s been 14 1/2 months since we first laid eyes on you. 14 1/2 months since you absolutely amazed us with your brilliance. We are more than ready for our forever to begin.
And you son? You’ve waited so much longer.
And so I fill suitcases and check off lists.
And remember you son.
We love you and we miss you.
Until we meet face to face,
Your Mama Forever and Ever,
28
Jan
Jan
Catching up
January 28, 2011
So I think I am over my general feeling of malaise. Now I am onto Full Speed Ahead. Haha
Thank you to everyone who commented and e-mailed to check in on me. I really REALLY appreciate every word. It’s so good to know I’m not the only one…
In the meantime, we made a quick trip to Grace’s specialist at the closest Children’s Hospital. She’s doing really fantastic and somehow those words always put me at ease. We visit that particular specialist twice per year and it’s easy to forget that there is even a need for the visit until just beforehand and then suddenly I get to wondering how things are beneath the surface. As usual, those thoughts were for nothing. And for that I am truly thankful!
We also celebrated a really big milestone birthday as James turned 15 this week. Everbody says this about their kids, but How On Earth did He Get this BIG? And how come every year we enjoy him more and more? We are really thrilled with our young man and we had an absolute hoot the other night on our birthday date with him. Accoring to a certain arcade game, we are Ace shots at killing giant spiders and leeches, but are not really all that compatible as mates. Uh ,yeauuuuh?! Lame plot line, but too funny laughing with our teenager. 🙂
I’ve been polling friends for tips on which size diapers or pull ups to bring with us. Samuel is trained duirng the day, but we expect a regression (you know, hope for the best, prepare for the worst and all that…). He’s about 20 lb.s and will be 3 (!) next Tuesday. factoring in his limb difference, but knowing he’s a little guy has made me go a bit crazy. Input welcome. 🙂
The realization also dawned that while we way over pack every time we travel, we also like to bring a lot of donate-able items. But, on this trip, we will be flying into Beijing and then taking a bunch of domestic flights followed by an international departure via Hong Kong. That means less than half our usual luggage allowance. Not sure if our arrival into each city will allow enough time to shop for items to bring to each orphanage. We’ll have to see… Any tips (Americans!) on what you do when you fly into Beijing and exit via GZ or HK?
We received our last monthly update on Samuel (which I will post separately) and it said something that made us curious. Guess we’ll understand more once we meet him.
We were able to Skype last Sunday night. He is a total monkey boy (and we LOVE monkeys in this house). He loves to climb all over the desk, point the web cam around, show us his belly button, flex his muscles, play peek-a-boo (his favourite), and accost the pig shaped light on the desk. hehe We notice that his rendition of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” is getting clearer and clearer each week. His new haircut is often styled by his nanny into a very manly swoop across his forehead and he is often dressed to chat with us in a sharp little sweater. Very adorable handsome. 🙂 We have played with him this way for so many months now. What a tremendous blessing – one we never dreamed of.
I am ignoring the second half of my Chinese New Year cleaning by writing this post. We are beginning CNY early this year as our church group is coming over tonight and treating us to some very yummy sounding homemade Chinese food. Our contribution will be a little more western in that it will need to be picked up from our local restaurant shortly before the party. 🙂 Grace has told me that my version is just not quite right and so we jokingly order what we call Fake-Chinese food and don’t even try and pretend its the real thing. I’m even serving Chocolate dipped fortune cookies from this site. She has amazing ideas – totally worth the look!
I think I have just about come to the end of my catching up, but before I go finish catching dust bunnies (Hey, it’s the Year of the Rabbit – aren’t I clever?!), I want to make a quick mention about a very special little girl by the name of Sharaya. Our friends the Berzenji Family is raising funds in order to bring their newest child home. We travelled with them on our journey to Miss Grace and their daughter Jade Ping is Grace’s orphanage sister.
Anway, back to Sharaya (don’t you just love her name? Brings back memories of a certain Amy Grant song – and yes, I am that old.) Sharaya is a young friend of the Berzenji family. She has decided to raise money for their adoption fund and the Canadian Cancer Society by cutting off her beautiful, long tresses and not only donating the hair to make a wig to bless a person fighting their cancer, but is also taking pledges in order to give financially to this special family trying to bring home their child from China. Who says kids don’t have great big hearts? In addition, both she and Adrian (Baba Berzenji) are taking part in a Congee fast right now! You can read all about it and all of these fantastic people on their blogs: Sharaya & Adrian’s. And please, do more than read. Won’t you encourage them with a donation?
Off to herd up those bunnies….
And don’t forget to weigh in on the great diaper debate & luggage fiasco of 2011. I could really use the advice. 😉