*Disclaimer*
Today has been our toughest day so far - I did not know where this post would go when I started it and it was completed many hours later. I fear sharing some of this. I fear that I will not bring glory to the Lord. I fear that I will scare people away from adoption. I want to paint a pretty perfect picture, but that would not be true. And I need to be honest with myself and those around me. I need people to know how to pray...
As I sit down today to write, I really have no idea what I will say. It has been 3 weeks today since we got Mia and 6 days since we arrived home. Time feels crazy right now. It seems as though it has s l o w e d unimaginably. I am sure that it has something to do with the fact that I have seen almost every hour on my clock for too many days in a row. The jet-lag has been far more difficult than we anticipated.
Even so, it is AMAZING to be home. It has been SO good to be together as a family. It still has not worn off how much I missed our three at home. I am really treasuring my time with them - individually and as a crew. So many other good things about being home...I love seeing my friends and neighbors and being able to give and receive real live hugs. I love being able to brush my teeth with water from the tap. I love being able to turn on Christian radio and worship my King. I love sleeping in my OWN bed WITH my husband instead of separate twin beds. I love being able to let the water from the shower run into my mouth without fear of sickness. I love not living out of suitcases. I love doing laundry in machines instead of a sink. I love not rationing my shampoo and conditioner. I love blogging on my computer instead of a laptop. I love plugging things into any number of the abundant outlets without adapters or converters. I love receiving calls from people just checking in instead of relying on weak internet connections. I loved having a big juicy cheeseburger fresh off the grill made by my grilling-king man. I even love Walmart (actually that's not true, but it is SO much better than Carrefore).
So, mostly people are wondering how it is going. How is the transition? Overwhelmingly things are good. I think. I have nothing to compare it to. The kids have been very receptive of their new sister and all of the changes around here. They adore her. Mia, too, is doing well overall. There is nothing we've seen that we have not fully expected. But it has not been easy. We have definitely been seeing more meltdowns and more tears. More frustration. Mia has a hard time without my full attention. Not always, but sometimes. She also is having a very difficult time with Chloe. I am sure she sees her as competition and this is survival mode. Chloe has had a LOT of tears over the way Mia treats her. And honestly, so have I. How do I demonstrate love to both of my daughters through this without giving approval for very unkind behavior? Chloe has such a tender heart and this is really hard to understand. It is also hard for her to give Mia space. We have had many long talks and shared many tears together in just a few short days. She is only five and yet she is demonstrating grace beyond her years.
During our time at home, there have been a lot of sweet moments too. I have witnessed hugs and holding hands and sweet giggles coming from behind the girls' bedroom door. I have watched the boys be tender and helpful and patient. Mia has warmed to Steve while watching the others adore him. Mia has responded to both Steve and I with sweet whispered I love yous (in Chinese and English). She is pouring out kisses especially in the morning and at bedtime. There has been teaching and sharing and forgiveness and mercy and love and grace like never before. I have had some of the most tender moments I have ever had with my children in these past 6 days. We have grown closer as a family than we have ever been.
It is hard for me emotionally when Mia is acting out. The Lord has revealed more and more to me about my own pride in this process. (ouch.) I am definitely the kind of mama that is not okay with being sassed at, or disrespected, or tantrums. Ever. And a sassy mouth or a disrespectful attitude are definitely my two hot buttons. So this has been hard. It is brand new territory and the discipline needs to be COMPLETELY different. I have to remind myself that, while Mia is four years old, she is a newborn into our family. She doesn't know the language. She doesn't recognize the food. She doesn't know the expectations. And she is fighting for anyone and everyone to love her. She does not understand that her parents can love her AND her siblings at the same time. And, she doesn't know Jesus.
I know that this will get easier. I know that the Lord would not have called us to this journey without equipping us for it. I know that I am being pruned and shaped and molded. At times it hurts. I know that there is reward in the end. I have seen many glimpses of a sweet, silly, loving & tender little girl. I pray that she will realize it is safe for her to let go. This is forever.
Hanging on to Jesus,
Karen
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Sweet Reunion
Our homecoming was the sweetest reunion I have ever experienced. Ever.
To start at the beginning, our travel day went unbelieveably smooth. We woke up to a cloudy day in Guangzhou, but no sight of thunderstorms which had been the forecast the night before. Our first little miracle. Thank you Lord. The first 3 hour flight went very well. Mia slept for about 1 hour, ate her meal for about 1 hour and watched a movie for the rest of the time. We arrived at Seoul early and were able to hop on-line for a short time in the exact same spot that we had been 19 days earlier. It seemed like a lifetime ago. We also spent about an hour in the children's play area with Mia.
As we boarded our 2nd flight (13 hours) to Chicago we were told there would be a delay due to another connection. We ended up taking off about 40 minutes late. As the time ticked away, I saw the possibility of the 6 pm bus from Chicago disappear. I knew that was a long shot because our initial estimated arrival was intended for 5:40pm. Everyone had told me not to even consider it - I was fine with that and settled on the 7pm bus. The flight went unbelievably well. Asiana airlines is outstanding in case you are ever flying to Asia, by the way. =) Of the 13 hours, Mia slept for probably at least nine. During the rest of the time, we did stickers, looked at books, had snacks, meals, and potty trips. She did not whine or fuss for even 3 seconds of the entire trip. It was pretty crazy. When we got to Chicago we had to circle the airport for at least 20 minutes, so we did not get off the plane until 6:30. I had every intention of sprinting to the front of the plane when we landed (from row 24) which was a skill we witnessed countless times on our China flights. My best efforts got us to row 19. =) And then we sat and waited.
As we stepped off the airplane, I paused - she's an American citizen! And then we ran. No time for a picture. We went up and down the steps, flying past the escalator riders and made it through customs and immigration pretty quickly, it was 6:45 when we started waiting for our luggage. And then we waited. And waited. We still had one more stop through another immigration area for Mia (as a new US citizen with the famous brown envelope) after we were to get our luggage. At 6:55pm when we still did not have a single piece of our 4 pieces of luggage, I knew we would not be making the 7:00 bus. The next one was not until 8:30. I turned on my phone to call Kathy and tell her we would be arriving 90 minutes later. Just hearing her voice, I burst into tears. We were disconnected after about 2 minutes, but she knew we would be coming on the later bus. Our luggage came, we got through the immigration area and arrived at the bus stop at 7:15. I asked another driver if our bus was gone and he said it had left only 5 or 10 minutes ago. =( Over and over, Steve kept saying this is really not a big deal - our travel day went miraculously well. He was right. I was disappointed, but certainly not going to complain. It really had gone so well. Thank you Lord.
We spent our next hour and 15 minutes waiting for the bus and grabbing some food. The bus ride went quickly (3 hours) and then we saw Kathy's face! We arrived at 11:35 pm, right where we had left her 19 days earlier. What a joy. It was so good to see her. She handed Mia a stuffed monkey and a bowl full of freshly cut strawberries and immediately made it into her winner circle. After we got loaded into the car, she handed me cheese and cracker Combos (my ABSOLUTE favorite snack) and a water bottle (that was COLD! - unlike any in China). And then she reached into a mini-cooler and pulled out 2 pints of Culver's custard (and spoons) for Steve!! Seriously, can I have a better sister? There is no way.
As we thoroughly enjoyed our treats, Kathy drove us to her house where we were met by the rest of team Williams. It was so great to see their faces. It was 12:10 AM!We did a quick round of hugs, intros of Mia and bathroom runs and got on the road. Steve had not slept at all in the last 36 hours or so, but he was so thrilled to get behind the wheel and head for home. Almost immediately after starting the drive, my emotions overwhelmed me. I cried nearly the entire 2 hour trip. I shared every one of my thoughts and fears about all of the changes for our family - that were now only minutes away. Will Mia love them? Will she love us? Will they love her? Will it ever feel natural? Will it be awkward? Will she feel like an outsider? Will she grow up to be angry? Will she attach in a healthy way?Every doubt and fear that I have ever had during this process was unleashed. I sobbed.
Steve was exactly what I needed in that moment. He listened. He shared. And he led me right to the cross. He revealed every lie and he reminded me of the truth. We belong to the Lord. This journey has been His all along. There is no guarantee that it will be easy. With any of our children. But it will be good. It will shape us and mold us into the likeness of His Son. It will teach us about choosing love in a way that we have never been taught. At times in the face of rejection. Just like He did. It will lead us to our knees and that is a good place to be. Thank you Lord for my husband.
And then we pulled in. I told Mia this is your home. She had been very quiet, but awake the entire drive. She was seeing so many things that she has never seen before. She had not heard her language for many, many hours and yet she had been surrounded by people. Nobody looked the same anymore. She was listening to music, but didn't know any of the words. I tried to put myself in her place. She was so brave. Thank you Lord for preparing her heart. This must be so scary for her. Everything is different. Everything is unknown. We were strangers less than 3 weeks before. She is so brave.
There was a huge, BEAUTIFUL sign on the garage welcoming us home and more on the front door. I picked Mia up. I prayed. And I stepped inside. There stood my parents and Caleb. I gently introduced Mia to everyone. They were all quiet and cautious and it was perfect. Steve and I both burst into tears as we held Caleb. He looked like he had grown 6 inches. We were told his grin was bigger than it had been in weeks. And it never stopped. We had decided to get Mia in her jammies, brush teeth and put her to bed (in our room) before going in to see the others. We did. She was quiet and nervous, but shared a few smiles with her new big brother who was SO excited to see her. After she was settled, Steve and I and Caleb went into Chloe's room and lifted her out of bed. Her sleepy little smile turned into never-ending hugs and I love yous. We cried and cried and cried. Lastly, we headed into Luke. As Steve lifted him up, he looked so big to me. How did he get so big? He grinned and smiled and rubbed his eyes. He held on tighter to us than he ever has before. He kept saying, I thought this day would never come. We cried and cried some more.
We settled them all back in their beds and praised the Lord for His goodness and for His hand of protection and for His provision. We slept some and had an amazing first day at home. It is so good to be together. The kids cannot get enough of their new sister. Mia has done incredibly well. She has initiated hugs and holding hands with all 3. I stand in awe of our awesome Lord. I have no idea what this is all going to look like in a year, or ten years, or even tomorrow.
One day at a time in the strength of The King.
"Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?" 2 Samuel 7:18
[Below is our very first family photo. My dad got Mia to laugh by pretending to fall to the ground. Boppa has made the winner's circle. We are grimy and dirty and exhausted and I have no idea what anyone is wearing, but this is it. The new V Crew - party of 6]
Off to church for another sweet reunion.
To start at the beginning, our travel day went unbelieveably smooth. We woke up to a cloudy day in Guangzhou, but no sight of thunderstorms which had been the forecast the night before. Our first little miracle. Thank you Lord. The first 3 hour flight went very well. Mia slept for about 1 hour, ate her meal for about 1 hour and watched a movie for the rest of the time. We arrived at Seoul early and were able to hop on-line for a short time in the exact same spot that we had been 19 days earlier. It seemed like a lifetime ago. We also spent about an hour in the children's play area with Mia.
As we boarded our 2nd flight (13 hours) to Chicago we were told there would be a delay due to another connection. We ended up taking off about 40 minutes late. As the time ticked away, I saw the possibility of the 6 pm bus from Chicago disappear. I knew that was a long shot because our initial estimated arrival was intended for 5:40pm. Everyone had told me not to even consider it - I was fine with that and settled on the 7pm bus. The flight went unbelievably well. Asiana airlines is outstanding in case you are ever flying to Asia, by the way. =) Of the 13 hours, Mia slept for probably at least nine. During the rest of the time, we did stickers, looked at books, had snacks, meals, and potty trips. She did not whine or fuss for even 3 seconds of the entire trip. It was pretty crazy. When we got to Chicago we had to circle the airport for at least 20 minutes, so we did not get off the plane until 6:30. I had every intention of sprinting to the front of the plane when we landed (from row 24) which was a skill we witnessed countless times on our China flights. My best efforts got us to row 19. =) And then we sat and waited.
As we stepped off the airplane, I paused - she's an American citizen! And then we ran. No time for a picture. We went up and down the steps, flying past the escalator riders and made it through customs and immigration pretty quickly, it was 6:45 when we started waiting for our luggage. And then we waited. And waited. We still had one more stop through another immigration area for Mia (as a new US citizen with the famous brown envelope) after we were to get our luggage. At 6:55pm when we still did not have a single piece of our 4 pieces of luggage, I knew we would not be making the 7:00 bus. The next one was not until 8:30. I turned on my phone to call Kathy and tell her we would be arriving 90 minutes later. Just hearing her voice, I burst into tears. We were disconnected after about 2 minutes, but she knew we would be coming on the later bus. Our luggage came, we got through the immigration area and arrived at the bus stop at 7:15. I asked another driver if our bus was gone and he said it had left only 5 or 10 minutes ago. =( Over and over, Steve kept saying this is really not a big deal - our travel day went miraculously well. He was right. I was disappointed, but certainly not going to complain. It really had gone so well. Thank you Lord.
We spent our next hour and 15 minutes waiting for the bus and grabbing some food. The bus ride went quickly (3 hours) and then we saw Kathy's face! We arrived at 11:35 pm, right where we had left her 19 days earlier. What a joy. It was so good to see her. She handed Mia a stuffed monkey and a bowl full of freshly cut strawberries and immediately made it into her winner circle. After we got loaded into the car, she handed me cheese and cracker Combos (my ABSOLUTE favorite snack) and a water bottle (that was COLD! - unlike any in China). And then she reached into a mini-cooler and pulled out 2 pints of Culver's custard (and spoons) for Steve!! Seriously, can I have a better sister? There is no way.
As we thoroughly enjoyed our treats, Kathy drove us to her house where we were met by the rest of team Williams. It was so great to see their faces. It was 12:10 AM!We did a quick round of hugs, intros of Mia and bathroom runs and got on the road. Steve had not slept at all in the last 36 hours or so, but he was so thrilled to get behind the wheel and head for home. Almost immediately after starting the drive, my emotions overwhelmed me. I cried nearly the entire 2 hour trip. I shared every one of my thoughts and fears about all of the changes for our family - that were now only minutes away. Will Mia love them? Will she love us? Will they love her? Will it ever feel natural? Will it be awkward? Will she feel like an outsider? Will she grow up to be angry? Will she attach in a healthy way?Every doubt and fear that I have ever had during this process was unleashed. I sobbed.
Steve was exactly what I needed in that moment. He listened. He shared. And he led me right to the cross. He revealed every lie and he reminded me of the truth. We belong to the Lord. This journey has been His all along. There is no guarantee that it will be easy. With any of our children. But it will be good. It will shape us and mold us into the likeness of His Son. It will teach us about choosing love in a way that we have never been taught. At times in the face of rejection. Just like He did. It will lead us to our knees and that is a good place to be. Thank you Lord for my husband.
And then we pulled in. I told Mia this is your home. She had been very quiet, but awake the entire drive. She was seeing so many things that she has never seen before. She had not heard her language for many, many hours and yet she had been surrounded by people. Nobody looked the same anymore. She was listening to music, but didn't know any of the words. I tried to put myself in her place. She was so brave. Thank you Lord for preparing her heart. This must be so scary for her. Everything is different. Everything is unknown. We were strangers less than 3 weeks before. She is so brave.
There was a huge, BEAUTIFUL sign on the garage welcoming us home and more on the front door. I picked Mia up. I prayed. And I stepped inside. There stood my parents and Caleb. I gently introduced Mia to everyone. They were all quiet and cautious and it was perfect. Steve and I both burst into tears as we held Caleb. He looked like he had grown 6 inches. We were told his grin was bigger than it had been in weeks. And it never stopped. We had decided to get Mia in her jammies, brush teeth and put her to bed (in our room) before going in to see the others. We did. She was quiet and nervous, but shared a few smiles with her new big brother who was SO excited to see her. After she was settled, Steve and I and Caleb went into Chloe's room and lifted her out of bed. Her sleepy little smile turned into never-ending hugs and I love yous. We cried and cried and cried. Lastly, we headed into Luke. As Steve lifted him up, he looked so big to me. How did he get so big? He grinned and smiled and rubbed his eyes. He held on tighter to us than he ever has before. He kept saying, I thought this day would never come. We cried and cried some more.
We settled them all back in their beds and praised the Lord for His goodness and for His hand of protection and for His provision. We slept some and had an amazing first day at home. It is so good to be together. The kids cannot get enough of their new sister. Mia has done incredibly well. She has initiated hugs and holding hands with all 3. I stand in awe of our awesome Lord. I have no idea what this is all going to look like in a year, or ten years, or even tomorrow.
One day at a time in the strength of The King.
"Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?" 2 Samuel 7:18
[Below is our very first family photo. My dad got Mia to laugh by pretending to fall to the ground. Boppa has made the winner's circle. We are grimy and dirty and exhausted and I have no idea what anyone is wearing, but this is it. The new V Crew - party of 6]
Off to church for another sweet reunion.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
One More Sleep!
Tonight will be our LAST night in China! We are so ready to come home. We have had a completely free day. We have spent it packing and at the pool. Mia warmed up to the pool much more so today. There is a small kids pool that is only about 2 feet deep. She played in there for quite a long time. It seems that she prefers to have something firm beneath her feet. I get that.
At 4:30 we will meet our guide and he will give us Mia's passport with her travel visa to the USA! It is our very LAST piece of paper that we need to get home. Praise the Lord. We will have a very long travel day tomorrow. We leave at 9:30am for the Guangzhou airport. Fly out at 12:35pm. Lord willing, we arrive in Seoul 3 hours and 15 minutes later. We have only 1 hour and 45 minutes of layover time so we are praying for no delays. Our next flight will be 13 hours long to Chicago where we land at 5:40pm (Friday). Then onto a bus to Madison...picked up by Kathy around 10:15pm (if we make the first bus), then a 2 hour drive home. Best case scenario, we will arrive at 1:00am Saturday morning. So about 30 hours after leaving our hotel, we should be stepping into our house. I'm exhausted just thinking about it. If you think of it, pray for our safety and for smooth flights, for Mia's comfort and our patience along the way.
And while we're talking prayer requests, I have to tell you that our hearts are filled with gratitude to each and every one of you who has prayed for us along the way. Our family, here and at home, has been blessed tremendously by the Lord through you. Your emails and messages have brought an indescribable sweetness to our days. Your tender care for our three treasures at home has been beyond what we could have ever asked for. A thank you will never feel adequate enough for the way that you have ministered to us. Thank you.
This trip has been filled with every emotion you can imagine. There has been so much joy. But it has not been all glorious. Not even close. We have had times of fear and impatience and frustration. We are just ordinary people, with all kinds of weaknesses, walking by faith in Our Almighty God. We were called to China for this little girl. There is no denying it. We could never have done this in our own power. We still cannot walk this in our own strength. The Lord has brought us to a place of greater dependence on Him. At times it has been hard. But there is no place that we would rather be than right in the center of His will.
China has changed us forever.
We are so grateful.
To Him be all the glory forever.
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and His understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31
We cannot wait for you to meet our new little girl!
At 4:30 we will meet our guide and he will give us Mia's passport with her travel visa to the USA! It is our very LAST piece of paper that we need to get home. Praise the Lord. We will have a very long travel day tomorrow. We leave at 9:30am for the Guangzhou airport. Fly out at 12:35pm. Lord willing, we arrive in Seoul 3 hours and 15 minutes later. We have only 1 hour and 45 minutes of layover time so we are praying for no delays. Our next flight will be 13 hours long to Chicago where we land at 5:40pm (Friday). Then onto a bus to Madison...picked up by Kathy around 10:15pm (if we make the first bus), then a 2 hour drive home. Best case scenario, we will arrive at 1:00am Saturday morning. So about 30 hours after leaving our hotel, we should be stepping into our house. I'm exhausted just thinking about it. If you think of it, pray for our safety and for smooth flights, for Mia's comfort and our patience along the way.
And while we're talking prayer requests, I have to tell you that our hearts are filled with gratitude to each and every one of you who has prayed for us along the way. Our family, here and at home, has been blessed tremendously by the Lord through you. Your emails and messages have brought an indescribable sweetness to our days. Your tender care for our three treasures at home has been beyond what we could have ever asked for. A thank you will never feel adequate enough for the way that you have ministered to us. Thank you.
This trip has been filled with every emotion you can imagine. There has been so much joy. But it has not been all glorious. Not even close. We have had times of fear and impatience and frustration. We are just ordinary people, with all kinds of weaknesses, walking by faith in Our Almighty God. We were called to China for this little girl. There is no denying it. We could never have done this in our own power. We still cannot walk this in our own strength. The Lord has brought us to a place of greater dependence on Him. At times it has been hard. But there is no place that we would rather be than right in the center of His will.
China has changed us forever.
We are so grateful.
To Him be all the glory forever.
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and His understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31
We cannot wait for you to meet our new little girl!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Swearing In Ceremony
Today was a free morning for us. We skipped the sightseeing today (and yesterday) which has made for more down time. We have been able to get some shopping done and take pictures and video of the White Swan. This is really a beautiful hotel. All of the other adoptive families we have met have been so wonderful. It is funny how we really are not strangers sharing an elevator when we have shared this same road. We can relate with one another over the joy and the exhaustion and the longing for home in just minutes. This is a community that I will always treasure.
We just returned from Mia's swearing in ceremony at the US Consulate. There were about 35 other families there with their children as well. The American flag has never looked so beautiful to me. After each family was called to have their passports checked, the US consular came out and shared some details of the procedure. We were all asked to rise and raise our right hand. We repeated an oath on Mia's behalf. As we finished, everyone cheered.
There were a lot of tears.
This ceremony made it official.
As soon as Mia steps foot on US soil, she will be declared a citizen of the United States of America. Thank you Lord.
This whole process continues to be filled with such emotion. I thought a long time today about the gift of US citizenship. I have never spent time in a communist country before now. There are so many freedoms and liberties that I have taken for granted. I pray that the Lord will not remove His hand of blessing from the USA as we turn as a nation further and further from Him.
But even as much as I am longing for home,
I am reminded that the United States of America is not my home.
As much as I love Wausau (and I really do),
Wausau is not my home.
My citizenship is in Heaven.
Our time on this earth is fleeting. Just a vapor. I pray that I will live faithfully preparing for my eternal home with Jesus Christ. I want to be found faithful. And so often I fail. I pray He will use me during my time here on earth - for HIS glory and not my own.
My prayer is that Mia will fall in love Jesus. And that today, while a very special ceremony, will only be the celebration of her temporary citizenship.
May she one day receive citizenship in Heaven.
It is my heart's cry.
Lord let it be.
But our citizenship is in Heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorius body. Philippians 3:20-21
We just returned from Mia's swearing in ceremony at the US Consulate. There were about 35 other families there with their children as well. The American flag has never looked so beautiful to me. After each family was called to have their passports checked, the US consular came out and shared some details of the procedure. We were all asked to rise and raise our right hand. We repeated an oath on Mia's behalf. As we finished, everyone cheered.
There were a lot of tears.
This ceremony made it official.
As soon as Mia steps foot on US soil, she will be declared a citizen of the United States of America. Thank you Lord.
This whole process continues to be filled with such emotion. I thought a long time today about the gift of US citizenship. I have never spent time in a communist country before now. There are so many freedoms and liberties that I have taken for granted. I pray that the Lord will not remove His hand of blessing from the USA as we turn as a nation further and further from Him.
But even as much as I am longing for home,
I am reminded that the United States of America is not my home.
As much as I love Wausau (and I really do),
Wausau is not my home.
My citizenship is in Heaven.
Our time on this earth is fleeting. Just a vapor. I pray that I will live faithfully preparing for my eternal home with Jesus Christ. I want to be found faithful. And so often I fail. I pray He will use me during my time here on earth - for HIS glory and not my own.
My prayer is that Mia will fall in love Jesus. And that today, while a very special ceremony, will only be the celebration of her temporary citizenship.
May she one day receive citizenship in Heaven.
It is my heart's cry.
Lord let it be.
But our citizenship is in Heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorius body. Philippians 3:20-21
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Happy Birthday Caleb!! (and Red Couch Pictures)
I can hardly believe our big guy is NINE today. Where has the time gone? He is half way to adulthood. How can that be? (Sniff.) We are so sad to be missing Caleb's special day. He was okay with it as long as we got him a gift from China. (Done). Thank you Kathy, Mark, Rachel and Audrey for making his day extra fun. Give him kisses from us. Caleb has been such a joy in our lives. He is an incredibly bright and creative kid. He has a passion for truth and is tremendously loyal. His ability to debate has brought this mama to her knees on countless occassions and I am certain in his toddler years he could have given Tedd Tripp & James Dobson a run for their money. We have loved watching him grow in his love for the Lord and in his obedience to His Word. We pray that he will grow into a man who pursues the Lord with passion all the days of his life, who loves the people around him with kindness and a tender heart and who leads others well for the glory of God. We love you Caleb! Big hugs to you!
Today has been a quiet day. The phone DID NOT ring during our visa appointment which is good news. All is well! Afterward, Mia and I did some shopping for a couple of hours. For all those familes waiting to come, Emma's, A Gift from China and Jordan's are my absolute favorite shops! Make sure to go to their places first. We had our Red Couch pictures just a little while ago and I posted some below. All 5 of the kiddos...from left to right: Lila, Mia, Jace, AnnaGrace and Aaron. Lila and Jace are the two kiddos (and their families) that we have been with all along. They are also from Beijing. The other two families have joined us since we arrived in Guangzhou.
I am definitely beginning to feel depleted. We are ready to come home. Nineteen days is a really long time. We miss everyone like crazy. Thank you for your continued prayers for endurance. His grace is sufficient. Oh how many times I have repeated those words to myself over these last weeks. I am so thankful that He has written His Word on my heart.
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9
Below are two photos of Mia from today...one of her digging in the backpack looking for gum (a very regular activity) and one after a couple hours of shopping with Mama.
The Red Couch Pictures & some group shots of the 5 families...
Monday, August 2, 2010
Medical Exam
We just returned from the medical exam - one more step completed! Mia did great. She was seen in 3 different areas: 1. height, weight and temperature 2. physical exam (very cursory lookover), 3. ENT. For Mia, it was pretty quick and painless. The children who needed vaccinations had those last. Jace only needed 3 and he was a real trooper. Thank you for the prayers. Many kids had 5, 6 and 7 - one up to 10 vaccinations all at one time. No one will ever convince me that is a safe or healthy option for these children. I am so grateful that Mia did not have to undergo those. We have a copy of her vaccination record (which looks complete) and we will have titres done at Children's Hospital to determine if she needs any additional vaccinations.
We did a little bit of shopping and I found Mia a traditional dress for her "Red Couch Photo." This is a famous picture that all of the adoptive families do on the red couches of the White Swan Hotel. We will be headed out to another pedestrian shopping district this afternoon. This is such a nicer pace. It is still very warm, but it feels tropical with the palm trees and resort like hotels. It feels surreal being in the famous White Swan Hotel. I have literally been reading about Guangzhou, the red couch pictures and all of the little shops around here for nearly three years. So many families who have gone before us have walked these same cobblestone streets. Guangzhou is where the US Embassy is located so no matter what province your child is from, all US families must complete their adoptions here.
Last night we ate dinner at the famous Lucy's. It is an "American" restaurant. Steve had a burger and fries, Mia had a kids meal - chicken strip, fries, fruit, juice and ice cream, and I got pizza. The food was very average, but it was great to have something other than Chinese (which I NEVER thought I would say). By the way, Steve seems to be our "give it to Mikey he'll try anything" guy. I guess if he'll eat guinea pig - how bad can it be? Also, we now have a stroller for Mia. We carried her everywhere in Beijing to help with bonding. It was great, but HOT and she is not light. Since she has been doing so well, we thought we would try the stroller here in Guangzhou and she LOVES it. She wants to get in it first thing in the morning. It has made getting around quite a bit easier and less HOT.
We are definitely in the home stretch now. Tomorrow is our consulate appointment where our guide goes with all of our paperwork to apply for Mia's visa. We stay in our room during that hour and wait. If he does not call - all is well. It is also Caleb's 9th birthday! We are SO sad to be missing his big day. I am grateful that he is with Aunt Kathy, Uncle Mark, Rachel and Audrey. I know that they will make him feel special. BIG THANKS to you Kathy & the rest of Team Williams for taking your round with the baton. The kids are always thrilled to be with their cousins, but that can make for lots of energy. I'm praying for you guys. We miss you all beyond words. God is GOOD.
Teach me your way O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. Psalm 86:11
We did a little bit of shopping and I found Mia a traditional dress for her "Red Couch Photo." This is a famous picture that all of the adoptive families do on the red couches of the White Swan Hotel. We will be headed out to another pedestrian shopping district this afternoon. This is such a nicer pace. It is still very warm, but it feels tropical with the palm trees and resort like hotels. It feels surreal being in the famous White Swan Hotel. I have literally been reading about Guangzhou, the red couch pictures and all of the little shops around here for nearly three years. So many families who have gone before us have walked these same cobblestone streets. Guangzhou is where the US Embassy is located so no matter what province your child is from, all US families must complete their adoptions here.
Last night we ate dinner at the famous Lucy's. It is an "American" restaurant. Steve had a burger and fries, Mia had a kids meal - chicken strip, fries, fruit, juice and ice cream, and I got pizza. The food was very average, but it was great to have something other than Chinese (which I NEVER thought I would say). By the way, Steve seems to be our "give it to Mikey he'll try anything" guy. I guess if he'll eat guinea pig - how bad can it be? Also, we now have a stroller for Mia. We carried her everywhere in Beijing to help with bonding. It was great, but HOT and she is not light. Since she has been doing so well, we thought we would try the stroller here in Guangzhou and she LOVES it. She wants to get in it first thing in the morning. It has made getting around quite a bit easier and less HOT.
We are definitely in the home stretch now. Tomorrow is our consulate appointment where our guide goes with all of our paperwork to apply for Mia's visa. We stay in our room during that hour and wait. If he does not call - all is well. It is also Caleb's 9th birthday! We are SO sad to be missing his big day. I am grateful that he is with Aunt Kathy, Uncle Mark, Rachel and Audrey. I know that they will make him feel special. BIG THANKS to you Kathy & the rest of Team Williams for taking your round with the baton. The kids are always thrilled to be with their cousins, but that can make for lots of energy. I'm praying for you guys. We miss you all beyond words. God is GOOD.
Teach me your way O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. Psalm 86:11
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Good Morning Guangzhou
Praise the Lord for blue skies! It is still in the 100s, but at least we can see the sunshine! Guangzhou is BEAUTIFUL! We had a wonderful walk through Liu Hua Hu Park this morning. It was gorgeous. Breathtaking banyan trees, mango & banana trees. Beautiful flowers and white puffy clouds. Just what this mama needed.
Our hotel is also gorgeous. It is FILLED with other adoptive families everywhere. It feels like such a wonderful community. Another family has joined our group, traveling with a teenage daughter and one set of grandparents. They are sweet and their daughter is adorable too. As a gift to each of the adoptive families, they brought us an "American looking" barbie doll holding a Chinese baby in her arms. It is a really sweet keepsake (though I look nothing like that barbie). =)
I will meet with our guide this afternoon for 1 1/2 hours to work on some paperwork. Our guide, by the way, Elvin is so great! Tomorrow morning is the medical exam. Because we are a non-Hague family, Mia will not have to receive any vaccinations and she had her TB done in Beijing before we arrived. That means no pokes for her. Praise the Lord. Little Jace (a Hague family) will likely have to have many, so please keep them in your prayers.
I am so excited to get out and do some shopping. There are some ADORABLE little shops around very used to all of the adoptive families. To answer some questions people have asked, we have (mostly me) been using some Chinese. The extent of my vocabulary is Hello, Goodbye, How are you, Thank you, How much, too much, you are welcome, potty?, are you hungry?, you are beautiful, it is time to sleep, be careful, it's okay, i love you, we love you, mine, yours... The rest we get by with pointing. =)
Mia is doing really well. In the last day or two she has been really playing with the other kids. It has been nice to see her share and take turns and offer her snacks to others. The other little girl with us is very tiny (like a 12 month old), but she is almost 2 1/2. Mia is very playful, but gentle with her. Yesterday when she was playing she kept gently putting her little hand under Lila's chin. That is EXACTLY the same thing Chloe does with children smaller than her. It was unbelievable watching her - she looked so much like Chloe to me. I really think that they will be fast friends.
It was also great watching her build with lego blocks at the airport - such appropriate play for her age. She is very careful yet determined. Another thing that cracks me up about Mia is that she tells me how she wants her hair done and what hair pretties she wants. She will grab her hair on both sides if she wants pigtails, or all up for just one. Then she looks in the bag of pretties and hands me what she would like - totally hilarious. We've got another girly girl!
All of the teenagers around here, when posing for pictures, make signs with their hands; ie. a peace sign, or hang ten sign, etc. They don't smile - it's just this hand sign thing. Mia tries to make a peace sign all the time for her pictures (I'm sure b/c she had teenage foster sisters), so you may see some of those. I am trying to get her to understand we SMILE for pictures and keep our hands DOWN. =) All in due time. I know it won't be long until she is very used to a camera in her face just like the rest of the VCrew. =)
The pictures have been taking a long time to upload, but here are a few from the children's play area at the airport yesterday, a new ride for Steve and from the park today. Only 5 more sleeps!! Miss and love you tons!
Our hotel is also gorgeous. It is FILLED with other adoptive families everywhere. It feels like such a wonderful community. Another family has joined our group, traveling with a teenage daughter and one set of grandparents. They are sweet and their daughter is adorable too. As a gift to each of the adoptive families, they brought us an "American looking" barbie doll holding a Chinese baby in her arms. It is a really sweet keepsake (though I look nothing like that barbie). =)
I will meet with our guide this afternoon for 1 1/2 hours to work on some paperwork. Our guide, by the way, Elvin is so great! Tomorrow morning is the medical exam. Because we are a non-Hague family, Mia will not have to receive any vaccinations and she had her TB done in Beijing before we arrived. That means no pokes for her. Praise the Lord. Little Jace (a Hague family) will likely have to have many, so please keep them in your prayers.
I am so excited to get out and do some shopping. There are some ADORABLE little shops around very used to all of the adoptive families. To answer some questions people have asked, we have (mostly me) been using some Chinese. The extent of my vocabulary is Hello, Goodbye, How are you, Thank you, How much, too much, you are welcome, potty?, are you hungry?, you are beautiful, it is time to sleep, be careful, it's okay, i love you, we love you, mine, yours... The rest we get by with pointing. =)
Mia is doing really well. In the last day or two she has been really playing with the other kids. It has been nice to see her share and take turns and offer her snacks to others. The other little girl with us is very tiny (like a 12 month old), but she is almost 2 1/2. Mia is very playful, but gentle with her. Yesterday when she was playing she kept gently putting her little hand under Lila's chin. That is EXACTLY the same thing Chloe does with children smaller than her. It was unbelievable watching her - she looked so much like Chloe to me. I really think that they will be fast friends.
It was also great watching her build with lego blocks at the airport - such appropriate play for her age. She is very careful yet determined. Another thing that cracks me up about Mia is that she tells me how she wants her hair done and what hair pretties she wants. She will grab her hair on both sides if she wants pigtails, or all up for just one. Then she looks in the bag of pretties and hands me what she would like - totally hilarious. We've got another girly girl!
All of the teenagers around here, when posing for pictures, make signs with their hands; ie. a peace sign, or hang ten sign, etc. They don't smile - it's just this hand sign thing. Mia tries to make a peace sign all the time for her pictures (I'm sure b/c she had teenage foster sisters), so you may see some of those. I am trying to get her to understand we SMILE for pictures and keep our hands DOWN. =) All in due time. I know it won't be long until she is very used to a camera in her face just like the rest of the VCrew. =)
The pictures have been taking a long time to upload, but here are a few from the children's play area at the airport yesterday, a new ride for Steve and from the park today. Only 5 more sleeps!! Miss and love you tons!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
