Super-Nephews

Okay, so I couldn't wait to give the boys their capes until Landon's superhero 3rd birthday party.

So I gave them to them this past weekend.

And boy, did they look CUTE!

Landon means business in his cape, haha.

While I was working on these during the week, I was telling Chad that I was going to make him one to wear to the birthday party too.

He told me not to, which I figured he would.

But then I got a good laugh when, right after I handed Landon his cape, he said,

"Unca Swad (Uncle Chad), you have a cape too?"

I think he needs one now.

On the move!

Landon hold his cape out behind him and runs while yelling, "LOOK! I FLYING!!!!"

Seriously, could they get any cuter?

Touring Hong Kong

Touring Hong Kong was fun!

We took the train into town...

...Signed up for a Big Bus Tour...

...where you apparently can't talk to the driver.

We went up Victoria Peak in a cable car,

And loved the views of the city from that high up!

We rode on a Sampan tour...

...to see the floating city.

We also shopped, but I didn't get any pictures of that!

It was a good time, but we were all ready to be HOME!

Coming Home

Being home is awesome!

I'm loving being around my hubs and family again.

But between jet lag, emotions, and a weird sleeping schedule, I'm not so sure they feel the same.

Right now, for example, it's 6:50am, and I have been wide awake for the past hour or so.

My tummy woke me up growling because apparently, it still is on China time so it was wanting dinner.

Husband is asleep so I'm trying my best to not wake him.

Let me back up a little.

I've been in such a haze that I haven't posted since getting to Hong Kong.

Here's the condensed version that I'll spell out later:
Touring was fun,
No sleep on the long plane ride,
Customs was a super busy nightmare,
Slept half an hour on the plane from Detroit.

Dad was supposed to pick me up at the airport because Chad and Mom both had to work.

So the four of us walked out past security, scanning the crowd for our families.

Shannon and Monte's families were right there waiting.

I didn't see Dad, which I thought was strange because he told me he'd be there. So we walked out further.

And I scanned the crowd and then laid eyes on the MOST welcome sight of all...

My husband.

Smiling and looking very attractive in his shirt and tie.

Because he left work early to surprise me at the airport.

And was holding 2 dozen red roses.

So I ran over to him (which is a big deal because you KNOW I don't run)

And then I threw my arms around him.

And started to sob like a child.

Maybe it was the lack of sleep.

But probably it was how happy I was to see him.

Being newlywed and apart for 2 weeks was hard.

I think it took until we were stuck traffic on 270 until my heartbeat went back to normal.

Sorry ladies, the best man is taken.

And he's MINE! :)

Last Stop, Hong Kong.

We are finally here in Hong Kong, last city before we make our way home!

I miss home.

I miss normal food.

I miss my soft bed.

Tonight and tomorrow we will be touring the city.

I would honestly be okay with not going anywhere tonight.

Its been a busy day so far.

We had to catch an early train to Guangzhou, so everyone was up at 6am.

After a 2 hour high speed train ride, we said goodbye to Fawn.

That was SO sad.

Then we got in vans and drove from Guangzhou to Hong Kong.

Which took a few hours.

And there was a stop in there for customs, because Hong Kong isn't technically part of China.

Oh well, another stamp in the passport!

When we finally arrived at the hotel, everyone was starving.

Which is why we settled for eating at the cafe downstairs.

Which we do NOT want to do again.

To give you an idea of price, we paid about $5 US for a soda.

So glad I didn't end up getting one, even though the headache from lack of caffeine is now making me think otherwise!

So we explore tonight and tomorrow before getting on the LONG plane ride.

If the plane was as comfortable and roomy as the train was, I'd be fine with it.

But its not.

Oh well.

At least my husband and other family will be waiting on the other side of the gate for me in STL!

More later!

Goodbyes

What is there to say about today that isn’t painfully obvious?

It was sad.

There was a lot of hugging and a LOT of crying.

And not just from our team.

The nannies and staff got teary eyed too as it was time to say “Zai jian”.

The kids had no concept of us leaving and not being back for another year.

I'm pretty sure they were still all hyped up from the cake we gave them and the candy the nannies bribed them with to stay quiet during the speeches.

The president of the orphanage, the director, assistant director, as well as most of the nannies and most of the kids were there.

The kids performed 2 or 3 songs, and then one with the staff.

They were all in Mandarin, but we could tell that the one they sang with the staff was sad because Liz, one of the nannies started to cry as she sang.

So we all cried.

We sang Edelweiss for them, and several of the team members led the kids in the Cha Cha Slide.

I have a video of it to post later.

After all the fun and commotion, it was time to say our final goodbyes to the kids.

It hurt more than anything I could express.

Then Mrs. Wang and Mr. Ren, as well as some of the nannies took us out to dinner.

They also got prints made of the group picture we took just hours earlier.

Then it was time for more sad goodbyes.

Hopefully theyre more “see you laters” than “goodbyes”, but it hurts just the same.

There will be kids gone, new kids arriving, and the ones still there will grow and change, like kids do.

There were so many times I just wished I could freeze time and spend just a few more minutes cuddling the babies or hugging the older kids.

As if it wasn’t a sad enough evening, we all met in Shannon’s room to give Fawn her gift.

This past week, we have been passing around a Bible, writing her a note and highlighting favorite verses.

We gave that to her along with a Willow Tree angel.

Because she really was an angel send from the Lord for our team.

I'm sad tonight, and I could say more but I should be sleeping.

We have to be in the lobby by 6:45am tomorrow morning ready to head to the train station for an 8am train to Guangzhou.

Then, we officially part ways with Fawn.

She will take a train home to Beiijng, and we will take a bus to Hong Kong.

Please pray for safe travels!

...And Keep Her.

I am trying. I really am.

But the waterworks began today when we were getting ready to say goodbye to the babies and they will probably be happening off and on all afternoon.

Ellie seemed sick today.

She kept spitting up and spitting up and was fussy beyond normal baby.

I held her all morning.

I just cant believe that today we say goodbye.

For who knows how long.

I decided to ask the nannies today what Ellie’s real name was, and her birthday.

They said they didn’t know her birthday.

And that since she hadn’t been here long, she doesn’t have a name.

The child doesn’t have a name.

I feel very frustrated because every child deserves a name.

Shes a person (and a beautiful one at that!) and she deserves to be something, not just another “it” to feed and change and dress.

I keep trying to remember that the Lord knows her.

The Lord knows her name, he knows her birthday, her future family, everything about her.

Right now it just hurts.

The Lord bless her and keep her...

Today.

After all the excitement of yesterday, it was good to go back to just a normal day with the kids.

Well, as normal as 10 non-Mandarin speaking females taking care of 30 plus children can get.

The team all seems to be feeling the unavoidable loss and sadness that will come with tomorrow.

Tomorrow, our last day, they are throwing a party for us, and we all have to perform for each other.

Us Americans are singing Edelweiss and some are dancing to the Cha Cha Slide and Electric slide.

We have no idea what the kids have planned.

There will be exchanging of gifts, as well as hugs and tears all around.

I can't believe time has gone so fast.

Tonight at dinner, those of us who haven't adopted (aka anyone under 30!) were asking many questions of those who had.

It was so interesting to hear their stories.

Shannon also said that she read somewhere that for China, the wait time for a referral of a healthy baby is between 7 and 10 YEARS. Years, not months.

Special needs seems to be their focus now.

And I hope and pray people don't close their hearts to a child just because of a few words on a page.

They need Mommies and Daddies.

They need safe homes.

They need to see Jesus.

To learn more about adoption:

www.rainbowkids.com

Yep, I'm leaving a piece of my heart in China this year.

A Busy Day in Chenzhou!

Today was filled with activity!

Church this morning, then straight to the orphanage.

Lunch, then back to the orphanage.

We celebrated Blossom's first birthday with cake for the babies and the nannies.

KFC for dinner, then to our rooms to regroup before Liz, one of the Chenzhou nannies picked us up to go to her friends' business to buy necklaces.

We rode the public bus there, picked out our stones and watched him carve, did a little walking, and then it was back to the bus, back to the hotel, and bed VERY soon!

Happy Birthday, Miss Blossom, we all pray this is your only one without a mommy and daddy to give you birthday hugs and kisses!

Worship in China

We had lots of interesting adventures today!

We went to church this morning.

Yep. A Christian church in China.

It was awesome, although we didn't understand a word!

Joy, one of the nannies, and Fawn took us.

They were VERY welcoming.

In fact, they had us sit in the first 3 rows, with some congregation members sitting right in with our group.

The only part we did understand is when the pastor pointed us out and asked for us to stand up and be honored, in true Chinese custom.

The pastor spoke out of Matthew 18 (Fawn told us where to go in our Bibles).

He seemed to very much believe in what he was saying, and the congregation was very responsive.

It was absolutely beautiful to see in such a seemingly dark country.

Their choir also sang, and it was amazing. They have talent.

After church, they asked us to take pictures with them.

We are hoping to come back someday and maybe even meet with the pastor!

Sick In A Different Country

Word travels fast.

Which means you probably already know that I ate/drank something not good for me and have been getting sick all last night.

It’s really no fun to be sick this far away from home.

And to miss time with the kids.

They were apparently all dressed nicely today for their inspection, and the inspection people brought in new tables and chairs for the classroom.

This news I got from one of the 5 moms on this trip that are all fussing over me.

They are being so sweet and I am being very well taken care of.

Mostly I have been lying in bed just resting or sleeping.

I just feel very weak because there’s nothing to give my body energy.

The team has brought me sprite and bread.

Now they’re at lunch and promised to bring up some white rice for my lunch.

I wish I could go up to the orphanage today, but I don’t think I can make it.

Playing with the babies, yes.

But the walk there in the heat and up the hill, not so much.

Even just getting up and getting some laundry pulled together is exhausting.

I’m really bummed.

I’m missing a full day with the kids, and that is so sad.

I emailed a friend to ask her to pray for healing for me and protection over the team so that they don’t get whatever this is.

She responded with this:

Of course I will pray. But just know that obviously the Lord is doing some awesome things through you guys so the enemy is trying to force his way in and ruin it.

(I paraphrased a little, but that’s because I don’t remember it word for word!)

Hearing her say that was SO encouraging, because we were all feeling very discouraged after the rough day we had, and I think secretly we were all wondering if what we were doing really mattered.

And my wise friend was able to see all the way from home that we were, so the enemy was coming to try to steal, kill, and destroy our hope for these kids.

I'm so thankful for her insight.

And if getting this sick was what it took for the Lord to reassure us that we are doing His will, then I'm okay with eating or drinking whatever I did to get me this sick!

Wow, I'm tired after all this typing. Back to bed for me.

I Have An Announcement…

Yes. I have an announcement.

I found something out today…

And it was very unexpected…

{Nope, not pregnant. If that’s the news you came for then sorry!}

They use diapers there that have no tabs, so they use an elastic band to keep them on, but they tend to slip around on these squirmy babies.

So, as I was playing with my little buddy Max, naturally, the diaper started to fall off.

Not wanting to be the next victim of a diaper blow out (Karla!) I went to readjust it.

You can imagine my shock as I pulled down the diaper to find that Max was…

…. actually a MAXINE!

The nannies mixed up the babies when they told us boy or girl!

Poor baby! We had been treating her as a boy all these days!

So what did I do next?

Naturally I scrambled to find a HUGE, girly bow to put on her head.

And I asked the team’s help in picking out a new, more feminine name.

We settled on Ellie.

And oh my word, what a sweet, snuggly baby my little girl is.

You know, she would fit in my backpack to take through security and customs…

Kidding. I'm totally kidding.

I just don’t want to think about how close we are to leaving; how close I am to leaving her.

{I am now also battling some kind of stomach issue. Please pray that it passes quickly so I can be back to 100% for the kiddos!}

The Bib Brigade {Part 2}

The bib brigade made its way to China!

The babies all looked SO cute wearing them!

Thank you, Mom and Lindsay for sewing some of them and thank you, Darla for donating fabric!

(Sorry the pictures aren’t the best. The lighting is very dim in the orphanage!)

Dinner time Adventures.

Wow.

(You know this post is going to be good when I start with wow!)

Tonight Mr. Ren (the assistant director) took us to dinner with some of his friends that are in charge of educating the youth of this region about the Communist party.

We were all a little apprehensive wondering what questions they might ask about why we do what we do.

I took some notes at dinner.

Let me type exactly what I wrote and really confuse you, and then I’ll explain:

Cheers:

Welcome to Chenzhou

Happy Days

5 others for no reason

Annie (and then tried to kiss her)

Wine?!?

Food:

Pigeon

Snails

Duck

Fish with the fins on

Chicken feet

Tofu

Snails

Raw Salmon

They said they are glad to be here with us.

Want to do anything they can to help us enjoy our stay.

Refused steamed bread offer!

Group photo times 15

Confused yet? Let me explain.

We refused their offer of wine so they toasted with that, and us with Pepsi.

They toasted to happy days ahead and to welcome us to CZ.

Then, as the meal went on they kept toasting each other for no apparent reason.

Annie really shined at dinner tonight and so they toasted her.

And then they called her a star.

And then one of the men tried to kiss her.

And that’s where we drew the line.

Given the amount of wine flowing in them, im surprised it didn’t get louder in there.

We thought they wanted to talk business with us, but im thinking really they just wanted a reason to party.

They said they were happy we were there and that they would help in any way possible.

Then they noticed towards the end of the meal that we weren’t the hugest fans of their exotic cuisine, so they offered to order us steamed bread.

If you can believe it, we refused the offer.

Because it was getting late and the wine drinkers were getting louder.

So to end the meal we took a group picture and then said our thank yous and goodbyes.

I have never been so happy to see our hotel in my life.

Oh yeah, here’s some food pictures:

Fried sea cucumber

Fish. Notice the head and the tail still attached!

Pigeon, surrounded by bacon and sausage stuffed with egg.

Duck. Notice the head and bill on the right!

I bet you're really hungry now, aren't you! ;-)

Dear Hubby (again)

Dear Hubby (again),

So now I’m thinking we need to adopt a  little boy too!

Today I fell a little bit in love with a sweet 3 ½ month old boy.

He’s a heart baby, but seems to be doing very well for his special need.

We named him Max.

In the pictures, he is wearing pink, but that is because that was probably the outfit on the top of the stack when the ayis got him dressed.

He’s SO cute and he loves to cuddle!

Look at that face!

Please, hubby, please?!

Day Three!

What did we do on day three?

In the morning, we did our usual outside routine.

Except this time, we had the kind of balloons you make into animals and hats and whatever else.

The kids had blast with them!

 We couldn’t seem to get them blown up fast enough.

They kept popping on the ground, so we kept making more and more.

While all of this was going on, we rotated 2 at a time to the babies that are kept in the big kids’ room.

We spent time hugging, playing, and snuggling.

On some of the babies we did some massage and stretching.

Their muscles were so tight after so many hours sitting in one place.

Some babies couldn’t even fully extend their arms and legs because of how long they had been in one spot.

It hurt to see them in such rough shape.

For what seemed like the thousandth time since I've been here, I tried to push back the feelings of anger and frustration over how they had been treated.

It’s not easy, that’s for sure.

There was a new little boy at the orphanage today.

He was just dropped off by the police either last night or this morning.

He seems to be about 6 years old very unsure of his surroundings.

He tends to sit in the corner by himself, quiet and lonely.

We are hoping that he is just lost and his parents are coming to see him.

I hope so. It’s so hard to see another child becoming an orphan.

In the afternoon, it was baby play time.

We spent a good portion of the time giving American names to the babies. (I’ll share those later!)

And we got out the bows for a little bit of dress up and took pictures!

After that, it was feeding time.

I had to wake up my little buddy to eat his formula/rice cereal mix.

It seems hard to swallow, because I kept giving him time to breathe a little and he choked on it a lot, as did many of the other babies.

We rocked and played with them until they all started to get drowsy and fall asleep, and gradually the nannies took them out and out them in their cribs.

They go to bed early!

Tonight we are going to dinner with Mr. Ren’s friends that are the regional leaders for childhood Communist party education.

I'm a little nervous to see what they ask and how they act towards us.

That’s a PR for you!

The Thing I Learned From Baby wipes.

Yes, baby wipes.

An all too normal item to a nanny and aunt like myself.

But, since yesterday, I will never, ever think of them the same way again.

Why?

Well, I was going to add this to last night’s post but I was tired and it was already getting long.

Every morning we take the older kids outside to play and run out some of their overflowing energy.

We have chalk, bubbles, beach balls, balloons, and many other simple activities.

But as kids do, they got messy.

They were fascinated with the feeling of the chalk, so they rubbed it all over their hands, arms, faces, us…well, you get the point.

We were very well planned (in my opinion) and brought baby wipes to clean them off before we took them inside.

It was about time to go do some inside games and crafts so I got out the wipes and started wiping off the hands of the boy on my lap.

Almost instantly, I had a swarm of kids around me sticking their hands out and whining to be cleaned off.

I took this as very strange first…

Most kids hate getting cleaned off.

But then again, most kids aren’t orphans.

Most kids don’t have to fight for attention and constantly crave love and a gentle touch.

That’s what we were doing, taking a few seconds to specifically take care of one child in a loving manner.

And that’s all they wanted.

And that’s why baby wipes will never look the same!

Ni Shi Mei

Yes, indeed, Miss Sky, ni shi mei.

You are beautiful.

(First post with a working VPN)

Unexpected Meetings‏

Our first full day at the orphanage was FULL.

Full of energy, full of noise, and full of surprises.

I think the theme of the last 24 hours is unexpected meetings.

Why?

Because we have seen SUNFLOWERS!

On the way to the orphanage, right as we walked in on the wall, and on the door to the kids hallway.

Its just amazing confirmation that He is here and guiding every step!

(not that we thought God wouldn’t be guiding every step, its just awesome to see confirmation!)

Then, as we arrived back at the orphanage after lunch we met up with 3 families that has adopted from CZ before and are now bringing their children back on a heritage trip.

(side note, Chad Rucker after we adopt and the kids are older we need to do this!)

They loved seeing the new building.

 We were able to talk to them for a while about the kids they were taking photos of. I’m hoping they will help spread the word about them!

Tonight was the most surprising.

We were having team devo when there was a knock on the door and we opened it to find Director Wang and her assistant.

They came to appeal to us about helping raise awareness for the kids they are trying to send to school.

There are 7 that they want to send, but at the tuition cost of 3600Y (about 600 USD) the cost is too high.

They have enough to send them to the public school, but then she explained why they don’t go there.

I guess they tried to send them, but they were made fun of by the kids in town and it “crushed their confidence” so they pulled them out.

The boys were begging not to go back there.

Now, in the old orphanage building (behind the new one) is a school specifically for special needs kids.

They actually rent the building from the orphanage.

They want to keep sending the kids here, as well as send more, but the expense is too high.

Love Without Boundaries has set up a sponsorship program to help get all 7 eligible kids in.

$600 may seem steep, but I have no doubt the money can be raised.

Director Wang also said that two of the kids scored 1^st and 2^nd for the top of the class when they were first tested and continue to improve.

We agreed to help raise awareness.

When I get home you’ll see a very special post spotlighting these kids and their need for school! (I need more time and a better internet connection so I can add pics or else id do it now!)

She also wants to throw a party for us on the last day because she considers us friends. I thgouht that was so sweet!

I think it really shows a special connection with the director and our team that she felt comfortable enough to come visit us in our hotel room.

I love seeing this relationship bloom and I cant wait to see how it grows!

Sometimes unexpected meetings are truly the best!

He is with us!`

Sky Stories‏

Hey everyone, we are just getting back from our first full day in the orphanage.

I am smelly, sweaty, tired, and covered in chalk and baby drool.

And I couldn’t be happier to be this way.

Let me backtrack.

After we checked into the hotel last night we met in the lobby to head to the orphanage.

I couldn’t get my feet to get us there fast enough.

I was SO ready to see them.

As we were walking down the street, I was able to notice the changes in the past 13 months, and the things that remained the same.

The same street vendors, the same smells from the creek that runs through town, the same drips from the overhead air conditioners, and the same constant chaos.

(side note, its so loud here that skype told me I had a lot of background noise. In my room. Alone. 11 floors up from the street. Yeah, its noisy here.)

As soon as we reached the gate to the orphanage, we all started to cry.

Finally. Finally we were here for what we worked so hard for, traveled so hard for.

The director met us a the door and ushered us into the same conference room we had sat in just 13 months ago.

There was water and watermelon waiting on us. And tissues. I think those were what we took the most of.

Mrs. Wang is the director and she sat with us and gave us some info:

-20 kids in foster care (not up for adoption)

-50 kids living there, mostly special needs.

-about 30 older, 20 babies

-her daughter has been working with the nannies to help them learn a few English phrases.

And this was my favorite.

She thanked us profusely for the help and donations we had given over the past year and she told us that she truly believed that the reason so many babies went home this year was because of us.

 (pause for more tissue grabbing)

And then she asked us if we had rested enough to go see the babies.

Everyone of us shot out of our chairs and headed for the elevator.

We all packed in, and then took the short ride to the 5^th floor.

We were immediately greeted by a hoard of kids running down the hall to us.

They were ready to play.

So ready that they were hyper ALL afternoon.

Hyper to the point of tackling us, pulling hair, glasses, and earrings, and just all around crazy.

It was so overwhelming.

And so unsettling that they felt that they needed to fight for attention.

Yet, in the middle of the chaos, sat a girl that I remembered vividly from last year.

We call her “Sky”.

Sky has a beautiful smile, and is about 12 years old.

She has severe disabilities similar to CP that have sadly kept her for getting adopted all these years.

She was curled up in a ball on the chair with her head down.

I was nervous to go over for fear of her rejecting attention.

So I walked over and offered a small “Ni hao”.

Right away she uncurled and grabbed for my hand, showing that gorgeous smile.

(cue the tears again from me.)

And so we sat, just like that holding hands for quite a while.

She was literally shaking with excitement at the notion of being loved on.

As we sat, I studied her, thinking of what she had been through all these years, I wanted to cry or get very angry. 

Sky is a beautiful, loving child that her country pushed aside.

She’s twelve…

She should be taking dance classes and having slumber parties, not worrying about her upcoming aging out of the adoption system.

As we got up to leave I asked the guide to tell her that I thought she was very beautiful and that I would be back to play very soon.

Which I was today, but that will come later in a post. Its almost dinner now.

Friends, please join me in praying for Sky. She’s just so precious.

Dear Hubby

I have the PERFECT 2 month anniversary gift for you!

She turns one on the 15th.

She's just begging me to take her home to you!

She's somber until she gets less shy, and then she smiles.

Shes a lover baby just like Emmett.

can we please have her?!

Hubby's response, Aww, Deal!  I wish we were only 8 years older, then this could actually be a reality instead of just a dream!