We're in Nanning!

We arrived safely in Nanning and after going through lots of different checks, we gathered our luggage (I really only packed what we needed, but the luggage sure is a bear to tote around, but we are getting it down to a science) and were greeted by our guide David.  He is very nice.  We could tell that he had some words with a lady who wouldn't let us take our carts any further than the curb.  We managed to get it all in the van somehow and were on our way for an hour drive to the Marriott.  None of us had seatbelts.  I am trusting the Lord with all of our safety but I honestly can't say that it isn't stressful.

We were able to do a little planning for the week with David.  It looks like Jake will come to the hotel Monday afternoon and then we'll go to the Civil Affairs office Tuesday for all the adoption paperwork.  David knows Jake and I was right that he was the one that had taken the pictures and video back in May and I also think he took the ones back from October.  He was able to share some things about Jake that are precious.  He says Jake is really smart and can say many words.  He's friendly and outgoing and has a close, close attachment with his foster mom.  David thinks he sleeps mostly with her and likes the yogurt drinks we'll be getting from Walmart in a little while.  They do call him Hong Fu.  Many of the children get nicknames so we'll still see what the ayis (short for aunts, but like nannies) call him.  We think he will come to the hotel with David and some ayis from the orphanage.  Please keep praying for his adjustment.  David says that the foster mom would like to meet us and, although we think that this could be difficult in the short term, we also think it could be very good for the long haul.  She wants to wait until later in the week once he has had time to adjust to us.  This tells me that she loves him.  We'll see how he does with everything.  We also are going to get to go see the orphanage as it is within 10 minutes walking of the foster family.  Apparently Jake is the last foster child they will have as they have a new grandbaby and want to spend time with him / her.  I asked why the family has fostered and David said because they love children.  We are praising God for this love.

Today we have been hanging out in the hotel room.  The food for the girls is much more difficult than I had expected. 

We're doing all the things that we were told to do like using bottled water for brushing teeth and making sure that we don't get water in our mouths during showers and making sure we don't plug something up without adapters.  I think this wouldn't be hard with just Jeff and I but having the children here is making it more difficult.  We're still glad we brought them but are having to change some expectations on our parts.  God is using this trip to refine us still. 

Our big outing for the day is to go to Walmart.  You might laugh, but I dread it.  I guess the big reason is that I nearly totally lost it on the sidewalk.  I mean talking about making a scene.  Apparently flipflops from Old Navy are very, very slippery on slimy side walks.  It was very scary but as soon as I got my balance, guess what?  I almost lost it again!!  Talk about standing out.  So I then looked like an oversized old lady American because I was walking SO slow.  This put us all into hyper vigilant mode.  Not a good combination for a family under the stress of being in a foreign country for adoption.  So when the children asked about going to the dragon boat festival, the answer was clear for me. 

We can count on one hand the number of folks here in the hotel that speak English...okay, maybe just one. 

So for prayer requests, pray for patience for Jeff and I and for the children.  Pray that God will work mightily in all of our hearts as we move closer to Jake and for sweet Jake.  I can't wait to get to know him.  There will be so many things to plan for at that point for any outing.  I can't imagine quite yet.  Diapers, underwear, or just going on the street as Parker and I saw during our one outing for something to drink (the time when I nearly wiped out).  Planning for gluten free meals to go, a toddler, in a foreign country with three very dependent, normal children.  I can't yet imagine getting back on the plane with all of us.  Could be so interesting!!!  Please keep praying Friends!!  We so, so appreciate it. 

We got a pretty decent amount of sleep last night (11pm til 6am China time) so we are grateful.  It's a bit odd because it felt like 11am til 6pm but we hadn't gotten much rest on the plane.  We are trying to just go with China time though now our bodies feel like it's 9:21pm as I type this.  I'm not letting the children dwell on this but it is quite interesting.  We are in China so just trying to go with it!!  We really do stand out even here at the hotel. 

Our big objective today is to get to Nanning.  I will feel much closer to Jake once we're there.  I also look forward to meeting David, our guide, and hopefully will feel comfortable asking him the thousand questions that I have (don't worry for those of you that really know me...I'll narrow my questions down to just 5-6 big ones cause we have a few days with him and I can probably get in a good 20-30 questions:)). 

We have seen lots of little Chinese children here and there and my heart melts.  I can just picture him.  Okay, ready for a really obvious statement.....children cry the same in all languages.  This morning I heard a little child fall and immediately the Mama in me wondered if it was one of my children and then I saw that it was a little Chinese boy.  He started to cry.  It was the same as my children's cry.  My heart was filled with love and anticipation to hold the one sweet little boy that the Lord has given to us and to wipe away his tears.....because he cries just like Parker, Jenna, and Andrew.  I know that's really simple, not deep and profound, but that's where the Lord has me. 

We're here!!

We are here!!  We got in to the airport in Hong Kong a couple of hours ago and are so grateful for safe travel.  I really just didn't fully comprehend what a 15 hour flight would be like.  It was exhausting.  And I can't imagine doing that again, especially with a 2 year old.  Parker, Jenna, and Andrew enjoyed their first plane rides (Parker can't remember her airplane trip at 18 mos. old to see Aunt Beth).  The plane ride was a bit turbulent off and on all the way culminating with a few pretty severe drops in the last 30 minutes.  It was pretty scary but I am a bit of a whimp.  Prayers were offered up:)  It was neat to hear them (the children) talking all about the clouds, time differences, landforms, locations of states, countries, etc.  Thanks so much to their awesome geography teachers this past year!!

It's Thursday night 10:43pm here and we are getting ready to go to bed.  We didn't get much sleep so hopefully the jetlag won't be too bad.  I am very emotional.  I guess that somewhat comes with being tired.  But mainly I just can't fathom (is that how you spell that?) that we'll be united with Jake in just a few days.  How can it be?  How could God have brought our lives together in such an amazing way?  Looking at all the folks in the immigration line (mostly Asian) I am just more amazed at His love for each one of us.  Every single person is created uniquely with a unique design, personality, gifts, and abilities.  God has given us the opportunity to invest with unconditional love in one more little life.  I am so amazed!!

Please pray for safe travel to Nanning. 

one last prayer request

Oh, one more thing.  Pray that I will have clarity of mind.  All the forms look the same right now wiht the nerves and sinus infection. 

OH MY!!!

Less than an hour before we head to the airport.  I still don't feel well.  I had forgotten what a sinus infection feels like, but hopefully the antibiotic will kick in soon.  The plan for today is to fly from RDU to Detroit and then from Detroit to Hong Kong (15 hours).  Once in Hong Kong we'll spend the night there and then fly out tomorrow (or whenever it is...China is 12 hours ahead of us).  Not on my agenda to figure out just yet.  Trusting in God's grace for all the small things.  He cares about even those!  Once we get to Nanning in Guangxi province, we will be recooperating, touring Jake's hometown, hopefully visiting the SWI (Social Welfare Institute) where Jake spent the first year of his sweet little life.  I have a couple other things that I'm hoping to see / people to visit if the guide will coordinate that for us.  Our guide's name is David.  Please be praying for him.  It's not like he's not done this before, but our Sovereign God might ask something of us and we want to be faithful.

Please pray for safe travel, sleep, adjustment to the time difference, preparation for us, Jake and his foster family, David, my precious bio children, Jeff (he's the mighty captain on this voyage and my rock), and pray that I'll be able to answer (and sometimes acknowledge) all the questions that Andrew will ask from here to Hong Kong.  It is a joy but tiring at times.  But God has given me focus already.

Thank you for your friendship or reading this blog.  Praying for you as well.

Captain calls......

We're just about ready

Well, it's been a long day.  I am so exhausted!!  And our trip hasn't even started.  I have emotions right now that I wasn't expecting.  Way more nervous than I would have guessed.

Jeff and I have some of the sweetest friends.  So many have stepped in to help here in the last few weeks.  It has been precious to have them rally behind us.  It helps us not to feel all alone in this.  Certainly we know that we have God with us but He also uses His people to strengthen and encourage His children.

Today was Jeff's birthday and he turned 50 years old!!  I managed, again with the help of sweet friends, to have a quick lunch with him (alone:)).  I must admit that while we ate I looked at him and thought a time or two "We're crazy; he's turning 50 and we're about to have a two year old!".  And then I was reminded by that still small voice that many saints before have done great things in the latter halves of their lives.  I don't know what we'll do (I have certainly grieved the Lord many a time) but I am praying that God will use all the years we have to make an impact and that we will lay down our lives for the works that He has laid out before us.  So grateful the He is faithful even when we are not.

I'm not sure what else to write right now.  I feel a bit like a "deer in headlights"!  Please pray as we fly out tomorrow.

My joy....her pain

Today my heart is excited, anxious, nervous, ready to make the journey....but mostly filled with joy at the thought of being united with our son.  But it is also very sad because I know that another woman on the opposite side of the world has just put my baby boy to bed and maybe standing over him watching him sleep and I can only imagine her pain.  She couldn't adopt him.  It wasn't possible.  And she's known we were coming.  She even saw pictures, got care packages, known the timeline.  But I imagine her heart breaking.  Please pray for her.  Pray that God will comfort and keep her and that if she doesn't know the One True God, that somehow she will.  And that God will give her joy, strength, help and that we would be faithful if He calls us to do whatever He asks us for her.  Also pray that we will get her contact information and be able to stay connected with her, give her updates, and that Jake will have that connection as he grows.  I'll post more later, but God was impressing on my heart to share this.