The Forbidden City was...forbidden ;)

My mind is a bit all over the place right now. :)  Let me try to recap what we did yesterday and get us until today - ONE more sleep until we are with Meisi.. :) : ) :)

Yesterday morning we went to the Great Wall.  We met and toured with several other families with our agency.  They are all going together to a different province than where we are.  Some of these sweet families have waited 6-7 years for their children.  So excited to hear how things went today for them (in their province they have gotcha in their hotel on Sunday).

 

We then went to T Square.  The Mausoleum where Chairman Mao is was closed that day. It was also closed when Brian and I came here nearly 14 years ago.  Just not meant for us to see him I guess.  We walked from T Square to the Forbidden City.  This is one of the gates here:

 

We walked over to the Forbidden to find out it was still forbidden for us. :(  They had closed early that day due to the holiday.  Our guide felt terrible so we went to a tea room.  Ian was super excited because we had just been to a tea room the day before and he loved it....it is also warm inside. :) 

 

You guys...I also can't tell you how many pictures people took of our children, with our children, with our children and their children...  Aili and Ian have been amazing through it.  It truly brightens the Chinese children's days to get these pictures... so surreal.    Here is one of my favorites... I love how the little girl locked arms with Aili... precious!  So, if your kids are blond and they are coming with you... prep their little hearts...  It is like they are celebrities here in China.  We can't go anywhere without dozens of people taking pictures of them. 

 

This morning we had to leave the hotel at 5am so they made us a bag breakfast.  Also interesting - salad, ham and cheese sandwich, boiled egg and banana.  Something for everyone! 

 

We haven't seen much of the smog while here since everyone is on holiday (Chinese New Year), but yesterday they went back to work and this morning, the smog was thick.  Every flight was delayed. 

 

 Thankfully we were only delayed one hour and the ride was very comfortable.  I thought the announcement from the flight attendant was a bit funny when she said, "We are going through turbulence, hold tightly to your seat rests."  It really wasn't that bad! They served breakfast too - congee (kinda like a rice pudding the consistency of oatmeal) with a ham and cheese sandwich.  Not sure what it is about their bread - but it was yummy! 

 

Our hotel here in Anhui is very nice here (Holiday Inn).  They upgraded us to one suite and one standard room side by side but not connecting.   It is like having a bedroom and playroom - yay!  They are bringing us a crib in the morning.  :) 

 

Oh - we walked to KFC tonight.  Not exactly like home, but fun to eat in places like this while in other countries to see the difference.  Not sue we need to go back, but glad we tried it!  :)  



 

God has been so good to us throughout this trip.  Everything has gone so well.  We can feel your prayers and appreciate them so very much!  In just over 12 hours we will be getting our sweet daughter!  We absolutely cannot wait!  We've been trying to ready the room, get her gotcha bag ready, charge camera batteries... 

 

Please continue to pray that Meisi is doing ok in the orphanage, that she is well and warm.  Pray there is no problems for them to get to the Civil Affairs office tomorrow where we will have "Gotcha".  She is traveling a 2 hour drive.  We are supposed to have "gotcha" at 9:30a (I think this is 830 pm on Sunday eve for you).  Pray for immediate bonding and love (our God can do it)...pray that if that doesn't happen that He helps us through it.

 

CAN NOT WAIT to post pictures of tomorrow!!!  Can't believe this day is finally here!!!  Of course, after hearing about all the families who have waited 7 years... our 11 months was fast! 

 

We love you all and are so thankful for your prayers and support!!!  I can't express our gratitude.  Struggling expressing anything right now.  Still so so tired...sorry if my posts are not making sense!  

Picture Overload!

I still can't get our VPNs to work but my dear friend Debbie is plugging away for us posting all this!!!  <3 you Debbie!!! :)  Instead of lots of words - here is what you get - pics of New Hope - Meisi's crib from when she was a teeny baby at Heartbridge then her crib more recently while at New Hope.  We were so excited to see that she had gotten our pictures we had sent and that they hung it on her crib!!!  :)  I wish I could verbalize how incredible our visit to New Hope was.

When we went back to the hotel we went on a walking adventure.  First pic is a picture of the 5 of us the security guard outside generously took of us (without being asked). :)  Then McDs...  Melissa...I agree - the hamburger was a bit strange...smelled kinda funny too  I think we will stick to true Chinese when we can! :)  My tummy has been a bit off kilter today -prayers appreciated!! 

 

                                             Aili's favorite breakfast item...yep Sushi!

Today was a crazy busy day!  We hired our own guide who was fantastic if anyone needs his info let me know!!  Michelle - thanks for the recommendation!  Jack was great today!  We went to the Summer Palace.  I could imagine how nice it is in the summer... When 22 degrees out, it was a nice quick visit. :)  The kids were frozen!  They did great for a good hour though!  We nearly lost Ian once which scared us all, but thankfully some older Chinese folks stood near him and he stood still until we got to him!  He kept walking when we stopped to talk to Jack.  Scary times... 

 

We went by a silk market which was really educational for the kids learning about the silk worm and silk making process (remember this is a homeschool field trip too ;)).  Next stop was the Temple of Heaven.  Kids did great here too!  All these structures are amazing!  Brian and I had seen them nearly 14 years ago but they have been restored since then and the colors are so vibrant and pretty.  Although, you can't see as much as we could when we came.  They have blocked off many areas due to the large crowds. 

 

While there, this Chinese lady just grabbed Ian up into her arms to take pictures with him. lol  He and Aili were such troopers with this.  They were photographed often.  Hugged some and patted on heads frequently. 

 

As we were walking out there were these funny shaped rocks (and yes they are real rocks although they look plastic).  The kids wanted to play on them but the guide said it really wasn't allowed.  However, there were many kids on them.  He said, "Go on and play...no one is enforcing today. "  lol...so kids jumped up on one quickly for a photo shoot but just as quickly crossed back over the barrier  - mother of the year award for allowing kids to break rules in China, right?

 

We ended our long day with a stop at a pearl market, a tea room and an acrobatics show.  One very busy day! 

 

Tomorrow will be much the same!  We hopefully will meet some more Great Wall families as we tour the Great Wall, Forbidden City and T Square.  Monday can't get here quick enough though.

 

We are so thankful for your prayers and encouragement!  Sorry I can't respond to your comments!  Hopefully in our next hotel we will have better luck with Internet.  We do want you to know we can feel the prayers!  Thank you!!! 

 

Please continue to pray for Meisi's transitions....that she is being well cared for at the orphanage...and gotcha day be a happy day for her.  Also please pray for our upcoming flight on Sunday morning - for it to be on time, for us to be on it and for a smooth ride. :) 

 

Hopefully more fun travel pics tomorrow!  Aili is super excited about the Great Wall...Ian is a little worried about being cold again. :) 

Valentine's Day in China

Happy Valentine's Day.  This by far was the most special one we have had possibly ever! 

 

Visit to New Hope and LWB Heartbridge Unit was even more special than I could've imagined. I coudn't have dreamt up a better day and situation for our sweet daughter to have been nurtured and healed through.   I'd love to share pictures, but unable to download them right now.  We got to say, "Hi" to the nanny who cared for Meisi when she was a tiny baby and see the crib where she slept then we got to meet the nannies who cared for her more recently in New Hope and see her crib there.  It was so wonderful to sit with Robin and Joyce the founders of New Hope and hear how God told Joyce this is what they were to do and the amazing ways God has provided for them during their years of working here in China with sick orphans.  They are such an amazing couple with such a love for these children and such trust and faith in God to provide. 

 

It was so wonderful to meet the nannies.  They were truly happy to meet us and see who Meisi's Mama and Baba are.  She has truly been loved there I could just see and feel it in their eyes and experessions.  We are so thankful for God's provision for her to be cared for there. 

 

It was a special treat to see some of the precious children we have been praying for from LWB Heartbridge newsletters and FB posts.  Oh my heart... so many I wanted to just wrap up and take with me. It was very hard leaving there today.  But the knowledge that Monday is just around the bend made it a little easier.  I urge you from my innermost soul.... if you have had even a fleeting thought of adopting...please...PLEASE seek out information, pray hard and if God leads...move forward.. these children need Mamas and Daddys to love them, to hold them and kiss them. 

 

Their sweet smiles melted my heart but their reaching out to us... no words to express.....

Of course, we can't adopt them all, but one child at a time we can make a difference....please pray.....

 

If you have seen LWB Heartbridge newsletter and wondered about Jenny, Brody or Anthony... we saw each of those precious children today and I can tell you - they are adorable, smiling, the sweetest little babies.....  

 

Sorry...I didnt start this post intending for it to be a plea for your attention and heart...but that is what God has placed on me today... 

 

After we returned back to the hotel we took a little walking journey with Karen and the kids.  We found a McDonalds - haha...I know very unlike us but was getting late and needed food :)  We went to a mall and also walked to a market to buy snacks for the room. The kids enjoyed their little adventure. :)  The fireworks have been nonstop since dusk.  Seriously, they are going off in about a dozen diffeerent locations within 1/2 mile of our hotel.  It is loud, but pretty. :) 

 

OK...hopefully I will be able to catch up on photos another day!  Bummed it won't let me load anything.  Thanks so much Debbie for posting for me! :)  

 

Brian, Aili and Ian are already asleep.  I think I will join them!  Maybe tomorrow I can finally get pictures to download. :)  Thanks again for all your prayers.  I wish I could tell you all the amazing ways we clearly see God answering them! :) 

 

We are in China!!!

We made it!!

Thanks so much for your prayers!! 

We flew Delta for those considering... Even with a delay I can't say enough good things about them. We had 8 checked bags (6 for LWB and New Hope) and they didn't charge us for them after hearing what they were for.  They were so supportive and genuinely excited about our adoption journey.  While checking in Aili needed to go to the restroom... one of the Delta ladies escorted her so we could finish check in.  Then as we were boarding they changed our seats so we'd have more room to relax.  On the international leg we were not seated together until Brian asked the lady at the gate (they said they couldn't help until then).  She immediately moved 5 other passengers so that we could all be in one row. 

Then there was the delay.... supposed to have left Detroit at 1200 (you saw the earlier post - how awesome that our church's Uganda team arrived in Detroit just as our flight was boarding?)  That was such an awesome send off group!!!   Anyway...we boarded at 1200...at 2:00 we unboarded.  There was a mechanical issue that required a part that wasn't in Detroit.  Delta gave us $25 per person vouchers for food/merchandise as we exited the plane.  When they realized they were getting a new plane and we had to wait for a new crew they gave us another $25 per person vouchers.  When the  plane finally arrived they told us we'd get another $100 per person Delta Travel Voucher for our worries.   Wow!  So 7 hour delay and $250 in airport voucher and $500 in Travel Vouchers for our party.... time well spent ;)

Delta flight was good.  Our kids did great!  They enjoyed the personal TV's that had "Sky Kids" which had tons of Disney and Nick TV shows and movies.  They slept really well on the plane (hence we are not sleeping right now).  Delta also had Kids meals and snacks for them which was great!  The flight attendants were nice and courteous, very child friendly. :) 

We are staying at the Poly Plaza.  I will try to post some pictures on here. Beds are smaller than full but maybe slightly bigger than twin... will be fun for 5 of us for 4 nights. :)  I wish I had taken a picture of us at the airport.  HILARIOUS!  pulling all those bags!  Everyone chuckled, the airport folks, the driver, the bell boy... 16 bags!  We are not that bad of packers just had 2 carry ons and 2 checked for us.  The kids each had a small backpack with snacks and things to do (coloring books, etc), Brian had backpack with computer and I had backpack with camera and my MIL had 3 bags...ok so that is 17!  Crazy!!   

Oh- fireworks are great!  It is still Chinese New Year Celebration here so we should get to enjoy that for a few more nights! :) 

For my friends who are packing - bring summer PJs..it is about 100 degrees in this room and we can't get it to cool down.. We left room door open for a while and opened a window...still hot!! 

Ok...gonna try to get some sleep!  Tomorrow Brian and I get to drop off the bags to New Hope and LWB Heartbrige!! Can't wait to me the folks who have been caring for our sweet Meisi!! :)  Karen and the kids are staying here at the hotel.  they were bummed the pool is closed. :(  Pray they find enough to do!!!  :)

Thanks for your prayers!  We certainly feel them!!  Everythings has gone great in the traveling side so far! :)  Love you guys!  Will share more in a couple days - maybe some pics of all the cool palces we are going to see!! :) 

Here We Go!

Last pic and post as family of 4 in USA was with part of our amazing church family who just returned from Uganda. Sweet prayers over us!! God is awesome!!! Prayed in circle in middle of airport with flight full of Chinese onlooking! Praying God will use us as his vessel during our entire trip. :) what awesome timing God has!

Count down to take off!!

ALMOST there!!! ...

We leave at 6:10 AM TOMORROW (2/12)!!!!

I have butterflies in my belly... 

Had trouble sleeping last night - kept having bad dreams about Meisi grieving and rejecting us...this is our biggest prayer request - We are taking our sweet little girl from everything and everyone she has ever known.  The next week will be full of transitions for her.  Before meeting us she will also be taken from LWB Heartbridge unit where she has spent most of her life back to the orphanage where she was her first two months of life.  Then we come - looking funny, smelling funny, wanting to cuddle and kiss her...  But through her eyes, all this transition....please pray for her and us - that we bond quickly, that she can feel our love and accepts it rather than reject it, that even through grieving she feels comforted and safe in our arms.  She is such a brave little girl and will have gone through much that she can't possibly understand at this young age, maybe ever. 

We are hoping having Aili and Ian with us will help her transition, but also ask that you pray for their hearts.  For them this is a new culture, a possibly grieving little sister...  Thankful that my mother in law is traveling with us to help with Aili and Ian.  We know Meisi will be getting loads of attention from Brian and I and are so thankful Karen is coming to make sure Aili and Ian get just as much attention from her. :) 

We are flying to Beijing and will arrive 2/13
2/14 Dropping off bags of donated supplies to New Hope and LWB Heartbridge Unit
2/15-16 Home School Field Trip :)  - visiting Great Wall, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven...
2/17 - we fly to Meisi's province (Anhui) - Prayers greatly appreciated for no delays in flight
2/18 - "Gotcha Day"  - hallelujah!  We finally get to be with our sweet girl FOREVER!!!
2/19 - Fill out paperwork - she is officially ours ON her birthday!!  God is so awesome!!!
2/20-22- touring her province, working on her passport
2/22- fly to Guangzhou - Prayers greatly appreciated for no delays in flight
2/23 - Medical Exam - Prayer greatly appreciated this day!! 
2/24-2/26 - more touring, paperwork...
2/27- Consulate appointment - woohoo Meisi will be a US citizen when we touch US ground!
2/28-3/3 - Go to Hong Kong
3/3 - Fly home :) 

Prayer requests -

1. That God is preparing Meisi's heart for us and us for her, and that we bond quickly. 
2. For everyone to stay healthy - Meisi, Brian and I, Aili, Ian and Karen.
3. For Godly attitude and love with one another while on the trip regardless how tired we get :)
4. For all of us to transition well to the cultural change and living in hotel for so long.  Brian and I have traveled a lot, but our kids and mother in law have not and we haven't traveled overseas before with our kids....
5. For safe travels and all flights to connect with us on them!  The most important ones because the schedule is tighter - are the ones inside China (from Beijing to Anhui and Anhui to Guangzhou). 
6. For the kids to adapt well to having a new little sister and that their sweet hearts and love for her is lived out. 

Praise God we are at this point!! 

We are going to try to continue to update our blog while there.  If we can't my dear friend Debbie is going to update it for us! :)  This will be the best place to check on us! 

We can't wait to post pictures of our little Meisi WITH us!  Aili and Ian are super duper excited!  Ian first words each morning this week has been, "4 more days until we go to China, 3 more days until we go to China..". :)   He had me buy a frame yesterday and put a picture of Meisi in his room.  :) He is going to be such a good big brother. :)  Aili cleaned her room which they are sharing and paid special attention to Meisi's crib. :)  She is already an amazing big sister. :) Can't wait to see them all together. :)

Here is Meisi's room waiting for her arrival! :)

These are two precious items my friend Debbie put together at our shower for Meisi.  Each person wrote a Bible verse or a well wish on each heart and around Meisi's picture frame.  I LOVE that they hangs above her crib.  So thankful for all who have shown such great love and hope for our precious daughter already!  Thank you for all your prayers, love and support, we certainly feel it!!!!

My cup overflows...

Today the MOPs (Mother of Preschoolers) group at our church (FishHawk Fellowship Church) "filled a suitcase" for Love Without Boundaries Heartbridge Healing Home in China.  LWB is the amazing organization that God used to save our precious Meisi's life and the lives of many other children throughout China through truly loving without boundaries.  We asked our MOPs group to bring some items I was told LWB could use - and this is what our amazing group of women provided:

WOW!!!  WOW!!!  What giving hearts!  Such a wonderful group of ladies!  So so blessed to be able to carry these items over to LWB so they can help more children. :)  Thank you ladies for your love, support, prayers and amazing hearts!  I actually fit most of it into one suitcase - will pack the rest into another checked bag!  Thank you!!!

I am so blessed by the many families who have supported us throughout this process.  So many of you have sent me messages or called to ask how I was doing, what you could pray for, what I needed.  Thank you!!  My cup overflows! 

Some have asked how the puzzle fundraiser is going  - it has been great!  :)
For those considering as a fundraiser- you might want to buy a smaller puzzle - it took us a while to put this together but was a fun family effort. :)

On the other side we colored in the pieces that were bought (2 pieces for $10). Each color is a different family who has generously donated. :)  Thank you!!! Yes, there are still more pieces available!  :)  We will write the names of those who have bought pieces in their colored area and buy a double sided frame to hang in our home. :)

I will admit the financial aspects of adoption has been stressful for me. I was most stressed about the finances this weekend.  After paying for the airfare, travel expense to our agency and hotels, getting money for the orphanage donation and fees...wow... I was stressed!  I talked with a friend about the stress, sharing that I didn't want to tell many folks because I didn't want to scare them but she reminded me how we need to be transparent about this because a year from now we won't remember this stress and people needed to know it wasn't a cakewalk. Love you Rae! :)

So here it is - I have been stressed about it.  I'm the saver in our family and spending large amounts of money really drives me crazy  bothers me.  PLEASE HEAR ME - I'm not saying adoption isn't worth it...just that the finances stressed me.

I say this not to scare you away from adoption- rather to tell you - TRUST HIM who called you on this journey!!  We are just a normal middle class family.  We didn't start with $25000 sitting waiting to be spent on adoption..  If we did, it wouldn't have allowed us to see God work.  Now, money hasn't fallen from the sky, but through fundraisers, extra jobs, generous friends, our savings and major changes in our spending habits...it is coming together!

Please also know (as some have asked) the expenses for adoption are for travel, social workers, agency fees and government fees.  There is an orphanage donation but only about 1/5 of the fees are that. It is NOT for the child.  AND amazingly it is pretty much exactly the same cost as pregnancy, labor and delivery here in the US, only there is no insurance for adoption so the cost is more apparent.

The day after verbalizing my stress about the money our Pastor preached on Matthew 6 and how we don't need to worry about tomorrow - our finances, our clothes, anything! 

A great reminder that we can only have one treasure - our awesome God  - not money and God, just God.  "No one can serve two masters.  You cannot serve both God and Money." Matthew 6:24

A great reminder that we needed to have a single vision -  "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also...."  Matthew 6:21:23. He said, "What are you choosing to focus on?  Where we choose to invest our money shows where our heart, our desire and our focus is going to go."   

....Where we choose to invest our money shows where our heart, our desire and our focus is going to go...

Ughhh.... in my effort to be a good steward somehow "financial peace" become totally lacking peace and somehow ignoring that God's Word says -

"Delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4

The desire in our hearts has been to adopt for nearly 14 years... We felt His urgency to start the process starting in the fall of 2011...  Then the desire became so that it couldn't be squelched.  Every day, I looked through pictures of children waiting for a family online...every single day...

How do I know that our adoption would qualify as "Delighting in the Lord?"

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows from their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27

My cup overflows...  My God will provide.  Yes, that involves lifestyle changes on our part, but it is amazing how I have learned how much more we have in life with less. :)

Thank you for all who have prayed, all who have given...

And if you are one who God is whispering to...one who has the heart to love one more.... but the finances of adoption stresses you - that is NORMAL!  IF God is calling you to this journey of adoption, pray for His peace and TRUST HIM!!  I know it is hard...believe me - I am living it.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."  Proverbs 3:4-7

My mind goes to the old hymn..."What He says we will do, Where He sends we will go, Never fear, only trust and obey....trust and obey...."  :)