We are HOME!!!

Wednesday/Thursday, January 16^th-17^th:  Most of our last full day in China we spent packing up and organizing our luggage.  We took the girls for a short walk and then I also went out for an hour walk by myself.  I wanted to soak up the surroundings and go into some neighborhoods that we didn’t want to take the girls into…mostly because of no sidewalks.  I wanted to spend some time praying for those who are so lost from God…for those hurting…for those who suffer daily.  On my way back to the hotel I saw a beggar with a small child…and it brought me to thoughts that I have had many times before. Why my five China children? Why them? How does God choose which kids get a second chance at a better life? I sure wish more Christian families would consider adoption. So many children that just need someone to LOVE them.  After I returned we went for a late lunch at an Italian restaurant called Oggi’s. We met our guide in the hotel lobby at 4:30PM so that we could get Lia’s passport and then we loaded up in the van that he set up for us.  It took us about 3 1/2 hours to get to Hong Kong.  I am not sure I would recommend the van to Hong Kong…I actually think the train was much more comfortable. The driving in China makes me sick to my stomach, the traffic is terrible...plus, it was convenient to have the bathroom, water and to be able to get up and walk around on the train. Lance would probably say that it was worth it not to have to deal with luggage on the train or a taxi from the train station to the hotel but I still think I preferred the train.  We were tired and hungry when we got to the hotel so after a quick dinner in the hotel restaurant…we went to bed.  We headed to the airport about 8AM the next morning.  We had plenty of time to get breakfast at the airport and buy some socks (since we ran out of clean ones;) and also some snacks for the plane.  Lia was excited to see our plane. The guide had warning her that it was a really long flight and she did a great job flying.  She does not like to sleep unless it is in a bed.  She was up the entire trip from our hotel to our house, which means so were weJ Lance kept trying to fall asleep on the plane and she would wake him…LOL!! He sat right by her and he was VERY patient.  None of the girls were very good about keeping their drinks off the floor or from hitting the seats in front of them…so it is a full time job keeping the peace and the dirty looks at a minimum;) We actually got a nice surprise because it took 15+ hours to get to China but only 12+ to get home…WOOHOO!!! Thank you God for the tailwind…we really appreciated thatJ  When we landed in Chicago Lia automatically became a US citizen.  Things went smoothly at the airport and we were on the road for home by 1PM and home at about 3:15PM. The boys were all still at school. Lia was really scared of our dog Chip at first. She literally jumped up on top of the kitchen table to get away from him…LOL!!! Lia was excited to see her room.  Grandma Linda arrived home with the big boys and then went to get the little boys from school for us. It felt so good to be home and for us all to be together. I really missed my boys. A HUGE “Thank You!!!” to Grandpa Chuck, Grandma Amy and Grandma Linda for taking such good care of my boys for me. I love you all!!!

Jumping on the bed with her Mei Mei's...

Some pictures I took on our walk...

Drying and their meat and their laundry...

Our home for two weeks...The Garden:)

Our favorite restaurant...I think we ate here 4 times.  Lance and the manager became wine buddies:)

Lia...checking out our plane;) 

She took a lot of time reading the flight instruction card. Probably made her a little nervous and yes....she should have her glasses on. 

We are HOME!!!

Wii Sing It...with Lorelle.  She LOVES music and to sing....mostly in Chinese so far;) 

She started washing the dishes after breakfast her first morning home.  Impressive....I know!! I am sure it won't last;) 

Thanks again to those of you that prayed for us and for our trip. Your prayers have been answered:) Thank you Lord!!!

American Consulate and Martyrs’ Memorial Garden...

Tuesday, January 15^th:  We had to wake the girls early, which they weren’t very happy about. We met Michael in the lobby at 7:40AM and arrived at the American Consulate a little after 8AM.  We had an 8:30AM appointment but they didn’t even have us take our “group oath” until a little after 9AM. Then they called each adoptive family up to the window for a few questions. They had Lia and I both sign a paper stating that we understood that Lia would become a citizen upon landing in the United States.  I was just glad that Lia again agreed to come to the US and signed…since, just that morning…she told our guide that she missed her school and friends and wanted to see themL I am sure reality is really going to sink in for her once we get to Warsaw, Indiana.  After the consulate, we came back to the hotel…got the girls ice cream as promised and then walked to the Martyrs’ Memorial Garden.  The girls are about parked out I think but we do not want to just sit in our hotel room so off we went a walkingJ After a couple hours we headed back towards the hotel and stopped in for lunch a Mexican restaurant. Then it was back to the hotel for some down time…and to let the girls rest.  Tomorrow we will receive Lia’s passport with Visa attached in the afternoon and then we will be officially DONE!!! We will head to Hong Kong about 4:30PM tomorrow. 

Yuexiu Park...

Monday, January 14^th:  We had another guideless day…so we took a taxi to the Yuexiu Park were we saw the Five Rams Statue that is a famous here in Guangzhou. Built in 1959, it is one of the most famous scenic spots in Guangzhou. The whole sculpture was built using 130 pieces of marbles. The height of the sculptures from the base is more than 10 meters and it symbolizes a beautiful legend. According to the legend more than 1000 years ago, Guangzhou was a not a rich land; people during those days had to work very hard to make their earnings meet. Then one day, people heard a heavenly song and saw five fairies wearing colorful dress and riding five rams with each ram carrying six bundles of grains in their mouth. They gave the grains to the Guangzhou people and blessed the place forever with a good harvest and then the Fairies left but the five rams were turned into stones. Since then Guangzhou became a prosperous land and its people enjoyed a better life. This transforming legend was passed through the ages till today. That’s why Guangzhou is also called five rams city or grain city.  We wore the kids out walking all over the park.  Then we walked over to China Marriott Hotel and had dinner at a really good Japanese style restaurant. (That we had eaten at a couple times before…when we adopted Lorelle and Levi;) We all really enjoyed it.  Then took a taxi back to our hotel for a movie and an early bedtime.  We had to meet our guide at 7:40AM the next morning for an 8:30AM American Consulate appointment. Only a couple more nights in GuangzhouJ

 

Soccer field...

Baiyun/White Cloud Mountain!!!

Sunday, January 13^th:  Our guide took us to Baiyun or White Cloud Mountain today. We took a cable car to the top of the mountain where the girls got to do some activities and then we walked down the mountain. Oh boy...we got our exerciseJ By the time we got back down the mountain the girls were pretty tired and hungry so we didn’t spend a lot of time walking around the gardens but they were BEAUTIFUL!!!  Lia is starting to test us a little now but so far nothing we can’t handle. We decided to try the Banana Leaf Restaurant (we had eaten there once years ago) at the top of the Friendship Store…the food was good but the service was horrible.  I never did get my food…so I had Haagen-Dazs ice cream insteadJ

Beautiful park...

Love this one...

Grass sledding...

Love her face in this one:)

Lorelle and Lia just had to have these silly balloon backpacks...

We couldn't talk Lance or our guide to jump...lol!!!

View from the cable car...

Beijing Road...

Saturday, January 12^th:  Today our guide was off so we decided to go out on an adventure on our own.  It is not easy to find a taxi driver here that will let you cram 5 people into his taxi so that meant we had to take 2 taxis.  We had English-speaking hotel staff write down where we wanted to go on two separate papers and we were off.  I took Lilyan and Lia with me and Lance took Lorelle…and luckily we ended up in the same place, Beijing Road.  We arrived after Lance and Lorelle…they were beginning to worry a bit because they saw our taxi turn a different direction. But we arrived safely and found each other quicklyJ  Beijing Road is a BIG shopping area where the streets are blocked off and there are hundreds of stores, restaurants and food vendors. Some high end and some just little, hole in the wall, places.  We picked up a few more souvenirs, walked around a temple (that was packed) and had lunch at Pizza Hut.  The girls were sure we were going to get kicked out of the temple and/or Ch*na because Lance kept talking about Jesus really loud.  We were the only American’s in there and got lots of stares…as we do most places we go.  We just smile, wave and say “Hello”!!  We had a good time with the girls.  When we were ready to head back to the hotel, we waved down a taxi and crammed in so fast that he didn’t have time to argue about 5 people. A matter of fact we panicked a bit because somehow Lia was the last one in and had no clue how to shut the door.  The taxi actually started to take off with the door openL  Lance managed get it shut from the front seat and we made it safely back to our hotel. Shew!!!  That is just one example of the things Lia has NO clue about.  Most people in China do NOT have vehicles.  Most people ride bicycles; take the subway, taxis or buses. She has been in a few vans with drivers but it was obvious she had no clue how to even shut a car door.  We also had to teach her about how to cut up food, hold a sandwich or a piece of pizza. We were told she mostly ate congee before we got her.  She is not being super picky for us…as a matter of fact, we are worried that she is going to get sick sometimes.  She can eat a TON of food.  I think some of it is…she has been told to clean her plate and some of it is…that she knows what it feels like to be hungryL You will be hungry no more sweet girl. It drives we crazy that she won’t wear her glasses…she OBVIOUSLY…NEEDS them!!! She squints a ton and is clumsy without them. I am not going to make it a battle quite yet…I want to get her into our eye doctor when we get home and make sure the prescription is correct and THEN…I am making her wear them.  We are also working on person space and boundaries right now.  She has so many of the institutional behaviors that the other kids came with but to see them from a 13 year old is even more difficult to deal with…Lord give us patience. I can’t wait to get her home, in my own surrounding and on a schedule. I think that will make a HUGE difference. For dinner we walked down the road to a Mexican restaurant called Tequilas (spelled differently though I think;) It was delicious!! Thank you all for your continued prayers<3

We saw all sorts of interesting food...

We found a temple to explore...

Year of the SNAKE!!!

The American flag;)

Orphanage Visit

Friday, January 11^th:  We visited Lia’s orphanage today. I took several pictures of the orphanage itself but was only allowed to take pictures of 2 older girls…NO other children could be photographedL One of the order girls I did photograph was a 13 year old girl who has a family coming for her in just a couple weeks and the other was a 17 year old girl that “aged out” of the system. Apparently they were letting her stay and reside in the institute. She is lucky because not all orphanages would allow her to stay.  Both girls have been rooming with Lia (Jing) the last couple weeks; after her foster family returned her to the orphanage. We were able to see a few baby and toddler rooms.  I tried to talk to and touch all of the babies and even got smiles from a couple of them. The girls passed out candy canes to the toddlers.  SO many precious, beautiful children without mamasL  The orphanage was HUGE and we only saw a small part of the old building. There are several hundred children in the orphanage and several more hundred now in foster homes. The lady that gave us the tour said there are over a thousand kids total. It breaks my heart to see how these kids live out their lives day after day in these institutions. It was also a great reminder of why Lia is the way she is…on SO many levels.  I asked for some baby/younger pictures of Lia. We were told they had noneL  She was just another mouth to feed to them.  She spent the first 8 years of her life there…before she entered the foster care program and not one person seemed attached, sad or happy for her. I just can’t understand… It is so easy to forget about all that are neglected and suffer when we don’t see it on a daily basis.  I can’t bring them all home…we really do need to be done. Lia is going to need a lot of love, patience and guidance to be able to catch up with other American kids her age. Honestly…she might never get there. She had missed SO much…maybe too muchL I will do my best….but I also want to be realistic with my expectations. I think of my other adopted kiddos and even Lorelle (adopted at age 3) and Lilyan (adopted at age 1)…still have issued that I know are related to neglect and lack of attachment when they were very young.  Lia has gone 13…almost 14 years without someone really caring about her, loving her and making sure she has what is best for her. Oh my word…how do these kids survive?!?!  Prayers for the long road ahead and especially for all the kiddos I saw today whose futures are so very bleakL Also pray that the rest of our trip goes smoothly and quickly. Lorelle is especially having a hard time today. She is missing America, her friends and even school. She is especially having a hard time seeing all the street beggars and all the kids with visible special needs we saw at the orphanage today.  Lilyan on the other hand is doing just fine…so farJ  I miss my boys!!! I am SO ready for BIG squeezer hugs from Liam and LeviJ We are SO blessed!!

Orphanage hallway...

Bathroom...

Lia's bed...

This beautiful 13 yr. old girl has a family coming very soon:)

Lia lit up when she saw her friend. She is 17 yrs old and will not be able to have a forever family:( 

One of the playrooms...but no kids;( 

Lance made us pose like the statue outside the orphanage...LOL!!!

Outside of orphanage (older building)...

Michael...our wonderful guide, pushing the girls at orphanage playground:) 

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