My husband figured a way to make it happen. Enjoy a few pictures!
Sunday, April 3, 2011
She's So Tiny
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we can't get picitures to upload through the portal :( I have a call out to Super Chris and hope to resolve my issues in the morning.
On to little Miss Olivia...she is the most petite little thing! And we got kisses today! She has the sweetest disposition, its very hard to believe she is almost 8. But the girl is smart...she repeats us constantly which our guide says is a great sign and we have been able to communicate fairly easily....and then there's the giggle, did Bernie mention that? She has this nervous energy and giggles through everything! It often becomes a full belly laugh that is very contagious. So all in all, things are progressing very well and if I wasn't so tired, I'd keep talking...more tomorrow.
On to little Miss Olivia...she is the most petite little thing! And we got kisses today! She has the sweetest disposition, its very hard to believe she is almost 8. But the girl is smart...she repeats us constantly which our guide says is a great sign and we have been able to communicate fairly easily....and then there's the giggle, did Bernie mention that? She has this nervous energy and giggles through everything! It often becomes a full belly laugh that is very contagious. So all in all, things are progressing very well and if I wasn't so tired, I'd keep talking...more tomorrow.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Gotcha Day
After the whirl wind race we were off to meet our new daughter. That is if the driver doesn't run over a couple hundred pedestrians on the way to the Civil Affairs office. Before I go further I have to go backwards. When we decided to adopt an older child we had a lot of preconceived notions in our heads based on all the reading and studying we had done. We did not have real high expectations for our initial meeting. But once again our God proved how little faith those of us professing believers have. Our family has seen more than our share of answered prayers but we go in expecting the worst. Before we left we laid out our prayer requests (same as they had been for the past 9 months), we prayed with many of your over the last week. Gotcha Days all look different and I really did not expect this one to be filled with hugs and smiles. I just wanted prayer for a short grieving period, the ability to communicate on some level and for God to prepare Olivia's heart. Our brothers and sisters in Christ responded with continued prayer and again God showed me why I believe and why I try so hard to be obedient (failing often). He knocked this one out of the park.
We had our game plan, get to the office, do some paper work and wait for the coordinated hand off. We entered the room (where we would meet her} and sat down on the couch. Everyone was very nervous and more than anxious. We all sat down and began making small talk. I got up to go across the room to take a picture and out of a side room runs Olivia Zijing yelling Baba, Baba. I bend down on my knees and before the cameras were rolling or the paper work started she jumps into my arms and begins to hug me while she was smiling from ear to ear. UNBELIEVABLE. Never in my wildest dreams could I have ever imagined.
I sit before this computer humbled at how He shows us his faithfulness. Yes Olivia has been with us less than 24 hours, and yes Abigail's gears are grinding to see how this whole family thing is going to play out with a new competing sibling and yes we are in this way too early to call victory and adjustment. But WOW I am speechless. We got through the last 5 hours with out an interpreter and got the potty thing down. Abigail wishes Zijing spoke English and she will repeat anything you say to her. Olivia is very nervous and giggles at everything. We suspect the giggling is a nervous system overload (poor thing).
The girls (including Wendy) are in bed, Zachary is in bed and I should be. I am running on fumes based on that travel schedule but I had to get this out there for you good and faithful servants who needed to know. Keep praying for adjustment, bonding and that Abigail adjusts as well. This is so much for two little girls to go through and I think Abby got a look back into her past today which will help her better understand her story. Enough for now
Post from Baba - (photos and more tomorrow but from Wendy)
We had our game plan, get to the office, do some paper work and wait for the coordinated hand off. We entered the room (where we would meet her} and sat down on the couch. Everyone was very nervous and more than anxious. We all sat down and began making small talk. I got up to go across the room to take a picture and out of a side room runs Olivia Zijing yelling Baba, Baba. I bend down on my knees and before the cameras were rolling or the paper work started she jumps into my arms and begins to hug me while she was smiling from ear to ear. UNBELIEVABLE. Never in my wildest dreams could I have ever imagined.
I sit before this computer humbled at how He shows us his faithfulness. Yes Olivia has been with us less than 24 hours, and yes Abigail's gears are grinding to see how this whole family thing is going to play out with a new competing sibling and yes we are in this way too early to call victory and adjustment. But WOW I am speechless. We got through the last 5 hours with out an interpreter and got the potty thing down. Abigail wishes Zijing spoke English and she will repeat anything you say to her. Olivia is very nervous and giggles at everything. We suspect the giggling is a nervous system overload (poor thing).
The girls (including Wendy) are in bed, Zachary is in bed and I should be. I am running on fumes based on that travel schedule but I had to get this out there for you good and faithful servants who needed to know. Keep praying for adjustment, bonding and that Abigail adjusts as well. This is so much for two little girls to go through and I think Abby got a look back into her past today which will help her better understand her story. Enough for now
Post from Baba - (photos and more tomorrow but from Wendy)
The Amazing Race
Well we made it to Hong Kong with only a two hour delay which is a big success. All travels went well, had dinner with some old friends and took the express tour of Kowloon Firday night after arrival. A jet lag night with little sleep and it was off to the train for Guangzhou. How we covered so much ground in such a short period of time is nothing less than remarkable. We no more got checked into the Victory Hotel and we left to go meet Olivia Zijing.
Travel Prayers answered (check)
Travel Prayers answered (check)
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Take This, Not That
The packing frenzy is in full swing...we've had no less than two fights so far about size of luggage and room for his stuff...there's room, there in the corner of that one honey...sheesh! I have definitely packed less than our last trip, a litle credit here, k?
On another note, we were to meet Olivia Zi Jing on Monday and that's all changed...seems there's a holiday Monday so they've moved us up to Saturday! We had the choice of this or waiting until Wednesday...yeah right! So, we will only be in Hong Kong for one night. We are meeting a family that used to live in our town and they are going to give us the whirlwind tour Friday night if all goes well with our flight over (ha!).
So, we leave tomorrow morning at 10:40am. Please keep us in your prayers, intentionally praying for a smooth transition for all and rest for the weary. Thanks!
On another note, we were to meet Olivia Zi Jing on Monday and that's all changed...seems there's a holiday Monday so they've moved us up to Saturday! We had the choice of this or waiting until Wednesday...yeah right! So, we will only be in Hong Kong for one night. We are meeting a family that used to live in our town and they are going to give us the whirlwind tour Friday night if all goes well with our flight over (ha!).
So, we leave tomorrow morning at 10:40am. Please keep us in your prayers, intentionally praying for a smooth transition for all and rest for the weary. Thanks!
Friday, March 25, 2011
Just the Same
My niece sent me this, what a beautiful poem...thanks Sarah.
Just the Same
By Diana Lynn Lacey
Sometimes--
God sends rain
Straight from the sky
To nourish the young flower
and it grows.
Sometimes--
God sends rain from the sky
To the mountaintops,
Then over hills and through valleys
Until it reaches the flower
and it grows, just the same.
Sometimes--
God sends a child
Straight from His realm
Into a mother's arms
and love grows.
Sometimes--
God sends a child
From heaven to another's arms,
Then over hills and through valleys
Until he reaches the arms of his mother
and love grows, just the same.
Monday, March 21, 2011
FINALLY!!!!
We received our travel approval today, a mere 31 days after our article 5 was dropped off. The average of late has been 17 days, so who knows what happened. Guess now it doesn't matter, God's timeline has been different from mine this whole time, so why question it? Now we wait for news of when we can travel, we are READY to roll...