Out of the mouths of babes...

Just a flash post tonight as tomorrow we begin our enormous trip back to the US.

We have to work in the am...then two vans pick us up at 1pm to drive us the 1.5 hours to the airport...then on to Shanghai...where we'll stay overnight.  Thursday am brings the big flights to Tokyo (a 7.5 hour layover!)...and then the flight to Honolulu.  Within a few hours of arriving there we have our first of two immigration appointments for the boys.  Please, keep lifting us up.

Also wanted to pass on a precious moment we had a few days ago.

Potato, our darling who was adopted four years ago, has been pretty quiet since the boys came home. (This is not her nature.)  It seems as though watching this grieving process again has caused her to reflect and sort out the feelings she's experiencing.

Out of the blue, after several days of not mentioning his foster mother, Graham began to wail and ask me again why I wouldn't take him back there...pleading with me to go back...that he wanted her.

Potato, moved over to his side, took his little face in her hands...and began to speak with him, forcefully.

She spoke in Chinese, and then would translate to me every few minutes what her comments had been.

"Mao-tze (his foster mother) had to stay with your yeh-yey (foster father.)  She couldn't come to live in our home, she had to stay and take care of him. 

Do not be afraid, we're your family, you belong with us.  Everything is going to be okay, I promise.

You'll see Mao-tze again, in our home, just like my Nai Nai and Yeh Yeh!  She will come and visit you and our family and you'll see, it will be happy and good. "

(He wailed again with grief.  She, more intently, more passionately took his face in her hands again, caressing his cheeks an forcing him to look directly into her eyes.)

"Stop crying little brother, do not be afraid.  I promise that you will be happy and love your family.  We love you.  We waited for you.  You belong to us."

Four years ago, this week, that wise little soul did not want me to even touch her.  She would scream like I was burning her when I touched her.

How God's love has healed her heart...now she has so much to give...

Thinking on that...causes my faith to soar again.

We love, because He first loved us.

Live from Guangzhou....

Poor Silas fell of the bed tonight.  It will take him awhile I suppose to learn how to sleep in a bed after 2.5 years in a crib.

His injury + a wide-awake Momma = a new blog post

We've been enjoying/enduring our time in Guangzhou. 

Enjoying the family time, a visit to a most amazing "Safari Park," swimming in the pool, and traipsing around some old familiar adoption haunts....

Enduring multiple vaccinations for the traumatized boys (Graham 5 and Silas 6!) (this is a terrible new policy on the part of the US), sleeping on plywood beds, and feeding thousands of mosquitoes and biting insects with our blood.  It's been a very robust week for the local mosquito population with the arrival of these 10 pairs of legs!

Some photos & tales of our days here:

Left:  The old red couch at the White Swan...who needs a tour group to fill this couch when you have 8 of 9 of your own seedlings to perch upon it?

Right:  This was a precious realization...regarding Graham's compassion...The Bug, upon arrival in GZ was really feeling poorly, she had ear and throat pain and was crying from the train station to the apartment where we're staying.  Graham asked her a few times why she was crying and she explained to him.  Upon arriving in the room, she promptly found the nearest bed and laid down, falling fast asleep.  After some time I realized that Graham was periodically disappearing.  He had brought The Bug a tissue, before she went to bed, to dry her tears.  This photo shows the moment we discovered that he continued to sneak away tissues and leave them at her side in the bed...in case she woke up and needed them...it was a precious realization about his personality!

Left:  This was another break-through on "twin" relating...This is Graham (L) actually, on his own accord, sharing his ice cream with his brother Silas...we do pray that these two will form a strong bond.

Right:  We spent the day sweating and smiling at a most-fantastic safari park here in GZ.  We'd been there before (3 years ago) and had forgotten how magnificent it was...the number of animals...is staggering!  White Tigers, Koala Bears, Pandas, Rhinos and Giraffe!  The kids loved every single moment of our day!

Left:  Some park visitors took the easy-rider way through the park...

Right:  Others had to use ALL THEIR MIGHT to push little brothers around the park (little brothers who outweigh big sisters by quite a bit!)

Left:  Daddy and the Butterfly did hours of duty pushing strollers!

Right:  And boosting Giraffe feeders...

Left:  Lots of kisses were given and received.

Right:  Generally, all patrons were satisfied with their first trip to a zoo!

Left:  Graham shows a bit more of his sunny-side.

It has been a very interesting few days.  Naomi was injured (only slightly) at the park when her Momma, in an attempt to flee a splash (and apparent targeting) from the rear end of a massive Bengal tiger who sprayed the glass RIGHT IN MOMMA'S FACE, backed up suddenly.  This brought to mind a story of a less-fortunate (or perhaps, less-protected by glass) Pendy who at one time had an unsavory experience with a Lion at a zoo in Texas... Lion pee + Pendy's socks and shoes = ONE BAD FIELD TRIP!

(Those with weak stomachs or a higher sense of propriety than my own should not read this next paragraph.)

The tiger assault was entirely overshadowed however by an explosion at an adoptive family favorite location (Lucy's Restaurant on Shamian)...Silas was seated on Daddy's lap at the end of the meal...when, in an apparent display of a bad side-effect of all the vaccinations and without any forewarning, leaned back and blasted the contents of his colon out the leg of his shorts and (though it is statistically impossible) all over the table cloth, Daddy's pants and sandals, Momma's skirt and sandals, Grahams legs and sandals...there must have been tremendous pressure involved...as my leg felt as though it had been hit with a stick!  (Daddy guessed it must have been 40-50 PSI!)  It was an atrocious mess!  In the rearing of all the previous young in this household...never has their been such a disaster...never!  I was speechless as the people dining with us began to back away in horror!  Finally, I became hysterical...there was nothing else to do but to laugh, as I'm doing now as I re-type this!  Daddy and Silas headed out the back door and found an irrigation line in which to begin the bathing.  Similarly, Graham and I, sandals off, limped out the back door trying to find something to wash away the evidence.  It simply defies any ability I have to accurately describe it!  The poor girl who had the duty to clean up the floor I'm told was visibly gagging while she mopped up the legendary mess...I do so hope they realized that the table cloth was involved before some other diners came to enjoy some "American-fare" at the restaurant...

On cleaner note,  adjustment is improving for both boys.  Lots more laughter and personality from Graham though he still is a permanent fixture on my lap or at my side.  Silas is delighting us with his fast learning of new games, skills and his ability to recover from the dozens of tumbles he endures each day.  The big kids continue to amaze us with their patience and compassion.  To see the heart of God expressed through these children toward their new siblings, causes praise to rise up from the depths of my soul.

Three more days here in Guangzhou, then back for a final 5 days of work at the school, then boarding our first of several airplanes back to visit the US on June 30th!  Please keep lifting us up during this time of gargantuan travel hurdles!  The boys' should have their shiny new Immigrant visas in just three days! 

Thanks for checking in on us!

Some Photos...

Just a moment to post some photos of our recent days...

First up, we were delighted and so blessed that our "Butterfly" in the center of the photo below, arrived from University just 48 hours before the boys came home.

It's too bad that none of her younger siblings think a thing of her...

Above: It has been pretty difficult to get a family photo in recent years with everyone looking/smiling at the camera...this shot, taken after we signed the final adoption papers, proves that we will likely never get another family photo with everyone looking in the right direction!

Below: We celebrated our signing of the papers with our dear friend here at the hotel where we stayed during our first two adoption trips...when we were only visiting Here...but now...as residents, we just drove over for a quick lunch...

Below: Graham and The Bug connect at the table

Below: Magpie (left), Butterfly (center) and Brownie (r) enjoy some sister time

Below: Silas is rolling with some new family members!

Above: This smile from Graham was directed at ME! Wow! One of the first I saw...and today, he gave me a kiss on the cheek...sweet moments!

Below: Graham let me help him drink his soup...actually, he sat on my lap for the entire meal...so I had no choice!

Above: You can see a bit of Silas' smile...

Below: Silas' is chill on his Daddy's lap...

Below: Bub shows off his unconventional style...man, I love that boy!

We still had to get our two oldest kindergartners graduated on Friday the 11th, too! Adopted the boys in the morning and then attended the Graduation ceremony in the afternoon!

Below: Our Kindergarten Grads: Brownie (L) and Potato (R)

The Kids performed in the graduation ceremony...below Brownie shows us how much she LOVES to dance!

Above: Potato (far left) was the "wizard" in the Wizard of Oz play...she did a great job with her lines and you could have heard her in the States I'm sure with her booming voice! As they transitioned the scenes, they sang "This Little Light of Mine"... that Potato certainly lets her little light shine!

Below: After performing a formal dance with their Kindergarten classmates, they recited poetry in Chinese and English...

I'm sure that this amounted to too many photos...but, we must do this for the Grandmas! ;)

Our cup runneth over...

We're still standing...

I think that it is 5:43am on Day 4 of the wonderful world of parenting "twin" two-year-olds! However I may be in such a fugue state that I've lost track of facts, details, and the like!

I have some awesome video and pictures to load...but that will have to wait until I can get Graham off my lap for more than 2.2 minutes. I promise, I will try to do it this evening.

We're still in school...this week Daddy and I have to teach Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. We're off on Wednesday for the Dragon Boat Festival...blessed timing, indeed. Please keep praying for us as I'm not quite sure how the school will feel about my teaching my classes with my "shadow" on my hip or clinging to my leg. This morning, he does seem a bit better in that he was laughing at his big brother "Bub" at the breakfast table.

In general the difference between the two new guys is striking. Graham is grieving so passionately...there have been episodes each day where he will cry and yell in frustration asking me "Why won't you let me go home?" or "I want to find my Mao Tze (this was the nickname for his foster mother." Perhaps Potato (our 6 year old adoptee) grieved as hard four years ago as Graham is doing...but, now that we speak enough Chinese to follow what he's saying...it is nothing less than brutal. Yesterday while I was making breakfast, he stood at the glass door the overlooks our balcony and the main road below saying over and over again..."I want to go back." He stayed there, repeating that for over one hour.

Nap times and bedtime have been extremely painful too. Hard crying, wrestling against his reality...while I keep telling him..."Don't cry, Momma is here." Yesterday, while we were making water balloons for our annual Birthday Water Balloon fight (in honor of Brownie's birthday)...he had a particularly difficult grieving episode. He said, "Momma, please, please I want to go. Please let me go back." One of our friends was here and she helped me to make sure that I spoke correctly by telling him that Mao Tze knew he was here, that she loved him and would see him again, but that this was his family and new life...in response he threw his head back and wailed..."NOOOOOOOOOOO!"

It is times like this when we have to regroup as a family, reminding ourselves that he could not have stayed with Mao Tze forever...that eventually, without adoption, he would have been returned to the orphanage to live out the rest of his childhood...and that this was God's plan for his life...he is supposed to be with us. So we solemnly walk through the grieving with him...watching him ten times a day, pack and re-pack the plastic bag that all his worldly possessions came in (special blanket, two special shirts, a few toys)...always ready and at the door, so that when he can go...he will.

Silas is another story all together. He's smiley and oh so happy to have his very own people...especially his very own DADDY. Good grief, he is enthralled with his Daddy! He makes everyone here smile over and over with his running around and plowing into his Daddy...rubbing his enormous head (an H family trait for sure) into his Daddy! Last night he was really amped up and, though he struggles some with his feet staying straight as he goes (his club feet generally give him a "pigeon-toed" effect to his gait) he loves to GO, GO, GO. He's not nearly as verbal as Graham...but last night when Daddy caught him mid-run (just after a bump on the head from tripping over a rug) that it was bed-time...Silas exclaimed over and over, "I want to run! I want to run! I want to run!" (though his physique and co-ordination would not lend themselves to a running lifestyle at this time) He is impossibly darling. We were all cracking up.

Silas, as I've told you, lived in the orphanage for his whole life. He is our first child adopted directly from institutional care. What an eye-opening experience it has been in regards to developmental delays. Though he and Graham are only one week apart in age (this is quite certain as they both still had their umbilical chords attached when they came into care) we are estimating that they are nearly one year apart developmentally. Silas does not know how to drink out of a cup (he's only used a bottle,) he cannot feed himself without making a terrible mess, he's not potty trained, his language is about that of an 18 month-old, and generally his physical abilities are delayed as well. We know this to be the case so often of institutionalized kids, and that, generally they catch up to their peers once they're living in a family situation.

As Daddy and I were discussing this last night once the boys were asleep...we were thankful that so many of these key milestones for Silas we haven't missed...that we'll see them rapidly come on in these two months that God has graciously given us to focus on integrating the boys into our family as we travel for furlough. This Friday we leave for Guangzhou and will have 5 days as a family to continue to meld ourselves together...then for our travel to the US...like it or not, we're all together as a family 24/7 for 7 weeks! What a mercy of our Father.

They are both so darling, so unique...can't wait till you get to meet them...if we're fortunate enough to see you over furlough.

One last thing to relate...

All the other kids have been simply amazing through this week. They have been patient and understanding, everyone of them realizing that they have a part to play in this "family making" time. Big sisters have changed diapers, taken long walks to try to distract from grief, helped with feeding times, and worked in the kitchen. Littler sisters have forgiven and forgiven the troubles caused when little brothers come trundling in and destroy your constructed play-house or have mixed the play-dough colors up!

Last night, I was putting the boys down to sleep with Daddy. Daddy was rubbing Silas' head (which seems to be nirvana for Silas, who's likely had little touch dedicated to him) and I was comforting a crying Graham. Bub, our four year old, was trying to lay down and get to sleep too in this bed that 5 days ago, was his alone.

I was singing "1 little, 2 little, 3 little Indians" and saying often, in Chinese, "Don't cry, Momma is here." After about 25 minutes, I got quiet and was tired. Then I heard Bub, start up, speaking in Chinese saying, "Don't cry, big brother is here." Then he began to sing a favorite song of his we learned from the Smith family at a Perrygin camp-out years ago..."One bottle of pop, Two bottles of pop, Three bottles of pop...fish and chips and vinegar."

I had tears in my eyes as finally the boys gave into sleep.

We are so grateful to have been called to witness these miracles.

The Boys - Gotcha Day

What a wild, and wonderful day it has been...

Two boys, totally different, unique in their responses, personalities, behaviors...so much to learn.

Graham has been in foster care with the same family for 2.5 years. He is grieving so very hard. There were times today when the girls and I were weeping with him...as he asked me to take him home. He was so brave, soldiering on, his heart full of fear. He has clung to me (Momma) like none of the children we've received through adoption ever have (I've never been the lucky one.) He is my shadow and he readily calls me Momma...another first for me, so quickly! By the end of the night we saw some smiles as his Jie Jies (older sisters) feigned fright each time the jack-in-the-box blew its top.

Silas has lived in the orphanage for the same period of time (the boys are only 1 week apart in age.) Silas was obviously well cared for as he is a little chunk! He seemed at first to be very easy and placid...but we got belly laughs out of him within an hour...alternately hugging and laying on his Daddy's chest...then cackling when tickled. He seemed to drink in all the touching, hugging, and loving on him...he was so ready for us.

First the video (first time I've ever spliced something like this together, which will be obvious, I'm in a hurry and Graham has not gotten off my lap all night, so sorry for the poor quality!) and then some pictures...

Some Silas Photos from the day:

Then poor Graham, he struggled so...this is the way it has always been with our children who have come from foster care. The beginning is so terribly, terribly painful for the children and for us to watch and walk alongside them during the grief. Even though we KNOW that this will pass and that he will love and be bonded to us...it does not make these days any easier.

Thankfully, by evening, as I said, we began to see a bit of sunshine through the clouds...

Tomorrow morning we head back to the Civil Affairs office, where we will sign the papers to finalize the adoption of these two precious children.

Tonight is the last night that they bear the name given to them by a kindly benefactor at the orphanage when they belonged to no one...when they were orphans...tomorrow they will be given their new names, as beloved sons...a family name that they will always bear, for because of Him, they belong with us.

Because of His steadfast love and faithfulness poured out on us...and for His glory alone...

...celebrate with us these amazing blessings we've been given!

10 + 2

I have been traveling over the past 48 hours...going first to the Capital city to meet up with our oldest daughter...Butterfly (19 y.o. College student)...

Then she and I flew to another province to visit an orphanage run by some foreigners here...we were there less than 24 hours, but what an awesome time it was!  I promise we'll post more about that soon...

So, tomorrow is Friday.  At 5:30 PM today, on Thursday, we got the final call...

"You may come to the civil affairs office meet your sons tomorrow morning at 10 AM!"

On the very last day, after working hours, the final piece of the puzzle was placed...and our brood will grow by 2...in only 10 hours!

After arriving home tonight we had to make all the calls, arrange a car, sort out finances...and try to let is settle in that He has done it...just as He said He would...and 3 DAYS EARLY...(we thought we couldn't get the boys until Monday, June 14th...but instead...it's Friday, the 11th.)

We pick the boys up at 10 am...then hurry back to the school with them to attend Potato and Brownie's kindergarten graduation!  (And today, is Brownie's 6th birthday!  Happy birthday precious girl!)

Though we knew He would do it...still, we're marveling at it all...and praising Him...

I promise, we'll post pictures and videos tomorrow...when these two boys' change our lives forever and we finally have them in our arms!

Pray that they're little hearts will be ready for the family that has been longing for them for months now!

Stay tuned!

Watching the Waters Part...

Sorry for the delay in this update!  Blogger was down all last night (my last night) so I couldn't post the news.

We experienced an amazing day yesterday.  We began with a plea to our consulate in Guangzhou.  I called them when they opened, they were ever so kind and gracious, and firm that it would take 1-2 days, EVEN with our expedited/emergency status (due to our work visa expiration.)  With a lump in my throat I apologized profusely and pressed on..."kind sir, I know that this rush is unfair to you as it is not your fault we're in this position, but if I do not have those documents from your office this morning, we will be unable to leave the country with our boys." 

I received an email re-stating that it was normally a 14 day process in Guangzhou, expedited was 1-2 days.  I responded with another apology and a passionate appeal that they produce the documents immediately. 

Within 2 hours, my phone rang to tell me the documents were ready for pick-up!  Praise Him!  Amazing!

Another 15 minutes passed and our facilitator in Guangzhou had them in her hands and had already scanned and sent them on to Beijing.  With the word that it would take another 1-2 days to get the final Travel Authorization.

We prayed and wrote an appeal letter to the officials in Beijing asking for an immediate issue of the Travel Authorizations, but GREATER STILL, a personal phone call to the provincial officials here in our city who had previously said that "without the original documents on June 7th, we will not be able to process the adoptions on June 14th."

At 4:30 we had more news...Beijing would try to issue the TAs by Tuesday morning (the officials were out of the office) and would send them directly to the provincial office here in our city.  But better still, the provincial office had AGREED to EXPEDITE our registration and would allow us to get the boys "as soon as they recieved the original documents from Beijing, up to and including Friday morning, June 11th!"  Praise Him! Amazing!

They also made a request of us due to the National Holiday here next week...could we plan to pick up our boys THIS FRIDAY, JUNE 11TH...to allow time for processing?  Ha Ha!  3 DAYS EARLIER?  He is so amazing.

We have a few more things to jump through this week, including needing money to arrive so we can pay our fees to register the adoptions...please keep praying...we don't have that final original document in hand yet...but, we are waiting in strength and the knowledge that He does all things well.

Friends, if we listed the number of times we have been told that it was impossible to carry through on this calling to adopt two boys that He confirmed in our hearts...it would nearly fill a page now...miracles upon miracles...He is living and active and INVOLVED in the details of the lives of those who trust Him...

Our hope is set on nothing less!

T-minus 3 days to TWINS!  Praise Him!

Wow! What a Ride...

Just a quick update to those of you praying with us and believing for the miracles we need to bring the boys into our arms in just 10 days...

Finally on Wednesday our final immigration approvals were given in Missouri...then we prayed that our files would be sent out the SAME DAY to the next government offices in New Hampshire.  We were told that there were "many obstacles" in our path.  But, we once again rejoiced and praised Him when we received word that they had indeed left on Wednesday.

The next stop on the paperwork journey, New Hampshire, had been a spot of much concern as we'd been warned several times about it...that it was a potential black hole.  We really had only 1 day for the paperwork to be received, scanned and sent on to the US Consulate at Guangzhou.  (This part of the process usually takes two weeks.)  As our Friday morning arrived, and your Thursday afternoon moved on...still nothing. 

Then tonight (my Friday night, your Friday morning) I got back on the phone to New Hampshire seeking some information.  I knew that our congressman's office had been working hard on our case...but, when it came down to it...if the documents didn't get out of New Hampshire today...we're dead in the water.

I just got off the phone and apparently at 12:20 am this morning (your Friday early am) they electronically sent the files to Guangzhou!  What an amazing development...purely miraculous...the files were there not even 24 hours...praise Him!

So, now we have a truly photo finish set up for Monday.

On Monday morning I have to contact the US Consulate and plead with them for their help.  Once we have the necessary documents from them (must have them within hours of their opening), then we must fax them to Beijing where I've been told the "man with his finger on the final approval button" has agreed to issue the necessary documents to release our boys, as soon as he receives the FAX from the consulate.

Beijing must issue the necessary paper on Monday, too.  AND, and if you can believe that we have a 3rd area that needs to be bathed in prayer...Beijing has to get our local civil affairs office to begin the adoption registration process even though they don't have the original "release document" from Beijing yet.  They (our local civil affairs office) have already told us that they WILL NOT do this. But, dear friends, they must, or we cannot receive the boys in time to make our plane out of the country.  They simply must do us this favor.  Monday is the LAST POSSIBLE day..  We are reminded that "the King's heart is in the hand of the Lord and He directs it like a watercourse." 

It will be an interesting two days as we stand and wait to see the deliverance of the Lord...we are confident that He is doing this...if you think of us, lift us up as we must speak/reach/persuade multiple people in just one 8 hour period...

What a thrilling...and unbelievable cliffhanger...

Be assured...if not for His hand moving these mountains...there would be no story to tell!

For His Glory!