Merry Christmas 2010

This song has a whole new meaning for us this year.  Especially the last verse.

The band Third Day recorded a song entitled "Merry Christmas". The guitarist from the band adopted a daughter from China; the song is about his wait to bring her home.

This video puts a family's pictures to the song.
MERRY CHRISTMAS -- THIRD DAY

There's a little girl trembling on a cold December morn

Crying for momma's arms

At an orphanage just outside a little China town

There the forgotten are

But half a world away I hang the stockings by the fire

And dream about the day when I can finally call you mine

It's Christmas time again but you're not home

Your family is here and yet you're somewhere else alone

And so tonight I pray that God will come and hold you in his arms

And tell you from my heart I wish you Merry Christmas

As I hang the tinsel on the tree and watch the twinkling lights

I'm warmed by the fire's glow

Outside the children tumble in a wonderland of white,

Make angels in the snow

But half a world away you try your best to fight the tears

And hope that heaven's angels come to carry you here

It's Christmas time again but you're not home

Your family is here and yet you're somewhere else alone

And so tonight I pray that God will come and hold you in his arms

And tell you from my heart

I wish you Merry Christmas

Christmas is a time to celebrate the holy child and we celebrate his perfect gift of love

He came to earth to give his life and prepare a place for us so we could have a home with him above

It's Christmas time again and now you're home

Your family is here so you will never be alone

So tonight before you go to sleep, I'll hold you in my arms

And I'll tell you from my heart, and I'll you from my heart

I wish you Merry Christmas

From all 5 of us.  Merry Christmas!

Home

I love being home.  I love our home.  I love being here with all 5 of us.  Jadyn is doing so well, the kids just love her to pieces, we are settling in pretty well--so far, so good.  We are so blessed and I will certianly post more with some pictures later.  Did I mention I love our home?

Headed Home!!

Jadyn is asleep for the last time in China. 
We have the brown envelope packed up and ready.
Our luggage is down at the front desk and we are checked out.
Early in the morning, we will head out of Guangzhou for points North and West. 
Upon landing in the US--our precious Jadyn becomes an American Citizen.

 It's going to be a big day for all of us. 

We are so grateful and feel so privileged and blessed  to have come to this point.  I plan for our next blog post to be from the USA.

Our Last Day

Yesterday was another free day.  We just walked around on and off the island, thestreet markets are so interesting to walk through.  Everything from dried seahorses to tiger claws to puppies (for loving)  they sell pet food by the handful, too.

View from the second story of McDonalds

Pet Market

I'm coming home tomorrow!!!!  I can't wait to meet you!

Tuesday and Wednesday

Jadyn is a beautiful, hungry, playful, curious little one.  We have been enjoying the playroom, hanging out with friends, the breakfast buffet--favorite food this week is hard boiled eggs and bananas--window shopping, strolling and exploring the area.

We took a trip into Guangzhou with a small group and walked back through the street markets.  Of course, we forgot the camera, but we plan to go again tomorrow--with the camera.  We would love to have some photos of the street markets. 

We are really missing our kids back at home.  Today we go to the consulate to swear that all we have submitted is true--and then they will issue Jadyn's visa (on Friday).  We are really enjoying our trip and we know the time here is necessary, but we are ready to come home.  I am not complaining about it, I am soooo thankful that we are able to be here and experience China for Jadyn and with Jadyn.  Living out of a hotel room is nice, especially the housekeeping part, but I'm ready to get back.  Jadyn is going to LOVE her home, her dogs, her siblings, her toys, her yard.  I can't wait to move on to the jourey HOME. 

Our internet subscription expires on Friday, and I hope to post again before then, but if not, Bob & Marj have all the info about when we will be coming home.

Free Day

Lazy day with no schedule.  Of course, when we are able to sleep in, we cannot!  Breakfast was at a leisurely pace, we got to spend more time in the playroom and strolling about town.  At every turn there are photographers shooting wedding photos--these couples are not actually married, but they rent clothes and are all made up and have these elaborate, quirky, fantasy photo shoots.  Seriously there are at least 20 per day.  Then there are the models, here are a few friends Dwayne made:

To each their own........................

Jadyn is very busy.  There is not much down time for her, she will ride in the stroller for a while, but then needs a break to walk and get in on any action.  Naptime was less than an hour today, and she would much rather stay awake and play, if given the choice, for bedtime as well.  She has been doing great at restaurants---for about 45 minutes--which allows plenty of time for us to get mealtime finished, but to just sit there and be quiet when the food is gone just isn't in the cards. 

I tried to load more photos of today, but the server won't let me at the moment, so maybe later.  Time for bed now!  6am comes awful early. 

Cutestuff

Trying to avoid the camera.

Looking through the bridge

In the Play Room at the hotel

I love this.

Baba's head is usually under the right foot.

Things are great here.  Jadyn is doing well. She is sleeping pretty good at night.  She is a very active sleeper and last night cried quite a bit, but never woke up.  So many changes for her--new people, places, smells, food,clothes, etc.  She is certainly an amazing child and we are head over heels.  I don't want to paint everything all roses--she has screaming fits, we get hit and pinched and head butted, too, but we know it will take time.  I cannot even imagine what's going through her little head.  We are glad to see her showing emotion, even if it's anger and frustration at times.  She is now looking for us to help her with things, and is beginning to trust a little more.

The weather here is amazing, tomorrow is expected to be in the 80's.  

No Shots!!!!!

Believe it or not, they are only taking her temperature.

See that smile on my face?  No immunizations for my baby girl!  Thank you Obama for signing it just a few days before our appointment!  My faith in the US government is beginning to be restored!  But most of all, Praise God!  This has been another unmistakably clear answer to prayer! 

Time for us to go out and enjoy the beautiful day with a stroll around Shaiman Island!  Life is Good!

Travel Day

Pretty sure this is the first day we didn't have noodles and dumplings.  Only noodles for breakfast.  We had a crazy busy travel day, and the only reason I have any idea what day it is because I had to look at the itinerary to see what time to get a wake-up call. 

Jadyn had her first airplane ride today.  I think she was just so glad to be out of the minivan that we were in from 2-5pm, she did so well.  Just a little fussing when we were descending and then she fell asleep as we landed.  I think we fogot to take pictures of it. 

She is such a little trooper!  We are in awe at how well she is doing.  We were sad to leave Wuhan.  Although she never spent a second there before last Sunday, we know we are taking her from her first home.  She was probably born in the Northern part of Hubei province, at least that is where she spent her first 20 months.  She was  loved, cared for and even spoiled there.  We are forever grateful to her foster family, and to the organization that sponsored her surgeries.

Here's a few pictures from the last day or so.

The biggest musical instrument ever found--recovered from the tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng

Traditional Boat

Produce storefront in Wuhan

Bonding

Us and our driver, Mr. Li (not his real name) at the Wuhan Airport.

Tomorrow holds a whole host of things--photos, paperwork party, medical exam and possibly 4 or more vaccinations all at once for Jadyn, unless our beloved US government is ready to accept our waiver.  Seriously, I would like to know how many of the people who write these laws give their children up to 6 vaccines in one sitting.  Thought process lacking on that one.

You may  notice the stuffed Panda in a lot of the pictures.  We had sent Jadyn a care package around the Moon Festival time, and that was a part of it.  She LOVES that little Panda.  She kisses and hugs the thing and it must be near at all times.  This is such a good sign that she was well cared for.  She knows how to give hugs and kisses, just not to us yet, but it will come soon.  Not sure if I mentioned it yet, but Jadyn's fine motor skills are really quite on or near target for her age.  I am pretty sure she never learned to crawl, though, and she is a little lacking in core strength. We have been doing a ton of playing since we met her, and I can already see improvements in her movements like going from sitting to standing and the opposite.

Well, now that I finished my supper of Oreos, time for bed. 

Life Here on the 17th floor

Life is good!  The view is great.  Jadyn had her first bath (with us)--screamed for the first 40 seconds and then loved playing and splashing.  We are enjoying Wuhan.  It gets a little uneventful and solitary at times, but we have met a few other newly formed families, one from Denmark and one from San Francisco.  We took a few walks around this city, it's is full of people and traffic.  It's about half of Beijing--only 9 million people.  We do love it and are trying to soak up as much as we can.  Crime is low, and people are friendly--well we think they are, we actually have no idea what they are saying!! 

Jadyn is doing great with me and better each day with Baba.  She will let him feed her and play with her.  I have a feeling that we have a future daddy's girl on our hands!!  Jadyn sleeps well, although fitfully.  She has been sleeping from about 9pm till 6am--and so have we.  Naptime is now, around 1pm or right after lunch.  Time to go get my share of naptime.  We leave for Guangzhou tomorrow.  Our first flight should prove interesting!