Formal adoption & Orphanage Visit

 We are some what of a tourist attraction to the locals here so we have learned to just go with it and call it our celebrity status.  I don't think it's our good looks-but purely the combination of children, hair and eye colors that have people really confused and guessing!  If we stay in one place for too long we have a a group of people surrounding us and taking pictures, so we have taken to taking pictures of them now too!  It gets most people smiling and everyone having a good time.  On a serious note- it's sad that people can not even imagine how our family could all possibly go together. We feel as natural as ever- God given and created with love.  Today when we left the orphanage and the nannies told our guide our family has so much love within it, and yes we do.  Only because we live for a God that loves us so much that we can live our lives serving him in obedience.  That's why we feel so loved!

Today we went to the center of Chongqing.  This is kind of like their "Times Square".  They have the clock tower which represents when Chongqing was liberated from the wartime as their own province.   Chongqing is a city of over 36 million people, with an area as large as Austria.

 These ladies kept following us for the entire walk so I finally just took their picture when we stopped to take our picture.  Apparently they were very pleased!

  No Jordan does not normally ride in the stroller, but we have had some long days without a lot of sleep.  Feng Nianjie walks fairly well, but we have walked a lot and he does need some spoiling to make up for missed years!

How do you fit us all in a vehicle in China?  Five across the back in a minivan .  The kids love it. ( most of the time)

              FORMAL ADOPTION DAY ---MAKING SURE HE"S GOT HIS CREW WITH HIM!

 Just a glimpse of Chongqing.  This is what you see everywhere!

Feng Nianjie is a total boy throwing stones into the river!

Everyone was getting a little hot--not to thrilled with Mom's idea for a picture!

Fell asleep on the way to the formal adoption hearing.

             I had fallen in love with those eyes a long time ago....now I get to see them every day!

Thank goodness someone more official showed  up for our ceramony than this jokester!

This time Dad brought his own shirt for the ceremony!!!  Last year he had to borrow the shirt for another lifeline family!  But too bad Huahua had been sleeping on his should and drooled all over it!   Poor Dad can't catch a break!

Feng Nianjie was so happy and proud of himself through the ceremony!  He told our guide he understands what we are saying to him.  We will do things we ask of him but still walks around talking to us in Chinese.   He is very smart and is catching onto English very quickly.

Lots of giggles going around in the back seat.  Please keep Jackson is your prayers.  As he anticipated this would be his "best friend" brother and right now Feng Nianjie has gravitated towards Justin.  They each have their special spot with him, (Like Jackson and Feng Nianjie both have the deep belly giggle laughs together) but it is hard for Jackson to watch him bond with his brother more.   He has attached very quickly to Ryan.  And as an adult, I can understand that this is a good sign and appreciate the positiveness in this moving forward and will wait my turn for him to fall in love with me when he is ready.   But right now Jackson heart is hurting for his brother.

 As soon as we pulled into the orphanage today, Wan mama spotted us and came running over.  Huahua got a big smile on her face and wanted to get her special necklace out for her.  Wan Mama took care of her during her surgery and has a very special place in her heart for Huahua.  The nannies were all over her but Huahua definately made it known she was Mama's girl.  She played around with them but always wanted to be sure Mama was in sight.  The nannies played with her hair, wanted to help her with the bathroom and clothes as if she never left.  They truly loved her.

This sweet girl was just sitting while we passed out candy to the children outside  It was a beautiful day almost 80 degrees in town.  The orphanage is up in the mountain a bit so possibly 70 degress but everyone was still very bundled up.

                                  Huahua giving Jun Mama her special necklace.

                  Playing in his classroom.........showing Jackson the ropes!

                                            Jun Mama, myself, Huahua and Wan Mama

Passing out candies to his friends.  Feng Nianjie is such a sweetheart. He will pass out to others before he gives to himself.  Very selfless and caring of others.

Jordan sharing her artwork with the little girl in the orange and yellow sweater.

                        Justin and Jackson playing basketball with their new friend.

Justin did a wonderful job drawing this shy boy in and befriending.  They got a ball and started playing together.

                                                  Wan Mama doing Huahua's hair.

This little girl they said was not communicative and  cognitively impaired.  As we spent time with her  she began to  respond back to us.  She clearly is in there and needs a family to bring her out.  She smiles and  enjoyed the art work from Jordan.  These children need someone to step out in faith and believe in them.  They all have a purpose and God did not make mistakes in their perfectly created bodies.  We as Christians need to realize their potential and learn to love them as they were created in God's image. They to teach us to love unconditionally. 
This little boy has the sweetest smile!

This was Feng nianjie's Nannie for the past three years!  Lots of tears shed today!

Justin finally got his friend to smile.  Sad when you have no hope in life to smile about.

The children enjoyed hugs and kisses as much as we did giving them!  So proud of our children in this experience.  We cannot teach about this. We had to experience this with them.  So thankful we were able to do this as a family!

This little girl was so sweet and petite.  So loved to be snuggled.  Who wouldn't want to be her mama?

   And then there were the good byes....  we HATE the good byes.........    Because it

  Oh how it hurts................

for those thousands we leave behind.  As we left the building, Justin's new friend stood out on the balcony with his sad face and waved.  Justin's heart is just broken for him.  We all ache and realize we are doing God's work (no matter how hard or how much it hurts) and we will continue to advocate, because these little lives are precious in God's eyes and worthy of being loved within a family.

GOTCHA DAY #1

                                 Filling out paperwork this morning.  Been there, done that!

 Kids wondering when this part was going to be over with and we could get onto the good part?  Their brother!!!

 Outside the civil building.....a little remembering of our special time with our sweet Chinese princess.  We prayed together as a family for our son/brother.  Our best day, was his worst day and best day rolled into one.

                                             Took one last family picture of six.

                                         A little pre-jitter excitement and silliness

 Miss beauty here continues to receive compliments wherever she goes and is not sure how to handle them.


And then there was the moment he came into the room.  We have it on camcorder but not camera because he came in with such confidence and started handing out gifts to me (mama)  Such a sweet boy.  Then he went to Baba (daddy) and there was a natural connection.

 Joy erupted from him and he started playing with his gifts. Sharing his snacks with everyone.  He is so kind and compassionate.  He will share his candy with others before eating it himself.  Melts my heart!

He was so bundled up and his face was turning red and I did not want to offend anyone but finally they took one layer of shirts off him.  He still had two more on!  It was close to 70 degrees today!  And two layers of pants too!  Yikes were sweating over here!  Humid too!

Huahua and he are little giggle buddies.

 He is not real big on hugging but we'll work on that!  So sad when a child doesn't know how to receive hugs :(

 The kids loved running around together in the building.

Jackson commented how fast Feng Nianjie is!

                                              FAMILY PHOTO!!!!!!   Then Ryan ran to the bathroom and he asked where's BABA?????  He likes his daddy!

                     Yep another adrenaline junkie!!!!

Subway?  Eat fresh?  

                                         Boys bonding over a snack and the I pad.

WE MADE IT!

WE officially have landed on the other side of the world!  Excited and exhausted!    Huahua asked after we arrived in country and took and additional two flights  "Is this another Ch*na?"  We landed Saturday night in Shanghai and missed our connecting flight due to the very, very long line through immigration, which we even skipped mostly after speaking with another family who suggestion we skip to the front of the line!   We took the later 8:45pm flight and landed in Guangzhou before midnight.  We all fell asleep even before take off!  But then we were going to "just walk" to the hotel across the street!  Well apparently we must have been really tired, because we walked out door 12 instead of 13 (yes Katie) and then proceeded to walk up the escalator with our 9 bags, 4 children, very tired, children across a sky walk, down the escalator and into what must have been an old rental parking lot.  Then around the entire fenced in rental parking lot (still with the 9 large bag, 4 very tired children and getting grumpy parents) to find the exit of the lot!  Then we needed walk up the road 500 feet and cross the five lane road with 9 bags, four grumpy and tired children and obviously overly delirious  parents.  As we walked up the road, yes slightly in the road, we were only approached by 8-10 cabs (we must have looked ridicously helpless!) and we politely declined as we only we going ACROSS THE ROAD!    As we crossed the traffic (running), because cars, and buses do not stop for pedestrians in this country, we thought we could smell our beds.  But we were mistaken, because the driveway to the hotel was long and it only took three attempts to find the lobby, a pass through the manicured bushes and an entry through the side entrance.

Interestingly enough this morning after a few hours of sleep and with a little daylight, we found a direct route back to the airport from the hotel all laid in a manicured landscape and stone walkway!  Well it will be a journey we will never forget!

Today we flew into Chongqing.  It is the birth city of our Huahua and the Province where we will meet our son tomorrow! Yikes!!!! In  less than 24 hours will will be a family of 7!  We are all very very tired, some overly excited, bouncing (JACKSON!!) Looking forward to a good night sleep.

Today we just got a few supplies and are settling into our hotel rooms.  We walked around the city some and we are quite the attraction with four children.  I can hear people counting the children.  Sometimes I get out the boys picture and tell them there are two more coming :)  The little girls are flocking to Justin and Jackson!  At first they weren't sure what to do with it, depending on their mood, Justin has been soaking it up!  The young girls from the shops will all come out staring after we walk by and then he will turn around and wave at them and they will all giggle!

The children are getting accustomed to the differences and noticing how different things are.  What an experience of a lifetime.  Feeling so blessed they can be a part of this with us this time!

Pray for our new little sons/brothers.  Pray from Feng Nianjie's heart.  Our guide said he is a very sweet boy with a very tender heart.  He said he is very ready to come with us!  He said he can be shy at times, but has been prepared will to join our family.  So thankful for the love he has already received.  Pray for the nannies that will be letting him go and likewise for Feng Nianjie transitioning to a new life and leaving every thing he has ever known.

  FYI-For those of you still interested, Lifesong (the non profit agency) will be collecting donations on our behalf to cover our adoption expenses until the boys come home.   Thank you for all your love and support.

Packed and ready!

How do you get six people (+ two) back home?

I know it may appear like a lot of suitcases to an average traveler, but I actually did an amazing job packing for 8 people for three weeks and we will not have laundry service until the 3rd week.    Keep in mind we will have two different climates as well.  So I had to pack warm and cold clothes.  I have come a long way in may packing skills!  In 2013, we took six suitcases for just Ryan, I and Huahua.  And don't forget the toys, gifts and presents for all the nannies, kids....you get the point.   Yes they have Walmart in China, but it's really hard to shop when you can't read anything.  That's a good lesson for the kiddos to stay in school!

So we board our first plane of our long, long journey at 9 am tomorrow to meet our third son tomorrow.  In three days he will know our faces and feel our hugs!  He will no longer be an orphan without a family.  One day almost 6 and half years ago a woman gave birth to a little boy and that same day, for a reason we will never know, laid him at the doors of an orphanage gate.   We ache to know this mother and thank her for giving life to this boy.  We will never know the deep ache in her heart, as she walked away from her little baby.  We will always celebrate his culture and his deep heritage in a land across the world.  In just three days,  we will be named his mother and father.  We are so grateful for this honor and praise God for this opportunity to serve the creator of each precious life.

Just received this picture today from another mama--Thanks Heidi!  She was there picking up her sweetie this week.  Love the Lifeline Mama connection!!!  HE told her his mama was coming soon!
He had sent a picture back a few weeks ago that he had colored and told her it was for his mom and dad!  What a sweetheart!

TRAVEL APPROVAL

MORE DETAILS TO COME!!!!!  Final arrangements being made...hope to be in the air on Friday!!!!!  Lot of little things need to come together.  Consulate appointment being worked on now. And then 1st orphanage (Love Manoe)  needs to grant a quick turn around of paperwork to civil affairs office for pick up next monday.  Yes, we could be hold our Feng Nianjie in one week :)  Sweet thought!

Jackson said Friday night after we were putting the finishing touches on their room (wallpaper) and cleaning out the excessive junk! "I just want to touch him!"  I asked how?  Then he smiled and gave me a big hug.  He wants to hug his brother.  Me too Jackson, Me too!