Great Wall of China

Although we were up very early today (6am), we didn't really get moving until almost 11. We ate breakfast, did some homework (including dissecting owl pellets- thanks Mrs. Black!), and hung out in the room for most of the morning, then walked down the street to a mall. Our first impression of China was that it's really not much different from the US. Sure the language is different, but the buildings are familiar, and many of the stores and restaurants are US chains. KFC is HUGE here (more than 100 in Beijing alone), and the mall was filled with stores like The GAP, Subway, and Dairy Queen. Walking around outside the mall was a little more interesting, but still not at all like we had imagined China to be.
Our impressions changed when we left the downtown area with our guide to go see the Great Wall. As we got out of the business district and into the more historical areas, we saw the crowds and the traffic that we had expected. We drove past many impoverished areas and I found myself thinking about the children in those neighborhoods. We don't know where Mollie was born, or what her parents' situation was like, but I always imagine that they were poor, and couldn't afford to give her the care that she needed. I'm in awe of our God who can connect a poor orphan with her forever family and change not only her life but the lives of countless others who will come to know her.
It took over an hour to reach the Badaling section of the Wall. It was very crowded today because of the Chinese New Year. We climbed for almost an hour. "Climbing" entails walking up very steep sections and climbing hundred of uneven stairs. It was much more strenuous than I imagined, and I was impressed by the very old and the very young who were climbing it with us.
When we left the Wall, we drove by the Olympic Center and saw the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube. Then our guide took us to a "traditional Chinese tea house," which we soon discovered was more like a "traditional Chinese tourist trap." Still, despite the pressure to buy the overpriced tea, we enjoyed the experience.
Perry has taken the girls to the pool, and then we're going to bed early. We're all exhausted and tomorrow will be another busy day.



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Beijing

We landed around 11pm and made it through Customs with no issues. The flight from Tokyo to Beijing was great because Perry was able to sweet-talk us into first class. I slept like a baby!
We only slept a few hours last night; the time change has us confused! But we're excited about seeing the Great Wall this afternoon.
Our Internet access is sketchy but luckily I have my own personal IT guy who figured it out for us. Hopefully we'll be able to update the whole trip.


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Almost There

We're in Tokyo, waiting for our flight to Beijing. The last flight was sooo long! The girls did great- watched a couple of movies, slept, and played games. I'm just ready to get to our hotel and get to bed.



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Location:Narita,Japan

Perspective

Until last week, I had looked at adoption as something we were doing. It was a family thing, something we felt led to do, but not a public spectacle. Perry and I have been praying for our family, and focusing on Mollie and Sarah and Abby. But as the day has drawn closer, my perspective has been changed. I've been telling my story, and in the process I've discovered that our community, not just our family, is adopting this child. Our friends and family are praying for our trip, and lining up to help us in every way imaginable. It's amazing to feel God's love that He is so clearly showing us through others. We are so blessed.

Getting Ready

We finally have Sarah's new room finished (except for some artwork on the walls), and Mollie's room is ready (again, except for artwork). I've been shopping for Mollie clothes, and warm clothes for the rest of us to wear in Beijing. I've bought gifts for nannies and guides, toys to put in Mollie's backpack, and surprises for the airplane ride. I have snacks and medicines packed. I'm getting organized for our housesitter, visiting the bank (multiple times) for crisp $100 bills to exchange in China, and planning doctor appointments for Mollie. And throughout it all, I'm praying, and asking friends for prayers.
Today I'm feeling calm, but yesterday I was a wreck. I think that much of my anxiety is due to the trip itself, rather than the addition of a new family member. Just taking the family to China for  16 days is stressful. When we go to DisneyWorld, I plan for months, and know our itinerary like the back of my hand. But this trip is out of my control. We will do what our guides tell us to do. It will be planes, trains, and automobiles, and it will be exhausting. I worry about Sarah and Abby, and how they will handle the demands of adoption travel. I worry about me, and how I'll handle not being in control.
And yes, I am also anxious about Mollie. Will she accept us? Will we be able to communicate? How are our lives going to change, and are we prepared for those changes?
I'm so thankful that I have my faith - God brought us to this point, and He is the one in control. I just need to surrender to him. He's got this.

If We Are the Body

Perry and I have always said that someday we would probably adopt. We didn’t know when, or how, or even why, but we both felt it was something we would do…eventually. So last September, when I suggested that we attend an adoption information session, he wasn’t surprised. We left that meeting with complete confidence that we were about to have another child, and we began to follow our red thread.  For over a year, we waded through the process, with document chasing, homestudy questions, required readings, and lots and lots of waiting. Mostly waiting. But now, finally, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. We have Travel Approval and will be traveling SOON!

I’m feeling excited and a little anxious. I’ve had this feeling before, at other momentous occasions. I felt it when I was driving to Austin for graduate school, and later to Los Angeles to start a new job. I felt it as I was getting ready to walk down the aisle to marry Perry, and again when I was lying in the hospital bed about to become a mother to twins. All of those moments felt like this: uncertain, overwhelming, life-changing. But all of those moments also proved to be the best things I ever did, and they are the events that I think define my life. I believe that we’re supposed to do things that scare us, and take us out of our comfort zone. That’s how we grow as people, and that’s how we grow in faith.

We have so many uncertainties with Mollie. How serious is her CP? What therapies will she need? Will she readily accept us as her family, and love us as we love her, or will she struggle to bond? How will Sarah and Abby adjust to having a new little sister? How will I handle having to give up my activities and free time in order to bond with her? Yes, I’m anxious. But I’m not scared, because I have complete faith that God will provide us with the support we need to get us through it all. Lately the song I’ve been singing in the shower is “If We Are the Body.” His arms ARE reaching: our community is gathering around us, lifting us up, and providing us with the support we need to do what we are called to do. It’s a God thing, for sure.

We have much to do. Travel arrangements, packing, painting and organizing 3 rooms. But all of that will get done. I just pray that she’s getting prepared, too. Because we’re coming. And we have a lot of loving to do.

 

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Steps to TA

DTC 8/25/11
LID 9/13/11
LOA 10/28/11
I800 receipt 11/10/11
I800 approved 12/1/11
NVC Cable 12/8/11
Article 5 Pickup 12/23/11
TRAVEL APPROVAL 1/5/12

Another Step in the Process

Yesterday we received our I-800A approval. We have been waiting since May 24th, and the wait has been brutal. I've been praying for patience and speed!
We still have many steps and long waits, but we are one step closer to Mollie.

Pre-Approval

We have been officially matched!
As I wrote in my last post, we had placed a little girl on hold in order to get more information about her. Unfortunately, as difficult as it was, we decided to take her off hold. Her medical needs were very serious, and we felt it was too much for our family. Letting her go was hard - we had prayed for her every night - but we knew that she was in God's care and that the right family would find her.
In the process of getting more information about her, we were sent a few videos of another little girl. While these new videos were sent to us "accidentally," we know that this was God's plan all along. This precious girl is a little younger, which fits our family better, and her medical needs are mild. We immediately placed her on hold, sent her files in for review, and continued to pray.
Today we received our PA, or pre-approval, for her adoption. We have a new daughter!