What's in a name?

I recently had the opportunity to sit down for a somewhat formal interview with our church as part of preparations for Orphan Sunday (Nov 4, 2012).  I tend to talk about my kids, my family and adoption to just about every person I know...maybe even to the folks behind me in the check out line at Target.  Point is, I love talking about adoption and the impact it has had on me as a father, a husband and a follower of Christ.  But for the first time I was sitting in a sound proof room with what looked to be a pretty expensive microphone a few inches from my face, going on the record.  It was exciting.  It was emotional.

As the session began to wrap up I was asked a question I had been expecting:

"What exactly is the 'orphan crisis' that we hear you and others talk about?" 

Oh boy, I was so ready for this one.  Like a batter watching a fat pitch come right down the center of the plate, I could knock this one out of the park.  I had all the numbers to back me up.  150 million orphans.  500k foster kids waiting for adoption in the US.  Devastating statistics on crime, exploitation and human trafficking.  I knew they'd be blown away by the sheer numbers.

But when the words began to roll off my tongue, I barely mentioned the statistics.  Why pass up a chance to share just how HUGE of a problem this is?  Because I think that is the problem, it's so big that people feel helpless and lost.  What can one person possibly do? 

So instead of spouting off numbers, I told a story.  As I talked, the sound booth slowly transformed into an orphanage in Zhongshan City, China.  So vivid are the memories of my time in that orphanage that with little effort I can recall the looks, the smells, the feel of the place.  I remembered holding my newly adopted son and a Chinese care giver pointing to a crib and saying, "This is your son's bed."  There I stood clinging to Jude, orphan no more, in a hot and humid building in the middle of China.  Before me were rows of cribs, one after the other.  In one, a boy with his hands bound behind his back with strips of cloth, was wearing his mattress thin from his endless pacing.  Dozens of babies lying on their backs, motionless and staring blankly into a white ceiling.  A boy just a few cribs away from my son's previous resting spot, hitting his head against the block wall.  Oh how the Heavens rejoiced that Jude had a home.  He was no longer fatherless.  But when I stared across the room at these children I couldn't help but feel that God was asking me, "What about these?  What about my other sons and daughters?"  The burden for these children had never been more real that it was at that moment.  These aren't statistics after all.  They are His children.  They have names. 

One room of many.  600 children are 'assigned' to this orphanage. 98% have special needs.

The orphan crisis isn't about numbers. The crisis is about children.  It is about beautiful creations, designed by our Heavenly Father.  They have names.  They need moms.  They need dads.  They need Jesus.  As God’s people, as his church, we have to stop blindly singing worship songs about orphans from comfortable pews. We have to stop talking about these children and then quickly forget they exist. We have a responsibility to act. If we are serious about obeying the words of our Father, then we have to rush to the fatherless. If we don’t, who will?

So this Orphan Sunday let us not get bogged down in numbers.  Numbers don't tell the story.  Numbers can be cumbersome and overwhelming.  They can be cold and unemotional.  Instead, let us remember that each number has a name.  Maybe we can sponsor one.  Maybe we can visit one.  Maybe we can adopt one.  Maybe we can love one.

Maybe we can learn their names. 

My son, Judah.

Same Love, Different Love

I think one of the biggest misgivings people have about adoption is wondering if they can love an adopted child as much as a biological child.

I've been asked it.

And I've answered it in various ways....depending on where we were on this journey.

I'm going to be honest here.

Back when we adopted Rylie, deep down, I might have answered in a way that showed my doubt. She was tough. And a lot of the time, I was faking it. And a lot of the time, I wasn't very good at faking it.

And I wondered.

Can I really love this kid? I mean, really love her like my others?

Without convincing myself? Without trying to convince other people?

And if I can....when? When will it happen?

Because it wasn't instantaneous. And I was completely unsure if she would ever really feel like my daughter.

It was hard to love a kid who gave you absolutely nothing in return. Who fought you every step of the way. It just was. And I'm only human, so I'll admit that.

With Jude, it was much more instantaneous. Because he was so darn lovable. And he made loving him easy.

Same as Jonah.

Same as Reagan.

Love at first sight.

Now back to Rylie....

Let me say...unequivocally....without question...I. LOVE. THIS. GIRL.

I love her as much as I love my other kids. I don't always get along with her as well. But I love her.

Deeply.

Fiercely.

Just different.

She doesn't make me mushy with the warm fuzzies.

She is usually pushing my buttons in some way....and I sense she gets a great bit of joy out of that. ;)

But still, I love her.

I love her in a "I can't handle her dealing with any more injustice and tragedy in her life than she has already experienced" kind of way. In a vengeful kind of way. In a fighting kind of way.

Because her life hasn't been fair. And it's wounded her in a lot of ways.

But I venture to say that in the end, SHE will be the one I am the most proud of.

Because when I look at her on the playground at preschool.....playing by herself because the other kids can't understand her, I realize how brave she is. And I realize how much I admire her tenacity.

And I realize that it makes my heart physically hurt to see her experience that.

And I want to fix it and shelter her from it.

She's got a lot to overcome. She risks a lot of hurt and rejection coming her way in the future.

And I know that loving her doesn't change that.

But I hope it helps her get through it.

I hope it helps her realize her value.  Her worth.

I hope it shows others a glimpse of God's love for us....despite how utterly unlovable we sometimes are.

So....can you? Can you love an adopted child as much as a biological one?

Well, let's just say if you mess with her, I will mess. you. up.

And if that's not love, then I don't know what is.

I dare you to move....

Sometimes I want to ask God why He allows poverty, famine & injustice in the world...

… but I’m afraid He may ask me the same question.

Have you ever felt like your heart was going to absolutely explode with a certain feeling? As if there is so much passion and emotion wrapped up in a single thought, idea, or feeling, that you might just die right there? Maybe it was a feeling of love, like the birth of a child. Maybe it was even fear during a frightening situation. For some time now, we've felt that "about to burst" feeling. But ours has been one of desperation. Of needing, wanting other people to see, to understand, to even begin to get a glimpse of the crisis of the world's orphans, the awesomeness of adoption, and of the command to the church to do something about it.

In our eyes, adoption is NOT a fertility issue. Yes, of course, some couples who struggle with fertility do adopt. And I am SO glad. But for years and years, I think it has been resigned to that category. It's been looked at as a Plan B.

But not anymore.

There is a movement occurring. 

A Gospel movement.

One in which this generation sees and understands, and doesn't shy away from problems in this world. A generation which seeks out the issues. One that wants to know the hard and desperate truth of this world, of this life, and wants to make it better. One that understands that adoption and orphan care are not "social" issues. They are Gospel issues.

Because WE were orphans. WE were adopted. (Ephesians 1:5)

And as a result, the mandate in scripture is clear for us. 

Care for the least of these. (Matthew 25:31-46)

Father to the fatherless. (Psalm 68:5)

Pure and true religion. (James 1:27)

I will not leave you as orphans. (John 14:18)

For 30+ years, we have "followed" Jesus. We've learned about him since birth. We've taught our kids about him. We've done what we were supposed to do in the eyes of the American church.

And what resulted was a pitiful excuse for what a follower of the true Jesus really should be.

Selfish. 

Entitled.

Ignorant.

We want to change that.

But for 30 years, how did we never hear the facts? How has the church been so blind to the desperate needs in this world? Why isn't this being preached by everyone that comes up to a pulpit? Why isn't it being pounded over and over into our heads that WE WERE ORPHANS TOO. That we deserved nothing. BUT, now we have everything! 

And now that we have heard and understand, we can do something tangible to give others a picture of that love. Of our own adoption. 

How do we not abandon our self-centered Sunday worship in our comfy pews and open our eyes to the real deal? 

We want hard lessons. Hard truths. Challenge. 

Not apathy.

Because this is the real deal. And I cannot be apathetic when I know this...

147 MILLION children in this world are orphans. And that number does not include the scores of abandoned, sold, and/or trafficked children. (That's roughly half of the population of the US!) Seriously.

Every day 5,760 more children become orphans. Every. Single. Day.

Each year, 14.5 million orphans become "unadoptable" because they are considered too old. At the ripe old age of 14-16. 

Children who grow up as orphans are subject to abuse, poverty, and scorn.

An estimated 1.2 million children are trafficked every year. Orphans are particularly susceptible to this practice.

2 million children, the majority of them girls, are sexually exploited in the multibillion-dollar commercial sex industry. 

In some countries, orphans are seen as a curse. And God-forbid you have a special need. Especially a visible one. Really. God. Help. You.

And here we sit, wanting to make sure that our church has good coffee on Sunday. And we better be able to drink it while we listen to a sermon. And eat our bagel. And gosh, the worship band better have their act together today and lay down some great tunes.

Are you kidding me?

Can we get over ourselves for a minute?

When will we wake up? How long will it take us to see that when Jesus calls us to care for the "least of these," this is what he means!! 

Who is less than the orphan?

Abandoned.

Hopeless.

Without provision.

Without a name.

Without a voice.

Without an advocate.

Cast aside and ignored as someone else's problem.

Don't you see? If we care for orphans, we affect so many other things...poverty, education, trafficking, disease, hunger. We give hope. We give love. We give truth and worth. 

There is redemption.

Beauty for ashes. (Isaiah 61:3)

Life.

We're not called to do huge things. Just to love and show love.

As Eric Ludy says in his message, Depraved Indifference, it's not ok to read in the Bible that God is the "father to the fatherless," and think we're off the hook because He takes care of it.

He takes care of it through us. Aren't WE, the church, the hands and feet of Jesus? 

YES!

So, let's do something about it! Let's stop talking about justice and mission and move on it. 

Foster a child.

Pursue adoption.

Heck, help support another family that is pursuing adoption.

Sponsor a child through Compassion International.

Support ministries/charities that care for orphans. (Love Without Boundaries, Show Hope, International Voice of the Orphan, etc.)

Pray.

Just. Do. Something.

You don't have to be perfect. You don't even have to be close.

Heck, you don't even have to be a "good" person. 

You just have to care. And engage.

And be willing to obey, have a little faith, and offer a whole lot of grace (even to yourself). 

Now, go!

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

 -Lao Tzu, Chinese philosopher

Today.

Today is a rather important day! Jude finally has his surgery to close his cleft palate. And along with that, comes tubes in both ears....and oh yeah....circumcision. Yikes. Good luck with that, buddy. ;)

And as glad as I am that my little man will finally be on the other end of these procedures, part of my focus is not on him today.

Because, today also happens to be the 2nd anniversary of Rylie's Gotcha Day!

2 years ago, we saw her face to face for the first time. There were lots of tears. Lots of uncertainty. Lots of hope. She dropped the title "orphan," and claimed the title "beloved daughter." 

Over the next few weeks, there were more tears, and screaming, and tantrums, and me wondering what the heck we had gotten ourselves into. I learned how very vulnerable she was. I learned how very inept I was. I realized there was only one avenue for her healing....and it wasn't me. 

Over the past year, we have found redemption and grace, development and growth. For both of us. And for our family as a whole.

That day, 2 years ago, changed everything for us.

And so, even though we are with her brother today, and not her...well, today we celebrate our Rylie girl.

Rylie, you are wonderfully made and amazingly strong. You are a survivor and the bravest person I know. And while you still challenge me every. single. day, I love you more than I can express and I am so glad you are mine. You are my best teacher to date. And I praise God that He picked us to be your family.

Happy Gotcha Day Rylie Layne!

We celebrated last night with a little dinner in her honor! 

4 Months Later

4 months ago today, we stepped off a plane with our newest addition....Jude.

Home.

All 6 of us together.

Finally.

Every little milestone in this journey provides an opportunity to look back at where we started.

Jude is like a different kid. Which is good and bad.

He is still a pretty content guy. He still eats his body weight at every meal. He still has everyone pretty much wrapped around his little finger.

But....

He's started to show us some other sides too. And considering he is 2....they should come as no surprise. I guess I was just expecting him to stay more like a "baby" a little longer.

Suffice it to say, he's making up for lost time.

He is busy. In to everything.

Climbing on top of tables and bunk beds.

Going through the trash.

Pushing every button in sight.

Chasing the dog with swords.

Fighting bedtime.

And tantrums? Oh yes.

He's suddenly like a little boy. Rough and tumble. Naughty. Mischievous.

And he thinks he is hilarious.

Mostly, I do too.

But other times?

Well, it's a good thing this face is so cute.

It's an awesome privilege watching him grow and learn and become everything he was meant to be.

How we love him!

We Are Grafted In

Before we brought Rylie home, I came across an AWESOME blog. Filled with posts from other families who have adopted and were actively pursuing adoption, it was a big help emotionally, both as we waited, and then brought home Rylie from China and endured a difficult transition. I love hearing what other parents have to say about their experiences and feelings. Mostly, I love hearing the truth...the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Well, you can imagine how honored and flattered I was to get a message about one of my little ol' posts being featured on the blog! Yep...and today's the day!

Go check it out!

http://www.wearegraftedin.com/5087/sometimes-i-forget/

Sometimes I forget....

...just how wounded she is.

That deep down, there is a lot of hurt.

A lot of anger.

A lot of confusion.

And I'm just not sure how to be the mom she needs me to be.

Because there are moments where it seems so completely overwhelming. And I feel so completely inadequate.

Like this morning, when a simple request is followed by a refusal from her. And thus, a consequence ensues.

Which is followed by a tantrum. But not just any tantrum.

A tantrum that reaches a whole 'nother level. Different than any tantrum I've ever experienced with other kids.

There is no calming her down. There is no reasoning.

There is only escalation, and screams from the depth of her soul. Followed by more escalation. And thrashing, and contortion, and eyes rolling back in her head.

It's as if for a little while, she's not even there. She's somewhere else.

And then exhaustion comes. And she curls herself up into a fetal position.  

So vulnerable.

So wounded.

And then, the chanting returns. The chants that consistently rang out when we first brought her home. The self-soothing primal chants that make my heart hurt for the life she led. And the scars that bear witness to that time.

And it's then, that I realize how much I love her. And how much I want to fix it, and make it all better. How I desperately wish she did not have to endure what she has in her short life. Where she was provided for...but not loved. Fed...but not nourished. Touched...but without affection. Abandoned. Without a soul in the world to call her own.

So I scoop her up, and love on her. And pray.

Which is really all I can do.

Because she needs a lot more than I, alone, can offer.

She's come so far in the past year and a half. And 99% of the time she looks like a happy, spirited, well-adjusted kid who has learned how to love and play and be silly. And I am thankful.

But that 1% of the time....well, I think that road will be a long one to walk.

Sometimes I forget.

Just because she has a family, doesn't mean she's fine. Just because she's been home for a while, doesn't mean the issues are all gone.

It's not magic. It's not quick in this case.

BUT....adoption is healing. And redemption. And a second chance.

And while some would have me believe that she will never be restored from those hurts from her past, I will choose to believe otherwise.

Because she is CHOSEN. And LOVED.

And SHE. IS. MINE.

And really, that's all that matters. 

And that, I can remember.

Statistically speaking...

A post from Rush...

Admittedly math and I have never mixed real well.  Growing up if it didn't involve a hitter's batting average or a quarterback's completion percentage I didn't give it much thought.  I trudged through math classes each year praying that the solar panel in my TI-81 calculator didn't somehow malfunction and leave me stranded in a crowded classroom to do long division in my head.   And can you really trust numbers?  They can be manipulated and twisted just like words.  All you have to do is look at any political poll during this election cycle to see why I don't like statistics outside of the world of sports.  When I completed my Linear Algebra (Algebra in a line? What's does that even mean?) final exam in college it seemed like the sun was a little brighter, the sky a little bluer and the world a little sweeter.  I was officially done with math forever.  Well at least I thought I was until my son started bringing home second grade math homework and the nightmare began all over again.

Earlier this week we ran into some of that nasty mathematics stuff again.  We spent the morning at what is commonly referred to as the Cleft Clinic at MCV.  Basically it's a round-robin style doctor's visit where they shuffle you from one doctor the to next while poking and prodding at your child's palate, checking on their speech and social development, examining their teeth and a host of other items on a checklist.  It's a rather exhausting process but better than the alternative of having to bounce around multiple doctor and dentist offices across Richmond.  We are beyond blessed to have the talented and caring team from MCV to care for our kids.  We visit the clinic every 6 months or so and this was our first trip with both Rylie and Jude.  Doubling the cleft palates in the house certainly creates more questions, more tests, more surgeries, but overall it was a pretty non-eventful day at the clinic.

All but for the math.

Rylie's speech isn't coming along nearly as quickly as we had hoped.  She is incredibly hard working during speech therapy and she wants to talk like it's her job.  It's rare to find a 3 year old work with as much determination and with the kind of spunk that Rylie has.  However, despite her efforts in weekly therapy and the reconstruction of her palate, things just don't seem to be progressing.  It's frustrating for her and for everyone who loves her.

While meeting with the surgeon she informed us that it appeared that Rylie's palate isn't working.  And then she threw some math right in our face.  Stuff we already knew, but didn't want to hear.  About 50% of palate reconstructions don't work.  Of the 50% that don't work about 50% of those kids can "figure out" how to speak pretty clearly in spite of their disability.  More surgeries could help, but they may not.  More speech therapy could help, but it may not.  50% of 50% figure it out? What about the other 50% of that 50%?  What about them? And why must there be math? 

It's still early in the game.  Rylie has a long way to go and there are plenty of options and strategies that we will be pursuing to help her find her voice in the coming years.  The reality is that God did not bring Rylie to us so we could repair her palate or "fix" her speech.  He matched us together so we could love her.  So we could marvel at His creation and His love for us.  So our eyes would be opened to His truth that family is not defined by blood alone.

I still really hate math.  I still don't like percentages.  But no matter what my little girl's words sound like today or in ten years, the only numbers that really matter are that I am 100% her dad.  She is 100% my girl.  And together as a family we will love her 100% of her days. 

And those are statistics that don't lie.

Jude's Adoption Video

I finally got around to making Jude's adoption video. Maybe one day I'll get around to adding him to the blog header!

Sorry the airport video at the end is pretty blurry....it's the best I had!

Check it out!

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig!

We. Are. Home!!!

I have to say, Jonah and Jude are awesome travelers! Both boys did great on the flights....they were much better than I anticipated, especially considering Rush was not seated with the rest of us. No one would switch seats for us, so the two of us switched off some here and there and it worked out well. I do not enjoy 24 hours of traveling though....even if things are smooth sailing.

And now....Jude is an American!! He became official when we came though customs in Newark.

It was awesome to see the girls and the rest of our family welcoming committee at the airport with signs and hugs. And then to come home to food...and coffee! Reagan is obsessed with Jude, and Rylie is obsessed with Rush. :) Jude is doing well....exhausted considering he had about 4 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period. He fell asleep pretty quickly along with Jonah and Rylie. Reagan has been pretty emotional tonight.....she keeps asking us not to go back to China. It breaks my heart! I know the trip is rough on them at home too.

Now to start the next part of this journey here at home.....

Hong Kong Saturday!

Oh man, I love this city!!!

Out hotel connects right to the subway station, so this morning we walked over and caught the train into central Hong Kong. The subway is gorgeous and so easy to use!

Now that's an Apple Store!

We then hopped on a bus and headed up to The Peak....there is a cable tram that takes you up a mountain to an area with a viewing platform of the city, and lots of shops and restaurants. We had lunch and hung out for a few hours. Jonah was pretty impressed with the views, which are amazing, even despite the cloudy conditions today. We went there on our last trip as well and had much better views, but regardless of the weather, it really is breathtaking!

One of the old cable trams

The observation deck is on top of this building

Beautiful Hong Kong

The weirdest mascot in the world. It was actually a little amusing....no one wanted anything to do with the "foot" other than a few kids here and there. There was one point in which it was surrounded by a group of kids who started to yell and taunt it!

Then we headed back to our hotel and let the boys swim in the pool here at our hotel. We weren't sure how Jude would react, but I'll go ahead and show you......

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

(Sorry for the poor quality of this video, and that it loops. I am tired of messing with it!)

Needless to say, he was MAD when we got him out!

We splurged a little bit and ordered roomservice for dinner in celebration of our last night before heading home. So, now we pack up and leave in the morning! I am dreading our 15.5 hour flight (yikes) but so looking forward to getting home and seeing my girls!!!! I can not wait to squeeze them!!

Thanks to all of you who followed along on this amazing journey to get Jude and bring him home. Thanks for your prayers, support, and encouragement along the way. This has, yet again, been a long road, but it has been a little easier to travel thanks to you!

We absolutely and completely praise God for again bringing us to this path, providing for our every need, choosing Jude as our son, and seeing us through every challenge, struggle, and moment of the past 13 months. He is so faithful and loves us so extravagantly!

Next stop....the USA!!!!!

Should I stay or should I go? Rush's perspective on leaving China

It's a really long trip. It's a really long flight. It's a lot of nights to be away from loved ones. By the end of both trips to China I certainly have had a deep longing to be home. To see my girls, to drive a car, to get a cup of Dunkin' Donuts Cinnamon Spice coffee (first thing I'm doing when we get home). Things we often take for granted during the day-to-day routines of life gain significance when you are on the other side of the planet.

I also can't wait for Jude to become an official citizen of the United States when we land in Newark on Sunday afternoon. For him to become a part of the greatest nation on earth and to enjoy all the rights and privileges that come along with carrying the title "American". I'm especially thrilled for him to meet his sisters, grandparents and extended family. To carry him off the airplane and into the terminal in Richmond knowing that at the end of that long tunnel a small crowd of folks will be there waiting for him. I'm excited for him to be able to explore his new house, to meet his dog, to crawl on the floors of the home in which he will grow up. I can't wait to take him to church, out shopping, to the bus stop, to restaurants, to my kid's sporting events...just to show off the newest addition to my family.

I just can't wait to be home.

At the same time, I don't want to leave. I know that when the wheels of that 777 lift off from Hong Kong on Sunday morning there is a good chance I won't return to China for a very long time. Maybe never. I certainly hope this isn't my last visit to this amazing place, but I realize the costs and logistics of visiting again are somewhat overwhelming. Life happens. Kids grow up, they need braces, the heat pump breaks, the roof leaks, tuition is due. Mentally I am preparing for the possibility that I will never see the birthplace of two of my children ever again.



China is a place so monumentally different from home that it does little good to try to explain it in words. Language, religion, customs, sights, smells, government, food -- it's all different. But what China has taught me is that different is good. It's not always better, but it is good. Good to experience. Good to witness first hand. Good to learn from. There are of course things about China that I don't particularly like and many things I have seen here break my heart. But I have to push past the overbearing communist party, the centuries of customs and traditions that devalue children with special needs, the lack of liberty the people of this "People's Republic" possess.

What I find when I am willing to do so is a place of supreme beauty and an amazingly unique people. A nation with breathtaking landscapes and an equally inspiring rich history. Most importantly, I find a country that allowed me to step foot onto its soil and scoop up two children and make them my own. I cannot adequately express the gratitude and appreciation I have for the gifts the people of China have given me. No amount of money, no token and no words can repay this nation for my daughter and my son. This country and these people are so special to me. I will never forget my time and the memories I have made here. Now and forevermore a part of me will remain in this ancient land.


I so badly can't wait to get home. I so desperately hate to leave.

In Hong Kong!

It was another rainy day in Guangzhou today, so we just hung out and packed up. We met our guide about 3pm and headed to the US Consulate to pick up Jude's visa, passport, and paperwork for him to enter the US. Then we headed to the train station to catch our train to Hong Kong.

Holy. Cow.

I will never get used to train stations in China. Never.

To say the phrase "mass chaos" seems to be an understatement.

There are no lines. There is no order. Only pushing and shoving and trampling and rushing.

It doesn't help that they don't let you board until 10 minutes before the train leaves.

With 2 adults, 2 kids (one of whom does not walk), 3 backpacks, 1 camera bag, 1 shoulder bag, 3 huge suitcases, 1 rolling carry on, and a stroller....and about 5 escalators....well, it's craziness.

One lady in our group tripped and fell at the top of an escalator....which was packed. It was almost tragic. No lie......bad times.

Anyway, we safely boarded the train, rode for about 2 hours, caught a cab to our marvelous hotel, and here we are. We grabbed some dinner here at the hotel, and now, at 10pm, we just got the boys to bed.

Tomorrow, we'll hopefully do some sightseeing, although they're calling for showers all day. :( Bad come to worse, we'll hit up the indoor pool, do some luggage rearranging, and call it a day.

The boys are doing great! I told Rush tonight that I feel a little guilty having Jude. He is such a happy guy, I just can't help but feel bad for his birth family. They're missing out on so much. He is amazing and just brightens our day in every way possible. I'm sad they couldn't experience him and all the joy he brings. But I sure am glad that we get to. I can't wait to introduce him to our family and friends!

This afternoon at the train station, we said goodbye to our guide, Kelly. I really cannot say enough about this lady. She is flat out awesome. We really have come to adore her over the past 2 weeks, and were so sad to say goodbye. I think a good guide can really make or break your trip, and she completely made ours amazing. I am so grateful we were placed with her and will miss her tremendously!

Slow Day

This morning, we headed to the US Consulate for our appointment so that they can issue Jude's entry visa into the US. It sounds like a much bigger deal than it really is. Basically, you take an oath that all the information you have provided is truthful, go up to a window, sign a paper, and that's it....almost the equivalent of going to the DMV, only on the other side of the world.

Anyway, tomorrow afternoon, we can pick up Jude's passport and visa, and then hop a train to Hong Kong. :)

Today was a rainy one here, so we really did nothing. We were back at our hotel by 9:45 this morning and didn't even leave the room until about 5pm, when I thought I was going to go crazy. All we did was take a quick walk to the 7-11 just down the block, and then make laps around the lobby. Jonah has been begging for pizza, so we had the hotel concierge call and order us a Papa John's pizza to be delivered for lunch...it was just like home, but it was probably the most expensive pizza on the planet!

I don't even have any pictures from today to share.

We check out tomorrow around 3pm, which is 3am for all you folks at home, and should be in Hong Kong a little before 7. It's about a 2 hour train ride. We'll hang out there until Sunday morning when we fly home! We should arrive about 6:30 Sunday evening. Jude will officially become a US citizen when we go through customs in Newark before heading to Richmond.

It's hard to believe we're wrapping up this part of the journey. This really has been a GREAT trip, aside from the sickness we experienced. Our new son is amazing and makes us smile almost all day long (although he is starting to show a little willfulness!), Jonah has been a real trooper and has gotten to experience a totally different culture, we had an awesome guide who really went out of her way to ensure a great time for us, fun travel mates, and a renewal of our love for our country and adoption in general. We are so very blessed!

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. James 1:17

Memorial Hall and Local Neighborhoods

Today, we visited the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall. It is a large beautiful blue pavilion that I remember seeing on our last trip, but we never visited it. I am so glad we did....it was very interesting!

The hall was built as a memorial to a man named Sun Yat-Sen, who hails from Jude's hometown of Zhongshan. He was born to a Chinese farmer, later became a medical doctor and a Christian, and helped stage the uprising in 1911 which brought down the Imperial form of power in China and ushered in the Nationalist form of government, which reigned before the Communist party took over. He is called the Father of the Nation, and apparently, in each large city in China, there is a road named in his honor.

Anyway, it was an interesting building to visit and an even more interesting history lesson. Our guide was a history major, so she has lots of great things to tell us about! Now we totally have to rent the movie "The Last Emperor" when we get home!

Afterwards, we went to a noodle restaurant for another delicious meal. It is really helpful that our guide takes us places and just orders a bunch of food for us...she certainly has picked some good dishes!

This afternoon we headed back, once again, to the neighborhood behind our hotel. I wanted to be sure to take some pictures of it, although, I must say, I was very self-conscious about taking pictures there. For starters, we stick out like a sore thumb. Everyone watches us as we walk down the street and it made me feel a little like an intruder. No one was nasty to us at all...I didn't want to exacerbate any feeling that I was invading their privacy or anything by taking pictures left and right....so I took a few and left it at that. Anyway, we've really enjoyed walking down there. We love getting a feel for "real" China, away from the tourist stops, and this has been a perfect spot for that. Kids come up to us just to say "Hi" and giggle and run away when we say "Hi!" back. It's hilarious. We're so glad our guide showed us the area when we arrived...we were thrilled to turn the corner and see this staring back at us.....

It's a rather busy place, especially around dinnertime. Farmers bring in fresh produce to sell, everyone is out and about visiting with their neighbors, buying food for dinner, running errands. There was a lot going on, but you could also tangibly feel the sense of community there. It's been one of our favorite parts of this trip.

Mailboxes

Tomorrow, bright and early, we have our appointment at the U.S. Consulate, which in turn issues Jude's visa on Friday so that he can enter the U.S.A.!!!

Everyone is doing well. There's not too much else to report! Another adoptive dad here today said that he feels like every day is Groundhog Day....repeat, repeat, repeat. It's starting to feel like that, even though we've seen some great things. For a good week, we've felt like we're just killing time. However, as much as we are ready to come home, it is a little bittersweet. Who knows when/if we'll ever be back here, to Rylie and Jude's home country. I appreciate it so much, and while I desperately wish conditions here were different so that no child was ever abandoned, that is not the case. We are so grateful that we have had the opportunity to expand our family in this manner, and we are so thankful to this nation for allowing us to do so. It's been an amazing to experience this culture, so vastly different than ours, and it makes us appreciate the good ol' US of A all the more. As our guide said, "You have so much freedom in your country." How often we forget.

Botanical Garden and "Red" Couch Pics

Today we headed to the botanical gardens here in Guangzhou. I forget the actual name of it, but it is a place we also went last time we were here. I must say, the Chinese know how to create parks and landscapes that are absolutely beautiful. There are many parks around and each one is very impressive...lush and gorgeous.

Jonah was born in the year of the Monkey, which is totally fitting!

This garden is a little unique in that there are areas with cartoon statues....Mario, Angry Birds, Snoopy, and others, which is a little *different* I guess you could say, but whatever. Jonah enjoyed them!

The kids in our group....Jack (3 1/2), Jude (21 months), and Tinsley (2 1/2)

Then we headed to lunch at an Italian place....which was deserted, but delicious!

Since the White Swan Hotel is now closed for renovations, the infamous adoption "Red Couch" pictures are a no-go. So, we got the boys in their traditional outfits and took some pics in our room, which probably worked out just as well.

Taken by Jonah

This evening for dinner we headed back to the Chinese neighborhood behind out hotel and braved another local joint. The food was delicious....and it only cost us about $4.50 for 3 huge plates of food!

Good news....I'm feeling a little better! Still coughing a lot and a little congested, but this morning I didn't feel like I'd been hit by a truck. The bad news, now Rush is feeling bad. We can't win, can we?

Anyway, tomorrow to kill some time, our groups is going to check out a Pavilion nearby and then have lunch and that's all that's on the agenda. Thursday, however, is our Consulate Appointment, Friday we get Jude's visa and then hit the railways to head to Hong Kong.

Jude is doing amazing. He is so stinking lovable and really is just such a content little guy. When he gets upset, he gets over it quickly. He makes the most hilarious faces and just could not be any easier at this point! :) And that's all with him being a little sick! We are so thankful that he is part of our family now and we are feeling so blessed!