She sings....."Jesus"

Today is one of the ones a Mom remembers and ponders in her heart. The last two days I have been able to sleep in. I walk past the girls' room and see Cori all curled up. Like her mom, she treasures sleep. Only a few minutes later she walks in and crawls into my lap. Later, as she eats a traditional Chinese breakfast of Fruit Loops......tongue in cheek.......I have hooked up my speakers to the computer as I listen to a glorious praise song. It is called "Your Great Name". As I listen again I notice Cori is singing, so I turn the volume down.

Over and over and over she is singing "Jesus". Over and over. Then she walks over to me, lays her head on my arm, takes my hand and sings , "Jesus".

Would this child have ever heard this name in China? We know that God is bigger than countries. We know that He is sovereign and that her destiny was determined before the foundation of the world. We know that Esther was asked if she was born for such a time as this.

No matter the complexities, we praise God for a child who sings Jesus.

PS...this is NOT the tree that fell down three times.

Three month follow up visit

We believe we have a well trained pediatric specialist. He referred to his days at the Mayo Clinic many times today. He is concerned but " not worried" that she is still incontinent. He did an ultrasound on bladder and kidneys and all looked well. Cori is now on a new antibiotic to rule our urinary tract infection for the incontinence. He will re check in 3 months but will do nothing until the 6 month mark. At that point he wants another sedated scope to see if there are any closing muscles below the bladder. If not, he says some do another couple of surgeries that most likely fail. So, they close up the bladder and teach the child to self cath. Vaginal openings are assumed to be only for menstruation.

On this day, this child was all the way up to her best brain, language, and emotional level I have ever seen her. Not one human in the clinic could take their eyes off of her. Not one member of the staff could keep from remarking on her. She pointed to babies and said, " Baby". She pointed to sleeping babies and said, "Night Night. " She pointed to a picture of a pregnant actress in an inane magazine and said, "Belly". She pointed out my keys and pointed outside to the car! At least three times! This is a small portion of what she has done in the last three days.

I am unable to put words to this subject. Yet I know that this story is repeated more times than we can imagine. Little children who have been abandoned.........but all with God given reasons to be here!

I have a vain request. If you are reading this....if you would want to do something about this........would you email me? We have so many hits.....no way to track who, how many. But it seems to have struck a chord. There are so many others this precious.

anniewright@bellsouth.net. The care of widows, strangers, and orphans has many shapes and forms. Really going beyond the Wright family comfort zone here. Ignore if this is improper.

First winter for Cori. She hates cold.

But she cannot help but catch the excitement of her sisters over the snow.

Her medical condition is unchanged. We see the urologist on Thursday if the weather is not as bad as predicted. We are looking forward to asking some questions! Still having some sleep deprived nights and we are never quite sure why.

So, we are biased, but she continues to show how bright she is. Today I complained about by tired bottom to Jena. I stood up and pointed to it. Within 20 seconds she was bringing me the doughnut pillow we put her on after her surgery. Whoa! She has seen me sit on a pillow in the van, but somehow she put two and two together!

She does almost 80% of anything we ask, seeming to understand it perfectly. She has no problem humphing if she does not want to do it, but she clearly understands the request.

We are richly blessed!

"It's the most wonderful time of the year"

Gay happy greetings when friends come to call. If you come to call, I will find a weapon.

So, we bought the tree Monday night in 19 degree snowy weather. The "guy" with the tree really wants us to consider the one that has a bad spot in the back, because normally this would be a $150 tree. Well over 11 feet, full, but with one bad spot. Wes, who loves a bargain, takes it. The tree is too big for the netting so I should drive home slow. No problem. It is a blizzard on I 40 that night.

We get it in. Wes puts it in the stand. It falls. Another effort. It falls. We discover that the trunk has split. Wes takes off in the snow to get a bigger stand.

That is when the real fun started. Cori begins to projectile vomit. In the basement. In the diningroom. In the hall. In the bedroom....that took two towels. In the tub. After the tub. Dad gets back with the miracle stand. She is still going. She finally falls asleep in my arms around 11:30. I get ready for bed and bring her into ours. Next morning......diaper and bed have the evidence of her diarrhea. Lovely. Today, 8 year old sister Jena has the vomiting.

Wes comes home and we decorate the tree. We make sure that every limb and spot is perfect. We are, after all, a marriage of a first born and an only child.

It surely cannot matter that the back is barren because we will slide that into the corner.

Looking great. Time to slide it into the corner. Fully decorated with 30 years of ornaments.

Of course, you know the rest of the story. Wes is on the floor when it begins to fall so I run to grab it. Lily looks as if she just saw the Twin Towers fall. Jena goes to bed. Grace climbs her bunk. Wes utters some non-printable oaths and tells me to get out of the tree, which I cannot accomplish because I am caught in the beading. Re-group. Sweep up the shattered ornaments. Bravely Katherine and I push the tree back up as Wes manages the new, huge stand. Effort. Small attempts to back away. Finally the three brave ones, Wes, Stephanie, Katherine all stand back.....and it falls again. I ask Wes to go outdoors for a few minutes.

Cori begins to scream from her diaper rash. Grace is still hiding. Lily is upset that her angel lost its head. Jena suddenly feels better.

Folks have asked me today if the tree is now firewood. These folks do not know my husband. He did not quit on the tree when he bashed his head on the door frame, and he will not quit on it now. It is secured with a bungy cord attached to a 25 pound weight. He plans to add another tonight.

Cori went threw a bath, another towel, three more middle of the night diaper changes, and then Wes went to get more diapers and a better rash cream.

The volume of her urine is massive and it smells old even as it first fills the diaper. We need God's wisdom about what this means.

And when you read this, pray that God continues to grant us good humor, even if it takes a couple of days.

Newest issues

Soon after my past posting my mother, a full time worker, living alone, looking forward to her 70th birthday.....fell and ruptured both quadriceps. She had surgery the next day and is in a nursing home......

Now, Cori had her catheter removed on Thursday and it has been downhill ever since. She cries every time she has to urinate, has lost continence, and the new antibiotic is causing uncontrolled bowel movements as well. We never know what to expect.

She has a hard time going to sleep and wakes up every night in the middle of her rest.

She has no way to tell us what hurts or to ask us to make it stop. She cannot understand why it hurts.

There is only one place she can be assured of happiness...the bathtub.

Reality Check.....this is painful

So, two weeks ago Wes' transmission goes out and the estimate is more than we paid for the car............Then, Cori has her surgery. OK, imagine a three year old attached to a foley catheter in a bucket because it leaks......for 5 days. Ask any three year old to sit still for that long, even assuming they speak English, and you know you have a disaster in waiting.

Last night, close to 11 pm, I step in water in a downstairs closet. The water filtration system has been leaking for many days. Wes goes to check on it, sees a spider on the wall, hits it, and the s

wall caves in from water rot..........

I have to pick Katherine up from school and come home to find Cori in a huge Cinderella costume. Who did that? Then she announces she must go poo............Imagine a mad three year old on a potty with a Cinderella costume bunched up all around her.....then she gets mad at me...and she begins to kick the bucket that holds her catheter bag.......

Later, when the repair team is here, she melts down completely and screeches for an hour. Social services is sure to call tomorrow.....but they will bring her back after a single day! She is so angry she is spitting!!!!!

Either you laugh or you cry or you do both at the same time. We trust all day long in God's provision for all of these things and more. The kid is rescued! She is ours! Nothing can change that!

Ands if it costs the farm....what farm???....we KNOW that God will provide!!! It is so exciting to know we will laugh our way, praise our way, to seeing His provision!

Cori is home

It is amazing how this child went from a hospital bed where she had spent the day crying, a car ride where she would awaken to cry and make me hold her hand, to this house. Here, in HER house she is with HER sisters, she is set up in our easy chair and the giggles pour out of the room like a living stream of joy.

This week will have its challenges and so will the future, but for now we are content to know that the best medicine is a family.

Please take time to watch this video produced as a school project by a young man with 15 adopted s

siblings.

Thank you for your prayers.

http://vimeo.com/13888620

Out of surgery

We are with Cori in recovery. She did well in surgery. Dr Levy said the areas to be moved were higher up in her than expected and that the surgery done in China left scar tissue that was problematic. Long term results are iffy as to continence now and as she ages, bladder infections, and an uncertain outcome regarding intimate relations as a married woman.......far far in the future and only to a rich, handsome, slightly older, Christian man who thinks we are wonderful in-laws.....

Surgery November 4th

Cori's surgery is November 4th at 1 pm. We will try to update the blog when we have some news. Please keep her in your prayers. She is such a blessing to us. She is shown here at Hoopla, our church's halloween alternative fun day. She sure caught on to the candy winning!

Upcoming Surgery...still some questions

This is Cori's dedication to the Lord at Biltmore Baptist. We sure wish that our older children could have been there, but having both grandmothers, her uncle, nephew, and Aunt Nae there was a real blessing. And the pastoral staff chose such a wonderful verse for her!

So, currently Cori's reconstruction surgery is scheduled for November 4th. Happy 50th birthday, Wes! The only reason we have doubts is due to the bills we have been receiving from the hospital system we used for her other procedures. They are out of all proportion to anything we have experienced through all of Jena's surgeries at UNC-Chapel Hill. We felt better after some expert advice from my college roommate who is a physician, managing partner, on the board of Blue Cross of NC, and provides excellent self insured benefits to her multi specialty practices many employees......ok, there are too many letters after her name for me to keep up with it all!!!! But she knows this stuff!

Today we received the itemized bill and felt pretty good about proceeding...........

However, Wes had pushed for an estimate on the pre-approved surgical code and we heard from the hospital today..........$40,000 to $50,000......That does not include the surgeon or other services.

So, please pray that we make the right decision about whether to pursue another surgeon at another hospital. We need God's direction and wisdom and we do NOT want to compromise in ANY way the quality of care Cori receives!!! We have been told it is very difficult to get accurate price comparisons. They are "comforting" us with the promise that we will exceed the max out-of-pocket and the bill really will not matter in the end.

Seriously!! That is the best you've got???? Wes is apoplectic!!!!

We are blessed with really good insurance and we know they aggressively negotiate lower rates, but we still want to be good stewards and this numbers are shocking!!!

This is not a plea for anything other than prayer....but we do need that no matter what. If we proceed now or later then we need mighty prayers for Cori.

Thank you!!!

The Test Results

Cori had her 90 minute sedated MRI on Thursday and we got the results on Friday....NO TETHERED CORD. NO signs of Spina Bifida!!!!!Praise God!
Friday was her scoping surgery which did confirm that she will need major reconstruction surgery to make her plumbing normal. We have decided to do that as late in the year as possible to give her more time to adjust but to get it on this year's medical plan. She wakes up from surgery very very very very angry.
It was heart breaking that she demanded to be out of bed so she could go into a corner with her face away from us all. She would not even let me touch her. It was worse than the rejection in China. It really broke my heart. The nurses and staff kept coming to see what they could do to calm her down but she would have none of it. I am hoping there is a medicine they can use next time....and I intend to make Wes go to recovery rather than staying home next time!

Our Little Princess

Just to show how well Cori is adapting I thought I would show you how she first came to see me yesterday morning. Tonight Jena and Lily were running, screaming, and hiding from her. She came through the den giggling her head off as she looked for them.

God causes all things to work according to His will....

And good pleasure. Most days I think Romans is sent to plague my sinful and whining heart.

Tonight I sent an update to a woman who monitors the website for Cori's orphanage. This lady paid for Cori to go into foster care more than two years ago. She recently revisited the orphanage. Through this woman we saw pictures and updates of our daughter that our agency had never seen. This was like the normal ultrasound we western women can count on. These were the pictures and reports that sustained our weary hearts!

Her family is the reason Cori feels she is the center of the universe, while completely recognizing that there is structure and authority there. Bless Bonnie, dearest Father God.

Cori laughed all day long. She wore herself out on joy!!!!

It was an enormous effort for her to fall asleep...but she would not do so without a New Testament given to Lily during Vacation Bible School

Lily told me tonight that she had been baptized, but her language delays came into play. She is completely over the top about that part of the gospel of Jesus. This week this child quoted to me all of John 3:16.

Can there ever be a more profound in the life of a believer than when a child who would Never HAVE HEARD ABOUT JESUS WANTS TO BE baptized? When she can say John 3:16 with cleft lip, cleft palate? From a heathen nation?

My grandmother asked me why we adopted from China when so many are available from the US.I said that the US rejected us. Not a single adopted child of our family has one dollar bill for college, but the "natural born children" have college funds. Only one member of our natural born family has helped on this journey. Wes' mom bought her these gorgeous princess gowns and paid for Grace's airfare.

Not one woman in this nation would have chosen us. But sincerely desperate women with not a single option took the children their reject.

They now lie in our in our arms. God in Heaven, Romans makes so much more sense now.

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made...Too Cool..Good Ultrasound results!

Today was the ultrasound appointment that seemed to go on forever. So many organs were under scrutiny that it took a long time, but she was tolerant and patient. Eventually the tech said the uterus is in a strange position and that she did not see ovaries. That fell like a dead weight onto my heart, although we always knew it was a possibility. Then the tech sent the results to her supervisor who called in a doctor to look again.

And he believes he found both ovaries! He said nothing looked worrisome to him! We certainly have high hopes that the endocrinologist concurs after her exam on Monday, but in the meantime we are thrilled for her.

He knit Cori together in her mother's womb. She is fearfully and wonderfully made.

Love, love, love!!!

The past two days have been so wonderful! This beautiful and happy little girl now wants me to carry her and wants to sit on my lap. Her feet are as soft as a baby's and when she sits in my lap I can cradle them in my hand. I can smell the baby lotion, rub her back, run my fingers through her hair, drink her all in. She will try to tickle me during nap time and dissolves into laughter when I catch her as she sneaks across the bed. She is such a delight! Every single day is better and better. How in the world did we get this precious child? Of all the families in the world, why do we get to hear her squeals of delight? (Although we think the dogs in the neighborhood must be dying from the high pitch!) And the phrase she is most likely to repeat is "I Love You!"

I spent so many wasted hours wishing we could have gotten her at a younger age, but now that she is in our family I cannot imagine it any other way. God's timing is perfect!

I caught a glimpse of myself carrying her around, kissing her on the neck and spinning her around. It was quite a shock. Who is that old woman with this beautiful child? Oh, my goodness. It must be her grandmother......no, it is me. Uggggh. Seriously? When did that happen?

How I despise mirrors and scales and cameras!

Ultrasound tomorrow. Her motion sickness continues unabated and she loses everything. We just pack up a couple of towels for each trip. Bathroom issues are causing her lots of pain. We would appreciate prayers for these concerns. Thank you so very much!!!

The Medical Journey Begins....

So, Cori had her first pediatrician appointment and it took over 2 hours. I have to be honest and say that we were not totally prepared for all the "maybes" we received in those 2 hours, but we have been down this road before with Jena. It is lovely to imagine that all is well when you adopt a special needs child from another country but that is seldom the case. You must be prepared for many unknowns. I will not apologize for being somewhat ignorant of all the possibilities because it would be sheer torture to google your child's condition and read everything that could possibly go wrong. Imagine going through your entire pregnancy reading every March of Dimes condition your unborn child might have!

So, now that she is here the tests have begun. Last week was the typical lab work. Those results showed blood in her urine and elevated testosterone. Then there were the spinal x-rays. Today we learned that she has several spinal abnormalities that lead them to use the term "spinal disgraphism" and the possibility of some form of spinal bifida. Now we need a spinal MRI. On Friday she will have an ultrasound to see if she has kidney issues and if she has female organs, ovaries, and/or boy parts. Monday is the endocrinologist to see why she has elevated testosterone and what is going on with those hormonal systems. That practice has already said they will want a brain MRI. Wednesday is the pediatric urologist who told me last May not to worry about all of these things.....

Next Friday is when I have to go to the courthouse to try and convince them I cannot be on a jury right now. Do you think I have a valid excuse?

In the meantime she smiles that million dollar smile and runs around like she owns the house and as if absolutely nothing is wrong with her. She has the cutest smile ever and knows how to let us know exactly what she is thinking with her facial expressions. Today she discovered Fruit Loops!!! Oh, what joy!! Allowed to walk through the house all morning with the entire contents of a Fruit Loop box!

Today she said Bye as I left. She knows what I mean when I ask for a kiss. Grace practices with her every night to say I love you. She knows when I am calling her name. When we tell her that Baba is home she looks all over for him and begins to play hide and chase. When the phone rings she says something that sounds like Who dat?

I will sum it up by quoting a friend who had 5 non-special needs daughters from China before adopting a child with cleft lip and palate. He said, "She is just a little girl who happens to need some surgery." At the end of every day, every doctor's phone call, every appointment, she is a precious little girl.

The new life

Cori has adapted as if this has been her home forever. Her love is no longer limited to any one person. How in the world is that possible??

Only in the plan of God can such a thing happen.

So many families that traveled with us left China with their hearts broken. They had sacrificed so much and traveled so far only to have their children reject them! Some moms had birthed children in their hearts and then convinced daddies to go on such a risky journey only to have Dad be the only parent who was tolerated by the child.

I know from this last trip how deeply painful that can be. Cori only wanted Dad this Sunday, but I wanted her too! How appropriate to have a message that cut to the heart of our selfish expectations. God did not ask me if I would like Cori loving her dad more than me. He just told us to go get her.

Well, the times when she calls out my name and grabs me by the legs are all the more precious now because she has so many choices for those who will love her.

Special memories of this first weekend....She gets so sick in a vehicle that she desperately holds onto the nearest hand to help her. On Saturday night that was Katherine. Sunday it was Chinese sister, Jena. And when we went to AMP to get Lily, Cori ran into her arms.

This is SUPER natural God business we are talking about!!

She was very busy when I kept her in my wonderful Wednesday Bible study today. I am not sure how long that can last, so I took her to the class she will eventually attend afterwards. She TOTALLY followed only one child, that of my dear friend, a woman who prayed for Cori many times in the middle of the night. Not a single other child interested her except this child.

I have had a serious fear every time we have adopted. I may have posted this before and I apologize if it is a repeat, but it is a serious thing to adopt. You must know that you know that you know. And what a PRECIOUS GOD to tell us over and over that we DID hear His voice correctly about Cori!

For the women who have rushed to put their arms around me since my return........You are all God's hands and feet....Angela, Lori, Brundi, Renae, Amy, Carrie, Tina, Jill, Julie, Leslie, Kim, Leah, Angie, Pam, Stephanie, and surely I am forgetting too many. Please forgive my seriously still jet lagged old woman brain!!! And those who were so faithful online...Susan, Shelia, Sue, Jessica, Katherine, Christi, Conroy, Larry, Kelly, Laura, Krista, Robyn and Jay, Sandi, Susan.

Many have asked me to continue to write. I will try to follow God's lead. When I was a flute player for my praise and worship team there were Sundays when people told me I had ministered to them, but it was never me. I was not playing, it was the Holy Spirit. As I told Lori today, I was not typing. The keys just flowed from God. I am very thankful to have been used for a time for HIS glory. If He wants it to continue I will try my best to follow that lead.

I was so blessed by the words of Steve Farrar, author of Point Man this Sunday. It was a big repeat of last year's entire focus from Lori Frank in Poeima. We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which He has created beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10. And Steve made it clear that we are here on this earth until those works are accomplished.

But if tonight is any indication, when Cori fell off of a bed, would not eat dinner, re-wounded her knee, screamed over a puppy near by, had to have her dad in bed to sleep, and followed my every single step for two hours..........maybe my ministry must now be closer to home!

And wasn't a forever home for Jiang Yi Hua, now Corin Malia Wright, the purpose all along?

The new life

Cori has adapted as if this has been her home forever. Her love is no longer limited to any one person. How in the world is that possible??

Only in the plan of God can such a thing happen.

So many families that traveled with us left China with their hearts broken. They had sacrificed so much and traveled so far only to have their children reject them! Some moms had birthed children in their hearts and then convinced daddies to go on such a risky journey only to have Dad be the only parent who was tolerated by the child.

I know from this last trip how deeply painful that can be. Cori only wanted Dad this Sunday, but I wanted her too! How appropriate to have a message that cut to the heart of our selfish expectations. God did not ask me if I would like Cori loving her dad more than me. He just told us to go get her.

Well, the times when she calls out my name and grabs me by the legs are all the more precious now because she has so many choices for those who will love her.

Special memories of this first weekend....She gets so sick in a vehicle that she desperately holds onto the nearest hand to help her. On Saturday night that was Katherine. Sunday it was Chinese sister, Jena. And when we went to AMP to get Lily, Cori ran into her arms.

This is SUPER natural God business we are talking about!!

She was very busy when I kept her in my wonderful Wednesday Bible study today. I am not sure how long that can last, so I took her to the class she will eventually attend afterwards. She TOTALLY followed only one child, that of my dear friend, a woman who prayed for Cori many times in the middle of the night. Not a single other child interested her except this child.

I have had a serious fear every time we have adopted. I may have posted this before and I apologize if it is a repeat, but it is a serious thing to adopt. You must know that you know that you know. And what a PRECIOUS GOD to tell us over and over that we DID hear His voice correctly about Cori!

For the women who have rushed to put their arms around me since my return........You are all God's hands and feet....Angela, Lori, Brundi, Renae, Amy, Carrie, Tina, Jill, Julie, Leslie, Kim, Leah, Angie, Pam, Stephanie, and surely I am forgetting too many. Please forgive my seriously still jet lagged old woman brain!!! And those who were so faithful online...Susan, Shelia, Sue, Jessica, Katherine, Christi, Conroy, Larry, Kelly, Laura, Krista, Robyn and Jay, Sandi, Susan.

Many have asked me to continue to write. I will try to follow God's lead. When I was a flute player for my praise and worship team there were Sundays when people told me I had ministered to them, but it was never me. I was not playing, it was the Holy Spirit. As I told Lori today, I was not typing. The keys just flowed from God. I am very thankful to have been used for a time for HIS glory. If He wants it to continue I will try my best to follow that lead.

I was so blessed by the words of Steve Farrar, author of Point Man this Sunday. It was a big repeat of last year's entire focus from Lori Frank in Poeima. We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which He has created beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10. And Steve made it clear that we are here on this earth until those works are accomplished.

But if tonight is any indication, when Cori fell off of a bed, would not eat dinner, re-wounded her knee, screamed over a puppy near by, had to have her dad in bed to sleep, and followed my every single step for two hours..........maybe my ministry must now be closer to home!

And wasn't a forever home for Jiang Yi Hua, now Corin Malia Wright, the purpose all along?

And the relationship grows

Cori and her daddy at their first Apple Festival. This new love and Wes' reaction to it had many in tears today.

Home at last......what there us left of me!

Home at last in Daddys arms...


Love at first site!


What am I doing here?




I am half dead so this may not be my best writing. I am making myself stay up until a fairly normal bedtime to get back on schedule.

What a horrible trip! On Thursday we all went to the Consulate to pick up our child's passport and Visa. We left the hotel at 2:15 for the appointment at 3:30. By 4 we were all at the Guangzhou train station. It, like so many other things in Guangzhou, is under construction in preparation for the 2010 Asian Games. That means you must take your baggage, your carry ons, and your child through the rubble. It was very hot inside with only squatty potties and no paper. Just as we were called to board the outer bands of a typhoon hit. Grace hates such storms and was not very happy. We went downstairs and boarded the train around 5:45 for a 6:15 departure. Cori announced in no uncertain terms that she had to go potty and right then! Can you believe that the bathrooms have to stay locked until the train is moving? Wanna know why? The toilets dump straight out on the tracks....So, I was told to take her to the sink to pee......which we did. Then we waited.....There were about 15 or so families taking the same train to Hong Kong. That adds up to 24 moms and dads, around 10 extra siblings of various ages, and 15 Chinese children. Remember that we left the hotel at 2:15 as the story goes on.

And we wait......Every time we asked we were told 20 more minutes. We left 2 hours late. Once we left the potties were open...Hurray. Moving squatty potties! I thought it could not get any better. The trip was 2 hours long and they closed the bathrooms again as we approached Hong Kong. The closures were accompanied by the announcement that we could be fined or put in prison if we were responsible for any waste being discharged in Hong Kong. Guess who has to go to the bathroom again? Back to the sink.
Off the train at 10:15 in a different country with different currency. Most of us bounded up the stairs for McDonalds. Yummy. Did you know that along with a fried apple pie you can buy a fried green bean pie?

Get baggage, load on bus, ride 35 minutes on bus, check in. Finally get in the bed at 12:45. Set wake up call to 5:45. And friends as I type this, I have not had a single minute of sleep since. Thursday night Hong Kong time is your Thursday morning.

Off to the airport at 6, customs, security, breakfast at Pop Eyes. Did you know that you cannot substitute chicken for fish with the scrambled eggs and biscuit? Flight leaves at 9:15 and last for 15 hours. No sleep for either me or Grace. Cori snores away. Land in Detroit. Have to go through customs AND immigration security. Why does a 3 year old have to remove her shoes for security? Two hour layover then onto a little puddle jumper to get to Asheville.

Can you imagine how it felt to see the lush green mountains and then to pick out the Arvin Meritor plant. Home!! Home!!! Rush through the airport as fast as we can! Then we see all of those precious faces!. Taylor, Blake, Katherine, Jena, Lily, my sister-in-law, my nephew, Wes' mom, Taylor's sweet friend, Margaret. I am crying now just to remember how I have lived for that sight for so many days. Cori was a little bit shy and coy. Everyone was thrilled to see her.


She had no problem with the car seat or ride over. She watched the dogs and puppies through the window. She ate a banana and drank apple juice but would not smile for pictures. She really opened up with joy outside and it was no time at all before she was running to Wes with her arms in the air for him to pick her up. He came to me in the yard and said, " I am having terrible thoughts. Can you go get about a dozen more just like this?" I told him that was like asking for a dozen right after the baby has been delivered by forceps after 36 hours of labor! She loves for him to tickle her and throw her into the air. They threw the ball and laughed and bonded immediately. Eventually she fell asleep in his arms and he confessed with tears, " I was prepared for it to take a month for her to want anything to do with me. I just don't know how to handle it!" He just said, "It is a good thing we went through the hard stuff with the others because if she had been first we would have a house full."

Jena and Lily are the least sure of it all, although Jena is sharing soup with her. She just finished her second banana. The cicadas are singing through the window and it is about 70 degrees outside. Tonight there is the first bath with three little Chinese girls. The first of many.

Tonight I get to sleep in my bed.

More importantly, tonight Miss Corin Malia Wright sleeps in her forever home with her forever family who are all just blown away by how undeserving we are of this blessing. Wes just cannot stop shaking his head at the wonder of it all.

He just came in to thank me. Me? I did not make her nor did I work hard to pay her ransom. All I did was bring her home. Bringing her home to a husband who is infatuated, bedazzled, and deeply humbled is more than enough for me. There can be no happier woman on the planet tonight.

I will continue to update as new things arise and she fully steps into this crazy life God has given us. For now, thank you all so much for following along, praying us through, and wishing us well.

From Scenic Fletcher,

Momma Stephanie and Dear Husband Wes

Last night in Guangzhou....a covenant is made

A new covenant....


Red Sofa Picture


The power trio....


Thursday September 1, 2010 11:00PM

This was our last night here at the White Swan. I have not updated for awhile so I will try to include some of our experiences. The most vivid in my mind is turning to see Cori floating on her face in the pool after I had turned for only a few seconds. That does a real number on a Momma's heart!

Cori has been having better and better days since her stomach cramp morning. On the morning of all the medical exams and shots Cori was a real trooper. Not a single tear or complaint during the exams. When we were in the last line our guide pulled me aside to say we had a problem. It would seem that our province guide did not check properly and the orphanage had given us the records of a different child...a boy. A little panic. How much longer will we have to be in this less than sanitary, hot, loud office for anyone and everyone needing exams and shots???? We were the last case of all the Holt families to get our records, but they brought reason to rejoice. Only three shots needed!!

I took her for the shots and she was just curious about why the other child was crying. I opened her sucker right before we went in...still just curious. Then the first shot...no more curiousity, just screaming pain. Then another. Then another. She calmed down quickly and Miss I Am Fine, Thank You would not even hold my hand as we marched back to the adoption room. Her squeaky shoes were a constant rhythm until she saw big sister. Then she took off running and fell into her arms crying. How she loves Grace.

Everyday saw improvement in her mood, understanding, and some simple obedience. There are things she will only do with Grace and things reserved for Mom, but more things shift to "Ma Ma", accent on the second syllable everyday. Vehicle rides belong to me since she knows I carry her barf bag! She loves for me to bathe her and would probably stay in the tub for a hour if we let her.

Today was the Red Couch picture day. The White Swan has red couches throughout and it is tradition to pile the kids on one and have everyone take pictures. Our Holt group had 29 families so the groups were split. It is wonderful to see all of the children in traditional Chinese dress, all together before we take off to our own homes. We saw a family tonight who was with us in Changsha and I had to hug them both. They are precious Christians who lead praise and worship back at their home church. They were so wonderful to be with and always looked out for me.

Then we went to the US Consulate for the last of the Visa paperwork and for the oath taking. I did not describe this accurately before because it has been 4 1/2 years since I did it last. The wonderful lady in charge of the US cases of adoption addressed us all with congratulations and praise. She and her staff review every US case. There were 300 this year. She told us that two years ago special needs adoption was in the 45% range but is now up to 67%! One child on this trip is special needs because he did not gain enough weight in his first year.
Then we take the oath. There is just something stirring about standing on US soil (marble), putting up your right hand, and swearing and oath about anything. I really choked up as did many other parents, although all we were attesting is that we did our paperwork truthfully! Cori kept staring at me as I cried. I think it was so powerful because of a truth Pastor Jay Liner shared a few years ago. He talked about the difference in creating a child versus making a solemn covenant of adoption with a child who is not our flesh. He described it as somewhat more powerful because a decision and an oath were involved. I think that it why many of us were moved today. Not because adopted children are better or worse, but because of the decision, the investment, the work, and most importantly, the promise required of us as we covenant with this child to never leave or forsake them, to never treat them differently, to do whatever it takes to bring them into our family. It is not something to be entered into lightly, but bathed in prayer and only after God's clear leading. And with these children we know many of the challenges they will face with their health or learning, something we do not know when we conceive.
God grafted us in and adopted us and made a covenant with those who were not His people and gave us every privilege as sons and daughters through the sacrifice of His Son.

Tomorrow we check out and head to the gauntlet. The train to Hong Kong sounds like a marathon. Pay the porters, check big bags, ride 2 hours, retrieve bags, go through immigration, go through customs, go to hotel, eat, go to bed. Get up 6 hours later and take bags to airport. Check luggage. Flight to Detroit at 9:15. Fly for 14 hours with a 3 year old who gets motion sickness. Land in Detroit. Show staff at immigration child's Visa. Do not under any circumstances open this envelope before you get to this desk! Get luggage and go through customs. Then recheck luggage for flight to Asheville. So myself and my 13 year old will have two huge and heavy rolling bags, one beaten up backpack, a back pack on each of our backs, a carry on size, Cori, a stroller, and Cori's carry on.
Sounding like fun yet? At least I have some offers of help with the motion sickness. One has a prescription anti nausea and one is offering children's dramamine.

I think the most important thing I can say is how tangible your prayers have been. I have made this trip three times. I have made this trip with and without such support and I just want you all to know.....We can really and truly tell that we are being carried along what could be a hazardous road with protection and grace surrounding us. Wes, Grace, Cori, and I cannot even begin to thank you enough. A part of me dreads skidding off of this ride and back onto the pavement of real life because God has made Himself so real these past 14 days.

And then again, to have my precious husband beside me, my arms around my children, vegetables, ice, non-fried food, my own bed, seeing Cori in her forever home! These things will be sweeter for their absence. I will not miss doing my laundry by hand every other night, a bed that is hard as a rock, 90 plus temp with 90 plus humidity, seeing and smelling human waste, driving like a video game with the lives of real people, being trapped on the up elevator because the new passengers will not let you through, hawking and spitting in public. I will miss the people we have met and grown to love and I will miss this country. A part of my heart belongs here and thinks of three mothers who had to make the most awful decision about their babies and who will never know who God put them into our family where they are cherished and loved.

Thank you all for being on this journey with me. It does not end when I land in Asheville at 4 on Friday. For our life with Corin Malia Jiang Yihua Wright it is just beginning!!!

I love you all.

Stephanie, Ma Ma, and Grace, Je Day, and Cori, Hua Hua.

Happy Sunday!

Sunday August 28, 2010

How I would love to be in church with you all this morning! We should never take for granted our rights to worship God freely!!

Today was an interesting challenge. Cori woke up moaning and proceeded to scream for over an hour. It seemed like it was stomach cramps. We finally called on of our translators and had her come try to talk to Cori. It only made it worse. She stood up but laid her upper body on the bed. Grace and I cried with her after awhile because her misery was so severe. We prayed together during these tears and laid hands on Cori. Not too long after that she calmed and fell to sleep for a bit. Eventually she woke up and we took her on a walk.

This was the morning our group was going to the pearl and jade market. I was going to get something my mother in law had requested, but mostly I need to get Cori and 18 strand of pearls to match those of all her sisters. We missed breakfast and the trip due to Cori's sickness. I resolved to ask the Toth to pick up a strand for us in a couple of weeks when they are here to adopt.

Later in the afternoon the group assembled for a late lunch called High Tea. The family I mentioned yesterday who had Cori's file and then prayed for the family who would adopt her were waiting to enter. They asked me where I had been in the morning since Roger had offered to bargain for me in the pearl market. I told them what happened with our morning. They asked what I had intended to buy. I told them, " A strand of pearls for Cori."
"What size?", they asked. "Eighteen inches."

"Well, we needed to buy 12 strands that size, but for some reason I felt I was supposed to by 13. Would you like to buy it? "

It was exactly what I wanted for half of what I had expected to pay because Roger had bargained for the entire group.

Why do we ever doubt that He is in everything, large and small?

What a ride the trip has been! How very exciting to think that God will show Himself again tomorrow and the next day and the next!
I ask for your prayers for Cori tomorrow. She has to have the medical exam around 9 am our time, 9 pm your time. With her feeling so poorly today I really dread putting her though it, but we have no choice. Eight shots would make anyone ill. Please pray she requires fewer than 8 and that she has no reaction or fever or pain.

I am counting the days when many of you can see her in person. She is a full fledged pistol. She loves her new squeeky shoes to death! I included a picture of her loving on Grace as she rejoices in the shoes, then a picture of the crowd of photographers she drew as a result. This is less than half of those who descended on her.

Sincerely,


Stephanie

First bit of ice cream.....


Famed yellow polka dot bikini...


August 28, 2010

First Day in Guangzhou

It feels a little bit like home to be in the White Swan for the third time. Guangzhou has changed a great deal since my last visit. The city hosts the 2010 Asian Games so every shop and hotel and road is new or improved. The airport is new and even in Changsha there is a new one under construction.

Cori gets motion sickness. Twice on the way to the airport and twice in the plane. She was completely worn out when we finally got to the hotel after 11 pm. She prefers me to Grace when we are traveling. She had to have the TB skin test in the clinic today and will return to read the results and have a possible 8 shots on Monday. I was taken back by the notice that we have to take $2000 RMB (almost $300 US)to pay for the vaccines. This is a new requirement of our government, not China, and it is very unpopular with adopting families. All of my budgeting was blown with this information!

Breakfast in the White Swan in a window seat on the Pearl River is relaxing. As we returned from the medical offices we entered a store where the owner said, "God bless you" as we left. We returned the blessing and he asked if we were Christians and announced proudly that he is a Christian too! He was so precious!

Then the joys of a real burger at the famous Lucy's, a restaurant on the island that has a delicious western menu. I will also include a picture of Cori's reaction to her vanilla ice cream. On to paperwork and then a wonderful dip in the pool. I have to include a picture of Cori in her itsy bitsy, teeny weeny, yellow polka dot bikini. It is quite the fashion statement. I don't want to give away who it is from. Just let me say it is a pastor's wife whose initials are J.I.L.L. T.O.T.H. I HATE to include the picture because I am in it in a no longer itsy old lady swimsuit, but I must show off the bikini.

Many times I have wondered why I had to travel this late in the summer. I kept saying, "God, this would have been so much easier if you had only made it two weeks earlier!"
But He has pointed me to several reasons I might hold on to. Today I met two more families with cleft lip and palate children who have never dealt with it before and I was able to discuss what they can expect back home. One family got off on my floor of the hotel to ask more questions. I certainly wish I had known more when we adopted Jena six years ago. Another woman wanted to talk about Jena's hearing issues because she might want to pursue the adoption of a 4 year old who is hearing impaired.

Then a gift for me.....Today we met up with all of the Holt families who had spent the week in various provinces getting their children. Now that we are all together we are swapping stories and I shared some of Cori's medical issues. This mom just dropped her jaw. It seems that she and her husband had reviewed Cori's file at the same time we had it and decided not to proceed, but they prayed diligently that she would be matched with the perfect family for her. Many times Wes and I have reviewed files only to decide against proceeding or having God close the door, but I always continued to pray for the child until I saw that they were matched. Today I met a woman who had done the same for me! Praise God!I Isn't it wonderful how He makes sure we know He is always there!

We do need prayers about handling some of the issues Cori's special needs are presenting on the trip. And we need wisdom about her medical care once we return home. Please pray for us to have the grace and patience to handle them until we meet with her doctors and hope for better permanent solutions.

A final praise report for those of you who know how I have struggled with TMJ since mid-May. My big fear was that it would plague on this trip, but I have taken nothing for pain in a week and my bite is perfect!

Love to all,


Stephanie

1st Day in Guangzhou

Saturday August 28, 2010


It feels a little bit like home to be in the White Swan for the third time. Guangzhou has changed a great deal since my last visit. The city hosts the 2010 Asian Games so every shop and hotel and road is new or improved. The airport is new and even in Changsha there is a new one under construction.

Cori gets motion sickness. Twice on the way to the airport and twice in the plane. She was completely worn out when we finally got to the hotel after 11 pm. She prefers me to Grace when we are traveling. She had to have the TB skin test in the clinic today and will return to read the results and have a possible 8 shots on Monday. I was taken back by the notice that we have to take $2000 RMB to pay for the vaccines. This is a new requirement of our government, not China, and it is very unpopular with adopting families. All of my budgeting was blown with this information!

Breakfast in the White Swan in a window seat on the Pearl River is relaxing. As we returned from the medical offices we entered a store where the owner said, "God bless you" as we left. We returned the blessing and he asked if we were Christians and announced proudly that he is a Christian too! He was so precious!

Then the joys of a real burger at the famous Lucy's, a restaurant on the island that has a delicious western menu. I will also include a picture of Cori's reaction to her vanilla ice cream. On to paperwork and then a wonderful dip in the pool. I have to include a picture of Cori in her itsy bitsy, teeny weeny, yellow polka dot bikini. It is quite the fashion statement. I don't want to give away who it is from. Just let me say it is a pastor's wife whose initials are J.I.L.L. T.O.T.H. I HATE to include the picture because I am in it in a no longer itsy old lady swimsuit, but I must show off the bikini.

Many times I have wondered why I had to travel this late in the summer. I kept saying, "God, this would have been so much easier if you had only made it two weeks earlier!"
But He has pointed me to several reasons I might hold on to. Today I met two more families with cleft lip and palate children who have never dealt with it before and I was able to discuss what they can expect back home. One family got off on my floor of the hotel to ask more questions. I certainly wish I had known more when we adopted Jena six years ago. Another woman wanted to talk about Jena's hearing issues because she might want to pursue the adoption of a 4 year old who is hearing impaired.

Then a gift for me.....Today we met up with all of the Holt families who had spent the week in various provinces getting their children. Now that we are all together we are swapping stories and I shared some of Cori's medical issues. This mom just dropped her jaw. It seems that she and her husband had reviewed Cori's file at the same time we had it and decided not to proceed, but they prayed diligently that she would be matched with the perfect family for her. Many times Wes and I have reviewed files only to decide against proceeding or having God close the door, but I always continued to pray for the child until I saw that they were matched. Today I met a woman who had done the same for me! Praise God!I Isn't it wonderful how He makes sure we know He is always there!

We do need prayers about handling some of the issues Cori's special needs are presenting on the trip. And we need wisdom about her medical care once we return home. Please pray for us to have the grace and patience to handle them until we meet with her doctors and hope for better permanent solutions.

A final praise report for those of you who know how I have struggled with TMJ since mid-May. My big fear was that it would plague on this trip, but I have taken nothing for pain in a week and my bite is perfect!

Love to all,

Stephanie

Travel day to Guanzhou...White Swan on the way

Friday 8/27/2010 12:10am China time

We were fellowshipping with two other precious families today. I want to ask you to pray for Jackie and Craig. Their son seems much younger and less developed than his official age would indicate. He clings to mom and will not go to dad at all.

This morning she was in tears. She is worn down to nothing and they are very fearful that he has developmental delays they were not prepared for. I was able to love on her and tell her about my experiences with Jena. Jena clung to me for dear life and would not go to Jessica for the full two weeks we were in China. Jessica and I really resigned ourselves to the fact that she had serious mental delays, but for those of you who know Jena, this is certainly not the case. Jackie took comfort with this real life example. Later in the morning her husband said they thought he had ear infections. I was able to tell them how this would affect his perception of the world and his ability to walk. They had not thought about that. But the mother's heart in Jackie is grieving and discouraged. Please pray for this family when you have time.

There is also a praise report. John and Tamela are the family who were able to adopt again because a co-worker gave them $10,000. John's back went out yesterday. Today he greeted us with the news that the Lord had healed him!

I thought it might be interesting to know why we are so tired of the western offerings of fried chicken, french fries, fried burgers. Perhaps we should be bravely tackling the Chinese menu for variety?

These are a few of the choices we have: Sauteed mutton home style, Chicken giblit with chilli, steamed fish head with preserved green pepper, steamed pork feet with preserved chilli, braised edible birdsnest, braised birdsnest(non edible?), shark's fin with rice, barbequed meat collation, simmered eight-headed dry abalone, and finally, my personal favorite, double boiled duck with Chinese caterpillar fungus.....

And you wonder why we keep eating french fries.......

Cori has eaten since the minute she got up and is still going strong. Grace bought lime flavored Lays potato chips but they taste like fruit loops. Cori cannot get enough!

Our next update will be from the beautiful White Swan Hotel on Shamian Island off the Pearl River. We will be reunited with the other families from Holt and get to swap stories over real western food at Lucy's or the deli. We will have her TB test, medical exam, get her passport, final documentation, consulate appointment and swearing in ceremony. We leave China on September 3 and fly backwards in time so we arrive home on the same day.

We are grateful for the grace God has given us so far and rely on His continued blessings.

Stephanie

High above Changsha

Greeting from the 30th floor of the Dolton Hotel in downtown Changsha, a city of 6 million. It has been rainy and cool. There has been very few opportunities to get out of the hotel so we are really looking forward to moving on to Guangzhou.

We were fellowshipping with two other precious families today. I want to ask you to pray for Jackie and Craig. Their son seems much younger and less developed than his official age would indicate. He clings to mom and will not go to dad at all.

This morning she was in tears. She is worn down to nothing and they are very fearful that he has developmental delays they were not prepared for. I was able to love on her and tell her about my experiences with Jena. Jena clung to me for dear life and would not go to Jessica for the full two weeks we were in China. Jessica and I really resigned ourselves to the fact that she had serious mental delays, but for those of you who know Jena, this is certainly not the case. Jackie took comfort with this real life example. Later in the morning her husband said they thought he had ear infections. I was able to tell them how this would affect his perception of the world and his ability to walk. They had not thought about that. But the mother's heart in Jackie is grieving and discouraged. Please pray for this family when you have time.
There is also a praise report. John and Tamela are the family who were able to adopt again because a co-worker gave them $10,000. John's back went out yesterday. Today he greeted us with the news that the Lord had healed him!

I thought it might be interesting to know why we are so tired of the western offerings of fried chicken, french fries, fried burgers. Perhaps we should be bravely tackling the Chinese menu for variety?

These are a few of the choices we have: Sauteed mutton home style, Chicken giblit with chilli, steamed fish head with preserved green pepper, steamed pork feet with preserved chilli, braised edible birdsnest, braised birdsnest(non edible?), shark's fin with rice, barbequed meat collation, simmered eight-headed dry abalone, and finally, my personal favorite, double boiled duck with Chinese caterpillar fungus.....

And you wonder why we keep eating french fries.......

Cori has eaten since the minute she got up and is still going strong. Grace bought lime flavored Lays potato chips but they taste like fruit loops. Cori cannot get enough!

Our next update will be from the beautiful White Swan Hotel on Shamian Island off the Pearl River. We will be reunited with the other families from Holt and get to swap stories over real western food at Lucy's or the deli. We will have her TB test, medical exam, get her passport, final documentation, consulate appointment and swearing in ceremony. We leave China on September 3 and fly backwards in time so we arrive home on the same day.

We are grateful for the grace God has given us so far and rely on His continued blessings.

Stephanie

Ready for bed...



Wrapped in Mom's quilt





Thursday August 25, 2010 4:58pm

Cori wore her blue dress that I made her today. I look forward to Jena and Lily and Cori all wearing their matching blue homemade dresses. It is discouraging to think how far away that day is.

Today dawned in the same room with the same prospects for breakfast at the same table with the same food. Then we went to the playroom. But we had other American families there to visit with and that was a real blessing. A couple is here for their second Chinese son. They were told he had cerebral palsy and yet he is perfectly fine and says a wonderful English "Hello"! We shared the ways the enemy attacked us before making the trip. She had a wonderful testimony about how they were able to adopt again. It was on their heart but they did not have the money. They left it in God's hands and one day a co-worker told her they would be adopting again because she and her husband were going to give them $10,000 to get started. Tears filled her eyes as she looked at the son God planned for them in such a miraculous way.

Another mother came in and said they were going to walk to a local convenience store. I jumped at the chance to get outside with another American! It was cool and spitting rain and SO refreshing! Then we ate lunch together and shared our adoption stories. The fellowship was refreshing as well.

I am attaching pictures and will try to send a short video. One shows Cori in the pretty gown from grandmother Wright. Another shows her sleeping in the quilt I made for her. The others speak for themselves.

We leave Changsha tomorrow and arrive around 8:30 pm in Guangzhou. I look forward to meeting up with the other Holt families, walking Shamien Island, and visiting the little shops. The last leg......

Stephanie

Recharging...



Busy, busy, busy and happy, happy, happy




Wednesday August 25 3:40pm Reality bites...

Well, the are certain things that were always certain on this trip. I just knew the day of testing would come. This child simply knows people. Today was the day I had to introduce some obedience. It was as simple as hold my hand, let me pick you up. That was when, as Dr. Dobson puts it, she stuck her hairy little toe over the line to massive rebellion. I think that whatever dogs live in Changsha had to have begun howling at the screams Corin Malia Yi Hua Wright can belt out. All of the lobby. All of the 30 floors to our room. Surely all of the 30th floor. I made her go into the playroom with me and stay until she would take my hand. I sent poor Grace to the room. She wanted Grace's hand. She was going to have to settle for mine.


Dear friends, this is very very hard. It breaks my heart like it does when we hold our child's leg for a shot. I so want to tell her that it is all ok. I just want what is best for her, but she does not see it that way. She does not understand me or know me, but she has to obey a little for her own safety on these hazardous roads, in the huge airport, and for the next 15 years or so. She hit me a couple of times and tried her best to bite me. When I did leave the playroom with her after about 15 minutes......what a long 15 minutes that was, she was still wrestling me. When she saw Grace she ran to her for comfort and I had to tell Grace not to do it. Then I went into the bathroom and cried and Grace sat in the room and cried. What 13 year old would not adore having a sister to want her so badly?

I talked to Wes about it later as Grace was playing with Cori and we were on Skype. Cori has been hitting Grace as well, so we agreed to let Grace correct her as a parent would. Then, all on her own, Grace began to make Cori ask me for anything she wanted rather than getting it from Grace. Then Grace had several occasions to say no.

We took her back to the playroom and Grace and I played our own dice game while Cori had the toys to herself. We wanted to show her we have a relationship ourselves and that we are not just here to entertain her. She is stubborn but will ask for help so I was able to interact with her on those matters.

On to lunch. She is bored silly but does not fuss even with a long wait for food. Today she had spaghetti. She has plenty of experience with noodles. We thought we would send Grace from the table to the room but she would not have that. As we put her down for her nap she was not cooperating. Grace laid down in her bed and acted like she was napping. Cori had little tears in her eyes when she realized she was out voted. But then she let me rub her hair as she went to sleep.

Hunan has fiery girls. We have heard that many times. We have one such girl on our hands. She plays independently, eats neatly and wipes off her hands and mouth. She can be completely charming and happy, or stubborn and hot angry. She is a complex and complete package, just as God made us all.

I just finished Mary Beth Chapman's book. She reminded me of something most adoptive families know. Adoption is in many ways like Christ coming from His place in heaven to our place. Lowly earth. And He came to bring us into God's family by adoption. Many of us embrace that immediately. I think of Jena. But then there is much work to be done to make us whole. Many of us see Him as just a pleasant place to camp out for awhile, but when He has to tell us 'No' we get angry and frustrated. I think of Lily. Eventually we realize that He is our home and He means the discipline for our good.

And many of us are like Cori. We kick and scream and bite. We turn our backs and turn up our noses. We take the part of the Christian life that we find fun, but we despise and reject the authority. We fight and bite and hit. We try to manipulate. We grunt in anger and push away. We cling more tightly to our toys than our Parent.

But right now, I am looking on the most beautiful, angelic face as she sleeps. I long for her to love me back. I long for her to gladly accept me as her Momma. I came all this way for her......................and I love her deeply. I will never stop loving her and I will protect her no matter what she does. We have all felt this way about toddlers! We had to go in and see them when they were sleeping sometimes to remember how much we loved them, especially after a day of tantrums.

I hope to move past the toddler stage with God, but I have to be honest, it rears its head far more often than I would like to admit. And He never leaves.

I will be here when she wakes up. ...

Please pray for both Grace and I to have supernatural wisdom, patience, and grace.

Check out the picture.......such beauty.

Pictures of Cori......

Ready to roll...

A new Princess is in town

At peace...

Nap time over and ready to go...

In Mom's arms...

It is Official!!

Tuesday night 8/24/2010

As far as the Chinese government is concerned, Jiang Yi Hua is ours. It is strange to have a 24 hour return policy on a child, but I am sure it has been used on occasion. We are enjoying watching the Italian families with their new sons.
I was afraid that she would be upset when we returned to the provincial offices where we got here yesterday and she certainly did. Our guide told her that she was only there for a moment and that she would not go back. She stayed in my arms for most of the time we were there. Our guide asked the ladies from the orphanage to stay out of sight and they did so. We finished the paperwork and headed out with our official papers. Now we wait for her Visa so we can travel to Guangzhou.
She was sick many times in the car on the way to "WalMart". Notice the quotation marks. It certainly is not like any US WalMart. It was two stories on the top of a 4 story building. We needed the proverbial duck tape, but that was not something they could understand.
She now only wants to sit with me when we are in a car, but Grace is her choice for anything fun.She does not know how to share with the other children and insisted on bringing a bicycle into the hotel room. She does not like to have her picture taken so it has been hard to get good shots. I will attach a couple but they take a long time to upload. I have sent more to Wes.
Tonight we tackled the much needed real bath. She was fine with the water in the tub but not in her eyes. She smells wonderful now with her Johnson's lotion and brand new pajamas. Grace has painted her fingernails and toenails so she is all girly. She liked the bear water toy and bath crayons. She is currently wrapped up in the soft pink blanket and the quilt I made for her while watching Chinese comedy.
It was very moving to see her tucked in under these blankets last night as she settle into my bed. She slept from 9 pm to 8 am! She took a 2 hour nap today.
Her stomach scar is at least 4 inches long with huge stitch scars as well. She is imitating us on occasion. She knows I am Mamah and Grace is Jie Jie, big sister.
This is long and not very interesting, but is is very nice to have such a "normal" day with her. We have no activities tomorrow and may pass on Thursday tours because of her car sickness.
I cannot thank you enough for your prayers. We are gliding on them minute by minute. It is amazing how God is holding us up.


Thank you, dear friends!


Stephanie

Tuesday Morning 8:45 am

Hooray! She had a great night of sleep, great breakfast, now she has her meowing cat and is siting in Grace's lap like a baby. We leave for the provincial office at 9:30.
Pray Cori does not get confused when she see workers from the orphanage. Off to WalMart for some traditional Chinese shopping after our finishing the Chinese side of the adoption.

Monday August 23, 2010 7:30pm China time

I cannot explain why I had so much peace as we prepared to go to the provincial office. It was a strange because I totally knew what she was going to do. I really knew it would be exactly as is was. I guess that is why I had peace.
She took one look at me and turned her head away in a huff. She punched the doll in the face and totally rejected the poodle. She wanted absolutely nothing we had to offer. I simply continued to talk and offer her things but she would have none of it. The ladies who brought her and our guide talked to her, but I did not even try to pick her up or touch her. I knew she would reject it all. We took some pictures and I cannot wait until you see the strong will she displayed even there, like, "If you want a picture that is just tough."
I filled out the paperwork and the ladies left. They did not bring her quilt square or shirt. They said the dress was too small....but it was a shirt. So, I assume some other little one is wearing it as a dress. That is just fine. She did have the photo album and we talked to her about it. Mad face.
When we were finally finished I picked her up and it was screeching and wiggling. It was very emotional as I knew that she knew what was happening. You can just tell that she knows. She screamed in the van but eventually quieted down. She pulled away from my every touch and then closed her eyes. When we got to the hotel it was the same. I am sorry to say that the cameras were left behind in the extreme emotion and confusion. We have called Vicky and she will contact the driver. He is with us this week for all rides. How I wish we could send the pictures to you. Imagine 10 times more beautiful that the pictures with a million times more personality and a temper like an Italian. That is our Hua Hua.
She walked into the hotel with us but was not happy. Thank God for the toy room on our hall. I decided we would go there first and that Grace and I would play with the toys. I forgot to mention that she had a things of Starburst she clung to for dear life. It was her lifeline.
She was intractable. She watched us play ball and build with blocks. Then, by God's plan, two Chinese girls came in to play. Grace ran back to the room for a minute and I gave her the chance to ride one of the bikes they were on. We put the Starburst in the basket and I began to push her around all the halls of the hotel. Grace came running in the hall and she laughed out loud! Then, while Grace was away, I gave her a little piano. She smiled at me! Grace brought her a sippy cup of water. She eventually was so engaged that she trusted me with her starburst. Then more children came into the room. Three little toddler boys with Italian parents. She played with the blocks we had been using. She is very exact and particular about how they go together. Once we came back to the room she was very excited about the Playmobil, until she found out they were not blocks. We showed her the farm animals you squeeze for noise. She liked them all but was angry and pushed away the rooster! Go figure!
She has a thousand faces and wants to do everything herself. I don't think she has decided she wants to live with us, but she thinks we are showing her loads of fun. Tonight for cleaning, bathroom, and bed may be a different matter, but I am in heaven.
She is doing well now. We are going to go eat. She like goldfish and might be content with that, but we are going to try a restaurant anyway.
By the way, the Italians think I am either a super woman or an idiot. They asked about how many children....I was able to show them Jena's before and after. They have two boys with cleft lip and palate. When they saw her face they said, "Bella!" They think Cori is lovely too.

She let me tickle her and pretend to bit her and she giggled. She is getting tired while I am on top of the world.

Sunday August 22, 2010

Just now settled in an have internet. We are on the 30th floor of 52 floors in room 5. The guide does not recommend that we leave the hotel. Holt told us everything would be too expensive in the hotel but there is nothing western nearby.
Today has been pretty hard. I have cried several times and fell like I could do with a good cry right now. We are exhausted. Beijing Airport is scary, crowded, large. We had a long wait and then had to take a very very crowded bus to the plane. Much turbulence on the flight. We were very hungry by the time we got a meal on the plane. Grace has no energy at all and just lays her head on me. Once we landed the heat hit us like a freight train. Another very very very crowded bus trip to the terminal. Only squatty potty in the airport. The driver scared us so many times. He is awful. Our guide speaks much better English than Arthur did, but she checked us in and left.
The worst news is that we do not get Cori until 3:30 tomorrow.
She also told us she was at the orphanage recently and did not know of Jiang Yi Hua. I told her she had been in foster care for 2 years. She said those are the children who have the hardest time adjusting.
On the better side, there is a playroom on our hotel floor. They have a crib in here I would not put one of the dachshunds in, but it is where we have put all of her things. The guide says she will take us to WalMart on Tuesday. Grace only packed on pair of pants, one skirt, and one pair of leggings. We were told to avoid hotel laundry service but there is no where else to go. We were told to avoid the minibar (for water/coke/snacks), but there is nothing else available.
I am frazzled and very frustrated.

Great Wall

Great Wall of China near Beijing

Saturday August 21, 2010

So, on our last day in this room we discover an internet cable. We could have been on the internet at anytime! Holt has an office in the White Swan! They said to check with them before we buy stuff in Gunagzhou because the office has many things other families left behind. Probably just formula and diapers, but we will see.
I am working out the finances for the rest of the trip and will convert some more cash tonight. I will have to convert RMB to Hong Kong money the last day. Holt has staff conducting most of the province guide duties and they are not allowed to take tips. We will have a commercial guide who will expect tips so Holt gave us the money they would expect! Wow!
I was wrong about the extra bags. It is 44 lbs per person period, but Holt said that we have adoptive family stamped on our heads and that if we are there early we can usually be accommodated, but to have 150 RMB in case they charge for the overage. I have a bag of things we could do without I can throw away at the airport if necessary.
By the way, Cori's update says she sleeps with an adult. It did not specify at naptime as I originally thought. The update tells me her whole schedule and what she eats at each meal. That will be very helpful.
I washed several things in the sink and most are dry for packing. Holt says they call Hunan and Guangdon the two shirt a day provinces during this time of the year.
We have not had dinner yet so I think we will see what is available in the hotel. There is a snack street around the corner, but I do not feel comfortable wandering out, although Holt says it is perfectly safe. They said we could even find a Donkey Restaurant, yes, donkey for dinner, just around the corner, or sparrows on a stick or starfish. I would rather pay too much for food I can actually digest!

Corie with Foster Mom/caregiver

August 21, 2010 7:32am
I know you are all asleep but I have to go ahead and tell you about the Holt meeting. It was so wonderful. Holt is so organized and this meeting was everything we all needed to know. There are 30 families and they are from all over the US. Many are adopting their first child who is a baby, but many others are like us, larger families who are adopting older children or those with special needs. There is another family who will have 8 children after this adoption. There is even a family who was adopting an 11 year old and got the call to asked if they would adopt an almost 14 year old as well. This young girl was adoptedwhen she was 11, but after one week with her in China her adoptie family sent her back to the orphanage. She will turn 14 on Sept. 2, so they are here just in time to save her from a hard life without an education or family. We all cheered and yelled when they introduced themselves. Many of us made it a point to meet them during the break. It was so clear that God had orchestrated it all for this family and child.
At the end of the meeting they showed the most recent pictures of the children on the screen and asked families if they recognid their child. Most did not because their only picture was as an infant. It was wonderful to hear the gasps and cries as people saw the names of their children. It was no problem to identify Cori as we had more recent pictures of her, but it is shocking how tall she is. Her legs seem to go on forever. My favorite part of her update was about her nap. She takes a 2 hour nap each day with an adult. That will be ME!!!!!! How I arrange a two hour block once I am home is another matter entirely. In answer to how to comfort her, it is to hug and kiss her. I can do that!!!! She is 37 inches tall. She gets welts when a mosquito bites her...that is me and half of our family. She has an allergy to hot peppers. I was told that girls from her region of China are spicy. I guess she has decided to be different. div>
As to my concerns about going to the orphanage, they discourage it and say it is usually not even allowed. Grace exclaimed how big she was, but then added sincerely that she is the cutest three year old she has ever seen. I wish we could get the new picture scanned, but then we will have the real thing soon.
I was able to encourage several families who are adopting children with cleft lip and palate with the before and after pictures of Jena. Most have opted not to have any surgery until they are home.div>