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>

August 18, 2010 From the airplane on the way to Beijing vai Seattle from Atlanta....

Halfway over Nebraska I pull up the computer to write about the effect Mary Beth CHapman's book is having on my heart as I fly to Cori. The screensaver came up with her picture and the man behind me asked if we were adopting. They are adopting a 7 year old girl named Lily. We talked for a long time when the couple in front said they were adopting a son who is almost two. We don't feel so alone.....but we are worn out already. Over 2 more hours until Seattle. Altitude 36,000 feet. We are now over Wyoming. We just flew over a town called "Wright".---

Only seven days to take off

I have to be real here and say that leaving my husband is the hardest thing possible. God gave me a best friend and soulmate when he put us together over 30 years ago as juniors in high school. I feel the curse of Eve. He is so much of my breath and life, but I leave him with the job of providing and caring for the children who cannot go on this trip. This is my third trip without him. My tears have been as steady as the rain.

Just began the book by Mary Beth Chapman. We saw Steven Curtis Chapman in his second concert after the lose of Maria Sue from China. It was life changing.

So now we go to get a child from an orphanage, but she has been with a foster program for over two years. Will they tell her about us? Will she only want them?

And this orphanage has a girl who will soon age out and have to work at the pesticide factory.

Who does an American with a house, food, clothing, transportation, water, and freedom reconcile this? Too many....way too many put it out of their mind while they watch the rich, the skinny, the chefs, the models, the perverse, the profane...

When in that 30 minute segment people on the other side of the world are starving, in prison, or are dying.