Wow!

I can't believe how much I have seen and experienced in the past few days. I am quite confident I made the right choice in skipping the "cultural tour" in Beijing and going straight into Guangxi Province (even if I had to do it "alone"--I wasn't really). What a beautiful place and vastly different way of life! I have been awed by the beauty and diversity of G*d's creation. I've heard geological explanations for the breathtaking limestone karsts, but all I saw was our Creator's handiwork. I took a boat up the Li River from Guilin to Yangshou, wandered around the small city of Yangshou, bicycled around the countryside, floated down the Yu Long River on a bamboo raft, explored a cave, climbed Yue Liang Shan (a mountain with a large hole on top), and rode a motor scooter to a neighboring town, wandering through farming villages along the way. Yes, I think this is a much more authentic tour and I take with me a better sense of what life might be like for my little boy here in Guanxi Province. I just wish my daughter could have seen all this, as it is probably much closer to her roots as well.

Yesterday afternoon I took a bus back to Guilin, picked up my luggage, then went to the train station to catch a train to Nanning. I had good reason to be concerned about the train station--getting on the train involved going up and down huge flights of stairs in a mob of people all trying to get on the same train. G*d sent angels to take care of me and my luggage and I am convinced He has lovingly surrounded me with angels throughout these past few days. He is good!

I'm keeping this short and posting just a few highlight pictures..... I have a little boy to get ready for! I am so nervous and excited. I am preparing myself for a difficult time. Jiang Yi Gong is about to become Pierce Yi Gong Horton, but I understand he may only feel loss at first and may grieve deeply. I hope and pray that his little heart has been prepared and he won't think I am an extraterrestrial creature when he sees my blond hair and blue eyes! Just a few hours....

Fortunately

Fortunately I got it together and got on the plane.
Unfortunately, I had to say good-bye to my family.
Fortunately, I sat next to a nice couple flying to Tokyo.
Unfortunately, there were no empty seats to get comfortable and I got no sleep.
Fortunately, my flight arrived in Tokyo on time, even after a late start.
Unfortunately, my next flight to Guangzhou was overbooked and I lost my seat.
Fortunately, they put me on an earlier flight with another airline.
Unfortunately, it was late.
Fortunately, I had two seats to get cozy in and actually caught a few winks.
Unfortunately, I got a crick in my neck.
Fortunately I made it out of the Guangzhou airport and to my hotel without a hitch and at 12:45 AM Oct. 9 (China time) I am finally going to bed.
Unfortunately, I have to get up at 7:30 for my next flight.
And fortunately, I serve an awesome G*d who is in control of all the fortunate and seemingly unfortunate events in my life. He is the Master at weaving all things together for good!

Good night!

On My Way!!!

I actually made it on the plane this morning and have completed the first leg of my journey! All the running around, trying to fulfill all my responsibilities, praying I haven't missed any details.... this phase is done. I tried not to cry as I kissed my dear daughter good-bye in the airport. How God has blessed me! She informed me yesterday, "Mommy, I'm not going to cry when you leave, because G*d is with you." From the mouths of babes! And now I make the journey again for our son. My heart is full.

Letter from an Adoptive Mother

This is a very helpful letter I just got from our adoption agency I thought I'd share.

Dear Parents,
Approaching this voyage as a great adventure and greeting it with flexibility is the best thing you can do for yourself. Remember that the country to which you are going is the birthplace of your child. It will be nice to have good memories of your trip to share with your child as she/he grows up.

Here are some thoughts/suggestions from a mother who has adopted from China:

(1) Expect enormous obstacles to fall into your path.
(2) Expect to feel like everything is disintegrating.
(3) Expect to feel out of control.
(4) Stay calm.
(5) Be confident that everything will work out. Solutions WILL be found to all the enormous obstacles.
(6) The Chinese officials DO want the process to succeed.
(7) Treat your hosts with respect and appreciation.
(8) Do not exhibit anger and/or indignation.
(9) Do not be afraid of requesting the information and help you need.
(10) Understand that the Chinese love their children.
(11) Do not expect to meet your child in a calm and quiet environment.
(12) Try to ask all the questions you have about your child's history but do not expect to be able to ask or get answers to all the questions you may have about your child's history.
(13) You may bond with your child immediately.
(14) You may not bond with your child for days, weeks or even months.
(15) You WILL bond with your child.
(16) Be calm, follow your instincts and do not condemn yourself for any doubts you may have.
(17) Vent your fears and frustrations to your partner or to a close friend.
(18) Understand that you represent the parents who are yet to travel to China for their children.
(19) Don't drink the tap water. You CAN take showers without getting water into your mouth.
(20) The boiled water in the hotel thermos really is boiled and safe.
(21) Bring two Rubbermaid graduated quart bottles to cool it in and to mix formula.
(22) Bring mostly soy based formula for your baby.
(23) Snuglis, or any of the carry slings, are great for transporting your baby.
(24) The Chinese tend to swarm around you when you go out with your baby. Don't be afraid of letting them see the baby and don't be afraid of withdrawing her from view when you feel you must.
(25) If you have never been to China, expect it to be completely different from any place you have ever been.
(26) Keep your paper work in one organized packet. Put all new documents and photos in this packet. Take the packet with you whenever you must accomplish any official function. Keep this packet with you as much as possible.
(27) Always keep your and your child's passports on your person.
(28) Don't lose your sense of humor. Your hosts have a sense of humor too.
(29) Do not introduce politics into discussions.
(30) When leaving China, check your luggage through to the US if you are changing planes in Hong Kong, Beijing or Shanghai if the airline allows you to do this, for this will save you a lot of time.
(31) Ask other parents of children from China about their experiences. Be sure to speak to families who traveled to the same city as you and/or who have traveled during the same season.
(32) Expect this experience to be one of the most exciting of your life.
(33) Expect to be exhausted even before you receive your child. The emotional and psychological strain on this trip is enormous.
(34) Expect to be even more exhausted once you receive your child.
(35) Expect to play with your child and begin to establish your own routines with her/him from the very first minute you are together.
(36) Through trial and error make sure that the holes in your bottle nipples are large enough for a baby who is used to getting her formula rather quickly. (Some families choose to use the standard American nipple for they feel it is better for the baby’s speech in months to come.) Some babies are use to sugar added to their formula, so this is a question all families should ask the care giver.
(37) Don't use the pacifier because it may impede language development.
(38) The home recipe for pedialyte (used to counteract dehydration) is one level teaspoon of sugar and one pinch of salt in eight ounces of water.
(39) Bring antibiotics for your baby but do not administer them until you have consulted with a physician.
(40) Bring some food stuffs for yourself. Eating some meals in your hotel room makes life easier.
(41) Shop in the local stores in China. Find foods from China that you enjoy snacking on.
(42) Do not expect your American adoption agency or facilitator to meet all your needs or to tell you everything you need to know, they do their very best, sometimes you need to just figure it out yourself.
(43) If something goes wrong try to concentrate on how to move forward and solve the problem.
(44) Let go of trying to figure out who is to blame and who will pay for the mistake.
(45) If you are told your child is “shy”, the child may take a little longer to go through the grieving process. Give her time to grieve on her own. When she is ready to bond with you, she will.
(46) If you feel overwhelmed, upset, scared, worried, or anything else which makes you feel like something is going wrong with your adoption, please do not panic. Reach out to the other families in your group. Some of them may know exactly how you feel because they have gone through the process before or are feeling the same feelings that you are feeling. Families can provide emotional support for each other.
(47) The only real mistake is wasting energy on anything unnecessary to getting and then keeping your baby happy and healthy.
(48) By the time you return home you will feel as if you have been away for a lifetime.
“You have”.

Crazy

I realize things have been a little quiet on the blog, here. In case anybody is wondering about my silence, rest assured, I am busily moving toward our goal of bringing Pierce home. The last couple weeks have been a wild ride, though. I have had major computer problems. I have taken my computer to the techie guys about 5 times now, and I finally did a "system restore", which really only created a whole new set of issues to deal with. Oh, my.... Getting ready for a 10 week absence from work is no small thing, either. I do like to leave things in order. My house is a disgraceful mess and I don't want to leave it that way. And, oh yes, we're adding a whole new little person to our family!!!!! Frankly, I am getting so caught up in all the details (and the inability to deal with them that my computer is causing) that it is difficult to focus on the fact that little Jiang Yi Gong is about to become Pierce Yi Gong Horton! I have reached the point where I am reminded (once again) I simply cannot be the master of every detail and am turning this all over to the Lord--it is so good to know He IS in control when I feel I am not! This is soooo much bigger than me!

Leaving on a Jet Plane

I got a little surprise Monday night, late, after a busy day. As I routinely checked my e-mail, I opened one to find a flight itinerary with a request to confirm it that day. I guess I was thinking we were about a week away from this and was pretty blown away! The travel office was closed at this point. It would have to wait. A conversation with my brother Rick led to the disappointing confirmation of what I suspected: the dates wouldn't work, and, alas, he would not be able to join me as a traveling companion and support. My niece (his daughter), Claire, is getting married (actually its a wedding reception), so I suppose that takes precedence :) -- I guess I'm not going to make it (so sorry, Claire and Kevin!). Okay, I'm getting over it though, because I will have the best traveling companion of all--Jesus! And I am going to bring my precious little boy home--whatever it takes! I'll travel solo for a couple days in his province (Guilin and Yangshou), skipping the adoptive families' group cultural tour in Beijing (BTDT)then take the train down to Nanning where I will meet my group. I thought it would be much more meaningful to experience Pierce Yi's birth province. Believe it or not, after all my years living in China, I've never been to Guangxi Province!

October 7, bright and early, I will be boarding a plane--destination: CHINA!

Travel Approval!!

We got word on Friday that our travel approval (TA) is in! I realize this probably means nothing to many, but it is a very important milestone in the whole process of getting to China to adopt Pierce Yigong! The next step is getting our consulate appointments in Guangzhou set (should get word of this sometime this week or next), then we will book our airline tickets! This is pretty consuming. I've got my suitcases out and starting to pack. I'm still guessing it will be late October when we go, though, since there is a trade fair I hear in the first part of October that makes travel before then difficult.

There's a huge semi-annual sale of used children's items coming up in our area, so I have been busy all weekend preparing all our outgrown "girl stuff" to sell (and hopefully raise more funds!) on top of all my paperwork and checking to make sure our t's are crossed and our i's are dotted. I have to stop every once in awhile and remind myself to breathe deeply.

I'm thrilled that it is looking like my brother, Rick, will be able to join me in Guangxi Province, after taking care of some business in Beijing. This is a huge blessing to me, as I was willing to do this alone if I had to, but really wanted the company and support! He is much more game to travel than Bob is and Bob can concentrate on holding down the fort at home and taking care of Elizabeth. There are some beautiful sights in Guangxi Province and I'm looking forward to taking in Yigong's birthplace!

Big Sister Photo Fun

Here are some big sister pics from the last couple weeks!

Finding Ad

We recently received our son's finding ad. When a child is found in China, this is a step that is taken to reunite him with his birth parents. A picture and a brief description of his finding location and circumstances are included. A researcher named Brian Stuy (brianstuy@research-china.org) assisted us in finding it. This is likely the very earliest picture we will ever have to show him of his early life. He is estimated to be one year old. Will what happened before that date forever be a mystery? I can't know for sure. How I long to make up for the losses he has endured at such a tender age. May God help us to speak his love language and give him all he longs for and needs.

Funding the Adoption of Pierce Yigong

Adoption is expensive. All our initial expenses have been paid. However, we are facing almost $11,000 more in expenses to complete the adoption of our dear little boy! In addition to adoption expenses, I am taking unpaid "maternity" leave from work to stay home with Yigong as we all adjust, and facing uncertain medical expenses (though we do have insurance) to take care of Yigong. Its a huge financial undertaking. Our little guy has been waiting a long time in his short life for a forever family. We are not going to let finances stop us and we ultimately trust God to provide.

One asset we acquired in our days before children is a beautiful time share beach condo (1 bdrm.6/4 http://www.spafishermen.com/) at Fishermens Village in Playa del Carmen, Mexico (in the RCI network). We would like to offer each contributer of $25.00 or more a chance for a week there in 2009. Once we reach the close of this donation period (October 31) and have at least $800.00 collected (and I am home in the U.S.) we will randomly select a recipient.

We deeply appreciate your prayers and gifts to unite Pierce Yigong to us as a forever family!

The God of All Comfort

In this series of interviews with Dr. James Dobson, Steven Curtis Chapman shares about the loss of their 5 year old daughter, Maria Sue. I have always identified with their experience as adoptive parents of children from China, having a precious 5 year old blessing of a daughter of my own from China. How stunned I was to hear last May of the death of their little girl. I just couldn't imagine bearing such a loss and I have cried many tears from my mommy heart for this family. I praise God for the courage He has given them to share the hope and comfort they know in the midst of indescribable sorrow. What a great love God has shown us at the cross and what great hope we have in the resurrection!

Click here for the link to these interviews.

For an ABC story

Steven Curtis Chapman on Adoption

Steven Curtis Chapman is a Christian singer who, with his wife Mary Beth, has adopted three daughters from China. He has been a great advocate for adoption and articulates well the reasons for what we do. This title links to an interview with him on Focus on the Family.

Big Sister Starts Kindergarten

Big sister heads off for her first day of kindergarten!

Since she's now closer to me during the day than ever, I'm loving it!

The Journey to Jiang Yi Gong Begins

Our story is one of answered prayers, seeing God bring about the seemingly impossible. He is good. With the consent of my dear husband Bob, we began the paper chase to adopt a sibling for our daughter, herself a precious gift from God. We had heard her persistent prayers every night for longer than I can say. This was June 2006. We knew the wait was 12-14 months, longer than we had to wait for our daughter, but we were prepared. What we didn't realize was that wait would end up being years. This lengthening wait, however, was the time to be matched with a healthy infant. As I read more and more about the current situation in China and the needs there, something about the idea of our waiting for such a child when there were special needs children on waiting lists who needed a family now just didn't feel right to me. We prayed and thoughfully considered our strengths and limitations and one day, called our agency, Great Wall China Adoption. As Leigh Anne shared information about children on the list, one little boy got my attention. Up until that point we had pretty much assumed we were talking about a little sister. After all, we had to do something with her hand-me-downs!! I heard myself asking her if we could take a look at his file.... That was July 15.

God has such amazing little surprises for us as we walk on His paths. Did He actually have a little boy for us all along? The answer was becoming very apparent to me. As I read and re-read his reports, researching and trying to be rational and consider the worst possible scenarios, I found my heart filled with love for this little fellow. Love. That's what it came down to. We were to be God's provision of love and care for him. There is room in our hearts. I tried to give our little girl a good dose of reality (just in case she has concluded the world revolves around her needs--hee hee). When I got to the point of explaining how small he is, she, without missing a beat she piped in, exclaiming, "But, Mom, our God is Big!". That's right, my dear, our God IS big.

July 18 we submitted our letter of intent to adopt Jiang Yi Gong! Oh, my! It's really happening!

July 25 we received our pre-approval. Another step closer!

August 1 a care package was sent with prayers and kisses on its way to Yi Gong in China! Big Sister and I had fun picking out and stuffing a monkey at Build A Bear. When he squeezes the arm he'll hear us declaring our love for him in Chinese! We also included a little photo book with pictures of his family (that's US!) and a letter to his foster family.

August 15 our signed LSC (letter seeking confirmation) was on its way to China! We also decided to name him after Bob's father, Pierce. We're not completely sure about his middle name, but at this point, its Pierce Yi Gong Horton!

While Yi Gong sounds like a delightful little boy, the report we have gives us more questions than answers. The most obvious issue, deformed left hand and foot, is really the least of our concerns. He is 25 months old and, according to what is written, weighs only 18 lbs. (the doctor thinks this is malnourishment). There are other issues as well. Still, I feel confident this is the little fellow God has for us--He will equip us to meet his needs.

Now I await our travel approval and I can't wait to go get that sweet little guy and hold him in my arms! Since our daughter has just started kindergarten and the costs of the whole family going to China are so high, I will travel without them. Bob is not that fond of traveling anyway, and my daughter and I went to China on a volunteer/misson/heritage trip in summer 2007. Having lived in China for almost 5 years, and backpacked around the world, this should be no big deal, right? Uh, well...it is good to know that I am not in this alone!