All done and on our way

We spent yesterday seeing the Ming Tombs (the girls had to climb on every stone statue there and insisted I take pictures of each one - thank goodness for digital cameras!) and then to the Great Wall (we made it!).  Last night were major meltdowns for both girls.  Broke my heart not to be able to really talk with Guohua - all I could do was rub her back and tell her it would be ok and that we love her.  I know she misses her teachers and friends.  And now it is really final for her - we are leaving for America.  It must be so frightening.  Eventually, the tears ended, we had thumb wars, tickled and laughed.  I got a big hug good night so I think she is ok with everything.  And the girls reconciled and were laughing together too.  This morning, Guohua called the orphanage and seemed really happy afterwards.

For the morning we were on our own but managed to find the subway and see the Temple of Heaven and the Olympic Park.  Of course we  walked the wrong way to and from the subway stop at the Temple of Heaven so probably walked 45 minutes around the outside of the Temple that we didn't have to but we did get there.   You can't get in the Olympic stadiums yet, but we could walk along the outer edge and had a great view.  It was pretty cool to see.

Now we are grabbing some lunch and then to the airport.   This has been a good time to share as a family - seeing some things on fairly neutral territory.  I think both girls will have a lot of good memories.  We'll be home soon to start the real adventure of everyday life.

Thanks so much to everyone for their prayers and support!  God has really watched over us.  We have seen other families struggling with their new older daughters, so we are so thankful that we have enjoyed being together so much and Guohua is doing so well.

We'll arrive at Dulles on United around 8 PM.  See you soon!

Best Tickle Fight ever

Well, the walk in Beihai Park was a bit wet - ok really wet.  Even in the rain, the park was beautiful.  The guide seemed unfazed by the rain, as were we (no we are not sweet enough to melt).  Of course, Anna didn't get the umbrella she wanted and the guide was shocked that we didn't just make Guohua change with her (he later congratulated me when Anna started using her umbrella and gave it up - tho he had to listen to the very long complaints first :-)  Not like China at all he said.  

But back at the hotel, the girls all changed and got warm by jumping in the bed.  Guohua snuggled right in with me and for a moment, peace reigned.  But then, she just couldn't help it.  She started to tickle me.  And then Anna, and soon all three of us were giggling and tickling in a heap on this huge bed.  Honestly, I haven't laughed that hard in a long time.   

First day in Beijing

We spent our first day in Beijing seeing Tianemen Square, the Forbidden City, Jingshen Park and then Beihai Park.  We have a very animated guy as our guide this time.  The girls had been worried about not having a girl guide, but I think he has won them over.  He and Guohua have talked quite a bit.  She told him she knew a girl that had turned 18 and left the orphanage and ended up in Beijing - but as a prostitute.  Sad but clearly she understands what can happen.  But their other conversations seem to be pretty upbeat.  He says she is very clever - knows the Qing Dynasty history quite well and was pretty knowledgeable as we went thru the Forbidden City.  Both he and the driver are pretty taken and impressed with her.  She is really figuring out ways to communicate with us with some English and lots of acting and playing.  And though she and I walk arm in arm everywhere,  she is getting much more comfortable with Bob now too.  The guide did explain she could say Mom and Dad instead of Mother and Father, so she is experimenting with that now.  And whenever we ride somewhere, she just lays her head on my shoulder and catnaps.  A small taste of heaven for me.

Eric is on his way home

The sad part of that statement is that he left at 5 am this morning and it is almost 9 pm here and he is still flying.  He will be enroute for almost 24 hours which is about as bad as it can get.  We flew in to Beijing last night and then he and I hopped on the subway to go over to Chen Qiang's house (and since I am in the hotel lobby and have no memory, I may have just butchered her name).  She is a friend of Yingzhe's that let Eric stay with her off and on for 2 weeks.  He had left some of his luggage with her and we went to pick it up.  What a delightful woman!  We sat and she and Eric just chatted away.  I was so happy to have a chance to meet her and thank her for her great kindness and hospitality.  I hope she comes to visit us soon so we can return the favor.

So we'll miss our Beijing expert and resident translator for a while - he was an incredible blessing!

Truce

So there is supposed to be this picture of Guohua and Anna sleeping together under a table in Guilin - but since I can't upload, you'll have to use your imagination.  Anna is starting to really feel the pain of a bit of competition as well as the a big sister who likes to tease.  She's not entirely sure this 4 children thing was quite a good idea.  She's trying hard, but sometimes, it's all just a bit overwhelming.  But late the other night, the two of them found extra pillows and a blanket and mad a tent out of the table and 'camped out' all snuggled together. 

Eating may not be a problem

Well, for the first week, she ate almost exclusively sweet stuff at breakfast.  But she has started to eat a few more healthy things so I'm thinking maybe she thought she might not have the opportunity again.  But Guohua seems pretty willing to try anything.  One day, she walked into my room holding a peanutbutter and jelly sandwich - with some cheese potato sticks thrown in for good measure.  She's ordered a steak (had to show her how to use a knife) and qesadillas at a restaurant.  Likes pizza too and yoghurt is a staple.  When I asked her to get something at the grocery store for dinner, she made a beeline for French Bread.  Though she eats more fried rice than anyone I know and she like dark vinegar on everything, I think she'll find plenty she likes at home!  She did buy a cook book in Harbin - though it's in Chinese so she'll be on her own there.

Impressions of Liu...hmm I don't remember

We went to an evening outdoor show staged partially by the same guy who directed the Olympic opening ceremony.  The guide said this was the "grandfather" of that show.  There are 5 major minority groups in the Yangshou area and their different traditions were woven together in a show that was staged literally on the river.  There were over 600 performers - many on boats showing different aspects of life along the Li River and the surrounding mountains.  The costumes were beautiful but much of the effect was created by the number of people standing in lines and moving around in synchronized routines.  It was a beautiful production that the girls really enjoyed - and I think gave them a good view into the diversity and beauty of some Chinese traditions.  

From Guilin to Yangshuo

We took a boat down the Li River - the scenery was just gorgeous.  The hills just never stop.  Course I'm writing this from Beijing now and Eric has gone along with his computer, so no pictures.  It was a 4 hour trip that was just stunning though I have to admit at some point, the girls just sat in their chairs and dozed a bit.  We were seated with an Australian couple who were great company but most of the time we were outside on deck just watching small village and hundreds if not thousands of small irregular hills go by in a dreamy sort of haze.  The fisherman came up to our boat as it travelled and delivered the fish needed for lunch, others on bamboo boats came up selling stuff as we continued.  There were water buffalo in and out of the water.  It was everything you see in pictures about southern China landscapes.  

We got to Yangshuo in the afternoon and walked thru the marketplace which was just bustling.  Then out to see the Silver Cave.  We were a bit hesitant to go as we certainly had seen caves before, but this one was enormous.  It just went on and on spiraling from the bottom to the top.  I don't think Guohua had ever seen anything like it so it was fun to discover together.

Guilin Pictures

A Day in Guilin

We arrived last night and in the dark, we immediately noticed all the electric bikes. Everyone is riding them everywhere - whole new traffic pattern. This morning we got up and went to the central hill in the city. These limestone hills just pop up throughout the city with houses and shops built up against them. We climbed up Decai Hill and and had a wonderful view of the city and rivers. At the bottom is a university and art school where the old royal compound used to be. The girls had a teacher show them how to make the landscape paintings so famous in Guilin. Guohua and Anna really enjoyed that despite the heat. We then went outside the city to the Yao Mountain - the highest in the area that allowed us a 360 view. We took cable cars up and then there was a ‘sled’ we took down that rode a slide. They wouldn’t let us go too fast though - I think the tour guide really wanted us to take the cable car down and was a little worried about danger so the operator went first. That was fine with Guohua - she was nervous when I started going fast that I would hit her. But she had a wonderful time.

She had a lot more questions about what she was seeing too. I think she seems more comfortable and more and more able to enjoy herself. She is really starting to try a little more English and tonight we had fun playing cards all together. She's been much more shy with Bob keeping him at a distance, but tonight she was even laughing and giggling with him.

Last impressions of Guangzhou

Fan dancing in the morning, Wedding photos (we saw 3 different couples one afternoon) Shopping on the 'walking street', Water beetles and everything else to eat, Parks everywhere (gardeners make some of the best salaries) boats and hotels on the Pearl River lit up at night,

"Congratulations!"

After hanging out at the hotel pool for the morning, we set off for the US Consulate. We saw alot of the same people we had seen at the medical examination on Saturday and at the White Swan the rest of the week. 40 families in all. The Consulate Rep came out and gave us some facts and figures - probably 15 different states, all kinds of professions represented in the families. And some families on their 11th child! There were two sets of twins (boys and girls). And finally, we raised our right hands and said Yes,we promise, and there it was done. The rep said "Congratulations!". We were official. It was quick, but still got tears in my eyes.

Paperwork is Good!

Poor Guohua - had to have 4 shots today. But she weathered them well and now is off swimming with Bob and Anna. We got the call today that the consulate appointment went well so all is official. Tomorrow we do the ceremony! God has worked out everything so well. It is so interesting with an older child. Guohua is not just along for the ride or responding to gentle words as a baby might. She is making choices every day to take steps toward us, to let us love her and to love us. To choose to be happy even while she misses her friends, to try new things and see new places, to build family memories with us.

Guangzhou Zoo

We had a lot of fun at the zoo today. At the entrance were lots of birds - and we had to stop and take pictures of every one. Girls with cameras get to feel pretty inspired. But soon we came to the monkeys where for 10RMB we got to go in the monkey area and feed them sunflower seeds. The monkeys would just take them from our hands. The girls loved it - though a little surprised when we had them climb on our shoulders! We got a great view of the Panda and then had lots of fun in a fountain area. I know, it was really for little kids running around in their underwear, but who could resist on such a hot day? Guohua, Anna and I had a great water fight and even got Crystal to come join us.

And tonight as we walked out to dinner, Guohua was holding my hand and walking arm in arm with me :-)

Monday - Medical Examination today

Though it was a holiday here today (first three day weekend for the Moon Festival), the American Consulate medical center was open so off we went first thing. We got in very quickly. Course they generally are seeing small children so when Guohua had to lay down on the table so they could check her abdomen, her legs really didn’t fit - her head was against the wall- we were laughing. The doctor said she thinks she’ll get to 1.7 m. The bad news is that we don’t have a full date on the abandonment certificate so the guide was making calls back to Mudanjiang trying to track it down and get a new notarized copy. And we don’t have her vaccination record so she is going to have to get more immunizations - she is definitely not happy about that! We’ll see how many tomorrow morning early. All a little tight since our consulate appointment is tomorrow around 11 am. We’re praying all goes well - the guide is a little nervous.

The Moon Festival

We spent most of the afternoon - and I mean hours - in the pool. This was Guohua’s first time swimming. Originally, she wasn’t going to go, but after a short time in the pool, she didn’t want to leave so we stayed and stayed. I have never been so wrinkled in my life! It was great fun though. I gave her piggy-back rides and helped her float. At first she was nervous just walking in the water as it is all up to her chin. So I just held her, or gave her rides. It was a great excuse for her to just hold on to me. I even got a kiss. Course Anna was not to be outdone, so I had two girls hanging on me - more like mauling me. We had a wonderful time.

Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival or the Moon Festival. At one time, when girls were kept more separate, this festival was a chance for them to get out and actually meet some boys. But now is it is more a family harvest holiday - which was perfect for celebrating our first week together with Guohua. We bought some lanterns that hold little candles in them and then walked around Shamian Island a bit and stood along the river with many others watching the moon. The river has many buildings lit up and boats shining with laser lights so very colorful. Afterwards, we came back and had tea and mooncakes (Crystal bought us some great ones!). Later, Guohua started watching the movie Esther - how cool is that? so we all sat and watched it. Now finally off to bed

The White Swan

We are staying in the White Swan hotel, used by so many adopting families that it has been dubbed the White Stork. We haven’t stayed here before but we are loving it. The breakfast is very good, there is a waterfall in the lobby, there are two pools - one right on the river. At night everything is lit up on the river - just beautiful. Guohua is curious about all the ‘foreigners and babies here”. Her orphanage really did not have may children adopted out - she seems pretty surprised.

The location on Shamian Island is really nice. We just walk a block a we are in the middle of a beautiful park-like area where people are out playing badminton and shuttlecock and lighting lanterns. Stores are open late for browsing as well. It’s really peaceful and quiet after the downtown of Harbin. We did buy a couple of shuttlecocks - Eric has gotten pretty good with it over the summer and Guohua can hold her own. Anna and Guohua ended up throwing two at a time at Eric. They had a great time. Course, Guohua continually threw hers up in a tree. Amazingly, mom was right, it did get stuck up there and no she could not shake it out of a tree with a 2 foot wide trunk :-)

Sunday - Temples today

We went to the Six Banyan Tree Buddhist Temple today. Quite an ancient one with a 17 story pagoda. There were many people there today - the 15th of the month is apparently a busy day, plus the moon festival is today. There are 3 huge gold Buddha’s there - each representing past, present and future to remind people that what you do in the past impacts your future so live your present wisely. Our guide told us many people have their children blessed by the monks there. We were not looking to do that, and honestly, Guohua had never been to a Buddhist temple either. Not surprising that a state-run orphanage is not teaching Buddhism to the children. At the temple there was a lot of incense burning and there were turtles bought at the market that were going to be set free in honor of the Mid-autumn Festival (Moon Festival).

We also went to the Chen Family Clan Academy. We had been there 6 years ago - but it was much changed. There are more exhibits about life in earlier Guangzhou. The architecture in Guangzhou is an interesting mix of European and Asia as people from this area immigrated to the US and came back fairly early. Course, I think the porcelain pillows were strictly Chinese!

Family concepts

Crystal is also helping us to remind Guohua that she is part of family now and doesn’t need to walk alone. She told her she needs to think of the whole family - like don’t hop on the airport bus without mom and dad (as I’m running and shouting for them to open the doors) or get on the elevator where there is not enough room or cross the street as the light changes and half are left on the other side. She’s getting there - I tease her and waive “bye” if she gets too far ahead. She’s really quite tall so sometimes you forget she is only 12. But you can see the little girl in her come out in all the teasing and racing with Anna, the silly faces she makes, the trying to be grown up, but needing hugs. She is a always up for adventure. And I have gotten my first real I love you.

Saturday - in Guangzhou

We are now in Guangzhou doing the US part of the paperwork. It is SO hot. Harbin was perfect - 70s and 80s, here is it is 88 at night in the upper 90s during the days! Guohua is wilting being really unaccustomed to the heat. And she’s a little surprised by the number of people -particularly all the children. Course, even Harbin is crowded by my standards but Guangzhou is a press of people.



We have a wonderful guide named Crystal who takes us everywhere and is very knowledgeable. The medical center was closed on Saturday, so we went to the “pedestrian street” here. It was much less refined and much more colorful than Beijing or Harbin. Here they really do eat the scorpions. There was a guy dressed up like a chicken selling dried olives, and in general streets just pulsing with people. We ate at a dimsum restaurant which was fun - though they tucked us off in a separate room. Funny, we’ve been asked a couple of times if we mind the crowds and all the chinese people around us - seems an odd question since half our children are Chinese. Course the dimsum here looked a little different than at home. I haven’t seen fried chicken feet or preserved egg baozi in the US. But all in all, good. We also went to a beautiful park - the girls were not as impressed but made up for it running around chasing each other and rolling water bottles across the sidewalks and wearing lily pad hats. Crystal said (though not critically) in China people don’t let their girls run so much. I’m thinking good thing both of mine are ending up in the US then, neither is much for sitting still!

Impressions of Harbin

Street Vendors, Mooncake sales at our hotel, St. Sophia's Church (now museum), top of the Dragon Tower, Advertisement at the Russian Restaurant, Cosmetologists exercising, Topiary at Sun Island.  

An aside on Anna

One of the things I really wanted from this trip is for Anna to have memories of herself in China - to feel comfortable and happy here. Probably a tall order for a seven year old, but between having a sister here making it special and the kindness of others, she really seems to be enjoying it. She's slowly getting a little more adventurous in her eating, getting used to all the people and the noise of the city and noticing some of the differences in habits (they throw trash on the ground, but have street cleaners, they have recycling guys go down the street beating on a plastic pail to get attention). The Lord has also given us some fun opportunities for her to be one of the kids. Yesterday our driver's son spent the day with us and today Anna was just one of the kids feeding the birds.

Dancing

Guohua told our guide Lynne that it was a good thing she was with us since she remembered where our hotel was and told the cab driver so we got home. I laughed, we of course had the hotel address and would have made it back but Guohua is busy not only being helpful, but sometimes almost trying to be in charge. She calls the waitress over, she leads the way when we walk, she tries to fix everything. She walks far ahead - and doesn't look back to see if we're there. She charges forward as if on a mission, but isn't used to a family that she is part of. She resists walking side by side arm in arm - unless its Anna she is playing with and caring for. She won't participate in decisions for things for her - even to buy a dictionary she can use. And then there are moments when she does come and just enjoy the moment with us all: blowing bubbles, putting her feet in the water, running around the park. And she'll come and check on me every few minutes in the hotel rooms if I'm with her. We spent an hour or more doing alphabet and simple reading - she did pretty well getting thru a level 1 book even sounding out some words.

She told Lynne that she had to be very independent - she knew that at 18 there was no place for her in the orphanage. If she didn't get into a government college (she would have to pass many difficult tests and compete with other children that go to special classes for months), she would have to have a job. Her sense is that if she is helpful, the orphanage might have helped her get training in a trade...and this from a 12-year old.

So what does family mean when you have so little experience to understand that a mother and father are competent and will care for you? That your future is forever with them? That you can relax? I know there is lots of work ahead and probably some wearying moments but on the other hand I've already made the transition...this is my child and worth every moment.

Tiger Park

Today we went to the Tiger Park which is really a large fenced area where we sit in buses and the tigers roam around - though a stretch to say it was very much like the wild.  But we ended up having a great time.  The tigers really did come close to the bus - one's tail whipped thru the barred window splattering Guohua and I with water (it was raining lightly).  There were quite a lot.  There was also a pedestrian walkway where you actually feed raw meat (or a live chicken) to the tigers - they jumped up and grabbed the meat.  What was funny was one of them just started watching Guohua and then walking along as she moved down the corridor.  Soon, she had them all following her around back and forth.  May have been the yellow rain poncho - maybe they thought she was some exotic dish.  But really, they seemed to like her!   Then someone else did pay for a chicken...ok no details there.

Walking down Central Street and Stalin Park (the old Russian sector)

Now the fun begins

Little by little we are discovering a little bit about this child who is now part of our family.  She is a bit mischievous teasing and playing with Anna.  She is trying her best to helpful - orders all our food for us at the restaurants, makes sure the cab knows where to go (though fortunately Eric is there to catch her mistakes).  I've gotten bunches of "Moms" and a few spontaneous hugs.  She was prancing around in the clothes we brought and pretending to smoke Pocky (stick confection).  She blew bubbles in the park and was excited to put her feet in the river.  She bounces around our room chasing Anna and is quite protective of her when we are out - they walk holding hands everywhere.   She is just starting to try English a little;  She definitely has a sweet tooth.

And there are the curious things.  She walks really fast while we are trying to meander through the town taking in the sights, she bought a pair of sneakers that I am fairly certain are too small, she says she doesn't need socks, she worried needlessly about the rain that never came and thought we should go back to the hotel.  She washed all her clothes and hung them to dry then washes her feet every chance she gets.  She watches TV that I find a bit bizarre - Chinese graphic historical shows that are overlaid with slapstick.

So life is not always smooth

So the day started eventfully- Anna and I were up I'm guessing by 3 or so and she never went back to sleep, so neither did I.  Then Bob couldn't find his passport.  We searched but had to leave for the Adoption Affairs Office stopping at two of the stores he went to last night to check if it had been found.  When we tried to eat breakfast, an overzealous hostess wanted us to pay again.  And when Guohua tried on clothes, half of them were too small.  She's grown even taller in the last 9 months.  In the end - all were resolved.  We did get breakfast (only because I had the managers card due to a room mix up the day before making the hostess sufficiently unsure of what to do) but had to eat it in about 10 minutes,  Bob did find his passport, and Anna eventually had a meltdown but overall made it thru better than I expected.  And the tall thing - just an excuse for a shopping trip!

 Today was for filling out all the paperwork.  Guohua saw her teachers for the last time.  When they walked out, I just held her as she cried for a few minutes.  Since she is over ten, she does have to fill out some paperwork as well stating that she does want to be adopted.   Through her tears she did write out her piece and listened to all the advice everyone was giving her.  At first I thought they were lecturing her, but Lynne and Eric interpreted - they were telling her  she was going to have a wonderful life with opportunities, a mother and father who would love her as dearly as a biological child, and to not let negative thoughts or fears stop her from opening her heart to a family's love.  And they genuinely wanted to make sure this is what she wanted letting her know she can stay in touch with calls and email.   What a lot for a young girl to take in and how brave she is for opting for such an enormous change! 

A walk in the Park

Once we left the Adoption Affairs office, we headed to the Carrefoure to get a few supplies.  Course we didn't realize we would be shopping so were a bit short on cash.  But we got a few of Guohua's favorite foods, picked up a jacket for her and I hit a bonanza on books that she will be able to read (and share with you GuoYuan!).  

Once at the hotel, we walked around the downtown area.  There are a hundred people selling things on the side of the street making for a colorful tapestry as you walk along.  The traffic here is just as I remember it in Beijing 6 years ago - crazy as bicycles, cars and pedestrians vie for the right of way.  We stopped along the way for lunch (do you know how handy it is to have a son and a daughter who speak Chinese?)  It was delicious and cost just a couple of dollars a piece.  We continued on and went into the Children's Park.  It is a mixture of an old amusement park and walking area. Not very crowded - you just pay as you go.  The girls were laughing on the merry go round and the octopus and swings.  But it was the bumper cars where we were all just laughing and couldn't stop.  We walked by many groups of older men playing cards or go and then the two girls were hanging on parallel bars and flipping around.  Anna was really good - Guohua was trying to keep up climbing up on them too.

By the time we got home, we were seeing lots of smiles.  Anna is in little sister heaven - she just plops in Guohua's lap and hugs her telling her that she loves her.  The two of them were playing hide and seek in the hotel room and tackling and tickling.  Guohua mixed us up dinner (some type of Ramen noodles in a bowl we got at the store) and seems to be doing well.  It is just so amazing to take the first steps into family.  I'll put up a few of these pictures if I can convince Eric he can part with his intellectual property!

We have a daughter and a few tears

So sleep was a bit hard to come by last night. Mostly we sat up late and didn't realize that the sun comes up around 4:45.  By five, the room was light and I was wide awake.  One of those facts in China - it is all one time zone.  So it's light early, but dark by 6:30 in this part of the country.  Doesn't slow anyone down.  The horns are beeping loudly out my window right now and a whole other set of markets is setting up with people everywhere.

We met Lynne at 9 am and headed to the Adoption Office.  As we sat at a table, Guohua came in accompanied by several of her teachers.  She was clearly in tears - my heart just went out to her.  They said she wants to be adopted, but it is hard to leave her friends and teachers as she was there for so many years.  They were trying to comfort her and encourage her.  We sat and were able to ask a number of questions about her early life(she was fostered as a baby and then came to the Old folks home at around 3 and then to the orphanage around 6), her school (she attends public school and like art, reading, traditional Chinese poetry, is excellent in calligraphy) hobbies (she likes to run, wants to learn piano, likes to sing) and habits (seems like they always say the girls are a little stubborn).  The adoption affairs official clearly enjoyed talking to Eric - had him translating for Bob as she asked us a bunch of questions too.

Guohua came over to sit with us and I was finally able to give her a big hug and just hold her while she cried a little.  Soon she was starting to smile with Anna and play a little with her.  By the time we left no tears and a couple of smiles.

We've arrived in Harbin

We had a lazy morning in Beijing.  Unfortunately we had to check at 12 so they came to pick us up to take us to the airport at noon for a 5 pm flight.  Given the rain and not too much time, we just read and watched TV.   Then hopped in the van for the airport.  Just as we parked, someone totally misjudged and ran into the back of the van - fortunately the back door still opened and no one was hurt.  Then we just hung out at the airport - so exciting!  Actually was better than I thought.  And finally we were flying north to Heilongjiang.   

On arriving, we didn't see anyone with a sign for us but then this woman approached us with a sign that said Mr and Mrs Arthur King - clearly not us.  But turns out the name was wrong and she was looking for us.  Even better, she is the same guide that my sister had a year ago and has met both my niece and my daughter.  (Cheryl - Lynne says hello)  She was really happy to hear about GuoYuan at home.

So now, we get up tomorrow and leave at 9 am to meet GuoHua!  A bit unbelievable at the moment.  I have to admit I was hit with a bit of panic as we flew in - what in the world were we thinking that we could bring a 12 year old home and figure out how to help her adjust to America, and English and find all new friends?  yikes!  And I am just as sure she is nervous too.  But in the end, I am certain that God has lead us all down this path and He will help us grow into a family.  We are so excited - I wonder how much sleep we will get?

One day in Beijing

We got to the hotel just in time to meet Eric at 3:00.  Really fun to see him after almost 3 months.  We stayed in the downtown area of Beijing not too far from Tianneman Square.  We went down a block to the "walking street" (all blocked off to traffic).  There was a beautiful 6 story mall there - much nicer than any I was in last time.  We walked further down to the night market where you buy almost anything on a stick you want to eat - barbecued  pork, silk worms, sea urchins, snake, scorpion, candied fruit,  lizards, all in all quite the gourmet offering!  We had a much tamer dinner at one of the local restaurants earlier so were just too full to eat anything else however tempting  :-)

We also went to the Official Olympic store.  It has tons of 'stuff' - I'm sure we'll go back when we return to Beijing in two weeks.  It's cool to be here while the Paralympics are starting.  We saw people checking in at the airport and the hotel.   Eric says all the banners and signs in the city changed overnight from the Olympics to the Paralympics.  We watched the opening ceremony on TV but were able to see some of the fireworks from our hotel window!  I have to admit we fell asleep during some of the athletes marching in, but we saw most of the rest - much of which were hundreds of deaf 'sign dancers'.  they used their hands to mimic flying birds as well as portraying the music.

We woke up around 4 am to a huge thunder and lightening storm.  Bob and Anna never went back to sleep - they stayed up and watched TV til daylight.

We made it!

After momentary panic when it was announced that the movie/TV was not going to be available (read how do entertain Anna for 13 hours in a plane) all went well.  Anna actually did great finding things to do and we even were seated next to another couple with a 10-year old on their way to adopt a second child.  Soon Anna and Shaelynn were playing and giggling.    Also helped that the plane was not full so we were able to move around and stretch out a bit.

It's fascinating to think of where we were as we followed the sun west.  We were flying over the Arctic and down thru Russia.  We could see the completely white mountains of ice and snow shining in the sun.  And we gained a day in the process.   We touched down in the new airport in Beijing, found our luggage (unlike the other couple we sat with) and found our guide.  All in all - a non-stressful beginning. 

It's here!

The day we are leaving has finally arrived - ok it's in the middle of the night, but it is the 5th and we leave for Beijing just after noon. We have a direct flight so it will only be 13 or so hours (better than the 18 hours last time!) But the time difference is 12 hours so we won’t arrive til Saturday afternoon. We’re going to meet up with Eric (who has been studying Chinese there all summer) and then on Sunday, we will all fly to Harbin, the capital of the Heilongjiang Province. Monday morning we will meet GuoHua and start the adoption process. We’ll spend all week in Harbin and at the end, the adoption will be final in China.

On Friday the 12th, we will fly to Guangzhou where the US Consulate is located to take care of the American paperwork. The Moon Festival is on Monday so is a holiday – we may go to the zoo. But on the next day we will be able to pick up GuoHua’s visa. Having been there before in August – it is very hot and crowded. But a really pleasant city.

Since this is both girl’s first real trip around China (other than their hometowns), we have planned to do a little bit of traveling so they can see some of the beautiful sights in their birth country and we can spend a little bit of time together as a family building some of our first memories.

Our first stop will be in Guilin – in southern China and known for it’s beauty. We will take a boat ride down the Li River and stay in the small town of Yangshuo for a day. Then we’ll fly back up to Beijing and see the places of history there – the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Ming Tombs. Then we will be returning to Dulles on Tuesday September 23rd, at 7:56 PM.

What’s been happening lately …

We received our Travel Approval Letter from China on August 18th, a week earlier than we expected – and that turned out to be important because a few days later all the consulate appointments in the month of September were booked. So instead of traveling in October, we were able to get an appointment for September 16th. Working back from that date, we’ve been making lots of phone calls and getting travel arrangements finalized.

That also means that it was close enough from Eric's last day of school in Beijing, that he decided to stay there to meet us rather than coming straight home. A good friend helped us find him a place to stay the extra time - a real blessing from the Lord. I'm excited that Anna and Eric will be there with us to greet Guohua. Brian isn't able to come this time - jsut starting his senior year, 3 weeks was just too much to miss. But he'll be doing some world travel soon as well - he is planning a missions trip in October to Slovakia and Romania with school.

Day to day life

There is a great blog that another family put together that talks a little about life in China. Though this may not all apply to Guohua, I thought these might be interesting for some of Anna and Guohua's classmates:

School at a welfare institute
http://blessedwithkatie.blogspot.com/2008/02/school-in-china.html
http://blessedwithkatie.blogspot.com/2008/02/school-culture-in-china.html

Language
http://blessedwithkatie.blogspot.com/2008/02/how-in-world-will-she-learn-to-speak.html
http://blessedwithkatie.blogspot.com/2008/02/language-info-for-teachers.html

Customs
http://blessedwithkatie.blogspot.com/2008/02/chinese-customs-and-cultural.html

GuoHua turned 12 in June

We sent a couple of packages to GuoHua. My favorite was a book called on the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman (2006:Darling Press). A dear friend translated this into Chinese and then we sent it off for her birthday on June 7. The book starts…

On the night you were born,
The moon smiled with such wonder
That the stars peeked in to see you
and the night wind whispered,
“Life will never be the same.”
Because there had never been anyone like you
ever in the world.

This just sent my mind thinking about the preciousness of every child created to reflect the glory of God. Every one cherished by the Father. I do pray that the wonder and truth of her value will truly fill her heart one day as she comes to understand Him.

What's in a Name?

In Chinese, the last name actually comes first. GuoHua’s last name is Ning and means "peaceful". GuoHua means “national flower” and is pronounced like Gwo Hwah. It looks like this in Chinese: 宁国 华

Just as we did for every child that comes into our family, we will give her an English name too as our gift to her. But her name is a pretty important part of her so we’ll be talking to her about what she wants to be called before making anything final.

Sometimes in China, the first part of the first name is a generational name. We’re not sure if that is the case with Guohua but we do know she has the same first character as her cousin GuoYuan.

A few more pictures

These pictures all came from my niece before she came to America about a year ago. We won't get to go to the CWI when we pick up GuoHua - it is several hours from the Province capital of Harbin where all the official paperwork is done. So these photos are really treasures.

Hopefully, GuoHua will have received the cameras we sent so we can add some more pictures to her album.





I should also mention that Mudanjiang is a pretty big city - 2.83 million live there!

Where is GuoHua now?

She lives in Heilongjiang Province in Northeastern China near Russia and Korea. It is very cold there in the winter– if you’ve seen pictures of the Ice Festival where they make houses and lampposts out of ice – this is the place. She lives in the city of Mudanjiang. Mudanjiang has a temperate monsoon climate with an annual average temperature of 3.5oC and 126 frost-free days (Think about it)

In the summer, it is very pleasant and a place many people come to vacation in as there are some beautiful lakes nearby.

For the last 7 years, she has been in the Children’s Welfare Institute there. Here are some pictures. Guohua is in the orange, Guoyuan is in pink shirt.

There are several hundred children who live here from small babies and including children in high school. There are many kind teachers and helpers who care for the children. All the children attend school. GuoHua also is tutored in English once a week.