three single guys plus 12 years =

Today I am so excited to share this crazy fun story - 

Twelve years ago Matt shared a super small apartment with two guys who became great friends: Matt and Jeff (yes, two Matts in one apartment). 

Jeff married Rebecca (a girl with North Dakota ties!), and we've seen them consistently over the years, though they live about three hours by plane from us.  They have three precious children. 

The "other Matt" married Jill (we were at their wedding!), they have four beautiful children, live in another province and visited us just six months ago.  

And (follow this carefully now!) ....  Jeff and Rebecca will be in Henan with us - both of us adopting little boys, from the same province, staying in the same hotel, with the exact same Gotcha Day.  [Their newest addition, Isaac, is their second adoption.  Four children and only 21 months separating the oldest and the youngest... such an amazing story of how the Lord has created their family!]

Aaaaannnnnnndddddd, Jill will be there too!  Months ago we started dreaming that maybe their family could be part of our Gotcha day.  Jill is leaving her husband and children for two days to come and serve us: with lots of photo-taking and also helping out with Luke (!!!) and just bringing joy and friendship and encouragement (which she does so very very well). 

All these details - especially that Jeff and Rebecca will be there at the exact same time - all came together today!  (The "Jill plan" has been on the horizon for a while!)

To think this - that we will be there TOGETHER - is just an unbelievably sweet gift to our family. 

So the short version is this: 12 years ago three single guys following Jesus and loving this country shared a couple hundred square feet.  And now, each of them with wives, and children (13 between our three families) - and brought together for such a sweet significant event!  

Next week at Gotcha Day we'll be missing some (Jill's husband Matt, and their four children, our biggest three also not there).  But oh I am already dreaming of the day we will all be together - laughing and playing and talking and dreaming and praising the Lord for all that He has done in each of our families!

Is that not so amazing?   

I don't know

Ok, I'm starting to feel a little panicky about John Paul. 

Excited.  Ready.  And also a lot of "can I really do this?" 

I feel like my answer to just about every question is "I don't know.".  This is not my favorite answer.

Q: When will he arrive on Monday?
A: I don't know.

Q: Will he stay with his foster family til Monday morning?
A: I don't know.

Q: Will he scream and cry and grieve and be confused and thrash and wail and cry out for his foster Mom for hours or for days?
A: I don't know.

Q: How will I react to this kind of grief from a child I don't know?
A: I don't know.

Q: Will we meet his foster family?
A: I don't know.

Q: Can we visit his finding place? (ie where he was abandoned)
A: I don't know.

Q: Will size 18 month clothes fit John Paul?
A: I don't know.

Q: Is he potty-trained?
A: I don't know.

Q: Has he ever seen a foreigner before?
A: I don't know.

Q: How do I feed a child with a cleft palate?
A: I don't know.

All the "I don't know-ing" kept me up last night.  And then my Luke woke me a few more times (really Luke?  is this a good time to start bad night sleep patterns?)

So what do I do? 

Focus on what I do know. 

Jesus. 

a ball in the grass

The most interesting things come out of Granddaddy's suitcases.  They've been slowly trickling into the house... one day he showed up with a box of Honey Nut Cheerios (lifespan: 3 days and the box was E-M-P-T-Y!), another day he arrived with peanut butter nabs.

Friday it was a yard ball. Possibly a bigger hit than the Cheerios.

 

After two hours of sweat-drenched outdoor play the troops were exhausted.  Happy and exhausted. 

And probably wondering what else Granddaddy had in his suitcase :) 

sneaking up? not quite

Dad loves to capture moments with his camera.  Last week I dropped Dad and the big three at IKEA while I took Luke for his four month shots.  I like to say "we don't sneak up on people" and Dad got a few photos that capture that exact effect. 

(Can you count how many people are watching Lydia?)

And here.... how many are taking Lydia's photo - see her flip flops sticking out of the red chair?   At this point Isaac has tired of the paparazzi and is hiding in the blue chair.

I tolerate this whole shebang fairly well about 20 percent of the time.  Which is better than never, but still a long way from a consistently gracious and loving attitude towards this culture. 

One day, years from now, I'll travel a little less noticed, a little less photographed, a little less paparazzi style.  Until then, I'm resigned that we'll never "sneak up on anyone" :)

August 6th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We just found out today - our Travel Approval is on the way and we'll get John Paul August 6th!!!!

The timing could not be more perfect.  My mom arrives August 3rd.  We (Matt and me, and Luke) fly on Sunday August 5th and meet John Paul on Monday.  We'll all four come back home on Wednesday August 8th. 

Mom and Dad will keep the big three while we are gone.  

John Paul will arrive home one week early for Lydia's birthday party.  Hopefully after seven full days of big family love (and big family chaos - ha!) he'll be in the mood for some birthday cake :) 

More later, I'm off to look at flights, hotels, and think about packing for a little boy! 

when?

Anyone know when we're gonna go get our John Paul?

Nope? 

Neither do I!  But I do know we are in the final wait.  And once we get our Travel Approval from China we'll be moving as quick as we can to book flights and go get our little guy.  I think our chances of bringing him home for Lydia's birthday (Aug 15th) are pretty high, and honestly, I'm dreaming that we have him even earlier.

But we'll just wait and see. 

A year ago (this week, I think, but I'm not absolutely sure) we were about a month into our home study and reeling in shock that baby #4 was on the way.  In some ways its been a long 360ish days.  But in other ways I feel like it's gone so very fast. 

I'm behind on posting photos (and most are on my Dad's camera) so I'll be back hopefully tomorrow with a more photo-worthy post.  I do have this pretty fun shot from last night....

Matt faithfully reads from the Chronicles of Narnia before bed (not always, but when there's time - and the kids always always beg!)  Hours and hours of reading add up, and they are just about to finish, so I thought something so monumental was picture-worthy. 

On this particular night I laid Luke in bed with Lydia for the Narnia reading time - it's hard to say if Luke has a favorite sibling yet, but if I was to make my guess I'd say Lydia is top of his list.  He was so content snuggled next to her under the covers!   When I showed up with the camera and everyone piled onto Lydia's bed this is what I captured.

LOVE it.  If Matt can read Chronicles of Narnia to this crew.....

lunch plans

Guess who has lunch plans?

Yes, that would be Dad, and the big three.  Plans for a plate or two of fried rice. 

Leaving me home with Luke (currently snoozing), so I guess it's fair to say that I have lunch plans too :) 

Me, myself and I - a nice quiet lunch!  I'm getting more alone time than you might think, thanks to Dad.  And trying to take advantage of it while I can.  Of course my outings are significantly limited (and bookended) by a little guy who relies on me as his only source of sustenance - but I can still get some good chunks of time away if I plan strategically! 

And did you notice the sunshine in that picture?  Our long-lost and much-missed sunshine showed up again this morning!  woooohooooo!  If that sunshine will stick around for a while we'll be a family of happy campers! 

the oldest grandson

Yesterday my dad referred to Isaac "my oldest grandson"....  It took Isaac a minute to figure it out - he started by adamantly refusing the title, proclaiming "Julianna is the oldest" - but once he narrowed in on the grandSON he was sold. 

And at just 3 years old he is soon to be oldest of four grandsons, which is no small feat.  (The total tally for my parents after John Paul's arrival will be 2 granddaughters, 4 grandsons.) 

Grandfather, oldest grandson, youngest grandson

Today this oldest grandson drew his first excavator. 

He also joined Granddaddy for a long morning adventure walk and his afternoon reading time turned into a solid nap!

(He wears this UNC basketball jersey twice a week, minimum.)

Love this oldest boy of mine -

a cup of coffee

and a grandson!

Dad's here, and doing well.  He's still awake at 8pm, but fading fast.  Fun first day with lots more to come .....

on his way

According to flightaware.com my Dad is 4 hours and 21 minutes into his final flight (from Tokyo to our city) - only 34 minutes to go!

We last saw Dad about nine months ago - November 2011 - with Luke in the belly and John Paul a dream still buried in paperwork :) 

So excited to have him here, he's a natural at world travel, and handles China so very well (which is more than we can say for yours truly at the moment - ha!)

In just a bit I'll head to the airport to pick him up, and we'll have two weeks worth of fun waiting for Mom to arrive in early August :)  Then, if all keeps rolling like it should, we'll leave the big three with their Grandparents while Matt and I (and Luke) hit the road to go get our John Paul. 

home with updates

We are home.  Everyone seems to be transitioning just fine - except me :(  Turns out I liked vacation and coming back to my reality has not been easy.  I'm not sure I like this reality all the time.  And while the week-long break from the stresses of life here was certainly enjoyable, its been a tricky transition back home.

Our road to John Paul is all downhill now, and it seems to be speeding right along.  Our Article 5 pick up is Friday, then we are on to the final wait (travel approval from China).  We could realistically travel within a month.  Did you hear that?  A month!

While in Hong Kong we got one final update on our boy.  He's big, and strong, and looks oh-so-happy.  Apparently I'll be busy - "he climbs on chairs, beds, or tables all the time".  He is also a fan of the telephone and will hold it up to his ear and say "wei, wei" (Wei sounds like 'way' and it's how everyone here answers the phone.)

0h, and one other proof that I'll be a busy momma?  " If he is crying, you have to [be] very nice to him or hold him, otherwise, he will cry longer and louder."  

Although there is a big part of me that says "how in the world am I going to do this?  A newly adopted toddler? A 4 month old baby boy?  Three other young children?"  There is also a big part of me that says "Only the Lord God could have written this story.  Only through Him is it even conceivable that I can accomplish this."  

And there are so many other things I think too.  I am so incredibly grateful for John Paul's foster family and am already beginning to mourn with them the huge loss on their horizon as they prepare to send him to us.  It is because of them that he knows what a phone is, that he has the freedom to climb on furniture, that he realizes his tears will bring loving hands.  

While on vacation I read Silent Tears: A Journey of Hope in a Chinese Orphanage.   It's a wonderfully horrible book.  I'm grateful that someone wrote the story of one Chinese orphanage, that the children will not be forgotten.  Oh so many horrid tragedies happening right under our noses - no one, no child should live in an institution.  

It took me a few days to decide, but I have decided that I'm glad I read it.  If anything, on the hard days, when my patience wears thin and my arms are too few and my love too conditional and my ability to extend grace woefully inadequate for the task - on those days I will remember this book, those children, and know that my "pain", my "suffering" pales in comparison to the pain and suffering in the life of an institutionalized child.  

 

bye bye vacation

As a little girl I ended most (all?) vacations in tears.  I just loved vacation and didn't want to go home (and truth be told, I can get teary eyed still, even as an adult). 

Julianna is the same way - she was in tears this morning as our friends walked down the hill towards the ferry to begin their trip home.  She was in tears again as we trudged back uphill after our final beach time.  And I am positive she'll be teary tomorrow morning as we begin our ferry-train-airplane journey home. 

It was a vacation worth crying over, that's for sure.  So so so fun.  And such a needed break from our adopted-home culture.  As much as I love China it's not my home.  And there are things about China that I really don't like.  Things that drive me batty.  Things that make me want to throw in the towel, get to the airport and leave the country, for good.  I could write for days about this topic, but not today. 

So tonight with four sleeping kids and last things to be put into bags and sleep to be gotten before we start home, I'll just say that this week was especially sweet.  And I'll be teary eyed tomorrow. 

first dip in the pacific

Up until today sweet baby Luke hasn't gotten much swim time .... but I was determined he would at least get his feet in the ocean before we left. 

And today he did. 

Then he had a little sit with his biggest sister, and when he was good and wet and sandy we called it quits and headed back towards shadier territory. 

You have to admit he chose a pretty scenic spot for his first ocean swim :) 

beach days

We spend a lot of time on the beach.  And we have a great time :)  Pics only on this post, too much relaxing to do!

down to town

The island we are staying on has two distinct peaks.  And our guest house is near the top of one of them.  Which means a steep walk down hill to hit the beach or the main part of the town/village/commerce area.  A very steep walk.  It takes the kids about ten minutes and a good dose of motivation to make it up hill after a long morning on the beach.

Today we skipped our morning beach trip and headed down to town.  (warning: photo dump ahead!)


headed down.....

first stop, playground with a view

the often requested "can-we-do-a-crazy-picture?"

Our dear friends Graham and Ashlei (their son Langdon in the photo, their 4 year old Grady is with Isaac in the playground photo)

One of our nature-finds, a birds nest.  We've also spotted frogs, giant (truly truly giant) snails....

Boat watching from the pier

My baby boy ;) 

Resting in the shade

Daddy and his little girls

Just finishing up a nice long early-afternoon rest and prepping to head to the beach.  A good day!

things that go (on vacation)

One of Isaac's very favorite books (and one I think should be a pillar in any little boy library) is The Big Book of Things That Go from DK publishing.  I really like it too.  It's not a story book, but still quite readable and one that I enjoy.

The inscription in the front of Isaac's reads "To Isaac, who likes things that go, and is a boy that goes, love Granddaddy and Grandmama".  He can recite that inscription from memory :)

Our first travel-filled vacation day was like a step into that giant book.  We started out early and rainy at our hometown airport. 

There was an extra seat so we ended up with a whole row to ourselves, which is always a nice way to start off the trip.  Even Luke got his own spot to chill out.

And then the fun really started.  First of all, landing in Hong Kong is unbelievable.  I would pay extra for a window seat.  Coasting low and long over the endless ocean with shipping boats and rocky islands and helicopters circling and all kinds of fascinating stuff to entertain travelers of all ages.

Then a quick stop for luggage, money, and train tickets and we were bound for the main island.  Our 30 minute train ride took us past views like this.

And we ended up here.

For lunch and the final transfer to the ferry.

We left the main island behind and our next stop was vacation :)  Honestly, the trip was smoother than smooth.  And our kids are at the perfect age where this kind of stuff really entertains them.  And we are so so glad to be here!

article five

The sweet goodness of Jesus - we are officially out of wait #2 and on to wait #3 in "the last four waits of the John Paul journey".  And here's the best part: this #3 wait (Article Five at the U.S. consulate in Guangzhou, China) is exactly two weeks.  No longer, no shorter.  Which means I can leave for vacation tomorrow in blissful adoption-paper-chase relaxed mode.  We'll wait out the first week on the beach in Hong Kong.

And once the two weeks pass, we're on to the FOURTH AND FINAL wait!  Can you believe it?  I cannot.

Just finished our packing .... would you believe me if I told you we squeezed everything for a 7 day vacation with six people into Matt's camping backpack and a rolling carry-on?  (I'm planning to do laundry half way through the week and pick up diapers and a few other essentials once we arrive.)

I'll have my typical overstuffed carry-on bag, plus each big kid carries their own backpack of "airplane supplies" (snacks and a notebook to color).  And a stroller, of course.  We fly at 8am, straight to Hong Kong, then taxi across the airport island to the ferry dock, then ferry to our vacation island, then 20 minute walk to our guest house.  I think it'll take us less than ten hours, door to door.

(Wake kids at 6:15 and airport bound by 6:30 is the plan.  Tonight the three older kids prepped their backpacks and laid out clothes for the morning.... )

So grateful for this vacation opportunity!  Woohoo!

canvas art

Y'all, this turned out so cool.

A while back I saw this idea of sticking something (letters, words, shapes) onto a blank art canvas, letting the kids go to town with paint, and then peeling off the tape to reveal the design behind.

And I have this bigger hope of doing a much larger canvas with much more text to hang in our home.  But I thought I'd start out with something smaller as a trial run.

I found these smaller canvases for about a dollar each and bought three, along with a roll of masking tape.

This morning we got some poster paint, and the children waited oh-so-patiently (ha!) as I worked with the masking tape to get the designs just right.

But once the painting started it was fun fun fun! 

And the results, well... see for yourself :)

I learned a few things along the way and am ready to embark on my bigger plan :)  If it turns out I'll be sure to take some pics to share.  In the meantime, we now have some new art to hang on the bedroom walls!