Wrapping Up Summer

The "snake handler" in the family. This is actually kinda funny. I was walking down our inside stairs one morning and saw something above our front door (on the outside). My first thought was that it sorta looked like, well, poop, and then it dawned on me that nothing could actually get to the top of a door to poop. That's when I saw it move and realized that it was a snake head. Not even kidding. So, I SCREAMED for the snake handler who was more than happy to come deal with a snake. As I'm watching from inside, along with the rest of our non snake handling children, I scream and say something like, Oh my goodness, I thought he was picking it up by the head. And my youngest son said no, he wasn't, but now he is.

We celebrated my Mom's 60th Birthday in August and picked her up in a limo to take her out to eat. The rest of our family met us at the restaurant. She was so surprised and it was lots of fun!

Cai had been asking me for pigtails, so one morning I pulled up every little tiny piece of hair that I could and put them into two little, tiny pigtails. We did this for two days and she insisted that I get a picture of her- both days. As it turns out, I'm glad I did because Cate cut her hair on the following day and it's going to be a while before we have anything to put in a pigtail again. I won't go into any details about the haircut except to say that Cai now has bangs and it made me want to say a bad word and I don't say bad words and I didn't, but I really wanted to. And Cate was not on my happy list that day!

We Are Alive And Well ( OK, sometimes it depends on the day!)

I'm very sorry for the absence. But, I really didn't think anyone read this blog except when we are in China!! Let me fill you in on Kelly. She is doing great and has adjusted beautifully. She has gotten her ears pierced, learned to ride a bike, gotten braces, learned to swim, enjoyed a week of horse riding camp and has gotten contacts (her request)- all in four months! We have spent two weeks at the beach this summer and have been in our boat- she loved it all! Kelly is such a sweet girl. She is very easy going and seems to enjoy almost everything. Her favorite food is hamburgers, and will try almost anything.

The language barrier has been difficult but manageable. Adopting an older child has been an experience that is hard for me to put into words. It is just so hard on so many different levels. Bonding is harder when you can't communicate. Also, 14 is an age, anyway, where children still need you but want to be independent too. The culture change is tough. For everyone. There have been so many things I want to explain to Kelly that is so hard. We do so much so differently. Kelly loves China and misses China. She lived with a loving foster family and was very loved by the people from her orphanage. She had lots of friends there. Sometimes it feels like she doesn't want to let go of her language and ways in order to learn a new way.

It has also been wonderful and amazing. We realize how blessed we are to have this beautiful, sweet girl home with our family. She truly has a kind and loving heart. I don't think she even knows how to be unkind. That is a treasure! We know that she will do great things!!

Last post from China

We couldn't leave without a picture of our favorite, non English speaking, friendly, and very patient waiter!

I can't believe I just said that! We won't actually be leaving until tomorrow night but we will be checking out of our hotel after lunch. If you think about it, please pray for our trip home. We have really been looking forward to the day that we see the rest of our family and become a family again. We have had two wonderful weeks in China. I have been so blessed to have Greg here for one week and Kristi for the other. Kelly is an amazing girl and we are so thankful that God placed her with our family. I can't explain it but China has felt very natural this trip. The first trip was just hard, everything was new- the foods, the smells, everything. With Cai, I think we navigated a little easier and tried to appreciate the differences a little more. This time, we actually embraced China- the foods, the people, the culture, some of the smells but definitely not all! We braved the streets, the restaurants and the language and really, really enjoyed it. I have really come to love the country where three of our daughters were born.

Safari Park

Today we visited the Safari Park and it was a lot of fun. We went there with two other families. Sophie has completely fallen in love with their little boys that they are here adopting and is begging to come back ONE more time for a little boy. Ask you father, honey. JK Greg. They are both around 3 years old and are the most beautiful little boys we have ever seen! We have enjoyed spending time with their families here. Our favorite part of the day was the elephant ride- we all rode! The pandas were a big hit with Sophie. We also took a train ride through the park and the animals came very close. I think Kelly really enjoyed the day too. She is such a good sport and very easy going. I asked her if she wanted to ride an elephant and without blinking she said sure! This afternoon, much to Sophie and Pressley's dismay, we came back to the hotel for schoolwork. In the morning, Kelly and I will go to our Consulate Appointment at the Embassy. This will be our last bit of paperwork and are praying that everything is OK. Then, Connie will pick up Kelly's visa Thursday morning. And we will be ready to leave. We are so excited to get back home to everyone.

Making it through the days

That's what we're doing at this point! I don't have many new pictures because I just didn't pull out my camera much today. Our days are pretty routine- wake up, breakfast, walk around in and out of the shops on Shamian Island, movies and schoolwork in the hotel room, and then dinner! We did ask our guide, Connie, to take us to the electronics market today. One, Rion wants a laser and two, we need a diversion each day. The kids are starting to get too wild if we're in the hotel room too long. Kelly is doing great. Today she was in the other room and I called her name and asked her what she was doing and she answered "Reading a book." I was so excited that she understood what I was asking and was able to answer. She fits in with our family so well. I will have to say, though, she isn't much help when I could use her help translating something! We went to the Chinese restaurant tonight and had a tough time ordering- no one spoke English. At all. And what was written in English on the menu were things like pork stomach, bacteria encrusted frogfish, livers and intestines... and the table next to us still had their chicken head attached to the rest of their chicken. I ended up calling our guide and just gave our poor waiter the telephone- what we got was delicious. But I was thinking it would have been nice if Kelly could have helped me! Sometimes I think it embarrasses her at our cluelessness, but other times it almost seems like she wants to fit in so bad with her dumb, clueless family and maybe that's why she isn't helping. Who knows. Either way, she couldn't be any sweeter of a girl!

More Fun In Guangzhou

The famous lizards on a stick

I am amazed by this art work - beautiful pictures, all done with the hands- fingernails, fingertips, and the side of the hand. He let Pressley and Sophie give it a try.

The Pearl River

Today we enjoyed some shopping with our guide, Connie. Well, Kristi and I enjoyed the shopping. We found some pearls and some other souvenirs. We didn't make it to the island today but will be heading back there in the morning to have Kelly's TB skin test read- I think it looks great. Things really couldn't be going any better. Of course, I wish that the communication was easier, but we just try to give lots of reassuring smiles and pats and hugs! I have Kelly read some to me each day. This is what I have realized- the long vowels are not spoken here. At all. So, when I am helping her with these words, she laughs- I think it sounds very unnatural to her- right, while, light, etc.. And at the same time, I am acting out the words so she knows what I am talking about- I'm sure she thinks I'm crazy! Directly outside our hotel is the street market and we found a little stand that sold DVD's, really cheap and all new releases- so, that has kept the kids busy at times when we are in the hotel room. Tonight we are going to attempt a Chinese restaurant near our hotel. Without a guide. Which should be very interesting!

Hellllooooo Guangzhou!!!

We made it to Guangzhou and boy are we happy to be here! sorry for the lack of posts. Our last day in Jinan was really sad for us- Greg left early Friday morning and we all had a sad start to the day. We had to check out of our hotel at 12 and spent the rest of the day waiting for our plane. We arrived in Guangzhou at 9 pm, but poor Kristi's flight was delayed and she didn't arrive until 11 pm. By the time we made it to our hotel and got ready for bed it was 1 am. We really like our hotel here and it's really cool to be located in the middle of the street market. We walk through the pet market and the herbal market to get to Shamian Island. Very interesting, to say the least.

We went for Kelly's medical examination this morning- she had to have four shots and a TB skin test. She was so brave- didn't even flinch. She continues to amaze us with her sweet spirit and kind nature. This evening we will meet at Lucy's for dinner with several other families. We met two other families this morning that are also with Madison Adoption. Kristi and I had a nice time shopping on the island after Kelly's medical exam. This was our first chance to do any shopping at all. Tomorrow we will go with our guide to the pearl market and some other places. The weather has been great- such a nice change from Jinan! I was finally able to pull out the flip flops! I promise to do better posting from now on!