Hey everyone,
Had Mike do an entry for me just in case I couldn't get on before we head out.
But, everyone is finally asleep, and we are 99% packed to fly out early tomorrow morning.
Wow, what a journey this has been. I think it is going to take awhile for everything to really sink in. I am so ready to come home, but it is also bitter sweet. This is the birth place of 2 of our children. I wonder how things will go for Logan, new faces, smells, foods and language. I know that he will grieve for what he knew, but I also know what things will look like on the other side when he gets there.
All I have to do is look at Mia. She is so happy, healthy and secure with us. I know Logan will be too. He has an awesome life before him. Freedom to become a follower of Christ, unlimited educational choices, excellent health care, freedom from being stigmatized as an unwanted member of society. And, a family who knows that they have been blessed by God to have him as their son and brother.
And he is so blessed to have all of you in his life. Once he catches onto this concept of unconditional love, there will be no stopping this kid.
Today Logan became an American citizen, and will have legal status once he touches American soil in Detroit. As I looked around the consulate, I saw about 60 children who are about to begin a completely new life in the next few days. It was a very short swearing in ceremony, but a great one.
We have been asked by many if we will be back to do this again. I can honestly say that we have no plans to. We are very content with our family, it really feels right. But we have also learned that our plans are not Gods plans. I never thought I would be a mother of 4 children, much less of 2 born across the world. Pretty stinkin awesome!
Can't wait for ya'll to meet the little man, guard your hearts.....he is a real charmer. And no, ya'll can't have him either.
See ya soon!
Love,
Claire
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Hasta la vista, baby!
Due to popular demand (I assume), I have decided to post on said "blog". Tonight we ate a hearty meal of rice, noodles, orange chicken, and second-hand smoke from the table next to us. This was a relief to our stomachs, because it wasn't McDonald's or that other place.
We fly out tomorrow morning at around 8:20, and so, for customs, we have to wake up at 4:30. Ok, heres one- we fly out Friday morning at 8:20, fly for a total of 30 hours, then land in Orlando Friday evening. Yes, it's creepy. I don't know if it's devine intervention, aliens, wormholes, alien wormholes, or magic. I haven't put my finger on it yet (I'm open to suggestions).
Today we went to a "Consulate" appointment, where we sat for an hour and a half, got our photos checked, and raised our right hand and took an oath that "All of the information was correct and we have not lied to the government of the United States." Then we came back to the hotel. My mom took me shopping and I found some ballin' Nike's for $20 (who knew I wore a size 44?). Then we went to a Asian restaurant for dinner (see paragraph 1).
So that's about it. That's my "blog" post.
Signing off from Guangzhou, China for one last time. (...or is it?) [CLIFF HANGER!!]
-Mike and the rest of the fam.
PS- My mom wants you all to know that Logan gave her a kiss. Finally.
We fly out tomorrow morning at around 8:20, and so, for customs, we have to wake up at 4:30. Ok, heres one- we fly out Friday morning at 8:20, fly for a total of 30 hours, then land in Orlando Friday evening. Yes, it's creepy. I don't know if it's devine intervention, aliens, wormholes, alien wormholes, or magic. I haven't put my finger on it yet (I'm open to suggestions).
Today we went to a "Consulate" appointment, where we sat for an hour and a half, got our photos checked, and raised our right hand and took an oath that "All of the information was correct and we have not lied to the government of the United States." Then we came back to the hotel. My mom took me shopping and I found some ballin' Nike's for $20 (who knew I wore a size 44?). Then we went to a Asian restaurant for dinner (see paragraph 1).
So that's about it. That's my "blog" post.
Signing off from Guangzhou, China for one last time. (...or is it?) [CLIFF HANGER!!]
-Mike and the rest of the fam.
PS- My mom wants you all to know that Logan gave her a kiss. Finally.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Stir crazy
Hey ya'll!
It has poured rain all day. We did get out for lunch and some shoe shopping. But had to come back when it really picked up.
One of the moms in our travel group found a store that has nice name brand tennis shoes for a great deal. We took little man, and his little feet and bought two pairs. He loved picking them out.
Mia got a pair of those annoying, I mean adorable squeaky shoes. I thought we would make it through the trip without buying any....silly me.
Thank God we have our consulate appointment tomorrow, we are ready to come home. It has been a fantastic trip, but two weeks in just one city is a little too long. It is beautiful here, but hard to be in a place where your brain doesn't understand anything it sees or hears for an extended amount of time. Like I said before, it has given me an excellent idea of what is to come for Logan. It can be pretty intense.
Hope all is well, we are stir crazy..but doing great. Every day we settle in as a family of 6 more and more. Mia and Logan are acting like they have been together forever. The love-hate relationship is in full swing. They are learning how to push each others buttons, and really enjoying it. I think I might need a good pair of ear plugs when I get home.
Love ya'll,
Claire
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Just hanging around
Hey ya'll!
Today was another great day. Very easy and laid back.
We had group pictures in the lobby this morning, then we came back to our room and watched Kung Fu Panda. Very cute flick.
After lunch we headed to the pool while most of our travel group headed to the American Consulate to have their exit interviews. 10 of the 12 families fly out tomorrow...wish it was us! But, we don't have our appointment until Thursday morning, and fly home on Friday!!!!!!
We have really loved our time in China again, such an amazing country with such deep history. But, we are ready to come home. Especially Mia. she had a break down this morning, crying and asking to see her puppies. " I wanna go home. I miss my puppies. Logan can come to, can we go now?" She has done fantastically on this trip.
And little man....oh my!!! He is just all over this swimming thing. You will never guess that he has only been in a pool for a week. He can tread water and jumps in from the side. Of course we make him wear his swim vest, but we are amazed at what a water bug he is. He absolutely adores hanging out with the older boys in our travel group. These are some wonderful and seasoned big brothers. There are about 30 children ( bio and adopted) from 15 years to 13 months. Many of the families are returning for the 2nd,3rd and 4th adoptions. Quite a wild looking group.
Today was another great day. He is becoming more comfy with me, we did some hugging and hand holding again. He looks like he has been with us forever. He did break down in tears this morning, and let Bart and I just sit on the bed and love on him until he felt better. Not sure what brought it on, but it wasn't a surprise. I'm sure there will be more. He is one brave little guy.
Well, it is almost 9 pm here, and Logan has been asleep since 3:30. We tried to wake him for dinner, but he is out cold. I think he really needs it, I know that after a few emotional days in a row that I am exhausted, and I think this past week has been just a teeny bit emotional. (:
Miss ya'll! 3 more days!!
Love,
claire
Today was another great day. Very easy and laid back.
We had group pictures in the lobby this morning, then we came back to our room and watched Kung Fu Panda. Very cute flick.
After lunch we headed to the pool while most of our travel group headed to the American Consulate to have their exit interviews. 10 of the 12 families fly out tomorrow...wish it was us! But, we don't have our appointment until Thursday morning, and fly home on Friday!!!!!!
We have really loved our time in China again, such an amazing country with such deep history. But, we are ready to come home. Especially Mia. she had a break down this morning, crying and asking to see her puppies. " I wanna go home. I miss my puppies. Logan can come to, can we go now?" She has done fantastically on this trip.
And little man....oh my!!! He is just all over this swimming thing. You will never guess that he has only been in a pool for a week. He can tread water and jumps in from the side. Of course we make him wear his swim vest, but we are amazed at what a water bug he is. He absolutely adores hanging out with the older boys in our travel group. These are some wonderful and seasoned big brothers. There are about 30 children ( bio and adopted) from 15 years to 13 months. Many of the families are returning for the 2nd,3rd and 4th adoptions. Quite a wild looking group.
Today was another great day. He is becoming more comfy with me, we did some hugging and hand holding again. He looks like he has been with us forever. He did break down in tears this morning, and let Bart and I just sit on the bed and love on him until he felt better. Not sure what brought it on, but it wasn't a surprise. I'm sure there will be more. He is one brave little guy.
Well, it is almost 9 pm here, and Logan has been asleep since 3:30. We tried to wake him for dinner, but he is out cold. I think he really needs it, I know that after a few emotional days in a row that I am exhausted, and I think this past week has been just a teeny bit emotional. (:
Miss ya'll! 3 more days!!
Love,
claire
Monday, June 23, 2008
Amazing day!!!
Hey,
We just finished a very busy day of site seeing, shopping and a travel group dinner.
Everyone is in bed, and I am headed there soon. But I had to sit down and post about how AWESOME God is. We have been praying, and I know so have many of you, that Logan can feel our love and feel that we are his forever family. I think today was the beginning of an answer to those prayers.
I woke up and just felt like today was a new day, everything just felt right. I headed off to correct some paperwork at the American Consulate, and had to actually have Bart come and get Logan so I could go. He followed me out of the door! I know this sounds silly, but it is huge.
After I got back, we went for lunch then on a group outing. There was some hand holding, a few hugs and lots of smiles.
Towards the end of our group shopping trip, God put these 2 angels in our path. We were walking past a small shop, and Logan began talking with the two shop ladies there. He usually says hi and a few other things, then keeps going. But this time he was having what looked like a deeper conversation. I headed over, and couldn't imagine what the next 1/2 hour would hold.
The shop owners in this part of town speak excellent English, so one of the women began to tell me what they were talking about. She said that she asked him his name, where he was from and other questions.
Well, it seems that it was never really explained to him that we were his mom and dad. That he was a part of our family, our son. She said that since he grew up in an orphanage, he knew the names for mom and dad, but really had no idea what they meant. That he was ours and we were his. He thought we were just watching him and we lived in a hotel.
She spent a long time explaining all of this to him. She then told him, as we told her, all about his new home, his room, his dogs and that he would be leaving China in 5 days to go and live as a family. He was very quiet while she talked, but smiled a few times.
I am in tears by now, and Bart is just firing away with things we would like for the lady to talk with him about.
Logan was also asking questions. He was most concerned with why we were calling him Logan. So we listened as she told him that we knew his real name, but that when you go to America, your parents give you an American name. We asked if he wanted us to use his Chinese name Li Ghu, instead, and he said no...he liked Logan, just didn't know where it came from.
She then talked with him for a few more minutes, and then told us that she had asked him if he liked us and wanted to stay with us or the orphanage. She said that he said he wanted to be with us and did not want to go back to the orphanage.
We asked if he had any other questions, and he asked about his room again, and the dogs. He also asked the lady to ask if we could buy some ice cream. He likes eating ice cream with us.
After some of the most heart felt thank yous I have ever had, we headed next door to the 7-11 and got whatever ice cream Logan wanted. One of the other families was there, and had heard most of the conversation. They were choked up also.
I know that most of you are wondering why no one really explained to Logan what was going on and who we were. We asked our guide many times if he really knew what was happening, if she could talk with him and ask if he had any questions, what did he want us to call him.... and after some hesitation.... she would say a few things to him then tell us that he was fine. Our mommy/daddy radar was right, he wasn't understanding what was going on.
I'm not saying that this has now turned mine and Logan's relationship into a fairy tale mother-son thing, but he does seem more open to me tonight.
We spent awhile before bed looking at pictures on the computer of things at home. He loved seeing his room and would pet the screen when Oscar and Gabby's pictures came up. He was really excited about his bike too.
Just awesome. Thank you God. He is a precious little boy who has some healing to do, but he is ours. And hopefully after today, he understands that a little better.
Hope all is well at home. We miss ya'll, but all is good here.
Love,
Claire
We just finished a very busy day of site seeing, shopping and a travel group dinner.
Everyone is in bed, and I am headed there soon. But I had to sit down and post about how AWESOME God is. We have been praying, and I know so have many of you, that Logan can feel our love and feel that we are his forever family. I think today was the beginning of an answer to those prayers.
I woke up and just felt like today was a new day, everything just felt right. I headed off to correct some paperwork at the American Consulate, and had to actually have Bart come and get Logan so I could go. He followed me out of the door! I know this sounds silly, but it is huge.
After I got back, we went for lunch then on a group outing. There was some hand holding, a few hugs and lots of smiles.
Towards the end of our group shopping trip, God put these 2 angels in our path. We were walking past a small shop, and Logan began talking with the two shop ladies there. He usually says hi and a few other things, then keeps going. But this time he was having what looked like a deeper conversation. I headed over, and couldn't imagine what the next 1/2 hour would hold.
The shop owners in this part of town speak excellent English, so one of the women began to tell me what they were talking about. She said that she asked him his name, where he was from and other questions.
Well, it seems that it was never really explained to him that we were his mom and dad. That he was a part of our family, our son. She said that since he grew up in an orphanage, he knew the names for mom and dad, but really had no idea what they meant. That he was ours and we were his. He thought we were just watching him and we lived in a hotel.
She spent a long time explaining all of this to him. She then told him, as we told her, all about his new home, his room, his dogs and that he would be leaving China in 5 days to go and live as a family. He was very quiet while she talked, but smiled a few times.
I am in tears by now, and Bart is just firing away with things we would like for the lady to talk with him about.
Logan was also asking questions. He was most concerned with why we were calling him Logan. So we listened as she told him that we knew his real name, but that when you go to America, your parents give you an American name. We asked if he wanted us to use his Chinese name Li Ghu, instead, and he said no...he liked Logan, just didn't know where it came from.
She then talked with him for a few more minutes, and then told us that she had asked him if he liked us and wanted to stay with us or the orphanage. She said that he said he wanted to be with us and did not want to go back to the orphanage.
We asked if he had any other questions, and he asked about his room again, and the dogs. He also asked the lady to ask if we could buy some ice cream. He likes eating ice cream with us.
After some of the most heart felt thank yous I have ever had, we headed next door to the 7-11 and got whatever ice cream Logan wanted. One of the other families was there, and had heard most of the conversation. They were choked up also.
I know that most of you are wondering why no one really explained to Logan what was going on and who we were. We asked our guide many times if he really knew what was happening, if she could talk with him and ask if he had any questions, what did he want us to call him.... and after some hesitation.... she would say a few things to him then tell us that he was fine. Our mommy/daddy radar was right, he wasn't understanding what was going on.
I'm not saying that this has now turned mine and Logan's relationship into a fairy tale mother-son thing, but he does seem more open to me tonight.
We spent awhile before bed looking at pictures on the computer of things at home. He loved seeing his room and would pet the screen when Oscar and Gabby's pictures came up. He was really excited about his bike too.
Just awesome. Thank you God. He is a precious little boy who has some healing to do, but he is ours. And hopefully after today, he understands that a little better.
Hope all is well at home. We miss ya'll, but all is good here.
Love,
Claire
Sunday, June 22, 2008
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