Pictures, pictures, pictures

Hello dear friends! I spent as much time as I could throughout today uploading some pictures onto the blog. When you get to the bottom of the blog page, just click on "older posts," and you will be bumped to the next page of photos. I hope you can get a glimpse of how wonderful our new daughter is. Praise God, she is doing so well. I took Charis to Kohl's yesterday. She has definite opinions...the more frilly, the better! I picked out an adorable pair of grey flared pants with pink pin stripes. In response, I got a big head shake "no" with the most wrinkled up nose! I assumed she did not like my choice in pants. That happended more than once. I finally told her, using the Chinese words for America, "Mei Guo" and gave her the thumbs up sign. In other words, "In America, these are cool." So, she shook her head "yes" and made an effort to smile like she liked them! What a sweet heart she has. After a couple hours shopping and trying on clothes, we stopped by her Nanny and Poppy's. She was so happy to see them, and of course they were very happy to see her. The neat thing was that after about an hour there, Charis looked at me and asked about her Daddy, big brother and little sister. She was ready to go home and see them. When we pulled into the garage, she leaped out of the car screaming their names. It was so precious. I think she is starting to like us!

Church this weekend was incredible. Worship was special, just as I imagined it. I stood Charis on the chair next to me so she could see. I held her around her waist. She held me around my neck. I think the third song's lyrics included, "Oh no, You never let go, through the calm, through the storm... Oh no, You never let go, You never let go of me." As I held onto my daughter and sang those words, God just blessed me with the truth that He has His arms around Charis all the time and indeed, He will never let go of her...or me. We are all so blessed to be known and loved and adopted by God, our heavenly Father. He is soooooo good. Charis enjoyed meeting everyone and gave away many hugs.

A gentleman at church who knew Chinese attempted to tell Charis that this was where her father worked. Her response to him was, "Who is my father?" That is telling, isn't it? This little girl has been taught the Chinese word for Dad, but she has no concept of what a father is or who her father is. We of course told her that her "Baba" (dad) was her father. And I look forward to telling her about her heavenly Father. Scott will play such a huge role in being a tangible representation of our God to his daughter. How can she understand a Father's love from someone she cannot see if she can't even comprehend the love from her earthly father that she can see? I am so glad that our Lord reveals Himself to people as we will need His help to communicate who He is. What a privilege to be given this responsibilty and opportunity with this precious little girl.

Charis is so amazing. She is so brave. I can't wait for the rest of you to meet her. My other children are doing well, although Faithy is struggling to share her mommy and daddy...and when we are approached by so many people (like at church), it is hard for Faith to manage all that attention...even though it is given to her sister and to her. Keep praying for all of us. School starts for Charis next Monday...I homeschool and have the kids enrolled in a school for homeschoolers on Mondays and Thursdays. We put up the Christmas tree tomorrow and thta should be really fun. We are almost back to a normal time schedule with our sleep...yeah! I think that about covers everything. Much love! To God be the glory, great things He has done!

picture: Who needs English when you can just play?!

picture: New friends

picture: Charis meets Sophie

picture: Sisters getting to know each other

picture: China's squatty potties...bring your own toilet paper!

picture: More sweet than a rose!

picture: Papa John's Pizza with the Tetheringtons

picture: Charis with the Evans kids

picture: Charis feeding the giraffes

picture: China's Panda Bears

picture: The Great Wall

picture: Acrobatics show-1

picture: Acrobatics show-2

picture: Look into those eyes

picture: A beautiful girl

picture: A beautiful boy

picture: He's famous!

picture: Yueyang Social Welfare Institute

picture: The nursery

picture: The courtyard

picture: Charis' bedroom at the orphanage

Charis and her friends from the orphanage

It's me from my own computer!

Hi everyone! We are HOME! YEAH!!!!!!!!!!! We experienced a minor delay...about an hour in Beijing and then about 15 minutes on the runway, but our pilot made up most of the time and we touched down on American soil last night at about 5:40 p.m. I can't tell you how happy we were to see Chicago, to hear English, to talk with Chicago police officers and immigration workers and customs processors! What a beautiful accent you Chicagoans have! Oh we are so glad to be home.

Our homecoming was a dream come true. A group of nearly 20 friends and family welcomed us with cheers and balloons and clapping when we walked through the final set of doors at the airport. Faith couldn't help herself and she ran past the visitor's "line" when she saw me and gave me the biggest hug...I have been waiting for that! Charis didn't stop smiling for hours. About 5 new friends her age came along and mobbed her, along with her brother and sister and Nanny and Poppy. She loved it! We took a limo home...that was so nice of Scott's mom and dad...all the kids Charis' age got to ride...it was me, Scott, Warren , Margaret and 8 kids! The kids had prepared a binder for Charis in which to hold her artwork and all the kids enjoyed watching Charis draw pictures on the ride home and they couldn't believe how fast she could write (Chinese calligraphy letters!). Charis loves an audience. Then the kids sang songs and then Charis sang a couple Chinese songs...and Faithy wanted us all to sing Amazing Grace, so that's what we did!

At home we were greeted by tons of signs and balloons...some written in Chinese for Charis! So cool! We ate Thanksgiving leftovers...mmmmm! Everything is better the next day anyway! The neatest thing was watching all the kids play together...9 kids...they were all loving on Charis and constantly calling her name. They played upstairs, downstairs and in the play room and then they watched a Chinese version of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse that we bought in China. They all crowded around the computer screen together to watch it...so cute! (It wouldn't play on our DVD player!) Faithy cried alot! I actually expected this...it was sort of her let down emotionally. I just hugged her and held her all night. I told her "You don't have to cry, Mommy is home now." She said, "I want to cry." I understand that (as do most of my female friends!), so I told her to just cry then...and she did! It was quite cute actually! And I didn't mind at all. I know I am very loved and I am so thankful to be home with all my children!

Charis LOVED everything...except the food! Oh well! After all our friends left, Nanny and Poppy stayed for little while and we gave them and the kids the gifts we bought for them on our trip. This was a sweet time. Charis enjoyed showing her Nana and Poppy pictures of herself and of her drawings and the 3 kids...my THREE kids...really enjoyed hanging out together. It was beautiful and I was just so thankful to God for bringing us all home together safely. The kids slept in sleeping bags on the floor in our bedroom...so much fun! We actually did get some sleep. Charis woke up around 3:00 a.m....I heard her. She got up and looked outside and walked around our bedroom. She found some LEGOs and sat and played with them. She knew to be quiet so I just let her play. At 6:00 I got up with her. She ate a banana and tried some Grape Nuts. When the kids awoke they all played and are still playing. They want to go outside! Charis is so excited about her backyard!

Oh dear friends and family...thank you so much for praying for us. Please continue to keep us in your prayers. I will keep you posted for awhile about how things are gong and over the next several days I will be posting pictures as I have time to upload them. I can't wait to see you all and give and get many hugs and smiles. You will meet our new daughter very soon!

In the plane ride home Charis asked for the first time what her dad does. I told her he teaches people about God. She will see firsthand what that means very soon. We are planning on going to church this weekend (Hawthorn campus) and then next weekend, Scott preaches so I thought I would bring Charis along, and our other kids, to show her everywhere her daddy works and to meet all of you! For our farther away friends and family...we can't wait to introduce our new daughter to you personally as soon as we can. Much love to all of you and a HUGE thankful to our great God.

Home sweet home...almost!

Happy Thanksgiving to all our most dear friends and family. How we miss you all and can't wait to see you. Our computer battery charger went down again, so I haven't been able to post without using the very expensive hotel computers...they make money anyway they can. Anyway, sometimes I just have to know I am connected with all of you and it is worth the money. We leave later today...less than 24 hours until we see our other beautiful children. We had Thanksgiving at a Beijing restaurant after touring the Great Wall...chicken, tofu and sweet potatoes Chinese style...delicious actually. We love Chinese food at home, but it's kind of like eating at McDonalds when you have the real thing here. I will miss the food, as will our dear daughter. I am sad for her. It will be hard to make such a drastic transition. But I am going to try my hand at fried rice and noodles...it can't be that hard. nbsp; The Great Wall is truly great. What an amazing achievement...but at a very high price...many lives were lost to build such a structure. It was a cold foggy day yesterday, so our pics couldn't capture what we were seeing, but when I get home, I will share them with you.

Charis is doing very well. Yesterday was another breakthrough day. She verbalizes a desire to go home to America and she began teaching us Chinese...I have been wanting her to teach me since we met her, but she hasn't even tried until yesterday. Scott cracked her up when he tried to say the Chinese word for nose...it is a very difficult sound for our mouths to make. We all had a great laugh. I can't write what the Chinese word for "no" is. Just take my word for it that if you heard our daughter say it, you would think she was swearing!! We laughed so hard!

We have Charis' citizenship papers ready to give to the immigration officials when we arrive in Chicago...she will be a citizen when we cross the border! We are packed and will check out of the hotel in about 2 hours...then we will enjoy Peking Duck (I just can't leave without having that!) and then it's off to the airport....13 hours in flight...it's long, but our family awaits us at the other end, so I would fly 23 hours or 33 hours or however long necessary to be with them. I am most looking forward to hearing Faithy's high pitched little voice scream "mommy" and "daddy" and "Charis." And of course to giving and receiving a BIG hug from Josiah. We have missed them soooooooooo much.

I have so many things welling up inside of me to share with all of you. You probably won't be able to shut me up for quite a while when I get home. BTW, Chinese coffee is often prepared in advance...WITH milk AND sugar. For those of you who drink coffee with me regularly, you know I prefer my coffee black. Oh well, I thought of all of you every time! I thought of all of you so often and I just can't stop thinking of you all right now. Tomorrow just can't come soon enough. Know that you are all so loved by all of us. Scott and I are so very blessed by our Lord to have such rich friendships and family relationships. Thank you for loving us the way you do. Pray for us and especially for our children over the coming days, weeks and months. An adjustment period will be taking place as we learn what it means to be a family of five. Charis will experience church for the first time...pray for her for that. And she will learn the true meaning of Christmas. Pray for her salvation. She initiates us praying now at meals and before bed...but we know she still doesn't have any idea who we are praying to, but when we get home, we will have our friends translate for us and we can't wait to tell her about Jesus, her Creator, her Savior, her Redeemer, her LORD! Oh how loved she is by God and we can't for her to realize that. Blessings to all of you and again, know that on Thanksgiving, we gave thanks to God for you. See you all very soon. May the Lord bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and give you His peace.

Some fun pictures!

She is kind and competitive!

Yesterday we had so much fun with the Evans family at the Safari Park. The Evans' adopted little Matthew...he is 6. After the Park we all had lunch. The kids played together (5 of them between our 2 families) and had a blast! Little Analise Evans cried when she couldn't get a turn with the toy. So, when Charis got it, she brought it over for Analise to play with...such a kind little heart our new daughter has. But don't let her sweet smile fool you. We played a fierce game of Memory today. She is smart and whipped me the first few times we played. But when we added Daddy to the mix, things got harder and oh, she does not like to lose! How does God know how to find just the right kids to place in our families? Charis is going to fit right in! We finished all of our consulate paperwork yesterday and today was a processing day. Tomorrow we receive Charis' passport with the visa for entry to America as well as all her citizenship papers. 24 hours later, we can leave. So soon we will travel back to Beijing and on Friday we get to come home!!! Today was full of just plain fun things. I think Charis realized that she could eat anything she wanted from the breakfast buffet. Until this morning, she chose very familiar, very Chinese cuisine. Today, we went through each section of the hot food line and when we got to the end, her plate was empty! She passed up her usual dumplings, meatballs, rice, noodles and other meats. I pointed to her plate and said, "What do you want?" We went over to the pastry line...she wanted several things. I motioned and said, "One." She looked at me with pitiful eyes and groaned. It didn't move me. She needs to get used to that now! :) She finally decided on hard boiled eggs, dumplings, meatballs and some fruit. It was fun to watch her experiment. At lunch I got to eat with a friend's sister. When we adopted Faithy 3 years ago, I met a lovely lady at one of the stores. She and I exchanged e-mails and have developed a wonderful friendship over the past 3 years. Jennifer has even come to know our Lord. This spring, Jennifer came to America and married a New Yorker and in August we got to see each other again! It was great. Her younger sister met me at a restaurant today along with her husband and little 6 month old son. She can't speak any English, nor can her husband. And BTW, I can't speak Cantonese! This was a neat God thing. I approached the hotel about allowing a staff member to sit with us for 1 hour during lunch to translate for me. The hotel wouldn't free up any of their staff...the best they could do was a translating service for 600 yuan for 4 hours...even though I only needed 1 hour. I said no to that...and that was at 11:45 a.m. Jennifer's sister was meeting me at noon. I thought I would go to one of the shops outside of the hotel. I knew one of those shop owners would help me. Well, as I left the hotel's business center, our guide was on the stairwell there. Let me just tell you that this is a remote stairwell for visitors and our guide has to be at so many different places. The odds of me running into her were so very low. But there she was! She agreed to come to lunch with us and translate. What a wonderful time we all had. I delivered a gift to Jennifer's sister from Jennifer and am bringing some things to America to send to Jennifer from her sister. I was also able to give Jennifer's sister a Chinese Bible and book explaining how to grow in Christ. God is so at work all over the world. He sees everyone and knows all things and He loves revealing Himself. What a joy to be part of God's work everywhere we are. Scott introduced Charis to potato chips today. Thanks, Daddy. This girl loves junk food. Reality is coming though. Healthy food first; that's the rule in our home. I am being lenient here for her transition, but things must change. I know it will be hard for her...in all seriousness, be praying for her transition to our food. It is going to be really hard. She will rise to the occasion though. She is even talking about this. Enjoy some more pictures. When I get home I will put together a little on-line album so you can all see everything (if you want!!). We miss everyone and are so appreciative of all your prayers and support. 5 days and counting! Taste and see that the Lord is good!

She likes french fries!

Last night our daughter ate her first Amercian cuisine (at least with us): french fries! And yes, smothered with ketchup! We had a very tiring day yesterday...we packed up and traveled from Changsha to Guangzhou. It was Charis' first ride in an airplane. She did great! Before we got on the plane, she told our guide that she was a little afraid. We have been holding her hand all week, but as the plane began to take off, as I reached for her hand, she pushed me away and held up her other hand to tell me "no." She wanted to do this one on her own. She also had a very difficult time telling our guide goodbye...no tears again (on her end of things...at seeing her reaction, I cried enough for both of us). She just couldn't say goodbye...very similar to the orphanage departure. She carried her difficulty in her eyes but what a strong girl she is. I suppose she has had to be pretty tough and as a result, she is very brave. She misbehaved for the first time in the airport in Guangzhou...nothing major, but it was a test. She dropped something she was carrying a few times and I finally caught her out of the corner of my eye doing it on purpose. So, I took it away. Then she did not want to hold my hand anymore. After a few attempts at wiggling away, a firm "no" and placing her hand in mine very intentionally, she got the idea and was fine from then on. I think she had about as much as she could handle that day...it was one of many final partings from everything she has known that she must make. I am very proud of our little girl. Today was wonderful. First of all, I know all of you are enjoying the 20 degree Chicago weather...well, it's probably around 80 degrees here in Guangzhou! Who can have a hard time in that kind of weahter this time of year? We all got a great night of sleep last night (and we needed it!). in the morning, I could tell right away that Charis looked 20 pounds lighter. After breakfast we had her medical exam...at this point we are wondering if she really has been burned. We are thinking more in the direction of a cell division problem during development. But the doctors wouldn't change any diagnosis at this point...it doesn't matter to us anyway...but for her sake, we will have everything checked out at home. Charis told the guide that we were gong to make her look like an angel. This isn't anything we have said to her, so the orpahange staff must have talked to her about this. We had the guide tell her we think she is beautiful right now and that we love her so much. I looked right in her eyes as the guide spoke the words for me. We just want her to know that we love her just the way she is. Of course we will do whatever we can for her according to what she desires, but how we want her to know our love is beyond skin deep. Her face is quite scarred...she has several spots, much like cafe au lait spots...brown in color, round for the most part. Many are on her face but they are also on other parts of her body,,,including in her ears. Speaking of ears, I don't think she has ever had her ears cleaned! This is the one thing she HATES...me cleaning her ears...and I really haven't been able to get in there. It's funny and I try to make it fun. We walked around the island today holding hands...all three of us. She wanted Scott to carry her a few times...and she got a horsey ride on daddy's shoulders...she loved this! She went through our things pointing to Scott's stuff saying, "baba," then pointing to my stuff saying, "mama," then to her stuff saying, "Yue Shu." Yue Shu is her Chinese name. Other times, she will point to her things and say, "Charis." She is accepting things little by little and we are trying to give her lots of space and time and love. The pace was slower today...I think it was the first time Scott and I actually relaxed since we left Chicago. And as I said before, it was a wonderful day. All 3 of us just really enjoyed being together. We were a family today. Oh, a really cool thing happened earlier today. We have been praying with Charis before we eat our meals. She holds our hands but I think she has been a bit self conscious about us doing this. Well today she reached out for Scott's hands before eating to initiate our prayer time. So cool! I can't wait for her to know and understand our God. It will come. The Lord has been so present with us and we thank Him for keeping us safe and for leading us in this journey. He loves Charis so much and we know He is working in her life. Scott said that God led him today to "believe in her, too." Scripture tells us that "God is for us." So we need to be "for Charis." We need to believe in her and be for her. Not that we weren't, but we are thankful for the Lord's leading and encouragement in this. Tomorrow we visit the Zoo while we wait for Charis' visa and citizenship paperwork to be processed. Keep praying for all of us and for Faithy and Josiah. Scott's mom's birthday is Monday so if you see her, tell her "Happy Birthday!" I am using the hotel computer so I still cannot send any pics...hopefully we will get our battery charger soon (a new one is on the way). Much love to all of you! Only 6 more days and then we will be back home.

Expect the unexpected

Oh, I have so much to write! Since I last updated you all, so much has happened. On Wednesday morning we traveled 2+ hours from Changsha to Yueyang and visited Charis' orphanage. The children were home for lunch so we got to see all of Charis' friends. These are the children she has grown up with...really they have been her brothers and sisters. I have many pictures, but our computer's battery charger got fried at our hotel in Yueyang (power surge). I am on the hotel computer in Changsha writing now. Anyway, we got to see where the infants are cared for...there were 8 little ones snuggled in their beds sleeping or falling asleep...they had just been fed and tended to and seemed very content. They were beautiful!! One little one had a cleft lip. I don't know if any others had special needs but they all need mommies and daddies. The nannies do a great job. They genuinely care for th e children and they do whatever they can to provide what is needed. After seeing the baby room, we walked across the alley to the building where the older children live as well as some elderly. As you enter the gate, you walk into a large square courtyard which has a pretty tree in the center. On the far side of the courtyard is the dining hall and maybe a playroom (the kids have a t.v.). If you exit the outer door from this room you can swing around to the "backyard" if you will where there are some swings and such. Upstairs are all the bedrooms. We got to see where Charis' room was as well as her bed. The kids were so happy to see Charis and they were so proud of themselves. They all wanted to be in the video footage we were taking and they posed readily for pictures. They all seemed to have some kind of special need. There were about 7-8 children between 7 and 10 years old. Not all of them are up for adoption but we would have taken them all if we could ha ve. When I am able I will post pictures. Some of the neatest things we got to do during this time was deliver gifts to 2 children whose parents will be coming for them soon...Jeremy and Yue Ying Hong. We took many pictures of these boys...they are adorable and they were so excited to receive gifts from their soon to be families. The orphanage's assistant director took time herself to read the letter that Yue Ying Hong's mom had written him. He listened to every word. And although Jeremy doesn't have hands, he held his present with pride and anxiously waited for the nanny to open it for him. What a privilege to meet these children...all of them. After a brief visit we were treated to lunch at a nearby restaurant. We spent this time with 4 of the orphanage staff. They asked us questions about what Charis' life would be like in America and we got to ask them questions about her life in the orphanage. ; This was a wonderful time. After lunch was what Charis was most excited about...she got to take us to her school. I had found out from the Patel's who recently adopted Amira that the kids walk about 10 minutes to their school, so I asked if we could drive back to the orphanage and make this walk instead of drive to the school. They said yes and I am so thankful. I will post pictures and you will all be amazed at where these children must walk to get themselves to and from school. Most of us would not want our children making this journey, especially on their own, but it does seem that the people who live and work along the path know the children and as far as we could tell, it is safe. The kids at the school were so excited to see Americans...especially one tall American man that you all know! Scott was a hit. He was swarmed and the children wanted to touch him and have their picture taken with him. In Charis' classroom the children sang a song for us and did some recitations and got to say goodbye to Charis. It was hard for her. She ran out of the room a couple times. But before we left she took the opportunity to stand in front of the class and tell them she loved them and would remember them forever...heartbreaking to watch. We spent the night in Yueyang and this morning we toured a beautiful island there. We spent 3-4 hours walking and talking. This was the perfect time for us to talk to Charis about the meaning of her English name. She really liked it and we are calling her Charis now...although she doesn't always realize we are talking to her! She also learned that we have a dog...she is excited about that! She wants us to get another one! After our tour we had to drive back through Yueyang (right by the orphanage). WHen Charis saw where we were, she asked if we could stop by one more time to say goodbye. We did and waht a treat that was! Yesterday was a plannewd visit...this one was unexpected and so much fun!! The children screamed Charis' Chinese name when they saw her and they ran around the orphanage for about 10 minutes...we couldn't keep track of them. I think this is what lunch/recess must be like every day. We got to see the orphanage schoolroom and meet the orphanage teacher and we got to meet a 15 year old boy who has not been adopted. He is amazing and is truly like a big brother to all these children. He has a very kind heart, a big smile and many goals for his life. He wrote a famous Chinese poem for Charis to take home in Chinese calligraphy. It is very beautiful and very special. I am so glad we go to meet him. We got many more pictures of Jeremy and Yue Ying Hong and all the children. Then we had to leave...this was very hard. Charis never cried (Chinese are very stoic), but she was obviously saddened. I cried for her as did Scott. I held her and told her I loved her and was sp rpid of her. She just let me hold her. Then she loudly proclaimed she was hungry!! Okay...time for lunch! This is where our day became eventful. Shortly after we left Yueyang, our van broke down. No big deal, right? Well, 5 hours later we finally climbed into another van and were driven the 2+ hours back here to Changsha. We spent the afternoon on the side of a road somewhere in the middle of Hunan Province...the police here are for enforcement only, not assistance, so literally, maybe 100 police cars passed by without one stopping. No one stopped. They just sped by...and I mean sped. It was crazy! We have a wonderful driver and I thank God for him. He felt like something might be wrong with the car so he pulled over at a little cut out in the road. While we were there, the car broke down! This is the hand of God protecting us...I know it. If we were 25 feet further down the road, we would have been in such a dangerous place. This wasn't the safest place, but at least we were able to pull completely off the road. Driving in China is an experience! People drive wherever they want. You can't imagine it. They drive in the birms, they drive in oncoming traffic, they drive between two lanes, they drive fast! Lots of cars, lots of bikes, lots of mopeds, lots of honking, lots of traffic, lots of chaos, but amazingly, no accidents. We are safe and in our hotel in Changsha again and tomorrow we fly to Guangzhou. What a memory! We have spent almost a week here and we have a week to go. Pray for us. We know the Lord is watching over us and is taking care of us. But we are ready to see our children and be with our friends and family again. We miss everyone. Charis said today she is ready to go to America to meet her big brother and little sister right now. We are ready for that, too. We love you all and thank you for your many prayers. Psalm 91 is certainly fitting.

Power Surge!

Scott and Tammy's computer experienced an electrical surge at the hotel in Yueyang yesterday that blew out the adapter, leaving their computer without battery power. A new adapter is being sent to the hotel in Guangzhou and they will be able to post again in a few days. Today, they had the chance to visit Charis's orphanage and school, and Charis had the opportunity to introduce everyone to her new parents, which she was thrilled to do. They are all doing well, and are excited to share some more stories with you in a few days. Please continue to pray for them as they will be doing quite a lot of traveling in the next few days.

She is officially a Chapman

Today we finalized the adoption of our daughter and she is officially Charis Margaret Chapman. After signing papers we celebrated by going to Wal-Mart! We needed to get something for our trip to the orphanage and Charis needed a jacket and some shoes. As I said yesterday, this girl gets shopping! She knew what she liked and enjoyed herself very much. She wanted to pick something out to give to her big brother and little sister, so we let her do that. In the van ride to/from the store and in the hotel I got tons of "I love yous," today. Charis even took my hand and wrote in Chinese the characters for "I love you" as she spoke the words to me! She told Scott she loved him today, too, and she blew him some kisses. This is a big deal as she is a little bit more reserved around him. We found out she has never seen a beard before, so we aren't quite sure what she thinks of it. She freely calls him Ba Ba (Daddy) though, and when he isn't where she can see him she wants to know where he is. Pray for us as tomorrow we travel a bit over 2 hours by van to visit the orphanage, the school and Charis' finding place...this is where she was found as a baby. Charis is very excited to take us to her school. She talks about it often (according to our guide). She wants to say goodbye to her friends and give them a little gift...so we bought several treats and goodies for her to pass out to her friends. We are starting to call Charis by the name Charis now. Pray for her to recognize and like this name. And pray that she continues to trust us and open herself up to us to give her love. She actually said "Thank you," in English today as she has heard us say it many times to her and to others. She is smart and will learn quickly. She is a good girl and I am already so proud of her. She talked to Josiah, Faith and her Nana and Poppy today via Skype. She was so excited to "see" them on the computer. She recognized them right away because of the pictures we have. I can't wait to be together as a family. Please pray for little Faithy. She has been doing great, but when she saw us on the computer it was too much for her and she cried and was sad again. I cried and was sad, too. I miss my children so much and although this is important, I just can't wait to be home. Very soon. We are asking God for wisdom and we know from James 1:5-6 that when we ask of the Lord, He gives us His wisdom generously and without reproach. Thank you Jesus! 

She knows the word, "Wow!"

This morning we drove to the civil affairs office where Charis was waiting to meet us. We brought her a back pack full of activities and crafts as well as a cuddly, soft teddy bear that holds a sack that we filled with some little trinkets. We also had a picture booklet prepared by Esther and the Walkers showing Charis Esther's new family and her new homelife. After we introduced ourselves to the staff, I sat down next to Charis and said "hello" to her in Chinese (profound, I know!). Then I pointed to myself and said "mama, and then I pointed to Scott and said, "baba'," those are Chinese words for mommy and daddy. She knew why we were there. She was coloring a picture when we came into the room and as we spoke our first words to her, she continued to color. She had drawn a house and was adding the sun and clouds. Then she drew a person with long brown hair. She told the orphanage staff member that the person she drew was her "mama,"...me!

I rubbed her back as I sat next to her and she continued to draw. I can't imagine what she was thinking. I told her we had brought some things for her and asked if she wanted to see them. Of course she said yes. The first thing she said when she looked into her backpack was "Wow!" Evidently, this means the same thing in Chinese and English! She took each item out, opened it, looked it over, smiled, played for a minute with it and then put it away. When she found the picture book from Esther she shouted Esther's Chinese name and quickly looked through the pictures. She oohed and aahed and after she had looked at all the photos, apparently she said "That was lovely." Nice vocabulary word!

Next came the teddy bear. She liked it. Inside the little sack she found a little trinket that says "I love you." When she looked at it, I pointed to the words and told her in Chinese "Wo ai ni." When she looked at me , I looked into her little face and said it again, "Wo ai ni." She smiled. I continued to caress her back and I asked the orphanage staff member to ask her if she minded that I was touching her. She said she liked it.

We spent a little over an hour at the civil affairs office doing paper work and getting to know each other. When we left, we drove to a local supermarket and bought some goodies for Charis and let her pick out some goodies for her friends at the orphanage and at her school. She pushed the cart and had a blast! At one point she told our guide that he was going too fast. That's my girl! She already gets shopping!!!!

When we returned to our hotel room, we showed her the clothes and other activities we brought for her...many more "Wows!" were spoken! And since the pool was being renovated we decided to go bowling! Fun and funny!

Dinner was interesting...Charis ate sooooooooooooo much. She chose duck tongue, snake, a crab, some kind of fish, 2 snails and some sheep stomach to eat along with her rice and noodles. That was just the beginning of the delicacies available to us! Charis just kept eating and when I brought her a second plate of rice and noodles she once again said, "Wow!"

Anyway, this has been an amazing day that we just praise God for. Charis holds our hands willingly. She calls for us if she wants something or if she just wants us to look at what she is doing. She laughed and giggled throughout her bath (she is very ticklish!). She let me brush her hair. She held up the little trinket and initiated telling me "Wo ai ni." What do I have to say about that? Wow! Wow! WOW!!!!!!!!!

I am with my little girl now. Tomorrow she wakes up with a mommy and a daddy and I wake up with another daughter. I am basking in this sweetness and I am so grateful to the Lord. The whole earth is full of His glory!

Getting Charis

Well today we met our new daughter. It was wonderful and overwhelming. She
is an amazing little girl. She is very kind - she shares everything, very
creative - she loves to draw and paint, and she is very brave.

Yesterday Tammy and I visited the forbidden city in Beijing. It was the
most auspicious place I have ever been. Huge on a scale that dwarfs
European castles. The Chinese emperor lived in a palace city where only
women and eunuchs could go. He met the outside world only in the magnificent
and enormous courtyards It was a world of his own making, one of splendor
and decadence isolated from the poverty of most of his people. They existed
to give him privilege and pleasure. He called himself the Son of God of
Heaven and ironically took for himself the sign of the dragon. He had
clouds of incense burning in his honor and sat on a huge golden throne. He
was the son of God on earth and built an overwhelming sense of entitlement.
He took what he wanted, did what he pleased and cared little for the people
under his care. As a leader of people it was difficult for me to be there.

Today, in my prayer time the true Son of God shared with me that His throne
is far greater and more powerful and more auspicious than that of any
Chinese emperor, yet He chooses not to be isolated from the burdens and
cares of His people. He owns all and can demand anything, yet lives to
serve and chooses to accept the least of these as His own royal family. He
accepts poor, dirty, scarred orphan girls as His own daughters. He is mighty
in redemption, regal in mercy and glorious in compassion. This is a king
who could command me to follow but need not because I love Him.

Charis is truly the least of these. She is penniless, physically scarred,
and alone. She is now mine but she has been His all along. He loved her
from the day she was born. She is welcome and even treasured in His
presence. We met her as she was drawing a picture of her new home and
family. Tammy gave her a necklace that has the Chinese symbol for daughter
- she pointed it out to others in the room and pointed to Tammy with a huge
smile. She drew Tammy and I in the next picture near her. In the picture
she had a huge smile. The first day is going well. She loves having a
mommy and a daddy.


Scott

Just moments now

Last night was my first real sleep in 2 days. Since we left Friday afternoon, I slept only 4-5 hours. Last night I was able to rest deeply and comfortably for a good 8 hours. So, today I feel great! We checked into our Beijing hotel Saturday night very late...10 p.m. or so. At 3:30 am I was still awake so I got up and took a long bath! After that, I was able to sleep for about 1 hour...Scott had gotten out of bed after I got out of the tub and he went to the hotel gym and worked out and then enjoyed a time of prayer. We met our guide in the lobby at 8:30 the next morning. Our flight to Changsha wasn't until 7:55 p.m. so we spent the day touring Beijing. It was a beautiful Autumn day...I am guessing around 50 degrees. We walked for hours through the Summer Palace which was amazing, especially after spending over 15 hours couped up on the plane flying from Chicago to Beijing. Fresh air, beautiful scenery, exercise on the slope of a mountain... honestly, the air was so crisp and it felt so good to be just a little bit cold. The people at the Summer Palace were friendly and doing what I envisioned from my study of Chinese culture...exercising (mostly elderly practicing tai chi and other similar movements), playing some interesting games, playing musical instruments and singing!!! For anyone to hear! Chinese opera style!!!

After the Summer Palace, we had lunch...interesting...we ate the rice and noodles if that tells you anything! Then it was off to the Forbidden City. We exited the car at Tieneman Square and walked through the largest public square in the world into the Forbidden City. We had a very young guide, only 21, and we asked her if she was old enough to remember what happened at the Square in 1989. She said she was only 3 then and that her mom doesn't want her to know. When she asks her mom about it, her mom says, "Nothing happened there." We didn't tell her. Splendor of old surrounded us as well as a very different crowd of people than what we experienced at the Summer Palace. Beggars, tourists, large crowds, military personnel. I hope to post pictures later.

We are moments away from meeting Charis! It is just after 8 a.m. Monday, the 12th, and at 10:30 we will be united. Right now, Charis is probably with the orphanage director getting ready to climb into the car to drive 2 and a half hours from Yeuyang to Changsha. I can't even imagine what must be going through her little mind. My heart feels like it is going to jump out of my chest, so hers must be dancing as well. This is why we are here. We are ready to adopt our daughter and welcome her into our lives and family forever!

I am unable to get to my blog as of yet so I am e-mailing to a friend who is posting for me. Hopefully we will get things figured out later today and I can post pictures! Anyway, pray for all of us before you go to bed as we will be with our daughter for the 24 hour entrustment period to see if we are a good "match" before the official adoption tomorrow. We serve a gracious and compassionate God...He loves orphans and is the Father to the fatherless. We praise Him for His lovingkindness!

We are here!

After a 2 hour delay, a 15 hour flight and an hour plus car ride which included getting lost on some streets I am sure most tourists do not get to see, we arrived safely at our hotel! It is around 9 p.m. now and even though you will all be waking up soon, we are ready to go to sleep! Tomorrow we get a quick tour of the Forbidden City and then we fly to Changsha, the capital city of Hunan Province. We'll arrive very late at night and then early Monday morning we meet our daughter! Unbelievable! So when you all go to bed on Sunday night (we are 14 hours ahead of you), pray for us, especially for Charis as we will be meeting right about then! Aside from being tired, we are doing very well. We thank our Lord for a peaceful transition with the kids yesterday...Faithy even woke up excited that we were going to get her sister! No tears when we left! God's grace is suffucient!

Ready

I am awake and my heart feels very determined this morning. We have a daughter to bring home and I am ready to do it. I will be meditating on Psalm 91. I hope to have lots of giggles and laughs with the kids before we leave. We put our trust in the Lord.

Heartwrenching

I just got Faithy in bed after nearly 45 minutes of crying together. She doesn't want me to go. We hugged and held on to each other and looked into each other's eyes and caressed each other's faces. We prayed together and smiled at each other and connected very deeply emotionally. I imagine tomorrow will be more of the same and leaving is going to be the hardest thing about this trip.

Pray for Faithy. We will be on our way in a few short hours. We'll let you all know when we get there. Lord, lead us in your everlasting way.

Many lasts and many firsts

As I go through this week thinking about the fact that in a few days we will have three children, I have been mindful of all the things Charis will be doing for the last time. Friday morning, she will make her trek to her school for the very last time. She will take her last bath at the orphanage, eat her final meal prepared by the nannies, go to sleep in her green bunk bed, wear clothes and shoes shared by many others and wake up without a mommy and a daddy. Very soon, she will experience many firsts! She will wake up WITH a mommy and a daddy. She will be a daughter...OUR daughter! She will be a little sister AND a big sister! She will have her own clothes and shoes. She will sleep in a hotel. She will fly in an airplane. She will go to a zoo. She will swim. She will tour some of her own country and travel to an entirely new one. She will be hugged and prayed over and kissed and held. She will be listened to and smiled at and loved on and focused on. She will live in a house...actually, a home! Oh, it is so close now.

Over the next few days, weeks and months, our family will walk through many lasts and walk into many firsts. I imagine some of these experiences will be beyond amazing. But, I am certain some of them will be more than difficult as change, even good change, brings its share of uncertainty. Bring it on, I say! This is what we have been waiting for and we know that we will be supported by friends and family and our Lord. I find comfort in knowing that when we ask for wisdom from God, He gives generously and without reproach.

Peace like a river

I feel like a teeter totter... going up and down between peace and anxiety. We celebrated Faith's birthday yesterday and had so much fun. She loves being the center of attention! But when I turned out the lights to go to sleep, I just got so sad (again) at the thought of leaving the kids. In the midst of my fear, I called out to the Lord and in His goodness and faithfulness, He answered me. I felt a flow of His peace-- literally. I felt something like a warmth go through my body that dried my eyes and calmed my breath. Inside my heart I was asking God to assure me that we were doing the right thing. God doesn't have to answer...He doesn't even have to listen. But, He does! I am so grateful to Him. I ask for the same things over and over and over. But our God is a perfect Father, my Abba, Daddy, who cares about me. And once again, I felt Him assure me that He is in this. He is leading. We are following. He will go before us. He will be there with us. And He will be home with the kids. I know I may need His peace again. I also know I can ask for it again, and out of His fatherly love, He will provide. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.... He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.

The Olympic Torch

The Olympics are being held in Beijing in 2008 and China is busy preparing for this grand event. China's orphans will be represented in the carrying of the Olympic torch and I just wanted to share that with everyone! This is an e-mail from Half the Sky (HTS), an organization that helps orphans in China. Charis was part of Half the Sky's preschool program while at her orphanage and I am very thankful for this organization. They are making a difference in the lives of children who to many have little to no value, but to God have value beyond measure.

"To all of our dear, dear friends of Half the Sky - YOU made it happen!This week in Beijing we got some wonderful news. Thanks to the concerted efforts of our most extraordinary HTS family, I am going to carry the Olympic Torch in Beijing!!http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/2007-11/02/content_6224493.htm
http://pub1.chinadaily.com.cn/cdpdf/olym/
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/torch_page.html

I do not yet know if I will be permitted to run with the children. That will be up to the Olympic Committee. But you can be sure of one thing: Whether or not I am allowed to run WITH the children, the world will know that I am running FOR them.Thank you, everyone, for helping to share the Olympic spirit with China's orphans. I know that those children who are old enough to understand will be so proud that they have a place in China's grand celebration. With love and thanks beyond measure, Jenny (Jenny Bowen, Executive Director, Half the Sky Foundation www.halfthesky.org)

Half the Sky was created in order to enrich the lives and enhance the prospects for orphaned children in China. We establish and operate infant nurture and preschool programs, provide personalized learning for older children and establish loving permanent family care and guidance for children with disabilities. It is our goal to ensure that every orphaned child has a caring adult in her life and a chance at a bright future."

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress...James 1:26-27

Think Care Bear!

Eight days from now we will be on our way. Hard to believe. Faithy and I decorated the house today for her birthday party... what a treat. Every decoration she opened was followed with a deep breath of wonderment and then, "Thank you, Mom!" It's Winnie the Pooh this year. And our house is being tramsformed into the Hundred Acre Wood...well, enough to please an eager, almost 4 year old anyway! I carry a notepad in the car; Faith likes to draw while we ride. This week, every time she draws a picture of me she says, "You are sad, Mommy." I ask her why she draws me sadly and she proceeds to explain that I am sad because she is not with me in the picture. Isn't that sweet? It's amazing to get a glimpse into her little mind... and heart. She is getting ready to part with me for 2 weeks and she knows I am doing the same. At dinner tonight, Josiah said he was going to miss us. Oh, how we will miss him! I love my kids so much!

Josiah and Faith have a gift to give their sister at the airport when they meet her. Faith bought Charis a purple Care Bear because she loves Care Bears and can't wait for her sister to have one. Care Bear is going to be Charis' knick name, too. So, if you have been wondering how to say Charis' name, think Care Bear! Charis is pronounced care-iss, hard c, long a, just like the care in Care Bear!

We received our passports today WITH SCOTT'S VISA ready to go!!! Charis' bag is packed. Clothes for the kids at the orphanage are packed. Jeremy's gift that we will be taking for the Kamberger's is packed. So things are moving along. I would appreciate continued prayer...I am having a hard time getting a good night's sleep... it's hard to shut off my mind these days. I also have a fear of flying...I have had numerous panic attacks on planes. Scott has to go out of town for 3 days this week...to/from Dallas. So, time is short and there is still much to do. Please pray, too, for our hearts to be taking joy in our Lord, to be thinking of Him and walking with Him throughout every step of this process. Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.