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These last two days have been some of the best days of my life. Hearing all five of my kidlins playing and laughing together is music to my ears. We have waited for these days for over 18 months. That is the longest pregnancy I've ever had.... It was so worth it. It blows my mind that the Lord would so richly bless us.

We took a walk around the lake and went to the playground. Liam had a blast on the swing! I think it must have been his first time on one because he giggled and giggled the whole time and had all of us watch him:-) He was so proud! Liam doesn't understand the difference between picking a dandelion in someone's yard and picking a tulip in the same yard..... sorry neighbors. We'll work on it!

The kids have had him on the trampoline! Had I videoed we could have won an award or at least a commercial deal! Liam literally squealed with delight for an hour! He laughed and screamed.....oh my goodness. The others were laughing with him almost as hard. Steve and I were inside peaking through the blinds.... laughing and I was a little teary. To see them all together and happy is an answer to my heart's cry and it's been a long cry!

When we started this journey we had no idea what to expect. Sometimes it was scary. Sometimes I heard the voice of discouragement louder than anything else. Sometimes I thought I had lost my sanity. (well, I have but it's unrelated). The Word of GOd is plain. He wants us to care for orphans. It's riddled throughout scripture but what He doesn't spell out for us is that it's not just for the orphans...it's as much for us as for them. Before I had even met Liam the Lord had been using him to teach me to trust Him. Many of you know some of the stories of God's faithfulness to us through this process and many of you don't. I'll be posting them as I have time. I need to write them down so I can read them to Liam as he grows. He'll be able to see how much the Lord loves him through them. It's really his story and I can't wait to share it with him as he grows. My heart is full. I am satisfied. That is a very good feeling. I've felt the dull ache of missing my son for too long. We're all together. Now when I count my kids at the park they're all present and accounted for. No more "Wait! Who are we missing???! Oh, Liam". They're all here and I can't wait to show them off! I love you guys! I'll see you soon! Aunt Carol, I'll try to keep this up at least once a week! I wish you lived closer! Talk to you all soon, Jen

p.s. I'm having issues with the uploader. I'll get it fixed and send the pics in a few!!

The Peak

We spent the day at the Peak. It was pretty cool. The cable car ride up to the top was neat. It reminded me of the pictures of the old Cincinnati Incline. It was mainly more shopping and eating...only on top of a mountain. The view is breathtaking during other parts of the year... but today it was a little cloudy. It was still pretty beautiful. I snapped a photo of a post card to post:) That's how it looks other times of the year...

We had some ice cream and played on the playground. It's so cool to see how much Liam has grown since last week! His first time at the playground he was very nervous and wanted me to be beside him the entire time. Today he was just a happy kid at the playground! Amazing! He was having a ball. So were Steve and I. God has been so good to us. 

We ate at Bubba Gump's. We had Caesar salad and Liam had white rice and broccoli. We were all happy. After dinner we walked around on the Promenade and saw a statue of Bruce Lee and the handprints of many Asian stars.  It was beautiful. The air was warm and breezy. It felt so good to be here knowing that I'd be seeing my babies in a few short hours. God bless Delta. We leave for the airport in two hours!!!! I can't wait to get on that plane! Please pray that we do! We'll post again when we get home. Love you all! Jen & Steve
 

 

DIsney!!

I have to say that Disney here in Hong Kong is pretty nice. It's only a couple of years old so everything is clean and new and the special effects are amazing! Space Mountain has been taken to another level. It was just awesome. Liam said he liked it but wouldn't ride again...  He loved the Buzz Lightyear ride. We rode that two times. He would have ridden it ten times but we didn't have time. The Jungle Boat Cruise was awesome. I think Liam thought it was real...he was totally freaked out about something. We took the cruise that was in Mandarin so he could understand but we have no idea what they said. He loved it but he was a bit concerned.  He loved the 4D movie. That was so funny! He was dodging the things that popped out and having a great time! We saw shows and met Buzz , had a Mickey Mouse ice cream bar and ate lots of food. Liam was THRILLED that they sold plain white rice. His eyes lit up and he smiled and gave me the thumbs up. Poor baby! We know just how you feel!

The show that we went to was amazing! I've never seen anything like it, It was circ 'd sole meets broadway at Disney Land. We were all very impressed. We videoed Liam during the program. It was so cute. He clapped and listened so intently! He loved it but near the end he had to go potty so badly that he wiggled right off his seat! He does this little wiggle dance when he really has to go and we just crack up! This time he wiggled a little too much! 

Today we're heading to Victoria's Peak. The highest point in Hong Kong. We're going by the steepest train on earth.. it's pulled by cables at a 45 degree angle. I'm not sure that I like that but I'm going anyway. Steve really wants to go so I guess I'll have to suck it up. I'm not sure how the view will be from up there, though. It's really misty here like in the Smoky's when its rainy. Maybe it'll clear up..

Tomorrow we are scheduled to leave!!! PRAY! I need to get home. Please pray that we get three seats on the 8:30 flight tomorrow. I just want to get home to my babies. I'm not going to make it much longer without them. Thanks, your prayers have been answered so far! I miss you all and love you! Jen

 

Pics

 

 

Hong Kong...still

We're still here. I wish I were home. Steve and I are both so homesick for our kids. It's getting pretty rough on all of us. The kids, I'm sure, are feeling especially sad since we won't be there for Easter. I feel sick to my stomach about it. We're flying stand-by so please pray that we get a flight out on Tuesday morning (your Monday night). I honestly think I may die of sorrow if I have to be away from my family for another day. Plus, Liam needs some normalcy in his world too. Living in a hotel isn't exactly the best way to be welcomed into a family... 

Today we walked around Kowloon and looked in some crazy shops. I think everything here comes from Guangzhou... it's all the same stuff. Just more expensive. Since we've done all the markets and we don't need any Prada shoes, Hong Kong is just another big city. They, at least, have normal toilets and obey the traffic laws. There are no bikes or wagons so the streets are much less insaine and there don't seem to be as many people out and about all day and night. I know it's a highly populated city but it honestly seems pretty tame compared to the other places we've been. There are at least two Starbuck's on every corner and tons of Subway's so we have food. No suckling pig for us.

We took the ferry over to downtown Hong Kong and walked around a bit. It really looks cooler from far away. Once you're there all you can see is whatever sky-scraper is in front of you. They did have a nice park, though, and Liam had fun running through it picking flowers:) He is totally amazed by water fountains. The decorative type.. He is so cute. It's amazing how many 1st we have every day. Today was his 1st boat ride, 1st fountain, 1st azalea flower, 1st cappuccino (which he tried to spit out in a plant), 1st time in a pool, 1st time nearly drowning-mama was not happy, 1st bus ride....shall I go on?  In some ways he's well beyond his years and in others he has just missed so much. I wish we could have become his parents sooner. I love him so much...

We're planning on doing Disney tomorrow. That should be fun. This entire week is a national holiday here so it may be terribly crowded but I think we'll give it  a go anyway. We'll never be back... and Liam LOVES Mickey. He sings a song in Chinese about him. So cute. I can't even tell you what he calls Mickey. It's totally different but the excitement is all the same. 

I'll post more tomorrow! Steve says HI! Love you! Jen

 

 

Hong Kong

We're here in Hong Kong! I can't believe we actually made it. Taking the train with four heavy pieces of luggage and a stroller a backpack and a little boy is not easy. They have no carts to put your luggage on so Steve had two of the suit cases piggy backed together and was pushing the other one in front of him. I had Liam in a stroller with a suit case hooked on to the handle, a bag on the other handle and my backpack so over packed with souvenieres that I looked like a turtle. Poor Steve was handling over 200lbs of luggage on his own. Then we had to find a cab...we made it here to the very overpriced hotel here in Hong Kong. They're all overpriced. Unbelievable. And we had to pay for the internet... 

We had a nice dinner at Outback. Thank goodness! Filet and sweet potato, cold beer and salad that tastes like salad! Not too shabby! 

Poor little Liam fell off his chair and totally cracked his noggin. The poor thing is head heavy. He has a straight line across his head and a knot the same shape. It was awful. I can't believe he didn't need stitches. He really hit hard. He still didn't cry... I almost did but not a squeek out of him. Poor little guy. The day he bawls about something like that  I'll know we're really making progress. 

I have no pictures to post. My camera seems to have "gone missing" again. This time in the train station. We were pretty upset to find that out but can do nothing but buy another one and hope it's not a knock off... we have to have pictures of Disney! 

Tomorrow we'll shop for a camera and do some sight seeing. This place is pretty amazing. More buildings than I have ever seen. Hong Kong is surrounded by mountains on both sides with water in between. It reminds me of Hawaii a bit. It's pretty cool. 

Hopefully I'll have a camera to post pictures tomorrow! Love you all! Jen

 

Red Couch Pictures

We had lots of fun yesterday! We hired a van with a couple we've met here and went to the markets. Steve bought some more "Rolex" watches.... and Liam bought a Pleasant Goat watch. His is definitely the better purchase.

Later we all went over to the White Swan Hotel for the traditional "Red Couch" Pictures. All families adopting from China usually end their journey with a picture on the red couch.So, Steve and I and Kelly and Phil got our kiddos all dolled up in their traditional Chinese outfits and took some very cute pictures over there. Liam and their daughter Jordan are such little cuties together! They just love each other. He feeds her his food and gives her kisses... so sweet. He treats her with such love. He's going to be a great brother. Kelly and Phil also have a 13 month old little boy who happens to be the most charming little baby I think I've ever met.(other than my own , of course) He is  the sweetest little thing.  He has a smile that honestly lights up a room. Those two babies have us thinking about round two already! 

Today we leave for Hong Kong. Pray that we make a good decision about a hotel... it's so hard to decide. We've never been there and it's soo hard to know where to stay. I have to admit, as fun as Hong Kong sounds, I'm a bit jealous about all these families that we've met going home today. I sure do miss my kiddos. 

My next post will be from sunny Hong Kong!  We love you all! Jen

 

Oath Ceremony!

Today we had the official "Oath Ceremony" with all the other adoptive families we've met here in Guangzhou. It was a very important day...but no pictures were allowed in the room. Bummer. It was very fun to see all the families complete this long journey together. We've all come from different cities for different children but we have so much in common. Love. It's such a blessing to my heart to see the Gospel in action. How similar God's love for us is. When we were completely unaware He sent His Son to Earth, a very foreign land, to save His people. We did nothing to deserve it. We didn't even know it was going to happen or how important it was for us. He paid the price. He made the journey. He did it all. While we were still sinners. We are never as grateful as we should be. Adoption is similar. Not nearly on the same scale but similar in a human way.  None of these kiddos know how wonderful their lives are going to be. 

Emma just told me that yesterday my pictures didn't post so I'll re-send them. Sorry:)  

Tomorrow we're off to do some more shopping with some friends and then we leave for Hong Kong.  We wish we were heading home to be with our family but we can't get a flight out so it's Hong Kong. We think we'll have a lot of fun there. I'm thinking DIsney! 

Talk to you all tomorrow! Jen

 

 

More fun.....

We have really been enjoying ourselves here on Shamian Island. There is such an energy of excitement here! So many families growing right before our eyes and everyone is so happy! We're making some new friends and sharing our stories and new children! The food here is great and the weather is warm! THe Victory Annex seems to be the best place for adoptive families to stay. We have a huge room and so many American neighbors. Liam is already a bit spoiled:) Ah well.... there will be time enough for training at home. He is very bright and can already write his American name!! He showed us last night at diner on his placemat! SO AMAZING! 

We went to church yesterday. It was so nice to worship with other believers. We made some friends there and spent the day touring a local herbal market. I'll post some pictures of it..... it looks more like a pet store... it's so different. Scorpions, dried bat on a stick, snake skin, turtle, dried lizard, some small fish... yummy.  They also had a pet market. That was very cute. Lots of puppies and kitties but Steve wouldn't let us touch... you know he's a bit of a germ-a-phobe... He thought we'd catch something odd:) It was fun anyway.. Liam really liked the baby ducks. I think Steve was afraid of the bird flu...

Today we went to the US Consulate to ask for a vaccine waiver. I think it'll be granted! Praise GOD! 

We went shopping for some clothes for Liam and let me tell you, it's not easy to find western-style clothing here. I just couldn't buy anything that he couldn't wear at home and man it was hard. And expensive..  but he looks so cute! 

We had lunch at IKEA! That was an unexpected treat:) It's a really nice store and the food was almost the same as home. The mashed potatoes were just plain old boiled potatoes with sweedish flags stuck into them:) Other than that it tasted the same and the lingenberry juice was replaced with "craMberry" juice. Too funny! 

Please be praying that we can get a flight out of here on the 1st and that Liam's visa is ready by the 31st. I am so ready to hold my four other babies!! I miss them like crazy! 

We love you all so much and can't wait to get back to see you all and share our new blessing with you! He is truly an amazing little boy. More than we even thought to ask for. Talk to you soon. Jen