Bringing Hannah Home

The Continuing story pictures

2009-06-08T04:31:00.001+08:00

2009-06-08T04:28:00.001+08:00

The continuing story

2009-06-08T02:49:00.004+08:00

Hello all... well we are home, a few words about what has been happening since my last post. My blog was censored and blocked while I was in China after about the first week. So it was increasingly difficult to post anything, I used several means but could not upload pictures. so with this post I am uploading several and will try to explain them. I had the privilege to work with 2 incredible American doctors at Shepherds Field. Their names were Doctor Anna Moody and Doctor Bill Moody.You will see their picture attached.
I had mentioned before about people wanting to have their pictures taken with me and with my son James, well James and I took a day to ourselves and went to Forbidden city. It was amazing to see, and I stood in Tienanmen square. That was awesome as my grand children say.... we met some great friendly people also. I saw some teens snapping our picture and waved to them, they were so funny, they wanted their picture with us so they took turns standing with us and getting the others to take the picture. It never became annoying and the people were very nice about it, and what a little thing it was. The picture you see of the teen with a big smile is one of the group.
There is a picture of a huge cauldron, this was used at Forbidden city to store water in to fight fires that may happen in the buildings, there were a lot of them scattered throughout the large compound. There were soldiers everywhere within the walls of Forbidden city. The buildings were beautifully painted, the steps were many and the weather was great for walking.
It was a holiday, The Dragon boat festival. So there were many people there. We had a little sprinkle of rain in the early afternoon. there was a large moat all around the city. Lots of statues of dragons.
The pictures of the children are from Shepherds Field, they are out in front of Samaritan Building which houses the clinic. The picture of the hand was the little girl that is pursing her lips to give me a kiss. her fingers are always blue, and if you are a doctor or nurse you will understand her illness just by looking at her fingers. And her smile was as sweet as could be.
In my next post I will talk about Childrens day and post more pictures.
Gods' love to you.

A Monday at Shepherds Field.

2009-05-25T13:23:00.000+08:00

hello everyone. Well what a weekend I had, I spent one day vomiting, and in bed, doctor Moody came to see me, and decided that it was something I ate, no fever. But still with the sinus thing so he started me on antibiotics.So I still cannot see the children in fear of getting them ill.
For some reason, I do not understand, I cannot get to the blog site in the regular way and have to circumspect the globe to post anything. So I cannot place pictures right now but will again when I can.
Today is Monday and I am feeling much better we have a full week ahead of us. Tuesday i am going with one of the workers here to Langfang to buy a new sewing machine for the Ladies in the craft shop.James, Janine and I are going in together to buy it for them, they use some really antiquated machines right now, one is a treadle machine. They make beautiful wall hangings, we brought over 2 suitcases full of fabric for them also, well James and Janine did.
More visitors came in today, about 10, young people and we had lunch with them. They are only here for the day but I did give them pointers for shopping in the Pearl Market. They are going there Wednesday.
Sunday we are going to the Great Wall.There will be 20 in the group.We will spend the day.
Thursday James and I are going to Forbidden City.
James is off helping with computers somewhere , Janine and the children spent the morning at a friends home visiting.
I still have not decided what painting to choose. And I need to choose before Thursday when about 12 people will arrive to spend a week. There are several guest rooms where we are at, we have 2 as I stated earlier, girls in one boys in the other.
Well I must go now, Gods love to all.

Another Day in China

2009-05-23T13:29:00.003+08:00

We are back at Shepherds’ field and I have spent my first day here ill. I have some kind of sinus thing going on and in order not to infect anyone else I am trying to stay by myself. I spent the morning in bed and did not make my regular call to home. I have taken some sinus medicine that James and Janine brought with them, so we will see.
Our days here are growing shorter; we will be home in 13 days. I t does not seem possible that we have been here that long at times, and other times it seems forever.
I found myself very melancholy this morning wanting to see my home and my husband, and my animals and sit on my deck by the creek in my back yard. I miss them more than I can say.
I will not be able to see the children until I am well, I cannot risk getting them sick.
Everyone else seems to be fine.
It is much cooler here than in south China, so that is a relief.
Janine and Hannah, David, Gabriel, Elijah are all spending the day with the Foster parents David lived with. They are Americans from Wisconsin originally. James has gone to set up someone’s computer in their home. Doctor Moody is not far from here and he will find me something to do when I am well enough. There are several Americans here now, the special education teacher is American from New York, her name is Dawn, and she lives in an apartment upstairs where we are staying. She has been here for several months and loves it here. You can tell she enjoys her job; the lord just shines through her.

Regarding the Pearl River, Glazed Sidewalk Tiles, and Early Morning Tai Chi

2009-05-20T23:51:00.003+08:00

On Monday (18 May), I finally broke down and decided to go running. Those of you who have been unfortunate enough to hear my complaining, know that I’ve had a foot injury for the last few months that has kept me from running. That, as well as a pulled back muscle I got just 10 days before we departed for our trip, has combined to make one very grumpy daddy. I’ve been over the pulled back muscle for a while now, and the physical therapy I had been receiving for my foot seemed to have made it better (but not completely healed), and I’ve been putting on weight with all the eating going on over here, so I made up my mind to go for a run around the "island". You see, the hotel we’re staying at (the Victory) is on a piece of land that is bordered on one side by a broad river called the Pearl, and what someone decided to do quite a while ago was to dig a canal from one part of the river to another part of the river, essentially forming an island, and this island is called Shamian. It’s a nice island, with a definite colonial esthetic to it in the building architectures and parks. So I take off for my run, and of course I want to run along the edge near the water for the best scenery. All of the retaining walls that line the island are about 8 feet tall from the top of the wall which is the same as the "sidewalk", down to the top of the water. There are stairs cut into the retaining wall about every hundred meters or so that go down to the water. Also, it’s been raining here since we arrived, and everything is wet. Now, many of you know that I love to run in the rain, so the fact that it actually started to rain when I started on my run made me quite happy. What I soon paid close attention to however, was that the majority of the tiles that paved the top of the "sidewalk" were in fact glazed tiles. Glazed tiles that are quite slippery when wet. Wet, slippery glazed tiles at the top of the retaining wall…with an eight foot drop to the rather nasty water below, with no way out but a minimum of 50 meter swim…. Needless to say, I was very careful with my foot placement and was sure to stay away from the very edge. I hate to disappoint you, but I didn’t fall into the canal, although I could have quite easily. I did however, get plenty of gawking glances…. But I don’t blame them. Two hundred pound, bald, bearded, pale, round eye running on their island? They’re probably thinking I stole something. (Just kidding!) Anyway, after about 20-25 minutes of running, I’m really starting to feel the muscles talk to me, and so make my way to the inner parts of the island, where there is a very nice park that runs the length of the island, with the intent of doing some stretching, and then head back to the hotel. Once I get to the park, the sight that greets me is right out of National Geographic. There are about 20 Chinese people all doing their morning Tai Chi exercises in unison and in complete silence. I’m absolutely spellbound, but totally acting as if I’m not paying attention at all. I stay a respectable distance from the group (about 15 meters), and go through my stretches, all the while knowing that they’re checking me out too, but totally acting as if they’re not paying attention at all. Not wanting to be an embarrassment to my countrymen, I make sure to do a thorough leg stretch and run through my balance exercises, and I work up quite a sweat just doing these. Feeling that I’ve defended my honor sufficiently, I turn, bowing slightly in respect as I exit the exercise area, and take off at full sprint for the last 1/8 mile before slowing down at the hotel. On the way I pass by a Chinese Army guard post, manned by 3-4 uniformed army personnel. They all turn as I pass by at my full sprint, saying something to each other in Mandarin (I’m sure if I could translate, it would be something like, "Wow! I wonder if being bald makes you run faster?" – LOL!!). Actually, they were more probably asking themselves if they should arrest me since I had obviously stolen something. (ha!! JUST KIDDING! Please forgive me. 8-)

And in the end, my foot really didn’t hurt all that much. MOST excellent.

Click this link to see Shamian Island in Google maps: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Guangzhou,+Guangdong,+China&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=39.099308,72.158203&ie=UTF8&ll=23.107444,113.24692&spn=0.011111,0.017617&z=16

Rub-a-dub, dub – Three Boys in the …. Pool?

2009-05-20T00:50:00.008+08:00

As soon as the boys found out that there was a pool at the hotel in Guangzhou, they’ve been incessant about hounding me to go swimming. The rooms are a little small here, and since I won’t let them just sit in front of the TV or play their Nintendo DS’s all day, they really do need something to do. Anyway, I took them yesterday (Monday, 18 May), and they were quite happy to have something to do outside in this humidity. David took some convincing that the water was shallow enough for him to be comfortable, but once he knew he could stand up in it, he was all over it. I think Hannah was a little conflicted – she obviously enjoyed watching all of us have fun in the water, but there was no way she was getting in. I think she’s afraid of the water, and I can understand that, but its obviously something we’re gonna have to change. 8-) Janine took them all to the pool today (Tuesday, 19 May) as well, and encouraged Hannah to get her suit on too, but Hannah reacted badly and threw a fit. Janine convinced her however, and all went to the pool, but still Hannah didn’t get in. I will try her again tomorrow, and perhaps she’ll let me take her into the water.

Additionally, check out the picture below. While we’ve been here in China, Elijah has been studying deep meditation techniques from Zen masters and has learned how to levitate above the water. I can’t wait to learn this myself! LOL! (posted by James)

The tea house, swimming and beauty

2009-05-19T10:12:00.007+08:00

Yesterday Hannah and the boys and James and Janine went to the swimming pool; it is an open air one on top of the hotel, they had a lot of fun they were the only ones at the pool. Hannah did not want to get in, but she watched them play sitting on the side with mom. I decided to just take pictures. Since I did not bring my bathing suit with me to China. The boys tried their best to get me wet anyway.
We saw some beautiful statues in the park, and lots of brides getting their pictures taken.
The shops are wonderful and all the people are very friendly and helpful.
James and I walked to the Swan Hotel where there is a waterfall inside the hotel it is about 40 feet tall with a huge pond with lots of Koi in it. With beautiful artwork all around.
We saw a man doing finger painting which is a very skillful art here and he let me take his picture. I bought one of his very small paintings.
Then he took me to a tea shop, and we had tea the authentic Chinese way, and it was great.
The grocery store was very large, and had everything as before, and lots of workers to help us make selections.
Hannah saw the doctor it was a short walk down the street. Today Molly has paper work to do for us, and then tomorrow we have more paper work, then Thursday we go to Beijing. Today James and I are going to visit a pagoda and gardens.
I am attaching several pictures from yesterday.
God’s love to all

The Traveler, the Calligrapher, and the Bell Tower

2009-05-18T23:58:00.006+08:00

Last Wednesday, (13 May), we were free for the afternoon as we waited for the local notary official to complete their paperwork for Hannah. Our local host, Chandler, suggested we go see a local historical site – a bell tower. Chandler explained that in the past (but how far in the past I forget) the Chinese would sound out the hour of the day via a large bell in a tower about 4 (?) stories tall. And besides, he said, there were plenty of small shops around the tower – so of course the ladies were all for checking out the area. Our driver Wu took us there, and once we got to the area the shopping for just that special deal commenced. We did eventually make it to the bell tower, and found that it also had a museum inside. We walked through the museum, which focused on Chinese buildings of the past and how small some of the houses were and how much better things have become. We wound our way through and up to the top where the bell was, and the boys and I rang the bell for luck. You have to use a large log like striker that’s suspended from a rope. You get three strikes for 5 RMB. The boys were shy about striking the bell first, so I went first, and they saw how easy it was and that it wasn’t going to make them deaf. (LOL). So we all got our strikes in, and were given some coupons to receive a commemorative "lucky" calligraphy (in Chinese, of course!). I didn’t think this would mean very much – but I was soon to find out how wrong I was. So we head down the stairs to just below the bell level, and there we find there are a group of people doing calligraphy, with a lot of their work all over the room – some laying on the floor, some suspended from cords stretched across the room, and some hung within glass cases.

I’m quite intrigued – I’ve always been impressed by calligraphy, regardless of the language. Chandler started to chat with them, and I could tell from his expression during his conversation that something very unusual was taking place here. He explained to me that the three men doing calligraphy at the table were actually calligraphy instructors at the university in Tianjin, and were quite well known for their work. They had been requested by the local government to come to the bell tower and do calligraphy pieces as part of a cultural awareness week. The cost to acquire a piece of their work? Simply the cost of the paper (30 RMB each, or about $4.25). What would I like them to write for me? Hmmmmmm…..after some deliberation, I ask Chandler to have them write "swordsman" (of course, alluding to my love of Iaido). Chandler discusses this with the calligraphers, and he comes back with a variation, and suggests they write the characters which translate to "the spirit of the sword". MOST excellent, I think, and agree. The calligrapher sets about his work, and is done in few minutes. A masterpiece.

Chandler chats with them all during this time, and learns just how valuable this piece of work is. Seems that if commissioned to make similar pieces under normal circumstances, this same piece would fetch 6,000 RMB (approx $850) or more. Wow. I thanked them many times, and told them (through Chandler) how much I appreciated their work. They were all very pleasant and seemed very pleased that a traveling American would appreciate their work so much. In the end, Chandler and I would come back on Friday and get a few more pieces, and then took them to a local shop (recommended by one of the calligraphers) to have them mounted on traditional silk scrolls. Cost for mounting on the silk scrolls? 20 RMB (just under $3) each. Totally unbelievable. What an incredible find. (posted by James)

Regarding a certain blond American boy traveling in China…..

2009-05-18T22:16:00.006+08:00

Last Thursday, (14 May), we had a free day waiting for Hannah’s passport to be completed, and we took the train into Beijing to first see the Emperor’s Summer Palace, and then to see the Pandas at the zoo. Something had happened a few different times prior to that day, but it seemed to be especially prevalent while we were visiting the Summer Palace. It seems that the Chinese people have a fascination with Gabriel. Why? I’m not quite too sure – perhaps because he’s just soooo cute! But whatever the reason, on no less than two separate occasions on Thursday, people just had to have their pictures taken with him. Gabriel had no idea why he garnered such attention, and was quite shy about these strange people wanting to have their pictures taken with him. He took it all in stride though, and wasn’t rude and didn’t complain. Of course, I have to admit my pride as I took his hand and led him away…thinking to myself how proud I was to have him as my son! 8-) (posted by James)

Continuing

2009-05-17T11:34:00.009+08:00

Yesterday we took an airplane from Tianjin to Guangzhou, the trip was 3 hrs and the plane was smaller, the flight attendants were very nice and the plane was full.

Saying goodbye to Wu and Chandler was very hard to do, I liked them both very much. Chandler was very patient with us and very helpful. I gave him a gift of his favorite Jasmine tea in a beautiful tin.Wu was wonderful and she and I bonded very quickly, I bought her a gift of thanks and gave it to her when she picked us up at the hotel to take us to the airport, And she surprised me with a gift for me and I cried, I will miss her. I gave her my card and it has my address on it. I will have many great memories of her. She is in the picture with me at the airport.
We are in the sub tropics it is very hot here. The scenery is beautiful as you will see by the pictures. I am missing church this morning, but will pray in my room.
We have 3 rooms in this hotel, Sarah and I are sharing a room, Janine and Hannah and James, Elijah, Gabriel, David all have 2 rooms that connect. The hotel is very beautiful.
This town is much smaller than Tianjin was. This is where we Finalize everything.
Again My red hair is an oddity, and I get lots of stares.
They have great streets here where only pedestrians are allowed, they have open air exercising and badmitten players everywhere in the courtyards.
We saw a wedding party in a courtyard last night and it was beautiful.
We are going to a grocery store in a few minutes to buy water.
Gods love to all.

Tianjin 3rd day

2009-05-13T07:26:00.008+08:00

Good morning friends, we are still in Tianjin, James and Janine had to go to appointments yesterday and get things ready for leaving here on Saturday. Chandler took us to his hotel to eat last night, we had 8 different foods in huge amounts for 9 people, and it was 35.00 American. Or 326. RMB. And I have to say, I tried Donkey meat, it tastes like pastrami. But I do not want to try it again, thank you.
Hannah is getting to know us better, she does not like being seperated from the boys at night. She has really bonded with Sarah and Janine, she let Sarah bath her and take her brace off her leg last night and wash her hair. I am washing clothes and hanging them in the bathroom on built in clothes lines to dry.
We hired Wu ( female Chinese driver) to take us several places today after 1 pm, we will be going to the drum tower.and several historic homes.And to see other sights.
I am attaching several pictures from the city here.
I must tell you that I am getting quite good at eating with chopsticks, having my picture taken is becoming common for me and sometimes I want to pose for them, I am a very small minority here with my red hair and( large figure) I have only seen 2 other people with red hair since I have been here.....we had a little concern in the market, a man on a bicycle kept trying to get Gabriel to get on his bike with him and followed us for many many shops, but all the boys and I and of course James, kept saying no. James in his "Indiana Jones" hat can be quite intimidating and has had his picture taken many times also.We saw a fight in one shop and Chandler kept herding us away from it with hand motions. Lots of yelling on both sides.
We are having a wonderful time, no one has been bothered with stomach problems. The orphanage has told us that Hannah can be very stubborn and we said that she will fit right in....LOL
Love to all

2009-05-13T07:26:00.007+08:00

Yesterday we had a free day where no paper work was needed and we took the children on the "Bullet Train" to Beijing, it travels at over 200 MPH. The train was very clean, very comfortable and it took 27 minutes to go what it would normally take 3 hrs to drive. We went to the Summer Palace and the ZOO we saw so many sights. I am attaching pictures, Hannah is fitting right in lots of bonding, she loves to be with the boys, I have lost 10 lbs, but am eating more than enough, we walk so much, I have not had any problems with shortness of breath since the second day. My legs are getting much stronger.
Everyone here takes a quick liking to the boys as I have told you in my last posts. At the Summer palace, and the zoo they all had to take pictures with them, especially the men, with families, it was great amusement for them. And we were all just doing fine, it did get a little tiresome after awhile.
Chandler has been answering lots of questions for me, no semis or even pick up trucks are allowed in the city in the daytime only at midnight, and personal cars are not allowed in the city on certain days. All of the flowers we see are beautiful
There is no reason to the traffic, everyone just drives however. But I feel safe, Kenneth you drive great, no more dash board brakes....LOL he will understand.
I will be glad to get back to Shepherds field and be with the children, Being in the big city is ok but I have done enough sight seeing.
We went to Thai restaurant for lunch yesterday and I burned my lips off with the food. It was beautiful though as is every restaurant.
There are 17 million people in Beijing about 7 million in Tianjing, All the families work, the children are in school from 830 am till 530 pm sometimes until 830 pm. They have a winter break and a summer break, air conditioning is not turned on until June in some places, it has been in the 70's and 80's every day. we keep the windows open and wash the clothes and hang them in the bathroom to dry they dry overnight.
All the children wear 3 layers of clothes even in heat. Hannah fell yesterday twice at the zoo and tore her leggings and skinned her knee, and lots of people were concerned, it was very nice to see that the people were concerned.
when we got back to the room, I washed it and put bacitracin and bandaid on it, she did fine not a whimper she watched closley. She understands a lot of english, but speaks mostly Mandarin.
OK everyone enough for today....Gods love to all

Travel to Tianjin

2009-05-11T20:55:00.001+08:00

Travel to Tianjin

I apologize that I did not get anything written and posted yesterday. We traveled to Beijing to church services which were held in a very large building downtown, you could not get inside without a passport, services were held on 3 different levels, lower level is where we had to go for English speaking, the service was very good, not like home but very good, over 300 in our service, I do not know how many in the others, looked like it all could hold about 2000. I had to take a picture of the Chinese toilet…you will see. It takes great skill to master one of these which I sadly have not found that skill in myself yet.

After service our driver “CU” took us to the “Pearl Market” it is 7 stories tall, has thousands of shops in it. Everything from watches, pearls, all kinds of electronics, clothing of every kind, luggage, purses shoes, jade, onyx, silks, rugs, the list goes on and on, we only had 1 ½ hr and I only got to see 3 floors. Lots of people grabbing you and calling to you and trying to sell, you HAVE to barter, you NEVER pay the asking price, I was VERY good at this, ask my husband who is “the LAST OF THE BIG SPENDERS”….anyway I really enjoyed this.

Then back to the compound get our suitcases, lock the rooms, We had to leave half of our things here due to fact the next plane ride only allows 1 suitcase each and only 45 lbs. Then back in van with Cu and on to Tianjin which is 1 ½ hr ride, I am finding that everything is 1 ½ hr ride no matter where you go.

The ride is great; we see a lot of the country, lots of farms and shepherds with sheep. Many many people working on the farms but no houses close by. Cu explains that the farmers do not live where they farm, but travel a little while to do this. There is so much beauty in this country; I can scarcely take it all in. The people are all beautiful, such character in their faces smiles and waves.

We start to get close to Tianjin and the population increases greatly, I thought that we were going to a small town, it has about 200,000 people and I think they are all on the road, half on bicycles or scooters, ¼ in cars and ¼ walking, I do not believe anyone is at home.

We finally make it to our hotel, “The Golden Ocean”. The hotel is very nice as you will see by pictures. We get our bags upstairs; girls in one room boys in another, the beds are just a little bigger than twin size.

By this time we are very hungry, we walk 2 blocks to; you’ll never believe it, Pizza Hut! No tables big enough for all of us, so girls at 1 table boys at another. I am beginning to actually like this plan.

Back to the room, showers and bed.

In the morning we meet our Liaison, Chandler, He is a young (26) Chinese man that speaks great English. He will go with us to the orphanage to get Hannah.

We take gifts (it is expected) for the official at the orphanage. We get there at the gate, we are stopped, they have to take our temperatures in case we have touched a pig, then on into building where Hannah is, we are getting closer. Up to the office, then no, no we have to go back down stairs to see the nurse, she has to look in our mouths, at our throats, and then our hands, I do not understand this reasoning, but to get Hannah I will even show them my feet. We go back up to the office finally…we wait …then it is more paperwork, I am very fortunate to be here at this moment, they do not usually let anyone except the parents come, but they let us all go.

And then all of a sudden there she is, what a moment! I have been delegated to film the occasion with the video camera, she is frightened, but after a few minutes with the boys she is completely at ease. As you can see in the pictures. Then a day of getting to know each other….more later…God be with you all.

3rd day

2009-05-10T07:03:00.000+08:00

3rd day

Today we get up early and eat in the breakfast room, James fixes us all breakfast of bacon and eggs and our favorite, bottled water, even Tim and Pam do not drink the water, and they have been here for 20 yrs. Not because of the bacteria but because of the hard metals in the water.
We see a lot more of the compound today and I visit the 2^nd floor of the infirmary, where the babies are that have heart conditions, one is crying in my room of 3, all in cribs, the little 4 month old is getting an IV and has a fever, I sit with him and soothe him and rub his back, his legs have to be tied to the bed because his IV is in his right foot, his fever slowly goes down as he gets the IV and he rests, his breathing is very labored and hard to watch. The other little ones wakes up and I pick him up, and imediatley name him Jacob for some reason, it just came to me. I sing to him and he smiles at me, we go through “Jesus loves me”, “You are my sunshine”, “What a day that will be”, and he cuddles against me and smiles. The worker in the room seems amazed that he has taken so with me. These babies that I have chosen to be with are very ill and I just pray over them that God will make their short lives peaceful and without pain.

I have asked permission to spend some time with the 3 teenage girls that are here, one Wendy is in a wheelchair, she is beautiful, and has no hope for adoption now. I have brought special things for 3 teenage girls, even though I did not know their were 3 here.I believe the cut off age is 12. I have given all the baseball caps that I brought to Tim to hand out to the boys, I brought about 20, And all the hair barrettes. I have 1 small cap with Mickey mouse on it for Benjamin, he is a small child that had to have his skull reconstructed, and is all smiles, runs as fast as his little legs can carry him.

After lunch on our own in the breakfast room with leftovers, we head into town to get laundry soap. Tim drops Janine, Sarah, and I at Wal mart, which is 2 or 3 stories tall, the escalators are like tread mills and shooping carts fit on them, we get laundry soap, fabric softner, I get thin socks, my socks are too thick. We only have 45 minutes. Look at some clothes, the size XXXL is our size 14….hmmm

We head back to the compound do laundry and get ready for the evening meal. Tim takes us and his 3 sons to a place called a “Hot Pot” restauraunt, I have pictures attached. We cook our own meal at each setting in a(you guessed it) hot pot. The food is wonderful, James and I discover sweet pickled garlic, they serve it as an appetizer. Along with many things, all kinds of vegetables (yes we cook them in our pots).

The boys, all 6 of them are having a great time. I forgot to tell you, when we parked a man in the parking lot came running over and opened my door and helped me from the van, did not know if it was due to age? Or beauty? LOL.

We get back home and head straight to bed, have to get up very early in the morning, church is 1 ½ hr drive from here.

Love to all till next post, we leave here after church to go to Tinjan where we get Hannah and start all the papers and running and another flight. Will post as soon as I can…

Love to all.

2nd day in China

2009-05-09T07:53:00.000+08:00

May, 8^th 2009

Our visit to China is official now we are there, let me begin this part with getting to the “Beijing National Airport”, when we landed we waited until everyone was off the plane and we disembarked very last with all our carryons and double checking that nothing was left. We do not want to loose anymore Nintendo’s, or any other items.

We get inside the airport which is absolutely beautiful and so clean. First we walk all the way across the airport, felt like 1 mile but was probably only half of that, then we go through the “foreigners” line, we hand over the papers that show we have not touched a pig in the last 2 weeks, they take all our temperatures, we pass with flying colors, I know they thought I had a temp because by this time, ( as all who know me) my face is very red from walking so far. We go through customs, (have nothing to declare), we finally get to baggage claim after 3 different checkpoints, everyone has been so nice and so helpful all smiling. We stsrt finding our bags start counting them and yep you guessed it 1 is missing it belongs to Sarah my 18 yr old granddaughter, ok we keep looking, an official comes to help, then an assistant, they search and look, we go to lost and found they look, we find one that is identical to Sarah’s but belongs to a woman from Arkansas. AHA…the lady from Arkansas must have it. We leave the airport after James has filled out many forms, we have been in the airport for 4 hrs by now, we load all our luggage in 1 van and we get in the other, they are from the adoption agency, and head for Langfang, where we will stay until Sunday, we get 10 minutes from the airport and James gets call from airport, they have found the lost bag, it will be returned to the airport by 7 pm it is after 5 now, so we have to make a quick decision, go back to airport wait on bag, go on to Lang fang and come back,(which sounds like a really bad idea to me), our driver does not speak English, we get out the phrase book, get him to stop the car which he does, on the side where the road splits (the sign clearly states no stopping), the other van is not with us it is either ahead or behind, we get someone on the phone that can translate for us….. we get in touch with the other driver, they come back to join us which takes 30 minutes, (we left the airport at the same time)….James gets in the other van goes back to the airport we head to Lang fang. The country side is beautiful, lots of traffic lots of people on bicycle and mopeds. I nod off several times and keep praying that I don’t start snoring and scare the driver to death..

We finally arrive at Shepherd Fields the Compound where we will stay until Monday. We unload our bags and decide where we will sleep, (girls in one room boys in the other, 2 large beds in each room. Sarah has chosen our room, she and Janine share a bed and I and my C-Pap and computer share another. The Building we are staying in is wonderful. Lots of pictures to follow.

We go to a very close by and have our evening meal which is like a feast with all the food served in bowls in the middle of the table on an enormous glass lazy Susan, there is soooo much food, do they think there are more coming, when we are finished, they put all the left over’s in containers for us to take with us. We come back to the compound after we have taken a short side trip to see where David, one of my grandsons, was raised until James and Janine adopted him.

We got back to the building where we are sleeping. And I tried to work on the computer but the router does not reach upstairs and so I turned it off and went to sleep.

Up in the morning early for a tour of the compound, lots of picture taking.

Now down to some serious talking here, Let me describe the compound. It covers 6 ½ acres, it has a school, numerous offices, several buildings for children to live in, a large building that houses a large kitchen where they do all the baking and cooking a large building where they make “arts and crafts” which they sell to support the children, they use 2 old sewing machines and pray for a new sewing machine, I want to run out and buy them a dozen on the spot and have to slow down my heart and thinking. So much is needed. Tim shows us 4 new stoves that have been donated to them, they are small like our apartment size stoves in the states, he says here they cost about 1200 American dollars each, they are made in Budapest. They are building new buildings also. One of the new buildings is for training in fields of computers and other things to aid the children in supporting themselves when they are old enough, if the children reach a certain age and are not adopted, they go to another place, that is a place that has nothing for them to do, that is what they are trying to prevent from happening, the children are so special and so loving and so filled with wonder and questions. My heart is so filled with the wonder of Gods work going on here. Tim, The head of the compound, is great in explaining the workings of what they are doing and what they have done so far. There is a large playground for the children.

We walk all over then head back to the main building where we are going to eat, and it is also the building we are sleeping in.

There are oil paintings all up and down the halls of children, they are beautiful, they are also for sale, for the children, they range in price from 200. To 1200. That is RMB or China money, American it is $20. To $ 120. I see at least 20 that I want….Don’t worry Ken I will only choose one when I decide.

We eat a light lunch that we have seen prepared, and Sarah helped. It consists of pocket bread stuffed with chopped pork and vegetables and is delicious. And of course our favorite, bottled water. Then we are free until 2:30 when the children awake from there naps and then we will go to the other buildings to visit them.

So I go to my room to write…..And James heads to the bank with Tim to exchange money.And to get me a straw hat which he gets at "WALMART", you can see both in the pictures...and he went to A dirt market, where they were shopping for used tables and chairs that are needed for the buildings. They decided to build them instead...Then we go out for Peking Duck with Tim and Pam his wife and 4 of their children, they have 1 living in US in Texas, 1 in Beijing in college, and I am sorry but I cannot remember where the other daughter lives.they have 3 sons 4 daughters. Pam is absolutley wonderful and also works here at Shepherds Fields...we come back and fall into bed.

so until tomorrow friends, God be with you.

continuing journey

2009-05-08T09:03:00.000+08:00

We continue our journey with our 1^st flight. We are up at midnight after a nap, we have all 29 bags packed and ready, a friend arrives at the house with a “large van”, we fit all 29 bags 7 passengers and a driver, (I get to ride shotgun) after all I have to make sure the passenger “brakes” work in the vehicle. We drive from Stafford VA, to Dulles airport in Washington DC, an almost 2 hour drive. We arrive and unload the van onto 3 luggage carts, and we find the ticket counter does not open for another 45 minutes or so. We settle in to wait with the bags, the boys, and no one else in line, After James gives the Airport etiquette and rules talk and takes the boys to the bathroom, a counter person arrives, she is very energetic and “devoted to the RULES of her job, which is partly to set up the snaking pylons and webbing that forms the twisting and turning lines up to the counter. She tells us we have to move behind the pylons, no further behind, no all the way to the windows, ( on the other side of the room, OK I am beginning to get the idea, this women either did not get enough rest and is cranky OR she really loves her job…….we are 1^st in line remember? And there are now quite a few people behind us that keep eyeing our mounds of luggage, finnaly the rest of the counter help arrive, 3 of them to about 45 counters, OK we are called first, yes now we are getting somewhere. We are herded like sheep through the line, she actually opens the web for us to go through after all the admonishing to get behind the pylons. All the counter people quickly avert their eyes from us.

We finally get the entire luggage checked, get our boarding passes, we get directions to our boarding gate. Everyone is assigned a child to be in charge of, except me, (age does have its privileges). I get to bring up the rear and watch for stragglers so no one gets left behind. Each child is in charge of their own carry on which becomes a story in itself in a little while. David is actually in charge of 2 carryon’s, his and Hannah’s, did I forget to tell you that each bag (on rollers ) has the child’s name in big letters on it? Well David has his and Hannah’s’. Which Janine is using and also has some things for Hannah in it. Also Hannah has her own suitcase we are bringing over filled with Clothes that Janine has been collecting for a year, beautiful, cute little outfits. I actually have things in my bag that are for Hannah from Papaw Ken and I, cute magnate paper dolls, that I almost packed with my computer when my brains were asleep.

I get a great aisle seat on the plane, where the children behave so well, it is a wonderful flight and in no time,(4 ½ hrs) we are landing in San Francisco. Where we have to go to another part of the airport to board our connecting flight to Beijing. We travel on elevators, escalators, moving walkways, and under our own steam, and get to the correct gate. We only had 1 ½ hr between flights. While in the waiting area the boys get out their Nintendo DS’s to play, they each have one in different colors, you got it, Elijah cannot find his, he had it out in the last area when we got off the plane and James was hunting Ibuprofen,(the ONLY med I did not bring). So James rushes back to last waiting area, meanwhile they start to board our plane , Sarah and Janine are at the restroom, I am there with 3 boys and one is very unhappy. I call James on the cell, tell him they are boarding, everyone gets back in time for our section to board, and you guessed it NO Nintendo, someone picked it up. Did not turn it in to anyone. His brothers commiserate with him, but he knows it is gone for good.

We indeed get aboard, it is a huge plane to the boys, 2 aisles, 9 seats across, each seat has its own little built in screen to watch movies, OR you can watch the progress of the flight, 2 hrs out, we are at 34000 feet, at 561 MPH, we have traveled 1353 miles, have a tail wind at 2 MPH, We are near Juneau Alaska.

We have watched a movie, eaten a meal, and tried to nap, oh yes, I am in a row of 5 seats, on the aisle, next to me is David, next to him is Elijah, and then Sarah, in front of david is Janine, next to her, Gabriel, then James, with other people on both aisles, then next to Sarah is a man.

The sun continues to shine; we will not have night time, so they turn out the lights to make you think it is dark. David promptly dumps (accidently) a full glass of ice water over his lap and mine. OK and we have 10 more hrs to go. David and I finally laugh about it all. We mop up the water, MOM and Dad are sleeping, we sit on our complementary “pillows”, The outside air temp is MINUS 51 degrees Celsius…….oh yes they pass out questionnaires and ask if we have been exposed to the flu, where we have been, EACH city in the last 2 weeks, and have we touched a PIG?

I think I will take a nap, and not even try to go change my clothes just let them air/pillow dry……

2009-05-06T06:51:00.000+08:00

Tomorrow I will try to post while we are on our layover in San Fransisco...thank you everyone for your prayers.

2009-05-05T21:56:00.000+08:00

Josh and James arrived in Indiana on Saturday the 2nd of May...Josh is staying with his papaw Ken while I go to China...They are going to be taking care of each other. What a pair they are, they already have ALL their time allotted to tasks and fun times.
James went out with his siblings,Daniel and Dolly, the night before to an Irish Pub that Daniel suggested, it is seldom that they get to see each other and I was happy for this opportunity for them.And of course James wore his Kilt, ( any opportunity) and they had a great time I am told.
Ok we are ready to leave Indiana....saying bye is HARD!
We will be back before you know it.

It rained almost the whole time driving back to Va. But James and I traveled fine with lots to talk about and catch up on.

2009-05-04T08:41:00.000+08:00

This is the story of a family,a family that looked all over for just the right little girl, they finally found her. This is the story of Bringing Hannah home......