The End?

As we sit here on our last night in China, it seems bittersweet.  Certainly we are ready to get back to the other kids, family and friends, the comforts of home, clean water, our personal bus, and our very own washer and dryer.  But our time here is special too.  We have gotten so close to the families in our travel group.  Adoption brings families together in more ways than one.  We have also been able to explore the country in which three of our children were born.  We have been here four times in the last 18 months, and everytime when we left we knew that we would be back.  This time is different.  We don't have an expected return date, and in some ways it feels like the end.  We now have 7 kids, and we haven't quite figured out how to manage all of them yet.  Although we never will rule out another adoption, right now it doesn't seem realistic. (Not that 7 kids is very a normal either).  We also might have the opportunity to serve in an orphanage here, but getting out of the country for a couple of weeks isn't going to come easily in a house of 9. Adopting, working in orphanages, following the adoption stories of many families and children, and walking alongside the people of China changes you.  It changes your heart.  It makes you want to do more.  It makes you want to pray for the hearts of the people, and for the lives of the orphan.  It makes you want to wrap every orphan in your arms, and bring them to a loving home.  It makes you want to encourage others to adopt. It makes you want to support organizations like New Hope, Love Without Boundaries, Show Hope, CCAI, Lifeline, and New Day.  It makes you want to lift up workers like Joyce and Robin Hill, Steve and Laura Martin, Amy Eldridge, Joshua Zhong, and countless others who have given their lives for "the least of these." My heart longs to do more.  I guess that's why tonight I am glad to be going home, but sad to be leaving at the same time.  

I'm thankful tonight that God has entrusted 7 of His precious children to Lauren and me.  I am glad that he provided 3 of those children through adoption.  It allows me to feel a glimpse of how He felt when he adopted me into His family, and as I have said before that feeling is pretty great.  The journey that we have been on has been wonderful despite all of the ups and downs.  If God is closing a chapter in our lives, I know he will soon open another one.  2 years ago I had no idea the road that we would travel.  2 years from now I will probably be saying the same thing.  That's the wonderful part of following a living, breathing God.  You never know what tomorrow holds, but you always know that He holds you in His hand.  

Early tomorrow morning we begin our 24 hour trip home.  We ask that you continue to pray for us as we travel.  There are so many of you who have supported us every step of the way and to all of you we are eternally grateful. I don't have any pictures to post tonight, but for those of you who want to catch the live show, we will land in Birmingham at 4:45 pm Friday.  We would love to have Jian Xiang welcomed home by a crowd of family and friends. 

One week down

Although its hard to believe, our first week in China has passed as we travelled from Zhengzhou to Guangzhou today. In Zhengzhou we received John's Chinese passport.   Here in Guangzhou we will get his medical exam and his US visa.  Other than 3 of us getting a a stomach bug which ruined a few days, our time in Zhengzhou was a lot of fun.  We made several trips to Walmart, sampled a good bit of the local cuisine, and played a lot around the room and hotel. 

We were able to visit Maria's Big House of Hope in Luoyang.  Both John and Davidson spent the first part of their lives in Maria's receiving the loving care of the staff, nurses, and of course Dr. Steve Martin.  We are so thankful anytime we get to visit the Martin family.  Janie and Rebecca played with the Martin children like they have been lifelong friends, and Lauren, Laura, Steve, and I join in conversation seemingly where we left off this summer when we spent time together in Beijing. This trip we were also able to meet the Renich family, Nate, Vicki, and the boys.  They are the newest addition to the Maria's family. They live in Luoyang, near Maria's, and do...well it seems like a little bit of everything there!!!  While there it seems like we are home, I guess because it will always be our John and Davidson's first home, and we will always be indebted to Steve, the ayis (nannys), and New Hope Foundation for giving life to two of our sons. 

Before going to Maria's, Lauren asked for updated pictures of other Maria's babies that are now with their forever families. She shared those pics with the ayis in each of the rooms.  You would have thought she gave them all gold coins they were so excited.  These ladies put their lives into caring for these sick babies, and after  the babies leave they almost never get to see what happens to them.  It was a special time for sure.  I think the best part, however, was that John wanted only his Mama while we were there.  No one  else could even get close, not even his favorite Ayi. 

There were plenty of firsts this week too.  A first bath in a hotel bath tub (or probably any tub for that matter), a first ride on an amusement park style ride, a first airplane ride, and of course a first trip to McDonalds. And of course, the first time to be with his family. The way this boy likes to eat, there will probably be  many more in his future.  

Below are some pics of all of the fun...

Gotcha day

It has taken me longer than I had hoped to post this because of technical problems but gotcha day has come and gone and we couldn't be any happier.  There really aren't words to describe this day, but this is a blog so I will try.   I've said this many times now but if everyone could experience for just a moment the feeling that comes from adopting a child, there would be no orphans in the world. Trust me, there is nothing like it. Ask another adoptive parent, and they will agree. Gotcha day is the culmination of months of paperwork, months of anticipation, hours of travel, and lots and lots of prayer.  It's worth every bit of the effort.

As we prepared for Gotcha Day, there were so many signs that God's hands were all over it.  Some people would call the signs coincidence, but there is no doubt that God was with us and our travel mates every step of the way. He has blessed us with another precious son, and we are thrilled that  He has entrusted us with another of His children.

Here are the pics.  I've included some of Rebecca and Janie enjoying the trip and of Walmart for those of you who have asked..

We are here!!!

30 hours after leaving home we finally made it to our hotel in Zhengzhou last night.    We were most certainly exhausted and for the most part slept well. We were able to do a small amount of exploring today in a shopping mall near our hotel. It was good to be the entertainment for everyone who stared and stared as we shopped. When I say stare, understand its not a passing glance at the Americans in the mall. It is a full blown go out of your way to STARE at someone.

The girls and I did recieve one small surprise this morning after breakfast. The CCAI families who got their kids the previous Monday were in the hotel lobby preparing to leave for Guangzhou.  We stopped to speak and realized one of the boys was at New Hope while we were there this summer. It is wonderful to see one of the boys we cared for this summer be with his forever family.

For us the countdown is on. When we wake up tomorrow it will be the last day that we will spend without John Reinhart as a part of our family. On our last adoption trip we were in China less than 24 hours when we met Elisabeth. Today and tomorrow were meant to be days of rest and preparation but no doubt we would exchange both for an extra day with him. We will meet the other members of our group tomorrow, and then leave our hotel at 930AM Monday for "gotcha day!". That is 730 PM Sunday in Alabama. Needless to say we can't wait.  For those of you who have been praying for us, thank you. Please continue to pray for a smooth transition for us and John. We will update with pictures as soon as we can.