An alle deutschsprachigen "Besucher"

Hallo Ihr Lieben,
da ich den Blog selber nicht sehen kann, kann ich leider die deutsche Uebersetzung nicht direkt verlinken. Ich werde aber unter jedem Beitrag, der uebersetzt ist, einen entsprechenden Hinweis hinterlassen. Dann koennt ihr den Beitrag unter folgender Adresse lesen: www.chinagirlswitzerland.blogspot.com.
Und hier ist noch ein Foto fuer euch.... :-)))))

This is for ALEX

Hi Alex, here is a picture of the plane we slept in. I promised I would take one for you. It was really dark, though, so the picture is not very good, but I wanted to send it to you anyway! Mama and Daddy love you, have fun with Andi and Hoovie!

We are in China!

I feel like I have an "out-of-body" eperience here, or like I'm actually in a "magic Tree house" book. I fell asleep shortly after take-off in LA, and when I woke up, I was magically transferred to the other side of the world. What a strange feeling!
But let me back up just a little....
Our flight was very uneventful and quiet, and we met two other adoptive families-to-be on the plane, both of them adopting beautiful baby girls. One of the couples will acutally be in the same province as us! I slept for close to 10 hours, Mike managed to sleep only about three. Wow, the service on China Southern was amazing, at least during my few awake hours *ha* - our flight attendant was super attentive, kind and quick, it made me feel like royalty! We opted for the Chinese breakfast this morning, and it was very good - I'll post a picture of it.
We arrived early in rainy Guangzhou (about 5:30 am), and now we are here at the Victory hotel, trying to get settled and letting it sink in that we are IN CHINA!
It feels very tropical here, hot and humid, with many beautifully landscaped and manicured areas around the airport (which by the way is very new), and countless crowded and delapidated high rises along the highway into town. We are totally fascinated by what little we have seen so far, and can't wait to get out and take it all in. We just watched a little bit of Chinese TV with some sort of Home shopping network airing, and it was very funny. I wish I could speak this beautiful language - maybe I'll add this taks to my "do after retirement" list (along with quilting), or at least to the "once the kids are out of the house" list (along with learning how to use a pottery wheel). Honestly though, at the rate we're going, those two might not be all that far apart.

Another Aha moment I want to share though... going back to our experience of flying over The Grand Canyon and Monument Valley en route to LA. I really feel like this was a heavenly "Bonus" for me, something the Lord just kind of threw in there along the way. Mike and I had talked about how we don't want the kids to feel like we are depriving them of fun things to do because of this adoption. Same goes for me - there are a lot of things that had to take a backseat because of this journey to our little girl. So getting a chance to see two beautiful areas of our country (even from 36000 feet in the air) that I had never seen before, was just really special!

I have been reflecting a lot on our WHY for the adoption of Nina, and to me it boils down to that: I see it as the path the Lord has simply laid in front of us, and all we do is walk on it. Yes, I'm scared, yes, I'm grieving for the family that will never be the same again, yes, it's crazy and we don't "need" any MORE kids (we get this question a lot!), but it's a thing that the Lord himself started planting in my heart about 20 years ago. This beautiful bud called adoption is just about to break into a flower that I have never seen before, but that I know is created by the master himself. I feel blessed that Mike has embraced this as well, and I can't wait to see him with his new daughter!

As far as the blogging goes, it seems to be working from here, although I cannot see the blog myself. I'm also unable to see the last few comments that were left, but I changed that so hopefully we will be able to get them from now on.

The pictures added are from our breakfast, our hotel room and the view from our hotel. Again, I do not know in which order they post, but please bear with me!

We love you all, and kiddos, we miss you bunches and bunches!

***Deutsche Version*** auf www.chinagirlswitzerland.blogspot.com Titel: Erster Tag

Checking in from LA

We have made it to LA, and are waiting for our China Southern flight. And - we miss our kiddos already, although it sounds like Elia and Alex had fun at Chuck-e-cheese's and playing Put-put golf with Andi and Ashley (thanks, guys!)
The flight from Denver to LA was more like a tour - the pilot kept commenting on what we were flying over, and now I can say that I have seen the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley!
We also just watched the Swiss Airline plane take off to Zuerich - we thought about changing our destination for a minute (soelled me cho?)
It is definitely sinking in that we are going to China! We're ready to get some sleep, too!
Signing off for tonight, our next post will be from Guangzhou!

Ready to go

Allright dear friends, this is it - we will be leaving for the airport shortly. Well, as soon as we can get the little boys out of bed, that is ;-))
See you in China!

"She looks great...."

I received a special little glimpse into my daughters life today. A
wonderful lady just received some pictures of Nina - they were taken last week, and according to her, she looks great!
Can't wait to go see for myself!
36 hours to take-off!

Another creative project

Nico has been busy again constructing...

this time with Gumdrops and Toothpicks. He started this in school, and he just kept going after he brought it home.

About 5 bags of Gumdrops and 6 boxes of toothpicks later, this was the result.

Good night, sleep tight...

The girl's bedroom is almost done - there is a beautiful place to sleep for both of them, and the rest has to wait :-))
I wanted to share these pictures, as it's very special for us to think that in three weeks we will have Nina home. I'm not really expecting her to sleep in her room right away, but it is ready for whenever she is!

Itinerary!

Hotels are booked, plane tickets purchased (OUCH!!! This is a spendy time of the year to travel!!), and here is our itinerary:
June 27th - leaving on a jetplane!
June 29th - arrival in Guangzhou, China
July 1st - leaving for Changsha
July 2nd - NINA DAY!
July 7th - fly to Guangzhou (we're staying at the Victory)
July 11th - Consulate Appt
July 12th - we get Nina's Visa to enter the US
July 13th - leaving Gungzhou
July 14th - WE'RE HOME! (We have an overnight stay in LA)

What we have to look forward to :-)

Beautiful...

I just came across this poem on another family's blog. It's beautiful, and I hope it will touch you too...

Every call has a beginning...

A quiet moment when God whispers a promise to a mother's heart

A holy place where a father bows and faithfully accepts the journey set before him.

A miraculous morning that unexpectedly dawns...

Casting its first light on a chosen threshold.

A gentle knock...a closed door opens.

A sacred invitation sent by the Father...

Leads to the other side of the world.

Where lonely hearts stare out of orphanage windows

Praying for someone to care.

And then one morning...

On an ordinary day

An orphan's life changes...

God sends them a second chance...

Through you.

(Unknown)

TRAVEL APPROVAL!!

WE HAVE IT!
But let me back up just a little...
I have been on pins and needles all week long, since the first TA's had been reported on Monday. Then rumors said that more TA's were on the way. Last night I dreamt about getting the call from our agency at 6am to tell us TA was here.
Needless to say, my cell phone did not leave my side today. I dropped the little boys off at Gymnastics, took Nico and Anya to Vacation Bible school, went back to Gymnastics and then my friend Sonja and I went to the park with the kids until it was time to pick up the older ones from VBS again. We had a water fight at the park, and Elia learned how to "pump" on the swing. Both him and Alex learned that now within days from each other.
But, the phone was silent.
I was wondering....
I knew that there was no guarantee we would get our TA this week, but I was hoping with everything I had!!! And I prayed.
No phone call.
It was about 12:30 when we left the church, 6 wound up kids in the back....
And I felt sorry for myself.
The pity party was about to start, invitations were sent out.
I thought to myself: This is the first time I'm REALLY disappointed during this adoption journey...
And I asked God: "Obviously, there is a reason for this delay - what do I need to learn yet, before we can get Nina?"
Immediately I felt this impression on my heart: "Are you willing to love her unconditionally?"
I had been thinking about that a lot lately, and I have asked God repeatedly to show me what unconditional love really was. And everytime he seemed to say the same thing: " I have already showed you - I gave my LIFE for YOU".
And today, I was given the opportunity to make that commitment again, to be willing to love her unconditionally.

About 1/2 hour later, we were home. And guess what.... there was a message from CCAI that they had good news for us, and that they wanted us to call them as soon as possible. Well, you guessed right - our travel approval was here.

Obviously, the Lord wanted to have this little chat with me before the good news came.
I'm thankful for that. We don't know what's in store for us, we don't know how Nina will change our lives.
But I know that we are in his will, and that he is faithful, because he has loved us first.
This is the best reason to celebrate!!

And yes, we are so excited about this last step. We should hear from the agency again on monday, to get our Consulate appointment confirmed, but it looks like we will be leaving in about 2 weeks.

Uebersetzung: http://chinagirlswitzerland.blogspot.com/2007/06/ta.html

My first girlfriend....

This afternoon, my friend Sonja came over with her kids. Her little girl Raianna, who is exactly one month older than Nina, brought her a special present.
We can't wait to get the girls together!

Thank you SO MUCH, Sonja and Raianna. Your kindness brought tears to my eyes.

I'm sure Nina will love Barley the pony!

China's one child policy and its consequences...

Here is an interesting article I just came across:

www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,281722,00.html

I'm so thankful that Nina did not become a part of these statistics. We can't wait to have her in our family!

This and That...

I know - it's been a while since my last post. Lots of little things are happening - end of school, kids starting summer activities, packing, shopping, and I sent Nina her last care package (the little blanket) yesterday. I also sent a letter that our agency translated for us... that was pretty special to see my words in chinese. I want her to know that we can't wait to see her, and I wanted her to know what her name will be. I hope it will get there before we do! Which brings me to the next thing.... Travel approvals (TA's) are starting to come in for families with our LOA date. I'm on the edge of my seat most of the day, cell phone within reach. I hope that ours is in the next batch our agency receives!!!!!
I will keep you posted!

We have our Visas!

China, here we come! I'm so ready to go... I feel like I have waited long enough now.

I did some serious retail therapy yesterday, which was WAY too much fun, and it was really hard not to go totally crazy at Gymboree and Gap - their sales were unbelievable!

All we're missing now is our Travel approval, which will most likely not come for another 2 - 3 weeks *sigh*

Nina BoBo - hang in there!

Creative hands

Look at this! Nico was building his school out of cards the other day! He has such a good imagination and is creative!

His two little girl cousins just adore him, and I have a feeling Nina won't be much different. He is very calm, gentle but playful with them, and they love him and follow him around like little puppies.

I'm so proud of my oldest!

I love you, Nico!

Blanket of Love

Quite a while ago, I found this fabric in an online store, but it was sold out. Now I have found it on Ebay, and today I made it into a blanket for Nina. I made a special blanket for all our kids, so this was a very special project for me. I found this really really soft material (kind of like a chenille type fabric) for the backside of it, and it turned out beautiful. I had some fabric left over, so I made a very small little blankie that I will send to her as her last care package before we bring her home.

And because I like this fabric so much, I ordered more of it to make valances in the girls' room!!!

I also bought various flannel prints to make blankets that we will give to the orphanage in Loudi. I really wanted to give them something that they can use for all the other children in their care.

"A little patch of heaven"

Elia was very busy outside. After a while, he came running in, his voice full of pride: "Mama, come look at your flower bed!". This is what I found - the grass he had planted and grown at preschool, neatly planted in a bare spot in my flower bed How sweet it that! Mike and I looked at this labor of love this morning, and this is what he called it - a little patch of heaven. I hope that little patch won't take over my flower bed, but for now, it will stay.

Update!

More good news....
We received an updated report on Nina today! No pictures (apparently we won't get those until adoption day), but lots of heartwarming tidbits!
According to her report, she is healthy, likes dolls, music, singing and dancing, and has gotten more extroverted. She is shy around strangers, but warms up soon. She is described as talkative :-)))
We also learned that there are 2 children in her foster home, but that she is closest to her foster parents (bless their hearts!)
She sleeps from 9pm until 8am (works for me!), and she is potty trained!!!
Her growth is good, she is short for american standards, but above average for weight! This is very reassuring!
Mike said: " I just want to go get her now!" Exactly how I'm feeling too!