12 November 2012
05 November 2011
At home in the mountains.
We've been home for two weeks, and it's starting to feel like we're really here. We went silent for a catalog of reasons – jet lag, a stomach virus that hit on arrival, getting back to school and work. Reality. But home is a great place for reality to hit.
The morning after the 35 hours of traveling, and the drive home from Atlanta, and Mia's first brave (lost cause) battle against the car seat, and falling into bed for hours, I woke up before light and it was cold enough to see my breath outside. I stood in our tree-filled acre that was starting to show its fall colors, with the world quiet around our house – a long way from China – and waited for the sun to come up. Later, we drove down to the hardware store for more babyproofing supplies, and as we headed down the mountain it struck me again how much I love living in Chattanooga.
It's unspeakably good to be home in the mountains, where we can find quiet, where all three of our kids can grow up playing in the yard, and where they have the political and spiritual elbow room to find out what they believe and who they are, rather than who they're told to be. From the beginning, we've said that our home has so much love, we feel like we should share it. It's good to bring Mia here, and to feel her settling into all of this.
The morning after the 35 hours of traveling, and the drive home from Atlanta, and Mia's first brave (lost cause) battle against the car seat, and falling into bed for hours, I woke up before light and it was cold enough to see my breath outside. I stood in our tree-filled acre that was starting to show its fall colors, with the world quiet around our house – a long way from China – and waited for the sun to come up. Later, we drove down to the hardware store for more babyproofing supplies, and as we headed down the mountain it struck me again how much I love living in Chattanooga.
It's unspeakably good to be home in the mountains, where we can find quiet, where all three of our kids can grow up playing in the yard, and where they have the political and spiritual elbow room to find out what they believe and who they are, rather than who they're told to be. From the beginning, we've said that our home has so much love, we feel like we should share it. It's good to bring Mia here, and to feel her settling into all of this.
01 November 2011
Red couch.
There is a legend in China of an invisible red thread tied onto those destined to meet, which connects and brings them together regardless of time, place or circumstances. The cord may stretch or tangle, but will never break. The red couch at the White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou has come to embody both that cultural legend and the adoption journeys of thousands of families.
We still hadn't made it to the White Swan by the morning we were leaving, so we took one last reckless taxi ride to capture this rite of passage on film. Here's Mia, the day before she immigrated to America, in all her glory.
Related, before we traveled to get her we noticed that Mia was wearing a red bracelet in all the pictures we received, and she still has it on now. We didn't know what it signified until we asked the orphanage director, the day we met Mia. Apparently, Mia's foster mother had tied it on her for good luck, and it is also tied to the legend of the invisible red thread. We are so grateful to this woman, who we will most likely never meet; she loved Pinyi, stayed with her for 7 weeks in the hospital after the burn accident, and wanted her to find the family she was meant for.
We still hadn't made it to the White Swan by the morning we were leaving, so we took one last reckless taxi ride to capture this rite of passage on film. Here's Mia, the day before she immigrated to America, in all her glory.
Related, before we traveled to get her we noticed that Mia was wearing a red bracelet in all the pictures we received, and she still has it on now. We didn't know what it signified until we asked the orphanage director, the day we met Mia. Apparently, Mia's foster mother had tied it on her for good luck, and it is also tied to the legend of the invisible red thread. We are so grateful to this woman, who we will most likely never meet; she loved Pinyi, stayed with her for 7 weeks in the hospital after the burn accident, and wanted her to find the family she was meant for.
19 October 2011
All American.
Our US Consulate appointment was this morning. Along with about ten other families, we took an oath, signed some papers, and cheered when they announced our children will be US citizens as soon as they set foot on American soil. It was a powerful 5 minute ceremony, and we couldn't be happier.
Most definitely, our favorite new immigrant. She has completely come alive over the past week, blending in with the family, but also carving out her own special spot. She is a cool girl–America is lucky to have her.
Sweet peeps.
As a family, we have been very grateful not to be here alone. It has been life-saving to have these built-in people to travel with, cry with, try not to gag at new foods with, panic with, and laugh with. We have shared days of pure joy, and also of pure exhaustion and feeling overwhelmed with the life-long changes ahead.
These strangers have seen some of my proudest moments, and some of my worst. Mia cried for the whole two-hour plane ride from Hangzhou to Guangzhou, and they were all lovely as I then cried for the next two hours. Another of the worst moments: when we realized that our passport bag was missing while we were on Shamian Island. We didn't know if we had left it somewhere, or been robbed. Michelle got to see that 'special' moment. Each family has also had bouts of sickness, but at a certain point in this process, even the really bad stuff becomes funny. It's all a part of our story here.
(We got the passport bag back 15 minutes later. I was mid-garden, dumping out the backpack and bags crying, while Caleb went to retrace our steps. A Chinese lady came up to me and said "Excuse me, are you lost?" meaning "Did you lose something?" I cry-yelled "yes! a black bag!" At this point, I was causing a commotion, so the security guard came out of the station (actually, it was three guards). So the sweet lady started talking in Chinese to them, and she translated back to us: "He saw two men take it". This is when I full body slapped my knees and said "Why did he let them take it?" Then, more Chinese, and she translates: the men took it to a store, so she starts running to the store with Caleb. Two minutes later, the black bag and all the heroes emerge. The "men" were a young couple who I then made uncomfortable with my crying embrace, followed by one for the sweet lady who helped. We found out she was "Jenny," and that she owned "Jenny's Place". We went straight there and bought gifts for everyone. She gave me a bracelet with a jade cross on it, for free. Sweet Jenny.)
Gracelyn, Nolan, Nina, Mia, and Hannah (and Myah, not pictured here, was napping.)
These strangers have seen some of my proudest moments, and some of my worst. Mia cried for the whole two-hour plane ride from Hangzhou to Guangzhou, and they were all lovely as I then cried for the next two hours. Another of the worst moments: when we realized that our passport bag was missing while we were on Shamian Island. We didn't know if we had left it somewhere, or been robbed. Michelle got to see that 'special' moment. Each family has also had bouts of sickness, but at a certain point in this process, even the really bad stuff becomes funny. It's all a part of our story here.
(We got the passport bag back 15 minutes later. I was mid-garden, dumping out the backpack and bags crying, while Caleb went to retrace our steps. A Chinese lady came up to me and said "Excuse me, are you lost?" meaning "Did you lose something?" I cry-yelled "yes! a black bag!" At this point, I was causing a commotion, so the security guard came out of the station (actually, it was three guards). So the sweet lady started talking in Chinese to them, and she translated back to us: "He saw two men take it". This is when I full body slapped my knees and said "Why did he let them take it?" Then, more Chinese, and she translates: the men took it to a store, so she starts running to the store with Caleb. Two minutes later, the black bag and all the heroes emerge. The "men" were a young couple who I then made uncomfortable with my crying embrace, followed by one for the sweet lady who helped. We found out she was "Jenny," and that she owned "Jenny's Place". We went straight there and bought gifts for everyone. She gave me a bracelet with a jade cross on it, for free. Sweet Jenny.)
Gracelyn, Nolan, Nina, Mia, and Hannah (and Myah, not pictured here, was napping.)
Guangzhou, beautiful but exhausting.
Every adopted child has to travel from their province to Guangzhou before leaving China. Here, they have a medical visit, get their visas, and receive their new country's citizenship. So there are many families who are in Guangzhou now, completing last steps.
This city has a different feel – much more international, and cleaner – but still huge, still not easy to navigate, and very crowded. Guangzhou has been a pretty place to spend our final week in China, but at this point, we are ready to come home.
The zoo:
Local "Dim Sum" lunch: Consists of steamed dumplings of all sorts, filled either with yummy meat and vegetables, shrimp, sweet jams – or with something you need to spit back into the napkin as soon as the guide turns away. Mia has also been dubbed with "Dim Sum" as a nickname: she is definitely a little steamed dumpling. The girl can work up a sweat, especially when she's sleeping.
Dinner Cruise: hard to explain. Buffet with duck heads floating in the entrees choices, a Latina clown juggling show, and ice cream cones. Lots of fun and dancing at the end though, and pretty sights.
Guangzhou will do, but truly we just can't wait to get home.
This city has a different feel – much more international, and cleaner – but still huge, still not easy to navigate, and very crowded. Guangzhou has been a pretty place to spend our final week in China, but at this point, we are ready to come home.
The zoo:
Guangzhou will do, but truly we just can't wait to get home.
17 October 2011
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