The Chronicles of Isaiah

Thursday, September 6, 2007

We stood today where she stood...

There are so many newsy things that I can report about today...but the heart of what I want to share has to do with our connection today with one woman whom we will likely never meet...who loved our boy...her boy...and gave him a chance at a different future...

We started the day with a 5 hour bus ride to Yichang...the city where Isaiah has lived for the past 19 months. We marveled at the countryside as it passed by outside the windows. The girls slept for most of the trip and we had some very meaningful discussions with our dear friend here who is guiding/escorting/hanging out with us...this was an answer to prayer! We hope to continue with much more discussion in the weeks to come!

China is changing so rapidly. Even for the Chinese people, they are happy about what the change is bringing to their lives for the most part, however, they have NO IDEA what China will be like in 5,10, 20 years. The Chinese people in general are very warm, relational and genuine people. They love their children and they are very proud of China's history.

We've also begun to understand how very industrious they are. I mentioned the foot massage workers in my last post...but school kids once they reach the High School level are in school 6 days a week for 12 hours a day studying.

Passing by the countryside today we were amazed not only of the beauty...but the stewardship of the land. Every inch of it is used for growing, harvesting, fish farming or for living. Every field well manicured and hundreds of people out working in those fields for 12 hours a day. We find this to be most admirable.

But, the incredible reality of this trip is striking both Daddy and I...we are getting to see China in a way few other adoption families will...we feel privileged and at a loss for words to describe our appreciation for the experience and our respect for the Chinese people.

After arriving in Yichang today we set out to locate Isaiah's finding place. For those of you who don't speak "adoption-ese", this location is the place where our son was found by the authorities after his mother/father/grandparents left him there. (I must take a moment and speak to the misplaced horror and judgment we place on these Chinese families who make this choice to "abandon" their children.) In America, if a mother feels that she cannot parent a child, for any reason at all, she can put that child up for adoption. It is a wonderful thing.

However, in China, you cannot surrender your child for adoption as it is against the law. The economics to raise a child, pay not only for food, medical care and clothing the child...and in China...you are now responsible to PAY handsomely for your child's education. For the average Chinese family...it is a significant struggle to raise one child...it is almost inconceivable to consider raising 2. When that child has a medical need, as Isaiah does...the pressure is immense on these families who often are struggling to feed and house their family.

International adoption is reasonably well known about in China...and I believe that many mothers/fathers make the VERY BEST decision that they can for the child in a situation where they cannot afford to raise the child...they leave the baby, wrapped warmly, in front of a busy place, risking detection of their offense, and walk away. They must be praying on that day and in the years to come for a bright future for the child they couldn't raise.

So today...we found the spot...we visited the location where Isaiah was left to be found. And I cannot express in words what that experience was like...

We stood today where she (his birth mother) stood just a little over a year ago right before she kissed him good-bye.

As we approached the building my heart was beating uncontrollably...and I felt that I might faint.

When I walked up the stairs where his report says he was found, in front of a busy government building...I was overwhelmed with ache, sadness, a grieving for his birth mother.

My grief for her and him was mixed with gratitude for her and for the Lord above that we will have the privilege of parenting this precious blessing from God!

It is likely that today is the closest we'll ever come to her...

All day Daddy kept saying..."any one of these faces could be his mother or father..."

The impact of the day escapes my ability to communicate.

Then, this evening, after walking through the children's park, dancing on the sidewalk and doing a tiny bit of shopping....we had a most satisfactory meeting...another opportunity to marvel at God's plan and how He goes before us to make the way "exceedingly, abundantly more that we can ask or imagine" Ephesians 3:20

Tomorrow we're off to see the "mother river" to our children and we will sail on the Yangtze...it is running by just outside my hotel room now...

Then an evening bus will get us home very late to Wuhan where the final wait to hold our darling boy in our arms forever will begin, we should receive him on Monday, Sept 10...with ears that look like Busy Bee's, hands that look like Potato's, strong in build, big for his age and a smile that can melt a Momma & Daddy's heart...

More from Wuhan tomorrow night!

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

The pictures from today...

In Wuhan...and my feet feel GOOD!

Today was a busy day of travel...

Up at 4 am, off to the Beijing airport...then arriving in our beloved Wuhan to see our "Chinese Family." These dear people love us, treat us like their blood relation and make our time here so very, very special. The picture is of us with them in their home where they served us a marvelous Chinese meal, we enjoyed some music together and some very profound discussion.

Arriving in Wuhan was very emotional for Daddy and I. It felt so familiar. Certainly because we were just here a little over a year ago receiving our precious Potato...but it is more than that...this place is foundational for our family....like the old birthing suite at the hospital...our family expanded here through the incredible, indescribable experience of adoption and its going to again.

Pulling into the hotel, being greeted by the staff and then walking into our suite after following the familiar royal blue carpet in the hallway...we saw it...the crib that has been placed in the room for our son. Moments like this...steal your breath. When something you've been working toward, trusting God to do...when they get really near like this...it's powerful.

Still today, my arms do not know his little body. I am not familiar with the weight of him on my lap or the sound of his voice or the appearance of his big toes...but he is CLOSER. Even tonight...I am sort of out of breath and how close he is...and how all our lives with change forever in just a few short days, inside this familiar hotel.

I am missing our oldest daughter, Butterfly. She is the most superb traveler. No squatty potty ever phased her. I missing my mom, who's been present at every "birth" of her grandchildren...but finally I'm feeling the ache of missing my boy...my son.

When we were in Beijing at the Foster home, one child really took an interest in me. He kept coming up to me, taking my hand and asking me to play with him. Of course he was darling. A heart baby who stole my heart. And a boy who left a little whole in my heart...where my son will soon take up space.

Are we ready? Daddy was so happy to be in Wuhan today...we were both so emotional...but ready??? Can a family ever truly be ready for a completely unique, utterly fantastic blessing to walk through the door?

The night ended with one of my favorite things in China...a foot massage. All though, foot massage is such a misnomer. The massage is for your back, neck, head, arms, feet, calves, thighs...90 minutes worth...for only 36 Yuan...about $5...Had to post a few of the pictures...

Off to Yichang tomorrow...to see the 3 Gorges Dam on the Yangtze river...it is also the birthplace and residence of our Isaiah...wonder if he'll be able to feel how close his family finally is?

Pray for a 5 hour bus ride, important conversations during the 2 day excursion and rest for the travelers...

Not much longer Isaiah...and you see us for yourself...

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

The Great Wall & Great People

Today started a little late as we all enjoyed sleeping in until 8 am! We're starting to get over jet lag and our days and nights sorted out.

The food, literally everywhere we've eaten has been fantastic! The kids have been really adventurous once again with their eating.

We hired a private car and went to the Great Wall today. We weren't planning on seeing te wall again, but our teacher friend who is travelling with us has never seen it and so we thought...."while in Rome...."

This section of the wall is closer to the Shunyi area and it was by FAR more beautiful than the section of the wall we climbed last year. Mountains all around, beauty everywhere you could see and some fun riding on cable cars, too.

Potato kept saying..."this is my great wall in my China"...

Then our evening was spent visiting another work benefiting older orphans here in Beijing. The work focuses on helping older kids who will never be adopted...though I could have taken any number of them home with us...they were amazing. Such good kids, full of laughter and so outgoing. The girls were the rage and they spent 2+ hours dancing and playing in the courtyard with several of the girls aged 7-13. We enjoyed dinner with them then started back for our last night at the other foster home.

We had hired drivers as I said and they were really nice fellows..but a few times they got lost and turned around...I wasn't nervous at all, neither was the rest of the family...and it made the trip all the more real and enjoyable to be so far off the "adoption tourist" track.

Hope you enjoy some of today's pictures...mostly they are a snippet of what we experienced today. The first is some famous wall...the second, Magpie with a precious resident of our host foster home...the third, Potato and Busy Bee were "helping" snap beans for our supper at the training institute for older orphans where we were this morning...the forth, The Bug taking a moment to smile for the camera after being mauled by the older kids at the center, she was in heaven! The fifth picture, was one of the adults who work at the training center that Busy Bee took quite a liking to...it appeared to be quite mutual!

We leave for Wuhan EARLY tomorrow morning then we'll be met at the airport by our Chinese family...we're all excited for that.

Only 6 DAYS until we have Isaiah with us...hardly seems real at this moment...

But one more note...we are AMAZED at the change in Beijing this year from last. Of course with the Olympics less than a year away everything is in high gear...but in general...we found our stay here to be most enjoyable. We saw the sun each day, had no trouble breathing the air and met so many more wonderful friends!

From our beloved Wuhan next...

Monday, September 3, 2007

Two More Pictures...how the girls are sleeping tonight

Just had to show these two shots of Busy Bee and Potato safely tucked into bed...underneath their mosquito nets...hope they don't try to get up in the night for a bathroom break...