pool pics!

K and the boys went to the pool.
Even though it was hot and humid outside,
the water was only around 65 degrees...
but it didn't seem to bother these two sturdy boys one little bit.

Kelly said that Isaiah giggled and carried on so much.
So cute!

They both had a great time!

Again, the bangs taunt me.

So there you have it.
Another day marked off.
One week from tomorrow they will be home.
Forever!

I'm giddy.

No new pics from Kel this evening.
He is a tad...how shall we say...
ready to come home.
Sigh.
As I type this they are at some sort of museum.
Which of course is exactly what
every 12 and 4 year old boy...
and 45 year old man, want to do.
Sigh.

And when we skyped tonight,
within three minutes of chatting...Isaiah
broke the remote control.
Broke.It.
And hotel security called...then paid a visit
because apparently Little Mister Busy Man had pushed
the "panic" button on the wall.
Try explaining to a semi-English-fluent security guard
(and his padres)
why you (a white man) and your two Chinese boys...
really don't have an emergency.

But other than that,
things are great with them.

Don't you worry...I am clearing out everything in my house
that is anywhere within reach of a chubby-fisted Chinese boy.



And here at home the latest is:

1. Brenden is in full-stress mode over his senior project.
He has 20 pages written and is nowhere near done.
**I have never been more thankful to be a 42 year old housewife**


2. Nick is in his annual golf-frame-of-mind.
Needing a new driver because...well, he just *needs* one.

3. Macy is just about finished with school stuff and
is so excited about her new brothers to come home.

4. Lucy is also WAY ready for her new brothers,
and is BEYOND ready for her daddy to be home.

And speaking of Lucy....
here are some pics.
Do take notice of all the cows in the background watching her.

I hope I'm not boring you with my numerous posts every day.
But you know...what else do I have to do?
Well, besides...

*Clean out closets*
*Paint*
*Organize laundry room*
*vacuum the entire compound*
*mop floors*
*Create a golf course lawn*
*Scoop muck out of chicken house*
*Prepare meals to freeze*
*Figure out how to lower gas prices*
*Stock up on groceries for the next six months so
I don't have to leave the house...ever*

Those sorts of things.
that's all.

where's my mama?

Super-K
(that's his new name as far as I'm concerned)
and the boys made it to GZ and are safe and sound in
a very nice suite at the Garden Hotel.
They found a Pizza Hut and said it was DELICIOUS.
I kid you not, he has yet
to eat at a Chinese restaurant.
Such a waste.

Here are some fun pics for your pleasure and mine.

My baby.
Where is my Mama?

Super-K enjoying his executive suite.
And here he is pretending to be an executive.

HH's first plane ride!

My fellas having some bonding time.

My baby.
Seemingly on a window sill.
No, Seriously, where is my Mama?

Just gotta say again how thankful I am for all of you.
Your comments, emails, text messages, and phone calls
are SO ENCOURAGING to me.
You make me smile and keep me going.

survival mode

I got a chance to briefly skype with Kman this evening.
Our connection was awful but we did
have a few minutes to enjoy each other's company.
Sweet.
He and the boys had just gotten up for the day and
he said that Isaiah got up and started marching around the room saying,
"Ding dong, ding dong, ding dong"!!
He was trying to wake up Hao Hao.
It worked.
And Hao Hao was all smiles.
So adorable, yes?!!

Then a few hours later K texted me to say they were at the
airport to catch their flight to GZ.
He told me he had just looked at his little "countdown" thingy on his
computer and it indicated that his trip was only half over.

Half over??

Half over.

So I did the only thing I could do.

I moved my coffee maker to my nightstand.

Oh, yes I did.
And as a matter of fact, yes...that is an unsightly stack
of reading materials.
And yes, that is a lovely encouraging card from a dear priend (which means, a praying friend).
And yes, if you look hard enough, that is
1/4 of a chocolate chip cookie that I will finish with my coffee
in the morning.
I'm in survival mode, as you can see.

Counting it pure joy, my friends...pure joy.

orphanage visit {a sobering thing}

It's official.
Isaiah Jack Dong Ji
and
Elijah Andrew Hao Hao
are our sons.

We now have six (gulp) kiddos.
Let the crazy begin.

Just after all the papers were signed for Hao Hao,
they headed to the orphanage
for the sad good-bye.

We had a care package put together for Xiao Dong (HH's brother)
but HH wanted to add a few things.
So they
went to Wal Mart and Hao Hao picked out some
snacks...and shampoo & body wash.

I need to say that this sibling relationship did NOT catch
us off guard.
We have known about it from the very start.
As you may recall, I posted about it a while back.
We did all we could to try to adopt him also.
It went nowhere.
And we were totally at peace that we were at the end of
making it happen.
Though this saddens us deeply, it is just the way it is.
We live in a fallen, broken world and things simply are not always fair.
It's not fair that these boys were left as orphans in the first place.
It's not fair that they have to be separated.
It's just not fair.

They will remain in constant contact via the internet.
Thankfully.

Meet Xiao Dong.

Hao Hao and Xiao Dong...brothers forever, even if they
are an ocean apart.

Hao Hao has no doubt looked forward to being on this is side
of the gift-giving for a very long time.
In fact,
Much to Kelly's surprise,
he had taken most of the gifts we had given him on Gotcha Day,
and passed them to his friends at the orphanage.
My heart.
He's a sweet, sweet boy.

There are so many beautiful faces there.

Kelly said there is no way I could have handled the emotions of the day.
It was too sad to see these tearful brothers part ways.
He said he felt like the bad guy.
Darned if you do, darned if you don't.
It was hard.

But Kel assured Xiao Dong that we will take good care
of his brother...that he can call or skype anytime.
We have given him the phone number of some dear friends in
Beijing who will help him if needed.

It's a sobering thing.
But I am thankful that Hao Hao's future is bright.
And I totally trust God's sovereignty.
He has a plan for Xiao Dong.
And though we all think America is the answer for these kids,
sometimes...it's not.

God is alive and on the move in China and I know that
there is great hope that Xiao Dong will come
to know Him as Savior.

Great hope.