Sunday Blog

It's Sunday afternoon and in exactly 24 hours, we will meet Miao! The 2 other families we've been in close contact with who are also adopting older girls, meet their daughters today. We keep thinking the phone may ring with it being the orphanage bringing Miao to us early but it hasn't happened yet. Thankfully because we are still unpacking Miao's suitecase and getting things set up for her arrival.

Our luggage arrived during the night, last night but not before being awaken 3 or 4 times with phone calls regarding them. Thankfully, when waking this morning, they were here! YEA..nothing like having your own toiletries and clean clothes.

We had a great day, spending time on Shamian Island. It's a beautiful island that is "known" for adoptive families. Two very popular hotels that are frequent by adoptive families are located on this island along with the medical clinic that all adoptive children must pass through.

We meet Miao in exactly 24 hours at 2:30 on Monday, 11/29. Back at home in Texas, it will be 2:30 am on Sunday night/Monday morning. We are excited and nervous. We are most nervous for our daughter and all the realm of emotions that must be passing through her thoughts today. She is 13 years old, has lived in the same place all of her life and tomorrow, her world will completely change. We've always said, Miao and Sterling are two of the most courageous and bravest individuals we will ever meet. Miao has never met us, yet she will take our hand and travel 1/2 way around the world to start a new life. That takes more courage than I will ever possess. We are blessed beyond measure to be chosen as her parents!

Greetings From China

We Made It!!

We are finally here, safe and sound. Our journey wasn't quite as smooth as last year (running at full force through Tokyo airport, luggage didn't make the flight) but we finally reached the hotel at about 11:30 PM last night. Our luggage is still in Tokyo but expected to arrive our hotel, late tonight. There is only 1 flight between Tokyo and Guangzhou and just our luck, it doesn't arrive GZ until 9:30 tonight. Either way, we welcome our luggage at any hour of the night!!!

It's 7:15pm on Saturday and I'm finally starting to feel somewhat coherent. We walked around the local mall today, "Tee-Mall' and ate lunch at McDonald's. We attempted to eat at the Pizza Hut but goodness, there was a very long line waiting to be seated. We opted out and crossed the street for McDonald's. Thank goodness for the golden arches when traveling abroad! McDonald's, KFC & Starbucks are quite popular here!

We are anxious for our luggage to arrive so we can unpack, have clean clothes, toiletries and our party goods. We plan to have a little, "welcome home" party in the hotel room with banners and balloons.

Only 2 days until we meet our beautiful daughter!

China Bound-Tomorrow AM!!

I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. Isaiah 43:5

It's finally here.....it's been a tough couple of weeks but finally, it's time for us to leave!!  We've been going non-stop rushing around gathering all that we need, getting the house in order, gathering copies of documents needed for the adoption, packing, trying to sort out problems with BOTIS a travel agency our adoption agency recommeneded and the list goes on BUT, once we board that plane, it's all a distant memory and what's been done is done....and what isn't, won't get done.  The best news ever is that we are bringing our beautiful daughter home!!!

We have a direct flight from Houston to Tokyo....a short lay-over and then on to Guangzhou!!  We'll be in GZ the entire trip....17 days!  Our flight time will be approximately 18 hours and we will arrive our hotel, 24-25 hours after leaving Houston. 

We meet our daughter on Monday, 11/29.  Her orphange is known for bringing children to their parents at the hotel a day early...so there's a chance we may be meeting Miao on Sunday, 11/28.  We'll see what happens.  We plan to decorate the hotel room with a "Welcome Home" banner, balloons and decorations.

The weather is very warm in GZ these days...much like the temperatures in Houston except it's not predicted to be in the 80's, as it has been this week in Houston.  We plan to do lots of swimming!! (our hotel has an indoor swimming pool, which will help if for any reason the temperatures aren't as warm as predicted)

We learned late tonight that our daughter is aware that we are coming and she wanted to know if her father is coming and who exactly was coming for her. 

Well, it's 12:30am and my alarm will be going off in 3 hours, so best close for now. 

Blessings to all & Happy Thanksgiving!!

1 Year Family Anniversary w/Sterling

Today is 1 year that Sterling brought us blessings & joy!

We are abundantly blessed!  How quickly time has passed.  Our once timid, withdrawn and shy little boy has blossomed into one who enjoys other children and his friends, doesn't let his lack of speech stop him from communicating with others and lights up a room with his smile and laughter! 

The orphange wouldn't believe he is the same little boy they once knew...the little boy they suspected as having autism and had never spoke a single word, baby-like in many ways and able to wear 18 month old clothing at almost 4 years old.  Fast forward today, he's grown 6 inches and gained 10 lbs,

We are blessed beyond words!!

Forever Family Day- 11/23/09

Trouble posting additional pictures....stay tuned, more to come!!!

Showers of Blessings

I will send down showers in season; I will send down showers of blessings. Ezekiel 35:26

This is a strong truth for our family.....our adoption has shown to be one blessing after another, right up to the very end of our waiting......

We've been praying since the start of Miao's adoption to meet other families adopting 13 year old girls.  God allowed these prayers to be fruitful, this past July, when receiving an email with the subject line-"searching for Texas family adopting Huang Miao."  I was left speechless when viewing the email.  It was a family reaching out to us.  Their daughter, who was adopted last October, is friends with Miao.  They learned about us through Miao.  This was our first connection with a family adopting a 13 year old.....but one step better, they had met our daughter and both girls are friends!

Once we started corresponding with this particular family, we quickly connected with 3 other families also adopting older girls from the same orphanage as Miao!  We emailed one another throughout the summer and continued while 2 of the families (recently) traveled to bring their daughters home.  That left 2 of us still waiting....well, to our wonder, we are now traveling at the same time!  YES, we will be in China with our new-found friend, adopting our girls together, at the same time!  We have the blessing of meeting in person and hanging out together during the stay in China. 

The blessings don't stop here. 

The last family we met through email is a family also adopting a 13 year old daughter AND, lives right here in the Houston area!!!  We will have the blessing of living near another family with  a 13 yo from China AND.... we are traveling at the same time!!!!

Our prayers have been fruitful......we are thankful for the shower of blessings that continue to rain down on our family...GOD IS GREAT...ALL THE TIME!

Thanksgiving-A Special Meaning For Us

Thanks be to God, for He gives us the victory through Christ Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:57

Thanksgiving will always hold a special place in our family and have an extra special meaning. 

It was Thanksgiving Day, 2009 when as a family, we shared our first Thanksgiving with Sterling! The very same day, we received approval from China (PA) to move forward with the adoption of our beautiful daughter, Miao! 

Now, fast forward exactly one year-Thanksgiving 2010 and we are departing on Thanksgiving day for Guangzhou, China to bring our beautiful daughter home! 

Yes, Thanksgiving will always be a blessed time for our family!

Giving Thanks-Celebrating Thanksgiving

We Have Much To Be Thankful!!

This weekend has been non-stop, but today, we set aside a couple of hours to celebrate Thanksgiving as a family.  Last year, we celebrated Thanksgiving in Nanjing, China and this year, we will be in-flight to Guangzhou, so we decided to celebrate early!  Justin and Elizabeth joined us making the day complete.  We were together as a family and have much to be thankful. 

Thanksgiving-Luby's Style!

Sterling's 1st Thanksgiving at Home

Sterling & Dad having fun!

Big Brother & Elizabeth

Our Boys-25 & almost 5!

Christmas Angel