Deep Thoughts!!

We had a very short night of sleep but, so far (at 0400) we are feeling pretty good...will probably ride on nervous energy for a while, today.

We fell asleep around 7:30 last night; I was awoken by screaming girls in the hallway around 9:30 and read until about 11:00. Then Jay got up around midnight to start working on his school paper. I dozed off and on until around 2:30 then I just decided to get up with him and be productive.
Breakfast is at 0630, so we just made some Starbucks Via in the room to tide us over until that time.

BIG DAY!!! I'm so nervous knowing that our lives are forever changed after this day is over. I woke up in the night thinking that this was the last night Kai would spend as an orphan:-) Then I really started reflecting on what adoption really means for each of us, as a child of God.

Webster's defines adoption as, "A legal proceeding that creates a parent-child relation between persons not related by blood; the adopted child is entitled to all privileges belonging to a natural child of the adoptive parents (including the right to inherit)."

When I think about the legal hoops that we have jumped through to complete this journey, it is very easy to get side-tracked into forgetting what the final result will be: A GOTCHA DAY! And a child that is forever part of our family...for better or for worse! It is then that I think about the tremendous sacrifice that God made, through his ONLY son...while were still rotten sinners!

According to Baker's Evangelical Dictionary, adoption is the "...act of leaving one's natural family and entering into the privileges and responsibilities of another...God is a father who graciously adopts believers in Christ into his spiritual family and grants them all the privileges of heirship. Salvation is much more than forgiveness of sins and deliverance from condemnation; it is also a position of great blessing".

So, along with the "privilege" of becoming a Ferland child, comes the responsibility for our son to have an honoring and loving relationship with his parents (and ultimately, a decent job that can support him outside of the Ferland nest, someday). Therefore, I also wanted to remind myself of my own spiritual GOTCHA DAY...and of the awesome privilege and responsibility that I have as an adopted child of God. I'm reminded to make my relationship with Him, honoring...and at the very least, more consistent. I hope you'll do the same!

Thanks for checking in on us! (and allowing me to run on here) ...I think the coffee is working!!

As a reminder of how long Kai has waited, here the picture from when he was brought into the orphanage...just a few more hours and I can actually hold him in my arms...I'm already an emotional wreck and hope he does not have to meet me with puffy swollen eyes!

Run through Yuexiu Park

With our eyelids heavy (and our post-flight swollen ankles), Jay and I ventured out to Yuexiu Park. This is a beautiful area and is so lush and green, it is easy to forget that it is in the middle of the third largest city in China (behind Beijing and Shanghai) So, in case you kids missed our lesson during the last adoption, Guangzhou is the original Canton and one of the largest trading cities in the world. The symbol of Guangzhou is "Five Goats" and Yuexiu Park is home to the most famous five goat statue (the whole reason I launched into this history lesson, anyway).

Legend has it that 5 celestial beings brought 5 goats into Guangzhou. The goats were all carrying rice, which symbolized that they would make sure that the area would always be free of famine. Guangzhou has paid tribute to these benevolent goats by making them the symbol of the city.

It was great running weather (around 55 degrees) and the azaleas and other flowering plants are starting to bloom. Another bonus is that much of the park is still decorated from Chinese New Year (Feb 10). Me thinks that there are not a lot of runners in GZ, since we received many strange looks during our adventure. However, the run did the trick in terms of waking us up, so I think we are good until dinner time!

I'm sure there will be more shots from this location, once we have Kai, but for now, here is a sample.

Coming to you LIVE from China!

WHEW! We made it. Though our flights were long and VERY crowded, we are extremely grateful for on-time flights and traveling mercies, thus far. Our plane touched down at 0500 this morning (Sunday, here in China) and we sailed right through customs and immigration.
We were immediately met by our guide, Kelly, who also happened to be our guide during our previous adoption, so it was great to see her and catch up. She told us that she has seen Kai a couple of times, already, and remarked about how cute he is...and smart:-)

It is now almost 1100 a.m. and we are fading fast, so in an effort to avoid sleep, we took a stroll around the area. We found a Starbucks (YEAH!) and walked through one of the many open air markets where the locals were slaughtering and skinning all kinds of birds, fish, turtles, snakes...you name it...yummy??

Jay is now trying to finish a paper that is due for school, so I am taking the opportunity to post a few pictures from our travels the last 36 hours. (last picture from Memphis, sitting on the floor next to computer charging, our plane, Chinese breakfast of congee with shrimp, local site in GZ)

We were thinking of going for a run together, through the park across the street, later this afternoon...making every effort to keep moving and avoiding sleep all day...will post pics of that adventure...if it happens!

Sure miss you all and appreciate the continued prayers as we prepare for the big day, tomorrow!!

Kim

Almost Packed!

Well, it's midnight and I guess it serves us right for waiting until the last minute to pack...we are almost done, except for printing out a few more copies of our passports and adoption paperwork. We keep telling ourselves that this will help to set our clock to the Far East time zone (but I can rationalize just about anything...I'm not proud of it).
Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and prayers...keep 'em coming!
And please don't judge the state of my bedroom...I'm practically in labor with a 2.11 year old!!
Next post from China!!

Travel on Friday!

So the big day is almost here! We leave on Friday and head to LAX (via Atlanta, go figure) then on to Guangzhou! We arrive early on Sunday morning, China time, and will meet Kai on Monday at 2:30! We decided to forego all of the pre-adoption sight-seeing this time around and just get in there, get our boy, and get home as soon as we can.

That being said, we are still required to stay in Kai's province the entire time...which also happens to be Guangzhou...which is where we spent our time with Cael.  So, I have been surfing the net looking for "different" things to do, this time around.  According to several sites, there is supposed to be some pretty good hiking trails around the area, so we have at least two days that we have asked to be dropped off for the day and just explore and have a picnic.  We will have Kai with us, so I purchased a toddler backpack sling kind of thing so that we can more easily carry him when he gets too tired to walk. This contraption will also be nice for the couple of temple visits we have, since many of them have a ton of stairs and are not stroller friendly. Stand by for a full report on its effectiveness from the "other side"!

Meanwhile, we have NOT packed a thing and this is SO very different from our last adoption where we had been packed for two weeks, before we left.
Oh well...life is a bit crazier these days: Jay is trying to wrap up two more classes before graduation this spring so that he can graduate with his accounting degree on time...in addition to trying to make sure the boys are caught up in school before we leave. Yesterday, Jay's dad arrived to take care of the boys and the dog (who is VERY confused-note the "take me with you" look) for us and today was my last day of work...so tomorrow...we pack!

Kai Update

I can't believe it! I requested one last update on Kai before we travel to China. I was told that we should do it now because when Chinese New Year starts, we may not get any updates. So imagine my surprise when I had an update this morning before 0800! What a great way to start the day.
Isn't he gorgeous!?
It sounds like he is doing well and very healthy (by orphanage standards) and we are so very thankful. This is also the first picture we have of him standing (something we were sure he could do, but had no verification) and he is wearing shoes (ditto on the last comment).
Please confine to pray for an easy transition for all of us. 4 weeks to go!

Travel and Gotcha Day

Today, we received confirmation of our consulate appointment...that means we are on our way!
It looks like our Gotcha Day will be March 4th! We will leave here on March 1st and arrive on the 3rd...ugh! We are dreading the flight but at least at the end of that journey will be our littlest boy.
I guess we need to settle on his full name, since we will have to make a plane reservation in his name, and it will have to go on his passport...
So much to do...more to come!