A Noodle Shop
Sunday, January 27, 2013
The Market
A Noodle Shop
22 hours and counting
We arrived in Kunming a few hours ago and have settled into our room. We will meet Judah at 3:00 tomorrow afternoon (While you sleep Sunday night/Monday morning). CAN'T WAIT!!!!!
We were unable to blog from Fuzhou for some reason. But we had a wonderful time at the foster home. The children are amazing. In that one week we were there, they moved into a new building, were days away from finishing another building that is where the older kids will attend school, and they got two new treasures. One is an older boy (15) and another little boy (2). So precious. They had also gotten two new children 2 days before we arrived and had another child adopted just a few weeks before our arrival. Daniel said things change constantly there.
The staff provide such a loving environment for the children and the facilities were beautiful. I can't say enough about the founders, Mike and Deena, and how they have laid down their life for their kids. They not only love the kids, but they love and parent the staff too. It is a true family, where they allow both the kids and the staff such freedom. One of the boys wanted a dog, and so they got him one and he sleeps in his room with him. Another little guy (my favorite) got a kitten for christmas. There is another couple from American, Dana and Nanette, that provide an education for the children. They offer so many sensory type learning for the kids. Nanette has developed a team of other young chinese teachers to help her in the school. Also, another lady is living there, Jamie, provides nursing care for the children, and she is training some young women to help her. There is such a great team environment where they each do their part but they also pitch in when needed to help each other.
And Daniel - well our baby boy has just flourished there. He has been allowed to do the things he feels called to. Like developing a "music" team. This has been a big part of his life. He teaches a "music" class with the older kids which Anna and I were able to be a part of. And many other things. Daniel fits in like he has always lived there. We really didn't spend much time with him because he was so busy - which was fine because we were pretty busy ourselves with the kids. It was so great to see him doing so many wonderful things and running from one thing to the next. But stopping to have a meal with us and then at night he would come to our room and we had so much fun just reconnecting and hearing all the stories of his life here.
We had prayed for Daniel to have a good friend here. One that was believer and also preferably an American. And as only our God can do, He provided the perfect friend. Kyler is from a family similar to ours. A large family with both bio and adopted children. And he grew up in a church also very similar to ours so they share that bond. While we were there, Kyler's brother came for a visit and he also lives in China but in a different region. We enjoyed hearing the work he is doing here also. Also, Kyler is just as 'crazy' as Daniel and we laughed so hard at the two of them just enjoying life.
I'll post pictures later after we get the kids in bed.
We were unable to blog from Fuzhou for some reason. But we had a wonderful time at the foster home. The children are amazing. In that one week we were there, they moved into a new building, were days away from finishing another building that is where the older kids will attend school, and they got two new treasures. One is an older boy (15) and another little boy (2). So precious. They had also gotten two new children 2 days before we arrived and had another child adopted just a few weeks before our arrival. Daniel said things change constantly there.
The staff provide such a loving environment for the children and the facilities were beautiful. I can't say enough about the founders, Mike and Deena, and how they have laid down their life for their kids. They not only love the kids, but they love and parent the staff too. It is a true family, where they allow both the kids and the staff such freedom. One of the boys wanted a dog, and so they got him one and he sleeps in his room with him. Another little guy (my favorite) got a kitten for christmas. There is another couple from American, Dana and Nanette, that provide an education for the children. They offer so many sensory type learning for the kids. Nanette has developed a team of other young chinese teachers to help her in the school. Also, another lady is living there, Jamie, provides nursing care for the children, and she is training some young women to help her. There is such a great team environment where they each do their part but they also pitch in when needed to help each other.
And Daniel - well our baby boy has just flourished there. He has been allowed to do the things he feels called to. Like developing a "music" team. This has been a big part of his life. He teaches a "music" class with the older kids which Anna and I were able to be a part of. And many other things. Daniel fits in like he has always lived there. We really didn't spend much time with him because he was so busy - which was fine because we were pretty busy ourselves with the kids. It was so great to see him doing so many wonderful things and running from one thing to the next. But stopping to have a meal with us and then at night he would come to our room and we had so much fun just reconnecting and hearing all the stories of his life here.
We had prayed for Daniel to have a good friend here. One that was believer and also preferably an American. And as only our God can do, He provided the perfect friend. Kyler is from a family similar to ours. A large family with both bio and adopted children. And he grew up in a church also very similar to ours so they share that bond. While we were there, Kyler's brother came for a visit and he also lives in China but in a different region. We enjoyed hearing the work he is doing here also. Also, Kyler is just as 'crazy' as Daniel and we laughed so hard at the two of them just enjoying life.
I'll post pictures later after we get the kids in bed.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
We made it!
This is Leslee, blogging for Carol, she can't access her blog. Carol is a very precious friend to me, and I am so privileged to share this journey with her. By the way, tomorrow is her birthday, so be sure to leave her birthday wishes. I am sure you all have been waiting on an update, so here it is!
We made it!!!
We are here and all is well. But jet lag is really tough right now. I don't remember it being this bad on previous trips but we also have had gotcha day either the day we arrived or soon after. So I may have been too preoccupied to notice.
We are spending the week at the foster home Daniel is working at. It has been amazing to see what he has been apart of for the past 7 months. There really are no words to describe it here. I have asked The Lord to help me write it down and I have typed, erased, typed, erased so many times. I just don't know how to put words down to do this justice. It's an amazing place full of love and joy and we are so thankful to be here experiencing a small part of Daniel's life here in China.
We went to the market today and saw some interesting things. Also met some of the shop owners that Daniel buys food and supplies from. It was wonderful to see him talking so fluently in mandarin to the people and how he has really become a part of the community. He is loving it here and seems to be right at home.
We are on the countdown to Judah - 8 more days.
We made it!!!
We are here and all is well. But jet lag is really tough right now. I don't remember it being this bad on previous trips but we also have had gotcha day either the day we arrived or soon after. So I may have been too preoccupied to notice.
We are spending the week at the foster home Daniel is working at. It has been amazing to see what he has been apart of for the past 7 months. There really are no words to describe it here. I have asked The Lord to help me write it down and I have typed, erased, typed, erased so many times. I just don't know how to put words down to do this justice. It's an amazing place full of love and joy and we are so thankful to be here experiencing a small part of Daniel's life here in China.
We went to the market today and saw some interesting things. Also met some of the shop owners that Daniel buys food and supplies from. It was wonderful to see him talking so fluently in mandarin to the people and how he has really become a part of the community. He is loving it here and seems to be right at home.
We are on the countdown to Judah - 8 more days.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Going Back To China.....
To adopt our son, Judah Gabriel Tai. He was born on 10/10/10, and he will be our 10th
child.
Our first stop will be in Fuzhou to spend a week with one of our grown sons, Daniel. He moved there last
summer to work at Hidden Treasures Foster Home. We are looking forward to seeing him, and experiencing a small part
of what he does there.
We will then leave Fuzhou and travel to Kunming on Jan. 27th,
and receive baby Judah on the 28th.
You can follow along by checking for updates here, or you
can sign up for updates at the bottom of the page and when we post it will be
automatically emailed to you.
Pray for us all but mostly for Judah. He is in for some pretty big changes in
his little life. But we are beyond excited to be so close to finally meeting him.
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