The Sun is Setting

It's hard to believe that we're heading home tomorrow morning!! We are ready. Last night, the group embarked on the Pearl River Dinner Cruise. The food is...well...let's just say we all grabbed McDonald's an hour before we left for the cruise. But the views are spectacular. We witnessed a beautiful sunset. And the lights on the buildings are a sight to see.

Our guide Rebecca was very ill yesterday and had to go to the doctor (104 fever!). So our guide from Nanning, David, was in Guangzhou and filled in for Rebecca. Our family was thrilled to see him! Especially LiYun....we think she has a little crush. And she is going to hate me one day when she reads this. :) On the cruise, Scott and I had our first picture taken together, just the two of us, on the entire trip. Isn't that sad?? A hard part of this trip has been that we haven't had any time together, any moments to really connect and digest all that's happened. A date night is in order when we get home. A date where I can wear my fun new Chinese dress. :)








This morning, the group headed to the zoo. Grace particularly loved the panda which she kept calling a "teddy bear." It was so ridiculously hot and humid that we spent some of the time under covered tables downing water. (And dried fish...a popular snack in China that only LiYun and the kids indulged in. I thought I was open to trying new foods, but I've found I'm more reserved than I thought!) When we walked around, Carter was once again the main attraction. People would turn from the animals to stare and snap pictures of Carter. I started joking that we should throw him into a ring and charge people 2 yuan for a high five, 5 yuan to touch his curls, and 10 yuan for a picture. :)





All of the visa for the adopted kids were issued and picked up this afternoon, and it was exciting to realize everything is finally approved, processed, and completed. United States of America...here we come!

I have to confess that I've felt emotional and moody today. I am beyond exhausted. I've been sharing a bed with three people, entertaining kids or working to communicated with LiYun, completing paperwork, and more. I am never by myself, even when getting ready in the bathroom. And it's. driving. me. bonkers.

This afternoon, I walked by myself to get some Starbucks iced coffee. It was the first time in two weeks that I was alone. And it was so freeing that I felt an impulse to throw my arms wide and spin around like Fraulein Maria in The Sound of Music. Seriously. I need some personal recharging time.

While Carter has struggled with not having a schedule, he has done GREAT with adjusting to a big sister. He adores LiYun. But I guess he decided he wanted a little one-on-one time because he asked me this afternoon, "Mommy, can we go buy some lemonade and the rest of the family stay here?" So we had a little Mommy-Carter date to the grocery market.



Today was a turning point for Grace...she has been having a ball jumping on her big sister and having tickle fights. Her little voice is so cute when she calls out "LiYun!!" But this morning, prior to the big transition, she was still keeping her distance. And when Grace refused to sit next to LiYun on the golf cart at the Zoo, I caught LiYun sticking her tongue out at her little sister! At first, I was dismayed. But then I realized it's a good sign if she's feeling comfortable enough to express her true emotions. I am sure she has had her feelings hurt by Grace's "rejection" over the last week.

Some changes have definitely taken place over the last two days. LiYun has made an effort to hang out with some of the other girls around her age (one 13 year old just adopted, and a few siblings that are here). She is no longer sitting with me on the bus when we go places. And I'm a little sad, but I think it's a good sign she is being social. And she seems to be getting past the phase of simply wanting to please me. (But can I be honest and say I'll miss that pleasing phase a bit?) :)

We leave super early in the morning via 3-hour van ride to Hong Kong. We'll fly out to Chicago (flight time approximately 12 hours), and then have a short flight to Birmingham. We get in to the Birmingham airport, and 4:43 pm, and I can hardly wait to walk into our home. I have loved our time in China, but being crammed into a hotel room with three kids is testing my patience. And I'm ready to climb into bed where the sheets don't feel damp.

Pray for us as we journey home. This will be Caroline's second flight of her life, and it's a very long one. And I know she'll be a little overwhelmed when we get home. She is not accustomed to having so much space, and I will have to determine how to balance giving her privacy with ensuring that she engages with the family. Pray that she will be motivated to learn more English. She's become reliant on the translator, and we will have to push her to practice words. I think she's self-conscious.

Pray that she will be grateful for the family she now has. I sense that she likes all her new material belongings and freedom. Actually, she told me the two things she loves most about being in our family is freedom and happiness. (I had asked her this question.) I asked her to clarify what kinds of freedoms. And she said painting her nails and buying more books! I informed her that we would establish some rules when we got home such as a bedtime, etc. She moaned a bit but seemed okay. I guess I'm just nervous that she's happy because she has new clothes and polished nails. She's been asking for more and more things. And she even brought me my mascara this morning and asked me if she could put it on. (I said no.) I don't want her to view me as a genie who can grant all her wishes. I want her to view me as someone who can provide love, comfort, protection, advice, assurance, a shoulder to cry on, lessons on life and faith, and motherly attention. To be perfectly honest, she's been a bit sassy tonight. And a little demanding. (As in charge her iPod. Now.) And I feel a little disenchanted. But this isn't anything I didn't expect. And she and I already communicated last week that we realize each other is not perfect and that we will disappoint each other at times. However, reality isn't always fun. And I share this so you don't think we live in a constant state of Rory & Lorelai bliss. (reference to Gilmore Girls)

Thank you for all the comments and emails. I can't access blogger to respond, so please know that I will when we get home. Your insights, advice, scripture references, and prayers have touched me so deeply. It is comforting to know I am not traveling this road alone. I have the Lord guiding me, but also amazing people who are lifting us up along the way. I am humbled by how many people have invested a few moments of their day to check in on us and our journey. Thank you!!

I'll leave you with a fun little list:

What I'll miss in China:

noodles for breakfast

the language ( I am picking out phrases now!)

great deals on books, clothes, etc

room service and no cleaning dishes

good coffee and tea

the cities and unique cultures

What I won't miss but will remember with a smile:

stares

smells (all kinds!)

chicken feet

being in a hotel room with three kids

squatty potties (I wish I had Carter on video when he first ran up saying "They have potties that go all the way down to the floor!!!!!)

four of us sleeping together in one bed

feeling sticky and sweaty all the time

Next post will be from home. Woo hoo!!!!!!!!!!