It Just Keeps Getting Better!

Her older brother just got called to serve a mission for our Church and was assigned to serve in country where he will learn Mandarin Chinese! This picture was taken the moment he read the language he would learn--he lost it because of what this would mean to his little sister (who is currently in a dual immersion program at school rekindling her Mandarin).

Day: Miracle's continue!

One AWESOME moment!!! I have to share this. We adopted our little girl from China last summer. She was with foster parents for some time and whenever we saw pictures of her, she was always with this other girl and they always had the same dresses on. Turns out it was her China "sister" (another girl who was with the same foster family and they were together for at least a few years, so that's why she calls her her China "sister"). We came home and you can imagine our surprise when we learned that the other girl was being adopted by a family who lives 45 minutes from us. Well today the two girls met and played for a few hours--it was so great!!  I only wish I could read minds! It's miraculous to me how all of this has unfolded and that these two China "sisters" would end up so close to each other. We are so happy for them and our family!! God really is in the details of our lives!!

Top: in China with foster parents (our daughter is on the left, her China "sister on the right)

Bottom: Today when they were looking at a photo book of when they were in China (given to us by her foster parents)

Top: the two of them in China. Her China "sister" is comforting her! 

Bottom: Today! 

Being funny! 

Day 14: Flight Home & Reunited

Our flight home was nice...some of the best advice we were ever given was this: When you fly with kids, go to the dollar store and purchase something that they can open each hour. Gui Yu did awesome! Nothing like coming home!!! 

What a journey! As we were flying in I looked out the window wondered to myself how God does it--out of all billlions of people in the world, how does He cause these sweet little miracles to occur. Out of all the little girls in the world we could have adopted, we adopted the one that was ours--she fits perfectly! It is an absolute testimony that God is real and He is in the details of our lives! His 'tender mercies' are everywhere-and we have surely felt them over this journey to adopt!

After 16 plus plane hours, we are so happy to be home!

Day 13: Visa & Begin travel home

Today we started our first leg of our return journey home...our driver picked us up and drove us to the US Consolate, where our guide had Gui Yu's Visa ready for us, and then a 3 hour drive to Hong Kong. We are ready to come home!! Though the 15 hour flight tomorrow is a little daunting. But how can we complain--we are bringing home the dream!! 

It's pretty miraculous to think we have come from this...

To this...

Day 12: Oath and Consolate

THis Today we went to the US Consolate and did the oath (it wasn't as I expected--they have everyone in the room stand up and with your arm to the square and repeat some words). Then we turned her in paperwork and tomorrow we get her visa and travel to Hong Kong. It's been a good day though, Gui Yu is doing so good and she sure loves her moma!

Here is a video:

And here are some pictures:

This was a 'mall' of only jewelry. 

She got a little tired...

We found some 'jade's' part of her name 'yu' means jade: 

Day 11: Still Waiting

We are still waiting for her Visa...we go tomorrow to get her results and turn in all the paperwork. Today we visited a zoo and just hung out. She gave both of us a kiss on the cheek today. SHe is doing so good!!! Here are some videos:
She loves to get a piece of paper and practice writing??

So we picked up a couple of Dora the Explorer videos that are in Chinese/English. SHe loves the first part and will watch it over and over...she has yet to watch more than 5 minutes of an episode...

We put on some 'Dance, Baby Dance' music and she is in heaven...

Day 10: Waiting for Test Results

We basically have to wait for her medical test results to come back (two days).

Today we opted out of going on the shopping and worship service. It was for most of the day and Gui Yu's got a pretty bad diaper rash from pooping so much. So we are staying close today to try and get her healed up.

They have an 'american section' at breakfast where they sit all the people who are adopting. It's pretty cool as there are like 15-20 families. It's amazing how small the world can become. We met last night a couple who have adopted a boy with IA and so we were able to talk 'poop' for some time. This morning we met another couple from Louisville. 

Gui Yu seems to be doing really well. Last night when we met the couple with the IA boy she immediately clammed up and just layed her head on Marsjon's shoulder and would not look at anyone.  Finally, after 15 minutes I took her away from everyone and got her playing, we eventually came back by everyone else and before we were done she was her nomal bubbly self again :) 

Watching this little girl eat is the cutest thing, here are some videos (I'm trying to get some of her eating noodles, but haven't yet--I laugh every time). SHe is like a machine...: 

 On this one we asked her if she was all done and she all the sudden ate like mad (as you will see in the video) and then send 'all done' in chinese. It was cute.