First few days

March 22 last year, we made the decision we were going to fill out a medical checklist to start the process to adopt again. It's crazy to think after just one year, all that we hoped and prayed for is laying beside me in bed.    Now Grace just cried for an hour, but she is super cute now asleep.  

This is such an awesome but difficult time.... We are all still battling jet lag.  Robbie recovered from the flu.  Grace has a rough time (I mean hours of screaming) falling asleep.  She is starting to let her daddy into her heart little bit by little bit.  I predict daddy will be her go to before too long. She also has several times a day where she seems so sad.  I can't even imagine how hard all this is to process for her and she only has whimpers to tell me how she is feeling.  But then,  it' so neat to see Matthew take on his big brother role.  He will always give a Grace a cookie before he eats his.  They play well together, too.    Sonetimes, I would love to hit fast forward to about 6 months from now, but I would sadly miss how God has worked in her heart and miss all the sweet times in between. 

First trip to American Walmart, I think she really liked not having to dodge motor scooters to get inside the store.

Coloring Buddies

Wearing Matt's Ninja Turtle Mask

Home!

We touched down around 6pm Friday night.  Yay!!! We have had 2 nights of sleep in our beds, but none of us are sleeping to well.  All of us are in a foggy daze.  The adjustment to home has been overwhelming for Grace, but thankfully she has had a lot of playful sweet moments, too.  She spent several hours with Jeff and the rest of the kids playing while I took a nap.  She really loved pushing her baby stroller around. stuffed animals are ok to ride in her stroller, but all the dolls get thrown out. Unfortunately Ro woke up this morning with flu symptoms, praying he feels better soon and the rest of us can keep it at bay.   

America's newest citizen

We survived the flight!  The littles slept at least at least half the time here which was nice!  Next stop home!! One more flight!

Heading to Hong Kong today!

Today we should get Grace's visa!  After we get it, we will take a van to Hong Kong to spend the night.  

We are about 2/3 of the way packed. Grace likes to help us unpack, she keeps bringing me things and shouting mama!

Grace is a sweet silly girl.  She is also trying her limits by throwing things and swatting.  I am the main nanny right now :)  she has a lot to learn to figure out with how this family stuff works.   She will come to me when she is scared and I am the one to primarily still carry her around.    I did leave today for a little bit and she did ok with the boys.  The language barrier is frustrating for her and for us.  We have caught her jabbering in mandarin, but she mostly communicates with us by pointing and grunting. Matt and Grace are still playing together quite well which is really nice.    She is still sleeping with me at night, she constantly is reaching for me to make sure I am there.  Matthew has been a trooper and has slept in the pack n play.  Thankfully there is a zipper hatch on one side and he can get in and out by himself.  Jeff and Robbie have been sleeping buddies for the trip -we are all anxiously waiting our own beds.  

There is a small store downstairs in our hotel and it carries some food items for Americans... like Kraft American Cheese slices,  canned corn and bottles of Ketchup.  Mnmm sounds like an American treat for sure! 

We are doing well, all things considered.  We are excited to be coming home!! It has been very humid here, so our cold weather at home is sounding great.  Thankfully there is a McDonalds ice cream booth next to the hotel.  This was our lunch one day.

Life here is so different.  All the Americans are sweating to death and the Chinese here still stay bundled up.  It's also weird to have so much pushing and shoving,it is better here in Guangzhou. Rarely will anyone hold a door open and people rush right on the elevator before you have the chance to get off.  Waiting in line, yeah not so much.  You better push your way through.  We visited the US consulate yesterday and I was thankful we were able to stand in the US citizen line.  The other line was so long, people were everywhere.  It surely had to be an all day wait for them.  We have been surrounding by a lot of luxury and poverty.  It's hard to hear about how the government  will spend millions revamping their town for the Asia games, yet there are  thousands of children in orphanages. 

I looked away and Grace took my tea  and polished it off.

Robbie at the Mcauy St restaurant, he loves to be in my pictures.

Poor Matt is still my napping boy and he seems to fall asleep most nights at dinner.  If he could just teach his little sister how awesome naps are.

We took a walk in our favorite park by the hotel, Liu Hua Park. It even has a small amusement park inside of it.

A few pictures...

Headed to US consulate today, where we will take an oath and complete the last step for Grace's visa to the US!!! Overall Grace is doing really well.  She is starting to talk a little more.  She can say mamama, dadada, roro, and Nat (matt).  She is really ham in the hotel room, but still stays pretty shy and reserved out in public.  She's loving the guys and will tolerate them holding her for a just a little bit. We have been able to get out a little bit more on this trip, so that has been nice.  We went on a boat tour of the Pearl River, gone out to eat with our group and done some shopping.  Picked her up a couple of pairs of squeaky shoes, which she seems to like.  As long as I stay near, she's ok.  Thank you for your continued prayers, we are headed into the back stretch of this trip.  Looking forward to introducing Grace to her new home, when the new adjustments really start.  She is going to be surprised that we really don't do laundry and dishes in the bathroom at home....   Love to all - Kelly

Kids adopted in our travel group

Traditional outfits

Group picture, this is just half of our group

Good Morning!

Good morning from Guangzhou! Laying here on the hotel floor, doing my back exercises and completely overwhelmed with what God has done to bring us to this point.  The hurdles, the paperwork, the travel, the money,  the fears... I am beyond words.  Tears are streaming down my face thinking of how far we have come with Grace.  To see her sleeping sweetly right here in my bed... We have such a long road in front of us, but my heart is joyful.  

If adoption has ever crossed your mind, please pray about it right now.  These children are worth it.  It is awesome, God's hand is clearly on these children.  His heart cares so deeply for the fatherless, they are his treasures.    

In Guangzhou

We arrived in Guangzhou Saturday night. Grace did fairly well on the plane ride and she even sat in the seatbelt for a bit.  She didn't cry until after we landed, but it seemed like she just worried about this next transition.  A sweet lady gave her a mint (which she just held in her hand) and again she quieted.  People have been very nice to us like that.  One lady even gave up her seat on a crowded bus for us.  She tried to ask me a question, but I didn't understand.  Another man came over and interpreted for me and she gave me the warmest smile when she heard we had adopted Grace. 

  I spent my birthday traveling most of the day Saturday, however when we got here we were able to have Papa Johns pizza delivered and the boys bought me a box of chocolates. Best yet was real Air conditioning, not just a picture of a snowflake on the thermostat while it pushed out hot air.  Breakfast here is also very good so that helps too.  There are so many adoptive families staying here.  I would say probably all the children here have a special need of some sort. How awesome to see these children treasured who were once the lowest part of their society just a week ago.    It's also nice to see parents that are a lot older than us. ;)  there are several us that are adding a second generation to our families.  As we went out today, we even saw other adoptive families on the streets.  I think we need some sort of special wave or handshake.  

It is the most amazing thing to see Grace change a little bit each day.  She is really sweet and she is trusting us.   TShe is such a pretty girl.  She can still get very quiet and sad, but there have been so many sweet silly times today.  Robbie and Jeff can get her to laugh and smile now. Hopefully they can start carrying her soon too :)   She still becomes very reserved if we are in public.  She is sleeping better, but still doesn't want to lay down for nap.  She has been so exhausted at night she just crawls up in my lap and falls asleep, which is so much nicer than an hour of screaming.  She will even point and grunt.   Matthew and Grace really play together nicely.  Matthew calls her Gracie Little Starkey.  Sorry for the lack of posting - either we are running around or one of the kids has by Ipad.  Love to all and thank you for your prayers.  God is so very good!