One in a Million

It's about 8 PM Tuesday night in China and we are exhausted! It's starting to get hard keeping the days straight, keeping in touch with the boys, what day is it there? Is it day or night there? Etc... so I know if I don't write this post up, I'll forget what happened today!
We had to be up and at it very early today and meet our guide and the other family at their hotel by 9AM. We made it to breakfast and Jia had a scrambled egg and a banana. She is such a good eater. The orphanage said she had 4 bottles a day, but I didn't bring one and she doesn't seem to know how to suck on her sippy cup either. We have to take the lid off and she drinks out of it like a big girl!
Today we went back to the Providential Office where we got Jia yesterday. We were interviewed by the registar and notary and they said she is officially ours! We took a passport photo today as well.
After that visit, while we were still in Guangzhou, we visited Carrefour. The grocery store. Our guide Molly said that 35 million people live in Guangzhou and I think that at least 1/2 of them were in the grocery store today!
We came back to the hotel this afternoon to rest, but Jia didn't ever really go to sleep. I was checking my Facebook, which by the way is very lonely when its 3 AM there, and she was sitting on my lap and had her elbows up on the desk just looking at her pictures. She started talking, which was a first! She has such a sweet little voice! I can't wait to hear more!
Also, outside our hotel, there is a school. There are 2 floors of many children and we can hear them at times in our room. I pushed the ottoman up to the window and opened the curtains. Jia just stood there forever watching and listening the kids. She really likes other kids and babies. The other family that is here with us has a 5 year old son and she just watches him all the time!
Tonight we went back to Lucy's for supper. It was fairly decent outside so we sat out on the patio so Jia could walk around. Tonight she ate her entire bowl of Chicken Congee and drank her whole cup of juice. She also had a bit of grilled cheese and a couple of french fries.
She is just doing amazingly well! I'm just so taken aback at well she's doing with us both. She's still a little leary of Jack, well not just him... all men. The dad of the other family was sitting by me this morning and he'd talk to her and she was fine, but he reached out to touch her hand and she wailed! Then I was trying to climb out of the van holding her and the driver took her from me before I even realized what was going on...(let me say here that it would've been okay with me, if she would have let him. He has been awesome and drives very well! He's very kind and we trust him, but I knew she wouldn't like it.) She bawled and screamed and he immediately handed her back to me. She wrapped her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck and didn't let go for quite a while! Then our notary was a man and he was talking very cheerfully to her in Chinese, probably trying to coax a smile out of her and she let loose on him!
So it's not just Jack, it's men. But she did sit in her chair like a big girl and Jack fed her and took care of her entire meal. She was totally cool with that. She doesn't like for him to push her stroller at all... she looks back to make sure it's me. But her personality is emerging and I feel we'll see a lot more in the next few days.
Again... I'm just truly amazed at how well she's handling all this. I know it's all the prayers that have paved the way working. So thank you for all those and keep 'em coming.
We're so very tired. Tomorrow is her medical exam and taking her photo for her visa and then we have something else at 3ish. But I don't remember....it's starting to blur. But we're staying so busy and tired that it will go by fast. We haven't even had time to go visit the shops!
I hope you all enjoy the photo's! Don't forget to leave comments... they are very encouraging. Just to know people are following along and care!
Thanks Friends!
JMS

all Gods grace in one little face

Note from Joy's Mom.....
We are Praising the Lord for this Blessing in our life, can't wait to have her here!
I am sorry the pic are bottom to top, don't know how to change them, so
enjoy them anyway :-) and keep prayers going up.


I don't know what we were worried about! Today went perfectly! It's now 9PM and I just put Jia down for the first time since we got her at about 3. She is totally glued to me.
She cried quite hard for about 5 minutes when they gave her to us. We had about 3 minutes to hold her before they made Jack go take care of the paperwork and such. So I had her alone for at least 30 minutes... long enough for her to stick to me. I think this is the reason, she won't go to Jack just yet. If he reaches out to her, she shakes her head sharply! She will take baby snacks from him and play with her toys with him. It will all come together in a few days, we're not too worried!
She's such a good girl. After that initial crying, once in a while she would pucker up and start to whine, but we were able to distract her. The only time she flat out bawled after that was when she seen the nanny that brought her. We had the opportunity to visit with the nanny and ask her questions, but she upset Jia so much, I told our guide Molly to just make her go away. Molly assured us that she could call the orphanage for us if we needed any questions answered. We posed for a picture with the nanny and she come and stood right by Jia, so you can see in the photo, I turned and put Jia on the other side.
Beyond that, our girl has been such a trooper! We come back to the hotel and she almost fell asleep in the van, so we laid down thinking she would nap. Not interested! So we got up and tried out the stroller. Again...not interested! So I carried her to the other side of the island where we ate supper. She ate Congee with Chicken and was such a big girl! She was swinging her feet in her high chair and looking around at everything. She has been so good and so brave!
After supper when we arrived on our floor at our hotel, I put her down and let her walk. Our room is at the very end of the hall, so she was able to take off and really seemed to enjoy it. Then we took a bath and she just did so unbelievably well! It's incredible!
Right now, we've made a palet on the floor and she's zonked. It's been such a big day for her. Jack and I are totally exhausted as well, but so thrilled that this day has come and gone and has went so well!

Oh, it looks like we won't starve afterall. We found a place that serves hamburgers and GRILLED CHEESE!!!! YIPPEE!!!! It was sort of funny, I was sitting there eating and the scripture from Matthew came to me that I read this AM... about not worrying about food and clothing... that even the sparrows are fed. I thought that was awesome when I seen grilled cheese on the menu... and it was good!
You can see from the pictures that she likes suckers! And she's just like Mom and Dad... she loves her toy cell phone and her toy car keys! One in each hand!
More tomorrow!
Jack N Joy

6 HOURS PEOPLE!!!!!

It's amazing what a good nights sleep can do to your perspective on things! We are getting around this AM, getting things ready to get Jia! We are both so excited and can't wait!
This morning we spent a little time in the Word and that always helps. For 3 years now, I've had some 'adoption' scriptures that have helped get me through...
I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you. John 14:18
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this; to look after orphans adn widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27
Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land. Proverbs 25:25
Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the East and gather you from the West. Isaiah 43:5
I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. 1 Samuel 1:27
And of course, my life verse for the last couple of years... For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Habakkuk 2:3

But this AM we were reading in Isaiah...we were still feeling a little displaced and unsure of what the day would bring...
I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Is. 41:9-10
For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Is. 41:13

We read several others, but those were are favorites. THEN!!!!! I was looking for a verse in Psalms and couldn't remember where exactly it was... I thought Ch. 66 or so... but as I was looking for it, I found this. One I've read over and over and over again... but I didn't finish it or God conceled it until this day for me...
A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling... that's where I would always stop, but if you read the next verse... God sets the lonely in families, Ps. 68:5 & 6a
Today is Jia's day! Today God is keeping His promise and setting the lonely in families. Today... JIA GETS HER FAMILY, because I serve a faithful God. I am praising His name and so grateful He called me, not only to be set apart for His purpose and plan, but that that plan included Jia!I just wanted to share that this AM... now I really need to go or be seriously late! So much to prepare! Keep us in your thoughts and prayers!
Love - JMS

Our Last Sleep!

It's almost 9PM here in China. We are staying on Sha Mian Island in Guangzhou. Tomorrow is the big day.
My plan to have pictures up for you when you wake has been spoiled by the fact that Blogger is blocked here. Grrr.... But my back up plan is to email everything to my mom and she will post for me! So now you have to wait for her to wake up! LOL!
Leaving HK and entering China has definately been the most challenging portion of our trip. They took our temperature at checkin, then they riffled through my carryon because I had fingernail clippers and tweezers. My bad, but they've been in there all along. The funny thing is that I looked all over for those tweezers the night before and figured I had left them at home! Not! Then when we landed, we were unable to even stand up and get our bags. The 'guys in the white bubble suits' entered the plane from the rear and took each person's temperature. It hadn't even been an hour since we had it taken in HK, but oh well! A guy 2 rows up from us set the thing to beeping... twice! He had to remove it hat and lift his shaggy bangs and it still beeped. So the guy in the white bubble suit made him shut the blinds and turn on his air vent. He returned and tried again and he was fine! Whew!
Our hotel room is very small here, it's making me miss HK! We have a King size bed here as well, but it's about 1/2 the size of the one in HK. Oh, well, the room is about 1/2 the cost too. The food in the hotel is terrible, so we're going to HAVE to venture out.
Our guide is wonderful! She's so sweet and we're going to enjoy spending time with her. Tomarrow, at about 2:30 PM here, 1:30 AM there, is when we are scheduled to get Jia. This at times just overwhelms me if I pause long enough to let it. Mostly we've just been on survival mode... just get our selves through this 14 hour flight, just get ourselves through Japanese immigration, customs, get ourselves to and from the hotel in Tokyo because we missed our connection, just trust the airline will reschedule our flight, just get in the taxi and tell them where your hotel is, just do this, do that, etc.... etc.... I know once we get home, this is all going to hit what we've been through, but for now, we just do what we gotta do and don't think about it.
I can't even begin to tell you the emotions... there are just too many. Of course there's fear, doubt, fear, doubt, we're tired, we're hungry for some real food (oreo's), we're homesick at times when we let our selves think about it, and part of us is just ready to come home.
BUT.... tomarrow is the day we've waited over 3 years for! We're overjoyed. I really feel such peace about getting Jia. I know she's meant to be part of our family. I know she needs a Mama, Baba and 3 Ge-Ge's desperatley. I know she needs us. We will hold it together and get her home. The thought of 2 more weeks here though is excruciating. We'll certainly have to take it one day at a time. Once we have her I know it will be different. We'll catch that 2nd wind for a few days... then we'll just have to take it one day at a time again!
We did spend a little time walking around the island tonight. I must say, I can't wait to shop! All those adorable little Chinese dresses made my head spin! I can't wait to buy some! Our guide has a hertiage tour of 12 adoptees coming in the 26th, and she said when we have the big group, she'll take us in to Guangzhou to the pearl market. She's also invited us to her home to have her husband cook for us one night! And there's another family that will be getting their daughter with us tomorrow. Their daughter is not from the same orphanage, but the same city! So our guide is going to ask if our 2 families can travel to the city and visit the orphanage. I'm not getting my hopes up because of the swine flu... but I truly hope we can!
I can't think of much else to say except that if you're reading, please comment. Please email us... we get them just fine. Please leave me messages on Facebook! It's so lonely to get on Facebook when you're all sleeping! We've had a couple of emails from Brad and Tolane and we just look forward to them! Please leave us some encouragement, some scripture, some Rah! Rah! Ree! Something. It really is nice to hear from you all and feel connected.
We Skype with my parents and the boys most every night and morning, it's really working out well. We can talk free via the computer through a headset and it sounds like they're right here with us.
Anyway... 2:30 PM here for us, 1:30 AM there for you.... if you're up and feel compelled to pray for us, please do so! We need it!
Love you all....
Jack and Joy
PS... I just proof read my post and thought portions of it may sound a little troublesome. We truly are fine, we just feel very displaced. Can't wait to get our daughter and get home!

JUST ONE MORE SLEEP!!!!

Can you believe it? It hardly seems real to me. Just one more sleep!
Our flight leaves at 1:10 today and we go from HK to Guangzhou. Arriving there at 1:44. Our guide, Molly, will meet us there and take us to the Victory Hotel, which will be our home for the next couple of weeks.
Tomorrow afternoon we will get Jia! I hope that by the time you guys get up, I'll be able to have a couple of pictures up. But we'll see. My priorities will be different after today!
Talk to you all soon!
JMS

Saturday in HongKong

Let's start at the beginning. This is on our flight from Tokyo to Hong Kong. We sat right about the wing... Jacen check out how long it is! And Jory, can you see that we're higher than the clouds?

THIS... is the view from our hotel!

I need one of these to finish drying my pants!

We got up and had a wonderful breakfast then walked to the Star Ferry Pier. We rode the ferry to the Hong Kong side. This is taken from the ferry looking towards HK.

Another from the ferry towards HK

Once we got to HK, we took a taxi to the Victoria's Peak Tram Station.

This is while we're waiting in line for the tram... here it comes!

On the way up! It is so steep that the floors are slanted for those who stand! At one point it was so steep, that it hurt your neck. You could feel the strain to just hold your head up!

Once we got off... looking back down.

One view from the top. Looking back towards Kowloon.

Once at the top, there's an entire shopping area, walking trails and lots of gorgeous flowers. I saw this up there and thought of cousin John!

It is soooooooooooooo hot and humid here. My straightner wouldn't work this AM, not that it would've helped. The humidity is reaking havoc on my hair... making it so curly that even my curls have ringlets. UGH! Hate it.

From the top of the peak...

Jack from the top...

This is the sky tower that is at the top of the peak. We were on the top of this taking pictures.

Here's inside as we were walking back down.

Another view down, you can see the Disneyland HK ticket counter at the bottom!

Some of the flowers up there....

This butterfly was huge. It felt like a bird flying by.

Inside the Galleria shopping center at the top of the peak.

PR... here's one for you!

Children playing in the fountain... it was tempting!

After Victoria's Peak, we still had plenty of time left to do something else. We hopped in a cab and went over to Lantau Island for Ngong Ping 360. We had seen this when we come in from the airport and thought it looked cool! So we went for it!

Taking off....

On our way... it actually takes you between like 5 mountain tops. Then you end up at a monestary and a little shopping area and there's a huge statue of buddah.

This was our first glimpse of buddah. You could walk all the way up to him, but we passed.

Looking back from our cart... where we just come from!

Ahhhhhh.... we were soooo glad to see this sign! This is home for now!

We had a very busy day! We are so tired and hungry. We skipped lunch, but it was to hot to eat anyway. We have enjoyed our stay in HK, but look forward to moving on and getting Jia! Just 2 sleeps and a wake!

It all sort of seems unreal... I know we're going to crash when we get home!

Love you all..... JMS