Tuesday, November 27, 2012
It was a bit of slow day today. The rain just kept coming down
in Guangzhou, and there was a bit of a chill in the air. The
third leg of our journey is over and we are onto the last few
days of our trip. We spent the morning packing and doing a
little shopping. We found Taytum an adorable traditional Chinese
outfit for her dedication to the church and a few dresses that
we would never have found in the states. We took a soggy walk
around the island, grabbed some lunch and got ready to go. In
the afternoon we picked up her visa and travel papers and hopped
on a train to Hong Kong. The train ride was great. Lots of other
adoption families, so we had great conversation for the two hour
ride. We were a bit nervous on the cab ride from the train
station because the driver looked a bit shifty, but it turns out
he was a great guy and gave us a lot of good tips on getting
around the city. We are in an amazing hotel in Hong Kong, thanks
to our neighbor who comes here often and set us up – thanks Bob!
We grabbed a quick bite to eat and went to bed. This whole city
is simply amazing! I'll describe more tomorrow. It's so late.
Taytum is officially ours today – the papers are done!! I did
some reflecting on our journey so I could remember. So, either
grab a cup of coffee and read, or tune in tomorrow. :)
For as much as I have enjoyed every minute of this trip, it is
much more, and had always been more that just about John and me
expanding our family. Although there are so many reasons that I
wanted to adopt, sharing this experience, from wavering start to
finishing with flourish, with my older kids , has been a dream
come true. I wanted to show them there is a whole big world out
there, and, as we've come to find out, so very different and yet
so similar to our own. We joke all the time about the “Geneva
bubble”, and while it is true that our kids do love their
“Geneva” world, I think now they have not only a greater
appreciation for all of the comforts of home, they are learning
to make a home with the people around them, not just their
surroundings. Which, at the end of the day, your home is more
than just a dwelling, it is the love that is felt inside that
makes it truly a home. The kids have all been so amazing on this
trip. The bickering among the troops has been kept to a very
dull roar and we haven't heard one single complaint about the
long times (ok, we did get a couple of, much understandable,
groans and eye rolls – their not perfect after all :0) we've
spent in the plane or the van, or even for Chinese officials to
get the paperwork together. Our food situation hasn't been the
most ideal, but even when we thought we would try some place new
here on the island only to sit down and read that on the menu
was boiled pigs feet and grilled intestine, they just closed the
menu politely and asked if we could go to Lucy's. When John
wondered aloud if it would be rude if we left, Ally casually
said “Dad, we're in China, we're never gonna see these people
again.” So they all scrambled out of their seats while John and
I were cornered to pay for the wet wipes they had offered us – a
yuan a piece. It was the funniest thing!
I also want to never forget, that the kids are making a big
sacrifice too. They are missing their “regular” lives. I know
they are all a bit hesitant to have missed school, and are
anxious about all of the stuff they have missed as well as all
of the work they will have to make up. They miss their friends,
and although nothing has been said, I'm sure they feel as if
they have missed out on some important things at home. John too
has also made such a sacrifice missing so much work. He has been
checking his email regularly, but has also been focused on our
family and hasn't been to anxious about all that he is missing.
Thanks to all of the people at Medline who have made this trip
not only possible, but have reassured him that although his job
can't be done without him, things will be handled while he is
gone.
In relative terms, our adoption has gone pretty quickly. Because
we were willing to go special needs, it took us almost exactly
14 months from the first day we applied, to getting her Visa in
China. Every one of the kids we have have met along the way here
have had special needs. There have been several cleft lip/cleft
palate, several with little nubs for fingers and others with
either limb deformities or part of limbs missing. What's so
beautiful about it, is that no one blinks an eye at their
“special need”. All of the parents know that they will fix what
ever can be fixed, and the rest will just be something unique
about their child. No different than a what you would encounter
with your biological kid. It is the most heart warming thing. I
can tell why some people get addicted to adopting and come back
again and again. Shh...don't tell Shyla I said that or she
she'll submit our dossier without us even knowing! :)
Now, maybe God has something else up his sleeve for us, which is
entirely possible, but for now, the Pritz family is complete. We
are looking forward to a life of watching our kids grow and
chasing them around to where every they should land, with Taytum
in tow of course. They have all talked non stop about they
places they will adopt from. Ally is bound and determined to get
a little boy from India, and Shyla from Africa, India and China!
I never really imagined myself as a world traveler, but the
thought of one day gaining grandchildren from all over the
world, and being there to see it, warms my heart.
To say that Taytum has taken to John is an understatement. It is
really quite sweet to see her always searching for him. At first
I thought this was really ironic. John was the last one on board
with this adoption, the one who felt like he wouldn't be a good
enough dad to her, and here she was only wanting to be with her
daddy. Then I realized that it is such an answer to prayer. Of
course God would make her become most attached to John first. He
needed to show John that this little girl trusts him and loves
him, and needs him to her dad. |
Signing "more"….sis was feeding her cookies.
A soggy day on Shamian Island
Night Night!
The cab ride to the hotel
Shamian Island
The LORD has done
great things for us,
and we are filled with joy. Psalm 126:3 |
