The Hard Part...

Today has been the toughest day thus far, the day that we are so lucky to have experienced, but the day that this fairytale like story that I have been telling starts. We visited Finn's orphanage and finding place today. My heart now has a few hundred new holes in it, each one is a face eternally etched. So many children, so many rooms, there is no way to spin it. It is just not right. We have seen a bit of a switch in Finn since this afternoon, she is grieving and testing us a bit. I know it is a good thing in the grand scheme of things. She needs to know that she trusts us and to trust us she will need to test us. It's not the easy rosy part, but thus far we have been the recipients of her beautiful indiscriminate love, we will now have to prove ourselves to her. These brave children, I want to take all their hurt, but my heart can't bear it either.One of the "baby rooms" at the orphanage. 

In front of the orphanage.  

"I'm Outta here"

This busy street was the beginning of our story.  

Finn loves to walk around and explore the island.  She can't get enough of the hustle and bustle.  She is so curious about everything and everyone. 

Tomorrow is an easy relaxing day, we are going to the Pearl markets with "Ann" the same woman that helped us send care packages to Finn while we were waiting.  

Busy day

We met the most amazing woman today, after breakfast we were walking through the park on Shaiman Island, watching the locals do ti chi and play badminton. The woman approached us and we started talking. She is grew up in Guangzhou, but actually lives in New York and Hong Kong. She was telling us about the history and traditions of China and then she asked if we wanted her to show us the way the locals live and eat. She was so excited to show us her city. We walked with her for about 2 hours as she showed us neighborhoods and markets, she explained how and why everyone lived where they did. Her ancestors had a silk factory right over the bridge from Shaiman Island. She introduced us to her neighbors and showed us the BUSY market where the locals shop for meat (or live animals), vegetables, and herbs everyday since most people don't have refrigerators. Here is a little bit of our spontaneously wonderful, priceless tour..

This woman is skinning (live) frogs for order, yummy!

Our new friend knows this woman, she washes her dishes and her vegetables in the water that runs down the alley.  She does not have running water in her home. 

Showing us the difference between the homes, and the significance of the doors and the incense that is burned. 

It doesn't get fresher than this.  

The man in the yellow shirt is from Tibet.  He was trying to sell all the locals exotic herbs to heal all that ails them.  A current day "medicine man".  I didn't understand exactly what he was saying, but he sure was a story teller.  

"Our friend" knew this gentleman too.  He was very nice and posed for several pictures.  He sells pork to all the locals who buy their meat from him every day.  There is no need for him to refrigerate it because he knows exactly how much he will need every day.   

The rest of the day was pretty exciting too..

We scored huge points by introducing Watermelon to Finn..  

Making new friends. 

I thought it was so cute when she spotted the paper and pen and knew EXACTLY what to do,  her first masterpiece!
Had to take a trip to the herb and pet market too.  I think it is so crazy interesting.  Our guide was telling us how you go to the doctor here and the Dr. writes you a prescription on a little white tablet of what herbs to buy and to put into your soup to cure you illness.  
But the dried lizards, those are just to put into your steamed rice.  Who's coming to dinner???
Does PETA have a toll free #, wonder if they have ever been down the several blocks of pet markets??? That's all folk's

Spicy, the Sequel

What are the chances, really... Today was a little like Deja vu, of the Adoption day of Mina.  A room full of children, mellow and understandably still trying to figure out how their worlds were just turned upside down. And then there is our daughters.  Running around, into everything, smiling from ear to ear, in every bodies biz-nes, Climbing, snack snatching, in our words,,, being SPICY.  In a million years I never would have expected this a second time around and Marc and I just had to look at each other and laugh, laugh so hard we could hardly breathe. I guess Kobi just secured her position as our only Mellow child, Thank God for Kobi.  He knew I needed at least one Kobi.  Finn will seriously give Mina a run for her money, I think Finn could take her out too, she is a little bruiser.Lessons learned, when we adopted Mina, I was a "baby hog" the first day or two and Marc paid big time, as Mina decided Marc should not come within 5 feet of her at any moment.  We are making sure that we split the parenting duties and so far Finn will come to both of us equally.  

Being a big Ham for the camera and the crowd.

Our adoption in Final in China's eyes!! Yippee. now the long drawn out US side of things.

Don't hold me back Mama, I was just getting started.  I got places to go, things to destroy. This scene warmed my heart.  2 Moms and their 4 beautiful Chinese daughters, back for a heritage tour.  The girls loved playing with Finn and Finn LOVED playing with them.  She would run to them with open arms and was playing peek-a-boo with them. So glad to know she loves a crowd of kids, pretty much a necessity for our house.  

Much needed rest in Mommy's arm, while we enjoyed a relaxing lunch.

Always up for playtime

Playing Peek-a-boo with Mommy

Like my new 'do? 

Hey, What's your name?

How do I know God loves me?

He hears my prayers..And he answers them.
When fear creeps in... if I follow him and trust him, he will show me his bigger and better plans for my life.

This is our first evening together,  we pegged this kid all wrong, we pegged her as the serious type, the mellow type.  We weren't expecting how outrageously amazing she is.  We were at dinner with another Mommy & her beautiful daughters.  When we first sat down Finn looked a bit concerned, new places, new faces, it had seemed we overwhelmed her.  But alas once she started CHOWING her dinner and half of Papa's dinner, we started to get some little smiles, which quickly turned into big smiles, which turned into her being a little copy cat and having a ball.  We were shocked that she has come out of her shell so quickly.  I could just stare at her for hours, she is a trip, Mina get ready baby, you and your baby sister are going to be quite the duo!  I couldn't sleep, so I had to get up and show y'all these adorable photos, I just couldn't resist.  Can't wait to soak her up some more tomorrow.   Thank you everyone for you super supportive comments, It means so much to have my little cheering section when I am so far away from home.  Love to you all!  

God is good! Meet Finn

I can't believe how amazing this last few hours have been. The dream I was scared to dream. Our little girl is so amazing.  The adoption affairs was filled with anticipating families, you could hear a room full of crying children.  Of course our guide wanted me to sit down and do paperwork... puh-leeze ...  As soon as I sat down I saw Finn walking out, being led by her nanny.  She is a serious and mellow little girl.  She watched me for a minute or two and gave me an intense stare-down.  She did cry but only for a little bit, she kept shaking her head "no".   She calmed down very quickly and I do believe that Cheerios were the key.  She finds great comfort in Cheerios.  She gave Papa some hugs too as he doled out the snacks and he got to hug on her while I completed the paperwork and while we walked through the local Carefour (just like Walmart).   So far she seems completely cuddly and relaxed.  I know these next few days will be a big adjustment for her and we are likely to see much more personality shine through.  We are looking forward to spending time in this beautiful little city as we get to know our precious new daughter.  

We are in China baby!

We meet Finn in 12 hours, so our next post will be of our BABY!
We made it to Guangzhou!!! It has been a loooooong day,for the past 25 hours I felt like a 10 year old who needed her Mommy to pick her up at sleep away camp. But the second we entered the Beijing airport I felt much better. We really love China, it's efficient chaos. It is beautiful and I feel like it is part of me now because it is part of my girls. I am not a world traveler, I wish I were. I would love to see every corner of this beautiful earth someday, now if I could do it without air travel and still sleep in my own bed every night... I would be all over it. We are still broken hearted that Mina is not here to experience China with us, especially now that I realize the travel warning had a much louder bark than bite. ( We received some pretty loud "barking" from the China adoption center) I am sure there is a reason that we changed our minds last minute and Mina is home having a great time with her Grandparents and brothers and sister. This will be Finn's one and only chance to be an only child and to bond with us... I am sure that will be a very precious time. It all seems a bit surreal, after months of waiting we will be handed our baby girl tomorrow. What will she be like, will she be frightened, or numb, or bond quickly. We already know we will love her to pieces. If you are following along please say a prayer for Finn's little heart, I am sure she will be very confused tomorrow, please pray that God fills her heart with his love and that she bonds quickly to us. Can't wait to post again,,,, with photos of Finn!!! We meet her at 2:30 tomorrow (so 2:30 in the morning US time).
Collin, Kobi, Jackson & Mina, we miss you like crazy already! I am the luckiest Mommy in the whole world! 

Getting on our final plane of the trip from Beijing to Guangzhou!

Marc's bloodshot eyes after 24 hours either on a plane or in an airport waiting for a plane.  

Leaving on a jet plane...

We are going to China! We are thrilled. My stomach is doing flip-flops. This crazy "pig flu" has seriously messed with our plans. We are sadly leaving Mina at home with the other kids and her grandparents. I really wanted to take her back to China for several reasons, but we feel it is the best option to leave her at home, since people that have fever symptoms are being quarantined in China. So, nerve racking to say the least. Please keep us in your prayers that we have safe travels and that we meet Finn on Monday and everything goes according to schedule. I will update daily as possible. We miss our kids already and no doubt I will be going in their room 10 more times tonight to kiss their sweet faces. Oh, how it rips a Mama's heart out. Here is Mina's Gotcha Day video I made from our travel last year. As much as we love China, and have been so excited about our trip, I can't wait to be home safe and sound and make Finn's adoption day Video! (I just noticed blogger cuts off some of the words but you can still see all the video, I'm to tired to try to fix it... gotta go get on that plane)