Well, I wanted to wait long enough to post this update that we actually had something to share... and now seemed like an appropriate time. I am sitting here - wide awake - at 4:38 am on Tuesday morning. I am watching "Vegas Vacation". That is the same movie that Chris, Amber and I watched our first night in Guangzhou - without Anna.
I should share a little of our "drama" from the trip home, because of course, there was drama!
Logic told me that booking the 9 pm flight out of Guangzhou made sense! Anna could sleep for most of the flight home and so could I. Again - I didn't anticipate that she WOULDN'T sleep! But she did not. I also didn't anticipate the she would indeed CRY most of the flight - but she did. It made for a verrrrrrry long and frustrating flight for me and everyone else in our section. Amber is officially a member of our family, as I had no qualm waking her from her slumber to vent my incredible frustration! Poor Amber. We landed in LA and proceeded ever so slowly through immigration. Over an HOUR later, we were on our way on foot from the international terminal in LA to the United terminal. Anna didn't cry from point A to B, but resumed crying at the United terminal as Momma tried to get boarding passes for the LA to Chicago flight. We approached the gate and I know that people were beginning to cringe: would they be seated by that crying baby?! We boarded and Anna was still crying. She was exhausted and hungry (she refused to eat after about 7:30 pm in Guangzhou). I couldn't even make eye contact as we made our way to the last row of the plane. Anna cried nearly the entire 3 1/2 hour flight. Weary is the best word I can use to describe how I felt... We got off the plane in Chicago and I was a woman on a mission: I was going to eat something (which I hadn't done really either) and Anna WOULD eat! She fought HARD, but I won! I ate a Cinnibon (mmmmmmmm...) and had a renewed vigor! We were only a few hours from home!!! I boarded that plane in Chicago and warned my fellow Wichita bound passengers that indeed, Miss Anna would cry the entire flight and I was very sorry. I explained that we had been traveling over a day at that point and we were in survival mode. Wouldn't you guess? Miss Anna fell asleep before we even pushed back from the gate and slept until our initial descent into Wichita?
We were HOME!!!
As we approached the security checkpoint, my pace increased and I beheld the MOST BEAUTIFUL vision... A handsome king, two lovely princesses and a stunning prince! My youngest princess took off full force for her Momma Queen and we had the most beautiful embrace! Older and more... ummm... conservative princess and prince also embraced the queen and met the newest princess of the royal family. Handsome king approached the family with his suave and debonair style - although there was NO denying the pride that filled his heart as he was with his family of SIX for the first time!
We were also greeted by MANY family, church friends and adoptive friends! What an incredible blessing to share those moments with such special people! The airport homecoming is such a treasure and the people that shared it with us will forever hold a special place in my memories.
I LOVE the fact that Amy was THRILLED to meet her "baby Anna" and that within minutes, I was holding both my "little girls" and they were sobbing uncontrollably! What I loved most about that moment? That I was there to comfort both of them.
We have had a wonderful few days at home together! Chris has taken the first half of this week off of work. What a blessing! We have enjoyed playing, sitting and snuggling and running to Wal Mart! Amy and Anna have had a few moments of "fighting" for Momma's lap and attention, but other than that, we have done well.
Anna has slept pretty good! Maybe THAT was the good that came from her NOT sleeping on the way home; easier for her to get past jet lag and get her days and night figured out. She has had a few moments of being INCREDIBLY overwhelmed, but we are taking them in stride and recognizing them for what they indeed are.
I have suffered greatly from jet lag this time. I will push through and a few weeks from now it will be a distant memory!
I need to take a minute to say a very public "thank you" to Miss Amber. She is an AMAZING young lady that I am sure had NO IDEA what she was agreeing to when she said she would still go with me to China, even though the kids were NOT going. There were times when MUCH was required of her (on an emotional level) and she was AWESOME to rise to the challenge. I am thankful that GOD allowed her to go with me (and Joe and Amy, too!). I hope that the good times overshadow the hard times and that she was blessed to see China and watch the beginning of Anna's bonding to her Momma.
I had a top ten list last time that allowed me to "vent" and demonstrate a sense of humor as I was so homesick. I decided to save my list until I was home (and actually HAD a sense of humor!). So, here it is: Tami's top ten ways to know that we ARE in Kansas again (there's no place like home!)...
10 - I brushed my teeth using tap water and made Anna's bottle without bottled water!
9 - I waited and waited, but NO room attendant knocked on the door AFTER Anna fell asleep to offer turndown service and chocolates!
8 - I walked out the front door and there wasn't ANYONE there to push the elevator button OR write down my comings and goings in that book!
7 - No breakfast buffet waiting when I got downstairs! What? No french toast? No oatmeal? No funny little "cover" to throw over my diaper bag to ensure that I don't stuff it full of food for later?
6 - I walked outside and my glasses didn't instantly FOG OVER!
5 - David isn't calling Anna "Anner" (which is what is sounded like)
4 - Unlike in the Swan Room, the toys aren't periodically picked up by parents and room attendants (oh my - my house looks like a tornado hit it!)
3 - I am NOT walking twice as fast as everyone else (An observation - Americans walk fast and the Chinese people are much more leisurely...)
2 - I haven't had a grilled cheese for five days!
1 - Amber isn't walking through the door at 12:45 dripping with sweat from her run in 105 degree heat; apologizing for stinking and laughing about the looks she got from the Chinese while she stretched! (I told her she would have to sit and dry before there was a chance she would stink!)
But seriously -
What an adventure! I thought I was blessed 15 months ago as we came home from China with Amy; and I was. But coming home with Anna on Saturday opened my eyes even wider to the abundant blessings that GOD has poured out on me. I could have NEVER imagined the life GOD had in store for Chris and I thirteen years ago as we stood before family and friends and vowed our lives to each other. How incredibly thankful I am that GOD is bigger than my wildest dreams!
