It is only hours now until we are headed home! We are supposed to meet our guide in the hotel lobby at 5:30 a.m. tomorrow morning (about 2:30 p.m. PDT). Today was a relaxing day. We worked on our packing and purchased a couple small things we wanted to bring home for Anna. We strolled around the “island” past all of the old Consulate buildings and through the “friendship park.” Sarah had fun taking pictures of the statues, shops, souvenirs, each of us, signs…if we missed anything up to this point, I think she got it…except maybe a squatty potty…we’ll just have to leave that to your imagination.
Yesterday afternoon was our swearing in appointment at the Consulate. We met downstairs at 2:45 to board a tour bus with about 10 other families for the 45 minute ride to the Consulate. We dressed Anna up beautifully even though we weren’t allowed to bring our cameras with us. We did attempt to get a red couch picture of her when we got back. It was fun visiting with the other families while we traveled and waited for our swearing in. I met another mom that has been posting on Story of You – Journey to Kate. The ceremony was short and sweet. We raised our right hands and swore that everything we had said and written in the adoption process was true. We received back her Passport with a US Visa inside. We were given instructions that when we get to Portland we are to come through customs in the “foreigners” line, but as soon as they stamp her passport, she will officially be a U.S. Citizen! Thank you Lord!
Most of the families we were with yesterday afternoon left this morning. Many new families began arriving here yesterday. It was very sunny today. I took the girls to the pool and visited with several nice families. (Pete stayed in the room because he is feeling a bit of a sinus infection or something.) Most of the families here are still special needs adoptions.
We learned some interesting folk lore about Guangzhou. It seems it was believed the city was founded by space aliens…seriously. Isn’t it amazing what people will believe in their search for truth? The funky phone booths are a tribute to the city’s “history.”
I had sent an email note to my “angel” from our plane flight here and she was able to meet us here for lunch today. It was a blessing to get to visit with her and hear about her work here. It was also interesting to hear her perspective on many things here. She is a special woman and we hope to stay in touch. We are so thankful to have had an opportunity to meet so many people through this process both in the States and here in China.
My sweet new little angel just crawled in my lap and passed out. I sure hope she sleeps some on the airplane. The hardest thing will be that my potty trained little girl is terrified of the airplane bathroom and public restrooms generally.
This is our last post from China. I will post our home update to let everyone know how our travel and home coming turns out. We may even consider extended hosting so we can do monthly updates for a while for you out of town friends and relatives. Thank you so much for following our journey. We have felt your prayers and so appreciated the notes of encouragement along the way. We feel blessed beyond our imagination and so thankful to our Lord and Savior that has so faithfully lead us and kept us each step of this journey. Much love to you all. The Aldrich Family – Pete, Kristine, Rachel, Sarah, James, Mark and Anna!
Some last thoughts from Rachel—
Hey guys!
It’s been so great getting (and reading,) your notes.
We have had so much fun in China and it was really a learning experience for me. The day before we left I commented to mom that it was hard to believe we were going and it felt like we would go on packing forever. Now it feels like we are going to stay in China forever. If it feels like years ago that we were in Tiananmen Square, visiting the Forbidden City, and climbing the Great Wall, it feels like forever ago that we were at home shoving the last of the goat’s medicine down their throats.
I can’t wait to get home! Next time we see you guys we’ll have 5 kids!
