Ni hao!
It is with some sadness that I begin this last journal entry here from China. Fourteen days ago we began this wonderful trip as a family of three and ending it (really beginning!) as a family of four.
Today began like every other day around 7:00 with the rustling of sheets and some giggling and laughing on Taz’s part. Down to breakfast where the kids’ new favorite item is drinkable strawberry yogurt. After breakfast we met the Caddells and MingMing in the lobby. Today we went shopping at a government store (nicer, pricier stuff) and a visit to a local park. The weather was a bit drizzly, overcast and cold, in the low-mid 50’s. MingMing said we were going to the park first. The park is called Yuntai Park and it is at the base of the Baiyun Mountain. No visit to China is complete without a visit to at least one park wherever you are staying. The Chinese take their parks very seriously. With so many people living in such close quarters in the cities, any green space is treasured. Even the apartment buildings here in Guangzhou have rooftop gardens.
When we were in Nanning adopting Tori, our favorite place to take her was the People’s Park behind our hotel. This was a huge park; it even had a small kiddie amusement park and a large lake. Hundreds of people would use this park to stroll, do tai chi, or get together with their singing group to practice some Chinese folk songs or opera. It was a great place, and even though many people were there, it was easy to find a spot to contemplate nature and enjoy some solitude.
The park we went to today was magnificent. This park charged a fee, around $3.00 for adults, which is not usual, but once inside we could see why. It was absolutely gorgeous. Flowers and trees of all kinds. The trunks of some trees look like those bamboo plants with the twisted trunks and branches, except these were fully grown trees. There was one section dedicated to just roses. Exquisite. In the center was a lake, with two dragon boats for the New Year. There were so many photo opportunities, we didn’t know where to begin…or end. Even though it was rather cold and damp, there were many people there taking New Year photos and just enjoying the beauty surrounding them. All too soon it was time for us to go.
We stopped at the government store where Jolon and I had shopped the last time we were here. Their specialties are porcelain and jade. The porcelain is beautiful, but too hard to carry home and too pricey to ship. So we looked at some jade and a few other things that caught our eye. After depositing some yuan at this store we were off again. We had seen something at Carrefour yesterday that the Caddells were looking for and they wanted to be dropped off there. We decided we would go too for a last look around. Of course we found more stuff to bring back. It was also so much busier with everyone getting ready for the New Year weekend. There were flower sellers everywhere, and everyone is buying cleaning supplies and goodies.
Back at the hotel for a quick bite and then much needed naps. We woke up just before 5:00 and Jolon and I started the yucky task of packing. We got almost all of it done before going down to dinner. Taz loves pizza and so we ordered him a kid one. WOW! It was handmade and when the waitress put it down in front of him, his eyes got huge and he said something equivalent to wow! It was so spontaneous we all cracked up including the waitress. He wanted me to cut up a slice and then he dug in. He was quite the happy little man.
Back to the room for showers and bed for the kids. We go down for one last breakfast tomorrow then off to the airport around 10:30 for our flight to Korea and then the long leg from there to Honolulu. We will be flying home with the Caddells and their son, Jackie. Please keep us in your prayers for a safe (and sane!) flight home.
Before we end our journal we would like to extend our love and gratitude to all of you who have supported us through this journey to Taz. We could never have done this without you; especially to our parents and friends who keep everything going for us at home and who never doubted our decision to adopt again, especially a special needs child.
Thank you to Hawaii International Child, John Trowbridge, the China Program director, for his help through the arduous paper process, Kristine Altweis, the director of HIC, who we feel we have known forever, and Kristine Castagnero, who thought of us when China opened the Special Focus program asked us if we would be interested and sent us Taz’s file to review. You will always be tied to our family. A special hug and love to Kelly, John, and Max Racella. Kelly, you know why and you will forever be Taz’s special ayi. (Auntie) I feel you gave us a precious gift.
Thank you also to MingMing, one of HIC’s facilitators here in China who was with us every step of the way. You have made this journey to Taz run so smoothly while we were here just as you did when we adopted Tori. You will also always be a special part of our family.
Taz, we are so happy and full of love that you are a part of our family. We promise to always love, cherish and care for you.
Tori, we know that this has been a difficult journey for you at times. We know you are happy that you now have a little brother. You will be a wonderful big sister and will help Taz learn many new things. Remember he has things to teach you, too. Please know that you are so special to us and we love you so very, very much!
I will make an entry tomorrow after we arrive home and one more entry in a couple weeks after we get back as an update.
Until then, may you love and cherish your children and families and pray for those who have none, that they may one day know the love and special gift of family.
