Pictures!

Friday, 1st full day with their new little sister, she was a
queen in their eyes

(that only lasted one day for Abram)

Aubrey FINALLY has a sister to play dolls with!

Sunday Morning, ready for Church
(Emerson stayed home with me,
though)

Into the trash, normal 2 year old, huh?!

Don't you want to "eat" her up!?!

Ride on Mommy's lap

Blessings

We were incredibly blest while we were gone and since we’ve been back.  When we arrived at home, we noticed:

1.  Someone scooped our driveway
2. Someone purchased some groceries for us, so that we didn’t need to run out the next day
3. Our parents(and who knows else) were sweeping up the water that got into our basement while we were gone
4. Someone washed our sheets for us
5. Some friends have brought us food/and meals, so I don’t have to cook

I’m sure there are things that I just didn’t see or notice, but any which way, we feel very blest!

How’s Emerson adjusting?  Well…..

1.  Sleep:  She hasn’t begged for Chase(whom she slept right next to while we were in China).  She’s sharing a bed with Aubrey and is delighted to have a big sister.  Her body still isn’t on schedule(but neither is mine or Jeff’s or Chase’s), but she’s still sleeping relatively well at night!  The hardest part, is when she wakes up crying and will only receive comfort from me.  Sometimes I’m up with her for an hour or two before she falls back to sleep, but then I can’t fall back asleep! L
2. Foods:  This is a big deal.  We have to eat to survive and it’s a big part of everyday life.  I didn’t expect her to try our foods right away, but she has.  PBJ sandwich the 2^nd day home and liked it! Tortillini, apple slices, soup, apple sauce…and the list goes on.
3. Other  adjustments:  She watched Abram take a bath(he LOVES bath time!)that first Saturday.  Then Aubrey took a bath.  As Aubrey was in the tub, we started to suggest that Emerson should take a bath with her.  I don’t know if Emerson understood what we were saying or if she already was thinking it, but she was already tugging at her clothes(to get them off) and ready to jump in with her.  Emerson LOVED it!!  This is a HUGE deal, too.  While we were in China, she cried and never enjoyed her baths.
4. Also….While she watched her big brothers and sister brush their teeth, she grabbed her tooth brush and started doing the same(didn’t matter that she watched me in China…she wouldn’t brush her teeth, then).  Like we’ve said, she loves to mimic!
5. Aubrey was the first(and as of right now, the only) to receive a kiss from Emerson!
6. Emerson’s warming up to her surroundings as she navigates around and gets into the T.P., the trash, the snacks, Abram’s blocks, the snacks, drawers, and did I say the snacks?!
7. Emerson’s eyes LIGHT up when we sing, “This little light of mine” and she dances around the living room if I play the piano(even to a simple tune of “Jesus love me”).
8. She cried the other day, when I dropped Aubrey and Abram off at school
9. She “lights up” when we pick up the kids from school, especially when she sees Chase!
10. She is simply a complete joy to have…Which rings true to the meaning of her name, XIxi(joy, happiness)

Overall, we are so thankful for how everything is going except one area…She hasn’t really warmed up to Jeff.  She has had moments of sitting on his lap and reaching up for him, but it doesn’t happen very often(probably not at all in the past 4-5 days).   If you think of us, will you pray that Emerson can start to warm up to him?

Oh, I almost forgot…How’s the other kids adjusting?  Chase is SO glad to go back to school, he needed a social life.  Aubrey is SUCH a good big sister and is sharing her bed with Emerson.  This wasn’t our original plan, but once we knew that Emerson was use to sleeping with her foster mom, we knew that she would NEVER sleep in a room by herself.  Abram….We knew that this would be a hard adjustment for him.  He WAS the baby, now he’s not.  We talked about it A LOT before she came(talked with Abram)…but you just don’t really know how it’s going to affect him until it happens.  It’s a fine line of, “when does he need extra love and attention? And when does he just need to be disciplined?”

Well, that’s all for the moment.  Thanks for joining us in this portion of our journey!

P.S.  I PROMISE to do a picture post soon!!!  We’ve got some GREAT pictures since we’ve been home!

{China #13} Traveling HOME

Jeff and I both had a rough night of sleep(Wednesday night,  19^th).  Too soon, our 5:20am alarm was going off and we needed to get ready.

 At 6:45 we were checked out and ready to roll!  Our first flight left at 9:15am.  It was a 4 hour flight. One of the Flight attendants on this flight was Chinese(it was a Japanese airline), who asked me about Emerson and thanked us for adopting her and told us that she was a “lucky girl”.  My response was, “no, WE are the lucky ones!”

 I could tell that Emerson was tired on this flight, but she refused to keep still, long enough to sleep, until she HAD to sit on my lap(because she wouldn’t buckle into her seat).  Right before we landed, she fell asleep.  At least she was happy for most of the flight.  She wasn’t easy, because she got into everything and wanted to feed herself when the meal came and was grabbing butter off of my tray and grabbing food off of Chase’s tray.  She was like a “bull in a China shop”. J  By the time we were done with the meal, it looked like a tornado had gone through! 

Once we arrived in Tokyo, Emerson woke up shortly after we got off the airplane.  We had a long layover and Emerson was TIRED!  Usually she cries, while I rock her.  She will fight it for a bit and then finally sleep will take over.  But considering that she doesn’t want Jeff and only me, I was VERY EXHAUSTED!  I didn’t have the strength in my arms and the emotional stamina to carry/rock a screaming, exhausted, over tired 2 year old in my arms.  Jeff and Chase finally took her for a walk and to a children’s play area, to give me a break(because Chase is with Jeff, she will go).  She was happy going down the slide and giggling at Chase’s antics.  She never did nap during the layover.

Our flight took off at 6pm(Thursday) from Tokyo.   Emerson fell asleep in my arms before we were up in the air.  Sadly, she only slept for 50 minutes. L  This flight was only 11 hours(much better compared to our 16 hr + 2hrs. on the runway before we took off to Hong Kong), but still it seemed like an eternity!  As Emerson grew more tired, she became more active and wanted to move around.  After 4 hours, she finally fell asleep and slept for the next 5 hrs.  YES!  She and Chase got LOTS of attention from the Flight attendants, getting extra juice, extra ice cream(yes, they served ice cream as a snack!), a few “wings” pins…lots of attention!  Emerson was awake for the last few hours and was happy as could be!

After arriving in Chicago at 3pm Thursday(it’s always a crazy thing to arrive sooner than we left!), we “busted a move” through immigration and customs, only to find out that our flight to Peoria was canceled!  What a disappointment!!  No welcome home party at the Peoria airport. L

After “chasing our tails” all over the airport to rent a car, we finally got a car and started our drive home.  I felt like a “pack mule”, with my purse slinged across one shoulder and Emerson in the sling on my other side and pulling a piece of luggage behind me….up escalators, on the tram...etc..Jeff and I were SO exhausted and discouraged.  Good thing Emerson wasn’t screaming her head off.  She was quiet and observant the whole time.  On the way home, she sat in my lap, in the back seat and slept.  Chase slept, too.  It was foggy, raining and we were caught in rush hour traffic in Chicago.  NOT FUN!

I was SO sleepy that when I tried to keep my eyes open, they were going cross-eyed.  I worried how Jeff was doing, because he had gotten even less sleep than me (none due to his cough).  Eventually the fog cleared as well as the traffic.  I sat in the back, praying for renewed energy and wakefulness for both of us.  Then the wind got BAD.  There were a couple times that we were almost blown off the road (literally).  God answered my prayer, I WAS AWAKE!  I prayed HARD, all the way home.  There were times that I thought about texting my parents, but I felt like I couldn’t…I felt the need to pray without stopping.  

We couldn’t wait to get home.  We couldn’t wait to see Aubs and Abram.  Alas, we pulled into our driveway, seeing that some of our family and friends had come to welcome us home.  WHAT A LOVELY SIGHT TO BEHOLD!  Abram jumped out onto the front porch in his jammies.  We were expecting, “DADDY!!!”, but instead got, “Where’s Emerson, Where’s Xixi?!?!”  Aubrey was quick to join in with him.  We just had to smile at the two of them SO excited about their new sister!

Emerson seemed to be in shock, but after 30 minutes or so, slid off my lap and started wandering around.  About that time, our friends and family were leaving, too(8:45pm or so).

Though I never did get the “welcome home” party at the airport(which is SO contrary to my personality…guess that’s what seclusion does to me), the few family and friends at our home was the next best thing!

Up next…a post-travel blog post(hopefully in the next couple of days).

{China #12} Last Full Day

This will probably be my last post, since we come back tomorrow and I will be too exhausted to post then.  Hopefully by the weekend, I will post about our travels and a little about adjustments with Aubs and Abram meeting Emerson.

Lately, Emerson has been waking up in a good mood.  Whereas before, she would wake up sad and slowly warm up to us during the morning.  She does much better with letting me dress her (doesn’t cry as much) and change her diaper.  

After breakfast, we skyped one last time with Aubs and Abram.  Can’t wait to see those two again!  We then headed out on the Metro and went to a flea market.  We didn’t find what we wanted, so we went back to the Shamian Island.  We made our last purchases and headed back to the Hotel.  Emerson was pretty happy and delightful the whole time that we were out…a bit wiggly/squirmy, chattering, smiling, just overall happy.  This is a huge change from one week ago.  One week ago, when we’d go out, she wouldn’t make ONE NOISE, nothing, quiet as can be, still as can be.

{The bridge to Shamian Island}

{Flea Market}

One thing here…I’ve already said it before, but I am seriously SO proud of Jeff for figuring out the metro.  It’s a quick and inexpensive way to get around the city.  There were times that once we were on the other side of town, I would be SO turned around, but I’m so thankful for Jeff’s sense of direction.  He was always able to navigate and figure out where to go.  Even when my senses told me else-wise, I kept my mouth shut, because Jeff was usually right…and he was!

As we rode the metro back, one man ask me if she was my daughter.  With a smile, I replied, “yes”.   He seemed a bit confused and asked if she was Chinese.   I nodded, “yes”.  His English wasn’t really good, so I didn’t bother to explain that she had medical needs.  I wondered if he thought we were adopting a perfectly healthy child, like every Chinese family wants.  But we were getting off soon and I didn’t know if I could have explained her medical need, when she looks and acts completely normal.

After lunch we all took naps and had some quiet time.  Chase worked on some extra homework…homework that won’t be graded.

Jeff still isn’t feeling the greatest, but not “out of commission” either.  I’m worried that I might be coming down with the same thing, but maybe I’m just paranoid right now.

Our guide called this afternoon around 4:15 with the last of our documents and Emerson’s visa.  NOW, we can travel!

{With our tour guide after getting Emerson's visa}

It’s been a bit cool today and windy, but at least it wasn’t raining.  We walked to the park late this afternoon.  Jeff and Chase played some ping pong after 2 kind gentlemen gave up their table to let them play.  It was fun to see so many Chinese people there, playing ping pong, too.  It seems that they come with their own paddles and ball and play with whoever is at the park.  There’s a sense of community at the parks that we’ve been to, here in China.  Sometimes there will be music in one area with women (or men) dancing (for fun and also for exercise).  Anyone can join in.  Young and old, they are all active and seem to be having a good time.  This is one aspect of China that I will miss.

{Jeff & Chase playing Ping Pong in the park}

{Walking in the Park}

We ate at a café across the street from our hotel tonight.  It had the atmosphere of Panera and a good variety of western foods.  I wish someone would have told us about this place sooner.  Since it was called the Coffee Club, we had assumed it was just coffee and muffins.  We laugh…back on Friday night, when we arrived, the only restaurants that our guide informed us about was KFC, McDonalds and Starbucks….as if that’s all us American’s eat!  As we are about to leave tomorrow morning, we finally feel like we know the area and what are good restaurants.  But truthfully, I’m looking forward to eating at home.  I’m sick of eating out (someone remind me of this when I start to complain about cooking!!). ☺

As we look forward to traveling home tomorrow morning (it will be 7:20pm Wed evening IL time), will you please pray for our safety, health and that we will make all of our connecting flights?  Our last flight, we are a bit worried about making since we only have 2 hours to get through customs & immigration, change terminals and re-check in through security – yikes!  I REALLY want to get home as we originally planned.  If it doesn’t happen that way, I pray that I can “roll” with it, hasn’t our entire trip been like that, anyway?!

{Hotel Lobby}

Also, please pray for our children, not just Emerson with all her adjustments and maybe confusion with the LONG flights, but also for Aubs and Abram.  Chase has had the privilege to get to know Emerson these past 1.5 weeks and Aubs has been WANTING a sister for SO long.  I’m afraid that her expectations might be too “rosy”, even though we’ve tried to prep her.  Really, I don’t think it will take long for Emerson to warm up to Aubs and Abram.  

Once again, THANK YOU for each and everyone’s prayers these past 2 weeks (and beyond)!  Thank you for your encouragement with all your comments, too.  You have blessed us so much!  We can’t wait to see you back in the States!!

-Jeff, Chelby, Chase & Emerson

{China #12} US Consulate Appointment

We were all up early this morning and ate breakfast at 6:30.  At 7:30, we met our guide and went to our consulate appointment.  This is the final step before we can come home (it’s to get her visa to come to the US). Once we were done with the appointment and on the outside of the building, an older man recognized Jeff and stopped to talk to us.  I guess he was on the same flight as us from Nanchang to Guangzhou.  I don’t doubt that he recognized us, we were the ONLY foreigners on that flight.  Jeff spoke just for a bit with him.  Before we left he informed me that I shouldn’t wear a white flower clip in Emerson’s hair.  He said that’s what women do in China for a funeral.  Oops!  We laughed about it and I told him I’d take it out of her hair, but once we were in the States it would go right back on her head! ☺  

After we walked away, our guide said the younger generation in China wouldn’t have thought a thing about Emerson’s white flower clip, just the older generation.  Afterward, our guide took us shopping and we were able to get a few more souvenirs.

As we drove back, Emerson was very active and wasn’t about to sit on any of our laps.  Oh, she’s in for a rude awakening, when we get back to the States and she has to sit in a car seat!

Jeff ran out to Subway to get lunch as I was able to get Emerson down for a nap.  Slowly, I’m figuring out what works for her and helps her calm down for a nap.  Not to say that I have it totally figured out.

I had somewhat of a rough afternoon, today.  Thankfully Emerson slept for close to 3 hours, but Jeff laid down after lunch and rested for the next few hours, too.  Chase couldn’t keep himself busy (didn’t matter what I suggested), therefore was getting into trouble.  Finally, I was able to take him to the park, where we played a bit of ping pong.  I think he needed to burn some energy and some words.  It was cooler and misty outside.  Everyone else was smart enough to have an umbrella except for us.  By the time we got back, I felt like a “drowned rat”.

I got Emerson up from her nap, finished feeding her lunch and then the 3 of us went down to the play room while Jeff slept some more.  With it being a nasty day (yes, I know, not as nasty as back home), I felt trapped.  I’d ran out of ideas, Emerson had played with all the toys we brought for her, couldn’t go to the park….

{Play Room at the Hotel}

Thankfully Jeff was up by 4:30 pm and we headed out on the Metro to a shopping area.  First we went to the Grocery store.  We were VERY excited to find cereal!!  We’ve been looking for cereal every time we go to the grocery store, it’s hard to find! (same with granola bars, hard to find them too)

{Riding in the crowded Metro}

{Found the cereal!}

Next we needed to find a place to eat and NOT McDonalds like our 8 year old has been BEGGING for.  We’ve ate there too many times in the past 2 weeks!  For the boy who doesn’t really like McDonalds back in the States and BEGS for Panda Express or China Dragon….Who would know that he’d be here in China and BEGGING for McDonalds!(we’ve told him he can eat it once we land in the States)

Eventually we found a quick Chinese type restaurant that had an English Menu.  Poor Emerson had been SUPER cranky, but we finally realized it was because she was SO hungry!  She gobbled down everything that was in front of her.  Afterwards, we did head to McDonalds for some ice cream (their ice cream is JUST a bit different here…really good and pretty cheap, too).

{The restaurant we ate at}

{Ice Cream cheered her up!}

Tonight we enjoyed watching The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again.  Emerson giggled when we giggled.  She cozied up onto Jeff’s lap and even rested her head on his chest.  Jeff (and me too) treasures these moments.

{Playing with Daddy's hair}

{Smiling with Daddy}

Tomorrow is our last FULL day here.  I’m praying that we can keep busy.  I sense that we all need some space from each other.  Two weeks in a hotel can get a bit cramped.  We are thankful the trip has seemed fast, but we are ready to come home.

-Jeff, Chelby, Chase & Emerson

{China #11} Our Monday Adventures

We all slept in today.  Ahhh, it was wonderful!  Chase and Emerson slept until after 8am! (plus they went to bed at 8:30).  We were able to skype with Aubs and Abram after breakfast.  P.S.  Breakfast is AWESOME….just like I thought it would be.  Chase LOVES it and I lust after all the foods, that I can’t possibly eat in one meal. (pace myself, Chelby. 2 more mornings…the last morning we leave too early ☹)

{Eating yogurt on the way down to breakfast}

This morning, we ventured out onto the metro and went to the Shamian Island.  There were times that we were SO packed on the metro, I wondered how much more we could fit…but somehow everyone seems to squeeze in.  We held on to all of our belongings a bit tighter, too, knowing that it would be prime time to be pick pocketed.  I noticed that every time someone would get up from their seat, they would quickly motion to Jeff or me (whoever was carrying Emerson) to sit and take their spot.  The Chinese seem to be always looking out for the children. 

{Even Emerson wants to hold on to the railing on the Metro}

We stayed at the White Swan Hotel (on the Shamian Island) last time, but the Hotel has been closed for the past 2.5 years, undergoing renovation.  The Island has shops, restaurants, parks and is very beautiful.  It’s less crowded on the Island and is quiet.  It was fun to walk around and to let Emerson walk without stressing out about traffic.  I was able to get my Starbucks coffee. ☺  And of course, I had 2 kids begging to try it!  Just like Abram, begging for my coffee!

{Shamian Island}

{Emerson holding Daddy's hand on the Island}

We ate lunch at Lucy’s, which has a good variety of American and Asian foods.  Chase was happy with his cheeseburger and Sunkist Orange soda.  Emerson ate the ham out of her grilled ham and Cheese sandwich…but at least she ate something!

{Entertaining Emerson while waiting for food}

We bought a few items on the Island and walked across the bridge and walked a market area.  We stopped at a fruit stand and purchased a few fruits…fruit that we could peel, to keep it safe.

{The local Market}

{Buying fruit from a street vendor}

As we headed back on the Metro, it seemed that Emerson wanted Jeff…I wonder with it being such a crowded area, if she feels safer with Jeff holding her.  Jeff was delighted to hold her!

Emerson fought a nap, but was able to sleep, thankfully.  I love watching my children when they sleep.  They are beautiful when they sleep.  Somehow, even if they were naughty that day, I can look at them asleep and think they are beautiful (most of the time! ☺)  As Emerson fell asleep in my arms, I looked down at her and I had that same thought, “ oh my word, she’s beautiful, absolutely beautiful.”

While Emerson napped, Jeff and Chase went to a park nearby.  We brought 2 ping pong paddles from home and one ball, hoping that one of the parks would have Table Tennis (as the Chinese call it) in the park.  Much to Chase’s delight there was Table Tennis at the park!  After playing a couple games, they came back, because we had a friend coming to meet us for dinner.

{Playing Ping Pong}

Our friend, Ken, traveled to the US more than 3 years ago and got to know a few people from our church.  When we traveled 3 years ago to get Abram, our friends told Ken about us.  Even though we didn’t know Ken at the time, he and some of his friends drove an hour or so to come meet up with us. Ever since then we’ve kept in contact with him.  Throughout this adoption with Emerson, we’ve kept in contact with Ken, letting him know when we would be traveling, in hopes to meet up again.  Tonight Ken came, with a different friend and we ate out at a Chinese restaurant close by and then went back to the park and walked a bit.  Chase had fun talking (imagine that ☺), asking him how to say different words in Manderin and also in Cantonese.  It was good to catch up.

{Out to eat with Ken}

{Walking back to the hotel after supper}

Jeff hasn’t been feeling so great today – fighting a stuffy nose, sore throat and cough (a cold).  Please pray that his body can be strengthened….it’s no fun to be sick, but it’s REALLY not fun to be sick and a foreign country.  Tomorrow we have our last appointment at the US Consulate. 

-Jeff, Chelby, Chase & Emerson 

{China #10} Safari Park

We are settling into a good breakfast routine now.  Emerson will sit on a high chair without a fuss (which is huge improvement!) and try most of the foods we give her.

We were able to skype with Aubs and Abram this morning.  It was good to see them and for them to see Emerson, too.

By mid-morning, we met with our driver and picked up the other family (who are staying at a different hotel) and headed to the Safari Park.  For those who have never been there, but are planning to travel to China for an adoption….this is a must see (if at all possible).  It’s a bit pricey, but WORTH IT!   We counted 8 panda bears, fed the giraffes, could feed the elephants, could pet a koala bear, counted 20-25 giraffes, lots of tigers, 18 white tigers….the list goes on and on! (some of those cost extra $ of course)  We were there for 4 hours and didn’t even see half the park.

{Emerson exclaiming over the animals}

{Chase feeding the Giraffes}

{Emerson feeding the Giraffes - she wanted to!}

{Emerson giggling while watching the animals}

{Feeding the Hippos}

{Rhinos}

{One of the many Pandas}

{Snow Tigers}

Emerson loved it, as she pointed and chattered away when we saw the different animals.  Chase seemed to enjoy it too.  And of course, Jeff and I were VERY impressed, even if it was our 2^nd time there!  Emerson did very well, letting Jeff hold her while we were there.  It helped that she was distracted by the animals.

{Emerson letting Daddy hold her}

It took awhile to get back to our hotel (traffic was crazy), so Emerson napped on the way back. Once we were back, we were tired and decided to order pizza (yes, I know….oh so healthy, again!).  This time we had some plastic silverware to cut up Emerson’s pizza, so it didn’t make such a huge mess.  Can I say how nice it is that she will eat most foods?!?!  It makes meal time that much less complicated!!! 

Tonight we headed down to the hotel courtyard and roamed around for a bit.  They also have a small play area for kids.  We met another family who were adopting a little girl and brought there 13 year old son along with them.  It’s amazing how fast you can connect with another family when adoption is a common ground for both of us!

After baths (Emerson did a little bit better), we decided to watch a family favorite, the Apple Dumpling Gang.  All 4 of us sat on the bed, and watched and giggled.  Emerson “fed” off of Chase’s giggles and before we knew it, she was “wound up tighter than a spring”!  She giggled, flashed HUGE smiles at Jeff, would throw herself backwards on the bed and wiggle and giggle! Oh my, was she ever a character!  We had a FUN time and before we knew it, it was time for bed.  Thankfully they both fell asleep quickly tonight (I think they were exhausted from our Safari adventures).

{Emerson laughing while watching Apple Dumpling Gang}

Once again, THANK YOU for your continuing prayers for Emerson to trust Jeff and I.  We are amazed to see how much progress we have made in just one week and pray that it will continue.

-Jeff, Chelby, Chase & Emerson

{China #9} Guangzhou

{Note: due to the Sauder's busy day flying to Guangzhou, they didn't have a blog post prepared until today. Don't forget to read "Update #8" first... scroll down! -Sarah}

Again, Emerson did well at breakfast.  I didn’t know what she was going to be like, being in a new area.  I can’t imagine how confused she must feel at times.  Flying, new hotel, new area, new surroundings.

Guangzhou is in Southern China and is more tropical.  Right now it’s a bit cold for them (go figure!), but it’s supposed to warm up to the 60’s and 70’s for tomorrow through Tuesday.

We had a morning Dr.’s appointment.  All the adoptive families have to have this done, so there were many American faces with their adopted child.  Most of the children cried as the nurse or dr. would check their pulse, ears, weight, height.  We didn’t stand chance that Emerson was going to get through this without crying.  It was hard to see her fight the nurses, scream and cry…but thankfully she calmed down once we were completely done and back in the van.  From there she seemed to bounce right back.  She’s continued to get into everything….the hotel phone, gum in my purse (no she didn’t eat it)…loves the TV remote.

{At the Doctor's Appointment}

{Eating lunch}

Emerson continues to warm up to me and willingly allows me to hold her (unless she wants to go a different direction!  Typical two year old!)  But at the same time, she has moments when she wants NOTHING to do with me.  Other than last night, “flirting” with Jeff, she still has yet to warm up to him.  PLEASE continue to pray that she can trust us.

All day, we’ve been trying to explore and figure out our surroundings.  We’ve been to this city before, but the hotel we stayed at last time is under renovation and completely shut down. ☹  As Jeff and Chase were out and exploring, I was back with Emerson, trying to put her down for a nap.  She fought and fought the nap…and she won.  I have to be truthful, I’ve struggled with selfishness today.  I’ve been feeling the need for a break, to be completely by myself, to recharge and rejuvenate.  When she wouldn’t nap, I wanted to cry.  I SO desperately wanted some quiet time.  Again, I find myself praying, “Lord, either help her sleep, or give me the emotional strength to carry on.” Finally, 2.5 hours later, we tried again to put her down.  She fought and fought and finally sleep won….and I was able to hit the treadmill and burn off some frustration. 

After more exploring, Jeff figured out the Guangzhou metro system!!  I’m so proud of him!!  Now that gives us more options…yes we could use a taxi, but that can get expensive after a while. 

{Buying tickets for the Metro}

{Riding the Metro}

Tonight we all ventured out on the metro and went to a shopping center to eat at Subway.  Subway has never tasted SO good!  We went to a grocery store to get some fruit and crackers. And then rode back on the metro to the hotel.  The round trip for the metro for all 4 of us was $2…I say, pretty good!

{Eating at Subway}

{Watching the fish at the Grocery Store}

Tomorrow we meet with another family (that used the same agency as us) and go to the Safari Park.  It will be good to have fellowship with another family.

-Jeff, Chelby, Chase & Emerson

{China #8} Fervent Prayer Avails Much

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations..” Ephesians 3:20-21

This verse proved to be true for this day.  Thank you for all your prayers!!!  I can’t imagine doing this trip without all of your encouragement and prayers!

Praise the Lord…breakfast went wonderfully smooth Friday morning!!  Before we headed down, we gave Emerson some yogurt to hang onto.  She walked to the elevator and then around the breakfast buffet until we all got our food and sat down.  Of course, she had to sit on Chase’s lap, but soon she was able to just sit beside him (but on the same chair).  Twice, during the meal, Chase got up to get something and Emerson didn’t whimper once!

We got to Skype Aubs and Abram soon after that.  Emerson did great and seemed to enjoy seeing their faces on the screen.  Later, Jeff and Chase went to the super market while I stayed back with Emerson.  During that time, I noticed how she seemed to grow more and more comfortable with me.  She started doing the “normal” two year old things…getting into kleenex’s, trying to get the camera, pound the computer keys, wanting to drink for the water bottle (and wasn’t about to give it back!).  Though these “normal” two year old things can drive me crazy, it was a good sign of her growing comfortable with me (and all of us).

For lunch we ordered Papa John’s pizza (yes, it’s wonderful!!).  Emerson chomped away on a piece and didn’t want ANY help (What a mess!! And I forgot to bring a bib!)!  YES! She likes pizza!  Abram didn’t even try a bite of pizza for 3 months!

{Already likes Pizza!}

The weather was a bit nicer and the sun was out, so we took a taxi back to the People’s Park and walked around a bit.  One area had children’s carnival rides and Emerson got all excited when she saw it!  So…Chase, Emerson and I all piled onto a little kiddie ride and away we went!  I think she’s going to like the Pumpkin fest!

{People's Park}

{Riding a ride at the People's Park}

Once we got back to the hotel, we had to check out and then head to the airport.  Our guide honored our request of wanting to “at least” drive by Abram’s orphanage on the way to the airport.  Abram was from the Nanchang orphanage, Emerson is from a few hours south of Nanchang.  Last time they never let us go to the orphanage and this time, we were told it would cost lots of $$ to go inside.  

Jeff and I were overjoyed when they drove us right up to the gate of Abram’s orphanage!  We were able to get out of the van, snap some pictures and soak in the moment.  Just think, “Abram probably swung on those swings in the front yard….He lived in that building.  Wow!  For 2.5 years, that’s where Abram lived and was cared for!”  We were SO thankful for the opportunity!

{Abram's Orphanage}

Once we were at the airport and waiting for our flight, Emerson (who has been SO quiet in public areas) either “busted out of her shell” or she gets “slap happy” when she’s tired!  She was playful, giggling and running around (mind you, there were other children waiting for the same flight, too….she seemed to enjoy them, but would run back to Chase and playfully bury her head in his lap).  On the plane, Little Miss Emerson sat on her OWN seat (didn’t have to sit on Chase’s lap) like she was the Queen!  And OH MY, was she EVER SILLY!  The WHOLE flight, she was smiles and would lean forward and grin at Jeff (that’s huge!) and hand her cheerio snack over to him across the aisle.  Even though it was a 1.5 hour flight, they fed us supper (wow…these China airlines!!).  Now keep in mind, it’s hard enough to feed my children rice at home.  It makes a HUGE mess at home.  But try feeding rice and pork to a two year old on an airplane, who wants to feed herself!!!  WOW, it was a mess, but she liked it!

{Walking down the jet way to the airplane}

{Being silly on the plane}

{Eating rice & pork on the plane}

On our drive to the hotel, Emerson crashed and stayed asleep until 7am the next morning.  Jeff and I breathed a sigh of relief that night and commented on how there MUST have been lots of prayers for us that day.  I can’t imagine the day going any better!

-Jeff, Chelby, Chase & Emerson