Good morning to everyone. As I write this, it is 1:00 in the morning the 10th of July in Spokane. We are getting very anxious to be back in America with our children and so many of you who are dedicated to supporting us with your prayers and words that remains so crucial and important to us in so many ways.
The part of this trip that will be hardest to hold onto over the years to come will be just how wonderful the people are here. we have been so fortunate and blessed to meet many people who are on journeys of their own. These people have had a hand on what we have been doing during our time in Nanchang. I want to write them down here to help remember. Mary and Little Karen have been our guides and have helped us to feel welcome and comfortable everyday. The staff at the Gloria Hotel have more than made up for the fact that this is a nice, but not great hotel. The wonderful hostesses at the Requin Wei Restaraunt have made our meals there fun and tasty while helping us to understand just what we were ordering.
Perhaps the groups of people that I am most grateful to are the staff, and Cece's foster family, of the Nanchang SWI orpahange. I can tell that she has been loved and cared for. It was about 24 hours before she would give up the world that she knew for the love and care that we offered. I believe that says a great deal for the comfort and familiarity that they offered her. While I am so grateful for her love and acceptance of Karen and myself, I hope that she will retain a special place in her heart for those who selflessley met her needs and calmed her cries until we arrived. I know that we will be eternally grateful for their preparation.
The people of Nanchange are beautiful in so many ways. The mastery with the art of porceline is spectacular. Their ability orchestrate traffic is a marvel that I hope we never see in Spokane (at least not on purpose). But to me, their most endearing quality is the love and curiosity that they have for Cece. So many times while we are walking, men and women will come up to us and talk to her, pat her head, and cup her face. Both old and young, rich and poor (as far as I can tell) take time to do this. After their talk with here is over, they give us a thumbs-up sign or tell us how beautiful she is and say that she is so lucky. So many times I have walked down these streets thinking that perhaps her birth mother is right their with us. As this feeling flows into my mind, I have prayed that God will let them know a peace about their child, even as she is going places that they have never heard of. I wish that I could tell them how lucky I am to be this child's father and how I long for her to know this beautiful land in the Jianxi province of China. But this is not how things work and so I trust God (the producer of all good things) and I get ready for whatever comes in my life and the life of His child Cecilia.
I will add some photos that we have taken around the city and a couple of videos as well. I do hope that the video thing is working (sorry if it is not).
May God bless each of you as I think you from the deepest part of my heart for helping me to be this child's father.
The part of this trip that will be hardest to hold onto over the years to come will be just how wonderful the people are here. we have been so fortunate and blessed to meet many people who are on journeys of their own. These people have had a hand on what we have been doing during our time in Nanchang. I want to write them down here to help remember. Mary and Little Karen have been our guides and have helped us to feel welcome and comfortable everyday. The staff at the Gloria Hotel have more than made up for the fact that this is a nice, but not great hotel. The wonderful hostesses at the Requin Wei Restaraunt have made our meals there fun and tasty while helping us to understand just what we were ordering.
Perhaps the groups of people that I am most grateful to are the staff, and Cece's foster family, of the Nanchang SWI orpahange. I can tell that she has been loved and cared for. It was about 24 hours before she would give up the world that she knew for the love and care that we offered. I believe that says a great deal for the comfort and familiarity that they offered her. While I am so grateful for her love and acceptance of Karen and myself, I hope that she will retain a special place in her heart for those who selflessley met her needs and calmed her cries until we arrived. I know that we will be eternally grateful for their preparation.
The people of Nanchange are beautiful in so many ways. The mastery with the art of porceline is spectacular. Their ability orchestrate traffic is a marvel that I hope we never see in Spokane (at least not on purpose). But to me, their most endearing quality is the love and curiosity that they have for Cece. So many times while we are walking, men and women will come up to us and talk to her, pat her head, and cup her face. Both old and young, rich and poor (as far as I can tell) take time to do this. After their talk with here is over, they give us a thumbs-up sign or tell us how beautiful she is and say that she is so lucky. So many times I have walked down these streets thinking that perhaps her birth mother is right their with us. As this feeling flows into my mind, I have prayed that God will let them know a peace about their child, even as she is going places that they have never heard of. I wish that I could tell them how lucky I am to be this child's father and how I long for her to know this beautiful land in the Jianxi province of China. But this is not how things work and so I trust God (the producer of all good things) and I get ready for whatever comes in my life and the life of His child Cecilia.
I will add some photos that we have taken around the city and a couple of videos as well. I do hope that the video thing is working (sorry if it is not).
May God bless each of you as I think you from the deepest part of my heart for helping me to be this child's father.
Dog and pig balloons for everyone!
The old ladies tree
This 5 year drew a special picture for us
World famous dancing waters
550 foot tall ferris wheel (yes, Karen did go with us to the top)
2 comments:
Thank you so for allowing us to share this very special journey with you. Rich your beautiful writings put tears of joy & inspiration in my eyes. I can hardly wait to see all of you together as one family, what a blessing for A & J to have a new sister. I believe the best gift we can give our children are siblings, life time gifts. May God continue to bless you as you make your journey home. I look forward to seeing you soon.
God Bless
Helen
Finally figured out this blogger stuff! I think! The HTML tags have hard to decifer!
We really enjoy your posts Rich and Karen, keep them coming! Our new granddaughter is certainly beautiful, a little doll, and we can't wait to hold her. Buddy says he can't wait either and expresses this in his loud barking every now and then. The Harolds left this morning for Seattle and their cruise, Ruth (& family) were here yesterday to catch up on old friends, & are probably enjoying gorgeous
Hawaii, now. Sending big love and hugs & prayers for your safe return next week. Mom & Dad
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