Be Strong & Courageous

To answer your first question--no, we haven't gotten our hands on Mason yet. That will be in about 2 hours. We did have a meeting with our agency this morning though. We got updated photos and information about Mason. We found out that he still uses a diaper, naps daily, sleeps in a crib, likes bathing and listens to music (maybe Zach and Mason will create their own band one day??). He is described as being "smart and happy" and "scared of strangers and animals he has not seen before".

We will be with 20 other families receiving their children today---quite a difference from the last time around when we were the only family on Zach's Gotcha Day.

If you are awake back in the US and reading this, please join us as we pray for Mason to be strong and courageous as he leaves everything familiar to him and gets handed off to a couple of strangers.

Joshua 1:9 Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Happy Easter

Today we had lunch at the hotel cafe. They were having a special Easter buffet. It looked very similar to the Easter decor in the US--colored eggs, special treats for the kiddos, and even an Easter Bunny. We wondered if hotels in other parts of China offer a special Easter buffet or only those hotels that have a lot of Western visitors. And we wondered what they were really celebrating during their Easter buffet.

There is plenty to celebrate beyond the egg-laying rabbit (shouldn't it be the Easter Chicken?).  Jesus made a way for us to be right with God and as we learned recently, it doesn't require our additional efforts. We both felt close to God and right with God when we thought we were doing the right things (serving others, praying, reading the bible, etc.). But if that's all it takes, then Jesus didn't have to die, we just have to try harder. If good people go to heaven, then Jesus took quite a beating and God raise him from the dead for nothing--except rabbit eggs.

Jesus substituted his perfect life for our flawed life and when we believe that and put our trust in him, we receive the promise of eternal life with God. Then we can stand before God redeemed. Made new.

God recognized that we can never stand before him perfect and complete no matter how hard we try. So he made a way through Jesus Christ. The offer is available to anyone and it's free. And when we say yes, we are adopted into God's family. Which brings us full circle.

Monday is the big day! It's Mason's Gotcha Day. We'll post some pictures as soon as we can.

We Made It!

No flight delays. No bad weather. No snoring passengers next to us. Actually no one wanted to sit next to us on either flight! We had plenty of room to stretch out and nap. All in all it was a good trip. We even met a family from Bondaurant who is also adopting a toddler with cleft lip/palate.

Needless to say, we spent a lot of time in the friendly skies since we left home early Friday morning. In that time, we received 4 meals and one snack from the airlines, watched 3 movies and a few sitcoms, read one book from cover to cover, and dozed on and off. That made the 30 hours of travel time go by somewhat fast;)

A Peek at Our Schedule

• April 06 Friday-Fly out at 6 am

• April 07 Saturday-Still traveling

• April 08 Sunday-Free day

• April 09 Monday  -Mason's Gotcha Day

•  April 10 Tuesday-Registration at Civil Affairs Office 
• April 11 Wednesday-Apply for Chinese Passport
• April 12 Thursday- Free Day

• April 13 Friday-Medical Check
• Apr 14 Saturday  -Visa paperwork check 

• April 15--Free Day
• Apr 16 Monday -TB result check in medical clinic 

• Apr 17 Tuesday -Free Day

• Apr 18 Wednesday -Visa appointment and Oath taking ceremony

• Apr 19 Thursday -Visa pick up; take train to Hong Kong

• April 20 Friday-Fly home to introduce Mason to big brother Zachary

Gen 28:15   I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you. 

What a privilege it is to return to China to bring home another son. I am so thankful that God is with us and watching over us, protecting us, and preparing us for what's to come. 

 

guide arranged by Lotus)

Packed & Ready To Go???

It's been busy here since we got our TA. Packing, printing documents, figuring Zach's schedule, etc, etc. We've been counting down the days until we leave--there aren't many links left on our paper chain! Friday will be here before we know it!

It's Zach's turn to bring treats to school tomorrow. We decided to make a special Chinese treat to share with the kids. (Don't worry--Zach didn't share his germs with any we are taking to school!!!)

In the meantime, the house is an absolute disaster and the suitcases are way over stuffed. Guess I should get busy!!!!!

Here's the gang of neighborhood kids from the annual Easter egg hunt. Hopefully Zach will get to play some with his friends between all of his adventures with aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents. He's gonna be a busy boy while mom & dad are in China. He probably won't even know we are gone!