Guangzhou - The White Swan

After a long day of travel, we made it to Guangzhou - the final leg of our trip. The US Consulate is in the city of Guangzhou, so that makes this the last stop for all American families adopting from China. We landed late, and made it to our hotel - the infamous White Swan. It has been a pleasant reuniting with the families from our travel group. This hotel and area is a hotbed for American adoptive families, so it's a very welcome place. There are families that look like ours absolutely everywhere - it's almost commonplace - VERY refreshing. We have a beautiful view from our room at night. Although we were definitely spoiled by the amazing Lakeside Hotel in Fuzhou, the White Swan is certainly nice. After a quick night's sleep - (too quick), we were up early for Raina's medical exam. This process is basically a formality that all families must go through to receive a doctor's seal-of-approval. Raina received a TB test also, due to the fact that she is over 2 years old. We enjoyed a little shopping this afternoon, followed by a great dinner with the entire travel group. This was a wonderful time of just being together - great conversation, great food, great company. Yep, we are glad to be in Guangzhou. Back to the White Swan, where we enjoyed another evening of cute Raina mischief. Although at times she can test us with just how far her little toddler limits can take her, she is still our dream come true.

Fuzhou Free Day 3

Yep... that's right... free day number 3 here in Fuzhou. This also marks the halfway point of our time here in China. So it's downhill from here. We had only one main excursion today - to the Fuzhou Panda World Museum and Research Center. Panda bears obviously come from China, with the majority of them living in Western China. There are only about 1000 panda bears living in the world today, so the government of China has set up panda research centers in various provinces throughout the country. Seeing the pandas up close was a real treat - they are beautiful creatures. Raina enjoyed watching them as well as what is known as the "lesser" pandas - a smaller raccoon/cat type panda with huge paws. The lesser pandas did a performance show for us that was so cute - we all enjoyed it. After Panda World, we did a little shopping, followed by some lunch. Then back at the hotel, another hysterical discovery: upon seeing a reflection of light on the ceiling from a small mirror, Raina couldn't get enough of it. For some reason, she would try to "blow" out the light like a candle. Watching her puff out her lips and blow sent us in to completely hilarious laughter. She is the cutest thing on earth. We took our daily afternoon walk on the boardwalk outside our hotel, and it was beautiful as usual. Although we have thoroughly enjoyed Fuzhou, we are anxious to get to Guangzhou so we can reunite with our travel group. Being the only caucasian couple with a Chinese child has provided us with some awkward moments. Our guide Isabel (whom we simply adore) informed us that very few adoptions take place out of the Fujian province - only 92 in the year 2008. She told us that many of the Chinese people here do not even know that international adoption exists, so they are puzzled when they see us. Isabel gets asked questions by the people when we are out with her. We've been stared at, pointed at, and talked about. It has made for some uncomfortable moments, but we just press on. As we prepare to leave Fuzhou, we do so with a level of sadness. Leaving here will pull us one step further away from Raina's heritage, the only home she's ever known. We grieve with sorrow for her birthmother. Although we will never know her, we thank God for her bravery - to make, undoubtedly, the most difficult decision of her life - to give up her child for a hope at a brighter future that she could never provide. She does not know that by doing so, she has given us the most precious gift - our beautiful daughter. We are so thankful for Raina's caregivers and her orphanage doctor. We are grateful that they not only took care of her needs, but that they truly cared for her. And most of all, we thank the Lord for His beautiful gift of life displayed in the eyes of Raina... she is our little angel.

Fuzhou Free Day 2

Today was another day of free-time touring. First we visited the memorial home of Lin Zexu (1785-1850), who was a Chinese scholar and official during the Qing Dynasty. He is recognized as a national hero for his stance and fight against the opium trade in Guangzhou at the time. Because of his "high moral ground", he is generally considered a role model for moral government, especially by the Chinese people.  We toured a memorial created for him, and visited a Tea House opened in celebration of his life.  We were treated to a demonstration of the art of tea service in China.  Eloquent hand gestures, sweeping pouring motions, specific tasting techniques, even the posturing of the fingers... all very important to the "right" way to enjoy tea.  Fujian's mountains make it the number one producing province of tea in China... they are serious about tea here.  We then made our way to the West Fuzhou Buddhist Temple, a breathtaking campus of wonder.  Dating back 1200 years, the Buddhist buildings and pagodas are simply beautiful to see.  Serene grounds, quiet and simple walking paths through trees and rivers - contrasted with giant temple structures of bright color.  Although watching the monks and people worshiping left us with a slightly empty feeling, we were amazed at the beauty of the place.  After leaving the temple, we had our guide Isabel do us a huge favor.  We had her order PAPA JOHN'S for us!  We picked it up on the way back to our hotel, and we ate American pepperoni pizza and drank Coke right there in our room.  Pure American food heaven.  Believe me, as far as food goes, we are really looking forward to getting back to the US.  Adventurous in Chinese cuisine... we are not.  Trust me, this ain't Panda Express over here.  We had a good evening together enjoying Raina's personality... she is really the cutest thing on earth.  I got her to explode with giggling by doing the simplest little things, like tossing little finger puppets in the air and letting them land on my head.  Her laughter is one of the most glorious sounds we've ever heard.  So there you have it... Fuzhou free day number 2 in the books.

Fuzhou Free Day 1

After a busy day of paperwork yesterday, we've entered into a period of 3 straight "free days". This morning, our guide Isabel treated us with a visit to a beautiful park located across the lake from our hotel. We had a wonderful walk along the boardwalk with Raina in her stroller. She quickly fell asleep and we enjoyed a great stroll through the park. It was a very nice time outside in absolutely gorgeous weather. All in all, we had a "lazy" day without much going on. Raina has taken to looking out the window of our hotel room. And a new hilarious development... Raina must have her shoes on at all times. Even with her pajamas on, she puts them on. She's not happy when they're off. We also discovered that, although we were told that Raina weighs 27 pounds - well... um... we put her on the scale - she's a whopping 18 pounds. She is the littlest peanut, just wait till you see her. She may just be a Curatolo after all...

She's Officially Ours!

Today was a full day for us. Today was the day that we had to complete the official process of adopting Raina in her province. The Chinese officials granted us legal guardianship for 24 hours (from the time we met her) to make a final decision. This is designed to give the adoptive family and the authorities an opportunity to confirm the match through mutual agreement. We knew that the first stop of our trip today would be the one we were dreading the most, since we would have to again see Raina's caretakers from her orphanage, as they would be required to be at the meeting. So first, we went to the Fuzhou Civil Affairs office (kind of like a little courthouse... emphasis on the "little"... yet very official). There, we signed many documents, placed our thumbprints (Raina's footprint) on their seals, and were interviewed by the higher ranking officer about our reasons for adopting Raina and our intentions of providing for her life from this point on. This was surprisingly a very nerve-racking experience and we felt a lot of cultural pressure entering the interview. We did see her orphanage workers again, and our fears were realized when Raina wanted to go with her Nanny. This was shorter-lived than the day before though. Signed, sealed, delivered... RAINA IS OFFICIALLY OUR DAUGHTER! We took a final picture with the officials, and we headed off to apply for Raina's passport and US Visa. This was a quick visit without much fanfare, and then we were on our way to the Fuzhou Notary Public Office to notarize and get verification that we are who we say we are. Another official interview where we were asked about our intentions in adopting one of China's children. With this, we were off to a good old-fashioned American visit to McDonald's and Wal-Mart. One final cab ride back to the hotel, and then we were in for the surprise of the day... with a little patience, Raina came out of her shell big time. She was drinking from a bottled water, and coughed a little. We laughed and she thought our laughing was funny. This started about a 20 minute episode of "fake" coughing and total giggling. To watch her interact with us this way was simply priceless. We finally got to see her real smiles and hear her glorious little laugh. It was heaven.

We...Have...Raina.

Well, this is the blog posting we've been waiting to share for almost 3 years.  We are in a hotel room in Fuzhou, Fujian province, China.  And sitting in the bed with us is our precious Raina.  She is the most beautiful thing we've ever seen.  This day has been incredible... impossible to put into words that will ever do it justice.  We met her in a hotel meeting room, and it was one of the most memorable moments of our lives.  After taking care of some paperwork, we were back in our hotel room with her, and 3 representatives from her orphanage - the director, her main nanny, and the orphanage doctor.  They were wonderful people.  We spoke to them through our guide, who interpreted for us all.  They presented us with gifts, clothes, shoes, and a photo album they made of her life there.  This orphanage REALLY cared for her, we can tell.  After they left, Raina went through a very difficult - heartbreaking time.  She cried a life-shattering wail that rocked us all.  She is grieving yet another abandonment from the orphanage that is the only life she remembers.  Laura just held her tight for at least an hour as Raina clinged to her.  Her sorrow slowly turned to anger, yet when she wanted "down", and Laura put her down, she reached out her arms for Laura even through her tears.  After awhile, I began to distract her with some toys, and she warmed to the idea of playing.  We ordered room service, and we have now sat in the bed for almost 2 hours.  Raina has eaten crackers, Gerber puffs, dried fruit, fried rice, french fries, and she's drank Apple juice from a sippy cup, and milk from a straw.  She has already exhibited amazing skill at stacking cups, fine detail, - we are simply amazed at her in every way possible.  She is a glorious gift from God, and we are busting at the seams just looking at her.  Glory to God, blessed be His name... Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow.  We're looking at one right here.

Hutong, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square

Today we had another long day of touring.  What we saw were some of the most amazing things we've ever seen.  The simplicity of the Hutongs, an area of Beijing that represents the "old" China... the forgotten past.  Where the streets are narrow, and life is quiet - almost peaceful.  Then the stark contrast of the Forbidden City... where extravagance reigns.  The home built for the Emporer, on display - opulent, overkill, almost ridiculous in size and design.  Complete the tour with Tiananmen Square... vast, open, empty space stretching in all directions.  Mao's vision in the tangible world.  The power of the state ruling over the insignificance of the people - Pure China.  All unforgettable... but what lies ahead for us tomorrow will be the most unforgettable moment of our entire trip - our meeting with Raina.  This is a moment we've dreamed of for so long... just in time to shatter Mao's dream.  Raina is not insignificant... we came here from the other side of the world for this one very important girl.  An orphan no longer...

1st Day - The Great Wall

After a fairly decent night's sleep, this morning we toured what is called a "Cloissone" factory, where they manufacture works of art from copper and colored enamel. Witnessing the process was amazing, from the beginnings of the basic materials to the final steps of polishing - a truly beautiful art. We then went to the Great Wall of China. The weather was absolutely beautiful, we couldn't have asked for anything better. We took a cable car up the side of the mountain to an entrance spot where they funnel the tourists. We then climbed some incredibly steep angles and stairs to the highest point. The view was one of the most spectacular things I've ever seen. It was amazing to see the majesty of the mountains peeking through the haze, and to look at the dragon-like wall snaking in both directions as far as the eye can see. Standing there upon this wondrous man-made structure gave me the sense of just how small we are. It's easy to feel insignificant on that wall... the history, the shear magnitude of it... it's quite humbling. We then went to lunch, where we were treated to some... eh, let's just say very interesting "meats". Laura and I weren't feeling that adventurous (shocker), so the rice and chicken did the job just fine. Back to the hotel for a quiet evening, one of the last ones we'll probably have for awhile.

Here We GO!

Tomorrow we will be boarding a plane bound for Beijing. A flight that we sometimes thought would never take place is finally going to happen. A whirlwind of emotions is swirling through our heads. We are exhausted already... all the planning, packing, last minute details... it's all done, and we are ready to go. Saying goodbye to our boys has proved difficult. 17 days is an AWFUL long time to be away from them. We will miss them desperately. But this new chapter of our lives is about to begin, and we want to savor every moment of it. I hope you enjoy the ride with us... now let's get going!

Travel Itinerary

Today we received our official itinerary for our in-China travel. It basically gives a detailed schedule of where we will be, and the things we will be doing on a daily basis. It looks like there's some exciting things for us to see and do, as well as a good amount of down time... just waiting for appointments. In a nutshell, it breaks down like this: We fly out of Chicago on Wednesday, October 21st - landing in Beijing on Thursday, October 22nd. We spend Friday and Saturday touring Beijing (I can't wait for that!). Sunday morning, we fly from Beijing to Fuzhou, the capital of the Fujian province. THAT SAME AFTERNOON, WE WILL BE RECEIVING RAINA! So, October 25th is what is affectionately referred to as "Gotcha Day". Monday the 26th, we have some official adoption appointments. Tuesday is a "free" day for us. Wednesday and Thursday we will be doing some more touring of the Fujian province. Friday the 30th, we will receive our final adoption documents from Raina's province and late that same evening we will take a flight from Fuzhou to Guangzhou. This is where the famous White Swan hotel is, and this is where we will spend the remainder of our time in China, doing all sorts of official adoption things. The schedule takes on a busier form here in Guangzhou. We will have medical appointments, visa appointments, and US consolate appointments every day beginning Saturday, 10/31 thru Thursday, 11/5. We then take our final in-country flight from Guangzhou to Hong Kong sometime after 11pm Thursday night (undoubtedly the toughest flight due to how late it is). We will spend our final night/early Friday morning (11/6) in a beautiful Hong Kong hotel before we prepare for our final 13+hour flight home to Chicago, a mere 11 hours later.
Without question, this will be the MOST demanding travel of our entire lives, with a 2 year old in tow. Pray for Raina, and pray for our endurance. We need to stay healthy... this is very important.

What A SURPRISE!

This past Friday night was a night that I will surely never forget. Under the impression we were going over to some friends' house for dinner, we were greeted at their door along with a screaming chorus of "SURPRISE!!!". Our very dear friends (the Leistra's and the Shelby's) succeeded in throwing us a TOTAL surprise shower for Raina. They had planned this for about a month, secretly registered us at Target, sent out invitations to a huge number of our friends and family, and pulled off what I consider to be one awesome event. We were completely blown away by it... overwhelmed at the love and committment that these loved ones showed toward us and our sweet Raina. It was a joyous time, filled with food, fellowship, and fun. (Not to mention one of the coolest cakes I've ever seen.) The generosity heaped upon us by those so close to us was a great reminder of selfless relationships... giving because you love to give... because you love who you're giving to. A giant THANK YOU to all who were a part of such an amazing night. Raina will someday know just how desperately she is wanted - how incredibly special she is. That night, a good friend told us that she can't wait to meet Raina, because it will be the closest she can come to meeting Jesus on this earth. Her explanation was simple - Matthew 25:37-40 (The Message) - "Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me."

2 Weeks To Go

Two more weeks... Man, the time is flying. We are reaching the final stages of our preparation. We still feel like we have about a gazillion things to do before we leave, but we're slowly getting there. We're checking things off our list and taking care of details. We've spoken to a few doctors this week about Raina's medical treatment when we return. They are beginning to develop a tentative plan for her initial care which will involve much testing before anything can be officially determined. Our anxiety level is rising as we anticipate going. Lately my new prayer has been that the Lord will grant us His peace through the difficult times that lay ahead. That we will lean on Him, and on Him only. Please pray for our family. Pray for our travel, and for our boys who will remain home while we're gone - 17 days is an excruciatingly long time to be away from them. And pray for Raina... pray for her EVERY time you think of it.

Hope Is Like The Sun...

October 3rd. Three years ago today was a very dark day in our family. A tragic loss. Little did we know that it would set us on a course that would change our future. How could we have known? We couldn't. What sense did it make? None. But funny how God's wisdom shows up in the unexpected. Laura has a little "flip"-type calendar... you know the type. Each day you flip to a new page, and on each new page there's a saying or quote of some sort. Well, on this 3rd day of October - a date that, as the sun rises, brings with it the pangs of sorrow - these are the words that spilled off the page of the calendar as we flipped to today: "Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us." Indeed... what a picture in words. Our God certainly has a way of using the simple things in life, like a little calendar. These words were written by a man named Samuel Smiles. And I hope he doesn't mind if I make the slightest change to his profound thought. Here's mine: "Hope is like the SON, which as we journey toward Him, casts the shadow of our burden behind us." Oh, yes indeed... what a picture in those words.