What a great first week! It has been so much fun watching Genuine bond with her new siblings, the pets, and of course, her extended family. We laugh and practice saying, "Hello, thanks". Genuine has a deep laugh that is contagious! She is very affectionate, offering many hugs and loves to cuddle. Kouya (i.e., Brother) Austin has been a great big brother and receives the most hugs from Genuine. Kouya Ricky has walked in her shoes and he analyzes her the most, sharing what he thinks she might be feeling. Aute' (i.e., Sister) Maddie is her hang-out buddy, dancing, fixing hair and sharing things. They love playing outside and the evenings have been jam packed with swinging, volleyball, bike riding, jumping on the trampoline, horseback riding, tumbling and just visiting. I will be sad when the time changes and our evenings will have to be spent inside. By the way, we were riding bikes and she was looking left and right, making sure no cars were coming, and ran straight into the ditch. She explained the mishap as follows; "Me ride bike, oh no, boom...no cry!" Let's just say I almost wrecked trying to get off my bike to make sure she was okay.
Genuine pays close attention to our actions. I marvel at how observant she is of things we take for granted or miss even though we see them everyday. Tia Stacie often winks and gives a thumbs up signal as a sign of praise. Although I have seen her do it often, I don't think I paid attention enough to copy her actions, but Genuine can. Annie and Izzie, identical twin pinsans (cousins) were over at my mom's house and Genuine noticed Annie's face was rounder and Izzy's face was longer, demonstrating with her hands. Many still can't tell them apart, but Genuine can. She loves Oddie, our chihuahua, and commented that his eyes were big like Kouya Austin's. We joined Tanner for lunch at Don's Seafood and Genuine noticed that there were seven tv's. For a country where many homes are without one tv, this was pretty amazing. Actually, Genuine has been pretty amazing.
Genuine's adjustment has gone really well. She has slept in her own room twice and in Madison's room a few nights. She loves taking baths and can be heard splashing and singing. Like Ricky, when I ask her to go get dressed, she thinks I want her to bathe again! She enjoyed having her hair dried for the first time and smiled at herself in the mirror the whole time, exclaiming, "Warm"! She is learning to use "sir" and "ma'am" and speak when spoken to, even if it is an American man. In the Philippines, everyone has black hair and light brown skin. Most people are thin and about the same size, with five foot five inches being tall. She was a little unprepared for the various shapes, sizes, and colors Americans come in and spent some uncomfortable moments hiding behind me. "Baby, baby, baby, oh....." is sung often and when she saw Justin Beiber on a poster in Walmart we had to take a picture. She also joined in the singing at church which brought tears to my eyes. She loves shopping and is attracted to what I would call junk, but she views as treasures. Barbie, Dora, and Pooh trinkets intrigue her and when I tell her she can't have them her response is, "Maybe tomorrow?" She chose light-up tennis shoes and shoes with sparkles. Much to Tanner's dismay, she does not want to kill a deer and seems to lean toward the girlie girl side. Of course, the jury is still out and we may all be surprised. She does like fishing and when Tanner let her reel in a fish, there were many squeals until he threw it back. Genuine yelled, "No,Dad," and proceeded to rant and rave in Tagalog! She definitely has a mind of her own and is not afraid to share her opinion, just like her big sister. She also was amazed at how the doors at our stores automatically open and close and enjoys opening and closing the windows in our vehicles, too. Chocolate is a must and is quick to bring a smile whether in the form of chocolate milk, candy, cookie or pudding! Otherwise, she is learning that she has to eat a little bit of whatever I have prepared. Genuine says "no" and I say "yes" and Mamma wins! She is adjusting to the air conditioner better than I expected and only gets cold when she is under a ceiling fan. Pants or capris are her choice of daily attire rather than shorts. I think this helps her stay warm. She has learned to wash her dishes, put her dirty clothes away and has helped put away clean laundry and groceries. I love watching her learn!
One of my favorite stories took place while visiting Uncle Darra and Aunt Stacie. Uncle Darra was laying on the floor with arms outstretched, his feet were crossed at the ankles and raised slightly on an ottoman. Genuine said, "Mom, look, Jesus!" We laughed and laughed and I told Nicholas Cage (Tanner) he had been upstaged by Jesus!
Genuine has gotten sad twice, once when we were talking about best friends and the other was actually today. The kids were all playing outside and a neighborhood kid was joking with her and she took it personally. It was not so much what he did, I think she was just having a moment and needed to cry and have a little space. She has done much better than any training class would predict. I am so proud of her and am cherishing the moments.
Tomorrow Genuine will use Skype for the first time to visit with her best friend, Jessica. It will be a perfect ending to a less than perfect day, as we will be going to the doctor for her medical test. Until later.......
Steph
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
Firsts
Here are some of Genuine's first:
- fly
- have a pet
- indoor plumbing in house
- refrig in house
- own room/bed
- stay in room by herself
- travel to a new country
Many more yet to come I'm sure
- fly
- have a pet
- indoor plumbing in house
- refrig in house
- own room/bed
- stay in room by herself
- travel to a new country
Many more yet to come I'm sure
Almost
We survivied the long flight!!!! Nancy, Jessica, Genuine, and I sat in a row with Tanner and Ricky about fifteen rows in front of us. This time both girls chose to stay awake for the take off and landing. Once we find the courage to face our fears, it's not so scary anymore. It was a little over a nine hour fliht and the girls slept about three and half hours. Genuine had her head in my lap and her feet stretched out across two seats with her legs facing inward. Jessica also had her head in her mom's lap with her feet stretched out toward us. The girls slept intertwined and were perfectly content. Nancy and I, at that moment, realized the extreme importance of keeping these girls in contact with one another. They have a very special bond and of course, a special BFF handshake! Ninetendo DS was a real time killer and I am thankful to Madison for lending it to Genuine and to Ricky for selflessly letting Jessica have his. It seems that on each of the long flights, I had a giggle attack. On this flight, toward the end, there was a sound made by the aircraft that sounded like someone passed gas. Both girls immediately looked at each other with a look of surprise and then all eyes were on me. I knew, without a word being said, what they thought. We all started dying laughing and within seconds, Nancy realized what they thought, too. Jessica then proceeds to use hand motions to show us what they thought, followed by more uncontrollable laughter. Yes, people were staring, but we didn't care. We were thanking God for the simple things in life and rejoicing in laughter.
Here in Salt Lake City, the girls discovered water fountains. Again, more squeals as they each placed their fingers on the finger marks and pressed. It took them a few tries to get the water just right without splashing themselves in the face!
We didn't have much time for lunch because it was here that we had to go through customs. Everything went well, it just took some time. We grabbed a quick slice of pizza or in the girl's case, chicken nuggets. We then made our way to the gate that would separate the girls and our two families. We certainly met a new sister in Christ in Nancy and would miss her warm, caring spirit and Jessica was just a doll. The girls stayed busy playing games, almost in denial. When it was time to board, we reassurred them that they could call and skype very soon. We all hugged and parted. Jessica fell apart, while Genuine only cried a little. Genuine described Jessica as angry and herself as sad. It was very hard to watch and there were more tears once we were seated. I think one of the saddest moments was when we arrived in New Orleans and walked into the airport, Genuine said, "Jessica?" It was then that I realized she thought Jessica was coming here, but on a different airplane. Again, I marvel at the courage and perseverance these children display. God, please help me not to whine or complain.
It's at this point that MY heart is pounding because I can't wait to see Austin and Madison and introduce them to their new sister. Genuine is holding on tight to me and remains very quiet through the introductions. However, her personality takes over an hour later when we drive into the driveway and she bounds out of the suburban with a huge smile on her face! She responds first to, you guessed it, Oddie! She was a little afraid of Sophie. It seems the dogs were the icebreaker we needed. She was given a tour of the house and really liked her room. She began to make herself at home by taking a bath and asking lots of questions. She was caught laughing at her brothers and sister and it was music to my ears! The journey has ended, yet only just begun! Genuine, genuinely His and now, genuinely ours for each day that He gives us.
Genuine, you are fearfully and wonderfully made by the Creator himself. You are loved. You matter.
Mom and Dad
Here in Salt Lake City, the girls discovered water fountains. Again, more squeals as they each placed their fingers on the finger marks and pressed. It took them a few tries to get the water just right without splashing themselves in the face!
We didn't have much time for lunch because it was here that we had to go through customs. Everything went well, it just took some time. We grabbed a quick slice of pizza or in the girl's case, chicken nuggets. We then made our way to the gate that would separate the girls and our two families. We certainly met a new sister in Christ in Nancy and would miss her warm, caring spirit and Jessica was just a doll. The girls stayed busy playing games, almost in denial. When it was time to board, we reassurred them that they could call and skype very soon. We all hugged and parted. Jessica fell apart, while Genuine only cried a little. Genuine described Jessica as angry and herself as sad. It was very hard to watch and there were more tears once we were seated. I think one of the saddest moments was when we arrived in New Orleans and walked into the airport, Genuine said, "Jessica?" It was then that I realized she thought Jessica was coming here, but on a different airplane. Again, I marvel at the courage and perseverance these children display. God, please help me not to whine or complain.
It's at this point that MY heart is pounding because I can't wait to see Austin and Madison and introduce them to their new sister. Genuine is holding on tight to me and remains very quiet through the introductions. However, her personality takes over an hour later when we drive into the driveway and she bounds out of the suburban with a huge smile on her face! She responds first to, you guessed it, Oddie! She was a little afraid of Sophie. It seems the dogs were the icebreaker we needed. She was given a tour of the house and really liked her room. She began to make herself at home by taking a bath and asking lots of questions. She was caught laughing at her brothers and sister and it was music to my ears! The journey has ended, yet only just begun! Genuine, genuinely His and now, genuinely ours for each day that He gives us.
Genuine, you are fearfully and wonderfully made by the Creator himself. You are loved. You matter.
Mom and Dad
Japan Bound
Boarding a big aeroplane was a big deal for two little girls this morning. Once we were finally allowed through security and began heading towards our gate, Genuine and Jessica began to exclaim, "one, two, three, four big aeroplanes!" They squealed with delight as they watched them take off and tried very hard to get a picture of one taking off, to no avail. Ricky came to the rescue and was able to get a picture for them. Once boarded, I could visibly watch the fear begin to envelope Genuine. She wasn't able to sit next to Jessica, she had never flown, and certainly she had never left her country. We all have defense mechanisms that we use in fearful situations, Genuine's was to sleep. She was fast asleep before we took off, awake during the middle of the flight, and asleep again for the landing. Her favorite part of her first flight was listening to the music with headphones and hearing the flight attendent speak in Tagalog! Overall, the trip was uneventful and we landed in Japan an hour early. This meant we had a three and half hour layover before taking off for Salt Lake City. Luckily for us, Japan's airport had a lounge with chairs that reclined. The kids played and the adults stretched out to rest for a bit. At this point we were eleven hours into our journey.
Is 41:10 Fear not for I am with you, be not dismayed I will show you the way.
Side Note: The girls call bathrooms, changing rooms, and the changing rooms in different countries are just that, different. In Manila the water was not working in the airport restrooms and of course all paper goes into a trash can. In Nagoya, Japan, the toilets were holes in the floor. In Tokyo, Japan, the toilets were like the ones you would find in America but with a few extra features. There were buttons that made flushing sounds or played music. There were buttons that sprayed water or cologne. I am just happy to be in my own bathroom now, lol!
Very thankful,
Steph
Is 41:10 Fear not for I am with you, be not dismayed I will show you the way.
Side Note: The girls call bathrooms, changing rooms, and the changing rooms in different countries are just that, different. In Manila the water was not working in the airport restrooms and of course all paper goes into a trash can. In Nagoya, Japan, the toilets were holes in the floor. In Tokyo, Japan, the toilets were like the ones you would find in America but with a few extra features. There were buttons that made flushing sounds or played music. There were buttons that sprayed water or cologne. I am just happy to be in my own bathroom now, lol!
Very thankful,
Steph
Homeward Bound
5:30a.m. Manila time.
what is it about airports that make you cry? I have always enjoyed "people watching" and at airports there are usually two responses observed; happy reunions or sad reunions. Since I'm part of the "Crying Club," both make me tear up. It's been an emotional rollercoaster ride to say the least! Lots of trouble this morning with airport security due to Ricky's cast. They don't have the technology to xray it or check it for explosives and they wanted it off. Since it doesn't come off, his passport and luggage were tagged red, like his cast to indicate heightened security. We were temporarily detained and then allowed to move on. I knew they were watching us closely as I was watching Genuine closely. She was very quiet, observing her surroundings and just taking everything in...sensory overload. Hungry at 6:00a.m. (we had been up since 3:00a.m.), she and Ricky chose Chinese for breakfast. This allowed us to spend our last pesos before converting back to American currency. We boarded within the hour leaving a homeland behind, yet finding the courage to soar to new opportunities and a forever family.
Flying high,
Steph
what is it about airports that make you cry? I have always enjoyed "people watching" and at airports there are usually two responses observed; happy reunions or sad reunions. Since I'm part of the "Crying Club," both make me tear up. It's been an emotional rollercoaster ride to say the least! Lots of trouble this morning with airport security due to Ricky's cast. They don't have the technology to xray it or check it for explosives and they wanted it off. Since it doesn't come off, his passport and luggage were tagged red, like his cast to indicate heightened security. We were temporarily detained and then allowed to move on. I knew they were watching us closely as I was watching Genuine closely. She was very quiet, observing her surroundings and just taking everything in...sensory overload. Hungry at 6:00a.m. (we had been up since 3:00a.m.), she and Ricky chose Chinese for breakfast. This allowed us to spend our last pesos before converting back to American currency. We boarded within the hour leaving a homeland behind, yet finding the courage to soar to new opportunities and a forever family.
Flying high,
Steph
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Home Sweet Home
Home is where the heart is and mine has been divided between each side of the world. I am very much looking forward to reuniting my family. Today was a very successful day at ICAB. Our visit at both Parenting Foundation and ICAB were much longer and more personal than they were when we were here to get Ricky. Lots of paperwork, but the majority of the visit was just listening as they shared about the Philippines. We appreciated the visit a lot more than the kids did, but they were very good and patient. After ICAB, we decided to eat at a Filipino restaurant called “Dads”. There was an American buffet, Filipino buffet, and a Japanese buffet. I really enjoyed observing the choices chosen by the kids and can assure you that they won’t be able to get those items in south Louisiana. Ricky ate some things the girls wouldn’t eat, snails, and in true girl fashion we heard, “ewwwww!” For the record, we all ate from the Filipino buffet with Tanner paying extra to eat from all three. While we were eating, a band came to sing for us. They sang a song in Tagalog and one in English. They were very good and looked to be of Mexican descent rather than Filipino. The funny thing about it was that they thought they were performing for Nicholas Cage, aka, Tanner. I bet they also thought they would receive a huge tip!
The rest of the day was spent preparing for travel. The computer kept saying Tanner and I were from the United State Minor Islands and Ricky was from the United States, go figure. We finally got that kink worked out and hit another one. We do not have seats together on the first leg of the journey home. There are two single seats and one pair of double seats. I guess Tanner and Ricky will sit alone and Genuine and I together or maybe someone will switch with us. It is another full flight (400 people). Our seats are together for the rest of the trip home. We were also told about some expenses we weren’t aware of, terminal taxes and travel tax for Genuine. We are so glad this information was shared today so we could have the necessary pesos on hand. Finally, we have to make everything we have fit into our luggage!! Genuine scrapbooks, things we have purchased, gifts we received and all we brought with us. I’m still not sure they will zip but we are hopeful. While I prepared, Tanner and the girls went to swim and Ricky worked on his journal for school. Genuine and Jessica each have a pair of pink goggles now and both are swimming much better. Their eyes were so red and hurt from the chlorine but neither were willing to stop swimming. I guess if you only get to swim once a year, there are certain tradeoffs you are willing to take.
It’s been a great trip, but I am very ready to be back home. As I thought about this, I realized that a week from now Genuine will probably be feeling the same way, but she won’t be coming back. I thank you for the many prayers and humbly ask you to continue to pray as the transition is only just beginning.
Side note: I know Ricky is ready to sleep in his own bed without Tanner taking up all of the bed and covers!!
Missing Austin and Maddie more than they can know!
Love to all,
Steph
The rest of the day was spent preparing for travel. The computer kept saying Tanner and I were from the United State Minor Islands and Ricky was from the United States, go figure. We finally got that kink worked out and hit another one. We do not have seats together on the first leg of the journey home. There are two single seats and one pair of double seats. I guess Tanner and Ricky will sit alone and Genuine and I together or maybe someone will switch with us. It is another full flight (400 people). Our seats are together for the rest of the trip home. We were also told about some expenses we weren’t aware of, terminal taxes and travel tax for Genuine. We are so glad this information was shared today so we could have the necessary pesos on hand. Finally, we have to make everything we have fit into our luggage!! Genuine scrapbooks, things we have purchased, gifts we received and all we brought with us. I’m still not sure they will zip but we are hopeful. While I prepared, Tanner and the girls went to swim and Ricky worked on his journal for school. Genuine and Jessica each have a pair of pink goggles now and both are swimming much better. Their eyes were so red and hurt from the chlorine but neither were willing to stop swimming. I guess if you only get to swim once a year, there are certain tradeoffs you are willing to take.
It’s been a great trip, but I am very ready to be back home. As I thought about this, I realized that a week from now Genuine will probably be feeling the same way, but she won’t be coming back. I thank you for the many prayers and humbly ask you to continue to pray as the transition is only just beginning.
Side note: I know Ricky is ready to sleep in his own bed without Tanner taking up all of the bed and covers!!
Missing Austin and Maddie more than they can know!
Love to all,
Steph
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Evening
Nancy took the girls swimming, while we did a little shopping. I went out to the pool after shopping and must say that Genuine is making progress. She actually moves forward a little. :) She's still mermaid-kicking every now and then, but is actually kicking her feet like she should. It will be interesting to see how much she progresses tomorrow.
We ate at the Vietnamese restaurant again and then I hit the Krispy Kreme. Odd hours for a donut store but, hey, I'll take 'em when I can get 'em. Steph and Genuine headed back to the hotel, as they were tired, while I took Ricky to play some video games. It's still pretty funny seeing the stares as we walk through the mall, but now many of them are directed at Ricky's cast. He had said that they don't use casts in here and he seems to be correct, as I've yet to see one on any of the million+ people that I've seen. I wonder how they set broken bones? A couple of the hotel employees (Joel the pool guy, and the doorman) have taken to Ricky and talk to him all the time. It's pretty neat to see the connections being made. Joel let the kids use his goggles so they could see underwater and they used them all day. Hopefully Nancy was able to find some at the mall this evening.
Speaking of Nancy, she's from Montana and has a couple of sons that love to hunt. They just got a couple of elk during bow season. I hope that we can make a trip up there to see Jessica (and enjoy Montana, of course) at some point in the future. It's been really great getting to know such a wonderful Christian lady who has such a love for orphans. 6 of her 7 kids are adopted. She's also shared that she has 13 grandkids, so I'm quite amazed at her ability to take in another.
I spoke of the diversity of Filipino food, but the people are every bit as diverse. You see quite a blend of the various Asian cultures, native Filipino, and Spanish here, so there is a wide variety of facial shapes and features. There is not much variability in body size (most are short in stature and very few overweight)and you are out of luck if you like brunettes, blondes or redheads, as all Filipinos have black hair. All of them! Of course at the hotel there's quite a blend of nationalities (European, Korean, Middle Eastern, American), so this area really gives one the sense of what Heaven must be like. A great reminder that we're all created in His image.
Getting tired so I'm going to sign off. Thanks again for the prayers.
Tanner
We ate at the Vietnamese restaurant again and then I hit the Krispy Kreme. Odd hours for a donut store but, hey, I'll take 'em when I can get 'em. Steph and Genuine headed back to the hotel, as they were tired, while I took Ricky to play some video games. It's still pretty funny seeing the stares as we walk through the mall, but now many of them are directed at Ricky's cast. He had said that they don't use casts in here and he seems to be correct, as I've yet to see one on any of the million+ people that I've seen. I wonder how they set broken bones? A couple of the hotel employees (Joel the pool guy, and the doorman) have taken to Ricky and talk to him all the time. It's pretty neat to see the connections being made. Joel let the kids use his goggles so they could see underwater and they used them all day. Hopefully Nancy was able to find some at the mall this evening.
Speaking of Nancy, she's from Montana and has a couple of sons that love to hunt. They just got a couple of elk during bow season. I hope that we can make a trip up there to see Jessica (and enjoy Montana, of course) at some point in the future. It's been really great getting to know such a wonderful Christian lady who has such a love for orphans. 6 of her 7 kids are adopted. She's also shared that she has 13 grandkids, so I'm quite amazed at her ability to take in another.
I spoke of the diversity of Filipino food, but the people are every bit as diverse. You see quite a blend of the various Asian cultures, native Filipino, and Spanish here, so there is a wide variety of facial shapes and features. There is not much variability in body size (most are short in stature and very few overweight)and you are out of luck if you like brunettes, blondes or redheads, as all Filipinos have black hair. All of them! Of course at the hotel there's quite a blend of nationalities (European, Korean, Middle Eastern, American), so this area really gives one the sense of what Heaven must be like. A great reminder that we're all created in His image.
Getting tired so I'm going to sign off. Thanks again for the prayers.
Tanner
Hungry Anyone?
I have figured out one possible reason that there are very few overweight Filipinos…they apparently do not eat breakfast, at least in restaurants. I had seen a Krispy Kreme donut shop in the mall yesterday, so I decided to get a donut instead of eat in the hotel. The mall is really big, with multiple wings, several of which we walked around the first night because we didn’t know where we were. At any rate, there are many restaurants in the mall, as well as along the outside shops. Krispy Kreme happens to be in the mall, which doesn’t open until 10 AM, so I was out of luck for a donut. Imagine that, a Krispy Kreme not open 24/7….sacrilege! Plan B was to try a local bread shop, figuring they’d have some hot bread or rolls. No luck, it was closed as well. I literally walked around almost the whole mall and found two shops that served breakfast food. Even Starbucks did not have much in the way of breakfast food. Apparently Filipinos are not big fans of breads, which I now recall from Ricky’s initial visit. Oh well, I did get some good coffee at Bo’s Coffee, including a caramel latte for Steph. Back to the hotel I went for a breakfast of smoked salmon, egg omelet, fresh fruit, bacon, and Passion Fruit. I still have heartburn, but it was good.
One thing I’ve noticed is that Filipino food is as diverse as their people. At the hotel buffet we have everything from traditional American fare (omelets, bacon, French toast, pancakes, donuts) to smoked fish, baked fish on the “half shell”, poncit noodles, grilled pork and chicken, stewed beef, fried rice, and a whole host of other local foods, which I’d never expect for breakfast. In the mall they have multiple food courts that have American favorites (Mickey D’s, BK, KFC, etc), Chinese, Vietnamese, and of course Filipino. One local favorite appears to be the baked or broiled (I can’t tell) fish on the half-shell. The fish appears to be a large shad, rather oily, with the skin and scales, but sans the head. I also saw one shop with fresh salmon heads….just the heads mind you. Not sure what you do with that, but they did come with a salad. Yum! Not sure what we’ll have for dinner but it should be interesting.
Tanner
One thing I’ve noticed is that Filipino food is as diverse as their people. At the hotel buffet we have everything from traditional American fare (omelets, bacon, French toast, pancakes, donuts) to smoked fish, baked fish on the “half shell”, poncit noodles, grilled pork and chicken, stewed beef, fried rice, and a whole host of other local foods, which I’d never expect for breakfast. In the mall they have multiple food courts that have American favorites (Mickey D’s, BK, KFC, etc), Chinese, Vietnamese, and of course Filipino. One local favorite appears to be the baked or broiled (I can’t tell) fish on the half-shell. The fish appears to be a large shad, rather oily, with the skin and scales, but sans the head. I also saw one shop with fresh salmon heads….just the heads mind you. Not sure what you do with that, but they did come with a salad. Yum! Not sure what we’ll have for dinner but it should be interesting.
Tanner
OMG
We spent a great morning at the pool. Both girls improved, slightly, and had fun pushing some younger children in their inflatable boats. Genuine loves younger children, but is not very gentle. I really needed to know the tagalog word for “gentle or easy”. She just kept looking at me with her big eyes showing confusion. Anyhow, they didn’t drown anyone and no one cried so we were okay. They were introduced to goggles by Joel, the pool man. They were able to search for pesos at the bottom of the pool without it hurting their eyes. She and Jessica are dear friends, but Jessica is more athletic. She can swim better and hold her breath longer. Jessica could also retrieve the pesos from the bottom of the pool very quickly. I could see that this bothered Genuine and Ricky noticed, too. So Ricky would quickly swim deep for the peso and hold it out to Genuine under the water, so sweet. I know it’s early, but I think it is safe to say, that Genuine is more like me when it comes to athleticism. Ricky said she could be a cheerleader. I think Genuine’s favorite saying is “Oh my God” and she says it constantly. She also doesn’t mind burping. I think the constant near drowning thus consumption of pool water had both girls producing some loud burps. I spent a lot of time trying to explain that we pray to God and can say “Oh my gosh” as well as reminding them to say excuse me. Tanner and I laughed and agreed we have a little work cut out for us! She is already concerned about her shape and described herself as having a big tummy. She didn’t want a snack because of it, but wanted chocolate milk, lol. Another universal observation, everyone wants to please and be accepted. We are all so quick to notice our shortcomings and fail to recognize our strengths. It will be fun helping Genuine see her strengths and build on them! This morning I was reminded about faith, hope, and love and the greatest of these is love! Right now, we are just having fun loving on her! I sure am missing loving on my two oldest and can’t wait to see them. Thanks to all of you who are loving on them for us!!
Side note: My hip, leg and neck are doing great….answered prayer! Maddie, I asked Genuine who cut her hair. She thought I wanted to cut her hair and her response was, “Au’te Maddie hair” and she pointed to her lower back ,with conviction, and finished by saying, “Me, too!” She wants long hair like you!
Turning up the music, Steph
Side note: My hip, leg and neck are doing great….answered prayer! Maddie, I asked Genuine who cut her hair. She thought I wanted to cut her hair and her response was, “Au’te Maddie hair” and she pointed to her lower back ,with conviction, and finished by saying, “Me, too!” She wants long hair like you!
Turning up the music, Steph
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Sink or Swim
After breakfast we all met at the pool to swim. Being a rather fancy hotel, the Intercontinental has a change house at the pool, so that hotel patrons don’t have to wander through the lobby in their swimwear. I have to think that my walking through the lobby in a speedo and “wife beater” probably wasn’t well received. Just kidding of course. Back to the pool….when asked, both girls said that they could swim. This was tested early on when Jessica, who was holding onto the ladder in the deep end, decided to let go and promptly started to sink to the bottom. Fortunately, Nancy and I were both standing nearby and she was able to grab Jessica’s arm to pull her up. Needless to say, that truly answered the question as to whether they could swim or not. So, off we went to the shallow end.
We all piled into the shallow end and the splashing of tubig (i.e., water in Tagalog) began. Lots of splashing and giggling, giggling and splashing. I still have water in one ear. Ricky hung in for awhile but quickly got bored in the shallow end. No good way to show off I guess. We did end up trying to provide some swimming lessons to Genuine, but to no avail. She makes all of the motions but doesn’t go anywhere. Oh well, looks like Mrs. Jen has a new student for next year. We did find out from the Parenting Center that the kids only get to go to a pool once a year, at the end of the summer, which is a hi-light for them.
Back to the room to change and then off to the mall for lunch and shopping. We ended up at a Subway/Vietnamese combo shop, where Steph and I got Subway and everyone else got Vietnamese food. I must say that we shoulda got the Vietnamese food as it was really good. We’re finding out that Genuine appears to be a fairly picky eater, so it will be interesting to see how she does when we get home. I suspect that she’ll be eating lots of rice, at least initially.
We then went to a bookstore to buy some items in Tagalog, so that the kids can continue to maintain their language (at least we hope so). Just about everywhere we’ve gone, Ricky’s been asked if he can still speak Tagalog, which he can’t, so it’s been a little disappointing. After lunch the girls asked to ride some motorized carts in the shapes of animals. Kind of the Filipino version of the mechanical horse from the Five & Dime store, but mobile. The animal carts went extremely slow but the girls enjoyed the ride. When asked if he’d like to ride, Ricky just rolled his eyes and shook his head “no”.
This evening we broke up and went to the mall…Ricky and I to the video games (go figure), and Nancy, Steph and the girls to do some shopping in another department store. There was a music section in the store so the mom’s decided to let the girls get a CD. When told that they could get a CD, they both said in unison “Justin Beiber?” I guess that pop culture icon has gone international. Great.
Speaking of pop culture, I noticed several similarities with the states:
1) Filipino man-bags are no more manly than they are in the states. Just more of them.
2)Video game facial expressions and body language are universal.
3)Ugly shoes are in.
4)Texting is the most popular mode of communication.
5)There are “professional” video game players everywhere. I observed two guys on the Dance Dance game, who were classified as “experts”. They had brought water bottles, sweat towels, and one had a knee brace on. Hilarious!
No major issues so far, although Genuine did get a little sad this evening. I suspect being tired did not help, but it’s not unexpected. She’s got a forever family but she’s also losing her foster family. I can imagine that being tough for her. Thanks for all of the prayers, but please keep praying.
Tanner
We all piled into the shallow end and the splashing of tubig (i.e., water in Tagalog) began. Lots of splashing and giggling, giggling and splashing. I still have water in one ear. Ricky hung in for awhile but quickly got bored in the shallow end. No good way to show off I guess. We did end up trying to provide some swimming lessons to Genuine, but to no avail. She makes all of the motions but doesn’t go anywhere. Oh well, looks like Mrs. Jen has a new student for next year. We did find out from the Parenting Center that the kids only get to go to a pool once a year, at the end of the summer, which is a hi-light for them.
Back to the room to change and then off to the mall for lunch and shopping. We ended up at a Subway/Vietnamese combo shop, where Steph and I got Subway and everyone else got Vietnamese food. I must say that we shoulda got the Vietnamese food as it was really good. We’re finding out that Genuine appears to be a fairly picky eater, so it will be interesting to see how she does when we get home. I suspect that she’ll be eating lots of rice, at least initially.
We then went to a bookstore to buy some items in Tagalog, so that the kids can continue to maintain their language (at least we hope so). Just about everywhere we’ve gone, Ricky’s been asked if he can still speak Tagalog, which he can’t, so it’s been a little disappointing. After lunch the girls asked to ride some motorized carts in the shapes of animals. Kind of the Filipino version of the mechanical horse from the Five & Dime store, but mobile. The animal carts went extremely slow but the girls enjoyed the ride. When asked if he’d like to ride, Ricky just rolled his eyes and shook his head “no”.
This evening we broke up and went to the mall…Ricky and I to the video games (go figure), and Nancy, Steph and the girls to do some shopping in another department store. There was a music section in the store so the mom’s decided to let the girls get a CD. When told that they could get a CD, they both said in unison “Justin Beiber?” I guess that pop culture icon has gone international. Great.
Speaking of pop culture, I noticed several similarities with the states:
1) Filipino man-bags are no more manly than they are in the states. Just more of them.
2)Video game facial expressions and body language are universal.
3)Ugly shoes are in.
4)Texting is the most popular mode of communication.
5)There are “professional” video game players everywhere. I observed two guys on the Dance Dance game, who were classified as “experts”. They had brought water bottles, sweat towels, and one had a knee brace on. Hilarious!
No major issues so far, although Genuine did get a little sad this evening. I suspect being tired did not help, but it’s not unexpected. She’s got a forever family but she’s also losing her foster family. I can imagine that being tough for her. Thanks for all of the prayers, but please keep praying.
Tanner
Good Morning/Good Evening,
We slept!!!!!! Well, Genuine and I slept but Ricky and Tanner had trouble sharing a bed, lol! Rick’s cast, again, creates issues as no one wants to get knocked in the head. Genuine has never slept in a room by herself. She curled up next to me and when I woke this morning her arm was wrapped around me. Like Ricky, it will be a slow transition to staying alone in a room. Madison is ready to help in this area, just one of the many ways she will be a good big sister!
Breakfast was fun as we joined Nancy and Jessica. The girls conversed with giggles and love taking pictures with the camera. I asked Ricky if they were talking about him and he nodded with frustration in not knowing exactly what they were saying. We have already had the talk that Genuine is his sister and he should like and love her in that way. Of course he said he knew that! I did tell him he could like Jessica and he gave me that “MOM” look! Nutritional habits will be a challenge as Genuine chose rice and pork only eating the rice. She also chose chocolate milk and coffee. She said she does not like fruit. Ricky had me eating poncit, sushi, fish hotdogs, and a sausage of sort, yes this is breakfast! I love the fresh fruit, especially the mango here and added a few small pancakes and bacon to my plate. We are now headed to the pool for some fun in the sun!
Side note: We can’t go to ICAB until Thursday instead of Wednesday. This is why they make you stay as long as they do. Genuine’s paper work is still not complete so pray that all will be made ready on time!
Sending love to you all,
Steph
We slept!!!!!! Well, Genuine and I slept but Ricky and Tanner had trouble sharing a bed, lol! Rick’s cast, again, creates issues as no one wants to get knocked in the head. Genuine has never slept in a room by herself. She curled up next to me and when I woke this morning her arm was wrapped around me. Like Ricky, it will be a slow transition to staying alone in a room. Madison is ready to help in this area, just one of the many ways she will be a good big sister!
Breakfast was fun as we joined Nancy and Jessica. The girls conversed with giggles and love taking pictures with the camera. I asked Ricky if they were talking about him and he nodded with frustration in not knowing exactly what they were saying. We have already had the talk that Genuine is his sister and he should like and love her in that way. Of course he said he knew that! I did tell him he could like Jessica and he gave me that “MOM” look! Nutritional habits will be a challenge as Genuine chose rice and pork only eating the rice. She also chose chocolate milk and coffee. She said she does not like fruit. Ricky had me eating poncit, sushi, fish hotdogs, and a sausage of sort, yes this is breakfast! I love the fresh fruit, especially the mango here and added a few small pancakes and bacon to my plate. We are now headed to the pool for some fun in the sun!
Side note: We can’t go to ICAB until Thursday instead of Wednesday. This is why they make you stay as long as they do. Genuine’s paper work is still not complete so pray that all will be made ready on time!
Sending love to you all,
Steph
Monday, September 20, 2010
We've Got Genuine!
Well, folks, we've got Genuine!
This trip has been very different in that we are traveling with another family, Nancy and her new adopted daughter, Jessica. Tanner, Ricky, Nancy and I along with a social worker headed for Parenting Foundation around 10:00am. When we got there the first people we saw were Lilian and her grandson, JM. Lilian was Ricky's foster mother and we had requested a visit with her but we did not know that things had been worked out and she would be there. It was a wonderful surprise and she ran with tears to give Ricky a great big hug. Of course, all of his social workers cried and exclaimed over him. These ladies pour so much into the children entrusted to them and most of the time, after adoption, they never see them again. It was a great reunion for them all!
We were then brought upstairs where Genuine, along with her foster mother, father and a'te (foster sister) were waiting. We walked into a room full of tears! As hard as that can be, it would have been a red flag if Genuine wasn't sad about leaving them. Thankful for having the time this morning (when I couldn't sleep) to think about this very possibility certainly helped. Introductions were made and things were a little awkward for a while. However we began to muddle through the language barriers and get to know Genuine and her family. Genuine was very close to her foster sister who is about 20 and she was the one who translated for us. We were given Genuine's Life Book (Scrapbook of her) and much laughter was shared as she showed us pictures from when she was three until now.
Next we were ushered to an outside pavillion where a farewell party had been planned in honor of Jessica and Genuine. This is something new they have started doing recently. All of the foster children in attendance participated and Jo, you would have needed a box of Kleenex. Dances were done, poems were recited, signing was shared and we were even called upon to share. Jessica and Genuine each did a solo dance in honor of their foster mothers and their forever mothers! Jessica's dance incorporated her abilty to do some gymnastics. Genuine's dance was very different and lets just say she can move! Tanner and I looked at each other and immediately knew she and Madison would have that in common. We also decided we would have to lock our girls up until they each turned 20, lol! The real tear jerker of them all was the farewell song the other children sang to Jessica and Genuine while they one by one hugged and kissed them goodbye. Even Ricky got choked up as it is a song they apparentlly sang for him even though it wasn't in our presence. The celebration was concluded with a meal of pizza, casava cake, puncit noodles and soda! The children eagerly ate as this was a treat and many were intrigued by Tanner. He actually had to help hang a pottery basket, much like our pinate' for the children to try and break. Once broken, just like in America, they scrambled to get as many treats as possible. While the girls were told to gather their things, a sibling group of four came and sang for us so that the foster mothers could have one final goodbye. Tears again but not as many and not as much sadness. We all got into the car and headed for the hotel. Along the way, the girls giggled and talked and Ricky unsuccessfully tried to figure out what they were saying. It was a wonderful observation and the laughter tickled my heart.
In route to the hotel, our driver went through a toll in the wrong lane on accident. We were immediately stopped with police carrying machine guns. It was a pretty scary situation, but God's grace shined through and after much deliberation, the top security official gave him a warning and sent us through. Our driver was very embarrassed and evidently relieved. I'm sure he would have lost his job over it if he had received a ticket. The irony is this was a crime but their are no street lights, stop signs or lanes to guide traffic, basically just chaos. I would never drive here!
Once back at the hotel, we took a quick break and then headed for the mall to purchase needed items. This took quite some time, but the sales associates were more than helpful because they could translate too. I know everyone is wondering so I'll let you know that Genuine is not 5'4", she is 54" (4feet, 6inches), yes shorter than Ricky and Madison. She is plump for a Filipino and her foster sister said not to let her eat junk, but rather feed her a salad. However, at the mall, we let her get a strawberry sundae and some fries. We will get her on the right track once we are home. She is very timid and loves to mimic what we say! She holds on to my arm constantly and is very cold. We will have to buy a few warm items for the plane. Ricky is teaching her to play games on the DS and she loves it. She asked if it was hers and I told her it was her big sisters and she smiled. She can't wait to ride the horse and I showed her pictures of Sophie and Oddie. All three of us have explained that she will get bunches of hugs when we get to America, lol. She is afraid to fly and was nervous in the elevator, but she loves to ride bikes and fish (anyone surprised?). She says she can swim and we will test that tomorrow. We plan to rest and relax as we are exhausted!!!!!! I actually think I am seeing double so I will sign off for now. I think Tanner successfully posted some pictures on fb. Our technical difficulties were unable to be resolved so their won't be as many post. We have to come to the business office during certain hours to blog. We will keep everyone posted as much as possbible.
Amazed by this little girl and her bright smile and can't wait to blend her into our great big family.
Austin and Madison, hang in there, this week will fly by and we'll be home before you know it. You are loved and respected for your maturity in this matter more than you know. Praying for you both and can't wait to see you, Mom.
Rejoicing over answered prayers,
Stephanie (Night everyone)
This trip has been very different in that we are traveling with another family, Nancy and her new adopted daughter, Jessica. Tanner, Ricky, Nancy and I along with a social worker headed for Parenting Foundation around 10:00am. When we got there the first people we saw were Lilian and her grandson, JM. Lilian was Ricky's foster mother and we had requested a visit with her but we did not know that things had been worked out and she would be there. It was a wonderful surprise and she ran with tears to give Ricky a great big hug. Of course, all of his social workers cried and exclaimed over him. These ladies pour so much into the children entrusted to them and most of the time, after adoption, they never see them again. It was a great reunion for them all!
We were then brought upstairs where Genuine, along with her foster mother, father and a'te (foster sister) were waiting. We walked into a room full of tears! As hard as that can be, it would have been a red flag if Genuine wasn't sad about leaving them. Thankful for having the time this morning (when I couldn't sleep) to think about this very possibility certainly helped. Introductions were made and things were a little awkward for a while. However we began to muddle through the language barriers and get to know Genuine and her family. Genuine was very close to her foster sister who is about 20 and she was the one who translated for us. We were given Genuine's Life Book (Scrapbook of her) and much laughter was shared as she showed us pictures from when she was three until now.
Next we were ushered to an outside pavillion where a farewell party had been planned in honor of Jessica and Genuine. This is something new they have started doing recently. All of the foster children in attendance participated and Jo, you would have needed a box of Kleenex. Dances were done, poems were recited, signing was shared and we were even called upon to share. Jessica and Genuine each did a solo dance in honor of their foster mothers and their forever mothers! Jessica's dance incorporated her abilty to do some gymnastics. Genuine's dance was very different and lets just say she can move! Tanner and I looked at each other and immediately knew she and Madison would have that in common. We also decided we would have to lock our girls up until they each turned 20, lol! The real tear jerker of them all was the farewell song the other children sang to Jessica and Genuine while they one by one hugged and kissed them goodbye. Even Ricky got choked up as it is a song they apparentlly sang for him even though it wasn't in our presence. The celebration was concluded with a meal of pizza, casava cake, puncit noodles and soda! The children eagerly ate as this was a treat and many were intrigued by Tanner. He actually had to help hang a pottery basket, much like our pinate' for the children to try and break. Once broken, just like in America, they scrambled to get as many treats as possible. While the girls were told to gather their things, a sibling group of four came and sang for us so that the foster mothers could have one final goodbye. Tears again but not as many and not as much sadness. We all got into the car and headed for the hotel. Along the way, the girls giggled and talked and Ricky unsuccessfully tried to figure out what they were saying. It was a wonderful observation and the laughter tickled my heart.
In route to the hotel, our driver went through a toll in the wrong lane on accident. We were immediately stopped with police carrying machine guns. It was a pretty scary situation, but God's grace shined through and after much deliberation, the top security official gave him a warning and sent us through. Our driver was very embarrassed and evidently relieved. I'm sure he would have lost his job over it if he had received a ticket. The irony is this was a crime but their are no street lights, stop signs or lanes to guide traffic, basically just chaos. I would never drive here!
Once back at the hotel, we took a quick break and then headed for the mall to purchase needed items. This took quite some time, but the sales associates were more than helpful because they could translate too. I know everyone is wondering so I'll let you know that Genuine is not 5'4", she is 54" (4feet, 6inches), yes shorter than Ricky and Madison. She is plump for a Filipino and her foster sister said not to let her eat junk, but rather feed her a salad. However, at the mall, we let her get a strawberry sundae and some fries. We will get her on the right track once we are home. She is very timid and loves to mimic what we say! She holds on to my arm constantly and is very cold. We will have to buy a few warm items for the plane. Ricky is teaching her to play games on the DS and she loves it. She asked if it was hers and I told her it was her big sisters and she smiled. She can't wait to ride the horse and I showed her pictures of Sophie and Oddie. All three of us have explained that she will get bunches of hugs when we get to America, lol. She is afraid to fly and was nervous in the elevator, but she loves to ride bikes and fish (anyone surprised?). She says she can swim and we will test that tomorrow. We plan to rest and relax as we are exhausted!!!!!! I actually think I am seeing double so I will sign off for now. I think Tanner successfully posted some pictures on fb. Our technical difficulties were unable to be resolved so their won't be as many post. We have to come to the business office during certain hours to blog. We will keep everyone posted as much as possbible.
Amazed by this little girl and her bright smile and can't wait to blend her into our great big family.
Austin and Madison, hang in there, this week will fly by and we'll be home before you know it. You are loved and respected for your maturity in this matter more than you know. Praying for you both and can't wait to see you, Mom.
Rejoicing over answered prayers,
Stephanie (Night everyone)
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Technical Difficulties
Good Morning/Good Afternoon,
I have so much to say as I feel like my heart is beating out of my chest and I am about to explode! A few more hours until we get Genuine, however I've been up for hours with nothing to do but think and reflect! We could not get the computer to work in our room so that is why we haven't blogged. We are using the office center!
Our journey started out great with an uneventful trip to the airport. Thanks, Walter and Margaret for the ride there. We did enter the wrong concourse and therefore had to go through security twice, lol! Even though we went through security twice, they didn't find a small pocketknife in Tanner's computer bag until we got to Japan, you know the one they gave out at church for Father's Day. Any how, I am getting way ahead of myself. The flight from New Orleans to Michigan was a nice easy flight with just enough of a lay over to grab a quick bite to eat and then board. Tanner, Ricky, and I along with 387 other people patiently waited to get settled in for the long trip. We had the last row of middle seats on the plane. This meant we couldn't recline our seats but we were first to be served and we were right next to the restrooms and an open space where I could stretch and stand when needed. I loved watching Ricky's excitement as he viewed the majority of Asian passengers. He commented that he was tall compared to most of the people on board and that dad was really tall. It occurred to me that you need to know where you come from before you can understand where you are going. It put things in the proper perspective and gave us a peak into Ricky's daily journey. He was no longer different, we were. I sometimes take for granted what Ricky has overcome and continues to overcome. I couldn't help but think of the verse that talks about us being the salt of the world. We are just a sprinkling of His seasoning, along with many others. It just makes me envision Heaven and all of the people groups praising the one true God!
The trip seemed to be a little harder this time, but I am a little older! Two 1/2 years ago, Ricky could put his head on my lap and his feet on Tanner's and sleep like a baby. This time, he is too big which meant he tossed and turned and moved as much as his seat would allow. His cast also presented comfort issues. This means his head hit mine or his cast or sometimes even his feet. At one point I got the giggles and could NOT stop laughing (about nine hours into the flight). Those of you who know me well have probably witnessed such an occasion. I was crying and snorting and I am sorry Lulu, I was thinking of you! I know all 400 passengers would have known how uncomfortable you were if you had been with us!!!!! I could also picture Austin tyring to sleep in the hermit crab shell of an airplane seat, legs and arms hanging out! I guess the laughter was needed to get me through the next six hours of flying that was still before us.
If Ricky's teachers are following the blog, we discussed chemical and physical changes as I mixed creamer in my coffee. We talked about air currents, terrain, landforms and horse power! We flew through time zones and crossed the international date line. We compared our first plane to our second and discussed culteral differences. Ricky figured out how much money he had to spend in pesos (with the help of my iphone converter). Thanks so much for allowing us this opportunity and know I am taking advantage of all of the teachable moments.
Some of my favorite moments were when Ricky used a toothpick to prick the words "I love u" through the plastic that covered his cake. He proudly told the customs agent he was from here, with a huge grin. He laughed because people don't stay in the lines when driving (I wasn't laughing). And, when I went to take a bath, he had rewritten the words "I love u" on the mirror. I guess when you have loved hard and lost, it is hard to love again. I so cherish the moments when Ricky risk sharing his love with me and recognize the courage it takes to do that.
Not surprisingly, God is teaching Tanner and I so much through the experience and I know it will make us better parents. I often wondered why Tanner and I lived in Espanola, New Mexico where I was the only "gringo" and it was on this trip that I figured out that it was part of the preparation for our adoption journey. It just took me 16 years to figure it out. Life is not a snapshot, God's got the big picture. It's up to us to allow Him to lead us.
I spent my sleepless morning hours speculating on our upcoming meeting with Genuine. I can't even begin to imagine what is going through her mind this morning. I have to admit, my nerves got the best of me for a little while and a few tears were shed, I'm sure they won't be the last, lol. Tanner was awesome and recognized we weren't getting any sleep so we just got up and began our day really early. Actuallly, they are waiting on me as I type because everybody is hungry. I have already discussed that today would be about Genuine with Ricky and seems very okay with the situation. I look forward with great anticipation to meeting our youngest daughter.
Georgia, the vibrating neck pillow helped more than you will ever know! John, your black neck pillow had a coffee bath! Mom and Dad thanks for taking care of the kids and animals. Jo and Bart, thanks for helping with youth. Sammy and Brooke, I so enjoyed our visit. Jen, I hope your side is feeling better. Cameron, congratulations our your TD! Go Wildcats! Friends and family, your prayer support is what got us this far, keep them coming. I am very blessed! Austin and Madison, I love and miss you guys and hope you have a great day at school tomorrow!
I have so much to say as I feel like my heart is beating out of my chest and I am about to explode! A few more hours until we get Genuine, however I've been up for hours with nothing to do but think and reflect! We could not get the computer to work in our room so that is why we haven't blogged. We are using the office center!
Our journey started out great with an uneventful trip to the airport. Thanks, Walter and Margaret for the ride there. We did enter the wrong concourse and therefore had to go through security twice, lol! Even though we went through security twice, they didn't find a small pocketknife in Tanner's computer bag until we got to Japan, you know the one they gave out at church for Father's Day. Any how, I am getting way ahead of myself. The flight from New Orleans to Michigan was a nice easy flight with just enough of a lay over to grab a quick bite to eat and then board. Tanner, Ricky, and I along with 387 other people patiently waited to get settled in for the long trip. We had the last row of middle seats on the plane. This meant we couldn't recline our seats but we were first to be served and we were right next to the restrooms and an open space where I could stretch and stand when needed. I loved watching Ricky's excitement as he viewed the majority of Asian passengers. He commented that he was tall compared to most of the people on board and that dad was really tall. It occurred to me that you need to know where you come from before you can understand where you are going. It put things in the proper perspective and gave us a peak into Ricky's daily journey. He was no longer different, we were. I sometimes take for granted what Ricky has overcome and continues to overcome. I couldn't help but think of the verse that talks about us being the salt of the world. We are just a sprinkling of His seasoning, along with many others. It just makes me envision Heaven and all of the people groups praising the one true God!
The trip seemed to be a little harder this time, but I am a little older! Two 1/2 years ago, Ricky could put his head on my lap and his feet on Tanner's and sleep like a baby. This time, he is too big which meant he tossed and turned and moved as much as his seat would allow. His cast also presented comfort issues. This means his head hit mine or his cast or sometimes even his feet. At one point I got the giggles and could NOT stop laughing (about nine hours into the flight). Those of you who know me well have probably witnessed such an occasion. I was crying and snorting and I am sorry Lulu, I was thinking of you! I know all 400 passengers would have known how uncomfortable you were if you had been with us!!!!! I could also picture Austin tyring to sleep in the hermit crab shell of an airplane seat, legs and arms hanging out! I guess the laughter was needed to get me through the next six hours of flying that was still before us.
If Ricky's teachers are following the blog, we discussed chemical and physical changes as I mixed creamer in my coffee. We talked about air currents, terrain, landforms and horse power! We flew through time zones and crossed the international date line. We compared our first plane to our second and discussed culteral differences. Ricky figured out how much money he had to spend in pesos (with the help of my iphone converter). Thanks so much for allowing us this opportunity and know I am taking advantage of all of the teachable moments.
Some of my favorite moments were when Ricky used a toothpick to prick the words "I love u" through the plastic that covered his cake. He proudly told the customs agent he was from here, with a huge grin. He laughed because people don't stay in the lines when driving (I wasn't laughing). And, when I went to take a bath, he had rewritten the words "I love u" on the mirror. I guess when you have loved hard and lost, it is hard to love again. I so cherish the moments when Ricky risk sharing his love with me and recognize the courage it takes to do that.
Not surprisingly, God is teaching Tanner and I so much through the experience and I know it will make us better parents. I often wondered why Tanner and I lived in Espanola, New Mexico where I was the only "gringo" and it was on this trip that I figured out that it was part of the preparation for our adoption journey. It just took me 16 years to figure it out. Life is not a snapshot, God's got the big picture. It's up to us to allow Him to lead us.
I spent my sleepless morning hours speculating on our upcoming meeting with Genuine. I can't even begin to imagine what is going through her mind this morning. I have to admit, my nerves got the best of me for a little while and a few tears were shed, I'm sure they won't be the last, lol. Tanner was awesome and recognized we weren't getting any sleep so we just got up and began our day really early. Actuallly, they are waiting on me as I type because everybody is hungry. I have already discussed that today would be about Genuine with Ricky and seems very okay with the situation. I look forward with great anticipation to meeting our youngest daughter.
Georgia, the vibrating neck pillow helped more than you will ever know! John, your black neck pillow had a coffee bath! Mom and Dad thanks for taking care of the kids and animals. Jo and Bart, thanks for helping with youth. Sammy and Brooke, I so enjoyed our visit. Jen, I hope your side is feeling better. Cameron, congratulations our your TD! Go Wildcats! Friends and family, your prayer support is what got us this far, keep them coming. I am very blessed! Austin and Madison, I love and miss you guys and hope you have a great day at school tomorrow!
Safe and Sound
Well, we arrived safe and sound, although a bit more tired than when we left. All legs of the trip were uneventful, but the 14-hour ride from Detroit to Nagoya, Japan was loooooooooooooong. Brought back memories of our first trip over here though, with Ricky sprawled out across our laps in the plane. He's just much bigger now and takes up more room. No snoring though. Really not much to share from the ride. We were in the middle aisle, so we couldn't see out the windows and when we did get up there wasn't much to see because of the clouds. The most important part.....we landed!
We arrived at the hotel at about 11:30 PM and I spent the next hour trying to get on the computer. No luck, so I'm now down in the business center using their computer, I'm sure at an exhorbitant rate. Slept about 5 hours and then had to get up, because my body thinks it's 5:30 LA time. We'll start getting ready and then eat breakfast so that we're ready for 10:00. Then it's off to see Genuine! Keep praying, because we're all a little nervous.
Hope to get the computer working and then we'll be able to post more frequently. Going to get Steph now so that she can come update.
We arrived at the hotel at about 11:30 PM and I spent the next hour trying to get on the computer. No luck, so I'm now down in the business center using their computer, I'm sure at an exhorbitant rate. Slept about 5 hours and then had to get up, because my body thinks it's 5:30 LA time. We'll start getting ready and then eat breakfast so that we're ready for 10:00. Then it's off to see Genuine! Keep praying, because we're all a little nervous.
Hope to get the computer working and then we'll be able to post more frequently. Going to get Steph now so that she can come update.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Ready, Set, Go!
The bags are packed, the alarm is set, things are in order so why can't I sleep, lol! Something about tucking Austin, Madison and Ricky in for the night got to me as I pondered the fact that I would soon have the priviledge of tucking Genuine in each night, too. The simpliest things in life often shout the loudest. A hug says," You are loved," tucking the covers around them says,"You are safe," and saying bedtime prayers say, "You matter so much God sent his Son for you!" I am humbled at the opportunity to once again embark on this journey of motherhood. I thank God for the beautiful children He has placed in my life and trust Him to show me how to mold and shape them according to His plans.
"I know the plans I have for you, Austin, Madison, Ricky, & Genuine, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
Crazy excited,
Steph
"I know the plans I have for you, Austin, Madison, Ricky, & Genuine, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
Crazy excited,
Steph
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Wow, its almost time! It's been a crazy busy week but I have reached my goal of having most everything done by today, this site included. Tomorrow I want to spend some down time with Austin, Madison, and Ricky. We all realize that life as we know it, ends Saturday morning and a new life will begin, one that includes Genuine! We look forward to it with great anticipation and know that God is in control. We continue to covet your prayers for each of our children and appreciate you joining us on our journey.
Love,
Steph
Love,
Steph
Packing to Go
Well, we're less than 48 hours out from our flight out of New Orleans. We leave N.O. at 10:50 and fly to Detroit. From Detroit we fly directly to Manilla, which will take about 14 hours. Pray for our sanity on that leg, and especially for Stephanie's hip as it's been acting up. Arrive there Sunday night, then get a short night's sleep before meeting Genuine at 10:00 on Monday. Very excited, but nervous as well. We'll try to post as much as possible to keep everyone up-to-date.
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