Love Manor visit and Mao Maos

I can't believe I am sitting here on Friday morning (China time) writing this last post in Chongqing!  I was thinking about it yesterday, and although I am excited about flying to Guanzhou, our next stop for a week, it is bittersweet as we take our new son from him hometown.  He won't understand, and Praise God for his adoption and his "new hometown", it's just a weird feeling.  We went with our group and guide sightseeing yesterday to the Panda Zoo, and what our guide called the "old town."  For all you previous CQ'ers out there, it wasn't Sujiko, it was another place, that frankly was.....quite boring:)  But more on that later:)
The day before yesterday we started our day early downstairs to board of travel bus to the orphange.  2 other families and us traveled to Love Manor, while 1 of our families went to Fuling orphanage where her daughter was from.  Our guide was so good to tell our children before we left in Chinese language where we were going, and that they wouldn't be staying there.  They would leave with mama and daddy.  As he went to each kid, they just kind of solemnly nodded up and down.  I was still unsure what the feel of the orphanage was like.  I had every reason to believe it was a great orphanage from articles I had read on it, but in my mind, that wasn't reality until I saw it with my own eyes.
We loaded up and rode a highway for awhile and got to a windy windy road.  It was beautiful though!  If you know me well, you can imagine I was a bit nervous the windy road was not going to fare well with my carsick stomach!!!  Thankfully I was fine, but another family's ride didn't turn out so well.  The little boy behind us had had enough, and threw up all over him mom, and the back of our seat/floor!  I felt terrible for that sweet boy, but for Lindsey, the mom who now had throw up all. over. her. pants. and shoes.  And remember what I said in the previous post???  These kids eat. ALOT right now:)
We were talking, and the guide said these kids most likely have not been in cars too often.  Good thought we hadn't thought of.  And most likely, nerves were setting in too, as they knew where they were going.
When we got off the bus, Micah was not far behind.....  As I put him in the ergo, I saw it coming, that's right, about 6 inches from my face, attached to my chest.   TRACE I called yelled!  And sure enough, I kind of aimed him mouth to the side, and he got sick as well.  Thankfully, most of it made it to the ground!  After that though, the kids seemed to feel great!:)
The grounds of the orphanage were SO CLEAN!  It was a peaceful environment with friendly people all around!  It was set up like a compound, with a guard at the gate ( it's a federally funded orphanage) and a BUNCH of condo looking buildings inside.  Some were the classroom buildings, some were group setting, and several were the foster family condos and facilities.  Love Manor is moving towards placing all kids in a "foster family model" at the orphanage where the government hires foster parents, a legally married chinese couple, and they live with 3-5 children on campus.  Such a cool thing.  We knew Micah was not in a foster family, but we learned when we got there that he had been moved to a foster family for the month of November before we got there, to help him adjust to a homelike environment!  We were so thankful!  And for those 2 weeks, he didn't have foster parents since it wasn't an actual foster family, but a caretaker who stayed with him and 4 other children there.  We got to meet her and she was PRECIOUS!  She loved our Chen Chen!  She was SO EXCITED to see him! More than anything else, what we got out of our visit to the orphanage was seeing with our own eyes how adored and loved our son was for the 2.5 years he lived here.  They cared for him WELL.  They have school, they have craft rooms (where pottery crafts were drying!), there is a hospital on campus, many teachers and caretakers.  One of my favorite moments was when we walked into his classroom, Trace was holding Micah, and about 15 little Chinese children, immediately jumped with smiles on their faces and excitement bursting from their heart, yelling MY Chen Chen!!  Chen Chen, Chen Chen, my Chen Chen!!  He had the BIGGEST grin on his face, and kind of leaned back to Trace almost as if he was puffed up with pride.  Pride that comes from having a family.  Joy of belonging.  We couldn't help but to be so proud for him, and at the same time, I look at these precious, beautiful children, and began cringing inside that these children don't have a home.  It just shouldn't be this way, never was meant to be this way.
We had asked who his best friend was, and our guide pointed him out to us.  He did tell us that he had been matched, and his family was coming in a couple of months!  Praise the Lord!  He was so cute!!  We got some cute pictures of him!!  We not only were able to visit his classroom, but also the room where he slept, the playroom, playground, MUSIC room, (yes they had a music room!) and the foster facility where he lived for 2 weeks.
As we were reaching an end to our visit at the orphanage, the teachers and caretakers wanted to hug and hold Micah.  We allowed his main caretaker to hold him, but the others just hugged from our arms. We were advised not to let them hold him from other friends, but we felt like he was handling this well, and this lady loved him so, and constantly was talking to him about his mama and daddy.  Micah handled it well!  We were a little afraid at the end, leaving would be difficult, but it wasn't, to the best of our knowledge!  Prayers, yet again, answered in abundance.  It was emotional for me, getting back on the bus, leaving this place that has been just a pivotal part in his life.  He may not right now, but at some point, whether we ever know it or not, he has got to think about those people and friends he left behind.  I was overflowing with thankfulness to the Father as well for allowing him to be in a place like this.  Because when it comes to orphanages, this is not the norm.
The rest of the day was pretty low key, as we went back to the hotel, ate lunch at a dumpling place with our guide and group and tried to take a little nap!  By the end of the day, we were spent.  Physically and emotionally.  Thankful for rest, and a little boy who is still a great sleeper!
We have been able to facetime with the kids at home almost everyday!  Again, so thankful for technology!  Miss those babies something fierce, reassured them we would be home very soon!  Gray sung at church on Wednesday night, and it just about killed me not to be there, but thankfully mom got a video!  Already watched it 3 times!  When we facetime, if they don't see Micah, they ask for him!  Trace and I are really in prayer for this transition when we get home!  We really have no idea what it will look like.  Micah seems PUMPED about them through facetime, and the opposite is true.  Well, Taylor and Gray at least:)  Cayden just keeps saying mama and daddy:)  At night, Micah LOVES to get his picture album that we sent a few months ago (which is falling apart at the binding) and points to each person and says our name.  (mama, dada, jie jie (sister), di die (younger bro) and guh guh (older brother).  He gets so excited too!  Thankful the orphanage staff did this with him so regularly!  We think it has helped A LOT!

If you made it to the end of this post...i am IMPRESSED.  Apologize for the extreme length.  The truth is, I could of written so much more about the orphanage.  Love you all...dearly.  Again, I can't say this enough, truly.  Thank you, thank you thank you, for supporting  our family in this journey.  Our prayer is that as we are actually going, and adopting, that yall would feel apart of this process to, and use your influence in your community and circle, to advocate for adoption.  Advocate for the millions of orphans worldwide, and the issue of adoption.  We know not everyone is called to actually adopt a child, (but it IS stinkin AWESOME)  but we do know from Scripture we are all called to care for the orphans.  YOU CAN make a difference.  And I am here to say, while Trace and I are here picking Micah up, and have the joy of parenting him and grafting him into our family, SO many of yall have cared for him.  I don't say this lightly, without your obedience in caring for the orphans (whether you knew it was that or not!) this process would not have happened like it has.  From beginning to end.  It has not been problem free from the beginning, and don't anticipate it being problem free until the end, but we are so thankful for His guidance, grace and wisdom on our path.  So again, thank you.  Keep praying, keep advocating, and keep sharing about your spiritual adoption.  Remember, the gospel, and issue of adoption cannot be separated, Praise God!

"How great is the love the Father has lavished up on us, that we should be called, sons and daughters of God."  1 John 3:1

"but I game them this command, Obey me and I will be your God, and you my people.  Walk in obedience to all I command of you that it may go well with you.  Jeremiah 7:23

Although the Isrealites did not heed this command coming out of Egypt, I pray that I will be faithful by His grace to "obey all that He has commanded of me."  Is there something he is calling you to?  Obey, and the richest blessings of His favor await you.

We get Micah's passport today!  We leave for Guanzhou tonight, to begin the next part of the trip.  In Chongqing, it was made official in China's eyes that Chen Chen is ours, next in Guanzhou at the Consulate's office, it will be made official in America's eyes, that THIS BOY IS A HAMITER!  

Please continue to pray:

• attachement and bonding to continue to develop.  
• continued prayer for energy!  it's getting better, but could be alot better too!:)
• flight to Guanzhou.  this will be a good trial run to our LOOONG flight home next week!

view of the grounds of Love Manor from the front door of main building.

Micah and his best friend at orphanage!

playroom/music room  (Micah has shown us he LOVES to sing!)

outside playground

dining room table in foster condo where he stayed for 2 weeks

his bed for those 2 weeks! (every color seems to be gender neutral in china!:)

his crib in the cribroom where he stayed the majority of the time at Love Manor.  This did make me sad, bc it made a pac 'n play look like a King size bed.

the view from the foster condo

Micah waving to all his friends as we first walked into the classroom.  They were SO excited to see him!  But he didn't want to get down either!  Great sign of attachment!

sweet sweet lady.  Micah's primary caregiver.  you can see he was leaning over here, he wanted the car we had given him to show her, he was so proud!

yeah, i have no idea what she is saying, but she was so sweet, so I acted like I did!

not sure who this girl was, maybe a teacher, but she was CRAZY about him.    almost didnt let him out of her sight.

several of the kids still there walking back from school.  love that their holding jackets to keep a straight line!:)

Our first picture of Micah that we got was taken in this spot.  Loved taking a family photo here!

Micah's best friend.  would of taken him if he fit in Trace's backpack. :) 

So thankful for this precious woman.  She loved my baby well.

At the entrace to the Panda Zoo.  Panda's are called mao maos.  Hence the blog title:)  He LOVED the zoo.  Loved animals, our guide was telling us, he was naming every animal we saw, and what it was doing. This zoo was actually very very pretty!  (and that's saying a lot for someone who strongly dislikes the zoo:)  It was refreshing to be outside, not totally smoggy for a little bit!

It's official!

It's now official!  We are the Hamiter 6!:)  My heart is longing to the together Hamiter 6, but know the ones left at home are being well loved and cared for.
We have so enjoyed continuing to get to know Micah.  His nanny's told us that he is a happy, active boy, (among other things such as naughty!)  and boy, are they right!  This kid is so full of joy.  Trace and I are so so thankful that things have gone very smoothly so far.  He sleeps so well, and this kid eats more than bam bam eats at home, and that is saying A LOT!  I'm sure he is enjoying having food whenever he wants it as well, and this will probably even out.  Some people told us as he is getting used to life, he will probably over eat because he doesn't know when to stop, and then throw up:///.  So it's a fine line between not depriving him of food, so he knows he now has an endless supply, and making him some boundaries so he doesn't make himself sick!  We also know, and have heard on several occasions from friend who have adopted that the first few days are usually pretty good, and then the real grieving and hard part sets in.  So, we're going on 2 days in, so please continue to pray for him and his heart that he would know he is deeply loved and safe.  And that we're not going to leave him.
Yesterday we went back to the civil affairs office, where we first picked him up, to have a ceremony, taking an oath that we will "never abandon or abuse him, and we will take care of him until he grows up."  We had no idea what to expect out of yesterday, and when we went into this formal looking room, with the other 4 families, we were the first ones up!  Because we hadn't seen one happen yet, and we were the first, as the Chinese official was talking, and giving us our oath, I was so emotional!  This process in bringing him home, was becoming official.  He is no longer an orphan.  HE IS OUR SON!

We shared a lot of laughs yesterday which was so so fun.  I love to hear him cackle!  I also started wearing him in the ergo, and he loved it!  He is far surpassed the size where I would use it with kids from birth, but I really think he liked the closeness!  It has helped in attachment across the board.  Thanks Kim and Nathan for the ergo on loan!  Great last minute pack.

We are visiting his orphanage today.  I have mixed emotions about this.  On one hand while I wouldn't miss this opportunity for the world, to see where he spend 2.5 years of his life (he was in another orphanage for the first 9 months), how he did life, and who cared for him, I know this is still "home" for him.  I have heard horror stories about going back to the orphanage, and I am praying against these things.  I think it's important for him to go back, and carry him back out ourselves.  His nanny's and teachers that I met on Monday were precious, and I am so thankful that he was well cared for and loved while here.

You're in for a treat today with the pictures to come.  Trace was tossing him in the air yesterday and catching him, and I caught some awesome smiles.

Please continue to pray for us, while we have had a great first few days, I know we still need the prayers and harder days may be coming!

• Please continue to pray that Micah feels knows he is loved and knows he is safe.  
• Please pray for attachement and bonding.  While it looks like it is happening very well, I want to be eyes wide open, and doused in prayer for it to continue this way
• our visit to the orphanage.  It really could go any way.  I have no idea.  
• Our babies at home.  I miss them terribly!  Please continue to pray for them as well, that they never doubt how loved and adored they are, and for their minds to be pre-occupied that they wouldn't think about missing us.  And for Grandbubba and Cece who have them this week!  

Thank you for all the facebook comments, texts and emails.  Yall have been truly precious, and we have felt your prayers all the way.  Forgive me if I don't get back to all of them, I have limited time in the hotel where we get wifi, and try to do it when Micah is asleep!  

It's official!  Chen chen is a Hamiter!

all of us after it's been made official!  4 less orphans!

Gray put this dinosaur in my suitcase for Micah, and boy was it a winner!  He doesn't go anywhere without it!

Gotcha Day!

I wanted to update yall last night, but I think I fell asleep sitting up!  Exhausted is an understatement as I went to bed at 9:30 the night before we got him, and I was up at 2:15....wide awake.  Trace was up at 4.  Restless, anxious, nervous, excited were all emotions we were feeling all day.  We started the day with breakfast downstairs in the hotel, not believing the culmination of something we had thought about and prayed about for nearly 10 years was about to come to fruition.   After breakfast, we headed to the grocery store in the rain, to stock up on some snacks, fruit and last minute small toys to take with us to Gotcha Day.  We knew our first gift to him would of course be....an Auburn football.  And of course.....he immediately started throwing it:)  But we are so glad we picked up some small trucks too, because they were a great conduit to building a safety between Trace and "Chen Chen!"
After the grocery run, we headed back to the hotel to meet up with 3 other families that were getting their children too.  2 other families from Love Manor where Micah was from, and 1 from another nearby orphanage.
After paperwork, we headed upstairs to our room to do some final getting ready to meet him!  I told Trace, "I feel like I'm going on a first date!  I want him to think I'm pretty!:)"  He felt the same way!    We went to lunch with a sweet couple we have become friends with from Seattle who are also adopting a little boy from Love Manor.  We came from the airport with them and have walked this road with them in CQ.  It was a great lunch as we talked about our journey to this point, our families, and just had sweet fellowship and laughter.  It was such a blessing.
When we got back from lunch, we waiting with the other families for our guide and bus to get here to head to the civil affairs office where we would meet Micah!
We rode the bus for about 15 minutes, and arrived at the office.  Such a surreal experience.  We walked in to a long room that was pretty dim, they turned the "lights" on, and it was still dim:)  But that was the best it was going to get!  The room was decked out in traditional Chinese decorations, with a Merry Christmas wreath on the door to boot:)  Typical!  This is the office where adoptions take place and international marriages.  We didn't see any of those yesterday:)
Soon after we got there, the little girl who came from the other orphanage just walked right in, with her nanny!  Just as if she walked in the door to school, so non chalant!  She was a precious little girl, and was FULL of energy!  It was really sweet and good to see the meeting happen before Micah got there.  I was crying watching them, and thought, Oh boy, Cassie you need to get it together, you don't want Micah traumatized the first time he sees you because you can't hold it together:)
About 30 minutes later, we heard some stirring in the staircase outside the door, and in walks several ladies and 3 precious little people holding bags.  I spotted him instantly and could not believe he was IN THE ROOM!  He looked just like his pictures!  He was shorter than the other 2, stocky and BUNDLED up!  They recommend the mom make initial contact as the children have mostly ever known women, and if an initial bond is made, it most likely would be to the woman.  Trace was close by with the video camera and still camera!
We walked over to him, I bent down and started talking to him.  Bless his heart, I know he was thinking, who in the world is this woman, and what is the world is coming out of her mouth.  He did look at me straight in the eyes, and let me hold his face.  He was called "Chen Chen" in the orphanage, so that's what we're going with right now!
He was very skiddish and very shy initially.  Really for the whole time we were there until we started throwing the football and playing with the cars!  His caretakers say he is very stubborn, happy, and sometimes "naughty!"  We think he didn't quite know what to do with himself yesterday, and didn't have much of a reaction at first, but the smiles came quickly after we started to play.  We were able to ask a lot of questions we had written down through our guide to his nanny's and teachers.  They were so helpful!  We had sent him several pictures the nanny's put in a picture album, and it was so neat to see the picture album was falling apart!  They had been showing it to him a lot, so he called me "mama" fairly soon!  Baba, is daddy, and we couldn't get that out of him, but later that night, Trace taught him dada, and he said it!  He also taught him a high 5!  He will fit right in!
We stayed at the civil affairs office for about an hour, and then rode back to the hotel and were free for the rest of the day.
This was such a precious time!  This time was when we heard first laughs and had a lot more smiles.  We played with the trucks and ball for a long time, and this was such a sweet time to watch Micah and Trace interact and truly have lots of fun!
We put his first outfit on that we had set out for him, but he did not want to take his shirt off, so it stayed on!  This was a problem too later when we gave him a bath.  Bless his heart, he did NOT want to take a bath, so we had the first cry there too!  He stood up the whole time... whatever works!:)
We were also able to FaceTime with the kids after bath, and it was so precious!  We taught the kids wo ai ni means I love you in Chinese before we left.  Taylor and Gray both said "Wo ai ni!"  and HE SAID IT BACK!! He hasn't even done that with us yet.  It was so cool.  He would call Taylor "jie jie" and Gray "die die".  (Sister and brother in mandarin)

We all crashed HARD after the phone call!  Trace and I even think we were out cold before Micah fell asleep.  He slept in between us in the bed last night, and slept until 6:30 on the dot this morning.  Thank you Jesus!  I was a little anxious about last night, have heard nightmares about sleep.  I don't know what the next nights hold, but counting last nights full night of sleep a HUGE BLESSING!

I'll leave you with several pictures of our Gotcha Day!  Thank you thank you thank you for all the prayers.  Keep them coming!  We had a great day yesterday, but there is still a very long road ahead of us.
I was just praying this morning, thank you God for being so faithful.  And because of His faithfulness, I can count on His faithfulness in the future, for our bond and attachment with Micah, and for our family as a whole.  Praise Jesus!

"This I call to mind and therefore I have hope.  The steadfast love of the Lord never fails.  His mercies never come to an end.  They are new every morning.  GREAT is your faithfulness."  Lamentations 3:21-23

So most of these are not in order, my blogging skills still aren't up to par!  

Add this picture to the short list of pictures we have taken before our lives change forever:)   5 minutes before we met Micah!

First picture of mama and daddy with the new Hamiter!

first 2 minutes he saw me.  So skiddish!

playing catch with the football!

Daddy and his third son:)

Our group before going to the civil affairs office!  Sweet sweet people!

back at the hotel, favorite picture!!

playing with Trace, oh maybe this is my favorite...:)

laughing!!

great last minute purchase!

love that smile!!

Micah (chen chen) with his nannys and teachers.  You could tell they love him so!

Micah still unsuuuuuure:)

showing him I was the same mama in the picture album.  This is when he said...Mama!

still a dream

Our first day in Chongqing has been nothing short of a huge encouragement and blessing.  We woke up and headed down for breakfast and to meet our guide to what we thought was going to be a day of him showing us around, and us really getting a bearing on where we are.  We met up with a sweet couple who is also adopting from Love Manor, and walked around near our hotel to find the places we can go to get what we need.  Recommended we get cookies and a small toy for Micah, to make it easier or more welcoming to come to us! Bribery at it's best....absolutely!  But if it makes it easier on him, game on!
We were then walking back to our hotel, and our guide said, "Ok, have a good day!"  It had only been an hour!  So we had the rest of the day to do what we wanted.  We have some former students in the city studying Chinese, and living 40 minutes away!  We had told him we weren't sure if time was going to allow us to come, or them to come to us, but it did!  Can't say enough how encouraging it was to see these people.  It was such a blessing!   Not only was it personally encouraging, but it was really great to see where they lived, and how they did life.  The Father has such an evident and clear purpose for them being here, and to watch them walk in obedience, across the world from their comfort and home, made Trace and I beam.

Tomorrow we will meet our guide to discuss paperwork, and after lunch, GO PICK UP OUR BOY!  I can't describe emotions right now.  Still feeling like I am living out this really long dream, that I am not waking from.  The last month of this process has flown faster than I ever imagined it would.  I don't feel like I'm caught up myself, and I closed my eyes, and woke up in Asia, and a day later we're here picking him up.  It is mind blowing.  Surreal really.  While we are extremely excited, I really don't know what to expect from tomorrow.  My prayer is that we would have a smooth transition, as smooth as possible.  I am praying for fear to be cast out of Micah's heart, and although we are strangers, there would be an overwhelming peace, and not fear.   I pray that our language would not be polarizing to him, but our voice would be a comfort to his ears.  But most of all, that our trust would be in Him, who is before all things, and in HIM all things hold together.  Whatever the situation is tomorrow, however Micah reacts.  I trust Him.  I trust Him with Micah.  I trust Him with this next step.  Can't wait to update yall and introduce our son to you!  

Such a treat to spend time and good conversation with this girl!

So fun to see this guy waiting for us in our hotel!

If you look reeeeeally closely.... you're correct.  That's Trace and C on the scooter.    Trace had a blast experiencing "traveling" through the streets of the city!

We're HERE!

It's been an insanely long day, but we are here in Chongqing!  Flights went well, with no hiccups.  Got in about 12:30 A.M. CQ time.  We are 14 hours ahead of Auburn.  So right now it's 2:07 AM. We thought we lost one bag, but was just put in the wrong terminal, prayers answered!
We met our guide Michael who will show us around hotel and city tomorrow, and then Monday afternoon we will get Micah!
Was able to facetime with the kids when we got here tonight, they are doing super!  Feeling very surreal right now, hasn't really hit us yet that we are sleeping in the same city that our sweet boy is in!  We're almost there!

Will try and update with pictures soon.

Game time!

Time has come, and we are flying out in less than 2 hours!  We'll arrive tomorrow and get Micah on Monday morning!  (Sunday night USA time).   It's an understatement to say that Trace and I are totally overwhelmed at the love we have felt throughout the past 3 weeks.  We feel so abundantly blessed by your texts, emails, last minute grocery runs, last minute travel week errand running, food drop off, airport ride, crib lending, emotional support, financial support loving our children so well and being just stellar friends.  Our tshirt fundraiser blew our minds.  We sold right about 350 shirts!  Our high goal was 150!  Thank you for spreading the love of adoption, and the spreading the truth about our spiritual adoption.

The body of Christ had been so clearly displayed through your love and support.  We are at the end of the front end of this adoption journey, but ohh how this is the beginning of the best part.

Here are some ways you can be praying for us these next few days:
1. Our children at home!  T is very aware of the "two weeks" and it was a hard "see you soon" last night.  Please pray for her and the boys to be content and for the time to go by fast. They are in the best care possible, but it will still be a long 2 weeks!

2. Pray for Trace and I as we travel to be able to get good rest before Monday and to have sweet time together before this new adventure begins!  Love this man and treasure this rare extended time spent alone with him!

3.  Finally, for precious Micah.  That our sovereign Father would supernaturally prepare him for meeting is, and us for him.  Pray for his heart, as he's about to enter a whirlwind and has no idea what is going on for awhile.  This will be a grieving process for him, losing everything that is familiar, that he's ever known.  We know that in the long run, he will understand, but now he doesn't.  Please pray for his heart to be held so tightly by his Creator.

Thank you dear friends.  You are so loved.

Micah.... Mama and Daddy are coming!

Birthdays and Jet Planes

So we're leaving on a jet plane.....

on November 8th!  As in one week from today!  We got travel approval this week from China, and our consulate appointment was confirmed shortly after.  This gave us the clearance to book flights!  In 10 short days, we will be holding our precious boy that we have been praying for and have been hoping for, for several years now.  I am so thankful, that in the grand scheme of things, we have not had to wait NEARLY as long as so many families walking the adoption journey.  
It's just days now....we're coming for you buddy!!

And this spirited blonde bam bam turned 2 today!  We can't remember what life was like without our sweet Cayden.  He has added so much to our family, and we take great joy in him!  

1st birthday

5 days old