Home at last

We are home at last! And up early with jetlag. The flights were all uneventful, but somewhat delayed so we had several rushing transfers, just barely making our San Fran transfer to Denver. I think that made for an especially tiring journey. Running through airports alone is one thing, with 7 of us, rushing through security--it was quite a scene. As we came through customs we congratulated FuMei on her new citizenship, telling her she was an American now. She just giggled and looked incredulous. I think she thought we were saying she was now somehow a caucasean. She saw what we think was her first black person in the Guangzhou airport, and was quite curious. So we had a little talk about how people from different places and backgrounds often have different skin color.

We were welcomed by quite a loving crew of freinds which was so encouraging. Thanks to all who came out to give us and FuMei such a welcome. Signs, flowers, smiles, hugs--really a nice homecoming and welcome for FuMei. We are humbled and wish we would have been taking pictures as we came out--such a support you all have been. Our dear friends the McHughs brought our car to the airport so all we had to do was load up and head home. We arrived to a crockpot full of soup and homemade bread, welcome signs, flowers, cards and food for this morning! Thanks to all who helped with this! FuMei was excited to get here and after arrival and a tour, just kept walking around the house, going downstairs then coming back up and in and out of rooms. She got really chatty which was really cute--can't remember her talking so much. She was interested about sleeping arrangements and to our surprise was quite happy and insistent that she sleep in her bed in her and Amy's room alone. Amy was not feeling well and wanted to bunk with Mary. So FuMei happily jumped into her bed and fell quickly asleep. We had a restless night. I don't remember feeling jetlag so much before. We were all out by 7pm, unable to go any longer. By 12 Amy and FuMei were up playing. They went back down at some point and I have been up since 3.

Anyway, just wanted to send a note to all who have been so faithfully following and praying for us. We are amazed at how smoothly things have gone and though we know the coming adjustment is going to be a day by day one, we know God is with us and feel so upheld by the prayers and concern of you all. We are so eager to get back to "normalcy" but wonder what the new normalcy will look like. Pray for strength and health as we face the challenges of jumping back into a full program next week. We love you.

The Sorteberg Seven

Our last night in China

Today felt like a long day. We slept in and had breakfast late. Then we went and saw a tomb of a king from around 220 BC. We were able to walk inside the tomb and even touch the walls. We were just trying to kill time. Came back to the hotel for lunch and a walk around the Island. Then picked up FuMei's visa at 5:00 and had our last Chinese meal at a local restaurant.

We are back in the room now trying to calm FuMei down. She is very hyper this evening, laughing and playing with Andrew. She asked me today if she could sleep in the bed with me. I think she's feeling a little insecure as we prepare to leave in the morning. She also asked if she was coming with us. So pray for her last night in China. She doesn't seem bothered right now by that fact.

We ask for your prayers tonight for our health. James has a fever of 101 degrees. He woke this morning with a sore throat, but that went away right after breakfast and he came down with this fever tonight. He says he doesn't have any other symptoms. But traveling through airports not feeling well is not fun. Please pray with us that the fever will subside over night, and that no-one else will get one.

We must be out the door tomorrow at 6:45am. It will be a long day of travel. But we are looking forward to being in the plane on the way. This will be our last update until we are safe in our home! Thank you for praying us this far. We still can't believe how it has gone and look forward to the days at home as a new family. Blessings, Lynn

Lazy Day--Group Oath

We had a very relaxed day walking around the island before our trip to the US Consulate this afternoon to take an oath with 34 other families. We were bussed across town to the south and were amazed at the miles and miles of high rise apartment complexes. We drove for over half an hour on an elevated highway and as far as you could see were massive high rise apartment complexes, constructions sites, sky scrapers--quite surreal to think of the millions and millions of people stacked up in these concrete residence blocks. Hard to imagine a city such as this. The oath was short and sweet, taken together with all the other families. One family was adopting their 5th child from China. Many of course are Christians and we have had some good conversations with several, some who have had experience with cleft lip and palate kids. Quite surprising how many are here getting their second child and many are special needs kids. Last year the numbers of special needs kids adopted surpassed those of healthy kids.

Tomorrow is our last day here--we are pleased about that. There has not been as much to do and going out about the island that is in such a mass renovation, is like walking though a war zone, add to that all the bikes and cars, horns, and dust and it is rather stressful moving about as a family. We have no special plans tomorrow. It is supposed to cool down and rain so we may be holing up indoors. Looking forward to packing up and moving on. It has been quite an experience for our family and I do think the adjustment to homelife for FuMei will be much easier having had all the healthy interaction with the kids these last weeks. We were told today that as soon as we pass through customs together with her she will be officially a US citizen. How strange. Our many Chinese friends would love it if it were that simple.

Lynn was bathing her tonight and asked her who used to help her bathe. She said her teachers. Lynn asked if she liked them helping her and she said, "No." Lynn followed with, "Why?" and she said, "Because I like you to bathe me." She knows how to make her mom feel good! We wish we could capture her laugh and let you all enjoy it. I'm sure it is not too hard, but it's beyond my present experience with this blog.

Thanks again for your prayers. We were talking over dinner tonight about how many prayers the Lord has answered for us and for FuMei to this point. We are humbled and so thankful.

Red Couch Day

On the red couch at the White Swan Hotel.

The day started off on a bad foot with Amy getting sick. She really hasn't felt well all day in her stomach and guts. She and I stayed home this morning while the others headed off to the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall. They said it was lovely and gave them a feel for being out of the city with less people. I had been there many years ago, so the pictures they took looked familiar to me. They came home about 2:30 and we had noodles in the room before heading off to the White Swan Hotel for the Red Couch Pictures. Some years back someone started a tradition of taking pictures of the adopted families and children on the red couch in the Famous White Swan Hotel. So that's where the pictures are taken. Some of the kids really hated the experience, but FuMei tolerated it at best. Then we went with the group to take a river cruise with dinner. It was nice to see all the lights of Guangzhou and get a different feel for the city at night. Amy has continued to feel bad throughout the evening. She's kept things down, but still hurts in her guts. Please pray that sleep with help her to feel better.

We also went and picked up the girls ChiPaos today. It was fun to see the fabric that was given them transformed into Chinese dresses. David bought a man's coat also.

Tomorrow we are free in the morning and then go to take an oath in the afternoon. It is our last official event here. On Thursday we receive her Visa and pack and prepare for our flights home. We are ready for that! Looking forward to seeing everyone back home. Thanks for your prayers now for our return flights and adjustments to her new home for FuMei.

Off Sightseeing

A new day, and we are having a late start. Yesterday was uneventful, did some walking about the island and had a Chinese Dim Sum lunch and a Western dinner. The evening restaurant had outdoor seating and a big area for the kids to run while Mom and Dad dined slowly. FuMei has quite a sense of humor and we all laughed a lot. We are off today to see some local sights. Thanks for your prayers.

Reality Check

As of yesterday we have been with FuMei a full week and I think we are not only fatigued from the travel, but the reality of the changes she brings to our family is coming clearer to all of us, more so now the kids. Please pray as we all adjust to a new family dynamic. Pray for Lynn and I too who are naturally quite focused on FuMei and need to give more attention to the other kids. One of the kids was a bit overwhelmed last night which is not something unexpected. We all feel ready to be home and are not so enthusiastic about more sightseeing. It is too bad the processes are so drawn out. We had a down day yesterday and we are free today apart from a quick trip next door to have FuMei's TB testspot looked at. We don't have anything tomorrow, then an interview on Weds., getting FuMei's visa on Thursday and we are off Friday morning early. At the same time the down time allows for us to go through some of these growing pains together without a lot of other distractions. Thanks for your prayers.

FuMei is interacting freely with all the kids, playing on the beds, playing feet tickling games, talking and laughing a lot. She has such an infectious and sweet chuckle. Yesterday we all had a good hour of fun with the phones between our two rooms. She loves calling and answering and learned a few phrases like, "How are you?" and "My name is FuMei." Her speech has a sing-song quality that is so sweet, adding cute tones and exaggerated inflections that are so delightful. She is able to pronounce things fairly clearly. We think her poor Mandarin pronunciation is not so much because of her cleft as much as from the fact that no one ever worked with her to teach her how to enunciate properly.

It is early and the rest are all still sleeping. Pray we have a good day and find something the other kids can enjoy. We sure appreciate all of you who are playing such a loving role in this journey with us through your prayers. David

Sunday

We have had a relaxed day, first attending a Mandarin/English service at a nearby protestant church. We met a Christian lady in a local shop who told us about it and she joined us. A good service with a message on Noah. FuMei was good, sat well, but seemed a little tired by the end. We later walked back with the sister to her shop, met her husband and prayed for them both. He has yet to believe.

At a local church.

We had a walk through a nearby market, had lunch and are now back resting. No plans tonight, but all feel the need to lay low. Kids are doing well--parents are a little spent. Thanks for your prayers. The weather today has been especially nice, in the 60s and the sun coming nicely through the haze. This town is alive with people--yesterday we visited a local shopping district that has a street just for pedestrians. It was literally wall to wall people. The Chinese have an expression for that "Ren Shan Ren Hai." Literally, "People Mountain, People Sea," or from mountain to sea there is nothing but people. That was the best experience of that idiom we have ever experienced. Nice for me to be a head above the crowd!

Thanks for your prayers.