Gotcha Day 2010!

Letter from mom:


"Dearest Friends,
Today was the most exceptional day of 2010. Today we received our two new sons, Precious Bundle and Handsome Man at the Civil Affairs office in Xi’an, China. What a momentous day it has been.
We began with breakfast in Beijing, then took the bus to the international fellowship. Because our plane left at noon, we along with one other family, could only attend the fellowship for about 20 minutes. But that twenty minutes was a refreshing time of praise songs. Just the best way to start of our Gotcha Day, 10-17-2010.
Then we flew to Xi’an arriving about 2:30pm. We had four heavy suitcases to ship, but we weren’t charged any extra fees; another blessing for today. Our darling translator/guide, Sherry, met us at the airport and told us we would go straight to Civil Affairs. So after we exited the airport, Gerald opened up our suitcases and we took out the gifts, wrapping tissue and bags. I assembled the gifts in the car (thanks to Gerald’s suggestion, I guess I was sort of in a haze, because I was going to assemble them on the sidewalk! Aren’t husbands brilliant!) Traffic was heavy so we arrived later than scheduled. The two boys were waiting for us with the nanny and orphanage official.
God is so faithful and loves us so much. When we first saw them, I ran to them and called out their names. Precious Bundle said, “Hello Mama.” Wow, they have been working on their English. I said, “Wo ai ni,” and Handsome Man responded, “I love you” to me in English. I’m sure their English right now is as limited as my Chinese, but what a blessing to have them trying.
The trucks we brought were a hit as the boys had to play for about an hour while we spoke with the Nanny about their lives. We had many questions to ask. Gerald played cars on the floor with them while I spoke with the Nanny. She is a sweety and loves our boys immensely. After she and the orphanage official left, ( and I forgot to give them the gifts so we’ll have to do that tomorrow) then Gerald and I filled out pages of paperwork. Our guide, Sherry, was thorough and very knowledgeable about all the paperwork.
HM is the more active of the two, touching everything and dancing and running and jumping. PB is also active, but is curious and checks things out first. He is a very thoughtful child, always analyzing the situation. He fills his role as the big brother well. Gerald said a couple of times in the office, PB told HM to sit down, and he did it immediately.
Next Sherry took us in the van a few blocks over to a photography shop where each of our pictures were taken individually and then us with each boy and then the four of us. The other family who was adopting a young boy also came and had their photos taken. They were the only other family adopting at the same time as us.
We went next to the hotel, where we got our room. It was 1015 with a king and a big single for the boys. I went with Sherry to copy some forms, Gerald and the boys stayed in the room and set up the computer and checked out every gadget in the room. I don’t know how many batteries were removed and then replaced, as well as the water to the potty being turned off. I guess they just had to see how technological our room was. I’m sure its on the cutting edge. Sherry and I crossed the street to purchase noodles and brought them back. She is so sweet and helpful.
By this time the boys were starving and wolfed down those noodles and some 7-up. I think the latter was a mistake, because they were a little wired and didn’t fall off to sleep till about 10 and 10:30, after showers and teeth brushing and so forth. We are limiting their exposure to the suitcases, since they are filled with all kinds of fun things, and we don’t want them on overload. But they are quite curious about those suitcases. The clothes may be a complete bust. One pair of jammies fit, but I think everything else may be too big. We thought Precious Bundle would be 10 or 12 and Handsome Man 8 or 10. But it looks like PB may be 8 and HM smaller. Oh well, there is a Walmart and mall right across the street. Gerald weighed them on the bathroom scale and PB weighed 30kg and HM 20kg.
We are at the intersection just up from where my older boys and I participated in Bring Me Hope; so I am very familiar with the area and restaurants/stores and the park. Another blessing of the day.
So you may be wondering what our new boys are thinking? I was so afraid and prayed hourly that they wouldn’t be frightened and that the orphanage would have prepared them well in advance. It appears our Father answered that prayer above and beyond.
The Nanny told us PB had an opportunity to say goodbye to the grandfather before he left. The grandfather sent us gifts with meaning for PB. I have the meanings all written down in my Nanny notes. In addition, they seemed excited and really wanting to be a part of our family. We also received back the cameras and notebooks we had sent, along with photo albums and informational albums. And the boys were decked out in new clothes, shoes and jackets. Wow. Another blessing, at least they have one pair of clothes that fit!!!
We tried to skype our other children, but they weren’t on yet before we tried to get the boys to bed. We thought about trying again at 10 when they were still up, but thought that would make them even more awake. PB is fascinated by the computer and I think opened every application on the tool bar!
They are sleeping soundly, though Gerald and I have been up; in hours when we should be sleeping. We are going to need our rest since these are two very active eight year olds.
Well its 5am and both of us are trying to think of activities to keep the boys busy for a couple of hours in the Civil Affairs office today. We will have a longer day today because of the paperwork and the interview process. Then we go to the Police Station to apply for the passports. It will definitely be an interesting day for us and the boys.
Thanks for all your prayers. I’ll upload pictures soon. Till tomorrow,
Gerald and Karen

Happy forever day! Forever in our family, forever in our hearts."