Here are some photos of the family since we've been home. Hope you enjoy them!
Monday, January 14, 2008
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
We're home, praise God!
Okay...I know I'm gonna miss something. This post can't be as good as the one I just typed out...and LOST! Arrrggggghhhhh! Obviously, I am sorely in need of some sanctification (as if I would not be!) I must grow in patience. So, deep breath....let's try that again:
That last day in Guangzhou was nice...we took those famous red couch photos in the lobby of the White Swan Hotel, our home for 2 weeks. We packed the last few items, slept a short time, woke at 4:30 am for a 5:45am departure to the airport. We made it through check in, security, customs, departure of immigration/visitors (whatever that part was called) and after one last security check we boarded the plane. Our flight to Tokyo was almost 4 hours and then we passed through the airport in Japan (security again) and boarded THAT plane. We enjoyed a LONG flight (over 11 hours)...ate some airplane meals, napped a bit and arrived safely in Detroit. After passing through customs, we were welcomed...all six of us to the US...our new daughter is officially a US citizen.
We spent some time "freshening up" in the Detroit airport, ate a bite or two and then waited to board our plane to Memphis, the last stop before the last plane home to Niceville. Of course, God had other things in mind. We would be delayed....and would miss our connection in Memphis. We ended up staying overnight there (put up in a hotel by Northwest) and finally, close to 48 hours after we started, we were greeted at the airport in Niceville by our parents (mine and Jim's!!!) and MANY dear friends from our church! There must have been at least 45 folks waiting for us, balloons, cameras and gifts in hand, hugs and kisses to spare. What a joyous reunion it was! Thank you, dear friends for your wonderful support!
We drove home with our folks and were welcomed into our home, clean and completely stocked with good food, welcome signs and sweet little notes stashed EVERYWHERE, that we'll surely be finding for months to come! Our sweet caregroup and church family really blessed us by preparing our home so well (thanks especially to Kendra, Jessica, Berry's and countless others, I'm sure) and for providing us with such great food (thanks, Caregroup...and friends!) Sunday was a real treat, as Emmy Xiang was welcomed into our fellowship and we spent some time praising our most wonderful God. Thanks be to Him alone for the blessing of a new daughter, for three other precious gifts from Him, for family, for friends, and all good things, but most of all for the gift of His Son and the Eternal Salvation provided only by trusting in His Righteousness. This is the miracle of Christmas, I am reminded by His Word.
With Christmas day gone, our dear family all back secure in their homes and we've put *most* things away, we now begin to settle into life back home at the Brown's.
Please keep us in your prayers, as the transition for Emmy Xiang and for us has just begun. We've been blessed beyond belief with such a smooth one so far, and, by God's grace, we'll continue to seek His ways as we live life together as a family in the body of Christ. Thank you for following our journey to the newest Brown daughter...but stay tuned for happenings of us all. We'll continue to update as often as possible, and will certainly post more pictures as we have time to go through them and post.
Rejoice with us, praise our good and kind God for His riches have been graciously poured upon our most undeserving heads. May YOU, too, experience His forgiveness, His kindness and receive His joy.
Love to you, from us...
That last day in Guangzhou was nice...we took those famous red couch photos in the lobby of the White Swan Hotel, our home for 2 weeks. We packed the last few items, slept a short time, woke at 4:30 am for a 5:45am departure to the airport. We made it through check in, security, customs, departure of immigration/visitors (whatever that part was called) and after one last security check we boarded the plane. Our flight to Tokyo was almost 4 hours and then we passed through the airport in Japan (security again) and boarded THAT plane. We enjoyed a LONG flight (over 11 hours)...ate some airplane meals, napped a bit and arrived safely in Detroit. After passing through customs, we were welcomed...all six of us to the US...our new daughter is officially a US citizen.
We spent some time "freshening up" in the Detroit airport, ate a bite or two and then waited to board our plane to Memphis, the last stop before the last plane home to Niceville. Of course, God had other things in mind. We would be delayed....and would miss our connection in Memphis. We ended up staying overnight there (put up in a hotel by Northwest) and finally, close to 48 hours after we started, we were greeted at the airport in Niceville by our parents (mine and Jim's!!!) and MANY dear friends from our church! There must have been at least 45 folks waiting for us, balloons, cameras and gifts in hand, hugs and kisses to spare. What a joyous reunion it was! Thank you, dear friends for your wonderful support!
We drove home with our folks and were welcomed into our home, clean and completely stocked with good food, welcome signs and sweet little notes stashed EVERYWHERE, that we'll surely be finding for months to come! Our sweet caregroup and church family really blessed us by preparing our home so well (thanks especially to Kendra, Jessica, Berry's and countless others, I'm sure) and for providing us with such great food (thanks, Caregroup...and friends!) Sunday was a real treat, as Emmy Xiang was welcomed into our fellowship and we spent some time praising our most wonderful God. Thanks be to Him alone for the blessing of a new daughter, for three other precious gifts from Him, for family, for friends, and all good things, but most of all for the gift of His Son and the Eternal Salvation provided only by trusting in His Righteousness. This is the miracle of Christmas, I am reminded by His Word.
With Christmas day gone, our dear family all back secure in their homes and we've put *most* things away, we now begin to settle into life back home at the Brown's.
Please keep us in your prayers, as the transition for Emmy Xiang and for us has just begun. We've been blessed beyond belief with such a smooth one so far, and, by God's grace, we'll continue to seek His ways as we live life together as a family in the body of Christ. Thank you for following our journey to the newest Brown daughter...but stay tuned for happenings of us all. We'll continue to update as often as possible, and will certainly post more pictures as we have time to go through them and post.
Rejoice with us, praise our good and kind God for His riches have been graciously poured upon our most undeserving heads. May YOU, too, experience His forgiveness, His kindness and receive His joy.
Love to you, from us...
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Some pictures from Monday....we're a bit late
Remember the bus trip we took to visit an orphanage? These are some photos that we all took. Hope you can see a bit of taste of what we're seeing.
Love y'all!Tammy
Wednesday in Guangzhou
Well, it's official, except for the landing on US soil thing. She's ours. We pass. She's got a passport (though it's a Chinese one) and a visa to enter the States. Lord willing, we'll be home in a couple of days.
Last night, we had supper with our friends in the Century Club....those other five waiting child families (except one is already home...missed you Kate) who, along with us waited that terribly long time, getting lost in translation and all. (I think Katie took pictures of our little club, though not all of us together. Funny, it was the first "just us six" picture that we'd had taken since we've been a "just us six" family. Any others we had taken had someone else in them.) It was great fun to be together as a group, to talk and share about our experiences and to get to know each other a bit more. We'd been fortunate enough to spend a bit of time with JB and Laura, since we'd toured so much with them in Beijing. Our families really hit it off, so we met up quite a bit once they got to GZ. Lisa and Terry was another couple that we've really enjoyed talking with a bit. They are strong Christians and share many of our same observations on the sad situation of the people we've seen here in China. I am grateful that God has allowed us to bond with these folks, and I pray that He would allow us to continue friendships afar.
This morning, after breakfast we had to stick around the hotel room for about an hour in case there was any problem with our paperwork. Jim stayed while JE, Katie and I dropped off some laundry (can you believe that I am looking forward to doing my own laundry...that is, in a washing machine and dryer!) and looked at a few items they were interested in. When we got back Jim said that Grace, our guide had called, but that it was good news. We were going to be postponing our "Red Couch Pictures" (the ones that all of the adoptive families take on the White Swan's red couches...the babies in their traditional Chinese costumes, the families and the whole travel groups) until tomorrow because we had been requested to take "the oath" a day early. YEAH! That means that tomorrow is a nice free day.
Today, however, we did a bit of shopping (I'm actually tired of shopping!), not much napping, and a bit of driving through the city of Guangzhou to visit the US Consulate. We'd heard that the oath was kinda anti-climactic...and it was, but it is a milestone you look forward to none-the-less. Afterward, we enjoyed a Brown family dinner at the local Cantonnese place (the one with the mud eels, snakes, waterbeetles, and other yummy stuff for sale to eat....gross) and then headed back to the hotel to pack. How nice it will be to just enjoy our last day in China without the burden of packing.
Thank you dear friends for keeping us in your prayers. Katie and I were just sharing together how all of a sudden, time is flying by. We are ALL excited about coming home. It won't be long now. What an awesome Christmas present coming home will be!
Can't wait...soon, friends and family....soon!
Last night, we had supper with our friends in the Century Club....those other five waiting child families (except one is already home...missed you Kate) who, along with us waited that terribly long time, getting lost in translation and all. (I think Katie took pictures of our little club, though not all of us together. Funny, it was the first "just us six" picture that we'd had taken since we've been a "just us six" family. Any others we had taken had someone else in them.) It was great fun to be together as a group, to talk and share about our experiences and to get to know each other a bit more. We'd been fortunate enough to spend a bit of time with JB and Laura, since we'd toured so much with them in Beijing. Our families really hit it off, so we met up quite a bit once they got to GZ. Lisa and Terry was another couple that we've really enjoyed talking with a bit. They are strong Christians and share many of our same observations on the sad situation of the people we've seen here in China. I am grateful that God has allowed us to bond with these folks, and I pray that He would allow us to continue friendships afar.
This morning, after breakfast we had to stick around the hotel room for about an hour in case there was any problem with our paperwork. Jim stayed while JE, Katie and I dropped off some laundry (can you believe that I am looking forward to doing my own laundry...that is, in a washing machine and dryer!) and looked at a few items they were interested in. When we got back Jim said that Grace, our guide had called, but that it was good news. We were going to be postponing our "Red Couch Pictures" (the ones that all of the adoptive families take on the White Swan's red couches...the babies in their traditional Chinese costumes, the families and the whole travel groups) until tomorrow because we had been requested to take "the oath" a day early. YEAH! That means that tomorrow is a nice free day.
Today, however, we did a bit of shopping (I'm actually tired of shopping!), not much napping, and a bit of driving through the city of Guangzhou to visit the US Consulate. We'd heard that the oath was kinda anti-climactic...and it was, but it is a milestone you look forward to none-the-less. Afterward, we enjoyed a Brown family dinner at the local Cantonnese place (the one with the mud eels, snakes, waterbeetles, and other yummy stuff for sale to eat....gross) and then headed back to the hotel to pack. How nice it will be to just enjoy our last day in China without the burden of packing.
Thank you dear friends for keeping us in your prayers. Katie and I were just sharing together how all of a sudden, time is flying by. We are ALL excited about coming home. It won't be long now. What an awesome Christmas present coming home will be!
Can't wait...soon, friends and family....soon!
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Slacker mom is finally posting....
It's been a while...we've been busy hanging out, having fun and doing a few things. Here's a rundown on life in the Brown family the past few days:
Sunday, when we skipped the zoo trip, we walked around and did a bit of shopping on the island. We found some more squeaky shoes for Big Foot (EX being an older than usual adoptee and a big girl anyway, pretty much tops out the sizes of squeakers)....a shiny black pair and a pair of brown ones the next size up. We walked around and found ourselves drawn to the sounds coming from the Christian church on the island. We had decided this morning not to go to the service. Elf said best what we probably all felt...we just weren't sure about attending a government sanctioned church....we didn't want to give the appearance of supporting a watered down gospel. However, as we neared, we could hear the scripture being read from Numbers. We decided to listen, so we entered the courtyard and stood near the speaker. The pastor would read or preach in (probably) Mandarin, pause and the iterpreter would translate in English. We heard almost the entire message.
It was quite interesting. We all were pleasantly surprised that the message was solid. Some new friends we met at breakfast earlier, Scott and Cheryl, who are believers were equally surprised. They had spent two years in China, much farther north, and said they would've never heard that kind of teaching in Nanjing. It is encouraging that God's word is being proclaimed, even in China.
Later, we had supper with our friends we'd met in Beijing, JB and Laura and their Maggie, at the Chinese restaurant and settled in for the night, as we would have an early morning. But, EX didn't sleep well. This night she woke twice, we think with night terrors or something. She didn't appear to be awake, but would scream and cry. We'd try to soothe her, but to no avail. The last "fit" was the worst, and I was beginning to not be so patient. My very smart husband knew that I'd consoled enough and that she might even be responding to me not being so patient, took her from my arms. Instantly she relaxed. I wasn't so thrilled that I couldn't soothe her (a bit of pride, eh?), but was glad she was comforted. I prayed, repented and we all slept well.
The morning was an early one, so we ate, brushed teeth (which EX loves to do....YEAH!) and boarded the mini-bus headed for a city about 3 hours away. Four of the 11 families made the trek (we being the only family whose child was not from this particular orphanage). We drove past areas that were VERY industrial....the air was even more polluted than in Guangzhou, which was hard to believe. The living conditions that we could see in those areas were awful. We also drove past some beautiful hilly areas, and some farming areas...even duck and goose farms. Finally we arrived at the city (can't remember the name). It was quite interesting...hard to describe. There were bikes, mo-peds and motorcycles everywhere, but few cars. You would also see a few buses and lots of big trucks carrying recyclable factory scraps, wares that folks would sell, like fruits and veggies, and even garbage. Occassionally you'd see a woman with one of those familiar pointed Chinese peasant hats would have two baskets slung over a bamboo pole hoisted on her shoulders. Then, you might see a man pulling behind him a cart full of bamboo, which almost all construction scaffolding everywhere in China was made of....high rise buildings, interstate overpasses, everything. Who needs 2x4s.....China has lots of bamboo and twine!
We drove to the orphanage, which was basically just two main rooms, as this orphanage was quite small. It was clean, but there were about 40 beds in each room.....lots of babies in a small space. It was in a sad area, but the people were very nice and the babies looked clean and healthy. The nannies were very excited to see the babies who'd made the journey back. We were all, I think, glad to have come, but equally glad to go. We visited a few of the babies finding sites....a grocery market, a hospital gate, the water plant and an elementary school. Our own daughter had been found three years ago in a waiting room of a bus terminal. As sad as it is, we must recognize that these babies had been left in very public places so that they would be found. That must be hard for a parent, but it does show a remarkable kind of love. These parents were trying to give their daughters, and sometimes sons, a chance for a better life. I am grateful that God allowed us to provide that chance for Emmy Xiang.
We stopped to buy some food to eat on the way home...ever tried to eat noodles, topped with meat and veggies with chopsticks on a VERY bumpy mini-bus speeding down the China interstate? Interesting! We all did well. Of course, we took turns feeding our bird who doesn't know how to eat with chopsticks..."only with spoon" we had been told before. Right. (Remember how we told you she is an expert with a fork?)
Once home, instead of the suggested Papa Johns pizza, we opted for the Cow and Bridge Thai place. As the food came out, we began scoop up the plates, but realized that we hadn't asked for a fork for EX. We looked over at her and she was eating, quite expertly, with chopsticks. Who taught her that?!? I can just hear you now....duh! She's Chinese! Of course she knows how to eat with chopsticks! We didn't know. But now we do. She's better than us all!
We left there with her pushing her stroller (hear that Aunt Rufus? She's gonna love the stroller you got her!) and got ready for bed. It had been a long day, an enlightening day.
Today's been nice. Leisure breakfast...boy am I gonna miss that breakfast buffet! No one does French toast like the White Swan...and the omlettes! They're delicious. Good thing Jim's good at omlettes! We filled out all our paperwork for the US Consulate, so that we can obtain Emmy Xiang's visa. Our Consulate Appointment is tomorrow, we take the oath on Thursday and Friday morning we head for home. Jim and I were just discussing how all of a sudden it seems like time is flying.
I'll try to put together a little slide show since we've got a little time...stay tuned....and lots of love to our friends and family. We will be home soon.
Sunday, when we skipped the zoo trip, we walked around and did a bit of shopping on the island. We found some more squeaky shoes for Big Foot (EX being an older than usual adoptee and a big girl anyway, pretty much tops out the sizes of squeakers)....a shiny black pair and a pair of brown ones the next size up. We walked around and found ourselves drawn to the sounds coming from the Christian church on the island. We had decided this morning not to go to the service. Elf said best what we probably all felt...we just weren't sure about attending a government sanctioned church....we didn't want to give the appearance of supporting a watered down gospel. However, as we neared, we could hear the scripture being read from Numbers. We decided to listen, so we entered the courtyard and stood near the speaker. The pastor would read or preach in (probably) Mandarin, pause and the iterpreter would translate in English. We heard almost the entire message.
It was quite interesting. We all were pleasantly surprised that the message was solid. Some new friends we met at breakfast earlier, Scott and Cheryl, who are believers were equally surprised. They had spent two years in China, much farther north, and said they would've never heard that kind of teaching in Nanjing. It is encouraging that God's word is being proclaimed, even in China.
Later, we had supper with our friends we'd met in Beijing, JB and Laura and their Maggie, at the Chinese restaurant and settled in for the night, as we would have an early morning. But, EX didn't sleep well. This night she woke twice, we think with night terrors or something. She didn't appear to be awake, but would scream and cry. We'd try to soothe her, but to no avail. The last "fit" was the worst, and I was beginning to not be so patient. My very smart husband knew that I'd consoled enough and that she might even be responding to me not being so patient, took her from my arms. Instantly she relaxed. I wasn't so thrilled that I couldn't soothe her (a bit of pride, eh?), but was glad she was comforted. I prayed, repented and we all slept well.
The morning was an early one, so we ate, brushed teeth (which EX loves to do....YEAH!) and boarded the mini-bus headed for a city about 3 hours away. Four of the 11 families made the trek (we being the only family whose child was not from this particular orphanage). We drove past areas that were VERY industrial....the air was even more polluted than in Guangzhou, which was hard to believe. The living conditions that we could see in those areas were awful. We also drove past some beautiful hilly areas, and some farming areas...even duck and goose farms. Finally we arrived at the city (can't remember the name). It was quite interesting...hard to describe. There were bikes, mo-peds and motorcycles everywhere, but few cars. You would also see a few buses and lots of big trucks carrying recyclable factory scraps, wares that folks would sell, like fruits and veggies, and even garbage. Occassionally you'd see a woman with one of those familiar pointed Chinese peasant hats would have two baskets slung over a bamboo pole hoisted on her shoulders. Then, you might see a man pulling behind him a cart full of bamboo, which almost all construction scaffolding everywhere in China was made of....high rise buildings, interstate overpasses, everything. Who needs 2x4s.....China has lots of bamboo and twine!
We drove to the orphanage, which was basically just two main rooms, as this orphanage was quite small. It was clean, but there were about 40 beds in each room.....lots of babies in a small space. It was in a sad area, but the people were very nice and the babies looked clean and healthy. The nannies were very excited to see the babies who'd made the journey back. We were all, I think, glad to have come, but equally glad to go. We visited a few of the babies finding sites....a grocery market, a hospital gate, the water plant and an elementary school. Our own daughter had been found three years ago in a waiting room of a bus terminal. As sad as it is, we must recognize that these babies had been left in very public places so that they would be found. That must be hard for a parent, but it does show a remarkable kind of love. These parents were trying to give their daughters, and sometimes sons, a chance for a better life. I am grateful that God allowed us to provide that chance for Emmy Xiang.
We stopped to buy some food to eat on the way home...ever tried to eat noodles, topped with meat and veggies with chopsticks on a VERY bumpy mini-bus speeding down the China interstate? Interesting! We all did well. Of course, we took turns feeding our bird who doesn't know how to eat with chopsticks..."only with spoon" we had been told before. Right. (Remember how we told you she is an expert with a fork?)
Once home, instead of the suggested Papa Johns pizza, we opted for the Cow and Bridge Thai place. As the food came out, we began scoop up the plates, but realized that we hadn't asked for a fork for EX. We looked over at her and she was eating, quite expertly, with chopsticks. Who taught her that?!? I can just hear you now....duh! She's Chinese! Of course she knows how to eat with chopsticks! We didn't know. But now we do. She's better than us all!
We left there with her pushing her stroller (hear that Aunt Rufus? She's gonna love the stroller you got her!) and got ready for bed. It had been a long day, an enlightening day.
Today's been nice. Leisure breakfast...boy am I gonna miss that breakfast buffet! No one does French toast like the White Swan...and the omlettes! They're delicious. Good thing Jim's good at omlettes! We filled out all our paperwork for the US Consulate, so that we can obtain Emmy Xiang's visa. Our Consulate Appointment is tomorrow, we take the oath on Thursday and Friday morning we head for home. Jim and I were just discussing how all of a sudden it seems like time is flying.
I'll try to put together a little slide show since we've got a little time...stay tuned....and lots of love to our friends and family. We will be home soon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)