I can hear the pitter patter of excited feet upstairs, still haven't surfaced yet, due to packing, updating and charging phones, computers, ipod, and my own batteries. The girls are uber excited. To the point of delirium. There has been much running around in circles and dive-bombing into the couch. Lots of love, questions, clapping, yelling, furious excited gestures and packing to be had.

We have finished laundry and eating all he food in the house, getting $$ crisp bills to take over, placed airport safe items in bags, liquids all squished in ziplocs, blowup pillows for some nappy times, games, books, ipods, entertainment items, washing stuff for the long flight, checking 2 bags for FREE!!! big relief.

Next time I talk to you all, it will be from the airplane if they have internet, or CHINA!!! We arrive in Beijing on Friday night the 6th *we have to do a day twice) and then sleep immediately at the hotel 2 blocks from the first hotel I ever stayed in, my first trip to BJ in 2005!

Paris says: "I am going to China and I'm so excited and scared at the same time, it's my first time on a plane. It's going to be fun."

Paige says: "Hi. I don't know what to expect. Kinda looking forward to it."

Love you guys! We got our candy and Starbucks, happy faces, and heading out in an hour!

 

Maggie's Restaurant, last Chinese meal before REAL Chinese food.

This is no Josiah! His name is Alex, and he is Kevin (8 year old from Tuesday's 5 year old brother)

                    (back story, I was able to interpret for an 8 year old Chinese boy over the phone, Brian and
                                               Rachel have been working with them for awhile now)

Yesterday morning (day 1 actually in Iowa after a few hour long flights and waiting in the airport) Rachel, Brian and  grabbed a couple cups of coffee-milk-sugar (yes, people I drank coffee maybe 3rd time in my life, we had had 4 hours of sleep the night before and it was 6am Central time, 7am Eastern), and drove Brian to work, then headed to Rachel's old elementary school in Davenport. We had to pick Maggie up first, so we drove to her apartment building. As we parked, I caught my first glimpse of a black squirrel. I couldn't believe it.

So then, we had realization 1 of the day. It was early, we were tired, our Milk/sugar with a splash of coffee mix wasn't cutting it.

We tried calling Maggie, her phone was off. Then we saw her son, Kevin, standing outside waiting on us. He walked forward with the staid Chinese blank face on, fully looking us up and down. Rachel leaned over to ask him a question through the window and when he didn't get it I spoke to him in Chinese. His eyes bugged out and he excitedly climbed in the car when his parent showed up. He forgot his backpack so his dad had to drive back and grab it. The three of them piled into the back of the suburban, and we went to the school.

We met the most stunningly beautiful ESL teacher, Kevin's teacher, assistant, Principal and we all sat down to discuss the meeting. After the requisite seating process, we settled down, a very rollypolly 4 year old Alex squashed between his mums legs and their bright and slightly worried faces smiling at the group of people assembled. Immediately I kicked into gear like I was interpreting for a high powered society meeting instead of one little culture-shocked boys family and a small town in Iowa's teachers. Despite being home for 9 months, the Chinese came so quickly to me, the set phrases and flavor you want to portray at such a meeting.

I assuaged their fears about his performance and behaviors, and helped the staff understand where he was coming from. So many of their problems reflected the same issues we have at Clemson Elementary. Running in the halls, lack of control to sit still, standing up in the bus, wanting to be the helper to the teacher. All of these things have unique Chinese cultural and personality driven characteristics and to the unassuming teacher, very annoying qualities that bring group dynamics down.

As we sat there, the teachers asked some excellent questions, where he was from in China, which restaurant, what language they speak, if there is a difference between Traditional characters and simplified they had been using, etc. As I explained and realization dawned on them, I found that I LOVE this job. Being that culturally literate in both cultures, and sharing that with two parties that need the knowledge, makes me truly happy. 

Pictures for today!

 Here is an adorable picture of love from my Chines/American kiddos.

 Painted clipped and polished nails and toes

 Paris!

 Paige

Here we are in Iowa!

I have made it to Bluegrass, Iowa and spent a full day with the Beauchamps! The corn fields here are AMAZING, I want to photograph them all day long, and, this morning, I saw a BLACK squirrel. I was stunned. They are bigger than cats. Had no idea if it was a mutant skunk without stripes but I screamed out the window, "What IS that?!" and Rachel said, "Um, haven't you ever seen a black squirrel?" "No way!?" "oh, yes way." I'm still dubious it's actually for real a squirrel.Surprise! Welcome to the USA where culture shock is possible anywhere!

The Plan is: sleep until forever tomorrow morning, wake up with the girls, clean, do laundry, trim hair and nails, help them set up upstairs, and then, watch movies, chat and read together all night long to adjust to China-time!

Loving this China (and Him) filled life! There are so many things we are finding shockingly in common (the Beauchamp's and I). Brian's father actually said I look just like them and could fit in with my long hair, blond/brown color and blue eyes. Amazing how He worked this out, you guys! Just in AWE.

Tomorrow, update with pictures, full on cuteness and a very special story about this morning, at the local elementary school where I helped Maggie with her son's parent/teacher conference.

Love, Tina

This, my bloggity friends, is Josiah. Josiah is a very special little guy I met when I was in China visiting Harmony House in Lang Fang. I fell in love with him and was overjoyed to hear he had a family waiting for him in America. Josiah is such a smart little guy, no mental handicap, just physically, his arms don't work even though they are there, and he scoots around on his legs remarkably well. I noticed him because of his smile but also because I told the babies to stand up, and he couldn't. He just sat there smiling up at me with a twinkle in his eye. I tried to teach a quick song, but the attention just wasn't there. We gave up, but Josiah asked me to hold him. So I did and couldn't put him down for 6 hours. He was so cute and kept telling me stories in Chinese and stuff he knew in English.

Here he is, all "growed" up, a few months ago in China.

And here he was last year when I met him!
His adorable face hasn't changed at all, but he has grown up quickly.

On Monday I'm leaving to meet his adopting parents in Iowa, to hang out with them for a few days and play with their two daughters, Paris and Paige, 9 and 11. On Thursday, October 6th our journey begins!

Check back soon, on Saturday of next week I will have him in my arms again! hopefully I will be able to post the video, pictures and story of Gotcha Day in BJ!