Friday, February 6, 2009

6 More Days!!!

Only 6 more days until we leave! I can't believe we're almost there. Yesterday was exactly one year since we signed the waiting child acceptance letter for Wen from Great Wall. A year ago I never dreamed that it would have taken this long to bring him home. This past year sure has been one heck of a roller coaster ride! I don't know if I'll ever be able to say that I'm completely ready to leave, but hopefully I'll at least not forget to do something really important! Each day I have several moments where I say "oh shoot...I forgot about xyz". I'm hoping all those moments happen before we leave! It's all the little things I worry about forgetting like leaving the kids insurance cards, and putting Ella's dance bag where my mom can find it. Ya know all the things that aren't on the agencies "check list"! On a good note, I'm mostly packed...or at least I thought I was. That was until I checked the forecast today. I packed thinking that it would be 30-40 degrees in Beijing, 40's in Jiangsu, and 60's in Guangzhou. That is what weather dot com said the averages were this time of year. Well, as of my last check this morning Beijing and Jiangsu look like the weather is going to be about 10 degrees warmer than average, and Guangzhou's forecast is....in the 80's next week!!!! I didn't pack thinking summer. So I think I now need to rethink my packing a little bit. Other than that I did get the medicine kit together and Owen's backpack is all filled and ready for him.

As I scurried along through the day I am finding myself needing to intentionally stop and "be still" for a couple of minutes and in those moments reflect on and "feel" what is really going on here. The purpose of all the lists, the purpose of all the rushing around, and the reason for the overflow of emotion I am living with. It still amazes me that there is a little person on the other side of the world, whom I've never met, and yet I feel so strongly connected to. It amazes me that I could love someone whose face I've never seen in person. It's in those quiet moments, that I allow myself to be still, and feel the presence of this little soul in my heart. It's those quiet moments that soothe my frenzied mind and are truly the most enjoyable part of this experience thus far. The moments where I stand in awe of God's handiwork, in awe of the strength of the invisible bonds that connect each one of us, and in awe of the face of a little boy whom I've never met but somehow is already so much my son.

10 comments:

Jodee said...

I am soooo excited for you! Happy packing!

Monica said...

How wonderful to be so close to your son!

Michelle U (with daughter Meaghan) told me about your blog and said I should look you up considering we'll be in China at the same time! We leave on February 19th and will receive our son on the 23. I know our paths won't cross but just know that another family will be in China wishing you well.

Monica
Mom to Claire (Jiangxi, 2007) and Ren (February, 2009)
www.oursonren.blogspot.com

Joanne said...

I can honestly say, I totally understand :) You are doing amazing well and are more ready than you think. I am beyond excited for you!!

Michelle said...

As I type this, I realize that one week from today (forwarding 1/2 a day for China time) Owen will be waking for the last time without his mother. On that day, you will become the official mother of four and many of us here in the US will be saying a prayer for you and anxiously awaiting his photo!!! All I have to say is that the campsites better have Wifi!!!!! Blessings!

. said...

Melissa,
As always, my sister and I will be following your blog everyday on your trip to witness the joy beyond words you are about to experience!! Wishing you all the best!!!

Stacy Knoper

Anonymous said...

I cannot wait for you to bring Owen home & to watch him grow. Your emotions have to be in over-drive at this point. I truly wish you guys nothing but the best.

LynnieB said...

Melissa -
I am so excited to find your blog. We are with GW also and will be in Guangzhou at the same time you are I believe. We arrive there on the 20th. And better yet, we are adopting a little boy 2 days older than your son! Email me if you get a chance - if not, have a safe trip and we will see you next week! Lynn

lynnkbarton@gmail.com

AlisonG said...

Melissa, my family received our son Lian Han Kun a few days ago (our blog is at www.manylives.ca) and today we visited the orphanage in Lianyungang City. It was a very moving visit. I will be posting more about it tomorrow (8 hours in the car with 2 kids wiped us out).

Anyway, I wanted to say that we gave a donation to the orphanage and they decided they wanted to purchase clothes for the children. We went to the department store and watching them pick things. Afterwards our guide told us that they bought an outfit for a three-year-old boy who would be adopted on February 16. And I realized that boy must be Han Wen! So I wanted to tell you they are preparing for your family to meet him. :-) They want him well-dressed when you meet him.

Sis D said...

I cannot think of anything that has moved me as much as the entire Neyland journey.
My Sister and her family are amazing.
It begins begins with the idea to adopt and the inspiration behind it...
"We have so much... I feel such a need to give something back" and the process they went through to arrive at the final decision... "All of the arguments I came up with against it amounted to selfish reasons - not good enough".

I share it with anyone who will listen.

If everyone could recognize how blessed we are and out of that, make the decision to give just a little something back – how this would change our world!!!

Thank you Neylands, for changing Owen's world (and by virtue of your example - all of ours)

Love you Alway's,
Big Sis

Lisa said...

aHH. I know you are leaving tomorrow. So excited for ya. I totally get that connection...umbelievable and noone would fully understand it unless they have been through an adoption.

Cant wait to follow you guys through China...
lol
Lisa