Zac, Rock Star, at home:

Long ago a mother placed her child in a basket among the reeds.  She had to save him.  There was simply no other option.  And she hoped that her plan would lead to him being raised as a child of privilege, one who would grow to be the man she dreamed he could be.  About a year and a half ago, another mother had a similar idea as she left her beloved child alongside a shrub by a bus stop in China.  I imagine that she couldn't just walk away that morning, but watched from afar as the city streets began to fill.  I see a tearful smile creep across her tortured face as he is discovered.  "He'll be alright," she reassures herself.  "Please," she says silently, "Please let them find a family to love him."  I wish I could tell her that he's alright.  God was watching him, and He sent us to care for him, to love him.   

Well, it's one week since we returned home from China.  I can't believe it's taken me this long to update this blog!  This week has been a whirlwind!  We arrived home Friday night, greeted at the airport by a small group of friends.  We choked up as we saw them, our first glimpse of home after so long spent away.  It was just one more amazing act of kindness from our friends and family.  We got back to the house and  found it clean with a warm meal waiting for us.  We spent the next two days recovering from the jet lag.  Since then we have made the first tiny steps toward returning to a normal life.  The kids have welcomed Zac with open arms.  There really hasn't been any jealousy.  DeAnna says he's a rock star, and we're all his fans!  Zoe is the caring big sister... patient and protective.  Zander is the proud big brother, jostling for the attention of his sibling.  Zac seems to really love him.  During a basketball practice Zac took off across the court, weaving though players and coaches.  Turns out he had his sights set on Zander, and went straight to him.  Zander's face brightened as Zac approached with his arms out and a big smile.  Zuri is the "little mama," happy to lend a hand when it's time to feed him, bathe him, or dress him.  She says, "We picked the right baby!"

He is sleeping in our bed, and doing well.  When he does wake up, he screams at high volume!  We think that in his orphanage, the first one to get attention was the one who cried the loudest!  But DeAnna settles him quickly and he drifts off to sleep.  He sleeps sideways, and kicks and flops a lot.  He loves the outdoors, and has a great time at the park.  He has really warmed up to me, and we take day trips together while Mama takes a break.  He waves "Hi" to us all, and DeAnna has taught him a cute little surprised face that he we all imitate.  

Truthfully, our journey has been so smooth, and Zac is a such wonderful child.  I joke that God only gives you what you can handle, and He knows we can't handle much!  But, honestly, we are so truly blessed.  And we are so truly thankful!

Zac and Daddy arriving at the airport

The welcome party

Tearful DeAnna and Sam

Zoe welcomed home by Caroline and Campbell

Finally home: It's nap time!

Zac loves walks!

Zuri enjoyed the snow while we were gone!

A day in the life

Big Ole Jet Airliner, Carry Me to My Home.

Well, we're headed home!  We've enjoyed our time here, but boy are we excited to go home!  We will be traveling for over 26 hours; over 16 in the sky.  We are so thankful for our experience here:  good weather, no sickness, Zac's demeanor...  All in all it has been an amazing time, one that we will never forget.  Please keep us in your prayers as we travel.  Thanks again to everyone who chipped in while we were here.  You are amazing!  And thanks again to the one who lead us here in the first place, who wrote Zac's name on our hearts.  Soli Deo Gloria!  Glory to God alone!  We are the proud parents of four beautiful children!  We could not be happier!  Friday evening will find us finally, thankfully home.  Thanks be to God!

Flower girl

Supplies for our trip!

Shamian Island and River Cruise

On Tuesday most of the families we're with went to the consulate.  They're leaving Thursday.  Since we're not leaving 'til Friday, we had to wait until Wednesday.  Tuesday night we all went on a river cruise.  It was more fun than we expected.  The views were nice, and the food was ok, but we enjoyed visiting with the other families.  Zoe became good friends with a little 5-year-old named Mikaya.  They have spent quite a bit of time together these past two days.  

Today, Wednesday, we finally went to the U.S. Consulate.  They don't allow cameras, so we don't have any photos of this important step.  There were about 8 adoptive families there.  We all took an oath together, and then waited to turn in our documents one-by-one.  Once we turned everything in, they congratulated us and we were done.  Tomorrow we will pick up Zac's passport with his visa.  When we land in Chicago on Friday, Zac will instantly become a U.S. citizen!  We are so excited to be finished!  All the waiting, all the paperwork, all the heartache, all the money... it's finally done!

After the consulate, we all went to Shamian Island to sight-see and shop.  It's a beautiful area with 100-year-old buildings, cobblestone pedestrian streets, and moss-covered trees.  It reminded us of Charleston or Savannah.  There was a nice park, and interesting shops and restaurants.  We found a playground for Zac.  He loved the slide!

We've had a lot of good times these past two weeks, but we are ready to come home.  We're ready to introduce Zac to the rest of his family!  One thing our family is famous for is nicknames, and Zac has a few!  I mentioned before we call him "Zac Attack."  But when the locals find out he's from Chongqing, they say "spicy Sichuan!"  Chongqing is in the Sichuan area, known for spicy Sichuan (or Szechuan) cooking.  So DeAnna and I have taken to calling him "Sichuan."  He certainly loves local food!  We're going to have to add a few recipes to our menu!  And he is such an energetic, fun-loving, happy child.  He is going to LOVE Zander and Zuri!  We all miss them so much.  We are SO ready to have our little family together, like we belong.

  

Shamian Island

We tried to get Zac to get in line, but he said, "No!"

Zac on the playground

Enjoying the slide with Sissy

Happy family!

One, two, three, go!

"Cheese!"

Nap time

Celebrating on the cruise

With Mama and Daddy

With Mama on the boat

Zoe and Mikaya. "Clink!"

One of the amazing buildings in downtown Guangzhou

Cruise entertainment.  Has anybody seen my drink?

Zac working the floor.

River Princess

Guangzhou Zoo

Today we visited the Guangzhou Zoo.  It was a perfect day.  It was about 65°F.  We've heard so many stories about how hot it gets here in the summer, and about visiting the zoo in that heat.  We've seen pictures of families drenched in sweat after 2 hours.  We almost felt guilty that we had it so good!  DeAnna and I love the outdoors, and we were getting a little weary of the cities.  The zoo was very pretty, with ponds and plenty of trees.  And there was hardly anyone there until we were leaving.  It was very relaxing.  We started the day with a shuttle ride around the park.  We got a feel for the layout and got our first glimpse of the animals.  They have just about everything.  We liked the tigers, asian elephants, bears, rhinos and especially the panda.  This was Zac's first trip to the zoo, and he really loved it!

After the zoo, our guide took us to a traditional Chinese dumpling restaurant.  It was more of a "local" place off the beaten path.  The food was delicious! We had Japanese tofu, fried meat and cabbage dumplings, steamed vegetable dumplings, and mixed noodles with vegetables.  Zac enjoyed a little of everything!  He eats like a champ!  There's pretty much nothing he won't eat!  Zoe tried some Chinese noodles and liked them!

It's hard to believe that a week ago we met Zac in person for the first time.  It really feels like we've known him since he was born.  He is a happy child.  It's mind-boggling to think that he left behind everything he's ever known to trust in us to provide for all his needs.  Yet he truly seems to know that he can depend on us.  He really never seems scared, except sometimes when he first wakes up.  But his mama comforts him.  He realizes that he is safe.  He is loved.  He is ours.

Zoe at the fountain, Guangzhou Zoo

At the entrance

Zac and Mama

Zoe

Two 'Roos

Zoe and Daddy ridin' the hippo

Precious smile!

What a beautiful day!

At the panda bear enclosure

Panda bear!

Rhinos!

Zoe bear!

Z is for Zebra!

Our little bird!

Lunch with another adoptive family

Great food!

Local Shopping

Today was Sunday, and we drove to a local shopping area.  It was a market with stores located along a pedestrian street as well as a multi-level mall building.  They had shoes, clothes, watches, and DVDs, but also pearls and jade.  We were on a budget, so we were mainly window-shopping.  We did find a beautiful pink jade rabbit pendant for Zoe...  $35 American!

We took some time to explore the hotel today.  There's a waterfall and koi pond in the back.  Zac loved the green space!  We're not sure he's ever experienced grass!  He was so happy, but not quite sure what to do.

As I mentioned before, we're just burning time until we get his visa docs and U.S. passport.  So Lifeline has us going somewhere just about every day.  I guess to keep us from going stir-crazy!  Tomorrow we visit the Guangzhou Zoo.  We're enjoying the time with Zac.  He is changing every day, and I think in the long run we need this time with him to build the foundation of our life together.  But, at the same time, we are just ready to come home!

Zoe's jade bunny

Zoe and DeAnna

DeAnna with our guide; Zac sleeping; McDonald's

"It's Ok guys, I got it!"

Bamboo juice, anyone?

Zoe at the koi pond

Hard to see, but we're at the top of a waterfall!

Guangzhou and Our Trip to the ITHC

At the ITHC

Ice cream break

Beautiful view!

Zoe's fan!

Asleep at lunch

Relaxing with Daddy

Meeting our new guide at the hotel

As I write this it's 8pm Saturday here, 6am Saturday back home. We spent Friday packing for Guangzhou, picking up Zac's Chinese passport, and traveling. We also got our photo book of his adoption ceremony. It's really good, and includes a few more pictures of him at the orphanage that we've never seen. Each little piece of his story that falls into place means so much to us. The flight to Guangzhou was not bad, but Zac moved and wiggled all the way there. Our new guide met us at the airport and brought us to our hotel. The hotel is really nice! We have a living room and a bedroom, and they gave us a stroller and a crib for Zac. The view from our window is amazing! There is one other Lifeline family here, plus we're traveling with a family from another agency. But here at the hotel there are probably 10 or more adoptive families. Breakfast was funny! They had all of us seated near each other and away from everyone else. They've probably learned from experience that newly adopted children can be a handful!

Saturday morning we met to take Zac to the International Travel Health Clinic (ITHC). This is where anyone headed out of the country for travel gets checked out before they can leave. It was a zoo! There were so many people there, and nothing moved quickly. But we eventually made our way through the channels, and for the most part Zac was great. A little boy was infatuated with Zoe! We think he was in love! That afternoon we worked on our paperwork for Zac's Visa. This week will basically be a waiting game for his U.S. passport and Visa. At lunch, our guide, Rebecca, was feeding Zac broccoli and snow peas, and he feel asleep in his plate! Poor little guy!  This afternoon Zoe had an ice cream break... mango, coconut and green tea!  Well, she wasn't big on the green tea flavor!

Zac is really coming out of his shell. He is walking, talking and into everything! He is becoming more comfortable and confident. His new nickname around here is "Zac Attack"! But his cuteness gets him out of everything! He is warming up to me (Ken), so we're finally starting to give Mama a break now and then. She can't be far off, but at least now she doesn't ALWAYS have to hold him! Today he slept in my arms while we explored the city. He is such a blessing! He is beautiful… smart… curious… excited by the world around him. His smile will melt your heart, and when his eyes widen with happiness it's a glimpse into everything that is right in this world.

Thanks everyone for your prayers and thoughts! We truly feel it! Thanks to everyone who is working the garage sale in our absence! And thank you to everyone who is helping with the kids!  You can't imagine what you mean to us and to this process!

Zachary: HE remembers! HE remembers us all. We may turn away, we may run. We may think we've never even met Him. But HE remembers us all!