Happy Thanksgiving!

With the onslaught of family, I (Ruth) was too tired to do any blogging last night...so as usual I am "a day late and a dollar short." All my family was here to celebrate with us. It was a pleasant day.

We spent a fair amount of time trying to prepare Jadon for this special day. Still he can be so unpredictable...we weren't sure what to expect. We shouldn't have worried...he did fine. He ate well, declaring the meal "Yummy!" He shared his toys with his cousins without any fuss at all (although he did grouse a bit this morning upon discovery that a number of them had been left lying on the floor...who can blame him for that?). He ended his day with a "sleepover"---he and his siblings on the basement floor. He thought that was pretty good.

Kirsten and I managed to escape for awhile and take a walk...something I desperately needed after eating waaaaaaaay too much food. We had a great time talking. I so enjoy her. She has been a great encouragement to me. (I know others attest to this also.)

Alan was able to do his own escaping and talk with his family for awhile too. He kept everything balanced...his usual role when the whole family is together.

The most major mishap of the day occurred when Andrew ripped a piece of skin from his big toe running to come to dinner. Poor guy was left with blood running down his foot and tears running down his face. But he was brave and allowed me to clip away the damaged skin and bandage his foot. He waited to got through the buffet line until the very end, placing his foot gingerly above his head as he waited. It did not seem to affect his appetite much when he finally got his food. I predict he will be fine in no time.

We certainly have much for which to be thankful. In the past year we brought home our son after a long wait. We have come through the trials...maybe not with blazing colors, but with a much deeper awareness of God's grace bestowed on us in the mundane things of everyday life. What a gift that is!!!!! We have once again experienced our God who lifts us from the pit and sets us on the Rock; leaned on friends who pray tirelessly for our progress and Jadon's; and observed the love of our church family on a deeper level. None of us has experienced any major illness despite all of us being exposed on more than one occasion to the H1N1 virus. God is good.

Happy Birthday Jadon!

Okay...we're a little slow, like we are with everything these days.

Jadon celebrated his assigned birthday on November 7. He turned nine. The week prior to his birthday was filled with all sorts of difficulty, mostly bad choices in behavior at school. He was excited, afraid and overwhelmed all at the same time. It made for some very excitable behavior and a great deal of hyperactivity. Thankfully his behavior at home was not too bad!

About a week before his birthday Jadon and I (Ruth) went birthday present idea shopping. Jadon was fairly flying. He confided in me that he had never had the occasion to open a gift before. No wonder he was exited!

Friday morning I took cupcakes over to school with some extra for the principal, her secretary and the ELL staff (it had been quite the trying week for them...we wanted to show some appreciation). The cupcakes were left in the office until the afternoon when they were brought out for a special celebration of him. Jadon related that it was a very nice experience for him. I am so glad. He waited so long for this.

We left for Geneva, IL after Jadon was done with school on Friday. We had movies for the kids to watch in the car so that helped keep everyone calm and engaged in something other than making trouble. Traffic was heavy for some reason so the going was a little slower than normal. We arrived at Alan's parents' home around 9:30, an hour after Jadon's normal bedtime. Jadon walked in and took over the place! We finally got him to bed around 10:00.

The boys slept together (probably won't happen again). Since neither one is accustomed to sharing a bed space they both were awake fairly early the morning of Jadon's birthday. Jadon was ready for his special day. After breakfast we allowed him to open a package that had arrived the day before from his friend Drew (whom he knew from the orphanage). He was ecstatic to have received two "racing" motorcycle toys. After lunch he opened his scooter from us. He'd been hoping for a scooter and played happily with it up and down the sidewalk in front of his grandparent's house much of the afternoon.

Aunt Paula and Greg showed up after lunch also and brought several gifts. They allowed him to open the Star Wars Lego sets they had brought. Looking back, we are very thankful that he opened several of his gifts early. It made it an easier transition for him.

By late afternoon Alan's cousins had arrived. Alan and I busied ourselves in the kitchen making dumplings (a favorite of Jadon's) while Alan's mom was busy making chow mein. Alan's dad helped cook the dumplings. Yummy! We finished off the meal with funfetti cake.

Once the dishes were cleared Jadon's remaining presents were whisked in. Jadon had been waiting all day for this! Along with a couple of cards with money he received several games (good gifts because he needs to interact with the family to enjoy them), new pajamas and slippers, a Matchbox fire hose (a politically correct title for foam ball gun!), a new Mario Wii game and a final gift from us--the Jesus Storybook Bible (a wonderful Bible storybook...we'd recommend it to anyone with very young children). He has used or played with every single gift and enjoyed them tremendously. Thank you everyone!!!

The first few days home after the birthday weekend were hard. Jadon liked the idea of having a special weekend celebration just for him. It was a very hard reality that not every day will be all about him. Thankfully that only lasted a couple of days. He seems to be adjusting fairly well since then, settling in more at home especially. He still has minor lapses, benign tantrums that are usually quite easily nipped in the bud, but we are very pleased with the ways that he has demonstrated his trust and love.

When we consider that Jadon has only been with us for just over six months it is astounding to count what has been accomplished in that short time. It is still a long road in developing the man of character that I envision for Jadon but God is so faithful in showing us how He is working. His new storybook Bible has presented more than one great conversation about his relationship to us as well as God's sovereign action in his life. It is amazing (and even humerous) how God "sets" Jadon up to hear these stories... the discussions are so much more poignant than even I could have dreamed. Praise be to God who gives the victory!

Struggles and Triumphs

It did not take us long to learn that Jadon has a very strong will. It developed over years of hurts and struggles no child should ever endure. It has served him well in many ways. He is a survivor. The problem we are discovering with this is that breaking him out of survivor mode and into family mode is quite challenging. We want to break the sinful will without breaking the spirit (much as a horse is broken well). The pattern of struggle and triumph is weaving together a complex pattern that has two sides...an ugly one full of sinful beliefs and habits and one that is developing into a beautiful pattern we pray will become more and more like Jesus.

The pattern of struggle and triumph has become more pronounced as Jadon has spent a number of weeks at school now. He has needed to learn that there are rhythms to his days but they are weekly rhythms and not daily ones. As he has learned this his patterns of behaviors have become less extreme...weekends are becoming more enjoyable for the family, teachers are generally having fewer behavior problems to deal with on Mondays, etc. Having said that...his behaviors are still erratic and unpredictable. Often we are learning to expect problem behaviors because they usually follow bad attitudes (much like any parent would experience with a birth child).

He still demonstrates behavior that is not what you would expect from an 8 year old. Last week he rubbed his mittens in chalk dust from a drawing on the blacktop and then spread it all over his face and jacket. (He was quite the mess when we picked him up from school.) His peers gathered around and stood laughing. In his culture at the orphanage this would have been good in his mind. His wonderful ELL teacher, Becky, explained to him that they were laughing because he was doing something very childish and not because they were enjoying him. This led to a discussion between Jadon and I (Ruth) over matters of heart. We talked about his own hurts and how all the other children at the orphanage had similar hurts which prevented their hearts from growing the way they normally would. We discussed how the children in his class didn't have those same types of hurts (at least I would expect most don't) and that they would look at things that would have been perfectly acceptable in the orphanage and find them very silly. Jadon longs to develop friendships, but is finding it very difficult due to rather frequent episodes like the this. My heart aches for him to grow in his development (which he has...just not as fast as I would like for his sake).

All that said...despite the difficulties there are plenty of successes as well. Jadon is opening up and talking about the wounds he has received over the few years of his life that he remembers. He has spoken of some pretty significant bullying he received at the hands of the older boys in the orphanage--for us an explanation of why he had such a hard time developing attachment to Andrew. The other day he declared that "in China Ge ge (older brother) bad; in Megua (USA) Ge ge good." It's truly wonderful to see Andrew and Jadon rolling around on the ground, laughing and giggling and just having fun. Andrew is learning to appreciate Jadon in ways that he couldn't just a few weeks ago. And as Jadon appreciates Andrew as someone who is good and safe, he is finding love for him open up in his own heart.

Jadon and I have come to at least some understanding as well. He and I have had a couple of very significant encounters which have not only demonstrated the depth of the love I have for him but have also revealed the depth of love he has for me. I think it surprised us both! He still doesn't show the respect that I will eventually expect from him but he has become more affectionate and loves to snuggle and kiss on a pretty regular basis. Most days he will very willingly do what he is asked as well (even if he needs the occasional reminder---what child doesn't?). He does love to help and will frequently volunteer even if it would be much fast and easier if he didn't...so we go slower and work a little harder.

Jadon's interactions with Alan and Kirsten have their own unique twists too but I don't think they have had as many significant changes as we've seen in his relationship with Andrew and I. Jadon still loves cuddling with Alan over a book. He doesn't see Kirsten as much now that school has started since she is not only still a very social butterfly but has three jobs she's working right now (all for the purpose of a trip to France).

In every relationship he very much wishes to have absolute control...which is, of course, a pipe dream for anyone! Therefore, the triumphs and struggles persist.

Please keep praying for us as we all work to understand just who Jadon Rieck really is. We want to parent and interact with him in ways that are meaningful and will have the greatest impact in a positive way on his heart and mind. And may the glory be given to Jesus!!!!

First Days of School

Jadon went to school last Thursday. We had no idea what to expect. When he came home he talked non-stop about how wonderful school was. On that first day he was fortunate to have his ELL teacher who had been tutoring him all summer be able to spend the majority of the day with him so he could get some understanding of what was happening. On Friday he had an aide for much of the day and his ELL teacher was able to be with him part of the day. He was pretty excited when it came time to go back to school this morning (at least initially).

We are very thankful that this transition has gone pretty smoothly. Jadon is needing to learn a great deal of things in this process and we realize that this is probably very difficult at some level. He says that he is learning more English and his pronunciation has definitely improved. In the meantime, we continue to grow as parents for this wonderful little boy. It has been a tremendous transition for us to come to know how best to deal with and raise him.

Keep praying for all of us. We are growing together as a family and it seems more natural to have Jadon as a vital part of the family. One of the more exciting moments happened on Sunday when Andrew was having a rough emotional time leaving a friend and Jadon was empathizing with him. He looked as though he was just hanging his head but later told me that he was praying for Andrew and that Jesus would help him feel better. We were thrilled with this. God is working in all of us!!

Safety and Security

In the midst of the roller coaster ride we decided to seek out some additional help. Ruth and Alan have had the benefit of some advice that has been very helpful. In the discussion about some of Jadon's adjustments we were reminded about the importance of providing him a sense of safety and security. The suggestion was that we find a job for Jadon that would give him the knowledge that he had an important place in the family. At the beginning of the week we determined that the job would be setting the table for our dinner meal. Andrew has the job of clearing the table and Kirsten has the job of loading the dishwasher. It seems to be accomplishing a little of what was desired.

In addition Jadon was asked to help Andrew clean the basement the other day after tutoring. When he got home, the two boys went at the task and finished it in record time--pretty well also. After that Jadon chose to clean their room as well. We believe that this gave him a sense of control and contribution that is vital to his feelings of safety within the family. It has been fun to watch the two boys do more and more together this week as well.

We now have only a week and a half before school begins. Jadon has made tremendous strides through his tutoring (we are so blessed with such an outstanding teacher). He will start the year a bit behind his second grade classmates, but can certainly catch up. It is our hope that prior to going to school that he will continue to feel more and more a part of the family and know that his home is a place of love, security and comfort. His English is getting better all the time, but he still has a tendency to speak very quickly and if you are not accustomed to his unique pronunciation of several words, he can be very difficult to understand. This is a potential source of frustration for his classmates and for him. We pray that he will not feel defeated in school and thereby come to dislike it.

Please continue to pray for all of us. While things have been better that past few days, we still have much to learn and are very fragile emotionally. Pray that God would continue to grant insight into how to help Jadon know his safe and secure position within our family. Pray that we would continue to see him as a greater part of the family as well. Pray for his preparations for school and that huge adjustment--it has the potential to really rock his world.

Thanks to all of you for your faithful prayer support. It is so incredibly needed. Through this experience we have come to know our extreme dependence on God, but also have come to see the grace that He give to us as His own adopted children. It is amazing how God uses things to show Himself!!

Roller Coasters

The past month has brought with it a slew of new experiences for Jadon and new emotional highs and lows for everyone. A few weeks ago Jadon experienced his first boat ride (as far as we know)...on the Mississippi, no less, thanks to Ruth's sister Sharon and her husband Mike. He even braved the cold waters for a quick dip with Uncle Mike a bit downstream of the Dresbach dam. He also got to take in part of a baseball game to watch the Eau Claire Express play. Unfortunately we got rained out that night and had to leave early. But he did get to experience cotton candy for the first time!

He's grown a great deal, both physically and intellectually. His English is quite a bit better. He uses it almost exclusively now (although when he talks fast it sounds more like Chinese!!). He is beginning to learn the importance of using final consonants since it makes all the difference in what some words mean. One day he asked Alan very nicely if he could please have "ay." Alan responded by saying, "Go fish" (since we had been regularly playing a go fish game with letters). We learned from some hand gestures that he had actually wanted an "egg" to eat. We still have these problems, but it is improving.

While things have been improving on this front there are some struggles that we face in the process of establishing boundaries, appropriate behaviors, and relationships. Emotionally, we are all very tired. Jadon seems to be testing boundaries with more regularity now that he has some understanding of home and options around home. With the limitations of the language still upon us this is very challenging since we do not always know if he understands our explanations. It appears to us that Jadon was used to being top dog in his orphanage setting and that he still struggles with being the little brother. His relationships with Kirsten and Andrew run hot and cold at times. He is still a bit clingy to Alan and this creates difficulty for all of us.

Please pray for some emotional equilibrium and stability for all five of us. Pray that Jadon would come to know safety and stability within the family and that his appreciation would be for all the relationships. Pray also for the transition back into the school year. Alan will be back at work pretty full-time next week and the kids go back on September 2.

Among some of the other highlights of the past month are: 1) Kirsten is now a licensed driver. She passed her test the very first time and does a very good job. She has taken the boys a couple of different places and it has been great for her to have that freedom. 2) One week in July Andrew was able to attend a junior high basketball camp at Camp Forest Springs. He really enjoyed it a great deal and felt that God really challenged him and met him there. 3) That same week in July Kirsten spent in Mississippi on a youth group missions trip. She enjoyed being with the people and having the opportunity to go to New Orleans and see so much French. 4) Andrew had the opportunity to go to Hayward for a week with his best friend Jake. Jake and his family have been such a huge blessing to all of us, but especially to Andrew. His time there is definitely a highlight of his summer.

Thanks for your support and hanging in there with us. We covet your prayers and assistance as we seek to learn to be the family God intends us to be. Blessings to you all.

Family Pictures

Our friend Karen has been such a blessing to us over the years. She is the mother of Andrew's dear friend Jake, served as kids Sunday School Coordinator at our church, was a tremendous support to us through so many things (along with the rest of her family) and is a fantastic photographer!! Since she has recently moved to the Twin Cities area, we took the whole family that direction to meet her and her family for dinner and a picture taking outing. As a bonus Andrew went with them to spend a few days. You get to enjoy her great work and great eye here.

Yesterday at church Jadon became very interested in the song "Agnus Dei" especially the Alleluia section. He sang with some gusto there, drew a picture of Pastor Matt preaching, copied some words off of the screen, and then launched into writing "I like my . . ." (an exercise that he is doing in writing a book in his tutoring sessions. He decided that he liked Matt and wrote I like my Matt. I pray that God is speaking to his little heart and drawing him to Himself.

Jadon continues to make steps of progress. Sometimes are slower than others. He has been telling us lately that English is hard, so we are trying to encourage him. He seems to really respond to the encouragement. Pray for him. He doesn't like to be wrong or to make mistakes. Pray for us that we would encourage him honestly and in ways that speak to his heart.

Oh the Glorious Days of Summer

All is not always work at the Rieck house! Today, for instance, we celebrated the Fourth of July quietly as a family - relaxing, packing for various destinations (Kirsten to Mississippi; Andrew to Camp Forest Springs; Alan, Ruth and Jadon to Chicagoland to visit Alan's family for a few days)and, of course, watching fireworks. The day was gorgeous with partly cloudy skies (keeping the temps down which is great because our air conditioner conked out--Yikes!). Happy Birthday, America!

After dinner we pulled out some sparklers for the boys to run around with (Jadon had obviously used them before) and roasted marshmallows...a big hit! Then it was off to watch the Eau Claire fireworks. To avoid traffic problems we decided to try watching them from the parking lot of Chancellor's Hall on the university's upper campus. The view was slightly obstructed but not bad at all. Jadon really enjoyed his first American fireworks display.

On the warm days this summer activities have included splashing on the slip and slide, riding bike and playing at the school playground. A favorite activity is actually digging in the sandbox there.

Jadon is making wonderful progress in his tutoring. His English is improving by leaps and bounds these days too. He has started using complete sentences all in English over the last day or so. It's been refreshing. We have expressed appreciation to him over and over again. He has started acting more and more like the typical younger brother too. Yesterday after he'd been told no one was going to play on the Wii for awhile he ran after Andrew (who had gone downstairs to get his shoes) yelling, "Andrew, Mommy said no 'ping ping'" (Ping ping is Jadon's term for the Wii) I had to chuckle to myself. Things have seemed to start normalizing. God is so good.

Go Fish!

A long time between posts. At this rate nobody is probably checking this anymore. It is a good therapy to write none the less and hopefully someone does read. As we have stated previously, we really appreciate the love and support of everyone and especially the prayer support.

Jadon continues to adapt (as do the rest of us). His tutoring has gone generally very well (although today was less than stellar on his part). We are very blessed to have such a great teacher and tutor and it is making such a huge difference in all of our lives. One of Jadon's favorite activities from tutoring is Go Fish. He has come to know his letters (upper and lower case) well enough to play that game with the whole family. It is good practice when he has to say, "Daddy, do you have M?" The v sound is a challenge, but it gets easier every day.

When we stop to look at all that has happened in the last two months (two month anniversary of Gotcha Day is July 4) it is pretty incredible all that this little man has had to take in. He really has done a remarkable job in that regard.

We had family photos taken on Monday evening at a park in Stillwater. Hopefully we will be able to share some of those very soon, so check back. Please pray for our continued efforts to communicate and understand one another. Jadon now knows how to tell us, "I don't know" or "no understand" so we know when we are making some progress or more is needed. Pray for his continued need to learn language and culture. It has got to be so overwhelming. Thanks much.

Thankfulness

Thankful. That is the meaning of Jadon's name. It also is probably the best word to describe our heart's gratitude to our loving heavenly Father for all that He is, has done, is doing and we trust will continue to do.

There have been times that I've (Ruth) had to remind myself that Jadon's name means "thankful" and that I am truly thankful to the Lord for His gift of him to us. Monday was such a day. Jadon had been showing a lot of favoritism toward Alan which was hard on all of us to the degree that Jadon nearly shunned anyone in the family who wasn't Babby (Jadon's Chinese name for Daddy). I was feeling a bit "bruised" Monday morning when the siren of an emergency vehicle sounded through the house. Jadon was with me at the time. He got all excited, pointed at me and proceeded to act out what appeared to be me dying. I was stunned. I couldn't believe what I was seeing! After awhile I asked Jadon if he really wanted Mommy to die. He replied, "Yes." Again I couldn't believe what I was hearing so I decided to put the question a different way, "Do you want a mommy?" "No" came Jadon's reply back to me. I was devastated. I called Alan who proceeded to call Bechy Zhou (Jadon's ELL teacher who "happens" to speak Mandarin). Becky graciously came to the house later in the afternoon and proceeded to discern that Jadon had been frightened by the sound and had chosen to tease as a way of dealing with his fears. When Becky explained the questions I had asked he demonstrated great sorrow for the misunderstanding. He hadn't understood my questions but had chosen to answer anyway.

That was a turning point. Now that I reflect back I can seen how God used the misunderstanding to bring us closer together. Since that time Jadon and Mommy have gotten along just fine most of the time. We are so grateful to our Lord and Father for His wonderful provision of Becky. His grace constantly amazes me. Not only will Becky be one of Jadon's teachers in the fall, she has started tutoring Jadon in some basic English and math skills. He has a long way to go in order to be ready for second grade in the fall but Becky feels it's doable. So far I am needing to sit close by where Jadon and Becky are working or Jadon refuses to stay on task.

This week we experienced the unpacking of some of the children's books that have been put away for quite some time. Jadon has enjoyed exploring those books tremendously. He has also become much more steady on the bike (starting, riding and stopping), however he needs to learn that when he closes his eyes or tries to look any place other than where he's going he will fall down. Today we made a trip to the local pharmacy on the bike across several streets together. He did great! He used the mandoline to help prepare the vegetables for the grill. He also helped shuck the season's first corn and then helped to de-silk it. He enjoyed the corn very much...an all American boy!! A warm day even allowed us to enjoy dinner on the screened porch. Thanks God!

I am also very thankful for the work God is so obviously working in Jadon's heart. He has started running around declaring "God made me!" He also loves singing along with several worship choruses..."It's all Your's God." He may not completely understand what he is saying, but we are encouraged at the progress of his heart. Again our hearts overflow with thankfulness.

School's Out

It's official. Kirsten is now a junior in High School, Andrew is now a Middle School student and Jadon is going to second grade!! Yikes, time flies.

The week has turned out well. Thanks to everyone who has been praying. Jadon seems to understand that Daddy has to work and is appearing to enjoy his time with Mommy even though he is still anxious and excited when Daddy returns. The week has been very productive. In the past two days he has seemed more interested in learning English words and speaking English phrases. His interactions are a hoot!

This morning Jadon went back to the doctor for a follow-up appointment. It went very well. The doctor was very pleased with his 3 pound weight gain, his increased use of English, his obvious settled feeling and responsiveness, and that his ears were still very clear. She was very encouraging and affirming to us.

This evening the family went to the home of one of Alan's colleagues for a gathering of the Education Cohort faculty and spouses. This is a group of people with whom Alan works everyday in team-teaching students who are preparing to be teachers. This group has really been a key to his enthusiasm and energy at work. He takes things that he learns from them in class and applies them to other classes all the time. We all had a great time. Jadon especially loved the fact that they had a cat and two large dogs. These people also presented a gift card (shower sort of) to Jadon, Andrew and Kirsten. What a great gift. It was a wonderful evening with people that are great colleagues and good friends.

Updates

It has been a whirlwind for us. Jadon went to school yesterday to meet his class for next year. His ELL teacher (who speaks Mandarin) was with him. Believe it or not he was fairly shy in the process. The boys who sat with him were very concerned about him and how he would be successful if he did not understand things. They asked his teacher if he was speaking Spanish. This week is also a big week because Alan is at school pretty much full time getting ready for orientation duties during the next three weeks. That leaves mom and Jadon at home together by themselves since school doesn't end until Thursday for Kirsten and Andrew. Things went well today and we pray that God's grace will continue to sustain all of us through these transitions. Yesterday Jadon and Andrew had a little water fight. Andrew graciously gave the super soaker to Jadon and he was left with a water bottle that didn't hold all that much water (see pictures). Also, you can see the progress that has been made in riding the bike. Now he just needs to learn to start by himself and he will be off to the races.

We're Still Here

Life gets busy doesn't it?

We had a really good Memorial Day Weekend. Jadon and Andrew spent much time working together to defeat the Empire in the Lego Star Wars Wii game. It was good for them to work together and to have some fun. Jadon did more bike riding and became more familiar with the family as Alan's parents and sister came to visit.

It was very difficult for Alan to have his parents leave. He enjoyed having the support and the additional adults with whom to interact. He has always appreciated his parents, but that appreciation just grows as time goes on.

Kirsten turned 16 on Wednesday. Unbelievable that she is at that point already. She is such a blessing. Ruth and Alan commented to each other that they feel more blessed by her than they could ever be a blessing to her. She doesn't agree, but that is probably a good thing.

Andrew won four ribbons at a 5th grade track meet. He was first in every event in which he was entered. He has had a very good year. It is amazing to watch him move quickly from boyhood toward manhood. He is growing physically again, but is also growing in so many other ways.

Jadon is beginning to use more English phrases. He of course still knows more Chinese than English and is a bit frustrated when he can't get his ideas across to us--he tries Chinese with great gestures, but we don't always interpret correctly.

Next week will be a very interesting one for us. Alan will be back at work for Summer Orientation 8-4:30 beginning on Tuesday. This will be an adjustment for Jadon. Pray for us.

More soon.

Referrals for Our Original Travel Group

We are so excited for a group of people with whom we waited for so long. Our original log in date with the CCAA was March 13, 2006. That date finally received their referrals today and we couldn't be happier for all of them. We are praying for them as they take the next steps of preparation to travel and meet their children.

On the home front, Jadon spent some time this morning watching Sesame Street, playing with train, de-potting a plant, and using sidewalk chalk. The afternoon was spent watching Alan's dentist appointment and telling us that he doesn't need to go to the dentist, playing "Star Wars" (sort of) on the Wii, finding some old toys and some creative ways to use them, playing cards with mom (and having the game end after he cheated with a war), and telling us that he was hungry. After dinner it was off to the playground at the school and home for short game and bath and bed.

Everyday Jadon picks up a few more English words. This is helpful, but we need to remember that he has only been here a week and that this is going to take some time. He definitely knows more English than we know Mandarin though.

Ruth's voice improved slightly today since she was trying to avoid using it when she could. She continues to battle fatigue even with sleep. So, it is off to bed now with hopes of a good night's rest and some more energy tomorrow.

Bike and School

A big day in the Rieck home! Jadon found Andrew's old bike and decided that he wanted to learn to ride it. It is Alan's new exercise program. Since we don't have training wheels and Jadon is a bit on the fragile side (doesn't like it when he has any type of scratch especially if it is even slightly bleeding), Alan needs to run alongside to help him balance at this point. He did pretty well for a first time, however.

This afternoon we took Jadon to school to meet his ELL teacher. This was great!!! The teacher speaks very good Mandarin Chinese and was able to talk with Jadon, assess where he is at in his education, and learned a great deal about his personality also. It was such a great encouragement to Ruth and Alan. Based on his developmental level and on his educational level we believe we have a good plan regarding his schooling for next year.

In discussing how to best help him prepare for next year we asked about ideas regarding a tutor for the summer. The teacher suggested that she may be able to help out with that as well. Again, such an encouragement and reason for hope on our part. It was a wonderful meeting and very productive.

Jet Lag Blues (for Mom and Dad, anyway)

Why is it that the kids, who already have more energy than we ever remember having, recover from the jet lag so much easier than do the parents? For some reason the transition back to this time zone has been particularly challenging. Ruth and Alan are both tired of seeing the clock between 3 AM and 5 AM.

The transition for Jadon has its ups and its downs. We have days that seem like we make great progress and seem to understand one another and we have other days when misunderstandings create tensions. We have days when in our efforts to guide Jadon in the path of righteousness we run full into fits and hard feelings. Jadon has finally stopped regular and extended coughing spells. He occasionally has a clearing of the throat or something like that, but he seems much better. He is sleeping fairly well. His language skills are going to need a great deal of work and he doesn't seem to be where we were led to believe he might be with his arithmetic skills either. We hope to get him into school to meet his ELL teacher later this week and get some guidance from her regarding what might be best for his schooling. Please pray that we might have discernment regarding what would be best for him and would facilitate his success without boring him.

Ruth continues to struggle with her voice. The inconsistencies in sleep don't help, nor does the need to talk pretty continuously to Jadon during the day. We welcome your prayers with us for her healing. Alan got his grades done today just minutes before the deadline. Nice to have that behind, now there are other things to catch-up on after the trip to China. Andrew is back into baseball and played his first game (his team's fifth) tonight. They did not win, but he played very well in the field at first base. Kirsten had an orchestra concert last night that was really quite good. We all went and Jadon sat through it well (even though it was almost 2 hours long).

We will continue to post as we can. We appreciate your interest and your efforts to follow our journey and support us. Your prayers have been apparent in our lives and we thank you for joining us in this journey.

Life in the USA

What a first day it was. Jadon, not knowing anything about jet lag and the effects it has on everyone, was ready to get out of bed by 4:30 this morning. YIKES!!! It happened and the day was off. When he got up, Ruth's mom gene kicked in and she was great with him. However, Jadon's volume level is usually fairly high so the rest of us were up for the day as well.

The difficult part of the day for our little guy was his first US doctor's visit. I will spare the details, but the event included flushing out both ears to remove unbelievable amounts of ear wax, blood work, some other uncomfortable tests, a chest x-ray, and two vaccinations (one in each leg). He did fairly well, but cried and cried and of course we didn't have the ability to explain the situation to him. He was a trooper and we tried to express that to him.

We were a bit concerned about how meals were going to go at home. In our travels he was a very picky eater. Since arriving back here he has done well and has tried everything that we have asked. He has even discovered that he likes several of the things that we asked him to try. One thing that is not in debate--he LOVES fruit!! Pray that his willingness to try things and find those that he likes will continue.

After a 1 1/2 hour nap, Ruth and Andrew took Jadon to a local park with playground equipment that he had never seen before. He was unaccustomed to swinging and didn't really know what to do. His attentions were bouncing back and forth between the overwhelming number of choices that he had in the park. When all returned to the house we discovered that the power was out due to a downed line. We grilled for dinner (after a trip to the store while the two older kids took Jadon to the school playground). A trip to the mall to shop for some new clothes (thanks Aunt Paula) and a stop at Target to purchase flashlights (in case the power was not on yet--it was, however) and it was getting ready for bed time.

Pray that we will all get some much needed sleep and rest. Jadon's cough continues to be a problem as well. As you can see in the pictures, the three kids are enjoying getting to know one another.

Home at Last

Yes, we made it back safe and sound.

We arrived at home tonight around 8:20 PM. Overall the trip was pretty uneventful (aside from the smaller children who were screaming for much of the plane trip). Jadon was not overly excited about plane landings. He greeted Kirsten enthusiastically and with great familiarity (Skype is a wonderful thing).

Now it is off to bed for the rest of us--try to get back into this time zone.

More later!!

Day 14--Time to Come Home at Last

This is being written from the Hong Kong airport. We survived the night (with more sleep than expected but not as much as needed). We made it through security, but lost our toothpaste, and found the gate. Jadon is pretty excited about the plane, but it is also obvious that he is a bit scared about this whole process (understandable). Please pray that he would know peace in the process and that God would escort him into his new life with joy. Pray for Alan, Ruth, Kirsten, and Andrew as they adapt to their new lives with another member in the family.

The boys are playing "Trouble" as I write this. Not the most peaceful game they have played since Jadon is not just popping sixes like crazy.

We can't wait to be home!! See you soon.

Day 13--Packing and Travel to Hong Kong

Not a terribly eventful day, other than Jadon coughing pretty constantly and now telling of a sore throat. He has no fever so there should be no problems in travel. Packing was interesting because Jadon wanted to be sure that we didn't forget anything.

We left the hotel on bus around 6:15 and came to the China/Hong Kong boarder around 8:15 or 8:30. That was a process due to health concerns and entry papers that needed to be filled out and lugging all luggage. After finishing the process we walked out to be put onto a different bus than what we had arrived upon. That was unexpected, but it took us to the airport and then we found our way to the airport hotel. When we arrived in the room we discovered that it was a typical overseas hotel and had only two single beds. We called the front desk and they gave us a cot for no charge. Jadon slept on the cot and we pushed the two single beds together where the other three of us will (Alan in the middle). Never a dull moment.

Day 12--Last Full Day in Guangzhou

Today was basically a free day for us. Alan had to be in the room between 10 and noon just in case there were questions about the paperwork that was submitted to the consulate--no problems. During that time Ruth gave Alan the gift of two hours to himself that were much needed and helped quite a bit. After lunch the family took a cab to the White Swan Hotel to meet up with Jadon's friend from the orphanage and his new family. It was great to meet the family with whom we had some contact by blogs and e-mail prior to this. It was fun to have the boys together for some time also. They seemed to really enjoy it. We returned to our hotel in time to say goodbye to three of the families with whom we have shared this adventure as they have adopted children of their own. We pray for them as they take their new family members home to their new lives. It was difficult to say goodbye since these families have been a great encouragement to us during this process.

Tomorrow we have the morning free and will spend part of the time packing. At 3 PM it is off to the consulate for a swearing-in ceremony stating that all we have said is true. Then it is back to the hotel to have our bags taken and prepare to get on a bus for Hong Kong. We will leave Guangzhou around 6:15 PM (5:15 AM in WI) and arrive in Hong Kong around 9:45, check-in to our hotel, sleep, eat breakfast and go to the airport (flight leaves at 12:45 Thursday afternoon--that is 11:45 PM Wednesday evening in WI). It will be a whirlwind. This may be the last blog entry from China (We will try to get one in tomorrow from Hong Kong, but it may not happen). Thanks so much for your support and especially your prayers. We know that it has made a tremendous difference.

Some urgent prayer requests for this day: 1. Ruth is not feeling well. We think that it is just being overly tired, but pray that she would be well tomorrow. 2. Jadon's passport was not completed earlier today. We absolutely need that tomorrow in order to leave. 3. Pray that travels will go well (see yesterday's entry) and that we would have a healthy perspective on the process.

Our journey has only just begun and we desperately need continued support in these days of transition. While it will be great for us to get back home, it will be quite the adjustment for Jadon. It will be a great adjustment for us as well since nothing can be as it used to be (in most ways anyway).

Thanks again for your support and interest. We can't wait to see you again. We arrive in Minneapolis on Thursday evening around 5:30 on United flight 7607 from Chicago.

Day 11--Group Encouragment and Shamain Island

After breakfast today we met with several other families in our tour group by the pool to share stories about what we are experiencing and how God is speaking to us in the process. It was a tremendous encouragement. We were sensitive to the needs of the kids so it wasn't a long time, but it was a blessing. We prayed together and then went on with the day. That meant swimming, lunch and off to Shamain Island for shopping and seeing the famous White Swan Hotel. For those of you who are not in the Chinese adoption loop, that is the hotel where for years families have stayed when they come to Guangzhou for adoption of Chinese children. There are numerous shops around the hotel and the island that cater to the families in this situation. We were able to get some good deals on some small items that we needed.

We are coming to the end of our China trip experience. Several of the families will be leaving our hotel tomorrow evening, heading to Hong Kong and flying back on Wednesday. Those of us who have adopted children from Guangdong Province must wait one additional day for the completion of the necessary process. In many ways it is difficult to see these families leave because they have shared in this journey is so many ways and have been a great support, even if they don't know it. (Thanks travel group). In addition, we find ourselves wishing we were on the same timetable.

As we come to the point of leaving China please pray for Jadon earnestly. He appears to be bothered by something in his ears--don't want this to be an issue on the plane. He has never been on a plane before--he will want to push every button known to man and Alan will be nervous that he is constantly kicking the seat in front of him and bothering others. He seems to be a little less interested in pleasing his new parents all the time as he becomes more comfortable and his extremely strong-willed nature is asserting itself. We expect that this will subside a little bit when we first get home. He doesn't appear to be very interested in Western foods, which will be a problem in a short time if something doesn't change. He has tried things when we have insisted, but don't know if this will continue. Pray for Ruth, Alan, and Andrew also. We are pretty much spent emotionally, physically, and to some extent spiritually. Pray that we get a good night sleep tonight since Jadon woke up last night at 4:30 and thought it was time to get up. It took about an hour of convincing before he finally went back to sleep and then only for an hour or so. I keep thinking about the need "to lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord" (Psalm 116:13). Calling on the name of the Lord is our best hope for all of us.

Thanks again for traveling with us.

Day 10--Guangzhou Sightseeing and Tea

We left the hotel this morning at 9:30 to go to a local museum that was a family temple of the Qing Dynasty. The ornate art work was incredible. There were local artists within the structure doing their craft. The first one that we saw was a gentleman who painted only with his hands--no brushes. It was amazing! The detail and the beauty of this work was not something that I had seen in this manner. The carvings (wood, ivory, stone, bone) were fantastic as well. The crafts that we thought were most unbelievable were the embroidery. There were some that were done with such precision that it looked like a photograph (unfortunately, no photos allowed in this room).

After this adventure it was off to a local tea house, where we learned about the Chinese art of making tea. One of the amazing things is that the tea, when done their way is only in the water for about 20 seconds. They say that if you keep it in longer it becomes bitter. We tasted several teas and were amazed at the pungent flavor of all of them. There are different teas for different ailments. It was a good deal of fun.

This afternoon was a wonderful lunch in the Food Street in the hotel, all the boys went swimming and Ruth was given 2 hours of down time to get some rest (Happy Mother's Day). Jadon took another bath and played a new computer game. Alan did some laundry. Andrew did some blogging, then off to dinner. Back to the hotel for some Skyping with Kirsten, some strong will confronting in Jadon, and then to bed.

I think we all shed a few tears today while missing Kirsten. It is time to all be back together again. Pray for continued wisdom in demonstrating to Jadon the family expectations while maintaining the process of bonding and trust-building. It is our prayer that Jadon would be brought into the security of love while knowing the responsibility of membership in the family as well. Pray that Ruth will sleep well tonight (Alan was pretty restless last night and kept her awake).

Thanks again for following our journey and for taking the time to think of us, pray for us, and write to us. It is a tremendous encouragement to have so many partners in this process. Love to you all!!

Day 9--Medical Check, Paperwork and Some New English Words

The basic events of this day are not terribly exciting. We began with individual pictures of all eight children being adopted in this group. It was GREAT to be with the families that we have not seen since Monday in the Beijing airport. Andrew had very much been looking forward to this. After pictures it was next door for the medical checks--pretty straight forward. After some shopping, where we purchased goggles for each of the boys, some sandals for Jadon since the shoes he came in were too small, and some food (including oreos--an American staple) we were back to the hotel. Lunch and then swimming. Jadon likes the jacuzzi more than the big pool because the water level is more to his size. He became a bit too confident in the big pool and wandered away from the ladder prior to Alan being in the pool. There was no real danger, but just a little bit of a scare (probably a healthy one). Alan spent the next hour and half doing paperwork required by the U.S. government to get Jadon's visa and citizenship. During that time Ruth, Andrew and Jadon played "Trouble" and did a few other things. Then Jadon took his daily bath (on his own request--a time to use the goggles again). Dinner was with several of the other families at the Japanese Restaurant in the hotel--very good.

There is some indication that Jadon is beginning to try new English words. Today's words were "later" (for which we have had a hand signal for several days) and "hungry" (a word that is used frequently in our family even if it is not entirely accurate). It was great to hear them and know that they have meaning.

We are all starting to become a bit worn by the long process. I wish there was more planned for the group so that we didn't have to always be creative in an environment with which we are unfamiliar and uncertain about what creative tools are available. We are all needing some person space that is just not available when four of you are sharing a hotel room. Andrew is tired of being whapped while sleeping by his brother so he has decided to sleep in an easy chair with extensions tonight. He has done a great job and we are so happy that he is here with us. Pray that he will see some rewards for his efforts towards his brother. It is obvious to the parents that Jadon likes and enjoys Andrew, but he is not feeling it much.

Day 8--Trip to Shenzhen and Orphanage Visit

Today was a good day. Unexpected pleasures and some encouragement. It had some challenges, as they all do, but it was productive all the way around.

The trip to Shenzhen is just over 2 hours. As you travel, you never reach a point where you feel as though you are really in a rural area. It is fairly built up all along the way. Yes, there were some farm type fields, but always amidst buildings, industry, business or homes (mostly apartments).

Arriving at the orphanage, it was obvious that it was familiar to Jadon. When we arrived we were met by a worker and taken upstairs where the classrooms are located. There are over 300 children in this facility and it is fairly self-contained. The kids go to school in the building as well as eat, sleep and play. Jadon's arrival was quite the excitement for his classmates. We were told that he is very much missed. He was pleased to be able to show everyone his new things and especially the pictures of his family. (The picture we placed in his picture book of the house with snow drew gasps from the children who have probably never seen snow.) The kids were very sweet and his teachers seemed like very warm, caring, and enthusiastic individuals. They told us a few things about him, the most interesting piece being that he plays a little bit of piano. Jadon looked for his friend whom he knows as Harrison, but who will be called Drew when he is adopted next week. Drew was upstairs since he has had a little bit of a fever. They want him to be well for when his family arrives early next week. We did get to see him when we arrived to see where Jadon had slept. After visiting the play area, they invited Jadon to go upstairs and say goodbye. He went up, came to the door of the eating area, said goodbye, waved and turned to leave. Overall an encouraging trip.

We then went to find the spot where Jadon was found on November 7, 2005. After getting lost, we finally found the location. He was left outside of what we might call a gated-community. It is perceived by those in the area of being filled with more affluent people. It is most likely that his parents wanted him to be found by someone in this community and thereby be given the potential for a better life. Jadon did not recognize the spot since it has changed so much in the past few years with construction. He obviously remembers something of that time, maybe we will hear about it some day. In the meantime, we trust that God will help him to have a growing confidence in his new position as a member of our family.

Please continue to pray for our communication. Things seem to be getting a little better on both ends. We are picking up some of his phrases and he is picking up some of ours. Pray also for the older two children. Kirsten has an AP European History Exam today for which she has spent a great deal of time preparing. Andrew is struggling with some of the transitions, although overall doing well, he has moments where he feels pretty overwhelmed by his new position and shuts down a bit. Pray that God would help him to know the love that we have for him and the love that He has for him and that Andrew would be settled in the certainty of God as the Rock.

Thanks for sharing the journey with us!! We are starting to really be anxious to get home!!

Day 7-- The Guangzhou Zoo and More Testing

Our day started with an early morning visit to the zoo. We saw a variety of monkeys, bears (including a Panda!), big cats and antelope. The whole trip was very pleasant. Jadon did a great job asking to be able to take pictures and returning the camera when he was done. He actually took a few really nice pictures!

After the zoo we went to a nearby 7-11 to purchase some lunch items for Jadon. While I (Ruth) took Jadon to the room, Alan took Andrew and purchased some lunch for the rest of us at McDonalds (Jadon didn't want McDonalds again although the rest of us had that because the price is right). We ate in the room and after a brief rest wandered down to the pool for a swim. Jadon continues to become less fearful of the water. We spent a couple of very nice hours there.

The boundary testing started in the evening. After confronting him over some items he'd taken without permission from my purse (we'd already dealt with this before) Jadon made a dash to escape from the room. When Alan stopped him a great deal of crying ensued...eventually leading to him pulling his hair and slapping himself. At that point Alan enveloped him in a great big bear hug (whereupon the crying turned to screaming--eek!) But after several minutes he settled down. We called Amy (our Chinese guide in Guangzhou)and let Jadon express his feeling to someone who could understand him. It seems the whole incident frightened him (I understand that...it would me too). As we talked about it later Alan likened this process to justification and sanctification. Jadon has been made part of the family (as justification does) but he still needs to to learn to function as part of the family (a lot like what sanctification accomplishes in our lives). I think the whole thing probably did a lot to solidify the relationship rather than weaken it. Afterwards there were smiles and hugs in abundance.

Continue to pray as we learn the best ways to establish the boundaries with love. Pray that our communication will become more and more effective. It's so very difficult for a couple of communicators to feel as though our best parenting skill has evaporated. Also pray that the trip to the orphanage tomorrow will help to bring us together in a greater way rather than create confusion for Jadon.

Day 6--Applying for Passports and Testing Boundaries

Well, the official business of the day was the application for Jadon's passport at the police station. There are several families who were at the Civil Affairs Office on Gotcha Day whom we run into over and over again in different locations and situations since we are all completing the same steps simultaneously. We get to see how things are progressing at each step of the way. Interestingly, everyone seems to remember Jadon. He is quite the charmer.

After the police station if was off to Pizza Hut. The menu was quite different from what we see in the States. Jadon had never had pizza before and would still never have had it if we didn't "strongly encourage" it.

Other than that it was a day spent together doing lots of different things (watching some borrowed Disney DVDs, playing hide and seek with Jadon's yipping dog, visiting McDonalds for lunch where Jadon talked the staff into giving him 2 toys rather than one, and playing with those toys upon return to the room among other things). As we become a bit more accustomed to one another there are new challenges. We are working on communicating boundaries and expectations and not just treating Jadon as though he is a visitor, since he is now part of the family for life. In our reading to prepare for this time many warned that it would be important for the adopted child to know they are more than a visitor and one way was by communicating appropriate expectations as part of a family. We are realizing that since he is older, we don't have multiple times to experiment to get it right. We need to be on our game from the beginning so things are consistent. Ruth has been a great mom. She has a way about her that amazes me. I (Alan) have been a tad overwhelmed today with the magnitude of the task ahead and with my deep desire to get it right for his sake. The inability to understand his speech is difficult for me especially.

Overall, things are great. Jadon continues to tell us that he is happy. He writes his new English name on his drawings. He continues to constantly share whatever it is that he has. (I have had more gum in the past two days than I have chewed in the past two years.) Tomorrow it is off to the zoo in the morning and on Friday we get to visit the orphanage that has been home to our son for the past 3.5 years. (Our guide explained what we were going to do and asked Jadon if that would be alright--He said that it would be. She told him it would be a chance to show us and to say goodbye. Pray for us on this one. It is a great privilege to even have the option of going, but we want it to help the process.)

Thanks, everyone for your love and support. We are blessed to have so many friends, family, and adoption acquaintances share in this journey. We are all (Jadon included) looking forward to coming home next week. Skype is wonderful thing since we have been able to see and talk with Kirsten everyday. Jadon recognizes her as his big sister and enjoys talking to her.

Video from Gotcha Day--Jadon and Andrew with Matchbox

Since we didn't take the camera places on Tuesday (since if it is there Jadon is all over it all the time) we are posting a brief video from Gotcha Day when he and Andrew were playing with the car. This was literally about 3-4 minutes after we met him.

Day 5--It's Official - Getting to Know Jadon

Today started with another trip back to the Civil Affairs office to complete our appointment/interview with the notary (like a judge here)and a civil affairs officer. Jadon charmed the pants off both of them. The interview questions were simple and over in no time. We signed papers and he became officially our son in the eyes of both the Chinese and the United States governments. Yeah!!!!!!

After our brief appointment we had the rest of the day free. We spent some time in the hotel room doing laundry while Jadon and Andrew played Trouble. Jadon has beaten every single one of us in every game he has played. How can one child pop so many sixes?

When Jadon started going stir crazy we went to McDonald's for lunch and then took a walk to a nearby park. Jadon (as well as the rest of us) thoroughly enjoyed that until Jadon developed a blister on his ankle due to putting his shoes on with no socks. This brought a very dramatic display of anguish from our little guy. After riding on Daddy's shoulders everything was fine again. He has expressed several times that he is "happy."

After some rest upon our return to the hotel we all went down to the pool for a swim. Jadon has demonstrated a love of water as he has asked for a bath both days. The pool was a slightly different story at first. He wasn't sure what to think. As time went by his trust level seemed to grow and grow. He even managed to put his face in the water several times, eventually blowing bubbles. He's even warmed up to Pop Tarts and Goldfish crackers which he vehemently denied at first.

We've been told that it may take up to a week to start to see a child's real personality. I think Jadon wears his on his sleeve generally. He is very friendly, greeting just about everyone we meet. He also seems to love to share. We purchased some chewing gum (jasmine flower flavored, I think) which he has shared with us and others from our travel group...over and over again. He has a very independent streak and knows what he likes. His appetite is good but he hasn't gorged himself at all.

He is still coughing quite a bit so please keep praying for him. Our guide called the orphanage director this morning at our request to find out what was up with him. We were told that he was fine until they brought him to Guangzhou. He was up coughing a bit in the middle of the night last night and coughs even as I am writing this (although I think he's asleep). I am hoping he sleeps better tonight (a lack of sleep is not a good thing when dealing with a child as active as Jadon--although Andrew has been a tremendous help). He was pretty tired and seems a lot more relaxed this evening.

Tomorrow should be another relatively relaxed day. We will apply for Jadon's passport in the afternoon followed by a trip to Pizza Hut, but that's really the only thing on the agenda. Please pray we all sleep well tonight.

Day 4--GOTCHA DAY!!!

How on earth do we begin to describe this day???

Up before 5:30 (couldn't sleep). In the bus by 6 AM. On the plane at 7:30 AM. Arrive in Guangzhou at 11 AM. At the hotel by noon. Leave at 2 to meet the children. We were all pretty nervous, scared, excited, anxious, etc. at this point. All of that seems like a blur. What happened next was amazing.

When we arrived at the Civil Affairs office Amy had us look at our paperwork first to be sure that everything was in order. While Andrew and Alan looked over these items carefully in a room where several other families were waiting, a woman walked in with a young boy. Ruth caught his eye and he saw her with a slight hint of recognition. When the woman and the boy returned, we were called up to meet our son and brother. After about 15 seconds of suspense, the woman with Jadon pointed to Ruth and Jadon said with a grin, "Mama." Things were off and running. He especially enjoyed the matchbox car we brought and spent quite a bit of time sending it back and forth with Andrew. The next exciting toy was Kirsten's camera. He took several pictures (as you can see).

We had a chance to speak with his caregivers and learned several things. 1) He is a very active boy. They laughed and said that he was sometimes naughty. 2) He likes to eat--especially meat and fruit (apples). 3) He has known about the adoption for about 3 months and obviously has seen the picture. He knows who Kirsten is when he sees the picture that we posted in January. He speaks a little bit of English and obviously understands more.

A couple of prayer requests: 1) Jadon has a cough and is obviously not feeling his best. Pray that he will get well quickly and that the rest of us don't pick this up from him (especially Andrew who will share a bed with him while we are here.) 2) We want to learn to communicate with him well. Pray that we would pick up on his expressions and efforts to communicate with us and that we would do a good job communicating with him as well. 3) Pray for Kirsten (man do we miss her) since she can't be here in person.

Andrew has done a great job. What a fantastic big brother!!

Thanks to so many for the prayer that has been lifted on our behalf. God is good and his hand in this is obvious to all of us.

Day 3--Day Before Jadon!!

The day began at an English-speaking church service for internationals. You need to show your ID prior to entering. Lots of good songs with people of all colors from around the world, a message and communion. After this we boarded a bus, went to a Jade factory, and then had lunch. The place we had lunch was the cloisonne factory that we visited four years ago. The lunch menu was packed with lots of food, including Beijing Duck. After lunch, a little bit of shopping and off to the Great Wall. We were fortunate because by the time we arrived at the wall, most of the Chinese tourists had left to go home after the holidays. Andrew climbed up to the third full tower with some others in the group. Then it was dinner and back to the hotel.

The real focus of the group through all of this is tomorrow. On the bus by 6 AM, to the airport for a 2 hour 40 minute flight to Guangzhou, an hour drive to the hotel, some freshening up, and off to the Civil Affairs office to meet Jadon. After all this time it is finally here. It seems surreal. Can't wait!!!

Please be praying for Jadon and for all of us as we meet for the first time. Pray that we would have wisdom to interact in the ways that would be most meaningful and helpful to him, to be sensitive to his needs and swirling emotions. Pray that we might all be effective in our communication. Pray for Andrew since he has shared that he is pretty nervous about this. Thanks everyone for sharing in this process!!