What's for dinner?

If you take one look at our Chunky Monkey Zeke, you can tell he's a good eater.  You don't get to be 32 pounds at age 2 by holding back at dinner time!  In fact, I've been teaching Zeke a few baby signs to help him communicate, and the signs he has mastered are "eat", "more", and "all done".  You know....the important things!

But, it has taken a little time for Zeke to warm up to the taste and textures of American foods, and he still prefers rice to french fries (crazy, I know!) and noodles to pizza.  So, I've tried my best to make some of the Asian dishes that Zeke was fond of in China because let's face it, we all need a little comfort food now and then.  However, I'm afraid my cooking skills are greatly lacking in this area.  My sticky rice is REALLY sticky but not in a good way, and my congee soup doesn't at all resemble what I saw on the breakfast buffet at our hotel. So, as a matter of survival, Zeke has plunged into the world of American cuisine faster than I preferred.

On Thanksgiving day, I fed him early since our lunch wouldn't begin until after noon.  But, as soon as I fixed my plate, he began circling my food like a scavenger bird and gladly excepted anything I was willing to share.  So, here's the lowdown of all Zeke tried and loved at Thanksgiving: turkey, ham, cornbread dressing (both regular and jalapeno), deviled egg, pea salad, pasta salad, green bean casserole, broccoli rice, buttered bread, and many many desserts!  He was one stuffed turkey!

Zeke loves fruit, and I often turn around in the kitchen to find him eyeing the apples and oranges in the fruit bowl.  :)

Enjoying grapes and goldfish before bedtime (all while balancing on a balloon!)

After he stole one of Levi's chicken nuggets!

Jet Lag...the struggle is real

As you can see by the pictures, it's been awfully exciting around the Williams home lately.  That is, exciting if you visit around 2am because that's when the whole family is awake and things really start hopping!

Unfortunately, we are struggling to change our internal clocks over from China time to Texas time.  That 13 hour time difference is a killer and can wreak havoc on a body.  A few of the symptoms of jet lag are insomnia (check), daytime fatigue (check), and irritability (double check!).    Jet lag....ugh.  The struggle is real, folks, and the only solution we've found is to give it time.

You might be experiencing jet lag if:

1.  You wake up and think you are still on an airplane.

2.  You prefer pizza for breakfast and eggs and cereal for dinner.

3.  Your children beg for bedtime, or better yet, put themselves to bed.

4.  You can't remember what day it is, and you really don't care.

5.   You can't recall the last time you were out of  your pajamas, and you really don't care.

6.   Your suitcases are lying in the living room unpacked.....and you guessed it, you really don't care.

7.   Your oldest child who NEVER stops talking (bless his heart!) falls asleep mid sentence.

8.   Your youngest child, who loves to eat, falls asleep in the high chair.

9.   Your five year old asks you, "Mommy, when are we going to start doing school work again?" and you think to yourself, "Maybe next fall.  I mean, lots of kids repeat Kindergarten and end up just fine, right?"

10.  Your house is a TOTAL disaster.  (Please refer to #4-6 to see if I care.)

They say for every hour time difference, it takes one day to adjust.  13 hours=13 days.  So, according to my calculations, we should be feeling pretty normal by Thanksgiving Day which is good because I'm not sure I can show up to holiday lunch wearing my PJ's. :)

Random pics from the trip

Feeding fish at the hotel

At the aquarium 

Being silly

And even sillier...

Zeke got his first toy to call his own, and he wasn't giving it up for nap time! 

Playground pics 

Love this sweet smile!

On the home stretch!

We are on the home stretch now!  We leave early Thursday morning to begin the long journey back to Texas. There are so many things I miss about home: my family, my bed, Mexican food, guacamole, chips and queso.....  Oh wait, I digress!  But, mark my words.  We WILL be stopping on the way home from the airport at El Fenix so this Tex Mex gal can satisfy her craving!

There are many things I love about China too.  This is my fifth trip to Asia, but each time I visit, I discover something new and interesting that you rarely see in the US.   So just for fun, here are five things I've seen only in China:

1.  Weird flavors of American snacks.
Raspberry Oreos?  Yes please!    Seaweed Pringles? Ummm....I think I'll pass.

2.  Duck transport truck.  

If you travel I-30 in East Texas, you'll see trucks packed with tiny cages transporting chickens to the 

Pilgrims Pride plant in Dallas.  But in China, you are more likely to see a duck truck like the one I saw on the way to the orphanage this week.  A few of the little fellas had already given up the good fight.  :(  They knew they were destined to become Peking Duck for some family like the one in the movie The Christmas Story.  (If you miss this reference, shame on you!)

3.  A wine vending machine...in a government building nonetheless.  Not much to say on this one.  Just a bit strange.  

4.  An entire country of ONLY CHILDREN, as in no siblings.  In China, you never see a young mother juggling a toddler while also pushing an infant in a stroller.  Everywhere you go, it's families of three.    Father, mother, child.  China has recently relaxed its One Child Policy significantly, and I will be interested to see if families go against the status quo by having two children.  But, a Chinese Duggar family?  Not likely.  

5.  People everywhere, young and old, exercising and enjoying nature. The parks in China are spacious with beautifully landscaped lawns, fish ponds, and walking trails. There are huge play areas with  amusement rides designed especially for young children. But, what I love the most is watching a group of older adults unashamedly practicing Tai Chi or ballroom dancing on the park promenade.  Makes my heart happy! 

We are T-minus 2 days until our flight!  There are so many things I will miss about China, but one taste of those enchiladas, and I'll know I'm home! 

  

Consulate Day

I'm often asked why the adoption trip takes 11-14 days in country.  Good question!  The short answer is, you guessed it, bureaucracy.   A quick google search gave me several definitions of bureaucracy, but this one sums it up perfectly.

bu·reauc·ra·cy

• excessively complicated administrative procedure, seen as characteristic of bureaucracy.

  "the unnecessary bureaucracy in local government"

  synonyms:

  red tape, officialdom, paperwork

And, add to that the fact that TWO governments are trying to work together to make something happen, and yeah....you get the idea.   So basically, we complete 1-2 hours of paperwork or procedures each day, and then we spend the next 10-12 hours watching Netflix, playing endless games of War and Go Fish, or sightseeing.

But today, we crossed the finish line of The Great Adoption Race of paperwork and procedure: United States Consulate Day!  This is the day we hand over the culmination of the week's work of documentation, take the oath of citizenship on behalf of our child, and receive his visa to travel HOME to the United States.  Can I get a Hallelujah?!

We arrived early to the consulate, cleared security, and headed to the Adoption Unit.  The first sign read, "Please take a number and be seated."  Oh boy....flashbacks of waiting for hours at the DMV to renew my license came flooding in, but thankully, this visit didn't take long.  :).

When our number was called, we made our way to the window and handed over a giant envelope of documentation.  The clerk reviewed our paperwork, asked a few questions about Zeke's special need, and then took our oath on behalf of Zeke.  Easy peasy!

So, Zeke will travel home on a Chinese passport with a visa to enter the US.   At our first port of entry (San Fransisco), we will hand the immigration officer his adoption decree along with a few other items, and Ezekiel Mufung Williams will become a United States citizen.  That will make all the bureaucracy so worth it!

We made it!

A few pics from Consulate Day:

Church in China

This morning, our family worshipped at Guangzhou International Fellowship Church. Chinese citizens are greatly restricted on when and where they can worship so this particular church is for foreign passport holders only.  As our family entered into the sanctuary, we were warmly greeted by brothers and sisters of many colors and nationalities.  Awesome....just like heaven.

As the music began, I was taken back to the last time I attended this church.  It was six months ago when I was in China on an adoption trip that ended in heartbreak and despair.  At that time, I was weary.  So weary.  And honestly, I didn't feel much like worshipping.

However, while alone in my hotel room, the Lord in His great mercy delivered a verse to me that became the foundation from which I would build the remainder of my time in China.  It comes from the book of Habakkuk.

Though the fig tree does not bud

and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails

and the fields produce no food,

I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.   Habakkuk 3: 17,18

And so, from this verse, I decided that I would CHOOSE praise, and I would CHOOSE worship. Because let's face it, no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in, the Lord is worthy of our praise.  And, even in the midst of our grief and despair, He is so worthy of worship.  

So......fast forward to today. I sat in the same church surrounded by my loved ones including my new son Ezekiel whom I happen to think was perfectly meant for our family.  As I glance down the aisle at my family of five, my heart is full and I'm reminded of yet another verse.

1There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens:

time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance....   Ecclesiastes 3:1-4

Everything has a season, and today is my season to heal.  I have weathered a season of mourning, but today is my season to laugh.

When the time came, we accompanied our three kids to children's church where the class was learning the sign language to a special song to perform at the upcoming Christmas service.   The song of choice was one of my favorites, Silent Night.  As the teacher began singing and signing, Zeke's eyes lit up and he began to imitate the sign language to the best of his two year old ability.  And then, we came to the line "Jesus, Lord at Thy birth", and my son Ezekiel took his tiny, chubby finger and pointed to the palm of his other hand to perfectly make the sign for JESUS! The tears began to flow!

Yes, my son, that is JESUS.  He is our Savior, our healer, and the One who walks with us through the many seasons of life.  There is a time for everything, and today is my time to dance!

Orphanage visit

Today, we all loaded up in the van and headed to the Social Welfare Institute of Longgang District in Shenzhen City, the orphanage Zeke called home for the last 18 months.  The traffic in China is awful so our 90 mile trip took over 3 hours, but once again, the kids were troopers.

We sat down with the director that allowed us to photograph Zeke's orphanage file containing information on his arrival there including the cutest, little ink footprint.   The director also gave us a few early pictures of Zeke.  I'm so very thankful for these as often with international adoption, there are so many pieces missing about your child's early life.

We discovered Zeke was quite the ladies' man as several young, physical therapy aides came in to 

greet Zeke, take a farewell photo, and give him candy.  Through the translator, these ladies told us they had awarded Zeke the title of "Most Handsome" in the orphanage.  I tearfully thanked them for 

loving our son, and they expressed their own gratitude that Mufeng will have a forever family.  

Then,  it was time to tour the orphanage.  No matter how many orphanages I visit, I never get used to the eery quietness of a place that is brimming with children.  No silliness, incessant babbling and talking, or squeals of delight that are so common with kids.  It was nap time in Zeke's room but there didn't appear to be much sleeping going on, but instead row after row of little ones playing quietly in their cribs.  The orphanage was fairly clean and well maintained.  It was open air without A/C but the weather now is perfect and the breeze was refreshing.  Our kids tried out the orphanage playground and enjoyed getting to stretch their legs a bit. 

Zeke was stone faced most of the time we were at the orphanage.  I was worried about the way he would react seeing his nanny again, and while there were definitely tears when it was time to say goodbye,  he went with us willingly.  As we left out the front door, we heard shouting overhead.  When we turned around, several of the orphanage workers were yelling "Farewell Mufeng!" from the third story window.  It warmed my heart to see the love they had for our son, and I will always be grateful for their care and provision.  I'm thankful we were able to visit the orphanage, and even more thankful that Zeke can now close that chapter of his life as he joins his forever family. 

Physical therapy aides 

Precious footprint

Sibling Love

Levi is all boy, and we've always said that he needs a brother.  You know, someone who loves to wrestle, sword fight, and talk about bodily functions.  ;-)   So, these last few days with Zeke have been a treat for Levi.  He really adores his little brother, and no one can make Zeke laugh like Levi.  I look forward to seeing their bond grow as they spend more time together.

Meanwhile, Sophia has really embraced the role of big sister.  She is constantly tending to Zeke by sharing drinks, snacks, and toys.  She even shared her favorite Chinese noodles today at breakfast.   Every time we leave the hotel room, she wants to make sure Zeke is coming too (as though we would leave him!) and insists on helping to push the stroller.

I'm so proud of my kids.  I realize this is just the honeymoon phase and that sibling rivalry will rear it's ugly head, but for now, I'm  savoring these sweet moments.

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! 

Psalm 133:1

And then there were FIVE!

There are so many emotions tied up in Gotcha Day for everyone: the child, the adoptive family, and the foster mom or nanny.  I tried to warn Levi and Sophia that Zeke might be frightened and not too happy to see us.  After all, Zeke had not been counting down the days until this moment for months like our family had, and all that was familiar was being torn from him.  I retold the story of Levi's Gotcha Day when Levi cried for 7 straight hours refusing to be consoled until he fell into an exhausted heap asleep on the floor.  Yea, Gotcha Day is tough. 

And as expected, poor Zeke was terrified and clung to his nanny as she tried to place him in my arms.  He screamed and shook, and our hearts really broke for him.  His nanny was so sweet, patient, and determined.  One by one, she joined our hands with Zeke's hand and quietly spoke the Mandarin name for mommy, sister, etc.  She was able to console him long enough for the kids to bring out the toys and snacks we had brought.  I've won many a child with Cheerios, bananas, and suckers and thankfully, Zeke was no exception.  :) 

And then, the kids and I began to do what we do best....act silly!  We rolled the matchbox car on our arms pretending it was tickling us.  We made funny faces and giggled.  And, we dropped a toy phone on the ground with a giant "Uh Oh!".  (That last one I WILL regret as Zeke has already picked up this behavior and toys are flying, but hey, desperate times call for desperate measures.)  It wasn't long before Zeke was joining in the silliness, and Adam and I could see that he was going to fit in just fine! 

Here are a few things we've learned about our new son:

1.  Zeke is a BIG BOY!  He weighs about the same as Sophia (30 pounds) and is only a few inches shorter than her. Sophia is such a nurturer and wants to be mommy's helper so I had to chuckle a little seeing her give her giant "baby" brother a bottle. 

2.  Zeke was greatly loved at the orphanage.  His nanny and orphanage director kept returning to check on him, take pictures, and share special nuggets of information  about our son.  They reminded me of proud parents showing off a cherished child.  For this, I am beyond grateful.

3. The nanny told us Zeke was completely potty trained, but I suspect  he may regress a bit.  In fact, back at the hotel, he took one look at the Western style toilet and decided he would hold it! (This is exactly how I feel when I walk into a Chinese restroom and find only squatty pottys....You want me to do WHAT in WHERE???). 

4.  For a child with hip dysplasia, Zeke is extremely mobile and FAST!  We don't see much lopsidedness in his walk or run, but I suppose time will tell on this one.  

5. Zeke is smart! Like I said, he quickly picked up the Uh Oh game,  and Zeke can imitate just about any action.  He even imitated the English words of Mommy, Daddy, Bubba, and Chow-Chow ( our nickname for Sophia).  I have a feeling he will pick up English quickly.  

All in all, a blessed day.  After returning from the civil affairs office, we ate a quiet dinner in the room, played a little with cars and stacking cups, and then called it an early night.  Zeke was asleep between Adam and me in about two minutes and is still snoozing peacefully as I write this.  

Day One

Our day began early since our bodies are still on Texas time.  After breakfast, we were free to grocery shop and explore around the hotel.  We found an awesome indoor play area for kids with slides, trampolines, zip lines, and tons of other activities.   

Of course, Adam and I had to join in on the fun.  However, things look a bit different when two (almost) 40 year olds join the fun!  Not too graceful...

We survived!

We made it! 3 flights, 2 connections, and 19 hours in the air, and we survived!  And, all with a 4 and 5 year old in tow.  Maybe it was the arsenal of electronics we carried onboard: 2 I-pads, 1 Kindle, 3 phones, and a portable DVD player.  There was one point where Levi was watching Lego movie on the I pad while playing Angry Birds on the I Phone....I mean talk about every boy's dream!

I won't lie. It was exhausting. About 11 hours into the second flight, I got a little discouraged thinking about the next leg of the journey.  Once in Beijing, we had to get off the plane, clear immigration, claim our luggage, proceed through customs, transfer to the domestic terminal, recheck our bags, clear security, and make it to our gate for flight #3.  All in two hours and at 2am our time.  But, our kids were total troopers and made the long haul with excitement and great attitudes.

Now, it's 6am here in China.  After a few hours of sleep in our hotel, we are all awake watching movies and binging on Wheat Thins and Chips Ahoy.   Aahhhh, the good life!  We meet Zeke tomorrow!

Packing

This picture just about sums it up.  PACKING....ugh.

I hate packing. It stresses me out!   I procrastinated as long as I could, but I knew the time had come to get busy.  So, I dropped the kids off at Mimi's and got to work.  Zeke is packed, the kids are packed, and I'm almost there.  I (politely) told Adam he was on his own!  So tonight, he threw a few shorts and T shirts in the bag and called it a day.

China here we come, and whatever I forgot, we'll just buy there!

Getting close!

We recently sent a care package to Zeke which included a cake, stuffed animal, and a picture album of our family.  And, we were blessed with some new pictures and videos of Zeke opening the package.  I think he is just about the most handsome thing ever!

You may notice the sling on his right arm.  The orphanage informed us that Zeke fell and broke his arm but that he is receiving proper medical care for it, and his arm is on the mend.   Our family has been praying that the Lord heals Zeke's  body and prepares his little heart for the big transition coming his way.  The name Ezekiel means "the Lord strengthens" and this is our prayer for our son.

So, the countdown is on.  We leave for China on October 30th, and Gotcha Day is November 2nd!

Introducing Zeke!

Drum practice at Korea Camp

Our family recently attended Korea Camp, a heritage camp for Korean adoptees and their families.   Imagine walking into a room with over 150 Asian adoptees.   For me, this experience is profound. When I walk into that room, my heart begins to soar, and I feel a deep stirring in my soul.  I'm brought to tears by the smiles and the laughter of the kids.  I feel close to my Heavenly Father.

So, why is my reaction so powerful and emotional?  Because that is the way the Creator wired me.  He embedded deep into my heart a love of adoption.  He gave me a passion for an area of the world I have only visited a handful of times, and He gave me a husband that shares this passion.

As many of you know, our most recent experience with adoption was devastating and heartbreaking. We needed time to grieve and regroup.  But even as difficult as that journey was, it didn't change our love for adoption or our desire to grow our family through adoption.  And so, we press on......

I would like to introduce you to our son, Ezekiel Mufeng Williams!

Zeke is 2 years old living in an orphanage in the Guangdong province of China. and we can't wait to meet him!   We are hoping to travel to China in late October to bring Zeke home.  And when I say "we", I mean our whole family will travel together!  Adam and I may have completely lost our minds thinking we can travel internationally with three little ones who are age 5 and under, but if nothing else, it will make for some good stories, right?  :)

We feel blessed to have such a supportive family, friends, and church community, and we ask that you pray for our family as we welcome home our son Zeke.