Whirlwind

--From June 28th--

Many years ago, my eldest daughter and I would watch the movie Tarzan together and my favorite part of the movie was when Jane would say to Tarzan, while on a tree limb, in a British accent, “Oh I see.’’

The other night while I was out hunting and gathering for supper (looking for Mcdonald’s) for my family in a busy China city it came to me, finally I see. Well, at least I see better. I see we... are exactly where God wants us, out of our comfort zone and that we have adopted a whirlwind.

Many have asked about Lia’s limited vision and to tell you the truth we are still not exactly sure what entirely she can and cannot see. This I know for a fact, it does not hinder her in her daily life. When you meet her, the first thing you will notice is her energy, which we are trying to harness. She can dress herself, brush her teeth, do her own hair, count money, and she can sing directly into a florescent light. She also sings a mean karaoke version of Phil Collin's song, “You'll Be in my Heart.”

Now what does all this mean? I’m not exactly sure I know, but here’s my best shot.
I can't see what the the future holds, but God does, so I will walk close behind Him.

Swavel

One of Those Days

--From June 27th--
Been one of those days. You know the kind when we are learning to adjust to one another. Just can't wait to get home and not have to worry about whether the ice in my soda will make me sick or not.

The highlight of the day had to be getting Lia her first happy meal from McDonald's and Sianna getting chicken nuggets. I know it sounds strange, but I've about had it with fast food. Please continue to pray for grace as our family grows here on the other side of the world.

Swavel

Lessons from a Chinese swimming pool

--From June 26th--

-Just keep swimming. Today I took my 2 daughters, Sianna and Lia to the pool at our hotel. Sianna was swimming away on her own and I was guiding Lia who was using floaties to keep her upright. One thing Lia has going for her is definitely her persistence, like Dori, in the movie Nemo, she just keeps swimming.

- Keep your mouth shut. First off, it keeps you from swallowing water and second, it keeps you from getting into trouble. Lia found out first hand about both of these truths today in the pool.

- Walls are a pain. While Sianna was doing laps, Lia and I were going around the square pool and we kept bumping into the walls. It was getting annoying, but it helped me to realize that walls are there for a purpose. It reminded me of the walls my family and I faced during Lia's adoption. They may have been a pain, but they didn't stop us from following God on our adventure to get Lia.

- Don't ask why so much. I could elaborate on this, but obviously our new daughter likes to ask 'why?' a lot. I don't blame her, we are new to her and her whole life is in flux. There was a time when I used to ask God 'why?' a lot and all it did was give me a headache, so I stopped.

- I cannot walk on water. However, Jesus can and when He calls you out, you better follow. Strange, but while I was in the pool I began to think about this whole journey to adopt Lia and about how there has been one miracle after the other. Jesus continually called us to follow Him even when the waves crashed around us and we began to wonder if it could ever happen. I am so glad that I serve a God who still does the impossible.

Swavel

Tarmac, Translation, Transition

--From June 25th--

Here are a few thoughts, I've been meaning to share with you, about our 2 hour plane trip in China on Friday, that turned into more like 6. It can best be summed up in 3 words: TARMAC, TRANSLATION, TRANSITION.

TARMAC- We started out Friday morning fairly normal and got to the airport with time to spare. Then at about noon when we were supposed to board everything came to a halt. We were delayed i...n boarding and when we got on the plane we just sat there on the tarmac and they served us airplane food for lunch. Not a good sign. All in all we sat there for over 3 hours. Ugh! A voice came over the intercom telling us that the air traffic controllers were denying the plane access to fly. Turned out there was thunderstorms.

TRANSLATION- The week leading up to the flight I had been thoroughly frustrated by the language barrier I had expereince in China already. I guess I shouldn't be surprised most people speak Chinese here and not English, but I guess I'm just spoiled. The best way I found to communicate was the point, flail and wave money method. However, on the plane at the end of the flight I had an English conversation with a Chinese man who was translating questions from a female Chinese passenger. He asked about the girls and their ages and then asked about my son as well. He ended our conversation by stating simply, "you have happy family."

TRANSITION- This whole trip has been about making a transition, but Friday seemed to sum it up so well. Hurry up to get somewhere and then wait on a plane while we heard some British narrator tell us about endangered white rhinos in some remote part of Africa on the inflight tv. Somewhere during that frustrating trip we were all learning a little patience. Not to mention how to expand as a family. Then there is Lia, who you can please pray will learn to embrace us as her family. The poor girl has lost everything she has ever known for 8 and 1/2 years and now has a brand new adventure ahead of her. But, as my neighbor Kass told me "God hasn't brought you this far to let you down now." So, I guess we just stay buckled in, enjoy the flight and wait for a safe landing.

Swavel

Giggling

--From June 24th--

Due to techinical difficulties, this is my first post in a while. So here are 3 things I just discovered that I find utterly fascinating.
1- KFC is hugely popular over here in China. However, if you are a tourist and try to order off the menu, best of luck to you. Because it will freak them out and then they will give you what they want anyway. Moreover, if you want to see people run away fro...m you, like you have the plague, try giving sodas away for free. it's a real hoot.

2- Today during a visit to a local folk art musuem I observed something very unique. Among the many extraordinary exhibits my daughter, Sianna, began to giggle and showed me a piece that was carved out of stone or pottery, believed to hundreds of years old, named "gods of peace and harmony". There was a man and woman beautifully dressed in traditional Chinese attire standing in front of a brilliantly ornate garden. The only problem was the man was missing his head, which had fallen off over time. Read into that however you want, but I just found it stinking hilarious.

3- Yesterday, my newest daughter, Lia, decided to style my hair. So, she got out some hair beadies and a hair brush and went to work. To make things interesting I started humming some haunted house theme music and then a Steven Curtis Chapman tune. She started laughing her head off. Funny how life even here far from home is more fun when you laugh about it.

Swavel

Re-coup

--From June 21st--

Ok. I meant to type this sooner but I was trying to re-coup after our near death expereince my familly and I survived today. So this post will be short. I will simply give you the pros and cons of the day.

PROS- Lia had an awesome day showing us around the Bejing school for the blind and then taking us to Bethel where she spent most of her life. Bethel is especiallly awesome because a French ...couple who love God founded it to serve the least of these. There were many tears shed at Lia's farewell party, but overall an awesome time.
 

 CONS- Our driver for the day got us lost more times than I can remember, ran out off gas and then tried to kill us repeatedly by crossing lanes of traffic even Superman wouldn't have attempted to cross to rescue Lois Lane. The whole day was culminated by Amy and I both grabbing a daughter and running through stopped traffic when we were about 3 blocks from the hotel because we had just had enough.

Alrighty then, I will leave you with this thought I saw on a lady's handbag toady at the blind school.: "Walk by faith , not by sight" or my revision - "Ride by faith , not by sight." 

Swavel

Whoville

--From June 20th--

In honor of visiting Whoville yesterday and in honor of us getting ready to leave to visit the 2 places Lia grew up, I am going to quote Dr. Seuss:
Oh, the Places You'll Go!
Congratulations!
... Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

 I will report our special day tonight when we get home.

2 quick random thoughts :
1-Why in hector is my bathroom mirror hot enough to fry and egg on yet it hasn't burned up our room and no one at the hotel seems to be bothered by it since I told them about it Monday?
2- If you could go back in time and live during Noah's time would you have gotten on the ark?

Remember God is the same, we just must change who we are and follow Him.

Swavel

Comfort Zones

--From June 20th--

Just another day in our life outside of our comfort zone. Two things real quick:

1- We went to a park that looked like Whoville (kind of like Knoebels but not) and I discovered even over here in China I can confuse people. While trying to put my 2 daughters on the tractor ride the operator started frantically waving no and pointing and speaking Chinese. Frustrated I waved my back and couldn't get through to him. Just when I was about to give up, our kindly driver, Mr. Wong jumped up onto the platform, volunteered to ride with the girls and saved the day. Mr. Wong speaks only Chinese and I only English, yet what he did was such an excellent example of how actions speak louder than words.

2-Played an interesting game of Frogger in order to get supper tonight. There is a busy 10 lane or so intersection that seperates us from Subway and I thought I would give it whirl. Everyone here seems to do it without breaking a sweat , why not me. So, with much hesitation I studied the traffic patterns, then gave up and followed a guy who hap hazardardly made his way across in between a moped here and a bus there and a break in cars there. When I reached the other side as Sianna said later I should have Tebowed, but I was too busy thinking of getting Subway sandwiches. Once inside, after I was disappointed Chinese Subways don't make meatball subs I got ham, turkey and roast beef 6 inch sandwiches. After paying I scooted back across the intersection using the aforementioned shadowing technique and safely and eventually landed back at the hotel. Whew!!

Like I said before, Just another day. One last thought, I am so thankful that I serve a God that can cause man to walk on water and me to cross a crazy intersection on the other side of the world.

Swavel

Valuable

--From June 19th--
Just another ordinary day on the other side of the world. Took the family out to KFC. Normal you might say, think again. Here in China when you cross the street you are taking your life into your hands. If a car doesn't pose a problem, there is always a moped or bike or who knows what coming at you. However the Colonel's secret recipe in a bucket is well worth it.

Here on the other side of the world I am finding out that brokeness is more valuable in God's eyes than the appearance of having it all together. And for that I am quite thankful .

Swavel

Journey

--From June 18th--
What a crazy trip. Got Lia today. She is full of energy like she has expresso in her veins. Can't wait to get home. Pray for us all as we adjust.

It is so appropriate Lia's middle name is faith because this whole journey to her has been all about that. God doesn't force us to follow Him, but he so blesses us when we do. Today my family and I are quite blessed.

Swavel