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

Introducing....

"Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible." ~ Corrie ten Boom

_________________________________________________________________

Introducing...

Lia Faith Swavely

We have finally received our "letter of approval" from China which means, we have officially been approved to become Lia's family! Our journey has been a faith filled adventure. We've been amazed to watch God erase many of the barriers that seemed insurmountable. We are so grateful for all your prayers and gifts because you have been a part of our miracle!

Lia is a spunky 8-year-old girl. Her birthday is September 10th and she is visually impaired. Periodically, we receive updates and here is some of what we know, Lia always has a smile, is loving, and is quick to laugh. She is a smart little girl and is the loudest in the class when it comes time to shout the answers. Outside of class, Lia is a ball of energy, jumping on the trampoline and running around to her heart's content. She is truly her own person, and will make anyone laugh with her silly antics. At a field trip to the Hilton Hotel for a cooking class, Lia showed her bright, silly nature by spelling out words in Braille in chocolate chips on all her chocolate chip cookies.

If all goes well, our hope is to travel in early summer to bring Lia home. When we began this adventure, we doubted whether it would become reality and then God showed us this verse, "But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed." and here we are almost 3 years later.

Please pray for Lia as this will be a huge transition as she leaves behind everyone and everything she has ever known and adjusts into her new family and life.

~Aaron & Amy

Finally Official

On Wednesday, April 4th, Amy and I enjoyed a shining moment when we received the long awaited 'Letter of Approval' (LOA). In adoption terms, it is akin to Indiana Jones finding the Holy Grail. We are finally, officially approved to become Lia Faith's family. Now we must remain patient as the process will be completed over the next few months.

Despite the joy of finally getting that much closer to bringing Lia home, I have been experiencing a rather uneasy feeling lately. It is difficult for me to admit such, but when I look back on my life it is nothing to be ashamed of, but rather just a phase I believe many fathers and parents go through. Allow me to explain.

When I was twenty-one and standing at the front of a church waiting for Amy to walk down the aisle, I had an uneasy, nervous feeling. What happens if we aren’t compatible or she finds out how annoying I can be or if it just doesn’t work out? All those nervous feelings went away when I saw her coming down the aisle.

I was twenty-three when our son was born and I remember standing in the doorway of his hospital room holding him feeling inadequate, unworthy, untrained, but strangely I felt a strong sense of purpose and worth I never experienced before. It was a mission I could not fail, a sense of hope.

When I was twenty-five our oldest daughter was born. Since I had never had a sister, I felt uneasy and ill-prepared wondering what I had to offer a girl. The answer was simple and freeing at the same time: I had only to give myself, but that was all I needed.

Eleven years later, Amy and I flew halfway across the world to bring our second daughter home. This time I felt uneasy and a little crazy. Quite frankly, I’m an unorganized person attempting to adopt a ten-month-old little girl from China. However, my wife is very organized and with God’s blessing we brought our daughter safely home. Through it all, God spilled His grace all over our lives.

Now Amy and I are preparing for the final adoption stages when yet again, we will fly to China this time to bring Lia home. I assume she will also be nervous and scared. It’s hard to imagine at eight-years-old having to relocate to a different home, different country and live with people she’s never met. She will meet new friends, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. She will have to adjust to a new language, new foods, new sounds and smells, and a new school.

Throughout this adoption process we have met with our share of uncertainty. Yet, it’s been an opportunity to exercise our faith in ways we would never have imagined had we just said no thanks and kept moving on with life.

So, why the uneasiness, I guess it’s just par for the course. Nervousness seems to be a precursor to events that bring great joy for years to come. So, bring it on.

Swavel

Detoured

This may get a bit involved so just stick with me. The other month I had an epiphany that trigged three thoughts: redirect, let go, look forward.

In August, I had dropped my twenty year old son off at the airport so he could fly halfway around the world to South Korea. Jordan and I were departing ways when I turned to leave and took one last glance to see the back of his Cliff Lee Phillies shirt causing me to blink the tears away .

It seemed strange I felt this way because I was glad that he had the opportunity to study abroad. So, for months it eluded me till about a week ago it dawned on me, like a delayed epiphany.  My life has been detoured.

Detour #1: Redirect

To bring you up to speed, I must take you back twelve years. It was 1999, a time when it seemed that I had it all together. I had a job as a limo driver, was in line to one day own the business, had two kids was happily married and planned ultimately to be alone with my wife when the kids moved out. Then something happened, God detoured us.

The two kids I did mention in the above paragraph are now currently out of the house. Yet my wife and I are not alone as our nine year old lives with us and are seeking to expand our family yet again through the adoption of an eight year old.

Often detours take you places you would never go on your own, scary at times, but full of adventure. Our life is not what we had planned; it is much more daring than I would have ever conjured up. My family and I are doing things we never imagined we would or could for that matter. Sometimes God just takes our plans and shreds them into tiny pieces, then he redirects us somewhere different, yet better.

Detour #2: Let Go

Bear with me for a moment as I give you a little background on my son and I. Have you ever been in a no win situation. Many years ago, I was faced with a situation when I had to choose between my eldest son and my daughter who was two years younger. They both needed me desperately at the same precise moment, but I could only be at one place at a time. It seemed terribly unfair to me and in some ways I blamed God. So, for a few years, I carried that weight around, among other things, until I realized some things just happen, no one needs to be blamed. Good comes with the bad, that’s just life, again like a detour you have to go with it or you never recover. Learn from the pain and let it go.

Once, Jordan told me when he was playing high school baseball that I did not need to come because he knew I would be there with him in spirit. God knows what He is doing and even though I can’t always be with my son or any of my kids all the time, He is. And that is enough for me. God has been amazingly wonderful to me and I never deserved one second of it, so my past failures I choose to leave behind me.

Detour #3: Look Forward

I used to take life as it came, but my latest detour has been to adopt God’s way of thinking and look forward and plan ahead. Our adoption has been proceeding along slowly but surely. Since everything has become definite on the adoption, we have chosen a name for our newest daughter. Her Chinese name has “Li” in it pronounced Lee (like on the back of my son’s shirt) and since everyone in our immediate family has the letter “a” in their name we thought it was only fitting she have an “a” too. So we’ve chosen Lia.

My wife and I have quite the eclectic family. We have a son born to us who is residing in Korea, a daughter whose address is Heaven, a daughter who was born in China who is living with us, and a daughter, who is residing in China, who we must wait for till she becomes ours. Yet in all of this craziness, God is blessing us.

Just the other day I realized how blessed I truly am. At one time in my life, I almost lost my entire family and now I am seeking to expand it. From this vantage God looks more than fair. I guess it depends on how you are looking at life or the season of life you are in at the time. I am learning to look forward and adopt God’s way of doing things because He knows better than I do. What I find terribly ironic is what God has for us is much better than what my feeble mind could conceive. What I saw as a detour God saw as opportunity to direct me to his path.

“Don’t think you’re on the right road, just because it’s a well beaten path.” ~ Unknown

Swavel

Adoption Update: We have received our approval of our I800A which is from United States Immigration and Citizenship Services. It took 74 days to receive the approval notice. Now all our paperwork being sent to Harrisburg for state seals and then onto the Chinese Consulate in NY for authentication. This step will take about three weeks. So we wait again....