We did a little shopping today and had the first rain during our entire stay in Guangzhou. You could actually see blue sky at times. Amazing!
We are tired and frayed, and so ready to be home. We can't wait to get up in the morning and start our return voyage.
We fly Delta flight 18 from Shanghai to Atlanta, and arrive in Atlanta at 6:45 pm, where Ahna will officially become a US citizen. We leave Atlanta on flight 1708 at 9:30pm with a 10:56 landing in Cincinnati's CVG airport. Ahna looks forward to seeing friends and family at the airport, and oh by the way, we will be with her.
See you all soon!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
winding down, one more day
From Bill: Internet very slow, not sure if this will work, but am hitting "post" anyway.
Simmons Family, all together
Our attempt at the red couch photo at the White Swan
It's 9:00 pm here. Internet has run very slow for the last couple of nights around this time. I am going to post pictures while I can. They cover 2 days. Enjoy.
Find Pictures Here
Simmons Family, all together
Our attempt at the red couch photo at the White Swan
It's 9:00 pm here. Internet has run very slow for the last couple of nights around this time. I am going to post pictures while I can. They cover 2 days. Enjoy.
Find Pictures Here
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
day 13 - guangzhou, and the countdown to home
What do you get when you try to photograph about 13 babies and young children in the middle of the afternoon during naptime? A little bit of chaos! Add to that: siblings and parents and other family members, the very patient travel guides with 5 or 6 cameras each around their necks...... and it is just pure craziness! Poor fussy babies - all so that we self-absorbed parents could get the group photos and the famous red-couch photos, that we all wanted.....
So, after the photo shoot, our trip took its final turning point. We traveled to the U.S. Consulate here in this capitol of the Guangdong Province. There our entire travel group went up the escalators to the 5th floor, where there were probably 20 or so other adoptive families waiting. After getting in line and showing our passports, we took a seat for just a few minutes. An official stepped forward and congratulated us all, then asked us to raise our right hands. We then swore before the powers that be, that everything we'd signed and reported during this long adoption paperwork process, was true. It was that simple. We were not able to take a camera in that place, so it is just a memory to have in our heads and hearts. There, they handed us Ahna's passport and visa, and her very valuable immigration papers which we will carry into the United States. And the moment we land on U.S. soil and meet with immigration authorities, our daughter will be declared a citizen of our great country.
It is with bittersweetness that I write this. How blessed we are that she is ours. But there is a tinge of sadness for the country she is leaving behind. Some would think me crazy for thinking such, but it is hers. This China. Our sweet guide, Maggie (who has lived in China always), reminded us all today, that though our children are American, they will also always be sons and daughters of China. She said during the first few days of our trip, that although we are visitors in this country now, once we've adopted our Chinese children, we are considered friends. She asked us to appreciate the homeland where our daughters came from, and to teach them to do the same. And we will do our best.
Most of the families from our travel group leave tomorrow morning for travel home.... we are ready to go, but must wait until Friday morning. Since we were able to fly using air miles, our flight leaves later....
Sorry to leave you with my mixed emotions, but the internet here is really acting up tonight. We will not post photos until tomorrow, since the service is not lasting but moments at a time. I know...... how dare we!
So, until tomorrow....
So, after the photo shoot, our trip took its final turning point. We traveled to the U.S. Consulate here in this capitol of the Guangdong Province. There our entire travel group went up the escalators to the 5th floor, where there were probably 20 or so other adoptive families waiting. After getting in line and showing our passports, we took a seat for just a few minutes. An official stepped forward and congratulated us all, then asked us to raise our right hands. We then swore before the powers that be, that everything we'd signed and reported during this long adoption paperwork process, was true. It was that simple. We were not able to take a camera in that place, so it is just a memory to have in our heads and hearts. There, they handed us Ahna's passport and visa, and her very valuable immigration papers which we will carry into the United States. And the moment we land on U.S. soil and meet with immigration authorities, our daughter will be declared a citizen of our great country.
It is with bittersweetness that I write this. How blessed we are that she is ours. But there is a tinge of sadness for the country she is leaving behind. Some would think me crazy for thinking such, but it is hers. This China. Our sweet guide, Maggie (who has lived in China always), reminded us all today, that though our children are American, they will also always be sons and daughters of China. She said during the first few days of our trip, that although we are visitors in this country now, once we've adopted our Chinese children, we are considered friends. She asked us to appreciate the homeland where our daughters came from, and to teach them to do the same. And we will do our best.
Most of the families from our travel group leave tomorrow morning for travel home.... we are ready to go, but must wait until Friday morning. Since we were able to fly using air miles, our flight leaves later....
Sorry to leave you with my mixed emotions, but the internet here is really acting up tonight. We will not post photos until tomorrow, since the service is not lasting but moments at a time. I know...... how dare we!
So, until tomorrow....
Monday, July 28, 2008
is it day 12 in china? i am so losing track....
It's Cindi....
I gave up last night on getting to type anything, when Mr. Photographer's "I'll be done in 20 minutes" turned into an hour, then I got sleepy and lost track and thought I'd get a good night's sleep, and left him with his photos and the computer.
It's a bit after 9 p.m. here in Guangzhou, and Mr. P. and Jacob and Eli are just returning from McDonalds. Eli didn't fare so well with our yummy meal at The Banana Leaf tonight. He was doing great with all the new food when we first arrived in China, but I think he's ready for some roast and mashed potatoes. As we all are. He did try a little pork neck and banana pancakes, but the lamb and chicken cartilage skewers just didn't do alot for him. There was also some sort of citrusey chicken and a noodle-bean sprout-shrimp dish, both of which were quite good. We went to the restaurant with our travel group, so Maggie and Rosa, our amazing guides, took care of ordering for us.
And about the trip to McD's: on the way back from there, as they were crossing a pedestrian bridge, my guys were asked if they wanted some "Hashish?? Marijuana??" Of course, Mr. P. politely declined. "Bu yao, xie xie." (Don't want, thanks).
The earlier part of our day was spent relaxing in the hotel room before meeting our group for an afternoon trip to a temple. Honestly, I don't remember its name, but it's in the photos. I only remember the heat. :-) It was more of a museum and had beautiful relics from past centuries. It was pretty much an open-air courtyard with rooms of art and shops, which were not air conditioned. So, since it was 100 degrees by 9 a.m. this morning and probably 110 when we were there, I pretty quickly took Miss Ahna back to the waiting bus. Let me tell ya, the heat and humidity and smog here, are every bit as REAL as one reads that they are. When we woke this morning, I mentioned that it looked like it was going to be a cloudy day. Mr. P. reminded me that there was not a cloud in the sky.... there is just this white haze that hovers over the city. It is something else.
We also spent about an hour on Shamian Island, which is a short bus ride from our hotel. We'll shop there more, later this week, but today we headed straight for the White Swan Hotel and browsed a bit, before plopping a sleeping Ahna down on a famous red couch to nap for about half an hour.
Our little flower, or Bean Sprout as her daddy has called her today, just keeps blooming a bit more every day. Her sweet high-pitched giggle comes easily, and she evokes much collective laughter out of this family. We get back to this room, and she starts smiling; then we approach the bed and she starts leaning back, as she anticipates falling onto that mattress to just PLAY and cuddle with her towel and her family. Family. I think she knows we're hers, now. She knows that we're madly in love, smitten, completely taken with who she is.
To God be the glory!
And one last note: Ahna is officially cleared to be a U.S. citizen, and tomorrow we attend a Swearing-In Ceremony for her at the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou. Yay!
Today's Photo's Here, by Mr. P!
Sunday, July 27, 2008
China and a girl
Bill posting-
Its late and Cindi could not stay up to wait on the photos to post, so I will leave a quick update.
We had a great day today again. This little girl likes to wake up slow, but she finishes strong and hard. The video clip is from late tonight before bed, and you will see what I mean.
She really has become Ahna in these last days. She has just been a joy to be around. It just makes your heart smile all day long.
We were up this morning to join the group on a shopping trip to Shamian Island. It is the required stop for all adoptive parents. Think Gatlinburg shopping for adoptive parents and you get the picture. Ahna fell asleep in her carrier and got a good nap in.
We came back to the hotel around lunch time and went to the Pizza Hut next door. It was either actually better than home, or we just missed home a lot. I don't know which one was truer, but we loved it. Ahna did not like pizza, and still thinks we are crazy for eating solid food.
We had some chill time in the afternoon and Ahna took her nap. We later got a taxi and ventured out on our own for some shopping. We found a Chinese restaurant to eat at while we were out. At the restarant next door they were pulling eels and fish from live tanks and smacking them on the sidewalk to prepare them for the chefs. We passed on the live seafood, but were the only anglos in the restautant. It was a lot of fun. We stuck to things we could identify and somehow we never got the rice we ordered.
Back to the hotel by 9:30 and time for Ahna to make us all laugh until our sides hurt. At least a good hour of hilarity. She is something else.
Tomorrow our consulate appointment comes. We don't actually go, our guides take our paperwork on our behalf. Then Tuesday we go for the swearing in of citizenship for Ahna. We have to stay around the hotel until noon tomorrow in case we have to sign something or these is a question about our documents.
That's where we are now. We continue to spend every moment reminding this little wonder that we will be here everytime she wakes up. That we won't be going anywhere and that she can count on us. She is learning that it is true. And the truth is changing her. It is a beautiful thing to behold.
Here is the video for the day:
Here are today's photos, sorry if there are too many
Its late and Cindi could not stay up to wait on the photos to post, so I will leave a quick update.
We had a great day today again. This little girl likes to wake up slow, but she finishes strong and hard. The video clip is from late tonight before bed, and you will see what I mean.
She really has become Ahna in these last days. She has just been a joy to be around. It just makes your heart smile all day long.
We were up this morning to join the group on a shopping trip to Shamian Island. It is the required stop for all adoptive parents. Think Gatlinburg shopping for adoptive parents and you get the picture. Ahna fell asleep in her carrier and got a good nap in.
We came back to the hotel around lunch time and went to the Pizza Hut next door. It was either actually better than home, or we just missed home a lot. I don't know which one was truer, but we loved it. Ahna did not like pizza, and still thinks we are crazy for eating solid food.
We had some chill time in the afternoon and Ahna took her nap. We later got a taxi and ventured out on our own for some shopping. We found a Chinese restaurant to eat at while we were out. At the restarant next door they were pulling eels and fish from live tanks and smacking them on the sidewalk to prepare them for the chefs. We passed on the live seafood, but were the only anglos in the restautant. It was a lot of fun. We stuck to things we could identify and somehow we never got the rice we ordered.
Back to the hotel by 9:30 and time for Ahna to make us all laugh until our sides hurt. At least a good hour of hilarity. She is something else.
Tomorrow our consulate appointment comes. We don't actually go, our guides take our paperwork on our behalf. Then Tuesday we go for the swearing in of citizenship for Ahna. We have to stay around the hotel until noon tomorrow in case we have to sign something or these is a question about our documents.
That's where we are now. We continue to spend every moment reminding this little wonder that we will be here everytime she wakes up. That we won't be going anywhere and that she can count on us. She is learning that it is true. And the truth is changing her. It is a beautiful thing to behold.
Here is the video for the day:
Here are today's photos, sorry if there are too many
Saturday, July 26, 2008
our little hermit crab - Day 10: Guangzhou
I thought today of days on the beach when the boys would "chase" hermit crabs, as if they could really catch up to one. Hermit crabs, with their borrowed shells discarded by other crustaceans and found on the beach, and taken on by Mr. Hermit as a temporary home. A shelter from the elements. A haven and a place to hide. According to Wikipedia, this name of the hermit crab is a reference to the idea of a "hermit living alone in a small cave." There is, however, a species of hermit crabs who have "abandoned seashells for a free-living life." One of these is the King Crab. Or in our family's case, the Queen Crab.
Today, we have seen Ahna creep out from beneath her protective shell in a miraculous way, and we praise the Lord for His work in her sweet life. It's as if she all of a sudden decided that her "borrowed shell," her protective coating, was just too heavy to bear anymore, and she just ran out from under it. Oh, she still hides and retreats, but we see clearly that she's starting to discard that shell that was never hers to begin with. It was but temporary....
She has let us smooch her to pieces today; has giggled and been the silliest little girl; has mocked us and rolled and is scooting herself all over the place; and has loved being pulled up so that she can try to stand. There has been very little resistance to our affection today, and it has been a blast to watch. Yesterday, she was the little one who cried or whined most of the time. Today, she has had a smile for most anyone who tries to get one out of her. We know that there is still much adjustment to be made, but we are thrilled at the happiness and light we have seen in her today. (most of the photos posted today are of yesterday's events, but we'll try to get back on track tomorrow.)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Not much to say about our day, since Bill's photos tell the story so well. The medical exam experience was just like we'd heard it would be: big crowds, lots of crying babies, and waiting. Ahna did weigh in at 21 pounds! For a baby who doesn't yet eat solid food, she is coming right along. :-) The boys stayed in the hotel while we took Ahna for the medical exam. Eli still has a fever and sore throat, but when he's had Motrin he feels like a new guy. Thanks for praying. He read all those comments today, and I know he appreciated them.
Tonight we walked a couple of blocks to an Italian restaurant, where they have purified water and ice. Cold drinks were wonderful! Most of the families from our travel group went; what a supportive, bonded group we have become. It is great to be a part of it. I'm sure a few photos of that meal will be in the next grouping by our resident photographer, Bill.
That's it for now. More tomorrow!
Today, we have seen Ahna creep out from beneath her protective shell in a miraculous way, and we praise the Lord for His work in her sweet life. It's as if she all of a sudden decided that her "borrowed shell," her protective coating, was just too heavy to bear anymore, and she just ran out from under it. Oh, she still hides and retreats, but we see clearly that she's starting to discard that shell that was never hers to begin with. It was but temporary....
She has let us smooch her to pieces today; has giggled and been the silliest little girl; has mocked us and rolled and is scooting herself all over the place; and has loved being pulled up so that she can try to stand. There has been very little resistance to our affection today, and it has been a blast to watch. Yesterday, she was the little one who cried or whined most of the time. Today, she has had a smile for most anyone who tries to get one out of her. We know that there is still much adjustment to be made, but we are thrilled at the happiness and light we have seen in her today. (most of the photos posted today are of yesterday's events, but we'll try to get back on track tomorrow.)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Not much to say about our day, since Bill's photos tell the story so well. The medical exam experience was just like we'd heard it would be: big crowds, lots of crying babies, and waiting. Ahna did weigh in at 21 pounds! For a baby who doesn't yet eat solid food, she is coming right along. :-) The boys stayed in the hotel while we took Ahna for the medical exam. Eli still has a fever and sore throat, but when he's had Motrin he feels like a new guy. Thanks for praying. He read all those comments today, and I know he appreciated them.
Tonight we walked a couple of blocks to an Italian restaurant, where they have purified water and ice. Cold drinks were wonderful! Most of the families from our travel group went; what a supportive, bonded group we have become. It is great to be a part of it. I'm sure a few photos of that meal will be in the next grouping by our resident photographer, Bill.
That's it for now. More tomorrow!
irresistible
From Bill:
We are sorry we weren't able to post anything new yesterday. Cindi will post more details later, but I thought I would feed folks' hunger for photos this morning.
We left our hotel in Nanchang about 3:00 yesterday and got to our hotel in Guangzhou at 9:00 p.m. This morning we were up and at 'em to take Ahna for her Visa photo and her medical exam. The photos in the link cover this journey.
Enjoy!
Click Here for Today's Photos
We are sorry we weren't able to post anything new yesterday. Cindi will post more details later, but I thought I would feed folks' hunger for photos this morning.
We left our hotel in Nanchang about 3:00 yesterday and got to our hotel in Guangzhou at 9:00 p.m. This morning we were up and at 'em to take Ahna for her Visa photo and her medical exam. The photos in the link cover this journey.
Enjoy!
Click Here for Today's Photos
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