On July 18, 2001, Amber and my world forever changed. We became first-time parents. As Logan Michael Don McCulloch entered our world, we had no idea that the changes ahead involved more than diaper changes and midinght bottle feedings. The very structure of our schedules, our routines, and most importantly the very make-up of our hearts were to undergo tremendous changes. One can never fathom how much the compartment of your heart will be filled, be remodeled, sometimes taking a beating, but always be filled to capacity with joy and pride and love for the new little life you will watch grow up and become an adult someday. As every parent knows it is a magnificent, terrifying, tear-inducing , BEAUTIFUL journey. Each of my four children's births will forever be among the VERY best days of my life. I could never imagine my life without Logan, Scout, Quaid, and Sawyer. Their arrivals into our lives have brought years of priceless memories and love and joy that are what I believe make life the VERY best it can be. And here I am. In Taiyuan City, China. On November 7, 2016. Amber and I had taken a train from Beiijing into the heart of China to adopte Zhao Huangyi. Once again, we were about to see our world change again in tremendous ways. In the two days that we have spent with Zhao Huang Yi, it is evident that he was meant to be in our family. Amber and I already recognize traits in him that mirror Logan (He is a Leader) and Scout (He wants to please others)and Quaid (He is kindhearted) and Sawyer (He is a fun jokester). And there is no one to credit this perfect match except God. On Monday, November 7th, we climbed into a van and drove to a poorer section of Taiyuan City where the Social Welfare Institute is located. Thirty minutes later, Amber, Meggie (our absolutely awesome guide and interpreter), and I walked down a long, dark hallway of the institute, walked through a door, and saw our new son, Jonas, sitting in grey sweatpants and a black hoodie. His wide eyes looking bewildered at the events that were about to unfold. As we hugged his temporary caretaker, Hannah, and hugged him, my mind was trying to comprehend the events that were unfolding. For a half hour, we signed, filled out paperwork, and fixed a red thumbprint to every signature we made. Then we walkd out the door, on this Forever Family Day, with twenty four hours to determine and make a decision that we had made nine months ago already. I can't imagine what must have been going through Jonas' head. Here began his journey to leave the foster family he had been with for ten years, to soon leave the city he had known his whole life, to leave the country of his language and culture. My hurt was heavy for him, but the joy and bright smile he carried on that first afternoon with Amber and I showed us what a positive, accepting boy he was. While I have no idea what his upbringing was like in that foster home, his family raised a kind and sharing and curious and condident boy. As we went to a local Shanxi restaurant for noodles and then to Haagen-Daas for ice cream, he has showed over and over again that he relentlessly wants to share, wants us to enjoy what he is enjoying. The interesting snacks we've bought him from the local Walmart (that is a whole other blog post), inlcuding dried and salty peas and "beef-flavored chips", he NEVER eats without INSISTING we must eat one. When we have eaten out, I have had the "pleasure" of trying unidentifiable items that he has shoved into my mouth because he wants ME to enjoy what he is enjoying. As we move from place to place, his limited English DOES include "Ready?" and "Thank you" and "You're welcome" and.... "Come on Baby!!" But the most present aspect of his presence is his smile and laugh. We can tell that he is enjoying his time with us. He likes to laugh at my silliness (which comes without any attempts at trying). He soaks up the one-on-one attention that Amber gives him when watching a subtitled version of MINIONS or PENGUINS or when she is teaching him English words for items in the bathroom. He just smiles and smiles and smiles. He appreciates the dollar store toys we brought and the winter hat that we gave him. While he loved chocolate ice cream at Haagen-Daas (Who doesn't?), he is not sure how he feels about Papa Johns pepperoni pizza (Thank you God for the presence of a few Western food restaurants!). He did eat almost a whole order of cheese-sticks, so we have hope that he will adapt well to the cooking and eating habits of our family. So he had his first slice of pizza with us, and we believe that he is expereiencing many "Firsts" or events that he rarely experienced, like riding in a car and swimming. While it takes him about an hour to slowly enter the pool, once he was in, he loved taking rides on my back across the large pool at our hotel. He loves to play Minecraft and Plants Versus Zombies. He loves, like his dad, to snack and to eat. And he loves hugs and to cuddle. Yesterday, we drove back to the orphanage office. After being asked a series of questions, writing his desire to be adopted into our family on official documents, Zhao Huang Yi agreed to become Jonas Timothy Huangyi McCulloch. As he playfully answered questions of the orphanage director, our intrepeter shared that the director felt he was getting a GOOD family with REALLY good parents and she told us that Jonas was very smart and would also occasionally be a "naughty boy". He smiled at that comment. After our own interview and more signatures and thumbprints, we left the orphanage office parents of a 12-year old Chinese boy. We now eagerly await, after some more appointments here and in Ghangzhou, our family being reunited and....complete.
1 Comment
Renae
11/9/2016 05:32:38 am
I loved reading each and every word!! This is a journey we all have been able to watch , share and love with you and your family!!! I keep thinking of the Lord we love and share and how he has been there right along with all of you❤️ So exciting!! Thank you for sharing your life and faith with all of us!!
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