From The Waiting Child

I saw you meet your child today
You kissed your baby joyfully
And as you walked away with her
I played pretend you'd chosen me.
I'm happy for the baby,
yet inside I"m aching miserably
I want to plead as you go by,
"Does no one want a child of three?"

I saw you meet your child today
In love with her before you met
And as I watched you take her out
I knew it wasn't my turn yet.
I recognize you from last year!
I knew I'd seen your face before!
But you came for a second babe.
Does no-one want a child of four?

I saw you meet your child today
But this time there was something new
A nurse came in and took MY hand
And then she gave my hand to you.
Can this be true? I'm almost six!
And there are infants here you see?
But then you kissed me and I knew
The child you chose this time was me.

by Debbie Bodie

The big brother

This is the last weekend we will be able to see Riley before we leave for China so Scott went and picked him up from school. They had a little conversation between them then and had to share it with me. Scott had already been discussing our leaving to pick up Drew to Riley again, and he wanted to tell me what all was said while Riley was still listening. He said "he knows we're leaving Wednesday to go pick Drew up and that we'll be gone for 14 days". He said "Riley said he's excited to get his brother home." I said ,"well that's great!, now you know he won't be able to talk like you do or like we do." Riley said, "yeah, I know all that stuff too. He then asked,"will you still love me?" (Which rather floored us) We told him "OF COURSE, Always and Forever, no matter what, that would never change." He seemed content to hear this and said ok. We later explained that Drew may be scared at first and asked if he would help him out. Scott said,"you know Riley, that he might be scared to sleep by hisself since he sleeps with his family there now,will you sleep in his room with him?" Riley replies,"yeah, OR he can sleep with me in my room, he can just come in there and wake me up." That would be wonderful if it pans out that way. (However, I plan to co-sleep with Drew for a while as he is used to sleeping with his foster mother).

We have our final detailed itinerary!!

We just received our final itinerary today with hotel arrangements, tours, schedule, fees, etc.
Looks like we're staying at the Wangfujing Grand Hotel in Beijing which is located across the street from the Forbidden City. While in Urumqi, we stay at the Hoi Tak Hotel, which is a 5 star hotel. Then in Guangzhou, we get to stay at the very famous 5 star hotel The White Swan which is located on the Pearl River. This hotel is rated as one of the best there and so adored by adoptive families. Looks like all 3 have swimming pools, so I hope Drew will like that. Also looks as they all have a spa too! Oh yeah, momma's getting a massage too. Bring it on!!

Flying our lives away

We have our flight arrangements, just waiting on a couple of seat assignments still. We leave Wed. Mar 26 (2 days before my b'day) from St. Louis to Chicago at 9:37 a.m. From there, we leave at 12:35 p.m., arriving in Beijing on Mar. 27 3:05 p.m. (Interesting how the time changes everything, eh?) For our flights back home, we leave Guangzhou on Thurs. April 10 at 9:15 a.m. to Toykyo,Japan getting there at 2:30p.m. We leave from there at 4:40p.m. , to Chicago arriving at 2:19 p.m.-U.S. time. Then, we fly to St. Louis arriving at 6:11 p.m. Guess what the big kicker is? It's still Thursday April 10!!! Talk about pulling an all nighter...good thing my old body is used to the torture from working swing shifts. Here are some more interesting figures I wanted to share. I just found out that from the start of our flying adventure from St. Louis to Chicago, to Beijing, then onto Urumqi to get Drew, then to Guangzhou-that the total air miles we rack up is 10,388 miles! That's all before we even get to leave China to come home. However, coming home, it will be a total of 8,358 miles just to St. Louis. Gee, too bad we don't invest in some frequent flyer miles.... Did I also mention that on the last two flights I was on, I got air sick? Man I hope this isn't going to be one big pukefest. Drew will be so grossed out!! haha Let's hope those scopalamine patches work!!

Legacy Of An Adopted Child

Once there were two women who never knew each other
One you do not remember, the other you call Mother

Two different lives shaped to make you one
One became your guiding star, the other became your sun

The first one gave you life, and the second taught you to live it
The first gave you a need for love, the second was there to give it

One gave you a nationality, the other gave you a name
One gave you a talent, the other gave you aim

One gave you emotions, the other calmed your fears
One saw your first sweet smile, the other dried your tears

One made an adoption plan, that was all that she could do
The other prayed for a child, and God led her straight to you

Now, which of these two women, Are you the product of?
Both, my darling, Both, Just two different types of love
~Unknown