This trip has proven to be very different from the last trip here to get Luke. Same homesick feeling for sure though…maybe even worse since I don’t have my girls  here with me like last time.  Adopting a teenager is way different than a 6 year old.  Communication is a much harder thing and much more necessary to form a bond.  Aaron has a lot to say and has a lot of questions because when we are with our guide, which is just a few hours a day, he is very talkative, but then we get back to our room and instant silence due to our language barrier.  With Luke, even though he was difficult and misbehaved, we could communicate so much easier.  Aaron just plays games on the iPad, watches Ultraman videos, and gets on QQ, which is like what our kids do in America through snapchat, twitter, etc. I keep telling myself we’re in survival mode and it’s like John and Alex told me, “At least he’s good.”  I very much miss Steve and the kids! Probably hardest part of it all, just trying to stay connected at home without being there.  I know this is a huge undertaking for Steve for me to be gone, and I’m sure Luke is riding heavy on Ellen….but I’m really proud of them all. Just one more week and Mama’s home! 

Yesterday we visited Aaron’s school and orphanage.  He was not keen on us going to the school but our guide and the ladies from the orphanage all told him it would be good for him to say goodbye.  Once at the school we waited at the gate for the guard to open it and once opened Aaron refused to go in. Myself and the others went in and one of the ladies stayed with him outside the gate.  At our arrival there, hundreds of kids were playing outside.  Several ran up to me and started saying “hello.” I was told they all wanted to use their English they are learning. We went up to the third floor and met his teacher.  After speaking with her for awhile, the children began coming back into the classroom from outside playing. Just then Aaron showed up in the classroom.  I guess they convinced him to come in. He stayed at the back of the classroom and stayed distant from everyone.  One boy in particular came up to him and handed him some cash folded up. Aaron laughed, shook his head and motioned it back to him.  The teacher told me this was his very good friend. So we made sure we got a picture with him.  The teacher settled the class down and motioned for Aaron to come up to the front. She spoke about him leaving and starting a new life in America.  She spoke with such emotion and tears…it was very touching.  Then some of the children stood and spoke to Aaron giving their well wishes.  A few girls cried and came up to the front to give him gifts….like pens and things from their desks. I think it was totally improv. Then the teacher presented a gift to Aaron from the class. It was all very moving. We said our goodbyes and left the school. Aaron did not seem to have any emotions, good or bad, of leaving.

Once back in the van, the ladies were teasing Aaron about the girls crying.  It was really cute.  He just smiled and no response. The orphanage was not a far drive down the road. Once you entered the building the bottom floor is a hospital and we took the elevator up to the 13th floor. Once off, we saw all the little children of the orphanage that are not school age.  They were trying on outfits for a program coming up. All so cute.  I took pictures so that Aaron would have to remember them all, but was told not to share them at all on social media. Many special needs among the children, but all so loving to one another. We brought a hefty bag of 400 dum dum suckers so Aaron opened and proceeded to hand out to everyone.  We were able to see the room where he slept, and all the daily happenings of his life at the orphanage. He was quick to point out the older boys pictures to me of who had already been adopted.  Right now, Aaron is the oldest at this orphanage. I have been thanked many times while here by the guides, the orphanage workers, his teachers, etc. for taking him and giving him a life. They also tell me at the orphanage and his teacher at school that he is a very kind boy, always kind to everyone. They say he’s a “good boy.”

When I asked if they know anything about his life before he was brought to the orphanage at age 9, they said it was a very painful time so they do not ask or talk about it with him.  I asked if he had gone to school before he came there, and they said no. I’m sure school has been hard if never went before age 9. He seems like a very bright kid though….at least I know he can work electronics with no problem!

When we met for the first time, the first thing he asked was “Where’s Baba?” I think that speaks volumes as to how he looks at the father figure in a family.  The other question he had was, “Will they be nice to me?” and then later he asked, “Once I turn 18, then where do I go?” Such very interesting questions and what thoughts for a 13 year old. He continues to have lots of questions about our upcoming trip to Guangzhou and then onto America.  He’s asked me, “do we just eat hamburgers and pizza?” I was happy to let him know that we have a rice cooker. He also seems to be very worried about schooling and how he will learn and if he will be behind.  I’m sure the feeling is very safe for him now because he is still able to communicate with the guide and others here, but very soon that level of communication will be gone and I pray that he will be able to weather the storm as he learns English and slowly enters our world.

Kids playing at the school

Aaron with his teacher

Sitting at his desk

Aaron with his good friend

Aaron's classroom

His class

Favorite teacher at the orphanage

Aaron's picture outside of his bedroom

Aaron's bed. 4 boys shared this room

Computer room at the orphanage

Study room at the orphanage

First few days with Aaron

It is Tuesday night here in Changsha and Aaron and I have been together two days now. On Monday morning the guide and I went to the Civil Affairs office to meet Aaron.  The orphanage called to say that they would be late due to traffic (so funny, the same happened with Luke) so we went to the third floor and waited in the reception room. I decided to take a look out the window and maybe I would see when they drove up and thank God I did because just then they pulled up and I was able to get it on my camera. Aaron looked very anxious and excited as he got out of the car and rolled his suitcase in while at the same time manueuvering with his crutch. We hurried to the elevators and then were able to capture our meeting on camera also.  He seemed much smaller than he appeared in the pictures.  The ladies with him pointed at me and immediately said "Mama" and then he said Mama and smiled. Everyone talking in Chinese and I had no idea what they were saying....but must have been good because everyone smiling.  We had paperwork to do so lots of going back and forth between rooms. Later that day we went back and finalized all the paperwork. He brought with him the photo album I had sent and I also had brought a new one. We looked through the pictures with the ladies from the orphanage.  The ladies told him, "You have a big family now, Mama and Baba and brothers and sisters. They will love you forever." Then he asked, "but will they be nice to me?" Of course everyone answered. What a question? A question like that leaves a lot of questions of where he has come from and the situation before coming to the orphanage at age 9.
One of the first things he asked is if I have a computer.  I did bring my laptop and a portable DVD player. It's a good thing because that's about all that we have done! Lol! I also brought an iPad so whichever device he is not using I use the other.  I've never played Candy Crush but have taken it up now, so look out! Also, found a few American speaking channels so good to go.  He wanted me to get QQ which is like a social network site here in China.  Once we subscribed and set it up he was so happy.  He mainly plays games.  He loves Ultraman, so went shopping today and bought lots of Ultraman episodes. He is a smart kid, really understands the computer, and picks up on things quickly.  He has a lot of questions about what is to come. Our guide translates for us when she is with us. When she is not with us, it's silent.  My google translate app works only when we have wifi. Tomorrow we visit his school and get to say goodbye to his teachers and classmates and we will also visit the orphanage. I hope to have pictures to share.

First meal together back at the hotel.  I ordered noodles with soy bean paste and he ordered hamburger and fries...they brought him a club sandwich though when the hamburger took over an hour

In the elevator with his new toy

Trip to the supermarket for snacks and drinks. Aaron asked for a toy. It's some sort of yo-yo thing.  He said all the kids at school want one.

This was in the middle of the day. So funny...he hopped over to the made bed, unmade it and got in. He's watching his Ultraman videos we got today at a book/video swap meet.

First few moments together. Taking our picture for Aaron's registration/adoption papers

On our way to China!

Today is May 22, 2015 and I’m in route to bring home our son, Aaron! This whole experience has been a complete miracle! There were obstacles along the way that sometimes I worried it all would not get done and done quick enough, but sure enough it all worked out. God is in all things good! I truly believe that God had his hand in this from the beginning, and I pray that God will hold Aaron’s hand as he transitions into this new life with us.  As I sit on this 16 hour flight I think about my family that waits at home for us, I think about this child in China that waits for my arrival, and I think about Steve’s parents, his brother, and our precious little Michael and their involvement in all of this from Heaven.  My family at home…what can I say, OMG what a wonderful husband I have to agree to take one more child into our home and be the provider for one more.  Sometimes he can be a pain (Lol…I am sure he is thinking the same about me) but he has a big heart and I love him dearly for being on board with me and where I so strongly feel God has led our family. Same for my kids….a friend brought it to my attention recently saying how great that my kids are willing to share mom and dad’s time and attention, and to open their hearts and our home to another child.  I hadn’t really thought of it that way but that is so true.  So proud of them and the sacrifices they are willing to make in order to show love and bring another into our family. And then my precious boy, Michael, in Heaven….oh, how I miss him and every day wish he were here, but I know he is with me everywhere I go and I know he is a part of all of this. And last, there’s Aaron Qian Ping, who waits for my arrival in China.  How exciting and scary at the same time for him. I can’t imagine what that must feel like to be alone in the world at 13 years of age and then have a stranger step in and say they will be your family and take you away to a foreign place.  I’m so happy to be in this position to be here and to be on my way back to China for this child.!!! I hope and pray that he will be as happy to see me too! When we went for Luke, I wasn’t very fond of China and had no plans of going back any time soon….but then all that changed when I learned of this boy. I really thought that maybe some day years down the road we would possibly go back and adopt a cute little special needs girl….but God had a different plan.  Never in my wildest dreams did I think we would adopt a teenage boy, but here we are! .  Thanks be to God!