Orphanage Trip

This morning we had the opportunity to do something that we could not do on our last two adoption trips - visit our child's orphanage. We had the privilege of meeting Aiden's foster parents and a couple of his foster siblings. Aiden had lived with this foster family for the past two years - the foster apartment is on the orphanage grounds. It was a very special time. We also visited a few sections of the orphanage where we were able to see several babies. The orphanage seemed to have many caregivers. Aiden's school was also part of the orphanage - he wanted to show us that but it was determined that that might be too disruptive.

Aiden didn't seem to be affected by the trip - in fact he seemed eager to show us around. But in the afternoon we could tell that he was missing his foster parents. We knew that time would come. Please continue to pray for him as he makes the transition to his new home. A late afternoon swim seemed to get his mind off things. By the way, Aiden seemed to be very close to the girl in the picture, his foster sister. He has been wearing (since we got him) a necklace she made for him. We've been told that she too will soon be adopted.

Aiden loves to play on the computer - where he has been learning the alphabet. He also likes to play on the Leapster (a handheld educational game system). We bought him some books to also help him with his English. Adam picked up a Chinese Sponge Bob book.

Tomorrow we take a trip to the zoo. The journey home continues...

Tengwang Pavilion and the Terrible Towel

Those of you who have been following our journeys know that we believe that each of children have been uniquely prepared for us by God. So it should also follow that we believe God has called each of our children to be Steeler fans. Many of you, we know, would be disappointed if you didn't see Aiden in a Steeler shirt holding the Terrible Towel. So here his, in front of Nanchang's most famous landmark, the Tengwang Pavilion. This pavilion was originally built over 1,300 years ago and has been destroyed and rebuilt 29 times. So in a sense - just like the Steelers, you can never rule them out - they keep coming back.

While at the Tengwang Pavilion we ran into Sissi, our guide from 4 years ago when we where here to adopt Makayla. Our current guide, Lilly, ran into her first. While they were talking we recognized her and she actually, after a moment, recognized us. In the picture, Sissi is on the left and Lilly on the right. Sissi, 4 years ago, tried to teach us Chinese nursery songs to sing to our little girls. Lilly has been wonderful helping us out with our boys as we tour and shop.

We have had the opportunity to meet several families from all over the U.S. who have come to adopt little girls. We also met a family today from New Zealand.

Adam continues to do well. We went swimming again today. Aiden and Adam are blowing bubbles as we type. Tonight he gets to say Hi to his new sisters over the phone. Tomorrow we are going to visit his old orphanage where will will also drop off some new clothes and candy.

Many thanks to all for the prayers. God has been amazing as always. We miss our girls and look forward to talking to them tonight. We think of our son, Jeremy, now in Bahrain, and how much we enjoyed his company on the last trip.

The journey home continues...

First Full Day with Aiden

OK back to the present,

Today we spent our first full day with Aiden and it was quite a day of discovery. We started the day with the boys just playing in the room. We learned that Aiden is very good at math as we would write down some addition and subtraction equations and he would solve them with ease. He also sang "Happy Birthday" in English for us and said the numbers 1-20 and most of our alphabet.

We went to a science museum where the kids had a lot of fun. Most exhibits were "hands-on" and they had a big play section. The museum almost didn't let us in because the boys were supposed to be in school. But our guide shared that they were adopted and not in the city schools.

Aiden went swimming for the first time. He was a bit scared at first but quickly adjusted and had a great time.

We also learned the need to learn a few new Chinese words to communicate things like "Stop (doing what you are doing)" and "Quiet' (he can get quite loud). Are guide has been great in helping us get a few points across.

He has a healthy appetite and uses chopsticks very well, and is not too bad with a fork. He needs to learn to finish the ice cream before he eats all the cone.

So all is well. We do miss our girls, Mackenzie and Makayla, very much. We missed Mackenzie's first loss of a tooth - but believe the tooth fairy made it to her OK. We wonder what it will be like for Aiden when he leaves China to a place where all he will here is English and the only Chinese he will here is short words and phrases that mom and dad have been able to learn.

The journey home continues...

Xi'an

OK - since we couldn't blog earlier - let us recount the first part of our trip. We decided to go to Xi'an instead of the customary Beijing trip because we wanted to see something different - and we really wanted to see the Terra Cotta Warriors. So we flew into Beijing, collected our bags and went through customs, then checked onto Air China and after a 1 1/2 flight delay we were on to Xi'an. We arrived there about 27 hours after leaving Dayton. We arrived Saturday night, spent all day Sunday and most of Monday sight-seeing and then left Monday night for Nanchang.

The highlight of our trip as we mentioned earlier were the Terra Cotta Warriors. They were made to be part of the emperors burial tomb from the first emporer or king of the Qin dynasty back around 22o something BC. supposedly to protect the tomb. Over 8,000 life size soldiers, chariots, and horses were believed to be made. They were found when a farmer was digging a well back in 1974. We got the autograph of that farmer!

We didn't realize how important Xi'an was to the history of China and how long it had been the seat of power in China. It is also the starting point of the Silk Road, a very important ancient trade route in China that also passes through Lanzhou (where we got Adam). We stopped at a silk factory and bought our girls (we miss you Mackenzie and Makayla) some silk scarves.

We really enjoyed our guide - and we had a guide all to ourselves. She told us that she didn't have a favorable impression of Americans adopting in China - but that changed with us. She was initially surprised at all the luggage we had for a two day tour - but when she realized we we at the first part of a two week adoption trip she was amazed at why we would would want such a large family and care for three Chinese orphans. She asked to be our guide next time we went to Xi'an.

We got stares from people when they saw us with Adam. Little did they know he has actually been an American afor almost 2 years and couldn't understand them. We get even greater stares now with both Adam and Aiden. We actually, in kind of an absurd way, enjoy that. Maybe because we've come to expect it and it confirms what we are doing is the right thing - God has called us to be aliens and strangers - we know that is meant in a spiritual sense - but everyone should get to experience what it feels like to be a stranger.

Aiden and Adam

It's A Boy!

Sorry for the silence - lack of a power converter kept us from getting online. But we are up and running just in time for the special announcement,. As of today Aiden is officially a Tkach! and 100% boy. Here's a first hand look at Aiden and Adam shortly after they met. They hit it off in grand fashion.

We couldn't have asked for a better "Gotcha" moment. Aiden is a great, easy going, very polite, very happy little boy. He is full of energy, He was well prepared for this moment (an awesome answer to prayer!). The language difference has been interesting but not a problem and we've already learned from each other. We met him at 1030 in the morning and had all the paperwork processed by mid afternoon. He is ours! Aiden and Adam played well together all day. Aiden showed off some of his great artwork and math skills. He shared with us some of the food and toys he brought with him. We went to Walmart (yes Walmart) and bought him some new shoes (and a power adapter so we could get this blog going).

The days prior to our arriving in Nanchang was spent in Xi'an, home to the headquarters of several Chinese dynasties for over 1,000 years. It is well know now due to the discovery of the Terra Cotta warriors about 30 years ago, We'll post a few pictures later. The Terra Cotta warriors are viewed by many as the Eight Wonder of the Ancient world and in our opinion was more exciting than visiting the Great Wall.

Thanks for your prayers - they are felt and heard. More to come as the journey home progresses.

Random Musings Before the Trip

We’ve been asked if each trip is easier because we’ve done this before. The answer is both “yes” and “no”. Easier in the sense that we’ve gone through all the paperwork and know what to expect for the most part on that side, and we've been to China before. “No’ because each child is different and brings a new type of expectation and yes, anxiety. Aiden is 7 years old, twice as old as Adam was when we brought him home and more than 4 times older than Makayla. He’ll bring along his own set of expectations and anxieties, none of which we are now privy to. There is a language difference that will be more evident and Jeff realizes that his meager attempt at learning Mandarin will fall woefully short. Aiden will be leaving a place that he has called home to a whole new country, where the people talk different, look different, and probably smell different. He will soon be the stranger in a strange land. And yet, his whole life is ahead of him – filled with new wonders and new joys – and new siblings – one he probably won’t even meet for a year and three others who will be his constant companions.

Aidan is coming home to the home God has called him to. We are so privileged to be that home.

Adam and Makayla were born miles apart and 2 months apart but have been brother and sister for over 1 ½ years. Adoption is amazing. People ask if they are twins. Makayla and her sister Mackenzie are inseparable. They are as close as sisters can be. Adoption is amazing. I had to post this video, (1) to see if I could , and (2) because I am so proud of how Adam and Makayla worked together, Kayla really wanted to score a goal and Adam had been scoring goals all season. We asked him to help his sister out this game. See the results. Yes they have their fights, that is even more evidence that God has brought them together as siblings. We can’t wait for Aiden to be part of all this.

Finally, our pastor preached on Sunday from Mark 9:33-37 (yes we were paying attention!). Mark 9:37 says (Jesus speaking to the disciples after taking a little child in His arms) “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My name welcomes me…” Thanks Pastor for the confirmation! Off we go!