Home!

Oh, how we are glad to be home. It was a very long trip, but we made it! Russ and I took a lot of time in Guangzhou to pack everything up—which was no small feat with the six of us—and we headed out early in the morning to take a van to Hong Kong, which took about three hours. We then flew from HK to Chicago, which took 14 hours. The kids were very happy because each seat had a TV screen with choice of movies and games. Ellie watched a Tinkerbell movie three times and was thrilled. All of the kids slept on the way home, but Russ and I were not able to fall asleep, so we were barely staying awake on the second flight between Chicago and Lincoln.

Jia checking out the sights while preparing to land in America

The jet lag is evil, but it seems to be going away now. Thanks to melatonin supplements, we haven’t done too badly sleeping at night, except for Asher, who somehow seems to have some trouble. Maybe tonight he will sleep right through. I keep hoping.

Jia Qing was very excited to come home and my mom graciously bought us some groceries and a gift for him so they were there when we arrived. I think he was a bit overwhelmed at first because there was a lot to see. When he is nervous or overstimulated, he sort of flits from one thing to the next. I can’t blame him…there was a house, a different bed, all new toys (to him), food, everything. It will take some getting used to.

After a couple of days, we started back at school. I had talked with Jia about how we go to school at home. I’m not having him do a lot of work right away, though or going through English study right off the bat. We look at some books and he does some of the same things as the other kids as far as drawing, coloring, or crafts, but otherwise, I’m taking it slow with him. I may change that, though, sooner than I thought. Caleb finished some work yesterday where he was practicing double-digit subtraction and Jia Qing asked me why he wasn’t doing that, too. Hmm…so you’re telling me you want to do math! So, today, I had him try some subtraction, too, and he did great! We’ll still take it slow these first few weeks and focus more on keeping things together as a family and bonding, rather than pushing through with work.

Still, everyone is adjusting very well. I went to the store a couple of days ago—by myself!—and was remembering a night from about a year and a half ago, when we were still living in the apartment. The thought of adopting another child was so not on my radar, in part because we were living in a small space and I felt like we had our hands way too full already. Of course, I also was not imagining adopting an 8 year old. Each day since we have met Jia Qing, I am thankful to the Lord that we did. He is amazing. He is so joyful and sweet. He gets mad, like everyone else, but he also has such a kind and happy temperament. I think of how he spent eight years in an orphanage/foster care situation and I’m so thankful that he has something permanent now. I see it in these little things, everywhere. Last night, I was cutting apples and he and Caleb kept coming into the kitchen to sneak pieces of them. We are starting to clear space in the yard to plant more grass and he was right there with everyone, moving things around in the yard. We were listening to music while the boys were cleaning their room and he was singing some of the songs later, after hearing them (I think) only once. So much a boy, a son who lives here.


As we go into these next few weeks and months of adjustment, I know we will have trials and difficult times. That is part of this whole deal. But I’m also aware that every day now is different than it used to be, in a good way. Compared to that time when I wasn’t considering adopting again, life has changed so much. It goes in fast forward, sometimes it is challenging, but in the end, it is all worth it.