What a Difference A Day Makes

Day 2 with Caleb began with a little boy sweetly cooing to himself in Chinese. When he finally opened his eyes he wasn’t too sure what to do with us. However, he warmed up quickly, especially at the breakfast table where we were able to give him Mandarin Oranges which are his favorite. This little guy can eat, and eat and eat. Check out this smile!!!

We then loaded into our bus for some official paperwork. We went back to the CCA for and “interview” which consisted of the following questions. “Can I see your passport? What is your name? What is your occupation? Where do you live? How long have you been married? How many children do you have? What is your annual income? Why do you want to adopt this child? Are you happy with him? What are your plans to educate him? Do you promise not to neglect or abandon him?” The waiting area was packed, as you can see in one of the pics. Lots of Americans, but we also talked to some folks from a huge Canadian group. I am so glad we got there before them. I also learned from Lisa, our guide, that Spain recently surpassed the US in Chinese adoptions. Not that it is a contest, or anything, but comparing populations between Spain and the US, it is interesting.

From there we went to a regional office for some notary work. No notaries in your office or bank like we have in the US. It sure made me appreciate Ginny back at FPC for all of her notary stamps and sigs during this process. Thanks Ginny. Same questions were asked and we were off. Then we went to another office for passport photos, and we were done with everything before lunch. He is now officially ours.

The second highlight of the day was some father-son time with Collin. At lunch I told him we would sneak away from the “girls and baby” for some Dad time. Our mission was to find ice cream and Cheeto’s. We succeeded and had a blast. Several blocks up from the hotel is a walking area with no traffic. It was perfect for letting him run, climb, jump, roll, and all those other things that 5 year old boys do to burn off energy. If only they had a tire swing. After ice cream we stumbled into a grocery store and discovered the mother load of Cheetos – 5 different varieties. We bought one of each, and you would have thought we bought him all the tea in China. It was awesome. Collin was like a little celeb with all the girls waving at him and saying "Hallo." When he responded with "Ni Hao" they just about busted at the seems with glee. He was quite proud of himself - as was his dad.

Thanks for your comments and questions. I'll get to them soon, but children are stirring and breakfast awaits.

Answers to Some Questions

Thank you for so many great comments. I often get so wrapped up in reading them, I forget to actually answer them. Lisa, had asked a few great questions a few days ago, and it seemed like a nice thing to do to actually answer her questions. Since the comments are public (I think), this seems a fitting forum to answer.

The first question was, "How do you find your ability to shop and interact so far - meaning - have you felt limited in speaking with folks as a result of the language barrier?" There are certainly some barriers to communicating, but this has been a great lesson in being intentional, clear, creative, and patient. However, people have been very helpful. The merchants in the places where we have been know enough English to get their point across, and to understand yours. I have not yet ventured into the back alleys where only the local people buy only Chinese things that some crazy American wouldn't want.

Here is an example of how it has worked. When we were at the great wall, it was sprinkling and windy. Of course the kids left their rain parkas at home or at the hotel, so we had to buy some. Walking to the wall their are gobs of vendors. (While China is a communist country politically, it is a VERY clearly a capital driven country economically). I saw some of those plastic, disposable parkas and pointed. Through hand gestures I told the man I wanted one adult and two children's. He wrote 120 on a sheet of paper to tell me how much. I wrote 10 on a sheet of paper knowing 15 was my target (thanks to our great guide's advice). He said "No," scoffed at my offer, knocked on his head and used the back of his hand to check the temperature on my forehead (it seems that is the "loco" sign in China). We went back and forth until I smiled put it down and walked away. He ran after me saying "OK." All of that communication and only two words were said. Other interactions have been very pleasant. People smile and show you their camera when they want to take your picture, ordering from restaurants is done via pictures and fingers showing how many of something you want. Somehow it all works - especially with a smile. You can really say a lot without words.

The next question was, "How have you found the Chinese to be in interacting with them, i.e.,-friendly, etc.?" They are very friendly. Like all cultures you will find a few crumudgins here and there. But for the most part, people are very eager to help and interact with us.

Here's an example. One evening I took the subway to get us some dinner. Returning home, I got off at the right stop, but went out the wrong exit. It was raining and I wanted to be sure to come out on the right corner of the intersection. Anyhow, as stood there looking at the map, a very nice Chinese lady asked in pretty good English if she could help me. When I told here where I was going, she realized I needed to go back through the gate - which meant paying again. She went and explained my situation to the security officer, who waved me through and sent me on my way. New Yorkers are pretty helpful, but can you imagine trying getting a Transit worker to let you back through the gate?

It has been helpful to learn, though that there are some Chinese cultural differences that most Americans would just consider rude. When you recognize it as cultural difference, it is much easier to understand and to blend in (Yeah, like I can actually blend in in China). Americans form lines for everything. We are like ants to an ant hill. Chinese don't believe in lines. For all their belief in social harmony and order, lines are not part of that equation. I think its a Zen thing; but don't quote me. They are more like bees to a honey pot. Both systems work. You just need to know which one you are operating in. If you think you are waiting in line in China, you are not; you are just standing there. Just stick your hand or foot or body in and you will get what you want and be were you need to be.

All in all the Chinese are a very friendly and helpful group of people. We feel very safe - except when crossing the street - and are enjoying every moment.

And Hereeeeeeee's Caleb!!!

Well, my friends, what you’ve all been waiting for… actually, we’ve been waiting a good bit, as well. After a hurried morning to finish packing, eat breakfast, in order to catch our flight to Nanchang, we finally have Caleb. So, here is his world premier….

After arriving in Nanchang we were taken to our hotel where we unpacked, Mer and our guide, Lisa, ran to a local grocery to pick up some diapers, sippie cups, etc. We then met in the lobby, went to the CCA (Civil Affairs Office), and received Caleb. Let’s just say he was not a happy boy. We arrived and he was sound asleep. Not only should you never wake a sleeping baby, you should never awake a sleeping Chinese baby and surround him with a bunch of very strange looking white folks. He cried, and cried, and cried, and cried. Lisa, our guide, told us that he was very fond of and attached to his foster mother. Meredith and Abbie were the best at consoling him. He is still trying to figure me out. For the most part, he cries when he sees me. He’ll get over it… I hope.

In reading blogs of those who have been on this journey before, I can’t even begin to count the number of people who wrote of their particular bonding (or lack there of) experience. All of them expressed concern and bewilderment as to how they could not be welcomed with open arms by their new little bundle of joy. I never imagined being “the one.” If you are reading this now as a potential adopter, realize that your new child just might not think you are the greatest thing to come along since sliced bread. When it does happen to you, realize that it is not really about you at that moment, and that your time will come. It was helpful to remember that this takes time, and the poor little guy is scared beyond belief. Wouldn’t you be?

I tried explaining it to Collin like this. Collin’s only concern in coming to China was that he would get separated from us and then be lost in China. Every hotel that we stay in we give him a card with the hotel name, address, and phone number (in Chinese), so that he can show it to anyone and get back “home.” Well, Caleb really did get lost. He is lost in China. Collin understands why Caleb is crying, now. Simply put, it will take him time to reconstruct his world: who gives him love, what is safe and not safe, who meets his needs, etc. He has a lot to learn; don’t you think?

Upon returning to the hotel, we had a bit of what you might call a breakthrough. I gave Caleb a cracker/cookie thing. Apparently he likes them, and he likes to share them. Upon putting one in his hand, he immediately stuck his arm out and tried to stick the thing in my mouth. When in Rome, do as the Romans to, so I took a nibble - not too bad. He was then ready to eat, and eat, and eat. It was actually a very moving moment. He was done crying, looked happy, and so I took advantage of the opportunity to give him back to Mom before he started crying again. I want him to have happy memories of me. Not sad ones.

Considering my work done with child #3, I turned my attention to child #2 (Collin) and headed out to find some sustenance for my family. Baby crackers and borrowed snacks simply wouldn’t cut it for tonight. After perusing the hotel’s options, I returned with nothing more than word that room service was on the way with food for all. Fortunately, they delivered on their promise and we all ate well.

That’s all I know for now, and will post more as our adventure continues to unfold. Tomorrow, we are back to the CCA for more paperwork, and adventures in the life of Caleb. I have no idea what the day holds, but I know Who holds it and because of that it will be a great day.

Pictures I Couldn't Post Earlier

Update on Caleb

It is about 4:00 in the afternoon and we just returned from a very rewarding (though very cold) day out. We had an adoption orientation, visited the Temple of Heaven, and Tiananmen Square. The two sites of Chinese culture were nice, but we were just too cold to really enjoy them. The kids were great troopers, but there are only so many buildings you can expect a nine and five year old to enjoy seeing.

Just outside the Temple of Heaven we experienced what we had heard often happens to American children when they visit China: they become instant celebrities. Abbie, Collin, and their friend, Morgan, must have had about twenty pictures taken of them with some very friendly and excited Chinese tourists. It was great fun.

The highlight of the day, however was the orientation. Not only did we get some good information about our upcoming travel, tips for navigating Chinese culture, and updated itineraries, we also received some updated information and pictures of Caleb. In a nutshell he is a healthy and happy boy. He now weighs 26 pounds and is about 3 feet tall. If memory serves correctly, his height will fit right into the Harris family. He eats both regular meals and snacks continually throughout the day. I also noticed that he likes a bottle at about 12:00 PM. We’ll be working on that one. Apparently this is a “very important meal for him. If he doesn’t have it, he will cry.” We’ll be working on that one. He loves to be sung to, loves music, and is very persistent in that “if he wants to learn something, he will put all his heart into it.” He is walking fully on his own, speaks some baby babbles, is shy with strangers, and is very ticklish and giggly. Sounds perfect, doesn’t he.

Mer took some pictures of the pictures so we can post them for you. I tried to post them, but can't get pix to post right now. Will try again latter.

Tomorrow we leave for Nanjing, where we will meet Caleb in the late afternoon or early evening. I’ll see what I can do about posting some pics tomorrow night (Nanchang time.) You’ll have to do your own math to figure out what time, and what day that is for you. I’m having a hard enough time figuring out what day it is here.

God bless you all, and thank you for your continued prayers, support, and encouragement.

It's "Almost" Spring in the Harris Family

Our journeys today brought us out of the city of Beijing and into the country where we saw the Great Wall. People have said, pictures don't do it justice, and they are right. The sheer size and beauty of this place are impossible to capture on film.

However, it is not just the Great Wall that makes this place so magnificent. Mer captured that one important point for us in this first shot. At first glance, it looks like nothing to particular and exciting is happening: The Great Wall disappears over a mountain range and is framed by some cold, bare tree branches. Not exactly what you'd expect from a shot of the Great Wall.
But, look again at everything else going on. In the foreground you see a few bright cherry blossoms - the first to emerge from a long winters sleep. Look again at those bare branches. They are not bare at all. These trees are covered with buds that are such a rich and deep burgandy you could easily to mistake them for brown bumps on the bare branches from which they are emerging. The entirety of the surrounding mountainsides are covered with this scene - a few early blossoms hinting at what is to come, while the remainder of them patiently wait for their preparation to be complete. The mountains radiate with this boldly subtle burgandy hue. It sooooo wants to be Spring here. You can just sense it in the air - but it is just not quite time yet.

We are soooo ready for Caleb to be here, but it is just not quite time yet. These last few days especially have been a time when God has been busily at work preparing us and Caleb for the Spring that is just around the corner. And what a great and Spring day it will be.

Seeing places like the Great Wall have not only been great for us get over jet lag and to reconnect with each other. Our touring Beijing has also provided us with great insight into where Caleb is from. We better understand the culture that has shaped his early development and will be able to tell him from first hand experience what China was like at the time he was born.


In the following pictures you can catch a glimpse of some of what we have been up to as we are being prepared for Caleb's coming into our family. Don't you wonder what he is up do at the same time?

Lest anyone think I just scanned a post card to help make my point, I had to post a shot of us actually on the Great Wall. It actually snowed significantly (by Florida standards, anyway). I was actually glad it snowed instead of rained. We would have all been soaked to the bone in rain. The snow made it much more pleasant. Special thanks are due to our good friend JoAnne for the children's most fashionable and warm sweatshirts. Thanks, JoAnne!!













The two following shots we just had to post. Today another adopting family joined us on our tour to the Great Wall. They have a nine year old daughter who was a great friend and playmate for Abbie. She needed some girl time, and boy did she get it today. I'm not sure which set of parents were more thrilled that they got along so well.
In the final shot, you can see how exhausting today was. After dinner, Collin fell asleep in the middle of reading, and this shot was too perfect to pass up.
Tomorrow is our Orientation with the adoption agency. We will spend the morning doing that. Then we head off to Tiananmen Square and the Temple of Heaven. If time permits, we will get to the Forbidden City. Sunday we fly to Nanchang and meet Caleb for the first time - probably late afternoon or early evening. So, for all of you at First Pres, we will have just received Caleb as you are beginning your Sunday worship service; a great reason to worship and give thanks to God for all he has done, is doing, and will do.

Thank you again for your comments and emails. It is great to hear the encouragement and support from so many friends and family.

Suddeness Happens?

What a phenomenal day! To combat the jetlag we took an active approach, and we were sure active today. After waking up at 3:00 AM because our bodies had no idea what time or day it was, we began with a great breakfast at the hotel. We were actually ready to start our day at six in the morning and were eating by 6:30. Note to self: the kids no longer have a reason to have a hard time being ready for school by 8:30. Anyhow, most hotels here include breakfast as part of the overnight rate. So, we took full advantage of it. I was reminded what an international place we are in. While there was plenty of traditional Chinese food available for our dining pleasure. There was also a very noticeable effort to meet European and American tastes. We had a rather eclectic breakfast, to say the least.

Whenever, I’m in a foreign country, I like to at least try to eat what the “natives” sustain themselves on. So, I had to try the Wanton Soup Station (very similar in concept to an omelet station). You pick what you want for your soup, the dude boils it up, dumps it on some wantons, you add your sauce and spices, and head for your table. I had no idea what I was doing, but gave it a shot anyway. As I sat there wondering how what was the best way to concoct this mixture, I received a wonderful reminder that when it comes to food the best way is the way you like it. There sat a man with an Eggo style waffle, folded in half, stuffed with cabbage, cramming the whole thing into his mouth with a pair of chopsticks, and smiling from ear to ear. It was a great start to the day.

We took a brief taxi ride to the Silk Market. This is basically a multilevel department store that contains everything from a swap meet to a grocery story to more expensive items at higher levels. We went to stock up on a few personal items, and Collin had his first experience in bargaining. He ended up with some small plastic dinosaurs – a must for every young boy going to China, apparently. Considering he wanted a giant remote controlled, grasping, stomping, dancing cross between Spiderman and a Transformer, I think I was lucky we got out for only three dinosaurs. Here’s how bargaining works in China. The merchant tells you how much something is, you offer about 25% of that, he gives you that “Are you out of your #!@% mind” look, then he says something about his poor family but that since you are his friend he wants to make a special price for you, you compliment him on the expensive looking jewelry he is wearing, and when all is said and done you end up close to half of the original offer.

Another important occurrence at this leg of our journey was our first encounter with the infamous “squatty potty” pictured below. Thank goodness for the “handicapped” stalls that house the more traditional – and frankly, more useful – western style buckets. (The picture is sideways - just in case you are wondering what on earth that is supposed to be.)

We then took off across town to the Beijing Zoo. The zoo itself was pretty depressing. Exploring the zoo with the family was priceless. We got to see Pandas, which is a must in any Chinese zoo. In addition, Collin discovered a hidden talent for rock climbing. Best of all though, we discovered the very helpful sign pictured below. Considering that, yesterday I was bemoaning a complete inability to comprehend any written form of Chinese, I ought to shut my yap and count my blessings that someone took the time both to warn me of the location of "suddenness" and to enlighten me as to how I might tame the unpredictable nature of “suddenness.”

There is much more to write about the Summer Palace, our dinner adventures, and the incredibly friendly and kind people we encountered today. But those stories will have to wait. Plus, it is getting late and I must get to my beauty rest. A full day awaits us tomorrow: Great Wall, and we will meet the other families that we will be traveling with who are also here to adopt. Thank you for you comments, checking in, and prayers.

Travel Shots

Happy Kids Waiting for the Plane in Newark
















Abbie doing well on the way to China















Collin over the North Pole. We didn't see Santa.
















Abbie's first picture in China. Beijing Airport.














Back at the hotel after dinner. One sleepy boy, two tired parents, one very wired photographer.

The Eagle Has Landed!!!

It is early Thursday morning, and we are safe and sound in Beijing. In this post I’ll bring you up to speed on our travel, share some observations and insights, and cover a few technical things about the posts (this will be especially helpful to those who are coming to China in the near future)

After about 18 hours of flying we touched down in Beijing. The kids were phenomenal on the flight and our layover in Newark. The plane was new and newly remodeled so it seemed brand new. We managed to get the seats with the power outlets, so Collin could plug in the DVD player and watch whatever he wanted – as if the 157 “play on demand movies,” and 612 assorted cartoons, sitcoms and documentaries weren’t enough to keep him occupied. Never the less – he was a happy camper. Personally, I learned that I can only withstand 2 full Austin Powers movies in any given sitting. After that, it’s just not funny anymore – oh well. Mer and I each slept for about three hours the entire flight.

Upon touchdown we were taken by our very friendly guide, Tom, to our hotel. We took some time to refresh ourselves, fighting the urge to curl into a ball and sleep on any horizontal surface, and headed out to find some authentic Chinese food. We ended up at KFC (I’ll explain that in a bit), we returned to the hotel and slept sporadically through the night. We are so refreshed that neither Mer nor I am suffering from those sporadic bouts of dizziness that accompany jet lag exhaustion. Yeah.

Here are several observations I hope you find helpful:

1. Beijing is a huge city. During our approach into the city I couldn’t help but notice how huge this city and country are. I really had no comprehension of it. The city is laid out on a plain area that rises up into the foothills of the mountains of the high desert (Gobi or Mongolian?). It reminded me of the approach into LA where one finds the city laying in a basin at the foot of the mountains. Only Beijing is full of massive buildings like New York. Basically imagine LA, only bigger and about as dense as NYC. By the way, they are still building. Now, imagine the roads all planned and wide like Orlando.

1. This is a totally different culture. In all my travels around the world, I have never felt more like a foreigner. At least in the Western world, I could recognize letters and sounds. Even in Israel, I knew the Hebrew letters enough that I could find what I was looking for. But, here I don’t even know where to start. For dinner, we were going to go to a Chinese restraint on one of the walking streets not far from the hotel. The front desk gave us the name of the restaurant, and even wrote the name down for us – in Chinese. Upon getting out of the taxi, though, I couldn’t tell one Chinese character from another. I’d hold up my little note in the air and compare it to the sign in front of a restaurant, and literally have no idea what I was looking at. We gave up on that and were about to go into a restaurant only to recognize everything was in Chinese and there was no picture menu. While people were very friendly, that’s how we ended up at KFC. It was still good, though. By the way, when in a foreign country, or trying to communicate with people who don’t speak your language, saying the same thing slowly or louder does not help – neither does saying it in Spanish. Don’t ask me why I did that – it just slipped out and really confused them.

Overall, we are blessed and thankful to be here. Right now I have a very keen sense of what it will be like for Caleb to adjust to us. Looking at my culture shock, I can really empathize with him. Coming here has helped me to “get it” in a way that only reading about it cannot.

On a more techie note, especially for those who are traveling to China soon, here is some advice on setting up your blog. From China, I cannot access my actual blog page, nor read any comments on the page. Luckily, I set up a bookmark to my “editing” page, and I set up the page to email any view comments to my g-mail account. So, while it is a shot in the dark as to what my China posts are going to look like, I can read your comments and post.

Today we play, and I will post some more pix tonight.

Greetings from Orlando

Somehow, our luggage multiplied like many many rabbits last night. Never the less, we made it to Orlando safe and sound. We are checked in and trying to get the kids down to bed. "Trying" being the operative word here. Can you say WIRED!!!!! Getting them down before midnight will be more of an accomplishment that getting them to China.

Collin has just climbed onto my lap, and wants to tell everyone this, "Dear classmates, this is Collin. I am having a great trip in China. Everything that we have is made in China. In five days we will meet our baby brother, Caleb. I am excited and happy. Bye...."

The pictures above are Abbie's first pics of the trip. I have promised her that she can be in the next posts - only if she doesn't insist on taking the pictures :). We had a great dinner at Chipotle Mexican Grill. Being from SoCal, I have to admit that I am a snob when it comes to Mexican food. And we all concur that this food was out of this world. By the way, did you notice the Panda Express logo over my right ear? Nice segway into our next post; isn't it? Way to go Abigail!!!

On a more educational note, Mer entered that "sureal" stage of our journey on the way home from dinner. It just seems so out of this world that we are finally ready to go. I can totally relate. It is both totally overwhelming and totally comforting at the same time. In a similar vein, I had a great visit with some neighbors of ours who are preparing for teaching stint at an American school in Afghanistan. They echoed that same strain of both total peace and complete confusion: not an "I don't want to do this" confusion, but a "What is this next step going to be like" confusion. What we came to realize is that we spend our lives seeking to make ourselves comfortable and secure. While things like this don't threaten that security, they present us with an unknown. What we don't know is easy for us to fear - that can cause irrational action and hence confusion. It was helpful for us to recognize this confusion and fear because in naming it we were able to get a handle on it. And it was then reminded that "perfect love casts out all fear." So, it may be a sureal moment right now, but it is a great moment to be enjoyed and embraced.

Abbie

And We're Off

Yes, the picture you've all been waiting for... the infamous and traditional "What We're Bringing to China" photo. It appears we will not need a personal Sherpa, afterall. Three check-ins, five carry-ons (one didn't make the shot), and we will be airborne. And we have weight to spare. Tomorrow will be the day of last minute to-do's. "Learn Chinese" is still on the list; not quite on the top, though. Perhaps on the plane.

Tomorrow won't be a panicked day, just busy. If all goes well, we will be off to Orlando early evening to spend the night so we don't have to get up at 2AM to catch our 6:45 flight. Getting up at 4AM will be tough enough. We hope to post tomorrow night, otherwise we will post again at the earliest opportunity. Please keep those comments comming. They really mean a lot.

Happy Easter - and to all a good night!!

Oma Rocks!!!!

So, Oma sent a new blanket for Caleb to welcome him into the fam. It is great to see this longstanding tradition carry on. Abbie has one, Collin somehow managed to get two, and now Caleb has one. Both Abbie and Collin still treasure theirs, though neither will actually admit to still "using" their Oma Blanket anymore. In this picture you can see Collin posing with Caleb's new blanket. We'll be bringing it for him to carry and cuddle.

On a separate note, we are getting down to the wire. Last night we went to Target to stock up on miscelaneous medical supplies. It seems like we are bringing enough pharmaceuticals to supply a small country. I know China is perfectly civilized and very advanced country. Yet, our philosophy on bringing meds is plan for the worst, hope for the best. There is nothing worse than trying to find some Immodium, Tylenol, etc. in a foreign country when you really, really need it. Trust me, I know. Trust me, you're happy I'm sparing you the details on why I know.

In any event, we are now moving into the final stages of our departure. Mer just asked, "Is there any other laundry you need done before the trip?" Basically she means, "I'm ready to go now. I'm not doing any more laundry until we come home. Choose wisely what you wear from here on out." She is so organized. No wonder I love her so much.

On another note, as I go through all of our preparations in preparing for Caleb, I cannot help but wonder what must be going through the minds and hearts of his foster parents, and of Caleb. Having witnessed two children grow through the one year old stage, I'm fairly certain Caleb doesn't have a comprehension of how drastically his life is about to change. If anything, he can sense his foster parents may be getting a bit antsy. At most, he is getting to recognize us through the pictures that we have sent. Only time will tell. Those foster parents, though; we will be forever in their debt for the love and care that they have shown Caleb over this past year. What must they be thinking and feeling at this time? In eight or nine days they will say goodbye to the boy that they have loved and prepared for our family. In eight or nine days we will welcome the boy that we have waited for for nearly a year. Their hearts will be sad with their loss and lightened by ours and Caleb's gain. Our hearts will be rejoicing at our gain and saddened with their loss. In it all Caleb is just along for the ride at this point. It gets complicated quickly, doesn't it?

On this Easter weekend, I am given some new insight into the tremendous depth and vastness of God's love. First he gives away his beloved Son as an act of love - complicated, profound, and yet still love. Second, he adopts us as his children and takes us in as his very own. May you have a blessed Easter.

Please keep Caleb, his foster family, and us in your prayers

Testing Technology

So far, I am continuing to move through my to do list. Since "learn Chinese" is a bit overwhelming at this stage of the game, I have opted for some more manageable tasks. Let me explain.

If you are a baseball fan, you will be thrilled about this picture, and you should read on. If you're not a baseball fan, skip to the next paragraph. Opportunities like this are one of the reasons I love Vero Beach - two rows behind home plate, spring training, sun shinning, breeze blowing, good company, refreshing beverages in hand, and less than 30 feet from the man who so gracefully told George Steinbrenner "where to go and how to get there." Imagine what tickets like this would cost you in LA. For that matter, i don't even think there are tickets this close to the dugout at Dogder Stadium in LA. Not a bad way to spend the afternoon is it.

An any event, i'm testing some of the technology to see how to post pictures quickly and easily. I hope this works. In a short bit I'll try a video.

Any advice/experience you want to share on blogging while traveling would be very appreciated at this point. I just changed my "comments" settings so that anyone can leave a comment. So if you've tried commenting before but were denied, I do apologize. You will need to verify your comment by typing the word you are given when you are ready to send your comment to me. Sorry for any inconvenience, but it will keep spam and other junk out of the comments section.

So far, I've already learned that posting directly from Picassa is bitter sweet: easy to post pics, a total bear to edit any comments.

One "Last" Thing

Today, at the dinner table, Collin informed us that we are leaving for China in nine days. In the hurry of the moment – and the utter shock of 9 DAYS – it never dawned on me to check the young lad’s math. So, it’s not nine days, it is twelve days. (I guess I know what school work we’ll be doing on in China.) Never the less, our departure is now being measured in days; not years, months, or even weeks. Wow.

In another blog I was reading a while back the author was talking about all of her pending “lasts”: her “last weekend,” her “last day at work,” her “last time walking the dog,” her last moment of this, that or the other, before her life would utterly change. At the time of reading I couldn’t quite understand what on earth she was talking about. I thought to myself, “Your adoption is such an exciting thing, how can you be so worried about all of these ‘lasts’?” But, now that our departure is so close, I am beginning to understand what she was feeling with her pending departure, and I appreciate her candor.

While there is this tremendous sense of joy in the new chapter we are starting as a family, at the same time there is also a keen awareness that life in the Harris household is about to be very different. In this sense I think we are all aware of our “lasts.”

Yet, as I write this I have to wonder what the big deal is. It is not that any of us have the impression that our “lasts” will never happen again. Mer and I will still read to the kids as we tuck them in; we will still go for walks around the block, and practice doing the perfect cannon ball into the pool. We’ll still cook burgers on the grill, and tell silly stories around the dinner table. In fact, in hindsight, every addition to our family has made our “lasts” seem just a glimmer when compared to the brightness of the new blessing we received. Every new addition to our family has made our current moments far better that the “lasts” we clung to.

Point is, I am again reminded that life just keeps getting better. A new addition to our family doesn’t mean that our limited supply of love is now going to be divided into smaller portions – and more “lasts.” Rather, a new addition to our family means that more love will be multiplied – and we will discover new “firsts.” Maybe, it's Dad who needs to remember to check his own math when it comes love.

Two Weeks and Counting

In two weeks we will be on the way – literally on the way to China. For all the planning, researching, and coordinating that we did ahead of time, it still seems like there is so much to do before we leave. First there are the basic to do items like pack, get immunized, arrange for someone to drive us to the airport and pick us up.

Second, though, are the larger things that I’m not sure we’ll ever get totally done. We will just do the best we can when we have to. I’m talking about things like learn Chinese (I have a whopping two Chinese phrases in my arsenal, Hello, and I love you.), prepare to help a one year old boy adapt to a new family and life, prepare a nine year old girl and a five year old boy to adapt to a new younger brother and a new life. The feeling is very similar to taking Mer to the hospital for Abbie’s birth. On one hand there was so much more to be done. On the other hand I was completely ready to be a dad. That’s how it is now – there is so much unfinished work to be done, yet I am totally ready for this new chapter in our lives.

On a totally lighter note, packing for a trip like this is certainly presenting its challenges for me. In a nut shell, here is the scoop. I can check one bag that weighs no more than 44 pounds. Plus I am allotted one carry on… for three weeks. For some of you reading this, that is no big deal. But, I have to admit, when it comes to packing, I pack like a girl. Yes, when the family goes on vacation, there is the family’s luggage, and then there is Tom’s luggage. If I might need it, I pack it. I know full well that much of what I bring will never even be touched, but it’s worked so far… until now.

So, here is what I have figured weighs forty four pounds: two pairs of long pants, three pairs of shorts, three tee-shirts, two polo/Hawaiian shirts, one long sleeved cotton shirt, a Gortex rain coat, one pair of flip flops, swim-trunks, a week’s worth of under-britches and socks, a ball cap, and some miscellaneous toiletries they won’t let me carry on the plane. (Keep in mind heavier items like the laptop, iPod, bible, camera, connection cables, etc., adoption documentation will all be in my carry on.) It seems like that will work, but I just can’t get me head around only bringing forty four pounds of stuff. Oh well, if I need to bring more stuff, I’ll just put it in Mer’s bag – she’s bound to have lots of extra room.

We’re going to China!!!

Late last week we received our Travel Approval. Monday we received our US Consulate Appointment. What all this basically means is that we can now make our travel arrangements to bring Caleb home.

Our itinerary will look something like this.

Leave Orlando on March 25 and arrive in Beijing on March 26. We will be traveling for close to 30 hours. One cool thing about this leg of the trip is that we get to fly over the North Pole (or somewhere close to it), and we will experience our very own, on board movie marathon.

March 26 – March 29 we will recover from jet-lag, see as much of Beijing and surrounding countryside as humanly feasible, and take care of some adoption paperwork and orientation. Collin is most excited to walk on the Great Wall, though he assures me that he is even more excited to get his new brother. We'll see about that when the big day arrives.

March 30 fly to Nanchang to get Caleb!!! We will spend several days in Nanchang doing “official” stuff, getting to know the lay of the land where Caleb was born and spent the first year of his life, and most importantly bonding as a new family. This will be an important time for us and we will greatly appreciate your prayers.

April 4 we fly to Guangzhou (I still don't know how to pronounce it) for more “official” work from the US Govt. We will have two visits to the US Consulate: one for the visa appointment and the other to pick up Caleb’s visa the next day. There will be much to do and see here. That is a good thing as we basically have five full days to accomplish two appointments. More time to bond and connect. This is good. What is also good is some odd Chinese regulation that prohibits more than four people occupying one hotel room. Since we are now a family of five, that means two rooms. This is one of those dark clouds with a silver lining. Let's do some travel math here: two adults, a nine year old, a five year old, and a new one year old. Add in a dash of ten plus days on the road, living out of one - yes one - suitcase each, clothes and an assortment of travel gear that miraculously multiply each time the suitcase is opened or closed or touched or left alone or placed in the dark or left in sunlight, the excitement of experiencing a new culture and place, and the tremendous joy of discovering who Caleb is and what he is like. I'm not sure if two rooms will contain all of this goodnes.

We then fly home on April 10 – a trip that I’m certain will involve several buses, three airplanes, numerous airport trams, sleep deprivation, no meltdowns (think positive), and the start of a whole new chapter in the life of the Harris’.

All in all, this is awesome, and we are so ready to go!!!