We're alive!

Sisters making cupcakes

LiLi turns 5!!!!

Our new CCTV!

First time in hottub

Our walk at the Nature Center

Wow, I think the jet-lag, head cold, and leftover food poisoning issues have worn off and we're back to ourselves! I was beginning to think that my sense of humor was permanently gone, but it turns out, we're okay in that department, too. :-)

We started back to home school this week and as it turns out, Wen Jun is a breeze! She is so goal-oriented that I look at my other kids, raise my eyebrows, and sorta say, "um, hello?" We were BLESSED by Larry's dad to procure a CCTV that magnifies whatever she is reading onto a huge screen. She diligently practices her Chinese characters and reading. She has also jumped into spelling, Bible, math and history.

Gotta run for now and start the shower line - don't get me started on our need for a 2nd water heater.
best,
Deb

Home!

First Toes in the Ocean

Daddy and his girl

Macie THRILLED to see her puppy

Night we got home - opening gifts

First night home - checking out dog

Hi all!  We are home!  It's been 4 days, and I am barely now able to form complete sentences.  :-)  Between the jet lag, a head cold, and a bit of lingering stomach issues, it's taken a bit of time to recover.  We are all feeling better and are starting to sleep a little better at night.  Wen Jun is already bopping around the house and is doing very well.  She misses her friends at Bethel, a lot, which of course we expected.  She laughs at all the funny things in America, like how quiet and un-crowded the stores are!  We have been so blessed to have my parents here holding down the fort.  They have cooked, cleaned, entertained kids and been invaluable!  I don't know if I could have done it without them.  I will update more in a few days - I think I've used my quota of brain power for the day!  

Goodbye, China!

Macie pretending to eat a pigeon head at our

traditional Cantonese going-away dinner

Daddy's girls

All the new adoptees

Mama's girl

LiLi Xi Hua and Jenna Mei in their Chinese dresses

Wow, we're at the end of the road, and the beginning of a new journey.  We are finishing up our 3rd hour of packing for a 4:30am wake up call tomorrow morning.  We will leave Guangzhou at 8:30am, fly to Tokyo, Detroit, Atlanta and home to Ft Myers by 11pm.  Over 25 hours of travel!  Wen Jun is excited, nervous, scared, etc.  We had our final swearing in at the US Consulate here, today, and it was like a weight was lifted off all of our shoulders.  Sometimes, I think she kept wondering if something would go wrong at some point.  

We thank all of you for following along with our blog and we hope to continue to post updates when we get home.  Your words of encouragement were so wonderful!  Say a prayer for our safe travels, if you get a chance.

Much love to you and we'll see you in a day or so!

The Linne 6

OK, I guess a few words from the new father are in order.  How about... toilet paper... shampoo... endless talking and giggling... and a spigot from my wallet.  Those are the words that come to the top of my mind. 

Actually, I am feeling very blessed from this trip.  A wonderful new daughter that will add so much to our already incredible family and tremendous learning about life and the rest of our family has made this one of the most valuable experiences in my life.

Seeing my daughters give selflessly at the orphanage and at the school.  Watching my wife love, live, laugh, and organize us was an incredible site to see.  She is an incredible woman that has brought these types of experiences to my life and I am forever indebted to her for opening my eyes to a life of true service.

I have missed Tiffany so much on this trip.  She is so much a part of our family and I could picture her at every venue and I wished so much that she could be with us.  I pray that she and Wen Jun will get to know each other in the years to come.

For me, well, I have been humbled and brought to a global perspective over the last 17 days. When you see children that are being adopted in the midst of many others that will never know what it means to have a family, it makes you feel pretty incompetent.  When you hear a young woman speak of the inability to even fathom being able to cast a vote on how her government will direct her life, you feel very empowered. When you hear that children who have disabilities that are very easily repaired in the U.S. and that are accepted if they are not, are not able to get an education, not able to find work, and unable to get govt. support, you feel incredibly sad. When you see a little girl, with a small amount of vision in one eye, look closely into her new mothers eyes and say "I love you mommy", I become blinded by my tears.

China is an incredible place.  They have figured things out that we have lost or never understood.  We can learn a lot from these people.  I have found that we can all learn a lot from others who are different from us. 

The world is truly flat.

It is so flat that someone like me could marry a simple and wonderful woman from New Mexico, and be allowed to serve in this incredible way.  Many will say we have made a great impact on the world.  But, I will tell you that the "world has made an incredible impact on us".

We love you all and appreciate your following our journey.  We are blessed that you care.

Larry

Our Children's Hope Int travel group

This little girl has attached herself to Avree and calls her "jie jie" or

"big sister."  She is being adopted by another family and we may have to 

move next door to each other.

Visit to the Sun Yat-Sun Memorial

Playing in the Sun

Cutest 4 year old in China

"Times Square" of Guangzhou 6pm on Sunday

Larry and Macie playing a version of hacky sack with a local guy

Macie and Larry drawing a crowd w/ volleyball

Wen Jun learning volleyball

We have been having a good time enjoying the sun, playgrounds, friendly people and shopping here on Shaiman Island in Guangzhou.  There are tons of adoptive families and we're enjoying dinners, park dates, and play time with all the other kids.  Yesterday, we visited a jade and pearl market and were able to pick up Wen Jun's pearls for when she is old enough to have them.  Today was her medical exam, needed for her American Visa, and she was subjected to a full exam and 4 shots!  She was a tough girl and we celebrated the end of the 2 hour ordeal with a frappucino - yes, there is a Starbucks here, and no, it is not cheaper.  It was about $10 for a latte and a frapp!  :o(  She *really* loves frappucinos, and I've had to warn her that it is a once-in-a-while treat in America! lol!  

Big Daddy, Little Daughter!