China 1
I’m sitting in the Beijing
airport. It’s shocking even to hear myself say that…in spite of the fact that
my weary body is well aware that it left home roughly 36 hours ago…I’m sure
it’s even more shocking for you to read!
As always, I’m a bit behind
on things I’d want to share with you…another shocker. Right?!? You are shocked by that, right?
Crud. I’ve not been fooling any of you all these years?!?! Ah well…ya got
me. Regardless, I wanted to share with
you what’s been happening these last couple of weeks since we last left our
heroes.
This is totally not what I’d
plan to share, but it’s just too awesome.
Once again, our children provide us with unmatchable entertainment.
Several times over this past week, we’ve had some gut-laughing moments. We needed that. Maybe you do too…so here are
just a few…
An angel gave us what I like
to call “a little slice of heaven”…better known as a Red Lobster gift
card. Oh my…can you say, “love language”? We hadn’t intentionally been
saving it, but I’m so glad our schedules have been way too busy to put it to
good use until now! Between our awesome
bball team returning to the State Tourney once again in Des Moines (even
wearing my Danville shirt as we speak…IN CHINA…everybody knows the BEARS!) and
stinkin’ snowstorms, (you heard me…no love loss there) the school schedule was
significantly altered. This was both
irritating and welcoming the week leading up to our departure for China. Irritating, because I felt like I couldn’t
get anything done in between entertaining the kids and breaking up fights
between them…and me…and the dog. Welcoming,
because we got unexpected time with our 4 kiddos before hitting the air to
bring back 2 more!
1) Anyway, as I said, we
didn’t plan any of these things but were grateful for them in the end. Names are once again withheld to protect the
guilty. J As we ordered
at Red Lobster, one child asked, “Are the orange wedges just like potato
wedges?” Silence. Then the waiter said, “They’re just like…orange wedges.”
Listen…no one has ever accused our family of ooey-gooey-ness, but the sarcasm
and mockery that began was pretty heavy even for our family!!! WE DIED
LAUGHING! It was in a word…awesome. C’mon…ya gotta admit…funny stuff. The waiter then took extra liberty in adding
to the mockery…again…more awesomeness. When another child ordered a baked
potato, he replied, “Is that like…a potato?” Terrible, awful man…how dare he? J
2) Our kids have all wanted
to come to China with us to get their siblings but were told it just wasn’t
going to be possible. In his disgust, Ty said, “Well then, can you get me one
of those shirts that says, ‘My parents went to China, and all I got was this
stupid shirt’!” I promised to do my best.
3) As independent as our
children are, I found them to be quite clingy and questioning several days
before we left. When Chris was
explaining the flight plan, which included flying over Canada and “…flying over the north pole…” one of the kids
burst out, “Oh my word!!! You have to take lots of pictures!!!” More sarcasm…more mockery.
Like I said, we’ve done some
good memory-making these past few days…very grateful for that.
I thought I’d take you
through the last several weeks in order to better explain at least my frame of
mind as I enter this next phase of the journey.
Although we had been hoping for quite some time that mountains would be
moved, and this process would speed up in unexplainable ways, we were taken
completely by surprise how that actually went down. We’ve been working diligently to get
paperwork, remodeling, and planning completed so we would be “ready” to bring
the kids home. I had even spent the day
before in Iowa City with my wonderful friend, Michelle…shopping and doctor
visiting. I had finally gotten into a specialist concerning some “unfinished
business” concerning my former health issues from Indiana. It wasn’t anything serious…just something I
needed to take care of before I was caring for 2 toddlers! SO…after 4 months of
waiting, I met with the doctor, scheduled what needed to be done, and informed
them that the clock was ticking on my freedom…especially considering the
exercise and traveling restrictions they would impose. I even flippantly said, “Unless they call me
tomorrow, we will be fine!!!” Figures.
You guessed it…bright and
early the following morning, I got the phone call. The voice on the other end said, “Mrs. Carr,
I have your travel approval!” I sat there in initial shock. Obviously, this was
fantastic news, but what came next was even more shocking. “You leave in 2
weeks!!! They are expediting your case,
and it’s happening very quickly!!” BEST
case scenario was traveling within 3-4 weeks…never 2! As I hung up the phone,
my heart started pounding. I began to think about all the obstacles and
wondered how in the world we could pull this off. I thought of my procedure
that would now have to be put off for 3 months at best. My eyes scanned the
rubble and chaos that was once my home but had now become a remodel disaster
zone. Our kids’ schedules had to be organized. I even had to cancel a procedure
for our DOG! Good grief.
I called Chris to share the
good news but sounded like somebody had shot my dog and beat up my grandmother!
(Have the first…he’s completely fine…don’t have the second…so calm it down.) It
was obviously so incredible…yet given the issues I mentioned above, it was
unbelievably overwhelming. I couldn’t keep the tears at bay…something I’ve
prided myself in on many other occasions.
You name the emotion, it hit me that morning. We. Were. Not. Ready…It.
Was. Not. Time.
Terrified. That pretty much
sums it up…and quite frankly, the same word still applies. I couldn’t even put
two words together, let alone get my act together. Once again, Michelle the Mighty swoops in to
save the day! Have I mentioned how I think she’s Super Woman?!? Well, have no
fear…MM is here! (that’s not to be confused with M&M’s…which are a personal
favorite…but stay focused here) She sent me a text that said, “I’m on my way.”
Short and sweet. That’s all I could process anyway…and that’s what she did…just
kept coming over…along with some other wonderful friends who helped in some
way…work or kids or both…all Super Women to me…Nichole, Shelli, Jodi, Liz,
Wendy, Carrie P., Brandy, Debbie, Chris, and Donna. Should also mention Carrie
Y. and Megan, who also tried to help but my schedule just didn’t line up with
theirs. Sooo unbelievably grateful for their clear-headed and generous spirit
that they gave so willingly in our time of need.
At the same time, I received
word that yet again, our sweet Zoe had been admitted to the hospital. The next day, we were told that was a
mistake. It was a different girl. Of course, we’d already been told that Zoe
was the only girl in the orphanage. Confused yet? It went back and forth for several days…loads
of uncertainty, heaps of fear, mountains of questions…finally arriving to the
point at which we began…her weakness and time being a major issue.
During the same 2 weeks…are
you feeling me yet…I had a dear friend from Indiana diagnosed with acute
leukemia. She was hospitalized almost
immediately and given the first dosage of chemo treatments. I knew that if I
didn’t go now, I wouldn’t have any opportunity to visit and encourage her once
the kiddos were with us. So, in the midst of mayhem, Peyton and I (we were the
only ones with a clear-ish schedule) traveled to Indiana where we spent time
with family, visited Denise in the hospital (where we once again proved that
laughter truly is the best medicine J),
went to another dear friend’s baby shower and celebrated another beautiful
life, saw wonderful friends at Bethel, and rushed back home.
These past 2 weeks have been
insane…most nights I finally laid my head on my pillow around 3 am…ate junk…drank
DP round the clock…skipped my much-loved workouts…painted…organized…refereed
and navigated through the high levels of emotion…and leapt tall buildings in a
single bound. I realized how out of
control I was when Chris was concerned about the fact that our visas hadn’t
come 2 days before departure and things of that critical nature…I was scouring
the city to find the right shower curtain for the kids’ bathroom. Yea. When MM (J) saw I was losing my grip…whatever feeble one I had to begin with…she
forced me to make a list to leave with her of things left undone and gave me
the gift of “walking away.” At this point, I have no idea what will be
done when we return…and it really doesn’t matter…anything will be a bonus…so
I’m resting in that. For reals.
Now almost exactly one year
since this journey began, we sit here…in China…one short flight…just a breath
of 15 hours away from holding our sweet babies. We have been chosen for a time
such as this…we may never understand why…we just choose to humbly follow as
we’ve been led…and will be forever grateful to have traveled this amazing
journey.
