Our first day with Meili....

Today has been a great day with Meili. She is still really quiet but is SLOWLY coming out of her shell.  Marc got the first smiles out of her today  and though she gives them very seldomly, when she does it is awesome.  I got the first giggles out of her today when I gave her a few tickles (earlier she had cried every time I tried to tickle.)  Later this evening I picked her up and walked away from marc and all of the sudden she started waving to him, smiling real big and said something.....ah, that was a sweet surprise for us.  Most of the time when we put her down she doesn't move she just stands or sits there.... I mean literally doesn't even move....well, as you can see from todays pictures she did have about a 45 minute stretch of loosening up and actually playing with her toys  .....and she LOVED it.....for a few minutes we saw her real personality...I think.  She is so precious.  She continues to eat everything.  Get this, I started putting her toys away when it was time for us to go to dinner and she walked over to me and started helping me put everything away!  Marc and I were in awe. 

 

Today was a full day with lots of paperwork in lots of different buildings for our adoption.  It is now final! Yahooooooooooo.  She is officially ours today.  We'd appreciate your prayers over her passport that we get it by Friday.  Tomorrow we are just going to chill.  We are going to sleep in and hang out in our room and maybe go to a mall and walk around.....the only plan of the day is to help her feel more secure with us.  okay, gotta get her to bed! 

Finally....playing with her toys.

 

 

making it official....TODAY she is officially ours! Thank you Lord!

 

Let me tell ya, this daddy is in love!

 

dressing Meili for the first time!

 

First bath....only 3 more and maybe she'll be clean.

 

 

 

 

She is ours!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey guys.

It has really happened.  We have our sweet baby girl in our hands! 

Last night went something like this:

We went to the office of Civil Affairs at 7pm. 

As we got out of the elevator there she was!  Standing right there! 

I couldn't believe it.....and I didn't know what to do.

I didn't want to scare her so I gently reached out my hand to hold hers....

THen...the crying began.  She took one look at me and burst into tears.

This continued through the next hour of paperwork and me and marc passing her back and forth trying somehow to console her.  I quickly stopped trying to bribe her with my toys and candy that I had brought as I realized that crying was something she needed to do.  I didn't blame her one bit.

We took her back to our hotel and she stopped crying.  She hasn't cried since.  She is very flat affect still and has shown no personality.  We think she is in shock.  She hangs out with me and Marc both equally fine so we are grateful for that....and she snuggles in nice with both of us so of course that warms our hearts.  She eats everything and anything.  We are having difficulty figuring out how to give her fluids with her lip/palate issue.....right now we are hand squeezing a bottle into her mouth.  She slept through the night so that was great....except for the fact that I was awake at 3am ready to play with her and get to know her a little more.  I was too excited.  I am hoping my exhaustion helps me sleep better tonight.  She is a tiny little thing.  No way she weighs 34 pounds like they said.

 

okay, gotta go.

just wanted you to know we are very very very good.

Meili is wonderful!

I will try to send pictures soon!

Hello from Xi'an!

Our plane landed at 10:30 here and our escort, David, was there to meet us.  He is the funniest guy.  He is our age and is really funny....he calls marc "chopsticks" b/c he is so skinny.  Anyway, he is going to be our best friend this week as he guides us through this very important week of "adoption".  As they explained it to us in Beijing, this week is all about adoption paperwork and then next week will be all about visa paperwork.
 
Anyway, we are here now in our motel...it is the Xi'an Hyatt and it is very nice.  I guess Bill Clinton stayed in this hotel when he visited here in 91.  When we got here the first thing I did was work like crazy to get our room ready for Meili, it was so fun.  I got all her clothes organized, her crib made with her new soft blankets from home, her toys and books are in a nice pile so when she comes into our room she will see them, and then of course packed our bag to meet her with plenty of bribing material to try to get her to like us.  Then we got a call from David saying that our meeting of her had been DELAYED from 4 pm to 7pm....and he thinks it might even be later.  Bummer.  It is now 5:15pm so we have less than 2 hours to go.  I wanted to let you know on the blog b/c unfortunately we probably won't be able to post anything later tonight....by the time we get home with her it will be LATE and we will need to focus on HER and getting her to sleep...which they say can be the hardest part of the week. (the first night to sleep)  Another thing is that the internet here is SLOW and very difficult....so please know that I will post a pic of her as soon as I can.
 
Xi'an is definitely way different from Beijing....much less westernized and not as much money here.  It is fun to see more how the majority of China really lives. 
 
Oh yeah, another thing about Meili....I guess the city where she lives is over 8 hours away so David, our escort, thinks that she came by train here to this city last night.  My dream of meeting her foster grandma is over.  I am bummed and mourning that a little bit.  I held on to that hope till now. 
 
Alrighty, Marc and I are headed out to find me a Diet Coke.  I need to find me some energy for the night ahead.  We are doing really good.  Thanks for praying for us.  I was resting in the motel room a little bit ago and I just felt this intense calmness and peace come over me.  I KNEW that was God.  I do not feel nervous or anxiety at all right now.  Just READY for MY GIRL!
 
Jorie, Luke, and Caleb, I love you babies!  Next time you hear from me I will be telling you all about your sister! 

Day before Meili.....

Thank you Lord for another spectacular day! 

We stared our day with our Holt orientation.  Then we had lunch with the 8 other families from the States that are also adopting this week with Holt....then we went with all of them through the Forbidden City and Tiannamen Square.  We finished up our GREAT day with a yummy Peking Duck dinner and a nice long walk through a very happening Beijing city.  The afternoon tours were of course amazing .....the history and culture are so rich here.  But the best part of the day for me was this morning's orientation with Holt which included getting updated pictures and info. on Meili.  Oh my.  From the pictures and info. my heart has been sealed, she is MINE!  I can't believe how similar she is to my kids at home in so many ways.  For instance it says she is not a picky eater, loves to play outside, she wakes up and goes to sleep at the EXACT same time my kids do, her meal times are at the same time as my kids, she loves to play ball, etc.  I know you may think this is how it is for every family but it isn't....the adopted kids all have a variety of likes/dislikes and schedules.  God is giving me a child that, on paper, fits in every way with my other kids.  She currently weighs 34 pounds...isn't that a lot for a 2 year old?  Sarah, write me an email and tell me how much Ali weighs.    Hi Sarah.  Her lip has definitely NOT been repaired, she even has a nice big white tooth sticking out of her lip opening.  But oh, she is so beautiful.  Her info. says that she goes "to a toilet in a bed pan with adult's help".....not so sure what that means.  Anyway, sorry to bore you with the details of my daughter but we have just had so little information before that it feels SOOOOO good to know a little more about her.

 

Anyway, so much more to say but I need to go and pack for tomorrow.  We are being picked up at 6am to go to the airport.  We arrive in Xi'an at 10:30 and then we will meet Meili at the Civil Affairs office at 4pm.  That means that we should be meeting her at midnight your time Saturday night.  Marc and I both are SOOOOO ready. 

 

Just so you know we can't see our blog so if you are leaving comments there we can't see them....and my mom told me that one of my entries appeared twice....sorry about that....b/c I can't see what is being posted there are sure to be many more mistakes....

 

we have been able to get email in Beijing but not sure how it will be in Xi'an.  I plan to post tomorrow night to let you know that we got Meili so hopefully we can access our email there.

 

Thanks again for continuing to pray for us.  It means so much to us.  God is so good and I have been reminded of that again and again over here. 

 

"I waited patiently for the Lord, He turned to me and heard my cry."

Psalms 40:1

 

Hello from Beijing!

 

Yesterday was a fantastic day.

We climbed the Great Wall and then toured around old town Beijing and then ended the evening walking around dowtown Beijing.  We had SO MUCH fun throughout it all.  Marc especially loved hiking the Great Wall. 

I would love to write more but I just spent a few precious moments talking to my kids on SKYPE and now I need to get going.  Today, Saturday, we have our Holt orientation in the morning and then this afternoon we are heading out to the Forbidden City and Tiannamen Square. 

Tomorrow is Meili day!  Tomorrw we get our girl!  We are so excited for that but are also having a GREAT time here in Beijing. 

Love you guys all and thanks for continuing to pray for us!

 

Hello from Beijing.

Yesterday was a fantastic day.

We climbed the Great Wall and then toured around old town Beijing and then ended the evening walking around dowtown Beijing.  We had SO MUCH fun throughout it all.  Marc especially loved hiking the Great Wall. 

I would love to write more but I just spent a few precious moments talking to my kids on SKYPE and now I need to get going.  Today, Saturday, we have our Holt orientation in the morning and then this afternoon we are heading out to the Forbidden City and Tiannamen Square. 

Tomorrow is Meili day!  Tomorrw we get our girl!  We are so excited for that but are also having a GREAT time here in Beijing. 

Love you guys all and thanks for continuing to pray for us!

We made it!

Hey guys, we made it, we're here in Beijing.  The flights went really well...we're actually really surprised at how fast they went.  We're definitely exhausted but we're still laughing.....quite a few comical moments....Anyway, we are getting up early to climb the Great Wall.....so we are going to bed.  Happy Thanksgiving to all of you, our wonderful supportive awesome family and friends! 

 

WOOOOOO-HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, WE ARE HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

packed and ready to go.......

Tomorrow morning we leave for China.
I never thought the day would actually come for ME to say that.
It is absolutely an insanely wild thought that this is actually going to happen.
We are packed, laundry is done, and the house is picked up enough....
Wow.  There is nothing left to do except wake up, shower the kids, dress them in their pilgrim costumes for school, kiss them, hug them tight, and send them off.  Once they are off to school my mom will arrive to take over care of Caleb and we will hop in the car with my dad and off to the airport we go.  As simple as that.  It is a really weird feeling to not have more to-do things on my list....well, I guess I could always clean some more tonight....nah, I'm done.  wow, we're ready.

To describe my feelings and emotions right now is pretty much impossible.  I can tell you two things though:  One, the closer we get the more the emotions are starting to surface for BOTH Marc and I.  And two, it is completely clear to me that this "thing" we are about to do (go to China and adopt Meili) is soooo much bigger then US.  It is so much more then we could handle, then we could do.  It is God's thing.  It is about Him and His plan for us and for Meili.  I have NEVER been more aware of His presence over a situation and my need to rely on Him for EVERYTHING.  I have never been more aware that something I am doing is HIS.  It is a humbling place to be.  I have heard people say that "Christians are weak".  Ummm, YEAH!  Yeah, I will be the first to admit that I am weak!  The thought of leaving my precious babies at home and boarding a plane that will fly across the ocean (how do planes stay in the air anyway?), that I will be walking around in a country that speaks a different language and is full of millions and millions and millions of people.  Yeah, that makes me feel WEAK.  This entire adoption journey has reminded me that I AM weak.  And the entire journey has reminded me of my need for a Savior, a Rock, a mighty God who never changes.  Even now, tonight, at this late stage of the game I am brought to my knees, humbled, looking to Jesus, asking Him to carry us through the next 16 days.  It is clear to me that the next 2 weeks is all about Him and that is actually a really good place to be because it takes all the pressure off of us. I am actually thankful that I feel humbled and weak because that's when there is room for God to do His thing. And He is so good and so powerful so I really have nothing to worry about. Isn't that amazing that at a time when I have never felt weaker I have never felt more peace and calmness?  Ahhh, God is soooooooooo amazing. 

So, the short of it is that tonight I am extremely emotional, extremely in love with Jesus, and completely at peace knowing that we are going forward in His power and in His will....and that is the best and safest place to be.

On the lighter side, I just realized tonight that I am not going to get any Thanksgiving leftovers and Marc just realized that he isn't going to get to watch the civil war game.  That's a bummer. 

So, this officially wraps up the first 14 month stage of our adoption journey.  Tomorrow we begin the second stage. 

Ah, to God be the glory....both now and forevermore!

State Champions!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last night was Marc and his dad's last time coaching Jesuit and last time coaching together.

It was a great night as Jesuit beat Westview 2-0

 to claim the 6A State Championship for Girls Soccer.

The entire Skipper family plus my parents were there

to enjoy a VERY memorable evening!

Oh, what a night!

What a way to end it together!

two happy coaches!

She is daddy's girl...and boy was she happy for her dad.

Jorie enjoying her uncles.

the Skipper boys.

the entire Skipper clan

5 days till we leave.....

Can you believe it?  We are down to 5 on the countdown.  Only 5 days remaining till Marc and I hop on a plane to CHINA!  I've been trying to figure myself out the last couple days (scary thought, I know), trying to take a minute to process where I am at right now.  I have wanted to journal this week about what I am thinking/feeling/experiencing right now and I sit down to write and NOTHING has come out.  Until last night when I was finally able to relax a bit.  So, anyway, I realize now that I have been compartmentalizing quite a bit these last couple weeks.  We have been carrying on with our normal busy routines ON TOP of me trying to prepare to be in China for 2 weeks, leaving my 3 precious babies home for 2 weeks, and then return to 2 insanely busy weeks when we get home for China.  My brain has been FULL trying to manage all of that and the way I have survived is compartmentalizing.  The only reason that I have kept my sanity, and I do mean the ONLY reason, is God.  I KNOW that He is in total control of everything and He has every detail of everything worked out so all I have needed to do has been to cling to Him and then work my butt off trying to do all that I can do.  And that is exactly what I have been doing these last couple weeks, clinging to Jesus, my ROCK, and working my butt off. 

I have to say that I can't wait to be on the plane.  For those 16 hours I will be able to let everything else go except one very beautiful girl who is about to be my daughter.  In those moments and hours I will think only of her and finally allow myself to spend time processing her, and all that is about to take place.  Don't worry, I have gone there and do go there now on a daily basis, however, in order to function and keep all my plates spinning I can't camp out there as long as I'd like.  I just can't walk around crying everywhere, ya know.  The adoption process is INTENSE.  Intense on every single level.  It is a lot to process.  I love her, I want her, and I can't wait to begin our life with her.

But as for the next 5 days.....we will continue to live for Jesus and for what He has for us in these precious days....Tomorrow Marc will be coaching his last varsity girls soccer game (possibly forever).  This is his last year coaching for Jesuit and tomorrow they are playing in the State Championship game.  ( I could write a novel on how we have already seen God working out His perfect timing in this adoption process but ONE of the ways is that he allowed Marc to be at this game.)  Jesuit has a really good chance at winning the game and I am so excited for him and his dad to finish up their year together and in this way!  Then on Sunday Marc is working his last day at the Firestation.  Then Monday and Tuesday will be spent packing, cleaning, crying, and giving Jor/Luke/Caleb more hugs and kisses then they will like.

Ahhhh, God is so good.

Teach us to number our days aright,

that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12

Praise the Lord, O my soul.

I will praise the Lord all my life;

I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

Psalm 146:2

11 days and counting......

Ahhhh, life is BUSY!!!!  My mind is SO FULL I cannot even take the time to tell you all that I am thinking about right now.....Let me give you a glimpse:  wanting to research everything we will be doing in China, thinking of Meili's birthmom (that is extremely emotional for me right now), buying little gifts to leave my kids when we are gone,  Jorie and Luke have started basketball, trying to get playdates arranged for my precious Caleb while we are gone, NEEDING to clean my house, need to make a meal plan for THIS week, what will my kids wear to their Thanksgiving feast at school?, Marc's playoff soccer game tonight, should I decorate for Christmas before I leave for China?, Meili, Meili, Meili, ahhhh, I think that gives you an idea.....

I did just take the time to write out our itinerary while we are in China so you can see what we'll be up to.  My husband is wondering how he can get out of all the tours and go hiking in the mountains.......

By the way, we have named her Meili, pronounced May-lee.  Her middle name remains in the negotiating process between me and Marcus.

Let the wild rumpus begin.....

A little silly to make that the title but that is how I have been feeling the last few hours......like an animal bouncing off the walls of my house.  I have a certain excitable energy in me that I can't remember ever feeling before.  The reason?  Dates dates dates dates....today we got our DATES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  We have been in this official adoption process now for 14 months and for 14 months it hasn't seemed real.  There have been highs and LOWS and everything in between.  It has been an up and down emotional rollercoaster.  If I were to describe the last 14 months I would say it has been the most amazing spiritual journey and the most amazing amount of paperwork journey that I could have ever imagined.

But today, the journey has shifted for me from a concept to reality.  Today I officially got REALLY EXCITED.  I can barely contain myself.  15 days from right now I will be flying across the Pacific to have my 4th child.  I will be meeting a precious little girl who no doubt will rock our worlds.  Our lives will change forever.  I will have to face issues that I have never faced before.  I will be challenged in ways that I  have never before.  And I think that I will learn to love like I have never before.  In 15 days Marc and I will set out together for the adventure of a life time.  Oh, I am READY for my girl!

We leave from Portland on November 25th and we will return on December 11th.  We will arrive at PDX at 7:50 in the morning on that Friday morning the 11th.  We will have to go through customs and so I'm not sure what time we will actually be getting through with all of that....but if you want to come and meet our daughter at that time then we'd love to have you there. 

But I trust in you, O Lord;

I say, "You are my God."

My times are in your hands.

Psalm 31

TA BABY!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday, late afternoon, we got word that we are finally and officially TA. 

We have received our Travel Approval from China!

This is a HUGE deal!

It basically means that China has now said to us,

"It is time.  You can come and get your daughter now."

So, our fabulous agency is busy scheduling numerous appointments for us and they will let us know confirmed dates by early next week.  The window they have given us puts us flying to China between November 18th and Dec. 4th.....

Of course we are hoping for it to be on the 18th but totally at peace with God's perfect timing.