Hi, this is Gord here. Sue's been doing a lot of the blogging lately, and so I thought it was my turn now.

Briefly, here's what's been going on. For the last few weeks, I've been dealing with kind of a nasty foot infection. I won't bore you with the details, but I'm very thankful to say that the MRI test results that I received on Friday were very good, and right now it's just a matter of time until this is cleared up entirely. This foot infection has created a lot of distractions lately, and now I can focus in on the big event, which of course is the upcoming adoption of Yi Lai, who is 3 years old. He goes by "Lai Lai" in the orphanage.

We have, finally, decided upon a name for Yi Lai. We landed upon "Zachary Eli Toering." We picked the name "Zachary" in part because of its meaning, which is "God remembers." We picked Eli because that's close to his Chinese name, and if he wants to in the future he has the option of using Eli rather than Zachary. That's ultimately up to him.

This adoption is a reality for us now, because Sue, Stacie and I leave for China this Wednesday (October 3) at 12 noon in Grand Rapids. Due to school, the other kids are remaining at home. (Thanks to those who are taking care of the kids while we are gone.) We return to Grand Rapids two weeks later, on Wednesday October 17 at 4:30 pm. Here's our itinerary:

Weds Oct 3 at 12 noon: Depart Grand Rapids for Shanghai
Thurs, Oct. 4: Arrive in Shanghai
Fri Oct. 5 through Sat Oct 6: Tour Shanghai
Sun Oct 7: In Shanghai through early afternoon, then travel by train to Nanjing (about a 3 hour train ride from Shanghai, I think)
Mon Oct 8: The big day - we meet Lai Lai (Zachary) this day!
Tues Oct 9 through Thurs Oct 11: Nanjing with Lai Lai. One of those days we will visit his orphanage.
Fri Oct 12: In Nanjing, then travel to Guangzhou
Sat Oct 13 through Tues Oct 16: Guangzhou, including an appointment with the US embassy.
Weds Oct 17: depart Guangzhou for home
Weds Oct 17: Arrive in Grand Rapids at 4:30 pm to welcome Lai Lai to his new home

We'll try to update this blog on a daily basis once we arrive, assuming no problems with Internet connections.

There's still a fair amount of things to get done before we leave, but we're excited to only be a few days from leaving!

Gord

PS: If you haven't viewed it already - and especially if you have a heart for adoption or are interested in it - I'd recommend checking out the video by Steven Curtis Chapman. It's just a few minutes long. You can get there by just scrolling down to the bottom of this blog and then clicking on the video.

One Week Away!

We leave next Wednesday around noon! This seems like a dream. I am so excited and ready to have Lai Lai in my arms and in our life. We finally decided on his American name. Yi Lai will soon become Zachary Eli Toering. Zachary means God remembered. Once I realized the meaning of Zachary I fell in love with the name. We decided on Eli for his middle name because it sounds just like his Chinese name Yi Lai.

My goal tomorrow is to finish packing everything except for my clothes that I need to add on Monday. The weather forcast in Shanghai for next week is in the 80s.

Typhoon hits the Shanghai area

I am very grateful that the Typhoon that hit China yesterday turned out not to be as bad as they had predicted. Our agency is checking on Lai Lai to see if he is okay. Knowing that my son is half way around the world and a "Super" Typhoon was heading nearby was not exactly an easy thing to think about. The only thing I could do was to pray and that is why I was so relieved when I read the news today. The Typhoon hit a province that is next to Jiangsu (where Lai Lai is). I will make sure to update this when or if I have any news. I am sure that he is far enough that his orphanage just sustained a lot of rain. Please pray for the people in the area of the typhoon.

Gord had a good report from the doctor regarding his foot today!! He finally can stop wearing the special boot. I think that this also was the last day of his antibiotics. Yeah!

Only 14 days until we leave!

Sue

Starting to Pack!

I started putting all of the items together for our trip. Wow -- I have been buying items on my list since February (a little obsessive?) so I think everything is set. But now I have to organize it to fit into our suitcases - yikes! Well I guess if it doesn't make it into our luggage we can always go to Carefores or WalMart in China. I am trying to put together fun stuff for the kids to play with. Bubbles, playdoh, pipe cleaners, toy cars, colorforms, bath toys, etc. will be amongst the huge variety of medical supplies and antibiotics we need to bring (in case we get sick).

I also have about twenty pairs of new, soft, red 6-9 month jammies that Gymboree donated to Homeland China in response to a special on Oprah. These little one-piece pjs will keep the babies so warm this winter in the orphanage. I am carrying them to Lai Lai's orphanage for the organization. I am also planning on bringing some kids toothpaste to his orphanage. Andrea, who's son is from the same orphanage, donated a lot of toothbrushes in May and indicated to me that they needed toothpaste for the children too.

There is a lot to do over the next two weeks but it is so much fun planning for his arrival! The poor kiddo is going to be smothered with love by the time I get to hold him. I sure hope he is ready for it!!

Sue

PS: This is Gord here. I was released from the hospital on Wednesday after I was admitted for a foot infection that wasn't going away. Things are now well under control, and I'm very thankful . . .

September 11... A day never to forget...

September 11....9/11.....I see that date and I freeze for a moment. Remembering the tragedy. Remembering being at Ground Zero only 8 months after and seeing the empty space where two building used to stand.... Remembering the memorials set up and talking with the brave firefighters of Ladder 1 in NYC last summer....My heart goes out once again to all of the people who suffered and to all of the families who were/are so deeply affected. I just had to take a moment and reflect....


Today we did receive the go ahead to purchase our tickets for China! We will be leaving in three weeks. I am so very happy that the pieces of the puzzle are falling into place. We even received an extra blessing in that Gord had enough Frequent Flyer miles to redeem for my ticket! That saved us a lot of money.

Gord spent the past two nights at the hospital for his foot. He was admitted after going to the ER on Monday night. He should be coming home on Wednesday. His foot is finally looking better after all of the antibiotic IVs. I hope that the doctors have this mystery infection under control. I found myself thinking several times that I am so glad that we are not leaving tomorrow. I might have had to travel to China by myself. I don't know how people who travel alone to adopt a child manages. I give them a lot of credit. It sure must be difficult.

My heart is at peace and I have a huge sense of calm now that we are only three weeks away! We have our LOA(Letter of Acceptance), our TA(Travel Approval), our CA(Counsulate Appointment - October 15th) and our plane tickets!! We will be able to have Lai Lai join our family on Sunday, October 7th!! What a wonderful day that is going to be!!!!!!

Our travel is delayed

Unfortunately our agency wasn't able to get the dates that they had requested from the consulate so we now are waiting to hear if we can travel the beginning of October. This means we have at least 3 1/2 more weeks to wait to get Lai Lai. (We are getting closer to figuring out his American name.) The rush of thinking that we had to leave in a week was a little overwhelming but so exciting.

This extra time waiting now will allow for Gord's foot to heal. He is in a lot of pain and is taking antibiotics that he had to get from the hospital. It really is a blessing that we have a little more time. I certainly wouldn't want Gord to be in China with this infection. I also will be around now when Stephanie and Sarah both go to their homecoming dance this year. So even though it is so difficult to wait and wait for Lai Lai I can see the silver lining in this delay.

What about the U of M game? Yikes! Not the best game I have been to. In fact, I think it was the worst Michigan game I have been to. Although we did have a good time going our to Amers deli with my nephew Daniel, who is a freshman. Of course going to Steve and Barrys for the annual tee shirt shopping was fun as well as seeing a sea of Maize and Blue as we entered the stadium. We were glad that we shared this experience with the kids. I did learn that taking a three year old to a televised football game(longer game)is not exactly easy. Stacie did do quite a remarkable job keeping busy watching the game. She just got confused because we happened to be by the Oregon Ducks fans and since they kept cheering (because they kept scoring) she decided to cheer the Ducks on too instead of the Wolverines. Oh well, she is such a good sport. By the way...we left after the third quarter.

As soon as our agency tells us to buy our tickets to Shanghai I will post the good news. In the meantime please continue to pray for Gord's foot and for Lai Lai over in China.

Sue

We have our Travel Approval!!

What a day! We are so very thankful and feel so blessed. We received our travel approval today. We are planning on leaving NEXT Thursday! One week from today. Whew! There is so much to do. I had figured that we wouldn't be leaving until mid October but the Lord has different plans. Our agency is requesting consulate dates of 9/25, 9/26, or 9/27. We should know for sure by Monday (hopefully tomorrow). If all goes well we will be flying to Shanghai on Thursday and in 11 days from now we will finally be able to be united with Lai Lai. Hang in there kiddo--mommy is coming to bring you home!!

I am overwhelmed at the moment and ask for prayers for clarity of mind while I get ready to go to China. This Saturday the whole family is going to the U of M game (even Stacie). Even though it is one less day to pack and get ready I am looking forward to spending the day in Ann Arbor with my family. Go Blue!

Please pray for Gord's foot. He has an infection which doesn't seem to be clearing up. He needs this to be healed before we leave. He is on strong antibiotics. I know that God can heal him.

I'll post later. I need to get focused on the big task ahead of me.

Sue