Day 2 with Olivia Grace

Today we went back to the Civil Affairs Office and finished all the adoption paperwork on China's side of things. It went really well.

Olivia saw the orphanage ladies again and immediately began to light up and reach for them.

It made me feel good that they had taken such good care of her. You could tell they truly loved her and she loved them. When they left she really grieved. I believe because of them is why she is doing remarkably well.

She loves being with both me and Chris. But she is trying to figure out who we are.. This morning she got really upset when she woke up...its like she thought, "Why in the world are ya'll are still here?"

She will at times look away/stare at something and her little lip with quiver and she will get upset. She is grieving for those she has left behind.

She is an absolute HAM!! She loves to play little games with us!!

She LOVES congee. Actually, she loves any kind of food.

She is a BIG eater..She is going to fit right in!

She has the biggest smile...It lights up her whole face. She really loves to smile at her Daddy!!

These pics are from the Civil Affairs Office earlier:

This is us putting our fingerprints on the paperwork!

This is us putting her footprint on it!!!

This is the new family of five (Jack and Benjamin-We miss you so much)!!

This is just so ya'll know she can be fiesty and has a set of lungs on her....lol

The support and prayers we have received from the community and our family and friends are helping us each day!! We thank you from the bottom of our hearts!!

 

We have Olivia Grace!!! First Pictures!

I will let the pictures do the talking!!! We are all doing amazing!!

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME AND ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD!!!

LOVE TO YOU ALL!!

Thoughts....

As I begin to write this I am about 4 hours from meeting my daughter...my daughter not born under my heart but in it...

I want to write down what I am feeling and how this trip has changed me thus far...

Today has been a hard day.....When I woke up this morning (4 AM) I realized it had been 24 hours since I had anything to eat...I felt weak....I felt clammy....I felt sick....I thought, OH NO!!! I can not be sick!! I have to be strong...I have to feel my best....but I didn't and still don't! (but getting better)!

Let me go back a day....

I dont know if many know this but I have very few fears....but one of the BIG fears I have is flying...I hate it...I hate how it makes me anxious....I hate everything about it....One of the reasons I questioned God when he opened my heart to do this is because I have to fly across the world...I didn't know if I could do it...But I knew if he called me to do it than I would!!!

Yesterday our guide dropped us off at the airport in Beijing. She said, "You be fine...it real easy." HAHA!! We walked in and we saw very few if any signs with English on it. Eventually we found our way to the gate...we boarded a bus that was FULL of people (Chris and I were both taller than anyone on the bus)...everyone was staring at us like we had 5 heads...we got off the bus and boarded the plane...The lady said Ni hao (Hello)....We got into our seats...me in the middle....I looked at Chris and said, "I do not know if I can do this." He smiled, grabbed my hand, and said, "You dont have a choice."

The plane took off (I hate take off) and after about ten minutes someone came over the loud speaker and said something in Chinese....Then all of the sudden, the plane started to shake...really shake...then drop.....worst turbulance I have ever experienced.....I thought, "Here it goes, its going to fall out of the sky."

Then I thought about Jan (our Sunday School Teacher) and thought about all the people who were praying for us...I began to pray, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.." I said it over and over...then I began to name one by one the people who were praying for us....It gave me such peace!!! I knew no matter what happened I was going to be okay....and it was....we landed and I praised the LORD!!

Now back to today. The what-ifs creep up and I have to pray them away..

What if....she hates us...

What if .....shes mad we are not Chinese....

What if.....I dont know how to parent a girl....

What if....she is very delayed....

What if....when she grows up she's really prissy and doesn't want to play BALL (keeping it real)....

What if....she wants me to do her hair and make up (I dont even do mine).....

What if....when she becomes a teenager she talks to me the way I talked to my mother..

What if .....I can't handle working full time...taking care of three kids...sports...school....etc.

You get the idea!!! So I pray, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

My aunt Phyllis gave me a card for everyday we are here...there is a devotional on each day!! I have gone back and read them over and over!!! They have really helped us and I have really enjoyed them and needed them.

This was yesterdays:

"Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Phillippians 4: 6-7

This part is from Sheila Walsh:

What a gift! The word of God could not be clearer here. If we will relinguish control of our lives and place our trust in God with absolute confidence, then the peace of God which is beyond human understanding, will cover us, protecting our hearts and minds. This is true joy.

So with true joy and complete trust in God, we prepare to meet Miss Olivia Grace Yong Wilson!

Love to you all!!!

Beijing Full Day 2

Today was a busy day!!

We left our hotel this AM at 7:00 to go to the Great Wall. We were trying to beat the heat...Well we didn't succeed. I just couldn't believe we were going to see this magnificent sight!

We rode a chair lift up and a toboggan down...That was a riot!! SO funny!! We stayed there for a couple of hours hiking the wall.

We then left and went to another authentic chinese restaurant to eat. I thought it was really great.. But Chris is having serious DEPOT withdraws. (We are only on day 4) He says he promises he will never miss another Thursday chicken day. If someone sees Wanda and the rest of the crew tell them he says he is going to have to hug them for making such great food when he returns. lol

We then traveled to the Olympic Park where the Olympics were held. So many people everywhere. It was neat to see the Birds Nest and the other stuff.

Finally, we ended the day with an Acrobatic Show. I have to be honest I was really dreading it. When it hits about 4 to 5 o'clock I just want to go to bed. I have yet to sleep past four in the morning. But it was great and amazing to watch.

The boys are doing so good...We skype every morning and every night. There are having so much fun with family and friends. They even went to the rodeo (Thanks Elizabeth!)

Tomorrow we travel to Changsha and prepare to meet our daughter. Please pray for safe travels.

Much love to all of you!

 

 

 

Beijing Day 1

We have had a great first full day in Beijing. We toured a lot today. Our guide Alice is awesome!!! So nice and sweet! We toured Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Hutong area including a rickshaw ride, and saw a Kung Fu Show!! Really busy day....to be honest I fell asleep during Kung fu show.....so tired.. We are 12 hours ahead of y'all...but our bodies hasn't quite caught on yet....Below are some pics of today...

This is us on the rickshaw ride in Hutong!!

We are in an authentic Chinese restaurant that Alice took us too...She was trying to show us how to

use chopsticks and when we looked up a table full of Chinese men began to laugh...it was funny...we were the only Americans in a building full of Chinese men and women and we didn't know how to use their "fork".....

Chris said to tell you this is just an old tree!!..it's actually called a couples tree...it's in the Forbidden City!!

We got to visit the very nice lady's home...very sweet!!

This is a view from the rickshaw ride!!

This is outside the Forbidden City!!

This is the entrance to the Forbidden City!

Representing Springmore in Beijing China!!

Everybody wanted their picture made with Chris....not so much me...when I asked why not me?? Alice said its because I don't look American enough??? What??? Lol

I am reading this book called Kisses from Katie and I want to end with a quote from the book:

"This is not a life that I dreamed up on my own or even knew I desired. I am watching God work, and as I "delight myself in the Lord" by doing what he asks of me and by saying yes to the needs He places in front of me, He is changing the desires of my heart and aligning them with the desires of His. As I go with Him to the hard places, He changes them into the most beautiful joyful places I could imagine."

LOVE TO YOU ALL!!!!!!!

 

First pictures!!

This is the view from our hotel window!!!

 

 

 

 

So far...this is what some of us have been doing!! Bless!!

 

More pictures tomorrow!!

 

We are in Beijing!!!

The Wilson's have arrived!! Chris is currently snoring away!! I am following shortly!!! I am not going to post a picture because yall seriousy don't want to know what we look like!! Tomorrow the touring begins !!!! But can't wait for the real reason we are here to be united with our beautiful daughter!! Love y'all!!!