Happy Birthday Baba

Home FIVE days now and we cannot believe how well Phoebe June is doing.  People, she has not had 1 night terror since being home.  Our God is mighty and a great Healer.  I'm not suggesting that we've seen the last of them, but I'm not saying we haven't.  All I know for now is that reversing our clocks again has been hard, and when we get restful sleep (AT NIGHT!) it is a huge blessing😴.  Speaking of sleep, tonight she actually fell asleep in her high chair, with her snack unfinished and didn't wake up when I put her in bed.  Maybe between the 4 of us, we're wearing her out😂

Today was Dwight's BiRtHdAy and since we couldn't possibly take him out to dinner (because we're cocooning and trying to keep Phoebe's world as small as possible for a while!) the girls and myself decided that we were going to tag team all day long to be able to make him his favorite (time intensive) meal.  We succeeded and he was surprised!   and we made a really big deal about his birthday and singing and blowing out candles and our little girl just loved it!!!  She got my phone and pulled up the pictures we have of her on her 2nd and 3rd birthdays with frosting on her mouth to show she had done what Baba was doing!  We're in love and thrilled by her ability to communicate with minimal verbal language.  Her receptive speech is impressive too.

Today, the girls and I were discussing how we loved China.  Yes, there is smog.  But we live in the Inland Empire, and clean air is nothing we can brag about😷.  People do spit often and we think that's gross.  Chinese people work hard, they're extremely recourceful and helpful.  I especially enjoy how genuine they are because that's just fun to be around. They have some of the yummiest food .  In fact we're in search of a great Hot Pot resteraunt  as well as a fabulous authentic Noodle resteraunt (we will not be denied that spicy cucumber sauce salad😱)  I'm not in love with their superstitious beliefs, but I've seen plenty of that junk here in the U.S. as well.

Today I read a blogpost by my very favorite blogger (because we're kindred spirits for sure!!!) and I have never been able to relate more to a post.  Remember my last post about fear?  Well if I was a better writer, I would've described it the way Ann does.  It was as if I had written so many of my own thoughts down.  So much so, that I took the time to share the whole post with Dwight.  I got all choked up and he understood all of it, because we stepped out together and our faith and love are greater for it.  If you'd like to check it out, it's at A Holy Experience.  But I'd like to leave you with a couple of her quotes to think on in your own life☺️

Even if you don’t feel like enough — you have to risk enough — or you will die without ever having lived enough.

Death by living is far preferable to death by being too scared to really live at all. 

There’s some risks you have got to take because it turns out you can’t live not taking them. 
You can’t live with dreams drying up inside you like some dying and parched riverbed.

You clearly not being enough  —- is what makes the enoughness of God most clearly seen. 

Day 1 at Home

First of all, thank you Brian and Erica for taking over with the blog!  We read through all of it today and couldn't of done a better job ourselves.  And your last post for us is perfect, we appreciate your thoughtfulness to share what we couldn't quite put together.  Your "been there, done that" experience is evident💜💛💚💙

And to Phoebe's fans that met us at the airport and gave us the royal treatment, thank you, thank you, thank you!  We can't wait to show Phoebe how loved and prayed for and celebrated she was before you ever knew her💖💗💞. Friends, our hearts are full!

We're home and day 1 is finally over.  It's 1:30am and our girl just went to sleep (to be honest, I didn't even try to put her down until now because we didn't wake up until 5pm today).  She had a full day of playdough and stickers, some water play with the hose and lots of hugs and kisses. Anytime someone walked out to the backyard to take trash out she wanted to follow them, she's exploring already!!!  Tonight when I put on my beloved Tula, she reached up and said "mama, help".  She makes good use of the few English words she knows.  She put her arms on my neck and pulled me down to kiss her cheek and asked for Baba.  I took her back to see him sleeping in the bed and she shook her head yes and we left the room (she and I are sleeping in the front room so that we don't keep D up all night, since he has to go back to work on Monday.  But she has been sleeping between us since she joined our family so she expects to see him when it's time for bed).  Then she put her head on my chest and was out cold in 2 minutes. I'm so blessed to call this sweetie our daughter!  Amazed and in awe of her ability to adapt to all of the changes she's experienced in the past two weeks.

Tonight as I reflect on the last two years, I'm reminded of how afraid we were to venture into the unknown territory of international adoption.  How we had this great desire, but fear did have a grip on us.  I remember us discussing the fact that we have an enemy that tries to keep us in bondage, but we also have a Prince that came to rescue us.  Jesus defeated the enemy on the cross.  His love truly conquered all!  The timing of all of this reflection and the fact that our first day home is Good Friday has been deep for me.

"These three remain, 'faith, hope, and love, these tgree; but the greatest of these is love."  1 Corinthians 13:13

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become a sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and knowledge, and thought I have all faith so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing."  

1 Corinthians 13:1-2

These two verses remind me that faith is not the vital force to life, although we know from Hebrews 11:6 that it is impossible to please God without faith.  Faith only works by love (Galations 5:6). The enemy wants to hold us in bondage to fear.  We believe that fear has two opposites...faith and LOVE!  This is so important because this next verse doesn't say faith casts out fear, but rather love!

 "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.  But he who fears has not been made perfect in love."   1 John5:10 

Just reminding myself tonight how glad I am that love ruled our hearts and fear didn't win.  Fear has no right to stick around when we have that kind of conquering love.  Praising Him from whom all blessings flow tonight with tears in my eyes, as I watch our newest daughter slumber peacefully while taking slow deep breaths.    ☺️❤️😴

And because it's now 3am and I can't decide which pictures to share, here are all of them😜

Homeward Bound

They are on their way home...Just a picture and a video today to tide you over until you get to see the five Hansens in person.  I start spring break today, and I'm tempted to fly out to California to see them in person, but I'll wait until they're home, settled, and un-jetlagged!  I'm a little jealous of all of you who get to welcome them home at the airport.  Please keep in mind that they will be in need of encouragement and help, but they may need space, especially for Phoebe to adjust.  Many adoption experts recommend staying home without visitors for months.  Of course, Phoebe may or may not need this.  Please be sensitive to their needs and desires.  We'll have many more years to come to spend time with this beautiful baby girl.  I'm sure meals, maybe even freezer meals, would be welcome or gift cards for take-out.  Keep them in your prayers as well.  This is when real life starts!

Hong Kong

Yesterday was all rain, food and transportation😜.   After eating an intolerable amount of McDonald's, we finally discovered a wonderful noodle shop that we were all fond of (I must learn to duplicate the cucumber spicy sauce dish) and just in time to leave Guangzhou😖. We made it to Hong Kong, via a very nice train ride. We met a group of students from the Netherlands at the station and ended up sitting right next to them, they were quite interested in Phoebe. Once in Hong Kong, we needed to get from the train station to our hotel about 45 minutes away. The cab ride was a wild one with a driver that wanted to talk about the NBA and American politics. He was an absolute blessing to us, be sure to ask Dwightie about the taxi ride the next time you see him. We are all off to Hong Kong Disneyland today, thank you Ken & Marcia for the "fun money"!Not much longer until we head home.  We're completely blown away with how blessed we've been during this entire trip...health, safety, sleep, great food and best of all PHOEBE!!!

Sisters forever!

Look at all this luggage :)

Bye Bye, Guangzhou

Train ride

Taxi ride

The important things in life...makeup and videos

Thanks!

There's just something special about a Baba and his girl!

Phoebe Is an American!

Early morning appointment at the consulate office at the US embassy this morning, in the pouring rain. Our guide got us out of the hotel fast and after a long walk in a sultry pouring rain we were number 1 for our interview which means we were first in and first out.  That may not mean much unless you could have seen the sea of humanity in the waiting area. We took an oath and confirmed all that we know about Phoebe!  Hopefully we'll get Phoebe's travel visa tomorrow at 3:30 (or three shirty as our sweet guide Lily says☺️) before we take off for Hong Kong. Phoebe had a great time at the consulate seeing all the other kids there.  And we enjoyed meeting some of the other adoptive families.
We got back to the hotel earlier than expected so Shana and Carsen were able to write and send off a couple post cards as well as face-time a couple friends. We enjoyed a spectacular lunch at "The Noodle Place". The spicy cucumber is a must-have on your next visit to Guangzhou. After lunch we visited the second Nanyue King Zhao Mo's tomb. This is one of the most significant archeological discoveries in all of China, just a couple blocks from our hotel.
On a side-note, we're having fun with some of the printed English translations. For example, we went to the "5st" floor of the museum to see the tomb exhibit. My favorite is the Ranch salad dressing label, "pasture juice".
We have a lazy morning planned for tomorrow as we're just waiting to receive Phoebe's visa paperwork. We're scheduled for the 5:30 PM train to Hong Kong (not quite as lyrical as "the midnight train to Georgia" but we hope to make it just the same).
We give thanks to our Great God in the name of Jesus for the innumerable blessings we've received the past 12 days. We are all healthy, our adoption process has been as smooth as silk (see what I did there...), and our third daughter is as precious as our first and second.
Carsen & Gracie have been absolute life savers since little Phoebe joined the family, their constant help with holding, entertaining, and corralling this small tornado has been necessary and very much appreciated. I am so very proud of the young ladies these two have grown into.
As we head into the last leg of this 15 day adventure, as impressed as I've been with Carsen & Gracie, I am even more so by my beautiful wife. These first few days with Phoebe have not always been easy & pleasant (as the pictures make it appear). There have been night terrors, ferocious screaming fits, and 3-year old tantrums thrown by our very strong willed toddler whose life has been turned upside down. Through it all, Shana has shown an inhuman level of patience. I marvel at the strength and ability of this woman to see through the screaming defiance and see instead a frightened, hurting, little heart in need of care, acceptance, and security. This is my wife Shana.

Happy Family!

Yum, Yum

If only she can learn to spin them on a stick, she can get a job with the Chinese acrobats :)

Relaxing Day

Sorry this took so long...We were out of town and I couldn't post pictures on my mobile device.  Be sure to check out the post from yesterday too.  I'm adding pictures and a video!!!

Mostly pictures today...

Today was a great day!!! The most relaxed day we've had so far.  We have to get going early for our Consulate appointment, so we're starting our bedtime routine now (about 7pm).  Please, please pray that all goes well tomorrow and we get our girly's visa on Tuesday (no delays!!!) and that this mama and babe get some serious sleep tonight.  God is good all the time!!!  All the time God is good!  4 more days until we board that plane.  Hugs to you all if you're still reading and following along.:)  Please comment if you're still reading...Dwight loves hearing from you. <3

She didn't take a nap, but did set herself up with some alone time. :) With the alarm clock radio blaring Chinese jazz!!! 

Shamien Island and a Day off

No appointments today, after breakfast we made the short trip to Shamian island for sightseeing, pictures, and souvenier shopping. Phoebe had her stamp made at Michaels Place, and we all enjoyed shopping at A Gift From China. Phoebe also got a pair of red "squeaky shoes" that she really enjoys wearing. We had a nice lunch at Lucy's, and took a few pictures inside the White Swan hotel next to the waterfall. Unfortunately the famous "red couch" was thrown out during renovations a few years ago so we couldn't get that picture. The entire area is so beautiful, with the lush foliage, Colonial architecture, and bronze statues, it really was a joy to spend time there, we may go back tomorrow just to walk around and take in the scenery again. Phoebe did throw a couple tantrums during our outing. As she gets more comfortable with us she seems to be trying to establish herself as the leader of our family and she doesn't always do well when we don't do things her way. After returning to the hotel, we all took a long walk and ended up traveling beyond the beaten "tourist" path. Looking forward to another day of adventure tomorrow.

I have pictures, but I'm on my phone and can't get them to upload to the phone. I'll see if I can get it to work and add them later.

Please pray that Phoebe will sleep on the plane trip on the way home and that they will continue to transition smoothly.

Guangzhou

So sorry, I didn't get this posted earlier.  There was no update yesterday, but I had some things I had to complete this morning before I left for school and didn't have a chance to post the pictures and update.

Dwight writes this one...
We left Hohhot yesterday morning.  Everything went smooth at the airport.  Then the flight began and the airplane wasn't the only thing that went south.  Phoebe slept for about 20 minutes, but when she woke up, everyone on the plane knew it.  Then we went through strong turbulence for about an hour, boy was that fun.  We were completely drained by the time we landed in Guangzhou.  Not looking forward to the trip home.

We have a nice room at Marriott China Hotel.  There are a bunch of other adoptive families staying here which is neat.  Me and girls slept good, but Shana was up with Phoebe quite a bit.
Phoebe had a fun bath time this morning, then we had a wonderful breakfast.

Carsen and Gracie were smitten with a young Russian named Oleg who is a guest services employee here at the hotel.  They both hope to see Oleg again tomorrow.

Phoebe had her medical appointment today, the TB shot included.  Both Shana and Phoebe were in tears.  It wasn't a good time.  We had to complete more paperwork with our guide back at the hotel, but then we finally got to get out and hit the streets of Guangzhou.

There is an incredibly beautiful park just across the street from the hotel.  We rented what was advertised as a "luxury yacht", for a getaway on the water.  We all had a great time on that little boat. Phoebe went to sleep and the rest of us had some laughs as we cruised the waterways.  Nothing takes your troubles away quite like the open sea (or a large pond).

We're all looking forward to a trip to Shamien Island tomorrow.  We'll let you know how that goes.

Side note from Erica: Guangzhou is in southern China close to Hong Kong.  This is the location of the American consulate (as well as many other countries' consulates) in China.  They have to appear before the consulate in order for Phoebe to become an American citizen.

The medical appointment is to make sure that Phoebe is well enough to enter the United States.  There are probably a hundred people there getting checked out.  Many of them are adoptive families. Guangzhou is the hot spot for adoptive families because of the consulates. The hotels cater to adoptive families and have a "Western" breakfast and playrooms for the children.

Shamien Island used to be the location of the American consulate.  It is an island on the Pearl River  that has lots of shops with TONS of souvenirs.  If you know much about Chinese adoption, this is the location of "The Red Couch" at the White Swan Hotel.  When the consulate was on the Island everyone stayed at the White Swan.  They have remodeled it now, so I don't know if there's a red couch or not!

Pictures...

I love Gracie!!!  And that she carries me. :)

"Luxury Yacht"

At the park

There's nothing like a boat to put you to sleep!

Worn out from a long day!

At the airport (in Beijing?)

Where's the rubber ducky?