tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87881570392754599932024-02-07T16:32:12.719-06:00Adventure 4 Eli + KaiThis was our family's adventure to bring Eli home. But if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans. “The LORD shall add to me another son.” Gen 30:24
And so now this is our family's adventure to bring Eli & Kai home. As we're adopting both boys into our family forever.
An adventure is defined as an exciting or unusual experience; it may also be a bold, usually risky undertaking, with an uncertain outcome.Sherry Pattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702689930194601420noreply@blogger.comBlogger115125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788157039275459993.post-25879013791916952552012-12-16T18:17:00.000-06:002012-12-16T18:17:43.638-06:00Home...I apologize for the delay in posting to our blog for all our faithful prayer warriors, supportors and readers. The last week has been a whirlwind. Our trip home was LONG! And I had prepared what I was going to write... but then jetlag kicked in and well, it's just not worth it now. lol<br />
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But what is worth it, is to say that both Kai & Eli are transitioning very well. In fact we are amazed at how well they are doing. Not to say we have not had some rough or difficult spots, but over all we are so blessed!<br />
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Instead of trying to tell everything that has happened in a week, I will just post a bunch of pics for all to enjoy. And say, if you are on Facebook, friend me... Cuz I take pics and can post to fb from my phone a lot faster, and time is a coveted commodity for me right now. :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglrISDdbDSX6-I_35C1a866KcVM0vgyFUAhMrvZ_wUsJ38490riLWa-T5khUQFvviTR6hNnBjEPbJG9qNcYMylQnC1poMmGDw1ixl4eBqjZoumlY_uQcPu1Rg2HM2hbqbfLubODakCX7U/s1600/12-6-12+Eli+1st+night+in+his+bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglrISDdbDSX6-I_35C1a866KcVM0vgyFUAhMrvZ_wUsJ38490riLWa-T5khUQFvviTR6hNnBjEPbJG9qNcYMylQnC1poMmGDw1ixl4eBqjZoumlY_uQcPu1Rg2HM2hbqbfLubODakCX7U/s320/12-6-12+Eli+1st+night+in+his+bed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eli's first night in HIS bed, and that's Abby our 8 yr old Boston<br />
and he has begged to sleep with a dog every night since. :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJWcaKn5m3FEFpxuOl9kHXjqwIALazUQr6L3D1ysLzrIMVC6zdxBVYEu4WqKA0a7BXYd5-25dThPS5TWvoEVQjw3b0lSFn_4CVQQzDUqx57OoKXERjf8pstLOO-9dIndNCtnZi-ZYbBw/s1600/12-6-12+Kai+1st+night+in+his+bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJWcaKn5m3FEFpxuOl9kHXjqwIALazUQr6L3D1ysLzrIMVC6zdxBVYEu4WqKA0a7BXYd5-25dThPS5TWvoEVQjw3b0lSFn_4CVQQzDUqx57OoKXERjf8pstLOO-9dIndNCtnZi-ZYbBw/s320/12-6-12+Kai+1st+night+in+his+bed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kai's first night in HIS bed, in his room, and that's Jean-Luc another Boston at his feet, <br />
who now sleeps in a crate in Kai's room every night. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0hPHdNkU59DUkVL7gExpwQKZxGeYlkcnL-ALZ06ssN4QgOYOgP770mEGi6nb4DcxaLmDn4iDSH1hWD4ollf3Gdcpos9G2X_Rc3UqjdRuxuVBOazLAug3O3iPgZb5Cnihb20XRswQ4Fc/s1600/12-9-12+first+Sun+at+church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0hPHdNkU59DUkVL7gExpwQKZxGeYlkcnL-ALZ06ssN4QgOYOgP770mEGi6nb4DcxaLmDn4iDSH1hWD4ollf3Gdcpos9G2X_Rc3UqjdRuxuVBOazLAug3O3iPgZb5Cnihb20XRswQ4Fc/s320/12-9-12+first+Sun+at+church.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Levi, Kai & Eli all dressed for first church service since home</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTy-4Hh7B_8BfzZG5A7DJgZpF0TFZbrLtRFo2CgnkDfs-LHA1BmT6sm6enH6JZBiLRRr5dWshBYgqt5YYml9MMu06yEUBhEbavKuOWJlHkXZ0jdb5HnkgNZwCM4KYhGWxCUMEEEFssTM/s1600/12-10-12+Kai+school+bible+memory+verse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTy-4Hh7B_8BfzZG5A7DJgZpF0TFZbrLtRFo2CgnkDfs-LHA1BmT6sm6enH6JZBiLRRr5dWshBYgqt5YYml9MMu06yEUBhEbavKuOWJlHkXZ0jdb5HnkgNZwCM4KYhGWxCUMEEEFssTM/s320/12-10-12+Kai+school+bible+memory+verse.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kai writing his first Bible memory verse for school</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKiHqXFusXMF4muucp4R1knoBrzxoGzIYangJ_9I4Himifr3ZMt6ng55K4PAWXLNh6NIyDRGUkvhW87NFIJGlaMblsJbrqWpeNj28PDJfki_nrSQs_gIB1W4we-hkpyvanWnGuBTL5zIQ/s1600/12-10-12+tv+time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKiHqXFusXMF4muucp4R1knoBrzxoGzIYangJ_9I4Himifr3ZMt6ng55K4PAWXLNh6NIyDRGUkvhW87NFIJGlaMblsJbrqWpeNj28PDJfki_nrSQs_gIB1W4we-hkpyvanWnGuBTL5zIQ/s320/12-10-12+tv+time.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys enjoy watching superheros on TV.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIwY5Wj_V3FfFPibsZPtT8HFOx0rJLRh5zcu0tEY_0HpHKodoHydW1Pji-K7MwgpkY8GEL-ZjC7AoQLBkz-Wi_C4tqfG_MEyMQOOizn1E_sI6wdL39Sl-bUo8t8mJL2-sBMKQhDmR8xd4/s1600/12-11-12+paper+chain+tradition.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIwY5Wj_V3FfFPibsZPtT8HFOx0rJLRh5zcu0tEY_0HpHKodoHydW1Pji-K7MwgpkY8GEL-ZjC7AoQLBkz-Wi_C4tqfG_MEyMQOOizn1E_sI6wdL39Sl-bUo8t8mJL2-sBMKQhDmR8xd4/s320/12-11-12+paper+chain+tradition.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eli, Levi & Kai holding paper chains, a Patton Christmas tradition</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg47hLQbGTD70dxSC8OdwHHrrcuoibupNe0xcc2o5eMOgiWVR_yhPr1tnqFRIfMJurlcDKyRfKqNBd8ZkagaP9tCKB3-IrfbgvoT6TrjAHSz8JW720JlSullKXZQfvv9eAyWET5JtSjgN8/s1600/12-12-12+boys+for+a+walk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg47hLQbGTD70dxSC8OdwHHrrcuoibupNe0xcc2o5eMOgiWVR_yhPr1tnqFRIfMJurlcDKyRfKqNBd8ZkagaP9tCKB3-IrfbgvoT6TrjAHSz8JW720JlSullKXZQfvv9eAyWET5JtSjgN8/s320/12-12-12+boys+for+a+walk.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys and I went for a walk on 12-12-12</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYMF_bjIxyZDlh5fI3OZaBsy1JbPk5QZW_cS5qX9b9fSMGXJG3Y2a_xZ0OqKspNyQWCPdImTZ7AfOU7pBzuVz1n-npxfyXvJAT4-8n1D_BF6Gj8MTyG-W_DFl5ekSBqjbkLPVAghZhWs/s1600/12-12-12+Eli+school+Draw+Write+Now.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYMF_bjIxyZDlh5fI3OZaBsy1JbPk5QZW_cS5qX9b9fSMGXJG3Y2a_xZ0OqKspNyQWCPdImTZ7AfOU7pBzuVz1n-npxfyXvJAT4-8n1D_BF6Gj8MTyG-W_DFl5ekSBqjbkLPVAghZhWs/s320/12-12-12+Eli+school+Draw+Write+Now.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eli doing his Draw Write Now in school.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTTDQFb4jPIm4h4WA9uNy-Ox0IL0JfvI3yTyQIr_fWpwv1PBxacIBCxjQJelGj86JyS5f_t9Osgdc5_Kib5Rx-KNOLodbovAk9Sz7Px-vOuJIDQvXi-1Nh2W1m3D3xnYrxT7LESPC6Y0/s1600/12-13-12+Kai+photo+bombing+Eli+&+Andy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTTDQFb4jPIm4h4WA9uNy-Ox0IL0JfvI3yTyQIr_fWpwv1PBxacIBCxjQJelGj86JyS5f_t9Osgdc5_Kib5Rx-KNOLodbovAk9Sz7Px-vOuJIDQvXi-1Nh2W1m3D3xnYrxT7LESPC6Y0/s320/12-13-12+Kai+photo+bombing+Eli+&+Andy.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kai is photo bombing the pic Eli asked me to take of him & Andy, the boxer</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpd56p_wbGhI7TN1Azti16N3U7PnqMkjAH4c6KCxlF6sfHuiMlwM9rOZRGdwJf2dkGF237FnitW1yqdzBgdQZmzWvYmjb4DJkU_IO6g-jhReBcGpq05-rxchUmumAlKNpSZTr0iLgqdYY/s1600/12-14-12+Eli+1st+haircut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpd56p_wbGhI7TN1Azti16N3U7PnqMkjAH4c6KCxlF6sfHuiMlwM9rOZRGdwJf2dkGF237FnitW1yqdzBgdQZmzWvYmjb4DJkU_IO6g-jhReBcGpq05-rxchUmumAlKNpSZTr0iLgqdYY/s320/12-14-12+Eli+1st+haircut.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eli's first haircut was very entertaining... <br />
scared at first, then laughing cuz the clippers tickled</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3Iby5ipTSLWzP70PW0qngMKTvHf7OJQbLNO0LdmeHjif3Omu1cPPfZzVK89ovm4168NItR9I-vG1hO-MEvg5ZYLOwFKIJSYQ66DQkZhEcCE1bV2KWYtw5Q5mmZD8TAYJouTbbAPqjSY/s1600/12-14-12+Kai+1st+haircut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3Iby5ipTSLWzP70PW0qngMKTvHf7OJQbLNO0LdmeHjif3Omu1cPPfZzVK89ovm4168NItR9I-vG1hO-MEvg5ZYLOwFKIJSYQ66DQkZhEcCE1bV2KWYtw5Q5mmZD8TAYJouTbbAPqjSY/s320/12-14-12+Kai+1st+haircut.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kai enjoyed getting his haircut cuz we didn't shave all his hair off</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbW9eUCk0Uh_02pbSuV7auheD4tQnKvYmywFXcXoNSOv12GrEIuf2XzlTf8NiNjL3AQp5wNNc8nD8jNNUZjN5D2z8q1fT_nLgIt7U1xLMQK94-5mAp3qH4Wgl402FvDDk1UvE89gyA5k0/s1600/12-15-12+holiday+in+park+b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbW9eUCk0Uh_02pbSuV7auheD4tQnKvYmywFXcXoNSOv12GrEIuf2XzlTf8NiNjL3AQp5wNNc8nD8jNNUZjN5D2z8q1fT_nLgIt7U1xLMQK94-5mAp3qH4Wgl402FvDDk1UvE89gyA5k0/s320/12-15-12+holiday+in+park+b.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And these pics were just having fun at Holiday in the park</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8H-Wy6NldiB1qBmKUOroxWz0T8RZZLODL8SWtM3DkJiUAXPgIX2C1I78UKkXSVkw0BMXmNi9ARq3E5RfxnC6VI1f0vR3QdBLH9RqTELztOwBc5dK4oX0D33j3eVxicoITuEvRrbI1c1Y/s1600/12-15-12+holiday+in+park+c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8H-Wy6NldiB1qBmKUOroxWz0T8RZZLODL8SWtM3DkJiUAXPgIX2C1I78UKkXSVkw0BMXmNi9ARq3E5RfxnC6VI1f0vR3QdBLH9RqTELztOwBc5dK4oX0D33j3eVxicoITuEvRrbI1c1Y/s320/12-15-12+holiday+in+park+c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love all my kids!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlmXeFze-Xz_w4KAGT9gt0biy2D7vKL8Y7Ux4R0brZLnsREvW_7Ndw0oxRdsuB4OGv3C6qcef2hLWC0lPH-iNAXHoaSzQbFlZcAjLAYWRIOQVB3j256A12qc8gC0JWDQ2xlM0Hso9kb38/s1600/12-15-12+holiday+in+park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlmXeFze-Xz_w4KAGT9gt0biy2D7vKL8Y7Ux4R0brZLnsREvW_7Ndw0oxRdsuB4OGv3C6qcef2hLWC0lPH-iNAXHoaSzQbFlZcAjLAYWRIOQVB3j256A12qc8gC0JWDQ2xlM0Hso9kb38/s320/12-15-12+holiday+in+park.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice teh bunny ears Kai is giving Zoe... lol</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzyoD10avjhmRirre8p2M9xXdPyinEgSSfJ8GiSQbMoReo_ex00b5AmZxkh70D1LKxD82BNyd6e8WpcvhHcVw44BIbCTGS4mTd23NPgsP2zW_SH9YA4zljTxuXxPv_mjpTfMmAyDCJEWM/s1600/12-16-12+boys+playing+Legos+w-+Dallas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzyoD10avjhmRirre8p2M9xXdPyinEgSSfJ8GiSQbMoReo_ex00b5AmZxkh70D1LKxD82BNyd6e8WpcvhHcVw44BIbCTGS4mTd23NPgsP2zW_SH9YA4zljTxuXxPv_mjpTfMmAyDCJEWM/s320/12-16-12+boys+playing+Legos+w-+Dallas.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this pic was taken today when I went to go check on the boys <br />
and found them playing Legos with 6 month old Dallas hanging out with them. <br />
Love my kids and Bostons!</td></tr>
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Now gotta run off to a Christmas play at church. I will try to update more often. But in case I miss you, Merry Christmas and remember who and what this season is really about...<br />
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Oh, real quick, that reminds me:<br />
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<span class="userContent">At breakfast this morning, I was teaching the boys Christmas is about giving, because God gave us His Son Jesus. I was using my translator app. After leaning on me, Eli picked up my phone, pressed the speak button & said "I love you" in English & smiled... </span><br />
<span class="userContent"></span><br />
<span class="userContent">Awe, my heart melted and reminded me this is why we sacrificed and worked so hard to go across the globe to bring two strangers home and make them family. I love my new sons!</span><br />
<span class="userContent"></span><br />
<span class="userContent">God bless,</span><br />
<span class="userContent">Sherry</span>Sherry Pattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702689930194601420noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788157039275459993.post-4769228522470167142012-12-04T08:04:00.000-06:002012-12-04T08:04:14.411-06:00Last night in China!
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Well, I will try to catch everyone
up...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The boys each passed their TB skin
tests yesterday. Yay! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Steve brave daddy that he is, took
them with the guide and another family, because there was not room in the van
for all 6 of us and the 3 of them, plus our guide and the driver. So we agreed,
I would stay in hotel with Zoe & Levi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Monday afternoon Zoe & I did
some shopping, with the wonderful Ann of .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Last night we took Chinese take out
dinner up to the roof of the hotel. It was too cold to swim, but there was a
Foosball table and we had fun just playing and hanging out up there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Today we made it to, and thru, our
US Consulate appointment today...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The car ride to the US Consulate was
almost an hour, due to the awful traffic. We got there, got in line & then
made it into the waiting area with all the other families. The wait was not
real long, and the people were very nice. The kids were great! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Only one little question about Eli's
paperwork & the guy says it should all be good. Tomorrow our guide will
pick up the boys visas. Yay! So we are ... done with paperwork! Woohoo!!! I am
so happy!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our guide will pick up the boys US
travel visas tomorrow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On the way back to our hotel Eli got
car sick... common occurrence. My poor little guy... :(<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So after arriving we took a walk to
go book shopping... scored some Ultraman books, American stories in
Chinese/English, a few education discovery science books in Chinese, Kung Fu
Panda, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Then McD's hamburgers & ice
cream for lunch, and back to the room. The kids played Legos, video games, card
games, watched TV, we put together puzzles & we ate Chinese take out for
dinner again, but in the room tonight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So tomorrow we will sleep in, eat
breakfast, and pack...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We have to Check out of our hotel at
2pm Wed China time (12 midnight, CST). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The boys Visas can't be picked up
until 3:30pm, so we will be hanging out in the hotel lobby for about 3 hrs.
Pray for the hotel... lol <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our guide said she hopes to be here
by 4:30pm. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We will load the luggage and people
into a hired Van, which will depart at 5pm (hopefully...) and drive us to the
China/Hong Kong border. Then apparently we have to move to a new van, yep all
the luggage and people, and then continue traveling to the Hong Kong airport.
All total drive time we are told is 3 hours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thank God I found some motion
sickness meds at a Chinese pharmacy this afternoon, with Kai's help of
translating. He can help sometimes and it is a HUGE blessing. :)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We will get to the airport with
plenty of time to check in and maybe get some food. We depart Hong Kong at
12:55AM Thur (10:55am Wed CST).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Arrive Seoul, Korea- 5:20AM (4:20pm
Wed CST)<br />
Depart Seoul- 11AM (10pm Wed CST)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yup, 5 hr lay-over...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We are scheduled to arrive at DFW,
Terminal D - 8:20AM Thur CST (Flight Korean Air 31)<br />
Note: Then we have to process thru Immigration, Customs & Baggage... I'm
told 30-60 min.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But the moment the boys feet hit US
soil, they will both be US Citizens!!! Yay!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
We invite anyone interested to welcome them home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Then we drive home 1.5 hrs in OUR
van, and some help for luggage. (lol)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I think I counted like 33 hours of
traveling by the time we get HOME Thur. Pray for us... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Well, our VPN keeps going off... it's taken me two hours to post this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So please keep us in your prayers and I will update soon after we get home. Thank you ALL!!! God bless you tenfold for all your prayers and support. Kai & Eli are adjusting very well. We get hugs and kisses at night. They are happy all day long. They are both very excited about the plane trip to America tomorrow. In fact we have been trying to get them to go to sleep for over half an hour and they're still giggling. (lol)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">God is so amazing!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am happy to be going home, but certainly have a new appreciation for home... America that is!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">God bless America!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Signing off from China,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sherry</span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Sherry Pattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702689930194601420noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788157039275459993.post-86925993654347424562012-12-02T03:20:00.000-06:002012-12-02T03:20:29.323-06:003 more days to go...Sorry for no new pics or updates. It's so hard to have to go to lobby to check email and what not. But only 3 days left...<br />
<br />
Can not wait to get with our two new boys home, join our two waiting boys and have all 6 Patton kids under one roof.<br />
<br />
Yesterday we went to the Safari Park. It was AWESOME! Steve took a ton of pics, but I will have to wait to upload them. We saw TONS of tigers, all different species, including cubs and babies even. We also saw lots of Pandas. We fed monkeys and giraffes, which was totally cool! I mean where can you do and see these things? It was an adventure getting there with our 6 and a fellow adoptive family of 3... all trying to stay together on the very busy metro/subway with two changes on a Sat in Guangzhou, China! But we made it and it was a blast and we are so glad we went.<br />
<br />
Today we had another adventure as we took TWO taxis, because there are 6 of us, to the Victory hotel on Shamian Island to find the christian church. Problem is my taxi dropped me, Zoe & levi off at Victory west and Steve's taxi dropped him, Kai & Eli at Victory east and we had no way to communicate... Thankfully after abotu a half hour we found eachother and even made it to the church. lol We missed the music and arrived at the tale end of worship. Got to hear/participate in the scripture reading. The service was Chinese/English translated. The church was PACKED out! The sermon was good. It was about being ready for Jesus coming back and how we do not know the hour and we should be on watch and not be distracted by wordly things. Great word! :) We left as they were getting ready to begin communion. Not a conversation we were ready to have with our two new boys just yet.<br />
<br />
Then we just enjoyed walking around and taking in the beautiful sites of Shamian Island. We took lots of pics of us with statues and just having fun. There was even a Starbucks for us big kids and a playground for the little kids... lol<br />
<br />
We stopped for lunch at the famous Lucy's. Kai & Eli ate chinese, Steve, Zoe, Levi & I ate american. lol But we all ate till we were full. Then we walked back to the Victory west and took ONE taxi back to our hotel. It was tight, but well worth no more mishaps of loosing eachother.<br />
<br />
We have just relaxed at the hotel for a few hours. The kids have played, while Steve & I are still working on the issue of how to get our large family and LOTS of luggage to the Hong Kong airport Wed night.<br />
<br />
Trying not to get stressed over that issue, at least it means we are getting close to going home. Yay!!!<br />
<br />
Tonight we are meeting some other adoptive families for mexican dinner... yes, you read that right, MEXICAN dinner here in Guangzhou, China. Steve is so very ready for something different to eat. lol It is close to the other families hotel, so we will take a taxi again. I think ONE... lol<br />
<br />
Tomorrow morning the boys have the TB checks. Please pray for no problems. Eli's is not even noticeable, but kai's is bruised still. Both have complained of arm pain from their shots and have had tylenol each day and night. My poor boys. :( Tomorrow afternoon Zoe & I will go shopping with Ann of Redthreads, while the guys chill in the hotel. And we hope tomorrow eve to meet up with some more adoptive families for dinner again. We shall see I guess...<br />
<br />
Tuesday is our US Consulate appointments. That is the most important reason we are here in Guangzhou. They interview us, check all the boys paperwork and issue their visas to enter the US. We can not leave China with the boys without those visas.<br />
<br />
So that's the update. Sorry no pics this time. Maybe tomorrow... if I can find some time to sit in the lobby again. Thanks again for all your prayers and support. We feel them!<br />
<br />
Love to all,<br />
Sherry and family<br />
Sherry Pattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702689930194601420noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788157039275459993.post-4300148676251117382012-11-30T07:19:00.004-06:002012-11-30T07:19:52.022-06:00On last leg of this tripThankfully we left Xian yesterday and arrived safely in Guangzhou last night.<br />
<br />
Eli was very excited to fly on the plane and was rambunctious all day and more communicative to us than ever before. All smiles too. Kai was so happy to be on our way and one step closer to going to America. And the rest of us couldn't agree more. Two weeks and we are so ready to come home!<br />
<br />
Everyone was exhausted when we finally arrived at our hotel, and we have no internet in our hotel rooms, so after fighting with my phone in the lobby , we all just went to bed.<br />
<br />
We got up this morning, ate breakfast in hotel and met our guide to go to get the boys Medical Exams. Kai new what was coming, so he did not want to get out of bed; he did not eat much breakfast (so unlike him) and he hid in bathroom before we left for clinic. :(<br />
<br />
My poor boy! He & Eli had asked the guide in Xian why we needed to go to Guangzhou and she had explained everything to them. He is afraid of shots! So today was not a happy day...<br />
<br />
First paperwork chaos again over Eli's paperwork. Ugh! Then finally onto the clinic. But yeah, my dear sweet hubby asked if we could stop by a Starbucks on the way because it had already been a mornign and my head hurt and the coffee at breakfast tasted burnt. yuk! So I did get a yummy Toffee Nut Latte from Starbucks this morning. What a treat! :)<br />
<br />
When we got to clinic we started with photos of the boys, and more paperwork. <br />
<br />
Then onto the boys exams. Eli has aq cold, but no chest congestion, which was very good news for this momma. Kai shocked the doctor... Dr could NOt believe he can walk around and function at only about 78% oxygenated blood. But after ENT and general screening it was time to talk vaccinations. <br />
<br />
Ugh!<br />
<br />
Much to my disgrin and tho I argued, and they both had shot records from their orphanages, they had to each get four shots plus the TB test. <br />
<br />
They and momma were NOT happy. But they said we did not have a choice if we wanted to bring our boys home. :( The doctor agreed to stay with Kai because he was very scared. A couple nurses helped hold him still. I was so sad for him. Eli did not like it either, but he sat on dad's lap and nurses helped him be still. I fully expected him to cry and he didn't.<br />
<br />
We promised them both hamburgers and ice cream from McDs. So that was lunch. Other than that, we are staying in and letting them rest. Both of their arms hurt and I have already given them pain relievers. Kai's TB test site is bruised. Eli's does not even hardly have a pin mark. Pray all goes well when we go back Monday AM to check the TB test sites. They have to pass to come home.<br />
<br />
Anyway, laptop is showing low battery and I need to get back up to the rooms. Here are some pics for all to enjoy...<br />
<br />
Nope! Lost the VPN 3 times... Then my laptop battery died... Really?!<br />
<br />
So after some Chinese cartoons with the kids; Pizza Hut in the room for dinner; family game of Uno; getting kids jammied, medicated, teeth brushed, faces washed, hugged & kissed and tucked into bed... the laptop battery was charged enough for me to come back down to the lobby to attempt to finish this blog post. <br />
<br />
Lord I am grateful for ALL the MANY blessings I have in my home country of America!<br />
<br />
So here are the pics I promised:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjacE3XEXllLcLQmv8n4H_Ln86VxJU70I4ef4j9n_PRNTNktysnxbBWQ1q2UfX8603lyKdq0F7YqUM57AqewWKw9Xju_NULBvQ8N6uOtKe5LfyuPAinPl2aFKiE2le5CZTv-NRMGURGf0Q/s1600/1+the+luggage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjacE3XEXllLcLQmv8n4H_Ln86VxJU70I4ef4j9n_PRNTNktysnxbBWQ1q2UfX8603lyKdq0F7YqUM57AqewWKw9Xju_NULBvQ8N6uOtKe5LfyuPAinPl2aFKiE2le5CZTv-NRMGURGf0Q/s320/1+the+luggage.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The luggage for 6 people for 3 weeks.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAsWUsHgUdLZmk2jqG0L28t8k1ot3O5BiHnWZm8vtPmADBo-c0mFoDPBdCkMSaGVMIrAo8LJjYx-8TEabd_iidSjL4COjoHX0iW0gEA2EWbyyTUIq2yrhEnk5Qc7u92z2X0JYcyKZY7w/s1600/2+tic+tac+toe+wait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAsWUsHgUdLZmk2jqG0L28t8k1ot3O5BiHnWZm8vtPmADBo-c0mFoDPBdCkMSaGVMIrAo8LJjYx-8TEabd_iidSjL4COjoHX0iW0gEA2EWbyyTUIq2yrhEnk5Qc7u92z2X0JYcyKZY7w/s320/2+tic+tac+toe+wait.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brothers playing tic-tac-toe. (Zoe taught Eli)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1lwYpc7vBCMuAk3HlTJjtLFSXosWlKtbyxLZHMLuvKMNUeCEXxdbUaL2621K0C1uvVKm4dbBpq_yRn0YeqRyaTKINVzGrdfMUEtsxAP9aP8m2qi13BchjuH56nVrbhwISslLlK6DWLA/s1600/3+passing+time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1lwYpc7vBCMuAk3HlTJjtLFSXosWlKtbyxLZHMLuvKMNUeCEXxdbUaL2621K0C1uvVKm4dbBpq_yRn0YeqRyaTKINVzGrdfMUEtsxAP9aP8m2qi13BchjuH56nVrbhwISslLlK6DWLA/s320/3+passing+time.jpg" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Passing time waiting in Xian for Eli's passport<span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EqZZdreieXeImBmXHB-y69up2DDsIqoiMls_UjAzgPO9DvA-OlNwfdwXTmh5vz55B7BGKXyPekA9hjzLzSUQz8bY6wNu_eTVN79o6EGDud7FycpQYsNqXHB-jcAVYd1BvEUOsJEp8Ak/s1600/4+sleeping+in+van.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EqZZdreieXeImBmXHB-y69up2DDsIqoiMls_UjAzgPO9DvA-OlNwfdwXTmh5vz55B7BGKXyPekA9hjzLzSUQz8bY6wNu_eTVN79o6EGDud7FycpQYsNqXHB-jcAVYd1BvEUOsJEp8Ak/s320/4+sleeping+in+van.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Dramamine must be working...<span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TIgodYXjKSRSRtZeFIiz9udFnK-nIa8Xty88fQOa_K_0Dz4Qi1nu_5Pm713fEtOqflI3WSNKLDxytovl9ZJ_pLrWXIt-Zk3JYCB01d6AXE7FjtXBmquLWDA5ogR_s98fkGG0-xyKgys/s1600/5+flying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TIgodYXjKSRSRtZeFIiz9udFnK-nIa8Xty88fQOa_K_0Dz4Qi1nu_5Pm713fEtOqflI3WSNKLDxytovl9ZJ_pLrWXIt-Zk3JYCB01d6AXE7FjtXBmquLWDA5ogR_s98fkGG0-xyKgys/s320/5+flying.jpg" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eli is very excited to fly for first time</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kai was tired,<br />
but still happy to finally be flying to GZ.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Koi fish were great company for breakfast in hotel this am.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Guangzhou after McD's hamburgers & ice cream.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I will try to update while here in Guangzhou, but maybe not everyday like before. We hope to go to the Safari Park at least while here, maybe tomorrow. <br />
<br />
We just have two FREE days. I told our guide today, NO PAPERWORK tomorrow. I promised the kids fun on free days, and no waiting and waiting around. I think the long journey may be wearing on this momma and I am getting a bit cranky. Today the guide aqnd I had a miscommunication. Her English is not great and I just could not understand what she was trying to explain. Turns out it was oppostie what our agency told us, so that wasn't helping... Anyway, she got upset with me, raised her voice and started yelling the same thing she had been saying, which did not help me understand her. So then she yelled "NO!"... By this time I had had enough and told Steve tag his turn to do paperwork... sigh!<br />
<br />
Yep, I just want to come home... <br />
<br />
God please help me get through these last 5 days here in China, without loosing my salvation and with bringing all six of us home. Father help me to be peaceful, patient, loving, gentle and kind.<br />
<br />
Thank you all for your prayers. Today the kids were all off a little bit. Hoping for a better days to come. The boys arms both hurt them still tonight. I forgot and squeezed Eli's when I hugged him good night. Oops! Bad new momma! But he did give both Steve & me a kiss when we said good night and asked. That's progress! Kai of course wanted his too... and Levi chimed in me too, I want my hug and kiss. :) I really shouldn't complain, because I am a very blessed woman.<br />
<br />
Still a work in progress,<br />
SherrySherry Pattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702689930194601420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788157039275459993.post-32946648536810666742012-11-28T18:57:00.000-06:002012-11-28T18:57:47.428-06:00Last full day in Xian (11-28-12)was spent in our hotel room as a down day...<br />
<br />
After breakfast we started with some school. I wish I had brought more school stuff for Levi & Zoe. But we are trying to make do with some light basic fundamental practice at least. I am so glad we brought wipe off boards. They are working great! Plus flashcards, and even stickers for rewards.<br />
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Tonight when Kobe asked Eli about school he said he likes it. Yay!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brothers bonding over Mario Kart racing. </td></tr>
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While the bigger kids were watching something he was not interested in, he kept wanting to play with my computer, so I set him up with a phonics program and he LOVES it. Yay!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonding with dad watching Cars</td></tr>
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When our guide came by this eve to bring all the notarized documents, I asked her to sorta check in with Eli and ask him how things were going. He said "Good!" Yay! But he would prefer if we ate out and not in the room. lol I wonder what he will think when we get home and do NOT eat out every day. Haha! Then she went over a few things to help explain some stuff. He keeps asking when we are flying to next city and when we will fly to America. He is very excited about riding in the plane! I will be handing out the Dramamine... He already threw up in the drivers van. He and Kai are very car sick guys. Eli more than Kai. Driving at home will be interesting. Levi gets a little car sick, but he's got nothing on these guys. lol<br />
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After a down day in the rooms with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and chips for lunch, we went out to our last dinner in Xian with Kobe. We had to say good bye tonight to our friend and Eli's "teacher", as he calls him. Kobe was a God-send and very important to Eli's adoption preparation. He has been visiting him since June. He has helped to teach him about adoption, English, America and our family. We are so grateful and thankful for him, and pray God bless him tenfold.<br />
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And for dinner we went to the famous De Fa Chang dumpling house restaurant. They make all different kinds of dumplings. Including dumplings to look like animals and things.<br />
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Xian has been nice, but we are ALL ready to move onto the next city and get closer to going home. So good night Xian, for tomorrow we fly to Guangzhou!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Z4435SgXH_c38HuuMDlQ47weG4mX2NMnKc4WYigcwEvHvZIG26GzM9EV9GZemZRoEHOk6EB3l7ArPx9oW43-rG3jRg5BIS6DzmCF6AffKlxCpVlZIeiCmlQNsS0fevDfL-7WNiet_d4/s1600/17+good+night+flipper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Z4435SgXH_c38HuuMDlQ47weG4mX2NMnKc4WYigcwEvHvZIG26GzM9EV9GZemZRoEHOk6EB3l7ArPx9oW43-rG3jRg5BIS6DzmCF6AffKlxCpVlZIeiCmlQNsS0fevDfL-7WNiet_d4/s320/17+good+night+flipper.jpg" width="229" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Kai with "Flipper" his stuffed dolphin that he LOVES!</td></tr>
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I will update after we get to Guangzhou... I hope!<br />
Blessings,<br />
SherrySherry Pattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702689930194601420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788157039275459993.post-24247546530871870472012-11-27T19:18:00.000-06:002012-11-27T19:18:21.898-06:00Unplanned Tuesday 11-27-12<span class="userContent">Yesterday we just enjoyed a relaxed & unplanned day together... no guide and no Kobe. Just us!</span><br />
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<span class="userContent">Monday on our way to see Eli's finding place he asked our guide what day was it. After she told him it was Monday, he said he goes to school on Mondays. We all kinda chuckled and said yes and when we get back home to America we will have school on Mondays too. </span><br />
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<span class="userContent">So we started off Tuesday with a little school after breakfast. We t<span aria-live="polite" class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">ried to kinda unofficially evaluate what Kai & Eli know math wise, while Levi worked on practicing his multiplication. Zoe did a great job working with Kai. He can add and substract simple numbers and knows some of his multiplication facts. Eli knows addition and subtraction of simple 0-10 numbers. And both can write the numbers very well. After a little math, Eli & I moved onto practicing his english. He has practiced writing his ABCs a few times over the last couple months before we came. So he does a good job with his handwriting already. And Kai's handwriting is awesome! I still have my work cut out for me, any way you look at it... and will be praying for God to grant me wisdom concerning their schooling.</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="userContent">After a bit of schooling, we left the hotel on foot to find the supermarket that our guide had mapped out for us. We wanted to take a Taxi, but were told by the hotel front desk that it was too close to take a Taxi. So off we went... </span><br />
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<span class="userContent">When we came to the south entrance of the Xian City Wall we figured we were never finding the supermarket. lol But we did see some beautiful buildings. However we walked farther than we planned trying to find this supermarket, and the boys were less than thrilled. So we gave up finding the supermarket and Steve found the Walmart instead on the way back to the hotel. We did some shopping for food in our hotel room: Noodles, chips, cookies, drinks. </span><br />
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<span class="userContent">Then we ate at McDs for lunch... AGAIN... sigh!</span><br />
<span class="userContent"> </span><br />
<span class="userContent">And on the way home a different route, we stumbled upon a Baskin Robbins. Zoe & Levi really wanted to try it and introduce their brothers to 31 flavors. So we did...</span><br />
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<span class="userContent">Eli tried two flavors "Blue Raspberry Sherbet" and "Cotton Candy"... he ordered Cotton Candy. I don't think Kai tried any flavors, just ordered Vanilla and was happy. Zoe found Pistachio and liked it. Levi tried several and finally decided on Jamocha Almond Fudge, which was the same thing I ordered to share with Steve. And suprisingly, they flavors tasted like they do in America. Plus, the employees were very sweet and even gave us some waffle cones for free. I think that is the first free thing we have received in China. lol</span><br />
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The shopping area where the Baskin Robbins was in reminded us of the Louisiana Boardwalk in Shreveport, LA. There was a BIG empty space between all the shops where folks were letting their dogs play... it was really neat to watch all these dogs run and play, and many of the dogs were wearing clothes! Yes, clothes! We stopped to pet a few of them. Eli & Kai both smiled big, as they both like dogs. Can't wait to get them home to our herd of 10 dogs. lol<br />
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As we continued our way back to the hotel, we found a nice Starbucks with western toilet too. Yay! We stopped to use the bathroom, and Zoe & I got Lattes. <br />
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After we got back to the hotel we spent the rest of the day relaxing in our room. Steve napped because he is sick :( The kids played computer together and other video game devices throughout the afternoon. In the eve Steve and I watched Kungfu Panda with Eli. He laughed and laughed. We enjoyed watching him more than the movie I think. We ate noodles in the room for dinner.<br />
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Then before bed family time consisted of more games of Uno. The kids all really enjoy that. Eli won two hands last night. He doesn't totally understand the game yet, but he is learning none the less.<br />
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Oh, and I almost forgot, in the subway tunnels on the way home we found a yellow-orange stuffed dolphin that Kai loves! So now we have three stuffed toys, one for each boy. So last night was interesting playing Uno with the stuffed animals. Hehe!<br />
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Today is our last full day here. We do not plan to leave the hotel until tonight when we have dinner with Kobe and his girlfriend. But I will try to post again before we leave Xian tomorrow. :)<br />
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A thankful & blessed mom,<br />
Sherry<br />
<span class="userContent"></span>Sherry Pattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702689930194601420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788157039275459993.post-23338513092367478942012-11-26T18:36:00.000-06:002012-11-26T18:36:48.161-06:00A Free Monday in Xian 11-26-12Monday was another free day for us here in Xian. <br />
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Of course we started out with breakfast in the hotel. The buffet is HUGE and we get to ride the elevator which the boys love. Kai has been wanting to wear his PATTON shirt, which was made and sent to me by my facebook DTC Spring/Summer Secret Pal. I think he likes it because it says Patton and he knows he is a Patton now. I wanted them to match, so I had Eli wear his too. The note from my Secret Pall said the 02 is for two less orphans, two more Pattons and two more children of God. I like that!<br />
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After breakfast our guide met us and we went to visit Eli's finding place.<br />
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Eli was found as an infant sick with pneumonia abandoned at the Xian Children's Hospital. This is the best hospital for kids in Xian. So obviously his birth mother and father loved him very much. The hospital is next to the west entrance of the Xian City Wall. Our guide said it is possible his birth parents were not from Xian, but traveled here to the hospital. Parents stand in line with their children all day to try to get medical care for them here. We will never know the situation that led Eli's birth parents to leave him. I just can not imagine the feeling of having to leave your child... <br />
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It was very crowded today when we arrived... cars and people everywhere. Because we do not know where at or in the hospital Eli was found, and because of the crowds and not wanting to expose the children to any illnesses (especially Kai), we decided not to go inside. Just posed by this plaque that says Xian Children's Hospital and some dates it was founded.<br />
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Next we headed to the nearby children's park. Along the way I noticed a children's shop with shoes in the window. Kai had just gotten to go shoe shopping a week or so before we came, so he has new shoes. But Eli's shoes were old, smelly and too small I think. I had been saying I wanted to find him some new shoes. So we stopped and went in the cute little shop. It was very small and had a little selection, but Eli spotted a pair right away. The guide asked how much and the store clerk told her 100 CNY, but that was the only pair like that they had. So Eli sat down, we tried them on and they were a perfect fit. He smiled so big! So we bought the shoes for a little over $15, and were in and out in a few short minutes, which made Steve very happy because he hates shoe shopping and was not feeling well yesterday. Oh, and we even bought Kai some Ultrman stickers he found while we were in the shop. It's so hard to have three boys here, becuase when you buy one something the others want something too. (lol) But that is part of parenting and family life with kids.<br />
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Onto the children's park, where we found carnival type rides for the kids to experience for their first time. Both Kai & Eli asked to ride and their eyes were so big and they were so anxious waiting for their turn in line. Levi joined them on the little boat ride, and Zoe joined her three brothers on the carousel. Our cameras did not capture all the smiles. They had such a great time!<br />
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The park was beautiful, with gazebo, pond, shapped bushes in animals. We saw a peacock shapped bush, which was unique. It also had these rocks and caves to climb and walk thru like a maze.<br />
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At the end of the walk around the park the boys spotted a statue of a boy and wanted a photo op. (lol) And Steve wanted a family pic, so our guide took one for us. <br />
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After that we hailed two taxi's and went back to the hotel to rest for the afternoon. <br />
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Kobe met us in the eve for dinner and more shopping in the muslim market. We barginned and barginned... <br />
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We bought chopsticks, because Kai eats everything with chopsticks. Eli eats with a fork if there is one. (lol) The lady started at 320 CNY, we all laughed. I must look like a rich american Kobe said. Haha! I ended up offering her 40 CNY, which Kobe said was too much. But is about $7 for 4 sets of 4 or 5 pairs of nice wooden chopsticks. <br />
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We also got all three boys chinese outfits to wear for celebrating the chinese holidays & festivals. I, with help from Kobe and Eli (that was funny) barginned for Eli's down to 65 CNY, about $10 for very nice outfit. Then we went back to get a matching outfit for Levi, while Kai & Steve barginned for a nice shirt for Kai. Haha! Steve said Kai did all the barginning. He had been watching us. (lol) He got a very nice double layed shirt for 100 CNY (about $15), only problem is he did not get pants with it. Haha! I told him when we got back to the hotel it was ok. They all tried them on when we got back last night and seemed very pleased with themselves.<br />
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We enjoyed some family time with a game of Uno again. That has become a nightly favorite. Kai is very competitive and we discovered he likes ot cheat... He will look at your cards & laugh. (lol) Eli likes playing Uno because he can match the colors, and he is learning to say the english color names.<br />
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Last night we saw a new side of Eli. We brought him a stuffed monkey with velcro feet and hands that were wrapped around a fleece blanket. We got it for him last Christmas and have held onto it during the adoption. So we brought it and gave it to him on Gotcha Day. He LOVES it. We called it "Monkey" and he repeated it's name perfectly. So he calls it Monkey and he sleeps with it and kisses it and plays with it. Well last night Zoe was playing with him with Monkey, kissing it and he was laughing and got wound up laughing so hard. Levi would throw Monkey off the bed and Eli would jump to get it and laugh and laugh. Zoe took a ton of pics, which Eli loves to do, of her and him and Monkey. Kai got in on the fun and tried to steal Monkey and Eli tried to save Monkey laughing. Kai also punches Monkey and Levi's panda bear he got here. So we obviously need to find Kai his own stuffed lovey thing I think. Kai acts like it's funny and laughs. But I think he needs his own. He didn't want one when Levi got the panda, but that was before Eli & the Monkey. So next item to purchase, a stuffed animal for Kai to love. :) Oh, and sorry I do not have any pics to share because they are on Zoe's iphone, which she can not upload here because we have no wifi. It was so funny and cute, but it was at bedtime, so we worried he wouldn't go to sleep now. (lol) But we played another round of Uno, brushed teeth, and then kissed and hugged everyone before bedtime and all was good. Eli gave Steve (Baba) a hug and kiss on the cheek. I got a hug. Which I totally took! He seems happy and whenever the guide or Kobe asks him, he says he is good and happy. So we are patient... He is loosing the only family he has every known, and a very loving foster mom. So I understand. Kai called us mom and dad right away, but his situation is so totally different; and he waited so long for a mom and dad of his own. He is just so happy and comfortable with us. <br />
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All in all we are doing very good. Steve, I, Zoe & Levi are just getting tired of China. And we are only half way thru this trip. Xian is very nice and we like it better than Zhengzhou. But it's just not home. The kids have a hard time eatign here, which I knew would happen. So frustratign for a mom to see yoru kids NOT eat. Sigh! And living out of suitcases and not being able to do laundry is hard. I spent hours yesterday afternoon handwashing all the boys and my underwear & socks. We are still waiting for them to dry. (lol) We did send out 9 pairs of pants to be laundried, but it was expensive. So I guess I will hand wash all the shirts today...<br />
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Today, Tuesday 11-27-12, is another free day and I think we are laying low. No guides no Kobe today. We might walk to lunch and/or dinner. Maybe to the supermarket our guide drew Steve a map. Steve wants to find some chinese DVDs for the boys... and himself (lol)<br />
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Thanks all for prayers and listening. <br />
A tired mom,<br />
Sherry<br />
Sherry Pattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702689930194601420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788157039275459993.post-81011326551793587032012-11-25T03:38:00.002-06:002012-11-25T03:38:35.071-06:00Second Free Day in Xi'an 11-25-12<div class="fbPhotoCaption">
<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">Our day started out with some family time in the hotel.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Legos continue to be a favorite.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eli created this Robot all by himself <br />
and was very proud</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHSVTCmx4OhxY1epBEcEUckYYITcWphyoO33W9qL2P8aMyMprGbDA9X9-fJbGqrDUcxkjvGZ-lSmWIy6xWsS0uxl4ElBoJfNERoLyIM458xuewpBe0kWT8oCyYmSC8pzN0JuqjqaUsMzs/s1600/3+Kai+Lego+creation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHSVTCmx4OhxY1epBEcEUckYYITcWphyoO33W9qL2P8aMyMprGbDA9X9-fJbGqrDUcxkjvGZ-lSmWIy6xWsS0uxl4ElBoJfNERoLyIM458xuewpBe0kWT8oCyYmSC8pzN0JuqjqaUsMzs/s320/3+Kai+Lego+creation.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kai is happier & happier each day he's with us</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3nYDeSmxXBTIZDoLQikMVkvHG6SIirZvS36l53F0d9QM4uKnmh2A5Tjr2sfYumDx-YX71kP4y7nAiBx8vjKRNStyeT37cb4p22ZH-3K3kE5nVyXe3zVw_O8WU7CwuUOcFKYmj1y0Z1w/s1600/4+Levi+Lego+mini+robot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3nYDeSmxXBTIZDoLQikMVkvHG6SIirZvS36l53F0d9QM4uKnmh2A5Tjr2sfYumDx-YX71kP4y7nAiBx8vjKRNStyeT37cb4p22ZH-3K3kE5nVyXe3zVw_O8WU7CwuUOcFKYmj1y0Z1w/s320/4+Levi+Lego+mini+robot.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Levi is adjusting well to sharing his Legos.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPmePf3OkPJiSTTr__0ZFoVpfpaR2xUmIkNrnU_HzswG9JxPwYvmwRmcxnmbRBjAzLr4mUt1OzutMXmkXXckjx67gL8mTF-7HzKxQaYhVpoFxZx9qvUW9ZjzT0jQN2WSiDkXBPZ5H_Vyo/s1600/5+Zoe+teaching+Eli+tic+tac+toe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPmePf3OkPJiSTTr__0ZFoVpfpaR2xUmIkNrnU_HzswG9JxPwYvmwRmcxnmbRBjAzLr4mUt1OzutMXmkXXckjx67gL8mTF-7HzKxQaYhVpoFxZx9qvUW9ZjzT0jQN2WSiDkXBPZ5H_Vyo/s320/5+Zoe+teaching+Eli+tic+tac+toe.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zoe taught Eli to play "tic-tac-toe"</td></tr>
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<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">Kobe arranged for us to meet Eli's foster family and go to lunch with them. <span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">We were so blessed to have had this opportunity! They rode the bus for 3 hours to be able to meet us. They are very special people. They loved and cared for Eli for 10 years and had to let him go... But they prepared him to join our family and reinforced that we were mamma and babba. I am so grateful to God for them.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSipF6MOT9MYEe0FA_rweReJf9ZpJsl6WpHuV-QNL3z_9OHD2w3aNG54kzfM_9rl11Of2vuyBmwC5jXVk9z5zbuSnT1x2iTCs1S5BA-KU3JNSQE58CBlfXaTI7yJr9OI_WoEp4dHlrS0/s1600/6+Eli+w+foster+family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSipF6MOT9MYEe0FA_rweReJf9ZpJsl6WpHuV-QNL3z_9OHD2w3aNG54kzfM_9rl11Of2vuyBmwC5jXVk9z5zbuSnT1x2iTCs1S5BA-KU3JNSQE58CBlfXaTI7yJr9OI_WoEp4dHlrS0/s320/6+Eli+w+foster+family.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eli with his foster family<span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"> </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They totally accepted us as Eli's parents.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegFbDyN9NfF5yRXnuPv0CzWgpfpRz-E4_PJDU7MboLma3AjK5aCp-vO4clVUdrsh_PXbMmgBFwkIUNUoLMiybWcrKMrx_coAAEg32G8vFTv_H8ELxHI4goKs-ZjMrX8u3eVyJPUBzLcI/s1600/8+fruit+dish+at+lunch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegFbDyN9NfF5yRXnuPv0CzWgpfpRz-E4_PJDU7MboLma3AjK5aCp-vO4clVUdrsh_PXbMmgBFwkIUNUoLMiybWcrKMrx_coAAEg32G8vFTv_H8ELxHI4goKs-ZjMrX8u3eVyJPUBzLcI/s320/8+fruit+dish+at+lunch.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was on our table when we arrived at restaurant for lunch</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We went to a "Hot Pot" restaurant, which was a new experience for us. <br />
They cook the food in boiling water in a pot in the center of your table.<span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are two wonderful & caring people!<span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKu8YdCYfTQBIF-UFLSC21-N3W7m-ITRjc13mBPBK-UKRk_XCEeGlqSOeimOwbgVm8wqRKw920AfKuPluNlIrwn6E0yxzKNJ0Cyv18Yx0G6bSf46kt16CN3HyMl7woatogNpwnKfWEqMQ/s1600/11+Eli+w+foster+brothers+&+Levi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKu8YdCYfTQBIF-UFLSC21-N3W7m-ITRjc13mBPBK-UKRk_XCEeGlqSOeimOwbgVm8wqRKw920AfKuPluNlIrwn6E0yxzKNJ0Cyv18Yx0G6bSf46kt16CN3HyMl7woatogNpwnKfWEqMQ/s320/11+Eli+w+foster+brothers+&+Levi.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The foster parents wanted a photo with Eli & Levi with their son,<br />
and Menmen (their other foster boy) wanted in the shot too.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvCoTiM19crD3vFE9ebjB6WH-sRQ0idCkU3ym1amSJmrkhO0Uky6-BubCiiFl_onryxBzQvkRlOwl-oA-d3n9R10xwwP6We-rkcm0CsswbBNco9Xy98JcFH5aFdyOvdoncWkmYJQAGJ4/s1600/12+Kai+&+Zoe+at+lunch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvCoTiM19crD3vFE9ebjB6WH-sRQ0idCkU3ym1amSJmrkhO0Uky6-BubCiiFl_onryxBzQvkRlOwl-oA-d3n9R10xwwP6We-rkcm0CsswbBNco9Xy98JcFH5aFdyOvdoncWkmYJQAGJ4/s320/12+Kai+&+Zoe+at+lunch.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zoe did not really care for lunch, but Kai ate until he was full as usual. <br />
They and Levi were patient and well behaved during our visit.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCAxmvegHUiH-Yx3q8BxIus8BiouuwCTUooxCLJTYztvScAwoSoFR320H2wXrpKxybPc2w_Wbhs0QfqcZPc69ynOoH9vQEe6guIyeVPEQJFP7L7NaKlxltO5xrdBgYvvRn-yqxvJMSMn0/s1600/14+Eli+w+jeje+Zoe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCAxmvegHUiH-Yx3q8BxIus8BiouuwCTUooxCLJTYztvScAwoSoFR320H2wXrpKxybPc2w_Wbhs0QfqcZPc69ynOoH9vQEe6guIyeVPEQJFP7L7NaKlxltO5xrdBgYvvRn-yqxvJMSMn0/s320/14+Eli+w+jeje+Zoe.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">Eli skipped ahead on our way back to hotel holding Zoe's hand. </span><br />
<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">He loves his jie jie (big sister)!<span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<div class="fbPhotoCaption">
<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText"><span class="fbPhotoCaptionText"></span></span><span class="fbPhotoCaptionText"><span class="fbPhotoCaptionText"></span> </span></div>
<div class="fbPhotoCaption">
<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">Eli handled the visit very well. No tears. Held my hand most of the day. The foster mom kept calling me mamma and telling him to stay with me, hold my hand, let mamma fix your hat, etc. They talked more than Kobe translated, but Kobe told us after they left that they are convinced we are good people and will take good care of Eli. They cried at end of lunch when telling us about him when they first got him and how sick he was, and what they did to care for him. There were some sad moments. Seeing an older chinese man cry is a wow experience. They really love Eli! But they are very happy for him and said he will have a better future with us. Eli was sooo good the whole time. He sat with me and he acted like I was mamma. They asked him how he was and how it was going with us, and he told them good except the language is hard. So I think he likes us and he will learn english, so we are doing good. :)</span></div>
<div class="fbPhotoCaption">
<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText"></span> </div>
<div class="fbPhotoCaption">
<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">When they left us, the foster mom hugged me so tight... and for a long time. She said "I give you my son". Oh man, was that hard! Then she hugged Eli, picked him up and said something to him about mamma, pointing to me, and handed him to me. Then after I hugged him. He hugged the foster dad and then they pointed to Steve and said "babba" and he said ok and they left. He did not even cry like I expected because he did cry when he talked to the foster mom on the phone at Gotcha day. So I feel confident that he has accepted us and we will all learn to be a family togther.</span></div>
<div class="fbPhotoCaption">
<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText"></span> </div>
<div class="fbPhotoCaption">
<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">We are very blessed!</span></div>
<div class="fbPhotoCaption">
<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText"></span> </div>
<div class="fbPhotoCaption">
<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">It's been an emotional day. I think we are going to try to find some dinner and have some family time again, before turning in for the night. Tomorrow we are going to go to the hospital where Eli was found with our guide. So we need our rest.</span></div>
<div class="fbPhotoCaption">
<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText"></span> </div>
<div class="fbPhotoCaption">
<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">One Grateful Mamma,</span></div>
<div class="fbPhotoCaption">
<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">Sherry</span></div>
<div class="fbPhotoCaption">
<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText"></span> </div>
Sherry Pattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702689930194601420noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788157039275459993.post-72722511736851092282012-11-24T04:23:00.000-06:002012-11-24T04:23:25.928-06:00First Free Day in Xian 11-24-12<div class="fbPhotoCaption">
<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">Visit to Xi'an City Wall</span><br />
<br />
We took the subway, which was an adventure for all the kids. Then we crossed some CRAZY traffic to get to the center entrance of the city wall.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnIhWXDtnfpD8gZDDO_GPVzSgAYsr-rGJoxZrhq8PBa4kbL3jsW5bnVD5Y0X7Du-fLgs3gSTyOAJE_pFil2CwnlRcPXTVBvB3dCwDWTmVBpBocsKR8kApBm9GGJtB_mlZG7vJEpYXYBx4/s1600/1+kids+at+Xian+City+Wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnIhWXDtnfpD8gZDDO_GPVzSgAYsr-rGJoxZrhq8PBa4kbL3jsW5bnVD5Y0X7Du-fLgs3gSTyOAJE_pFil2CwnlRcPXTVBvB3dCwDWTmVBpBocsKR8kApBm9GGJtB_mlZG7vJEpYXYBx4/s320/1+kids+at+Xian+City+Wall.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before going up the wall<span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"> </span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_s9zaAJdGhGBKgOK3zJmL8pG-gqWmbzBQEk3DRbhMcinWVArZIdrsvClzz_UTnLMdEOadusqHpkVfgtzzB7kj09mswF_G2kwr6uMZx8p4A6W3hztGw9gyEmhuf9lWxnPs1cxK58ipHpI/s1600/2+Kai+at+stairs+of+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_s9zaAJdGhGBKgOK3zJmL8pG-gqWmbzBQEk3DRbhMcinWVArZIdrsvClzz_UTnLMdEOadusqHpkVfgtzzB7kj09mswF_G2kwr6uMZx8p4A6W3hztGw9gyEmhuf9lWxnPs1cxK58ipHpI/s320/2+Kai+at+stairs+of+wall.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">on our way up<span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvNfSywWsKbEwr4XRtxXdON0eJYXUZbE8QFBqRURDzeC0TdP05hn-nM9GHdRJQh_XwPYfXRKwXx90N4MpRf6xWywg_94m1QIb5kF8UdIKzi7I9jJ0hDwIlWU5TAVdexfahNlGeGsgug0/s1600/3+mom+kids+&+Kobe+on+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvNfSywWsKbEwr4XRtxXdON0eJYXUZbE8QFBqRURDzeC0TdP05hn-nM9GHdRJQh_XwPYfXRKwXx90N4MpRf6xWywg_94m1QIb5kF8UdIKzi7I9jJ0hDwIlWU5TAVdexfahNlGeGsgug0/s320/3+mom+kids+&+Kobe+on+wall.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo op with Kobe (Eli's english tutor)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Levi & Eli started replaying yesterdays fun with the ninja star toys. I told them to be careful not to throw them to hard or they'd go over the wall... Yeah, well the pic below was taken right before Eli threw his up & over the wall. (lol)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6kD3VX_VMBrWAfY_KlCQ3UwqQ5H0x4Krm-XH4WFJ5Eb3zuiHohGfEzbruVbirqYyjQ9hjVKhvDME7ISbbCWg1RdbssDul-A1hPR2sJrneBLGFKzPxByOrLVZ-FXLO1a6KJPzPjeZ9_RI/s1600/5+toy+off+wall+into+street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6kD3VX_VMBrWAfY_KlCQ3UwqQ5H0x4Krm-XH4WFJ5Eb3zuiHohGfEzbruVbirqYyjQ9hjVKhvDME7ISbbCWg1RdbssDul-A1hPR2sJrneBLGFKzPxByOrLVZ-FXLO1a6KJPzPjeZ9_RI/s320/5+toy+off+wall+into+street.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and this is where it landed in traffic down below </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">traffic running it over<br />
The kids laughed...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZndMYMS3DWBGpAyqOqg8awyOkkEIpDjCIasbeStD05uiA0hJuddYXOtYyJHHArS1-6sh3ut_afa_kTgv0KqfC1253Nc8sUbQwXk_BzYoRPG0GZGLpQqhJanL6IvCa0GLLJmKoOWUevYk/s1600/6+Kai+front+of+bell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZndMYMS3DWBGpAyqOqg8awyOkkEIpDjCIasbeStD05uiA0hJuddYXOtYyJHHArS1-6sh3ut_afa_kTgv0KqfC1253Nc8sUbQwXk_BzYoRPG0GZGLpQqhJanL6IvCa0GLLJmKoOWUevYk/s320/6+Kai+front+of+bell.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kai likes having his pic taken now :)<span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"></span></span></td></tr>
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We rented bikes to ride on the wall. That was such a great experience for all of them.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kai had a blast. He couldn't wait to get on his bike. <br />
He did pretty good, but had ot stop for a break half way thru</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span aria-live="polite" class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Eli rode tandum bike with Baba (Steve/Dad) and loved it! <br />
Steve said he had lots of help peddling too.</span><br /></span><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family photo on the wall<span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"> </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4d0vwaeUfAhN0V-CEi9zwZRr_CalzS3E5pbiYLIZpsqpbFIG8r4Dk-Y0cUCb6J7dRNFoVbQ-FCmossYdtkUfAoqvryEPYLmiavn8HtDgCG7_xFrEQehk6LcT_ZgvZSgGuxfoXICwymL4/s1600/15+with+Kobe+at+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4d0vwaeUfAhN0V-CEi9zwZRr_CalzS3E5pbiYLIZpsqpbFIG8r4Dk-Y0cUCb6J7dRNFoVbQ-FCmossYdtkUfAoqvryEPYLmiavn8HtDgCG7_xFrEQehk6LcT_ZgvZSgGuxfoXICwymL4/s320/15+with+Kobe+at+wall.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kobe jumped in for fun pic<span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"> </span></span></td></tr>
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We had great views of the city. We really like Xi'an!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">old drums in front of the pretty building<span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"> </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixVN4LfxopKgVW1lVRy5w8kIQz_x1rZkZGbfNftjXCpPpDrGi7PIFdy270yKe14hgOOnA88-oRiCob67-oD-QBS9eGWr6jgy_wjnO5Ssq8jiJkJqhQSxsn-nxOsvKuavoTvQHFODKYJh0/s1600/17+kids+dragon+&+pheonix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixVN4LfxopKgVW1lVRy5w8kIQz_x1rZkZGbfNftjXCpPpDrGi7PIFdy270yKe14hgOOnA88-oRiCob67-oD-QBS9eGWr6jgy_wjnO5Ssq8jiJkJqhQSxsn-nxOsvKuavoTvQHFODKYJh0/s320/17+kids+dragon+&+pheonix.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Xi'an has two mascots they believe guard the city... <br />
a Dragon & a Pheonix<span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"> </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fAZs4aoAf1sChfQAnop41dZ7PzCEBw7IgUntxXC0MhvdwGAR68pyTxoxgBUhTg-KeVMKaa5N6Sb5Le3GiGX8Zyh5F9bqy7EsUJc_-HOQVbyD3bSv8qocpww-tvMgSNh67elbU_b-3RA/s1600/18+Kobe+risk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fAZs4aoAf1sChfQAnop41dZ7PzCEBw7IgUntxXC0MhvdwGAR68pyTxoxgBUhTg-KeVMKaa5N6Sb5Le3GiGX8Zyh5F9bqy7EsUJc_-HOQVbyD3bSv8qocpww-tvMgSNh67elbU_b-3RA/s320/18+Kobe+risk.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kobe dodging traffic to save the ninja toy <br />
that was still in the road when we came down<span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yay! Kobe saved the day... lol<span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"></span></span></td></tr>
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After the wall we took the subway back and stopped and had lunch at Burger King. Zoe & Levi request. Haha! Then we headed back to the hotel for an afternoon rest and more bonding with video games & cartoons. Kai took a nap. Zoe & Steve played on computers. Levi & Eli played Nintendo DS. I uploaded pics. And "Pleasant Goat", chinese cartoon favorite of Eli's, played in background.<br />
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We have had a great day so far. Other than Kai slightly over doing it maybe and giving me a scare with headache and not finishing lunch... So NOT like him. He usually eats his meal and then asks for everyone elses. lol But after some tylenol and a nap, he feels better.<br />
<br />
Tonight we plan to eat in, play Uno and enjoy some family time.<br />
<br />
We are grateful to have Kobe to help translate and transition Eli. Kai helps too and is a great big brother. And it was funny because last night at dinner, Eli translated Kai's chinese for Kobe, because Kobe couldn't understand his speech, but apparently Eli has already figrued him out. That is awesome! It feels like Kai has been with us forever and Eli is doing really well so far. In adition to Kobe & Kai, we use Google translate, flashcards and gesturing. He is smart and is learning routine things quickly. He seems happy and he LOVES the video games. He is very compliant and we haven't had any problems with him or Kai. We just feel so blessed! Praying for wisdom how to continue this new journey. Can't wait to get home and be with our other boys too. And because things here are so different, that the boys are going to be learning things twice. And that this is NOT how we live everyday. i.e. we do NOT have soda twice a day... And I do NOT cook a HUGE breakfast buffet. (lol) So there is still lots of changes ahead. But we feel like things are going well now. :)<br />
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Thank you all again for yoru prayers. Please keep them coming.<br />
Sincerely,<br />
Sherry</div>
Sherry Pattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702689930194601420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788157039275459993.post-89093241736060789322012-11-23T17:39:00.000-06:002012-11-23T17:39:08.178-06:00It's official...<div class="fbPhotoCaption">
<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">Eli Joshua Xiao Patton is now a part of our family too!</span></div>
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<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText"></span> </div>
<div class="fbPhotoCaption">
<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">Eli's Adoption Day 11-23-12</span></div>
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<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText"></span> </div>
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<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">Good morning...</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvHkZxX6rX-1FVYFGVHi88wubEBKKEm-USuqv9GYeMlbCK08O-MmwVxCDGXNvnut4VAR3bYvkkSMHS4eWdqNYbBjwUJ23wEedLIpR9WWIsNeioDXdQfSJVJ5kkFfacL510Ak3zmY8edI/s1600/1+Levi+&+Eli+shared+a+bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvHkZxX6rX-1FVYFGVHi88wubEBKKEm-USuqv9GYeMlbCK08O-MmwVxCDGXNvnut4VAR3bYvkkSMHS4eWdqNYbBjwUJ23wEedLIpR9WWIsNeioDXdQfSJVJ5kkFfacL510Ak3zmY8edI/s320/1+Levi+&+Eli+shared+a+bed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eli "shared" a bed with Levi... lol</td></tr>
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At the Civil Affairs office<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEwjx7IOB0geCGg3gpQtW85J8qXb6kHDR0Zl3pX_2OXqsSm6WPcVc8ucVMtYxB2Yk25xRJAW-7isxM8RX_vSAUC5HDT2LjkDNWQQ5JQOhc51_J1zyXCqgGt4eqGMG-NdFHCSWN_pX7b0/s1600/2+Eli+first+video+game+experience.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEwjx7IOB0geCGg3gpQtW85J8qXb6kHDR0Zl3pX_2OXqsSm6WPcVc8ucVMtYxB2Yk25xRJAW-7isxM8RX_vSAUC5HDT2LjkDNWQQ5JQOhc51_J1zyXCqgGt4eqGMG-NdFHCSWN_pX7b0/s320/2+Eli+first+video+game+experience.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eli's first video game experience</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mario Kart & Kai won</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eli turns the game when the car turns in the game. So cute!</td></tr>
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Eli signing agreeing to be adopted into our family<br />
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And his adoption is finallized! Yay!<br />
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Spontaneous play outside train depot, while we wait for our luggage that arrived later than us. Eli had some plastic throwing stars or something, which the kids threw back and forths at each other and just had a grand time getting some energy out.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURL1XVgQBdJV0CmF4Q-xhHH9OraYEFJtHNTG7TjljEh47OP6Rdf3X-DdystcnzgQFrnBsvegg6wmdRM6m2zAZUvPcDEcri9xdN4JU3URoJPVDfNlB64_mzD4Jh0ldgj_3gyS8EzacW2M/s1600/11+spontaneous+play+b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURL1XVgQBdJV0CmF4Q-xhHH9OraYEFJtHNTG7TjljEh47OP6Rdf3X-DdystcnzgQFrnBsvegg6wmdRM6m2zAZUvPcDEcri9xdN4JU3URoJPVDfNlB64_mzD4Jh0ldgj_3gyS8EzacW2M/s320/11+spontaneous+play+b.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">at first Kai just played the ipod</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIYKRwW6qKbBZwL5fabyIr-w3sxpkVrAI0V3zuCSzTvBxUb2tLGcDdIeTNOaROcPkBDWQD0xKTFIeXGuKubfWfaC-n8ExYrRxhj154cGO7iImxKH4qsRWyOK6A4nimXge4j9EI-ErMZA/s1600/12+spontaneous+play+e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIYKRwW6qKbBZwL5fabyIr-w3sxpkVrAI0V3zuCSzTvBxUb2tLGcDdIeTNOaROcPkBDWQD0xKTFIeXGuKubfWfaC-n8ExYrRxhj154cGO7iImxKH4qsRWyOK6A4nimXge4j9EI-ErMZA/s320/12+spontaneous+play+e.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">then he realized I was taking pics and wanted in on the fun</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5K8oHDA_gT1VmXYLwAy2_T8ddapo3YECW1V9ECoHPPR9qlFiQB3pQ9YUdg6mnnb3okQBew0z4x268ZF1NsjqIFwsTsOfv2cjgPtNH2ZrxY4qjK8bUCgOVynH-dsBanR9drgAeBBSLBso/s1600/14+spontaneous+play+g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5K8oHDA_gT1VmXYLwAy2_T8ddapo3YECW1V9ECoHPPR9qlFiQB3pQ9YUdg6mnnb3okQBew0z4x268ZF1NsjqIFwsTsOfv2cjgPtNH2ZrxY4qjK8bUCgOVynH-dsBanR9drgAeBBSLBso/s320/14+spontaneous+play+g.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">they even got Zoe in on the fun</td></tr>
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McDonald's, I have never been so happy to see you. lol<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzwe0NbI7DgI52yzQr_gB-3S_0nHWTXgaaPfpUR2m5Pgf52_o0fAr-x7DQufCXjaxe6pZq-91A5IKyWgSSxofh2RHtp7U9si5uVM_-0EMBS6YUHkfZ2rHZ7vwHCd3v_9HoDc8OpCupNM/s1600/15+first+hamburger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzwe0NbI7DgI52yzQr_gB-3S_0nHWTXgaaPfpUR2m5Pgf52_o0fAr-x7DQufCXjaxe6pZq-91A5IKyWgSSxofh2RHtp7U9si5uVM_-0EMBS6YUHkfZ2rHZ7vwHCd3v_9HoDc8OpCupNM/s320/15+first+hamburger.jpg" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eli's first hamburger!</td></tr>
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And of course we had to find a Starbucks. But before you judge, the kids all have peppermint hot cocoa. Steve & I have the real coffee!<br />
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Back at the hotel relaxing and playing Legos again<br />
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Then dinner in the muslim market while shopping with Kobe. After all, it was Black friday right?<br />
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Yes, this momma bought them swords... but at least they're wooden. <br />
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They are "Rockin' the Batman PJs", as Zoe said.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWc6YTQFVZkoFUJadkSX8itMfo0qKzpnYF6_bgdSmhjm4KiwkZr8V0e42NvEZ0IKpYKUZWmfJkIjDnjA4WMyqJ2tvHKZy5Pu3EWsf5yF-e__mD_r-LFYtp4dSVh4Bb-RFw_yVsNRF7ZD8/s1600/swords+ninjas+&+batman+pjs+are+fun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWc6YTQFVZkoFUJadkSX8itMfo0qKzpnYF6_bgdSmhjm4KiwkZr8V0e42NvEZ0IKpYKUZWmfJkIjDnjA4WMyqJ2tvHKZy5Pu3EWsf5yF-e__mD_r-LFYtp4dSVh4Bb-RFw_yVsNRF7ZD8/s320/swords+ninjas+&+batman+pjs+are+fun.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">All in all we had a great Adoption day. The next four days are FREE days in Xian. The kids, and mom & dad, are looking forward to NO appointments and just relaxing family fun time. </span></div>
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<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">So thankful & blessed!</span></div>
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<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText"></span> </div>
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<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">Gratefully,</span></div>
<div class="fbPhotoCaption">
<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">Sherry</span></div>
Sherry Pattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702689930194601420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788157039275459993.post-85233516647896987902012-11-22T08:49:00.001-06:002012-11-22T08:49:03.037-06:00Eli's Gotcha Day is finally here!11-22-12<br />
<br />
Happy Thanksgiving!<br />
<br />
We arrived at the Civil Affairs office in Xi'an at 4:50, so we were a little rushed and I just realized we did not get a family pic. Eli was waiting for us in a room upstairs when we arrived. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvVWkiWGWUyTEFndJjjTgeiOsLk1ii2uPXobGqEdeWL0b2TXsFGvoqwZbMHi995W1VvVq060QzH_Ercd1gv-rZ4nGtts7FBnIQ9d2SImxkDg9GR6ICnYU8FylNArre5g5vmA-LaCW8Z8/s1600/1a+Eli+Gotcha+Day+11-22-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvVWkiWGWUyTEFndJjjTgeiOsLk1ii2uPXobGqEdeWL0b2TXsFGvoqwZbMHi995W1VvVq060QzH_Ercd1gv-rZ4nGtts7FBnIQ9d2SImxkDg9GR6ICnYU8FylNArre5g5vmA-LaCW8Z8/s320/1a+Eli+Gotcha+Day+11-22-12.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kobe telling Eli who we are<span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjssp3tLc5rhn20fO_gORQKDMzxhzTRD1_fq6qqiMY6QxkipgpkSdFr7Jg3wKYABrX5IVbqZQMdXDUCWBkm-rs5rsrtcaX8CrUw_d0BBTOF5I1h5AFq2Vuv4057iuxlju9EXA4wJzxwSp4/s1600/1b+Levi+showing+Eli+matching+shirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjssp3tLc5rhn20fO_gORQKDMzxhzTRD1_fq6qqiMY6QxkipgpkSdFr7Jg3wKYABrX5IVbqZQMdXDUCWBkm-rs5rsrtcaX8CrUw_d0BBTOF5I1h5AFq2Vuv4057iuxlju9EXA4wJzxwSp4/s320/1b+Levi+showing+Eli+matching+shirt.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Levi showing Eli his shirt to match him & Kai<span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"> </span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Kobe talked with Eli's foster mom who asked if she could talk to Eli and I agreed. That's when the tears started... :( Please pray for Eli's heart and for us to have wisdom to help him grieve and heal; plus pray for his foster family who had cared for him for 10 yrs. It was a rough beginning for Gotcha Day, but he is real smart and is going along with us and prayerfully all will turn out right. :)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn62I6RTX-loVwJiiubcKg4oMzm1-qkyaHWa0n_mg8VuVRRwqYFDcZoP5C34UbpaNZv7ra1j4KEm-LN0L00fGhj4qEejvvQ4bFpRCdTxNJxPD4Hb9qNY5MelvqQhEAQBceqTq4pIODUjg/s1600/1c+being+given+Eli+photo+book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn62I6RTX-loVwJiiubcKg4oMzm1-qkyaHWa0n_mg8VuVRRwqYFDcZoP5C34UbpaNZv7ra1j4KEm-LN0L00fGhj4qEejvvQ4bFpRCdTxNJxPD4Hb9qNY5MelvqQhEAQBceqTq4pIODUjg/s320/1c+being+given+Eli+photo+book.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orphanage officials gave us a photo album and pictures he made<span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsarBOEQhctg0qwALGs78ocmt-yE_EqRTA-EwAaKi0OHht5Qc9k4O6u3M5u2PMgrzbW0pYEVhqRLw-w3GcdAdUNtm4EJBT5koHm_0kK5LEZEeDEwvga7D3Rl7N2U5RW0WIw6OsNarW6GQ/s1600/1d+Legos+make+everything+better.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsarBOEQhctg0qwALGs78ocmt-yE_EqRTA-EwAaKi0OHht5Qc9k4O6u3M5u2PMgrzbW0pYEVhqRLw-w3GcdAdUNtm4EJBT5koHm_0kK5LEZEeDEwvga7D3Rl7N2U5RW0WIw6OsNarW6GQ/s320/1d+Legos+make+everything+better.jpg" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Levi gave Eli his Legos we brought him to help the sadness</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZoKotfd7AkiRMQUVZeAoPP_-sTDQ_fzeFn_tV_9RILsaM7TTeHETxoI23CN1jJz0RExMbGprKzbvXxf-Vopi6a2zc6pwAdCGj4Ng_DesnQBmVWDVHYAEuMLyyGN2HKl_cxtHWEuYC6jc/s1600/1e+siblings+helping+him.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZoKotfd7AkiRMQUVZeAoPP_-sTDQ_fzeFn_tV_9RILsaM7TTeHETxoI23CN1jJz0RExMbGprKzbvXxf-Vopi6a2zc6pwAdCGj4Ng_DesnQBmVWDVHYAEuMLyyGN2HKl_cxtHWEuYC6jc/s320/1e+siblings+helping+him.jpg" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eli is getting advice from his new brothers on the Lego building</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja7lkT0SVqId5uxA95jBNwWPADbyH1EdXjsonVFuVNWShN3ipO0h1TU30QXdsTFztoWTirt1b7ckP3qf04Qwa6kbCSK733XsCtvAnque9kf1lIK0bBBR96czYWDDQEhcxxjRQrfOzShj0/s1600/1f+Eli+Gotcha+Day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja7lkT0SVqId5uxA95jBNwWPADbyH1EdXjsonVFuVNWShN3ipO0h1TU30QXdsTFztoWTirt1b7ckP3qf04Qwa6kbCSK733XsCtvAnque9kf1lIK0bBBR96czYWDDQEhcxxjRQrfOzShj0/s320/1f+Eli+Gotcha+Day.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This would be the Lego building sibling support group. :)<span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_SLhN7uZybfkXk8KMVHtAYWU67a_8yDz09UF0XzdzxwbgKlA7ldUQJ77iQW8X5BKQA8hRdIXwEt49p0L73fkB5J7yIPGZVndiJJBy3tosbn98wq6eo4CRfdqoxDMCK20LAFhMQNWeOs/s1600/2+Levi+&+Eli+at+dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_SLhN7uZybfkXk8KMVHtAYWU67a_8yDz09UF0XzdzxwbgKlA7ldUQJ77iQW8X5BKQA8hRdIXwEt49p0L73fkB5J7yIPGZVndiJJBy3tosbn98wq6eo4CRfdqoxDMCK20LAFhMQNWeOs/s320/2+Levi+&+Eli+at+dinner.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eli & Levi together at our first dinner with Eli<br />
Found out he likes spicy food too</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRRr8SyqT0U2sTsRD2uKqlk34SXquDVeqHVaMFn6VyWHSH4dJjC6rxKo_lDs8b9O-RqsFO1CApAnL1zUvoPl6k6t2LI74YVspgPcadMTChUImHNVhhL8c4Zi9ngQ6xoUSv9Sweof-DfnU/s1600/3+Kai+&+Eli+at+dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRRr8SyqT0U2sTsRD2uKqlk34SXquDVeqHVaMFn6VyWHSH4dJjC6rxKo_lDs8b9O-RqsFO1CApAnL1zUvoPl6k6t2LI74YVspgPcadMTChUImHNVhhL8c4Zi9ngQ6xoUSv9Sweof-DfnU/s320/3+Kai+&+Eli+at+dinner.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eli & Kai, who is already being a great big brother.<br />
We can't talk to Eli, but Kai can... for the most part.<br />
In Zhengzhou, we tried to get Kai to talk to some of the other adoptive families kids, but he was too shy. <br />
But he talks to Eli...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8mBgb3Ml6y2F5ieiTBW7C6ECVOfWfSfe8HzQ0XObtxJU8vE9BDcUTX6dk_hHjScK3Z50BukRafZVanCHuO8ttsv4LPr5B5tluZrYYxcwiVyq45id0wZ0R9rWp3t6PPLKJb2HaYhsMzk/s1600/4+Kobe+&+Zoe+at+dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8mBgb3Ml6y2F5ieiTBW7C6ECVOfWfSfe8HzQ0XObtxJU8vE9BDcUTX6dk_hHjScK3Z50BukRafZVanCHuO8ttsv4LPr5B5tluZrYYxcwiVyq45id0wZ0R9rWp3t6PPLKJb2HaYhsMzk/s320/4+Kobe+&+Zoe+at+dinner.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kobe & Zoe at dinner<br />
We are so thankful for Kobe!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnaFA-Ym7iET6kbkcLTPZ6mEUVfdVOFNXnpyrVfBV1ZXQ_cQ7kGDEuFSz3ewHKDMQgqgGstTuYWx1Z8C5HCR0WDwqABDTsnEwbcTBPV5fqCOULDd-SeUwSNny-94V8dGZJtqD3mirktH0/s1600/5+Kobe+dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnaFA-Ym7iET6kbkcLTPZ6mEUVfdVOFNXnpyrVfBV1ZXQ_cQ7kGDEuFSz3ewHKDMQgqgGstTuYWx1Z8C5HCR0WDwqABDTsnEwbcTBPV5fqCOULDd-SeUwSNny-94V8dGZJtqD3mirktH0/s320/5+Kobe+dinner.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kobe's dinner meal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0uGz7m1pqqcHGIHklQcm9IXzhOuk-wX-TBhddVy8SArT_TDux7yL6-U8fLolAlYKXomrMayLvIR_PdjlsyXB-qFBL2iTTy3Z9PuufueiqC35Gv6kyxI02tVCaZ4mQ6KMNOLp-XJyABnI/s1600/6+Kai+2nd+serving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0uGz7m1pqqcHGIHklQcm9IXzhOuk-wX-TBhddVy8SArT_TDux7yL6-U8fLolAlYKXomrMayLvIR_PdjlsyXB-qFBL2iTTy3Z9PuufueiqC35Gv6kyxI02tVCaZ4mQ6KMNOLp-XJyABnI/s320/6+Kai+2nd+serving.jpg" width="229" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kai posing with his 2nd order of shrimp fried rice<br />
He can really put away some food!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Or1Tz0PLrFpSpx8u3FwmgAXaMXdTW2zzq6JbO5DC4kI097jJrX1AXAC9my1Upw5Ssuf6BazbY6VB_KfFIXyEkSTaLYS7o-od8iqfOGsf_pOcQjJi9C-pIr5DSCdK0svacfQ1yNxLJdI/s1600/7+Eli+at+dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Or1Tz0PLrFpSpx8u3FwmgAXaMXdTW2zzq6JbO5DC4kI097jJrX1AXAC9my1Upw5Ssuf6BazbY6VB_KfFIXyEkSTaLYS7o-od8iqfOGsf_pOcQjJi9C-pIr5DSCdK0svacfQ1yNxLJdI/s320/7+Eli+at+dinner.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve and I commented at dinner how we just could not stop looking at him...<br />
We are so blessed!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMcpTPeHqNOBl7I_znNYuMe5BUdNBuMDLx4g2Mtsm0dPYCiIbD1CdoeSEr0uGaRNHadCyYZZAZLYVo5rFIf87_3JEbdXub5ldEQ4c-hNlTOOE_eEnFrikcXaXDIalujpg86fT7ua8-1-g/s1600/8+Boys+bonding+over+Legos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMcpTPeHqNOBl7I_znNYuMe5BUdNBuMDLx4g2Mtsm0dPYCiIbD1CdoeSEr0uGaRNHadCyYZZAZLYVo5rFIf87_3JEbdXub5ldEQ4c-hNlTOOE_eEnFrikcXaXDIalujpg86fT7ua8-1-g/s320/8+Boys+bonding+over+Legos.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After dinner, more bonding time back at hotel with Legos<span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXK2tI-CsbP1vPuL7_s87T41ohMQnZcLgO8ivKut15lmekY0F_PIzNsvzpyVRTsaTly3TpBB1vmTVXjxqoBXEZ2SY7fUG97WqQFy8rDZ7vgjOibKVAAxO6eqqGgPfjAjw4PSp9nxYRlaI/s1600/9+Boy+&+Legos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXK2tI-CsbP1vPuL7_s87T41ohMQnZcLgO8ivKut15lmekY0F_PIzNsvzpyVRTsaTly3TpBB1vmTVXjxqoBXEZ2SY7fUG97WqQFy8rDZ7vgjOibKVAAxO6eqqGgPfjAjw4PSp9nxYRlaI/s320/9+Boy+&+Legos.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span aria-live="polite" class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">This was fun to watch! They are getting along so far.</span></span><span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"><span class="fbPhotoTagListTag tagItem"><input autocomplete="off" name="tag[]" type="hidden" value="100002486043746" /></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipAjckoijLguA7rAxJ8fzrH2L5HiZKUyfuuT9MkZbDDtCoR3Dri-EYQ-Nt7pYwpLtmkHltATzFQNhPL6WNLer7bkeJ0PIenOjbVRwwijhft7eaR0vtiw08QHu0je15cPqY_0CYJAcOO3g/s1600/10+Eli+&+Levi+continue+Legos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipAjckoijLguA7rAxJ8fzrH2L5HiZKUyfuuT9MkZbDDtCoR3Dri-EYQ-Nt7pYwpLtmkHltATzFQNhPL6WNLer7bkeJ0PIenOjbVRwwijhft7eaR0vtiw08QHu0je15cPqY_0CYJAcOO3g/s320/10+Eli+&+Levi+continue+Legos.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span aria-live="polite" class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">In fact, Levi & Eli played for a LONG time.</span></span></td></tr>
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Then I tucked them in and prayed over them and off to sleep they went. <br />
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Tomorrow we have a busy morning. Off to the Civil Affairs office at 9am to interview, notarize and finalize Eli's adoption.<br />
<br />
Then we have to find our luggage... apparently the Bullet Train doens't allow large luggage, and we had to check our luggage to be sent by another train and it is due to arrive tomorrow am. Sigh!<br />
<br />
But luggage or no luggage, we are blessed and thankful for all God has given to us.<br />
<br />
Happy Thanksgiving,<br />
Sherry and familySherry Pattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702689930194601420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788157039275459993.post-88650659195462590952012-11-21T20:35:00.002-06:002012-11-21T20:35:46.976-06:00Last day in ZhengzhouYesterday, Wed Nov 21st, was our FREE day here in Zhengzhou, and our last full day here. <br />
And we had a great day! <br />
We hung out and relaxed in the hotel room; played Lego's, video games and watched movies. <br />
Then in the afternoon we walked to McDonald's for lunch and ice cream, and then walked thru a BEAUTIFUL park.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUW5GCtElBSEH6P-9FtThX6UvJqgXm_4SiX0GlZ2uYRBSJj5TW8VKvl44vZ26mcHN36wv0HnkqoHcCs5CfJwiqAaJ4MGzvltp-bJtABQmMTXHNZw9Jt5SxSzpG4iHviCnwLj9OXyVVNM/s1600/Dad+Zoe+Kai+Levi+at+McDs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUW5GCtElBSEH6P-9FtThX6UvJqgXm_4SiX0GlZ2uYRBSJj5TW8VKvl44vZ26mcHN36wv0HnkqoHcCs5CfJwiqAaJ4MGzvltp-bJtABQmMTXHNZw9Jt5SxSzpG4iHviCnwLj9OXyVVNM/s320/Dad+Zoe+Kai+Levi+at+McDs.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were never so happy to see a McDonalds!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAT_iLj-w4QK_B3SakOa5jQDVmwYn-GjpU15HTI5-5HtcsimTqzzgI_Yy4K39GJPWgB5XYn-nm9Dz2PzS76y0v4RBUJ5eKyjJER4tMyBZwVeqJj942q7Rp0axA7fXzfA_wQ1-My4w0Row/s1600/Mom+Zoe+Kai+Levi+front+of+gazebo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAT_iLj-w4QK_B3SakOa5jQDVmwYn-GjpU15HTI5-5HtcsimTqzzgI_Yy4K39GJPWgB5XYn-nm9Dz2PzS76y0v4RBUJ5eKyjJER4tMyBZwVeqJj942q7Rp0axA7fXzfA_wQ1-My4w0Row/s320/Mom+Zoe+Kai+Levi+front+of+gazebo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This gazebo was beautiful! <br />
Actually the whole park was beautiful! The best part of Zhengzhou.<span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"></span></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkLoVjqmQzvzm8pMD0Reo6SjoIR-XtFiBWI9HA8yfSuuP3aP95nxU9Mm6t_BCkJgi9R3zIqOhQJdUiYsA5t3PRqGyszhoexUcHGBJitHnWsR5RLiq6UQ1iLMo3dPXWjdTYCwQn73bZU8/s1600/Mom+Kai+on+steps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkLoVjqmQzvzm8pMD0Reo6SjoIR-XtFiBWI9HA8yfSuuP3aP95nxU9Mm6t_BCkJgi9R3zIqOhQJdUiYsA5t3PRqGyszhoexUcHGBJitHnWsR5RLiq6UQ1iLMo3dPXWjdTYCwQn73bZU8/s320/Mom+Kai+on+steps.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve wanted to take Kai's pic on the stairs & Kai wanted me in the pic. :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGAbWwEAdt9lV1w89-6X6Xi9YdGew0XDO-IsOVWYoqcMI8aguhpSRLl19CV4YV9ScKQTL99xudgKKTCBLQ582Cm7OMBZowPWObmdgema17GwiiVs2H2Wxb0cAw34WUugoIhetL3xn7wEM/s1600/Kai+&+Levi+on+rock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGAbWwEAdt9lV1w89-6X6Xi9YdGew0XDO-IsOVWYoqcMI8aguhpSRLl19CV4YV9ScKQTL99xudgKKTCBLQ582Cm7OMBZowPWObmdgema17GwiiVs2H2Wxb0cAw34WUugoIhetL3xn7wEM/s320/Kai+&+Levi+on+rock.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys went climbing off the path... boys!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YZAkTlyEUo70tSQMRJw1TyGWZ2egLzqJOr4AUJo8-lp9YToVGa6gKzv9F6qB1rk4vOnpAPWSU67ohOny8XbkCmHeeeIQ43I_B5Encwi5khec7dresgYZuFxe4BNi_5xgjIx7Y5u5mEA/s1600/Levi+with+stone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YZAkTlyEUo70tSQMRJw1TyGWZ2egLzqJOr4AUJo8-lp9YToVGa6gKzv9F6qB1rk4vOnpAPWSU67ohOny8XbkCmHeeeIQ43I_B5Encwi5khec7dresgYZuFxe4BNi_5xgjIx7Y5u5mEA/s320/Levi+with+stone.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Levi wanted to pose...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggkGarGUwrhEcF3og8JCAdqxOMLvoUwAGvo46lLbF5abT3dh6PRomgqMWK64EfJEaST4OvetXE0duT_j668feqgTPcgj-ykw4iiCkHdMEVfxW_-EosCRDMoXFZGN-AnVUAYtRpWosxeN8/s1600/Kai+with+stone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggkGarGUwrhEcF3og8JCAdqxOMLvoUwAGvo46lLbF5abT3dh6PRomgqMWK64EfJEaST4OvetXE0duT_j668feqgTPcgj-ykw4iiCkHdMEVfxW_-EosCRDMoXFZGN-AnVUAYtRpWosxeN8/s320/Kai+with+stone.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kai asked to do the same... :) He actually WANTED his picture taken! <br />
Wow, what an improvement a couple days has made. Thank you Jesus!<span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"></span></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BmktJgnHClqibD3WsI7MIinNKV0zYlEWeMCoCpY2yFtyDz_cg2uhRtls3qPvca_29UF-1P1Nq1RF0f6K9Qp9HUGz48CGWBcbyMG_qLfiil_xqG6tJiGHUSIjRqmgtjeqajwMTmhgnYs/s1600/Dad+Mom+Kai+Levi+in+park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BmktJgnHClqibD3WsI7MIinNKV0zYlEWeMCoCpY2yFtyDz_cg2uhRtls3qPvca_29UF-1P1Nq1RF0f6K9Qp9HUGz48CGWBcbyMG_qLfiil_xqG6tJiGHUSIjRqmgtjeqajwMTmhgnYs/s320/Dad+Mom+Kai+Levi+in+park.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Missing Zoe, as she played photographer<span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"></span></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzua3vDYbbo3Q2tIROJNhKi8UxxPPIaSwfy8-tgNFuQj43qAfuT4wPXOPj8APh8mxdE4AbhjRgGLdYIypjQ5n4qBzYfGsSAFVcrBuHFiMLQ0iKaV_Eg5KptSLO-XmlA87INLlAuPJHIyo/s1600/Dad+&+Mom+statue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzua3vDYbbo3Q2tIROJNhKi8UxxPPIaSwfy8-tgNFuQj43qAfuT4wPXOPj8APh8mxdE4AbhjRgGLdYIypjQ5n4qBzYfGsSAFVcrBuHFiMLQ0iKaV_Eg5KptSLO-XmlA87INLlAuPJHIyo/s320/Dad+&+Mom+statue.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are very tired here, but thought we'd take a pic of just us anyway. <br />
Tues was our 23rd wedding anniversary.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirfihfa4F0nLWu9Wtt9Chw4UEbUvzjFyBmMYciPIX_ysbC5hrmSrCLXxb6c89wp_e_yFUKzehZah9vDhWCeS0X8pVLH2QZVZEEZCuqQMwKyrjox5-Xk6VKdsSToUo6jkOcVBq6BYtfz7A/s1600/Bus+on+bicycle+path-sidewalk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirfihfa4F0nLWu9Wtt9Chw4UEbUvzjFyBmMYciPIX_ysbC5hrmSrCLXxb6c89wp_e_yFUKzehZah9vDhWCeS0X8pVLH2QZVZEEZCuqQMwKyrjox5-Xk6VKdsSToUo6jkOcVBq6BYtfz7A/s320/Bus+on+bicycle+path-sidewalk.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bus is driving on the bicycle sidewalk!<span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"></span></span></td></tr>
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Today is Thurs Nov 22... Thanksgiving & Eli's Gotcha Day!!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr-M1U-gasHfnqEYcE2aCGl9jF-FniLdL707mhjuF8IdGfglxaJPy00VBAkLk2Z4TQJpBPoxiA66ajQrlHTYn3DQA6CgNj2FqOzAx06AySFqYtRoT8XbWLsxRkce39DJofI90L1NVpTH0/s1600/An+Wu+Xiao+9+yrs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr-M1U-gasHfnqEYcE2aCGl9jF-FniLdL707mhjuF8IdGfglxaJPy00VBAkLk2Z4TQJpBPoxiA66ajQrlHTYn3DQA6CgNj2FqOzAx06AySFqYtRoT8XbWLsxRkce39DJofI90L1NVpTH0/s1600/An+Wu+Xiao+9+yrs.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First pic we saw of Eli on Nov 4, 2011</td></tr>
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We are checking out of our hotel here in Zhengzhou and taking the BULLET TRAIN to Xi'an and will meet Eli in the late afternoon. We can NOT wait!<br />
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The kids are really excited to take the train too.<br />
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What a great Thanksgiving! <br />
The only thing missing are our two oldest boys, Cory & Drew, who are back home holding down the fort. I miss them!!! But we got to Skype with them yesterday and they got to meet their brother Kai.<br />
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Well, hope everyone has a happy Thanksgiving! We are thankful for everyone that prayed for Kai (aka Joseph) all these years and for all our prayer warriors and supporters during the year of our adoption adventure. We are so thankful to God who worked out so many things and moved mts for us to be here in China to bring our boys home. He has so blessed us!<br />
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And we are thankful for all 6 of our children: Cory, Drew, Zoe, Kai, Levi and Eli who we meet today.<br />
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God bless everyone,<br />
Sherry and family<br />
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Sherry Pattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702689930194601420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788157039275459993.post-32885283009771201142012-11-20T17:54:00.000-06:002012-11-20T17:54:08.180-06:00It's official...<span class="userContent"></span><br />
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We finalized Kai's adoption... Yay!!!</div>
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It's official... he is part of our family! <br />
Introducing Kai Joseph FeiLong Patton</div>
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Yesterday was a very busy day. </div>
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After finalizing the adoption at the civil affairs office, we did paperwork at the notary office. </div>
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Then we had lunch in our hotel room. The eve before we made a trip to walmart and bought noodle bowls, some soda and gatorade. Nice an relaxing.</div>
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Then after lunch we traveled 2.5 hrs each way in the van, to Kai's home town of Luoyang to apply for his passport & visit his orphanage. </div>
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We met one of his teachers from when he was little & saw his finding place, the old front gate of the orphanage. We also delivered mittens & handed our suckers to some of the children. Kai did not remember the orphanage or any of the people there. But I think it was still good that we went.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaoYfw_SXeOOzwi-DUAKZj2mMEy9qwnlWmUXkHWaUvmXpYeWhJ7_2x_YK2nrPRiXiH217j1l2xc0-nm5h9Ho4Vz8ATGP66ovgNWvWZAIeCW01JgUFju9Wnn4f_qatKi6dDtnR1RK1EnQk/s1600/Kai+with+CWI+teacher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaoYfw_SXeOOzwi-DUAKZj2mMEy9qwnlWmUXkHWaUvmXpYeWhJ7_2x_YK2nrPRiXiH217j1l2xc0-nm5h9Ho4Vz8ATGP66ovgNWvWZAIeCW01JgUFju9Wnn4f_qatKi6dDtnR1RK1EnQk/s320/Kai+with+CWI+teacher.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teacher who remember Kai as small boy in her class</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-MMdNaCscIqKAkxMn96VaBcg3gzWNwS_f0hoJ-DSMSCJlOZo9-8xhIafBTJPHn40f3E95ISY2J8v9C5BiR2lF_5tLU5GiRxyQe0IYghxOmLo1roFOzsqNqNKK_vh3ZZJzqPsq3j8iO8/s1600/Luoyang+old+gate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-MMdNaCscIqKAkxMn96VaBcg3gzWNwS_f0hoJ-DSMSCJlOZo9-8xhIafBTJPHn40f3E95ISY2J8v9C5BiR2lF_5tLU5GiRxyQe0IYghxOmLo1roFOzsqNqNKK_vh3ZZJzqPsq3j8iO8/s320/Luoyang+old+gate.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This side of the orphanage used to be the front</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77obgI2r3_e8pAtG_1Nuv4uVZTWVmWUqGh4rTg-CihXe9OAiymGBnfj7nq8UWKSjWXdeBdn4DS2M5cpDo5Ki7xEad2ymW-BvPlKeDirB-qjcMNFsvl93eVMAAMvRAyE_iP7UyT7wVlkI/s1600/Kai+finding+place.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77obgI2r3_e8pAtG_1Nuv4uVZTWVmWUqGh4rTg-CihXe9OAiymGBnfj7nq8UWKSjWXdeBdn4DS2M5cpDo5Ki7xEad2ymW-BvPlKeDirB-qjcMNFsvl93eVMAAMvRAyE_iP7UyT7wVlkI/s320/Kai+finding+place.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kai in front of gate he was found at</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTsQGCOCFVjqtUqX-brYK3EzTYq2lfEMVE9aRs8CKAujKvhyphenhyphenODDXyW2pgGp98FybxkspguzoTpn05YAbImqFiNxSVFspCbseIf4-E2iz7f85pa-V83fqwGXKqwnyz37dBKX2G9FuIVyDw/s1600/Kai+giving+out+suckers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTsQGCOCFVjqtUqX-brYK3EzTYq2lfEMVE9aRs8CKAujKvhyphenhyphenODDXyW2pgGp98FybxkspguzoTpn05YAbImqFiNxSVFspCbseIf4-E2iz7f85pa-V83fqwGXKqwnyz37dBKX2G9FuIVyDw/s320/Kai+giving+out+suckers.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the children all rushed for suckers</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBkeMGCXDTmFO59LL-d5t6VCZi_K0tZg14PxrSiTYGGmgbCeSXI9qRFX2oNsyilotIAMfJ0p9fOAy_ramHGrIygJOwM4fHENzHMlhvtOb2YVHeBC8KImWKAyX768r2UncjdSJq_4JtUgI/s1600/Kai+giving+more+suckers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBkeMGCXDTmFO59LL-d5t6VCZi_K0tZg14PxrSiTYGGmgbCeSXI9qRFX2oNsyilotIAMfJ0p9fOAy_ramHGrIygJOwM4fHENzHMlhvtOb2YVHeBC8KImWKAyX768r2UncjdSJq_4JtUgI/s320/Kai+giving+more+suckers.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kai enjoyed handing them out</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvqUe1VVYa3-KnJL9tRpEm7lNM4wo2DJQuY46kAyfFIRw3qjyNh5Jm9B_kebAubuATVK8inaWMvdrRokqbZ258tBjWtO5Jwfzy87L5UliJhOtap1HkBXDcp7v20Ber0BcgN-8Z96Rzy84/s1600/Levi+giving+sucker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvqUe1VVYa3-KnJL9tRpEm7lNM4wo2DJQuY46kAyfFIRw3qjyNh5Jm9B_kebAubuATVK8inaWMvdrRokqbZ258tBjWtO5Jwfzy87L5UliJhOtap1HkBXDcp7v20Ber0BcgN-8Z96Rzy84/s320/Levi+giving+sucker.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">here is Levi removing the wrapper for this lil' guy</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3064muRKAaV4vTGMB5L5vLB8KJCa5yMfzlrQOIxIh3V_-6oUJO2AW2f6H5AzFN7IvbZK1IGFv07t11SyZznV08bLaVW-TTqPSHOS5DzYNKTzEoST6JM1c7aiM75b3rqK_FygXH852UNo/s1600/One+classroom+of+children+3-5+yrs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3064muRKAaV4vTGMB5L5vLB8KJCa5yMfzlrQOIxIh3V_-6oUJO2AW2f6H5AzFN7IvbZK1IGFv07t11SyZznV08bLaVW-TTqPSHOS5DzYNKTzEoST6JM1c7aiM75b3rqK_FygXH852UNo/s320/One+classroom+of+children+3-5+yrs.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These children were very well behaved & lined right up</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizB8Okc5nPk6dSYV3EPmMKgqaLx7PtM-zLJjzOinOS3wmOmW17EUh9DPyDNpsPGNMhwW_y2sCVhQnui9RF6lmaLSXzOk-4hG5VRFi_QxJd3zLs_xRBqkj_e-QryjVOhzrtpvwSg-nFG10/s1600/Xoe+with+lil+girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizB8Okc5nPk6dSYV3EPmMKgqaLx7PtM-zLJjzOinOS3wmOmW17EUh9DPyDNpsPGNMhwW_y2sCVhQnui9RF6lmaLSXzOk-4hG5VRFi_QxJd3zLs_xRBqkj_e-QryjVOhzrtpvwSg-nFG10/s320/Xoe+with+lil+girl.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This lil' girl stole Zoe's heart</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCKQ3hH_EvagUxMqw81zMwL4SKW8YnUS9ncDqxoyGjmSo0s23hDfoUFVArXhP7ANiBts1dn1QPumhAw-ki4yrkm3ucpurz15ch1edB8inUN2RqNvb3hNPMg7OTW3butZcsGeS0bA8zxo/s1600/Luoyang+9+Dragon+statue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCKQ3hH_EvagUxMqw81zMwL4SKW8YnUS9ncDqxoyGjmSo0s23hDfoUFVArXhP7ANiBts1dn1QPumhAw-ki4yrkm3ucpurz15ch1edB8inUN2RqNvb3hNPMg7OTW3butZcsGeS0bA8zxo/s320/Luoyang+9+Dragon+statue.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">9 Dragon Statue in Luoyang </td></tr>
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<br />Sherry Pattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702689930194601420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788157039275459993.post-34999923263365248042012-11-19T02:03:00.000-06:002012-11-19T02:03:03.864-06:00Gotcha Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Kai Joseph FeiLong Patton's Gotcha Day Nov 19, 2012 in Zhengzhou, Henan, China</div>
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Sorry, promised the kids swimming. But Kai is wonderful and is fitting in great! Bonding is going awsome and I will try to write more maybe tonight. We are just so blessed! God gets all the glory!</div>
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one blessed momma,</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Sherry</div>
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Sherry Pattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702689930194601420noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788157039275459993.post-41726840037454763022012-11-16T02:44:00.001-06:002012-11-16T02:45:05.589-06:001st leg complete<div><p>After 15 hrs on a plane that fly halfway around the globe, we've landed in Seoul, S. Korea. That was the LONGEST flight I've ever been on.</p>
<p>Thank you Lord for airport free wifi so I can update everyone. </p>
<p>We're tired... Well, I'm exhausted! Sleep deprivation is hitting. I just can sleep on plane I guess. Sigh! But Korean Air ROCKS!</p>
<p>Now we are waiting to board our connecting flight to Beijing. So excited! But so sleepy...</p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW6us5a0H9O2MAngUhvF3w4QgWWucDOh1xpIm9rpD0oxhYriWCLZmRMqfSZgvvyc8yRhkTp-r69huHU0G2kTQE7hffzklD9KljgS-aO6-e58jVJ9v2pgX2Ura8tVIwAN2iLQ8I5NOlcxA/' /></div>Sherry Pattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702689930194601420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788157039275459993.post-53684019545212257232012-11-15T09:45:00.001-06:002012-11-15T09:46:01.690-06:00We're getting on the plane!<div><p>Just testing the app.  :)  We're checked in, thru security & waiting at our gate. </p>
<p>Blog ya from China...</p>
<p>Momma going to get her boys,<br>
Sherry</p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZT1EEOg7Ek2Pn-8nVoKU5I4Yk-6ZSfoSZ1dOiNLEajp7-ykxzfUYj1bRWvSHPYhUUKODqDixuD9iTB5hEfkVHcrmNlMsYVAqQwMM4QkDGWvN8CIYze6hng5en8tckk75KvqmN4cNyPo/' /></div>Sherry Pattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702689930194601420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788157039275459993.post-74402810708926349502012-11-15T00:56:00.004-06:002012-11-15T01:00:49.125-06:004.5 hrs till we head outI should be sleeping...<br />
<br />
But if you know me, you know I am NOT.<br />
<br />
I made sure everyone else was packed, but me. Isn't that what moms do?<br />
<br />
After some last minute luggage changes, in order to fit medical equipment we are transporting to foster care facilities. We are finally packed... mostly. Grab a couple items in am.<br />
<br />
I can't really explain the emotional roller coaster my stomach is on. A good friend asked me if I am excited. Yes, but that does NOT sum it up. I am a bundle of nerves. I have NEVER left my kids or dogs this long EVER. So there is the worry and stress a mom has over that. There is the "Do I have EVERYTHING?" stress. The anxiety of thinking about being in a plane high in the sky for 15 hrs. Of course we are excited to meet the boys finally. But also, "Will they like us?" worry. The I can't believe we are REALLY doing this emotion. And on and on and on...<br />
<br />
I really can't wait to get there and get home. That is the bottom line!<br />
<br />
But also, I KNOW God is going to take care of us and the boys and that He called us to this and He will bring us thru it. So really, there is no need to worry. You know, I am not actually worried, it must be excitement then... :)<br />
<br />
So yes, I am EXCITED!!!!!!<br />
<br />
I can't wait to hug both my boys.<br />
<br />
I wonder what they are thinking???<br />
<br />
Steve, Zoe & Levi are very excited too. <br />
<br />
We all, including Cory & Drew went out to a movie for the last time as a family of 6. The kids had wanted to see Wreck It Ralph and they figured it wouldn't still be in theaters when we get back. We hadn't been to the movies in several months. Saving all our pennies. But we decided we needed one last family thing. So we went.<br />
<br />
And God of course blessed us, yet again. He never ceases to amaze me. During the movie I get a text message from a friend who asks where I am and says they're headed to see me. So I tell them in theater 2 watching movie. So a little while later, they show up and hand me a $200 check. God apparently led them to do this. Wow! Praise the Lord, who honors our stewardship and putting our family first. I am not perfect, but it sure does feel good when it appears you are on the right path God wants you on and He blesses in ways on HE can. :)<br />
<br />
And well the movie was a nice story too, with a good ending and the moral of grow where you are planted bascially. And by that I mean, embrace who God made YOU and see what plans and purposes He has for you as you... not as what you think the Hero should look like. Never know where you might end up...<br />
<br />
For us, it appears China... this time. :)<br />
<br />
Ok, so many people have asked for our schedule, to be able to pray specifically. Please remember China is currently 14 hr ahead / time difference from CST<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong>Family Patton schedule<o:p> </o:p></strong></div>
<strong>
</strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Thurs Nov.15th </strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Leave Home
5:30AM, Arrive DFW 7:30AM, Depart 10:30AM to go to China!<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<strong>
</strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Fri-Sun Nov.16<sup>th</sup>-18<sup>th</sup>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<strong>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Arrive Beijing
8:15pm. Deliver supplies to foster care facilities.<o:p></o:p></span></strong><br />
<strong>
</strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Sun Nov.18<sup>th</sup>
<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<strong>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Depart Beijing at noon. Arrive
Zhengzhou at 13:40<o:p></o:p></span></strong><br />
<strong>
</strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Mon Nov.19<sup>th</sup>
<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<strong>
<span style="background-color: white;">Gotcha
Day!</span> Meet <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kai Joseph </i>in
Civil Affairs. Sign agreement. <o:p></o:p></strong><br />
<strong>
</strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Tues Nov.20<sup>th</sup>
<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<strong>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Adoption
registration, notary. Zhengzhou-Luoyang by tour van. Around 2.5 hours. <o:p></o:p></span></strong><br />
<strong>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Apply passport in
<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Luoyang</st1:place></st1:city>. And
back to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Zhengzhou</st1:place></st1:city>
in late afternoon. <o:p></o:p></span></strong><br />
<strong>
<span style="color: black;">Steve & Sherry 23<sup>rd</sup> Wedding
Anniversary</span><o:p></o:p></strong><br />
<strong>
</strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Wed Nov.21<sup>st</sup>
<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<strong>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Free in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Zhengzhou</st1:place></st1:city> for one day.<o:p></o:p></span></strong><br />
<strong>
</strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Thurs Nov.22<sup>nd</sup>
<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<strong>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Pick up notaries
for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kai Joseph</i>. And check paper. <o:p></o:p></span></strong><br />
<strong>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Zhengzhou-Xi’an
by High Speed Rail (Bullet Train). <o:p></o:p></span></strong><br />
<strong>
<span style="background-color: white;">Gotcha
Day!</span> Meet child <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Eli </i>in
late afternoon. Sign agreement. <o:p></o:p></strong><br />
<strong>
<span style="color: black;">Thanksgiving!</span><o:p></o:p></strong><br />
<strong>
</strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Fri Nov.23<sup>rd</sup>
<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<strong>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Adoption
registration, notary and apply passport. <o:p></o:p></span></strong><br />
<strong>
</strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Sat-Tues Nov.24<sup>th</sup>-27<sup>th</sup>
<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<strong>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Free in Xi’an. <o:p></o:p></span></strong><br />
<strong>
</strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Wed Nov.28<sup>th</sup>
<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<strong>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Pick up notaries.
(get passport for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kai Joseph</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></strong><br />
<strong>
</strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Thurs Nov.29th <o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<strong>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Pick up passport
for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Eli </i>in the afternoon. <o:p></o:p></span></strong><br />
<strong>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Xi’an-Guangzhou
by flight<o:p></o:p></span></strong><br />
<strong>
</strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Fri Nov.30<sup>th</sup>
<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<strong>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Medical and skin
test for both boys.<o:p></o:p></span></strong><br />
<strong>
</strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Sat-Sun Dec.1<sup>st
</sup>- 2<sup>nd</sup> <o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<strong>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Free in Guangzhou.
<o:p></o:p></span></strong><br />
<strong>
</strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Mon Dec.3<sup>rd</sup>
<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<strong>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Get medical
result. <o:p></o:p></span></strong><br />
<strong>
</strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Tues Dec.4<sup>th</sup> <o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<strong>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Visa appointment at 10:00. Swear. <o:p></o:p></span></strong><br />
<strong>
</strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Wed Dec.5<sup>th</sup> <o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<strong>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Get boys’ visas in the afternoon. <o:p></o:p></span></strong><br />
<strong>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Take train to Hong Kong.<o:p></o:p></span></strong><br />
<strong>
</strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span style="background-color: white;">Thurs Dec.6th <o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></div>
<strong><span style="background-color: white;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Depart Hong Kong 12:55 AM to go HOME! <o:p></o:p></span></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="background-color: white;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Arrive DFW @ 8:20AM <span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; mso-highlight: yellow;">Welcome Home Kai & Eli!</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></strong><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p>We covet all your prayers.</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p>We will be trying to update with info & pics while there. Keep checking back.</o:p><br />
<o:p>I am going to now TRY to get a little sleep. Power nap maybe.</o:p><br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
<o:p>God bless everyone tenfold!</o:p><br />
<o:p>I AM GOING TO CHINA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</o:p><br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
<o:p>hehe,</o:p><br />
<o:p>Sherry</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
Sherry Pattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702689930194601420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788157039275459993.post-6330974980159486142012-11-13T16:55:00.003-06:002012-11-13T16:55:39.542-06:00Two sleeps to two boys<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zwVBeNGpI0YRdu6DD7LMnjJmlN15rjJN96OEm3-Jw7sarH58jJtIsqucR2_B9dCAhK2WliEOY1gGPJkZhPqSQe06Cc2fYaAyhCB9SheDapIixeTSTQLArrOvgVIKIjAWNuc8xw1tbyo/s1600/peace+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zwVBeNGpI0YRdu6DD7LMnjJmlN15rjJN96OEm3-Jw7sarH58jJtIsqucR2_B9dCAhK2WliEOY1gGPJkZhPqSQe06Cc2fYaAyhCB9SheDapIixeTSTQLArrOvgVIKIjAWNuc8xw1tbyo/s1600/peace+sign.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I am pausing from packing to breathe a minute and thought I would post today's blog count down.<br />
<br />
Only TWO more sleeps until we leave to bring home our TWO blessings.<br />
<br />
It has been a year since we began this adoption adventure and I am amazed at what God has done.<br />
Nov 6, 2011 I blogged about a Chinese Legend of how Koi fish become dragons. <br />
<a href="http://adventure4eli.blogspot.com/2011/11/chinese-legend-how-koi-becomes-dragon.html">http://adventure4eli.blogspot.com/2011/11/chinese-legend-how-koi-becomes-dragon.html</a><br />
<br />
I used this pic<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSETy02Iz10VDUDe4BlIIJLTJJkUwclb_qUJ-rtkJChB3bWAiJBuEJ0GICIrVNoAJ87ajBDA3lyPY_zLCvsysDtbQdW-pLmPgKAKjQYcag8szD3tr9eExIEydaKxr0ZFoKs-B_jawFTSU/s1600/what-do-koi-fish-symbolize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSETy02Iz10VDUDe4BlIIJLTJJkUwclb_qUJ-rtkJChB3bWAiJBuEJ0GICIrVNoAJ87ajBDA3lyPY_zLCvsysDtbQdW-pLmPgKAKjQYcag8szD3tr9eExIEydaKxr0ZFoKs-B_jawFTSU/s1600/what-do-koi-fish-symbolize.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
At that time we were only planning to adopt Eli. But notice the pic has TWO fish... <br />
<br />
Yep, God knew all along we were adopting two boys...<br />
<br />
two Koi that will become dragons just like the legend.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSq7nTPmd8D6WNHUJN8eXte6ZRacV808Semiyt_2Wm5hiFdtwsncse-VVMltw5Lw_zXehe-kGNU45baQZZ5HIuVo_NBb6qJojr1HAS5cWObLxaMwAnFl9vyhSMzkDMY5dum9XqwV07koI/s1600/2_dragons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSq7nTPmd8D6WNHUJN8eXte6ZRacV808Semiyt_2Wm5hiFdtwsncse-VVMltw5Lw_zXehe-kGNU45baQZZ5HIuVo_NBb6qJojr1HAS5cWObLxaMwAnFl9vyhSMzkDMY5dum9XqwV07koI/s320/2_dragons.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
<br />
They have both already persevered so much! Just to be 11 & 13 yr old special needs orphan boys alive in China, means they are strong. <br />
<br />
Eli almost died as an infant. He was born 2 months premature and I was told he was very weak and dying when he went to live with his foster family. But 10 yrs later tho developing very slowly, he is now a smart and healthy boy ready for the next chapter in his life.<br />
<br />
Kai was abandoned at 6 years old outside the orphanage gates with major heart defects and a hernia. He had surgery within a month, and another within a year. That was six years ago, and though his heart still needs repaired he is now 13 yrs old and can ride a bike and is ready for his new life too.<br />
<br />
God has a BIG plan for BOTH their lives. I am so humbled and blessed to be called their mom. I can not wait to see what God has in store for them and us.<br />
<br />
And though it has been a LONG year getting here, it is still kinda sureal to me that in two days I will be on a plane flying to China to meet my two special boys that God has blessed me with.<br />
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And we are making progress to get there even... lol<br />
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We have finzalized travel arrangements with our agency and travel coordinator.<br />
We have gone to the bank and wired the money & taken out the cash we need for travel.<br />
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Packing is STILL going on...<br />
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But when there are four people traveling, to four different cities, for the purpose of bringing home two more; and because the weather is so different in the two different areas of the country, packing is twice as hard; and you add gifts, supplies for orphanges to carry over, and stuff to keep four kids entertained for 3 weeks. Yes, 3 WEEKS! So it's a lot of strategic packing. lol<br />
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I will close this post with the following scripture, which is perfect for where we are in our adventure right now, and just so happens to be one of my favorite scriptures from my adolecenst days of being blessed to attend a christian school for two years.<br />
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<div class="s">
<span class="heading">Psalm 100</span></div>
<div class="s">
<span class="heading">A psalm for giving thanks.</span></div>
<div class="s">
<span class="heading"></span> </div>
<div class="p">
<span class="content"></span><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="PSA.100.1"><span class="label">1</span><span class="content">Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. </span></span></div>
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<span class="verse v1" data-usfm="PSA.100.1"><span class="content"></span></span><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="PSA.100.2"><span class="label">2</span><span class="content">Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. </span></span></div>
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<span class="verse v2" data-usfm="PSA.100.2"><span class="content"></span></span><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="PSA.100.3"><span class="label">3</span><span class="content">Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. </span></span></div>
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<span class="verse v3" data-usfm="PSA.100.3"><span class="content"></span></span><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="PSA.100.4"><span class="label">4</span><span class="content">Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. </span></span></div>
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<span class="verse v4" data-usfm="PSA.100.4"><span class="content"></span></span><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="PSA.100.5"><span class="label">5</span><span class="content">For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.</span></span></div>
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<span class="verse v5" data-usfm="PSA.100.5"><span class="content"></span></span> </div>
<div class="p">
<span class="verse v5" data-usfm="PSA.100.5"><span class="content">I have a lot to thank & praise God for today!</span></span></div>
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<span class="verse v5" data-usfm="PSA.100.5"><span class="content"></span></span> </div>
<div class="p">
<span class="verse v5" data-usfm="PSA.100.5"><span class="content">Today my husband and I celebrate 25 yrs since we met, and I love him more today than ever and am so grateful God joined us together. I would have never imagined all the blessings I have had in the last 25 years. But I sure wouldn't give any of it up. Thank you Jesus! </span></span></div>
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And we will be in China for this Thanksgiving, but what better way to celebrate all God has done for us over the last year, than to finally hold the two boys He has called to join our family. <br />
<br />
Kai's Gotcha Day is Mon Nov 19th<br />
Kai's Adoption Day is Tues Nov 20th, which is also Steve & mine 23rd wedding anniversary<br />
Eli's Gotcha Day is Thurs Nov 22nd, which is also Thanksgiving<br />
Eli's Adotpion Day is Fri Nov 23rd<br />
<br />
The only thing that would make it better is if our two oldest boys, cory & Drew, could be with us that week. But sadly they can not travel to China with us, because they're holding down the fort at home and working. But other than that, I can not think of a better anniversary or Thanksgiving!<br />
<br />
So my heart is singing with thanksgiving and praise, to God my Father in heaven who has blessed me even tho I don't deserve it. Because He is good, His loves does endure forever and His faithfulness is never ending.<br />
<br />
Well, maybe I didn't close this post as soon as I planned. But I can't help but praise God and thank Him for all He has done... <br />
<br />
and that again includes all of you who pray and support us and our boys to come home.<br />
<br />
God bless you,<br />
SherrySherry Pattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702689930194601420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788157039275459993.post-53240511978685229932012-11-12T22:43:00.001-06:002012-11-12T22:43:07.768-06:00still counting downtoday was 3 days until we leave<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6oe5MMjtAI3S6wEG44h4sVX6bMmzZVV6EjmY7xVOJLkPeir1mXGUWtqBSXZMnkFXZqjt9AFvHeI7pnxT4KI6DgvNTEasORcrbDVJtJor8QtxUXSNLB9rHkpE6-J7al8tEks-KAJ90Jc/s1600/majong+tile+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6oe5MMjtAI3S6wEG44h4sVX6bMmzZVV6EjmY7xVOJLkPeir1mXGUWtqBSXZMnkFXZqjt9AFvHeI7pnxT4KI6DgvNTEasORcrbDVJtJor8QtxUXSNLB9rHkpE6-J7al8tEks-KAJ90Jc/s1600/majong+tile+3.jpg" /></a></div>
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of course now we are only 3 sleeps, not days...<br />
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but our days are getting fewer and we still have lots to do.<br />
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However, our paperwork is now DONE & ready to go. Yay!!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2dAn2YbqUlNRk11qmsOl04yarqWE01ABtCZBomP7dbcP8Wwa-OfVncPU_HsAWWS49YTCNr1ztKbR6OGRfbTF8IRCJZxRFCJwrE95tKHFYstWh6-P95Ytcr-UtXfzEKXwySPodk37YhA/s1600/docs+ready.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2dAn2YbqUlNRk11qmsOl04yarqWE01ABtCZBomP7dbcP8Wwa-OfVncPU_HsAWWS49YTCNr1ztKbR6OGRfbTF8IRCJZxRFCJwrE95tKHFYstWh6-P95Ytcr-UtXfzEKXwySPodk37YhA/s320/docs+ready.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And the boys' rooms are ready now too. Woohoo!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21B0G1YyDbvNVX8A-cdM4AT5kJPnzZVIu-TzIlLrhp_wP9JUYT3Wg9MgbZuVME435dYiGGRdtAYb0M9t3tJ_WolGOH-MYv_AH6A12cUv-lc5ePmPMBYa1iBheo1bR-zud3juiaJ-BDcQ/s1600/Eli+bedroom+side.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21B0G1YyDbvNVX8A-cdM4AT5kJPnzZVIu-TzIlLrhp_wP9JUYT3Wg9MgbZuVME435dYiGGRdtAYb0M9t3tJ_WolGOH-MYv_AH6A12cUv-lc5ePmPMBYa1iBheo1bR-zud3juiaJ-BDcQ/s320/Eli+bedroom+side.53.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eli's space</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7U_-QSGmDWMrkKiu9YNl6Q3fdjl3BXMpxuOcfNLnD_L8UGc93bAktwA3bBP0fbUUCSFX_hjheQq8269pPUZA7_mG5QfZProcggTMu5BqenQdj5_SCQz0MTVy94aFK2ALB5UNOhAI1ZI8/s1600/Levi+%2526+Eli+beds.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7U_-QSGmDWMrkKiu9YNl6Q3fdjl3BXMpxuOcfNLnD_L8UGc93bAktwA3bBP0fbUUCSFX_hjheQq8269pPUZA7_mG5QfZProcggTMu5BqenQdj5_SCQz0MTVy94aFK2ALB5UNOhAI1ZI8/s320/Levi+%2526+Eli+beds.00.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He and Levi will be sharing a room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLSs_FdIs6BQsLiVXxGbQGjgHBcmDZG5qDko1AXc_O33Ntx1uinfpCYvjUlMHHs3rdrPMx-iyca1qSTvh7JceX5pgeYisvlyqOQ2njay2K828jd_Q0nnCWcKAnFwOVQ4J79bPb3hpIqzk/s1600/on+their+door.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLSs_FdIs6BQsLiVXxGbQGjgHBcmDZG5qDko1AXc_O33Ntx1uinfpCYvjUlMHHs3rdrPMx-iyca1qSTvh7JceX5pgeYisvlyqOQ2njay2K828jd_Q0nnCWcKAnFwOVQ4J79bPb3hpIqzk/s320/on+their+door.39.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiooPhe_TGKxxDcNeWH18Z6TA-dPJL-X0IHFIWzfOQxwPXtMNG7JI7TcKpZcXTE1GAulPkFX-JclpCvU7arytb9bqcq2OOgKIkYu5Sn8-Bp7SLykKdEn-Y7E6Cnbhl2zyxMI9_Wcem7Es/s1600/Levi+waiting+for+Eli+to+come+home.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiooPhe_TGKxxDcNeWH18Z6TA-dPJL-X0IHFIWzfOQxwPXtMNG7JI7TcKpZcXTE1GAulPkFX-JclpCvU7arytb9bqcq2OOgKIkYu5Sn8-Bp7SLykKdEn-Y7E6Cnbhl2zyxMI9_Wcem7Es/s320/Levi+waiting+for+Eli+to+come+home.32.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Levi can't wait to share a room with Eli</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTIprXEnUr80CJiINVCY1VxgKK3vn33LoQpgD5-qGlLI6FSqMX4L9w7qG0KKCHm9N1Q5FWb7CZ42qoVWlmNmcGj8x2i_D1TAaoWf3wlitx6UAhEe6LJ3e18jecP5UoghQRDGfQVdvUa9o/s1600/Kai+room+desk+%2526+lego.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTIprXEnUr80CJiINVCY1VxgKK3vn33LoQpgD5-qGlLI6FSqMX4L9w7qG0KKCHm9N1Q5FWb7CZ42qoVWlmNmcGj8x2i_D1TAaoWf3wlitx6UAhEe6LJ3e18jecP5UoghQRDGfQVdvUa9o/s320/Kai+room+desk+%2526+lego.20.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kai has a teen guys room</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGMpmvN5PE8LKSPQRYd4v02h364m0VwCf7An7yJlMs4s1pwojrXTirTxRc3ZbLEnKTZueq4xrnacIVNqtD-473dr6zeLiW6vY9mifsyVjMc3lZjZlFrVhOZLqP_s6QVCwHHKU2nCRX8o/s1600/Kai+room+bed+%2526+dresser.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGMpmvN5PE8LKSPQRYd4v02h364m0VwCf7An7yJlMs4s1pwojrXTirTxRc3ZbLEnKTZueq4xrnacIVNqtD-473dr6zeLiW6vY9mifsyVjMc3lZjZlFrVhOZLqP_s6QVCwHHKU2nCRX8o/s320/Kai+room+bed+%2526+dresser.29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His favorite color is orange!<br />
Pics of his friends from Shepherd's Field all around</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg8XDr1NK3SOaoFMEgjVmsVTbT65p4NXMTA4aVY2LSYk39xIMn9g4ViK12uzkXfPaGBH2ygCeBi8_a4vdmvWvcyX00GIFednRQIXCGtcvxzrEL7-3cF928f7dGmZVJM5USbSfr-1iIp-I/s1600/Kai+desk+%2526+USA+map.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg8XDr1NK3SOaoFMEgjVmsVTbT65p4NXMTA4aVY2LSYk39xIMn9g4ViK12uzkXfPaGBH2ygCeBi8_a4vdmvWvcyX00GIFednRQIXCGtcvxzrEL7-3cF928f7dGmZVJM5USbSfr-1iIp-I/s320/Kai+desk+%2526+USA+map.56.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His sister Zoe designed & pained his desk.<br />
US map for pin'ing where all his friends are. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Tomorrow we will tackle more packing.<br />
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only THREE sleeps.<br />
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Good night all,<br />
Sherry<br />
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Sherry Pattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702689930194601420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788157039275459993.post-46148033448412692362012-11-11T14:57:00.000-06:002012-11-11T14:57:57.247-06:004 sleeps untill...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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the four of us leave for China!</div>
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Church this morning was weird, and good.</div>
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I LOVE praise & worship, but this morning the drummer was absent due to a Royal Rangers event. So at first it was slow and hard for me to get into worship. But then I realized I am free to worship here in the USA, and may not be able to worship for at least 3 weeks while we are in China.</div>
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That got me praising God.</div>
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Then I began to worship God.</div>
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Which brought to my mind ALL that God has done in a year to bring us to be 4 days until we fly across the world to meet our TWO sons and bring them home to join their forever family...</div>
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our Patton family-</div>
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Then I started bawling... lol</div>
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Ok, so sometimes I can be a bit emotional. But how can I NOT? God has done some pretty amazing things in one year to bring us to this point. He has moved mountains of paperwork, social workers' hearts, government officials, brought mega funds, prepared our hearts, and oh so much more.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When we began this process a year ago, we felt led to refer to it an ADVENTURE. Because an adventure is defined as an exciting or unusual experience; it may also be a
bold, usually risky undertaking, with an uncertain outcome.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Well we have definitely been on an "adventure", but it has only been the beginning. We are about to embark on the most amazing physical adventure of our lives. Our family of 6 will now be a family of 8. We already are in our hearts, but in the real world is a different story. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Our two new sons across the globe are about to embark on their own adventure. Tho we are a part of it, we are not going thru it the same way they are. Their part will be the scariest thing ever... To leave all they have ever known, to trust strangers to take them to a far away land and live forever... with strange language, food, smells, etc. </div>
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</div>
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Wow!</div>
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</div>
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Please, please pray for Kai & Eli!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRzPXprWMP0qZDzHX1GN4LJB_JiAyF6tK89NmlHiiloFZ8DTZxUVEn6L7VbQfH4JCcCczWbG4eBwbcKDMoCqQmQGQNfMrWLvE0I3e97OfLEXwpg4-HSk6u7FEagyFMXIJ6UelrH1bMSo/s1600/Eli+transformers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRzPXprWMP0qZDzHX1GN4LJB_JiAyF6tK89NmlHiiloFZ8DTZxUVEn6L7VbQfH4JCcCczWbG4eBwbcKDMoCqQmQGQNfMrWLvE0I3e97OfLEXwpg4-HSk6u7FEagyFMXIJ6UelrH1bMSo/s320/Eli+transformers.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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My heart is so heavy for them today.</div>
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Now, I am off to pack...</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Trying to keep you all informed. Maybe tomorrow I will post our travel itinerary. So that way everyone can be praying specificly on each leg of our adventure. :)</div>
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</div>
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Thank you all!</div>
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Sincerely,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sherry</div>
Sherry Pattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702689930194601420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788157039275459993.post-90367150031608913862012-11-10T14:38:00.000-06:002012-11-10T14:43:07.062-06:005 days and counting....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyphenhyphenNvR6kUpLoyJhuVmagc_1mwc49qMFg_FFqNmv99f3OlwRQEiNtptNkENsG9FGFpsMKuQAjD5_3JntsuJZJ6pOeeWlq2V5rakWgsPpoAeYiU-hVjhERavO7IvRBEX8eiHcjBVZBYLkAw/s1600/Handprint+of+Love+Levi+&+Zoe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyphenhyphenNvR6kUpLoyJhuVmagc_1mwc49qMFg_FFqNmv99f3OlwRQEiNtptNkENsG9FGFpsMKuQAjD5_3JntsuJZJ6pOeeWlq2V5rakWgsPpoAeYiU-hVjhERavO7IvRBEX8eiHcjBVZBYLkAw/s320/Handprint+of+Love+Levi+&+Zoe.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
<br />
Busy...<br />
Busy...<br />
Dreadfully Busy...<br />
Shockingly busy...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhQSebbSKYY">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhQSebbSKYY</a><br />
<br />
I will post more info about our trip soon tho.<br />
<br />
I promise!<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24ehsyOmwgW-6D5OfKAENcR1E52zyl2Pob1ubQmbYmsnHofigeoFbjiMSm_2q9pU4TCRGVXJWv3h8SDIB0czqP2Gutnct05tyBbL9khyphenhyphenBDM4JZhDRXkevtstqX_-5dYBscD-a9kIyFhg/s1600/Kai+&+Eli+cover+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24ehsyOmwgW-6D5OfKAENcR1E52zyl2Pob1ubQmbYmsnHofigeoFbjiMSm_2q9pU4TCRGVXJWv3h8SDIB0czqP2Gutnct05tyBbL9khyphenhyphenBDM4JZhDRXkevtstqX_-5dYBscD-a9kIyFhg/s320/Kai+&+Eli+cover+photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Keep praying for these two that are about to have their world shaken.<br />
<br />
Thanks, we love and appreciate your all!<br />
SherrySherry Pattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702689930194601420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788157039275459993.post-87437012635961523212012-11-09T15:33:00.003-06:002012-11-09T15:33:22.594-06:006 days...until we board a plane headed to China!!!<br />
<br />
That's right... <br />
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<br />
TRAVEL APPROVAL<br />
<br />
We were on Day 16 of waiting and hoping, praying it would come. Then I got the call yesterday at 3:12pm CST that both our TAs had arrived at our adoption agency.<br />
<br />
Woohoo!!!<br />
<br />
I had to go outside to scream, as I was at the DMV waiting for my 18 yr old to take his driving test.<br />
<br />
So then the next big prayer was CA. <br />
<br />
For those of you wondering that is your Consulate Appointment to get your child's Visa to enter the US. It is the last step in China before you can bring your child home. In our case CHILDREN.<br />
<br />
And if we were going to get to China by Thanksgiving, as hoped, we needed CA for first week in Dec... and we needed to find out fast, because we had to get plane tickets Monday is a US holiday... Veterans Day (thank you to all our vets... Steve is one) But that meant the US Consulate in Guangzhou, China will be closed Monday. So our wonderful China coordinator worked into the night to get our CA and at 12:40am CST I got the email that we indeed have CAs for 10am Tues Dec 4th.<br />
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord who works ALL miracles.<br />
<br />
Next was plane tickets... our awesome travel agent was standing by and found us super flights. And we leave in 6 days from DFW at 10:30am Thur Nov 15th. We are so excited!!!<br />
<br />
Sorry for the not-immediate post, but our heads have absolutely been spinning trying to get everything arranged since it happened.<br />
<br />
And anyone wanting to welcome Kai & Eli home, are invited to show up at the airport. more info to come as we get details from the travel agent. :)<br />
<br />
THANK YOU ALL so very very much for all the prayers, support and help to bring our boys home. I know many of you have really prayed and some for Kai Joseph for years. Those prayers were NOT in vain, they were answered and we will be in China in 6 days and he will be HOME in less than 4 weeks.<br />
<br />
We do have the funds to get us to China. Praise God for HIS provision.<br />
<br />
We do still have LOTS of 2013 Adoption Success Stories wall calendars available for sale. They (all 200 of them) arrived yesterday. We would love to mail them all out before we leave. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSolhn1qQorJbq-7Id9X2jBxdGteVJHorCjiSmMoEmcESMx5-2H8QzNfRmWGv4ZNrDndeUczXIPCRE4q2OLJS0QaHCn7MfGi5uvTU8zXmHKkWFCPC-a8r6Ex4JfNHlHLWfVmqtJ04F7Zw/s1600/200+calendars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSolhn1qQorJbq-7Id9X2jBxdGteVJHorCjiSmMoEmcESMx5-2H8QzNfRmWGv4ZNrDndeUczXIPCRE4q2OLJS0QaHCn7MfGi5uvTU8zXmHKkWFCPC-a8r6Ex4JfNHlHLWfVmqtJ04F7Zw/s320/200+calendars.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Order yours today and think gifts too: Only $12 each, plus s/h ($3.50 1st, $1.50 ea add) <a href="http://adventure4eli.chipin.com/adoption-calendar">http://adventure4eli.chipin.com/adoption-calendar</a><br />
<br />
We will be in China for 3 weeks, and hubby only has 30 hours of paid leave. So December's monthly budget is going to be very tight. We paid upfront for the calendars. So hopefully they will all sell.<br />
<br />
Thanks again & God bless all our prayer warriors and supporters tenfold!<br />
<br />
We are going to CHINA!!!!!<br />
<br />
Head spinning and so elated,<br />
Sherry & family<br />
Sherry Pattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702689930194601420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788157039275459993.post-7758333038500343012012-11-05T19:35:00.000-06:002012-11-05T19:35:20.446-06:00WOW!I did not know what else to call this post.<br />
<br />
And I am sorry if you are a follower of our blog and have been waiting and waiting for an update. I had hoped to post "TA" and was waiting, but sadly it did not come today either.<br />
<br />
My emotions are all over the place. Today is Day 13 of our TA wait. And we so expected it to come last week, especially after receiving a travel schedule and invoice from our agency. <br />
<br />
But then last week was also a stressful week, as I was fundraising EVERY SINGLE DAY.<br />
<br />
If you follow our blog, then you know we found out Fri Oct 26th that we were not receiving a Show Hope grant as we had hoped and thought we might.<br />
<br />
And as of that same day, we were looking at possibly being very short of funds and trying to figrue out how we were going to bring our boys home.<br />
<br />
If you read the blog posts last week, you know I was a basket case that first day.<br />
<br />
But you also must have seen that God is FAITHFUL!<br />
<br />
And it is HIM I wish to glorify in this post...<br />
<br />
Because you see, in just ONE week God brought combined resources of: <br />
fundraising, <br />
donations, <br />
promised donations, <br />
lower adoption & travel costs, <br />
and an interest free adoption loan... <br />
totaling $14,500!<br />
<br />
WOW!<br />
<br />
Now you see why the reason for the blog title.<br />
<br />
God is AMAZING!<br />
<br />
If all resources promised and expected arrives on time...<br />
pending CA dates, airline tickets and hotel reservations...<br />
we "should" have enough money to make it to China and bring our boys home!!!<br />
<br />
Hallelujah!<br />
<br />
Thank you to ALL our prayer warriors. We know we could not have raised this money alone. We know that this is nothing short of a miracle. We know that your prayers were instrumental in this miracle. We know that God did this. We know that God planned it to show His LOVE & awesomeness. :)<br />
<br />
So to ALL that gave... THANK YOU!<br />
<br />
To ALL that prayed... THANK YOU!!<br />
<br />
May God bless you ALL tenfold!<br />
<br />
Now, we still have a few fundraisers to finish. But then we will probably need a few extra $$$ in country to buy the boys clothes and misc.<br />
<br />
The 2013 Adoption Success Stories Calendars have been printed and shipped. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4HSvMyebjzEzwxe0ipUM9iYH0ofNED3Q7b6Pj_PrahsV-T5no9Ibgj82t-zbJkR7Xy3dnjNt-nOxjZq9dtVRKrGXVgdo6fncgirzGM5l-csRdObXL8xQUJm5clnxf12nyKNgjEswlDI/s1600/0+Calendar+2013+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4HSvMyebjzEzwxe0ipUM9iYH0ofNED3Q7b6Pj_PrahsV-T5no9Ibgj82t-zbJkR7Xy3dnjNt-nOxjZq9dtVRKrGXVgdo6fncgirzGM5l-csRdObXL8xQUJm5clnxf12nyKNgjEswlDI/s320/0+Calendar+2013+Cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
They are due to arrive Thurs. These are beautiful! They feature some fantastic adoptive families. Many well known advocates in the adoption community. So what better way to celebrate November as National Adoption month and advocate for adoption by ordering yours today. And Christmas is coming, what great gifts they'd make too. Each Calendar is only $12, plus s/h ($3.50 1st, $1.50 ea add) <a href="http://adventure4eli.chipin.com/adoption-calendar">http://adventure4eli.chipin.com/adoption-calendar</a> or use ChipIn button on right of blog.<br />
<br />
The other part of my emotional roller coaster is that Sun Nov 4th marked one year since we first saw Eli's advocate video. <br />
<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeGa-SAgpqA">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeGa-SAgpqA</a><br />
<br />
I just can NOT wait to hug my boy! <br />
<br />
But at the same time my heart is so heavy for the HUGE transition he is
about to go thru. He has been in the same foster family since he was an
infant... for almost his entire life. Levi is the same age as Eli and I keep
thinking about loosing him, what that would be like for me? Then what life
would be like for him to have to leave us and go with strangers to a foreign
country with strange smells, food and langauge. I KNOW this is God's plan, but
I also know not every plan is easy. It will be for ALL our good in the end, but
I can't imagine the middle just yet.<br />
<br />
Which makes me want to hug him all the more. <br />
<br />
And to add to the emotions and stress, I am worried about Kai... This
weekend Shepherd's Field Children's Village, where Kai lives, got their first
snow! Yes, S.N.O.W. <br />
<br />
And unfortunately the heat doesn't get turned on until Nov 15th. <br />
<br />
<em>Side Note: If you need any other reason to get out tomorrow and VOTE,
there's one: To keep your freedoms; including freedom from Govt, either
communist or socialist, controling your family's heat...</em><br />
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And when you vote tomorrow, please say a prayer for Kai to stay warm and
healthy until we can bring him home in a few short weeks.<br />
<br />
When I first heard the news, I started crying. Then when I explained to
hubby why I was crying he asked me one question: can you do anything to change
the situation?<br />
<br />
First my mind began whirling around to see how I could possibly get blankets
and jackets to him ASAP... yeah, right Sherry!<br />
<br />
Sadly, the real answer was "No!"<br />
<br />
Which led to my wonderful husband's next response, "Except
PRAY"...<br />
<br />
So we are praying for ALL the children & staff to be warmed
supernaturally until the heat comes on.<br />
<br />
The update is our travel schedule shows two sets of dates either us landing
in province on Nov 18th or Nov 25th. Just waiting for TA (travel approval)...
our LAST step in the adoption process, to be able to schedule our CA (Consulate
appointment) at US Embassy in Guangzhou, China... our LAST step in China before
being able to bring the boys home.<br />
<br />
So that's the update for today. Hopefully tomorrow will bring more good
news. :)<br />
<br />
Praising Jesus,<br />
Sherry<br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
<span id="goog_1819162672"></span><span id="goog_1819162673"></span>Sherry Pattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702689930194601420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788157039275459993.post-12541486932163379202012-10-31T23:54:00.002-05:002012-11-01T16:25:19.978-05:00Double HappinessToday was Day 8 of waiting for TA... But His mercies are new every morning.<br />
<br />
Yesterday we received a estimated travel schedule and invoice from our agency. So we feel as tho TA is coming soon. And if we get the CA date they're hoping for, we could be leaving for China in just over 2 weeks... <br />
<br />
What?!?!!!<br />
<br />
2 WEEKS!<br />
<br />
Wow, that is awesome, and scary at the same time.<br />
<br />
What has gone on since our last post you ask...<br />
<br />
Well the last post was about the Anonymous Angel upping the Matching Grant offer to $1,000. And today we hit that goal!!! <br />
<br />
Yep, we actually went over it and raised $1,030 to get the $1,000 matching grant. Praise God!<br />
<br />
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<br />
But that's not the double happiness...<br />
<br />
A fellow adoptive family saw how successful the Anonymous Angel's Matching Grant went, and wanting to help too, they have offered to repeat the challenge. :) Woohoo!<br />
<br />
They will match a donation of $500 when we get $500 donated to our new Friend Matching Grant Chip In. <a href="http://adventure4eli.chipin.com/friend-matching-grant">http://adventure4eli.chipin.com/friend-matching-grant</a><br />
<br />
So if you missed getting your gift/donation "matched" to help bring Kai & Eli home... now is your chance! Thank you & God bless tenfold!<br />
<br />
Also, the new 2013 Adoption Success Stories Calendar is READY!!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrncdSBF7axwCCeGAp1AoUcXt8dHtwLWmwSanci4i2sKvpAi-W62F1sLyRulDAsWuoz94J79SLta2fkxmPXJKuom1WENEnXXDrnElYMl1n0jzzRpa1b4WlxPQ3lHs37WmvWHtty9Joxc/s1600/0+Calendar+2013+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrncdSBF7axwCCeGAp1AoUcXt8dHtwLWmwSanci4i2sKvpAi-W62F1sLyRulDAsWuoz94J79SLta2fkxmPXJKuom1WENEnXXDrnElYMl1n0jzzRpa1b4WlxPQ3lHs37WmvWHtty9Joxc/s320/0+Calendar+2013+Cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://adventure4eli.chipin.com/adoption-calendar">http://adventure4eli.chipin.com/adoption-calendar</a></div>
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Wall Calendar (8.5 x 11) featuring a different adoptive family from around the adoption community each month. Calendars cost: $15 each, plus S/H ($3.50 1st, $1.50 ea add).</div>
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Think Christmas gifts and how great these quality calendars will look on your wall. Order yours today!<br />
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So how am I holding up you ask? Or maybe you didn't, but I will tell you anyway... lol<br />
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I am so anxious to hold my boys!<br />
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I am trying to trust God to get us to China...<br />
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I am so grateful for what the Lord has done, and all the folks who have given and prayed.<br />
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I pray I will be the mom they need.<br />
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I pray my love is an extension of the Father's love.<br />
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I pray my life bring glory to God and show my boys My God.<br />
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And I don't get much sleep these day... lol<br />
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Grateful, scared, blessed, tired, ready to get to China...<br />
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Humbly in Christ,<br />
Sherry</div>
Sherry Pattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702689930194601420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8788157039275459993.post-617731805992433962012-10-27T10:57:00.000-05:002012-10-27T10:57:37.808-05:00God increases<h3 class="heading passage-class-0">
<span class="text John-3-30" id="en-NKJV-26151">He must increase, but I <i>must</i> decrease. - John 3:30 (NKJV)</span></h3>
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<span class="text John-3-30"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span> </div>
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<span class="text John-3-30"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So God showed off last night...</span></span></div>
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<span class="text John-3-30"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We got the $500 needed to receive the Anonymous Angel's matching grant in less than an hour. Hallelujah! Thank you Jesus! So that is a total of $1,000 raised last night. </span></span></div>
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<span class="text John-3-30"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This morning I received the following message:</span></span></div>
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<span class="text John-3-30">Hi Sherry, the donor said... to extend this, because the $500 was raised so fast. They are willing to add another $500, so they will match a total of $1,000. Praise God!!!!!!</span><div class="heading passage-class-0">
<span class="text John-3-30"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span> </div>
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<span class="text John-3-30"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="text John-3-30"><span style="font-family: Arial;">So I have increased... </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text John-3-30"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="text John-3-30"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Correction - God has increased the Angel Matching Grant Chip In to $1,000.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text John-3-30"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="text John-3-30">Praise the Lord for HIS faithfulness!</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text John-3-30"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="text John-3-30"></span></span></span> </div>
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<span class="text John-3-30"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="text John-3-30">Father God please BLESS these people who are giving to bring home Kai & Eli!</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text John-3-30"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="text John-3-30"></span></span></span> </div>
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<span class="text John-3-30"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="text John-3-30">And those that didn't get a chance to get in on the Angel Matching Grant Chip In for our boys, now you can. :)</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text John-3-30"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="text John-3-30">Go to Chip-In button on right of blog or to Chip-In page: <a href="http://adventure4eli.chipin.com/angel-matching-grant">http://adventure4eli.chipin.com/angel-matching-grant</a></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text John-3-30"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="text John-3-30"></span></span></span> </div>
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<span class="text John-3-30"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="text John-3-30">So Day 4 of TA wait is spent praising God and fundraising to bring our boys home.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text John-3-30"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="text John-3-30"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text John-3-30"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="text John-3-30">I had an opportunity to go to an adoption conference in Dallas today and hear some wonderful speakers, but I felt my time would be better spent today fundraising and filling out adoption loan applications.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text John-3-30"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="text John-3-30"></span></span></span> </div>
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<span class="text John-3-30"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="text John-3-30">I know it is not in my strength, but by God's grace and provision that Kai & Eli will come home. I have known this all along. God has shown us time and time again, this is HIS plan. But I thought I had to work and work and work to make it happen. I thought I had it figured out. I didn't want to beg and ask for hand outs. Which is true to some extent... But I also need to rely and trust God, whose calling and plan this is... and allow HIM to use the people and ways HE wants to use, to bring these boys... who HE loved first and more... home.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text John-3-30"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="text John-3-30"></span></span></span> </div>
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<span class="text John-3-30"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="text John-3-30">Yes, Lord I surrender. Not MY will, but YOUR will... in everything, every step, including where the money comes from.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text John-3-30"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="text John-3-30">Thank you Jesus, that your ways are better than mine.</span></span></span></div>
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<br />Humbly yours,</div>
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Sherry</div>
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Sherry Pattonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702689930194601420noreply@blogger.com2