Peter's 1 year Anniversary part 2

Happy "Gotcha Day" Peter!! It hasn't always been easy but some of the hardest pressed flowers give off the sweetest perfume! You are blessing from the Lord. You are fearfully and wonderfully made! You are the perfect combination of strong and tender, silly and serious. You love to sing and dance, music overflows from your heart!

Isaiah 55:12

"You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands."




The morning of March 17th 2014, on our way to the orphanage....

The gate of the orphanage.

After we arrived we were brought to a conference room upstairs. The windows were open and letting in a cool spring breez. I could here the birds chirping in the trees outside and in my heart I whispered a prayer of gratitude. This is the day that the Lord has made.

While we waited for you to arrive we were given your " Half the Sky ". A book kept from the time you arrived at the CWI filled with pictures, notes, records and baby feet and hand prints. A treasure chest.

We soon heard a commotion by the door..... And there you were!

We only got a peek at you and you at us. You were a bit overwhelmed at felt more comfortable in the hall. We sent Madelynn out to you and she gave you a sucker. After a few moments you decided it would be ok to come in.

After a couple of offers of M&Ms from Mama you allowed me to hold you for the first time.

You were very solemn the rest of our time at the orphanage. Your foster father helped walk you out and put you in the van. Baba then stepped in the van and sat beside you. Just then the van started to pull away and it was as if a miracle took place before our eyes. You not only didn't shed one tear but your face lit up with the biggest smile as you looked up at your Daddy and said " Baba!"

You would call me "Mama" and Madelynn "Jie Jie"! We would tell you for the first time "Wo ai ni" ( I love you) and pray that seed would burry itself into your heart.

We love you Peter Benjamin Qiulin Coriell!! Happy first "Gotcha Day" son! 

To be continued...

Peter's 1 year Anniversary Part 1

I can't believe tomorrow will be 1 year since Peter came into our arms and forever into our family! Wow! It feels like a lifetime ago! In honer of Peter's first "Gotcha Day" I'll be re-visting our time in China and sharing never seen before photos from our trip. During our time in China last year we only had our ipad and were unable to download and share the photos taken from my camera. OH MY GOODNESS y'all! I did my best sharing what I could but y'all are in for a treat!!!

So let's start out with today one year ago....

We had just woken up in Hong Kong and made our way over from the airport hotel were we stayed in the night before. With the mix of jet-lag and excitment we only slept about 4 hours. In the airport we found some seats near the Starbucks and hung out for awhile. It was too early for even Starbucks and although I was dreaming of how good a chi tea latte would be at that moment I was going to be just fine. Madelynn was chipper enough for us all though! That and it was special just being there as this was the same place we waited at before we boarded our plane to get Selah.

We finally made it!! Chengdu, Sichuan China! We stayed at an apartment style hotel called the Somerset. We were incredibly thankful for the exrta space to move around. Below are some pictures of the apartment.

We crashed all too early that night. It would be more sleep before we meet our boy. We would go to sleep praying that God would go before us. That His spirit would be with him, He would be preparing His heart as well as our own.

2 Corinthians 12:9
 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. " Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

I love the heart of my Lord. The world despises weakness ( and it's many forms) but our Lord finds it the perfect place to rest His power!

To be continued....

Worship on a Sunday morning in China

It's been a couple days since I have blogged. We are now in Guangzhou and this morning we had the most wonderful opportunity to worship at Church of Christ on Shamain island. Words cannot describe the gratitude I felt and the spirit of God present as we stood as sang with brothers and sisters in The Lord. To have Peter hear the gospel message in his native language and in his country of birth. 

The cool spring breeze blew in the open and stained glass windows and I could feel the praise and good news flowing out. I will continue to pray for my brothers and sisters in Christ. I look forward to the day we will all stand together again singing Hosanna!

Another HUGE BLESSING of this day and trip even was seeing our sweet friend again YJ ( and brother) that we became friends with while she attended Texas state. She is now back in GZ. After church we all went to lunch together and ate some yummy Chinese dishes!

Afterwards YJ came back and spent some time with us at our hotel. Our time was such a joy and it was sad to see her go. I pray this is just another see you later. 

I also meet a new sister in The Lord today. She shared her testimony with me. How before God she was an angry person. She was always angry at everyone, husband, children etc. She thought she could be a Christian and believe in Buda until she really read her Bible. She said there is only one God. She said the more she reads the more she becomes better but she has a long way to go. ( Bless her! Don't we all) I encouraged that the more we talk to God, give Him thanks for daily things ( her husband, a kind act, nice weather etc) the more the anger leaves and is replaced with Joy and more thanksgiving. We talked about the old testiment and the new testiment. The old was scary to her. I said it can look that way but if you look close God shows his faithfulness. He makes a promise and he keeps it, the people are happy, the people forget. He makes a promise he keeps it, the people are happy the people forget. Lord, be an everlasting pillar in our hearts! May we never forget your great works and your never failing love. Help us to love each other well and point other to you no matter where we are. In Jesus name Amen.

Fur babies and more

Yesterday was a super fun outing, especially for the kids, we went to the Panada research base. There is about 2000 Pandas in the world today and about 80% can be found in Chengdu. That is why Panda paraphernalia is BIG around here and you better believe we bought our share :)

It blows my mind that just a couple days ago Peter had only been out of the orphanage maybe once ( for a visa photo). His whole life was those hallways, stairs, rooms and courtyard. I get no greater joy than to tell him RUN!!!! As he catches up to his sister to the exhibit and he exclaims " shuma" ( panda) and rattles off a bunch of other things I don't understand. :) 

Speaking of sister... Madelynn has been a bit of a rock star here I need to start talking pictures of people talking her picture. The excitement is palatable!

I think pandas will always have a place in our our families hearts.

We got back to the hotel after a quick lunch and shopping at carefore for some PB&J. We settled into the hotel for a quiet evening of baths and bonding time. We might have stayed like this tell bedtime ;)

Today is our last full day in Chengdu, so we will be soaking it up! We will be leaving to tomorrow to head to Guangzhou where the U.S. Consulate is. This is where Peter's visa will be issued and will be able to come home after that. We will be in Gaungzhou for about a week. 

 

It's official .... Introducing Peter Benjamin Qiulin Coriell

As of today in the eyes of China it has been made official! Peter is now a Coriell!

As we walked into the civil affairs office he was holding his sisters hand. We were seated at a long table after the family picture was taken. The pictures came back quickly and we were given a number of copies. We gave one to Peter which he was thrilled about! He kept exclaiming "Mama, Baba , Qiu Qiu" ( pronounced chew chew). The lady from the orphanage arrived and he seemed to pay her no attention. I was praying this would not set him back. After signing all the documents and giving our vows it came time for Peter to do the hand his print. He clutched the table and refused to leave his seat by us. It was the saddest thing, I just reassured him the best I could " Babba and Qiu Qiu ". So Nathan picked Peter up and sat him on his lap and he did the hand print from there.

When we left we were all seated together in the back of the van, Peter on my lap. He turned his head back to me and started to kiss my face over and over saying " Mama!" He turned to Nathan  and leaned in and kissed him saying "Babba"! I BROKE! I have had a well of emotions and they came flooding out in that moment! How God?! How can he have suffered so much injustice and still so readily accept us and with such JOY? Forgive me God... Faith like a child. This is redemption. Pure undefiled religion. A former orphan now son was the kiss from Jesus today.

Later in the day we went to " Wide Alley, Narrow Alley" a famous historic relic in Chengdu. Wide Alley is where the rich would live while the narrow alley is where the poor lived. It is now full of shops, boutiques and restaurants. I will blog about this outing when I can download my cameras pictures. It was a wonderful afternoon and the weather was just beautiful. I can't wait to for what tomorrow will bring!

We got Peter and oh boy.... Does he have us!

There is a million things floating around in my head about today but I will cut to the chase and get to the part everyone really wants.... PICTURES!!

When we first pulled up I was told to put away my camera as the babies and the nannies were all outside. I searched for my friends baby and said a prayer. We were then brought upstairs to the conference room of the orphanage. As we started some of the paperwork I heard a bit of chatter from the door behind us. Peter and his foster parents had arrived. Peter was scared and didn't want to come in and I told everyone it was ok, let him take his time. We sent Madelynn out to meet him and she gave him a sucker :) Eventually he made his way in and slowly but surely I won him over .... with m&ms :) After some paperwork was finished we got to tour his foster parents apartment. Where he lived, his bedroom etc. It was very nice and his parents seemed very genuine and kind. We got to take a picture together with them which I will treasure always.

After that we walked back to our van. Peter all the while remained quiet and rather standoffish. To be honest we were expecting a complete an utter melt down but the second we pulled away he lit up like a firework show! He kept looking at Nathan and repeating, " Babba, Babba Babba!" 

He would look at me and say, " Mama!" With a big smile, and look at Madelynn and say " Jie Jie! " Our driver stopped at the store so I could grab some diapers. When I came back. Nathan said he had been asking about "gui gui", his brother, so he pulled up some pictures to show him.

 

We are just BLOWN AWAY by this amazing child! He has the most beautiful smile and the BEST belly laugh ever!!! He is smart as a whip ( first English word was " open") and funny to boot! He has made in an instant BFF with Madelynn and I can't wait for Noah and Selah to be with their brother too.

He is now sleeping peacefully next to me as I type and I am AMAZED again at the Lord's hand in all this. I know this is only day one. There are to be many struggles ahead but I praise God that His peace was with Peter today. That we were given an amazing first day to start this foundation, built on our rock Jesus Christ! Great redeemer!Hallelujah you are a great redeemer!

Chengdu

WWe made it to Chengdu!!!  Never have I been so relieved to arrive to anywhere than when we arrived here. It feels so good after non stop traveling to finally get settled. Our hotel is perfect, Madelynn gasped as the door was opened, it's so big! This precious girl has been aching to stretch out, I can't wait to see her and Peter running around in here! Pictures are on my  camera I will add them later.

It's 3:00 am right now and we crashed last night around 6:30 pm, just could not make it anymore! I was playing a game of old maid with Madelynn and my head kept bobbing. Thankfully Madelynn  is sleeping really good, praying it will help her get her bearings. 

As I type this there is a little boy who is sleeping one last sleep at his orphanage. God give us your spirit, help him to see comfort, safety and most of all love in us. I don't know him yet but he is already my hero,to have faith like a child...

We get Peter at 9:30 this morning, 5 hours to go! 

"Great blessings belongs to those who show mercy to others, mercy will be given to them." 

Matthew 5:7