Wednesday, September 12, 2012

china trip : changde swi visit

Phebe's orphanage visit

It was an emotionally charged trip today, to Phebe's orphanage.

I should mention that Phebe is the best little sleeper ever! She sleeps from 8pm - 7am as well as a 2 hour nap in the early afternoon. This morning started out a little rough, Phebe eat well, but no smiles today. It's only day three, so we are trying to give her the space she needs. She doesn't cry much, but she does grunt a fair bit and she pushes all of us away from her, about 70% of the time. We're trying so hard to take is easy on her. Lilah told us last night that she doesn't like to see her little sister sad.

Anyway, we were picked up by our driver and guide at 8:30am and settled in for a long drive, 3 hours to Changde and 3 hours home again! Phebe did amazing on the drive, I was fully prepared for her having travel sickness, but that wasn't the case, thankfully. Our little trooper napped for over an hour each way and her big sister probably had more ipad time in one day, than she's had in six months. Ha!

We arrived at the orphanage at 11:30am and Phebe was very pleased to see her nanny again. They walked hand in hand, right into her little room. The nanny had rice prepared for her, for lunch. She is the sweetest and most warm lady, her smile could light up a room. It's so obvious that Phebe was loved by her, in a big way. It's also easy to see why our little girl is grieving the loss of this wonderful lady.

After Phebe eat two bowls of rice... yes, you read that right, she sat up on the little seat, opposite her nanny and downed two bowls of rice in less than 10 minutes! Our little girl can eat! Anyway, after that we headed next door to the little school that the special needs children attend. Phebe has also attended this school since Bonnie pulled a few strings, back in March! We met Phebe's best friend, Rocky, who obviously adores her - he will start attending the public school next Monday, he is super excited... so excited he's already wearing his backpack for the occasion! We met her two wonderful teachers, who obviously do so much for these children - they were making flowers today and they gave Phebe one, she was so very thrilled with it and wore it right up until she went to bed tonight. We also gave out the care packages we'd prepared for all the children, craft supplies for the school, toys for the children to share and gifts for the staff. It is hard to put into words the emotions we go through on a meeting like this. Words can't describe the gratitude we feel towards these people that cared for our daughter, for almost 2 years of her life. And words can't describe the emotions we feel about the children we leave behind. It is so very hard - so many of them capture a piece of your heart.

We heard little stories... like how Rocky followed Phebe out to the gate of the orphanage on Monday, the morning she left, just so he could say goodbye. How today was her Nanny's day off, but she came in just so she could see Phebe again. How Phebe cried for 20 days when she started attending the little school, back in March. We also met the lady that found her, outside the orphanage gates.

All of it was emotional. We cried happy, sad and thankful tears.

Afterwards, we took some of the staff out for lunch. It was so delicious. I'm not sure if I'm going to have a stomach left after all this spicy Hunan food, the hot pepper dishes are absolutely amazing!

After lunch, we came back to the orphanage to drop the staff off, we captured a few final group shots and then it was time to say goodbye. I had myself prepared, because Phebe did not come near us the whole time we were at the orphanage and restaurant, but she calmly got into the van with us and waved bye-bye to the staff. Her calmness was a huge answer to prayer and we know that only the Lord could have given her the peace she had in that moment.

We knew this wouldn't be an easy day. But for Phebe's sake, we knew we wanted to meet her nanny and the staff that took care of her. And to see and know where she lived for the first two years of her life. These are the memories that we can tell her about, one day.

Phebe's orphanage visit Phebe's orphanage visit Phebe's orphanage visit Phebe's orphanage visit Phebe's orphanage visit Phebe's orphanage visit


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Phebe's orphanage visit Phebe's orphanage visit Phebe's orphanage visit Phebe's orphanage visit


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Phebe's orphanage visit


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Phebe's orphanage visit

[ the flickr set is here ]

25 comments:

  1. Oh sweet baby Phebe. It breaks my heart for her. But it's such a good thing for her to see that these people she knows and loves are aware that she's going with her new family. What a great opportunity.

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  2. Wow, what an amazing and emotionally charged day. I am so happy that Phebe was cared for by such good people and that you will be able to share all this with her when she is older. I loved hearing about little Rocky too!

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  3. aww jill, in tears again - for you all - poor Phebe it breaks my heart - but lovely to see she was loved and well looked after, and great you got to meet everybody, and give them gifts, you are all so amazing - praying for you all,sending you a big hug, allour love the Mcilveens

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  4. What a day for all of you! So glad to know that Phebe calmly got into the van when you had to leave...answers to prayer for sure! Thank you for sharing with us a part of Phebe's life and all the wonderful care she received. How comforting to know that she was so loved by these people. Keeping you in prayer everyday! Love, S & M xo

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  5. It is so hard to see them mourn. I am glad you were able to visit the orphanage and get these photos for the future. Continuing to pray for you all.

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  6. How lovely that you got to visit the SWI and meet the caretakers. I know it's hard on you (and Phebe, too), but such an important part of her journey.
    Will continue to pray for your family of four!

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  7. Thank you so much for sharing. I pray for wee phoebe and her best wee friend too. God bring your peace and understanding for them both. Bless the wee man as he moves onto his next step. Pray God continues to bless and protect this family of four. Thank you God that we get to be part of your family.

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  8. Oh my - Miss Phebe is such a precious doll! She really resembles you Jill! Which little boy is Rocky? Thanks for sharing the photos of this emotional visit with us all!

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  9. Makes me weep reading this Jill.. There is no way to truly express these emotions unless you have walked these halls, said thank you to those who cared for your child, and said goodbye to those left behind. Thank you for sharing this day here. Your pictures tell a beautiful story! This was a huge gift for Phebe!

    Blessings,
    Diana

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  10. Wow. I am crying reading this post, Jill. Just an amazing day for you all and a gift for Phebe to know that you have met them and saw with your own eyes her home for two years. I wish this was something we could give to Emeili too. Truly amazing.

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  11. Tears here too...thank you for sharing your journey. Blessings to your beautiful family.

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  12. Crying over here too. What a wonderful gift you will be able to give your girl when she's ready to hear about her first years of life in her birth country.
    Hope you all had a restful night.

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  13. I have had a hard time leaving a message...just wanted to say CONGRATULATIONS! Your daughter is beautiful! You can just see in the photos how much Lilah loves her little sister!

    Mary Karen

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  14. Tears. What a huge day for Phebe, for you, for her caretakers. These photos and stories will be precious and irreplacable memories for Phebe when she's older..what a gift you've given her! And I know it does your Mama Heart good to see how she was loved and cared for. Thanks for sharing this special day. Praying that tomorrow brings more healing to your precious girl's heart.


    Gin

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  15. I bet it was one emotional trip! I'm amazed at how uneventful getting back in the van was. It looks like Phebe was dearly, dearly loved.

    We had the opportunity to visit Caleb's orphanage but not Madeline's, and that makes me sad. I do hope we'll get to visit our Havi's orphanage when we finally find out who she is and travel to bring her home.

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  16. Think how much these pictures wll mean to Phebe someday. as they show she was truly loved by staff, friends and caregivers. Such a blessing for this beautiful child. You are so patient and loving in helping her adjust to your family. ~Lindy

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  17. What an opportunity for both you and Phebe. We were never "allowed" to go to either of the girl's orphanages. Those pictures will mean so much to Phebe when she is older. Such an experience for you as well.

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  18. what a gift to you having the strength and also the opportunity to do this. What a brave little Phebe.

    lea
    xo

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  19. Wow, looks like you all had a nice visit at the SWI and with Phebe's Nanny's and little friends. Such wonderful memories for your girls. Congratulations guys...we are so happy for you all.<3

    Janice and family xoxo

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  20. Thank you for sharing this special visit... what a blessing to have this to share with Phebe someday. Phebe's nanny looks like such a dear person and you can just see how much she loves her. So special!!!!

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  21. HEATHER FRAZER13 September, 2012

    JILL THAT IS LOVELY TO SEE INTO ANOTHER 'WORLD' WE ALL TAKE SO MUCH FOR GRANTED, IT IS AMAZING THE POWER OF PRAYER,I WILL JOIN THE MANY OTHERS THAT PHEBE WILL BE SETTLED TO WHERE GOD HAS PLACED HER. NOTHING HAPPENS BY CHANCE WHEN WE ARE IN GOD'S WILL.
    HEATHER

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  22. Ah, what a long and emotional day! But how wonderful that you made the trip so that you will have these memories to share with Phebe. Thinking and praying for you all,

    Monica

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  23. Such a beautiful post Jill. What an emotional day for all of you. You are such a wise Mama to know how important all these steps are.

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  25. We adopted from Changde 5 yrs ago and I wanted to just say, God is so good and our girls are so brave. Congratulations to you all!! So excited to see another Changde sister come home!!

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