Together at last!
It’s been a wonderful and emotional two days! It began Monday morning when we left our hotel at 5am to head to the airport for our 2 1/2 hour flight south to Nanchang city in Jiangxi Province. After exiting the airport we met our second guide, Meggy (I’m sure that’s her “American” name! I doubt I could pronounce her real name:) )
Shortly after we got on the bus she told us (our family and another family traveling with us) that we were going to meet our daughters at 11:30 at our hotel. After our arrival we would have about 20 minutes to get checked into our room and then our babies would arrive! Imagine the excitement! We thought it would be in the late afternoon!
We hurriedly checked into our room and got our cameras ready for the big moment! The plan was for Stephen to take pictures, Matthew to take video, Christine to hold RaeAn and I would interview the Orphanage Director with our list of 26 questions about RaeAn before he left!
Although we’ve been planning and waiting for this day for over five years, nothing could truly prepare us for the emotions of this wonderful moment as they put RaeAn into our arms for the first time! It’s real! We are finally together!
After the Director left, we jumped right into filling out paperwork and signing all kinds of documents (while we ate Papa John’s Pepperoni Pizza!). An hour after we had RaeAn we were off to the Center for Adoptions in Nanchang to finalize her adoption certificate, take her passport photo and be interviewed by their Director. Then we headed to the notary office to have our statements taken and signatures notarized. Then to the police station where they took a picture of RaeAn for a police report. Finally back to our hotel for a delicious meal before heading to bed. (RaeAn went to sleep at 8pm and didn’t wake up until 7am! I on the other hand, I went to sleep at 9pm and woke up at 11:30pm and didn’t go back to sleep until 4am! Just too wound up with emotion!)
One of our prayers for the past five years was that RaeAn would be put in foster care and not have to stay in the orphanage. We found out from the Orphanage Director that after she was found she spent a total of three days in the orphanage and was then given to her foster mother. She was with her foster mother until the very morning they gave her to us. In fact, Monday morning they picked her up from her foster mother and drove 3 and 1/2 hours straight to Nanchang to meet us.
We are so thankful for the wonderful and loving care that she was given until we could care for her ourselves. Leaving her foster mother though was and still is very difficult. The Director said she cried the entire three hours it took to bring her to us. Even now (yesterday and today) she will suddenly get a panic look on her face and begin crying… calling ‘mama, mama, mama’ while looking around the room. Whenever the door to our hotel room opens, she’ll look as if she’s hoping her foster mother will come in and rescue her from this strange family! Tears fill our eyes as we see her grieving for the loss of her foster mother. We are so thankful for her tender love and care for RaeAn! Knowing that RaeAn is missing her so also breaks our hearts…
Today was a great day though and she is taking to us more and more. She’s going through cycles of emotion… playing happily with the boys, crying for her ‘mama, mama’ then smiling and reaching for Christine, then crying because she’s hungry, enjoying milk, formula and apple juice, then sleeping because she’s exhausted, then crying for her ‘mama, mama’, then sleeping, then playing. That’s pretty much been our last two days.
Today (Tuesday) we went to Wal-Mart to buy what one of our guides called, “The Baby Stuff”. We just love that phrase and can’t stop saying it! Meggy had to help us shop because even with pictures, we couldn’t figure out what some of the things are that we needed!
Following Wal-Mart we enjoyed a nice time at a beautiful park. It was fun to walk around and just enjoy being together as a family. The boys got to run, jump and get some pent up energy out too!
We will be here in Nanchang until Friday while we wait for RaeAn’s Chinese passport to be processed. Friday night we’ll head to Guangzhou where next week we will process her US IR3 Visa.
I’ve posted over 40 pictures from the last two days for you to enjoy. I have some great video too but haven’t edited it or compressed it enough to upload to the net yet. Enjoy the photos while you wait!
Many thanks for all of your prayers… God is blessing us so much… I have more to tell you about RaeAn, her background and other answered prayers about her life, but those will have to come another day… Know that every single prayer we have prayed for her care, etc. has been answered… So thankful, even as we all go through the emotions of bonding as a family.
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- September 19, 2011 was the big day!
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- We left our hotel at 5am to head to the airport for our flight to Nanchang.
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- We said goodbye to Mi Na, our Beijing guide, at the airport before we passed through security.
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- Putting RaeAn into Christine’s arms for the first time!
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- Together at last!
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- She is Precious!
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- Before the Orphanage Director left, I interviewed him to find out as much about RaeAn as I could.
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- Meggy, our new guide in Nanchang, translated my questions and his answers for me.
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- I recorded the interview to refresh my memory later!
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- Signing the adoption paperwork!
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- RaeAn’s picture and footprint in her paperwork.
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- So sweet!
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- Precious!
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- Getting to know big brother Stephen!
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- Happy Birthday Matthew!
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- Oh mama, I love your necklace!
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- Taking our time getting to know each other.
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- Signing and fingerprinting adoption paperwork.
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- One happy big brother!
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- RaeAn taking a photo for her passport.
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- Nanchang, the city where we met our daughter!
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- Nanchang, the city where we met our daughter!
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- Boys playing Angry Birds while we wait on adoption paperwork processing.
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- They gave us her favorite formula so we could keep her on the same diet for several weeks.
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- Yummy milk!
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- A fun afternoon at the park.
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- Exercise equipment at the public park.
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- A fun afternoon at the park.
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- A fun afternoon at the park.
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- Exercise equipment at the public park.
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- Exercise equipment at the public park.
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- Bumper boats at the park!
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- Beautiful park in Nanchang, China.
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- Cool rock formation at the park.
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- Visiting Wal-Mart to buy The Baby Stuff as our guide called it.
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- Our first Wal-Mart shopping with RaeAn.
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- The sign in the background reads, Papa John’s Pizza!
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- First chew toy… for a teething baby!
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- First chew toy… for a teething baby!
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- Yummy lunch!
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- Stephen and Matthew are mastering eating with chop sticks!
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- Entertaining baby sister before dinner.
Almost two years ago we were in Ethiopia meeting our sons, Efesson and Biruk. It is a joy for us to see RaeAn join your family! We know she was so worth the wait!
Hello Crowsons!
I am SO happy for all of you! The entire family gathered around to look at the photos and share your wonderful news. RaeAn is adorable! I have a little girl in my 5th grade class this year who was adopted from China. She is such a sweet young lady. I am praying for you as you make this long-awaiting transition into a family of five. Blessings!
Such pure joy….I know you are so excited….and I agree…Christine’s face says it all! What a sweet blessing from God…for all of you….Hugs….
Absolutely thrilled to see the joy on your faces! She is beautiful. I know this has been a long journey, but so worth it. Hope the rest of your trip goes well!
Celebrating and praising our Faithful Father with tears and very full hearts! We love you guys. The wait was long but has allowed SO MANY people to be involved in prayer and hope for this precious girl. What an amazing story God is writing for her life! Sending you many hugs and continued prayers. JOY!!!!
The Hollands from FW send all their love to the Crowsons in China! How amazingly precious to see that precious little girl in your arms! So happy the boys were able to experience this with you!
love, love, love!!!
God is so good and faithful to answer prayer after prayer. May He continue to shower blessings upon your beautiful family!
Beautiful!! Everything about it!! Your constant prayers and faith! God’s amazing answers to those prayers! The coming together of this family! The gigantic smiles!! The future for this little girl and her family! I am so excited for all involved. Praying for the transitions and continued paperwork! Love you all!! Melanie:)
Looking at Christine’s face I am crying and praising God. I’m remembering when you told us you were deciding to fill out paperwork to adopt a little girl from China it seems almost an eternity ago and when all of the paperwork got left in a taxi in Ghana the same weekend we were there with you and the emotion and praying for God to return that paperwork and watching Him sweetly answer that prayer and every other prayer since in His beautiful timing. I love you all. Christine, Murphy, Matthew, and Stephen my heart is full and overflowing with praise for the testimony of love and seeking and long suffering and desire that he placed in your hearts for this child you have prayed for and allowed so many others to pray for, too, and has used to glorify Himself. So very blessed are we to continue on this adventure with you in person in just a few months. Love you so. Will always continue to pray for your family.
More tears! My heart is going to burst with joy. I am overwhelmed by God’s kindness and faithfulness. Five years was a long time to wait, but oh, how worth it. I can’t wait to be able to talk about all the details. Aunt Weeze loves all five of you so much.
Thank you so much for posting these pictures!!! I have come back to the site several times today just to see them again. We are so happy for ya’ll and can’t wait for many, many more pictures of RaeAn, and all of you smiling !!! Still praying that every little detail goes super smooth and you can just enjoy bonding and being all together as a family FINALLY!!!!
Dear family,
What an exciting story is being unfolded. Thanks for the pictures. Every person has an exciting story . Thank God we get to be in this one. God bless you all!
Love,
dad
Murphy, Christine and big brothers-
We know the joy and heartbreak of the love of a foster mother.. RaeAnn was _loved_ from the beginning- though there will always be unknowns in her story, she will know that for a fact.
God is so good and we are so happy for you all. This brings back so many memories we cherish in our own story. God bless you as you become family.
Oh, Murphy–she is beautiful!! I am just so excited for you all, and I will continue to pray that the transition goes well for you all. The pictures of your smiling faces are precious!!
Oh, thank you so much for the pictures and story. We are praying for you all. We are so anxious to see RaeAn and all of you. Call us some time if you can. Love and prayers – Mom
What a beautiful story!! It is a God story full of love, mercy and grace! I pray many blessings for all of you and this new journey you have begun. Thank you for sharing all the awesome details!! Love every moment as I read and cry!
I am so excited for you guys! As I read your post and looked at your pictures, I was just filled with emotion! I agree with Marvin, I loveeeeee Christine’s smiles! I know you are so excited to be together at last. RaeAn is just beautiful! I can’t wait to meet her.
Praying for you guys… health, Honolulu consulate, travel mercies, etc.
Love you guys,
Brenda
Thank you for posting all of these great pictures. We are are definitely teary and thankful for you all. Can’t wait to meet her. You all look amazingly happy too!
Wow and Wow and Wow. I’m excited here. Can only imagine your feelings of love and compassion and joy.
I’m sure it is quite a change for her. Love will win.
God bless.
Dad
Jumping up and down in excitement! The whole Crowson family is finally together! Praising God and can’t wait to see all FIVE of you!
Continually praying for an easy adjustment, safety, health and all that you need. Much love to you all.
Thank you Aimee! So thankful also for your prayers… The Lord is blessing every one! Will see you soon”)
Murphy, Christine, Stephen, Matthew…what a wonderful story of pictures. We love RaeAnn already….so sweet, so precious! Thanks for the pictures and your story….I loveeeeeeeeeee Christine smiles…to hold your prayers in your arms is so special. Thinking of you guys every minute of the day and are praying without ceasing. See you on Skype at 6:00 p.m. our time….can’t wait! Mom