It's 2 am and I have been awake since 11 pm.  We arrived in Beijing 3:40 Saturday afternoon local time.  The kids did quite well on the plane, they just didn't sleep much.   We all crashed in our room around 7:30 pm after our 14 hour flight from Chicago.  I feel bad because I was impatient with everyone last night.  It is crazy how missing one night of sleep almost strips you of any filters.  I I think it began for me at the airport where you need to push, trip, and shove people in order to get anywhere.  Waiting "in a line" is just torture.  Since we weren't going to be "those people", we had quite the wait simply for an elevator.  Anyhow, I really am ok, just exhausted and I know tomorrow is a big day.  We go to the Great Wall which is about a 2 hour trip from here.  We leave for jadas province around 6 pm via express train.  We still don't know if we will get her tomorrow night or Monday morning.  I received an email from a girl who I had been in contact with via an adoption website.  We had connected because we realized our kids were in the same orphanage/city.  Anyways, she just emailed me and said that they had seen jada when they picked up their son .....they were crib neighbors!!!!  She said they enjoyed "talking" to one another and that jada had sweet eyes.  She warned me that her son was covered in scabies (chinese referred to them as "mosquito bites". ). So she wanted me to be prepared. Thankfully I received her email the night before we left and got some medication to bring for her.  So, tomorrow may be the big day!!!  I feel almost like I need more time to adjust to the culture, food , sleep hours, etc.  but we won't have time for that.  Well, I should try to get more rest.  Our room is cranking out 90 degree temps despite it being set at the coolest setting.  I had pictured myself chilly here, not sweating bullets!  Next time I write we should have jada in our arms!!!!  Goodnight!!

$100 Bill, Ya'll

 

 

Someone slipped this into my hand yesterday for our adoption, telling me this was her "Black Friday." She got away before I even realized she had given me money. I had so many thoughts running through my head as I opened up my hand and realized she had left me $100 bill. To me, this is just a picture of how God uses anyone who is willing to be a part of His Big Story. This lady who gave up something like shopping on Black Friday now has an eternal reward waiting for her. Not only that, she is a part of God's Story and Jada's story. This $100 represents so much more than it's monetary value, which is the reason this $100 bill brought me to tears. You see, God doesn't NEED our money. He can give money to anyone he chooses to give it to. But God wants each of our hearts to be in step with Him, and in His grace wants/allows us to be part of His Great Story. Of course it is a blessing to be on the receiving end of this, but so much greater the reward for the person who gave up something like Black Friday shopping. Blessings on you, my friend!!

China countdown......

I really can't believe I have started a blog.  I'm not much of a writer, but I've had so many people ask if I'd be keeping one while in China.  So, here I am writing a blog!  Hopefully I'll be able to have internet access while we are in China so I will be able to post pictures, etc. 

We are 2 days away from leaving for China to adopt our 21 month old daughter, Jada Liu.  We chose "Jada" in keeping with the "J's" of all our kids names.  Liu was part of her original name that we kept.  Jada means gift.  Liu means 6.  We didn't look up meanings originally, we just liked the name.  However, "gift" and "six" seem to go quite well since she is definitely a gift from God, and she is the sixth VanKlompenberg! 

Jada has been in  foster care for the last year, and before that she was in the orphanage.  Jada has a limb difference.  She was born missing her left forearm.  She currently lives with two foster brothers ages 7 and 14 along with her foster mom.   

Our 3 children are coming also to China, and we are excited to share this experience as a family.  We are hoping Jada's transition into our family will be easier having the kids along.  We are so excited to get to hold her in just a few short days!!  I really can't believe this is all finally happening.  I'm sure it will sink in once we are on the plane ride (14 hours of joy!!)  Here is our Jada:

We sent her a care package along with a cake (I guess you are more likely to get updated pictures when you send a cake).  This HUGE cake makes me laugh!!!  See you soon little love.