Linny Lee from China:
Well sweet friends, Emmy and I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your comments (can see the comments, just can’t access the blog)…..from here….especially reading about all your struggles bringing home your kids….so good to know we are not alone. (whew!) So stinkin’ good actually!! We laughed with you, Angie, at your idea of trying Starbucks again….cause we had already tried it again when you commented!!
We must be two sickos because yes indeed we decided to do an instant replay of Starbucks and there was good news – believe it or not, Miss Jubilee thought that sharing sounded like fun! (Yippee Jesus!) She happily shared the watermelon and other fruit – talk about miraculous!!
A few hours after the Starbucks replay though we went to dinner, at your recommendation Sally-girl, to the Italian Restaurant on Shamian. The bad news was that that did not end as nicely as the replay of Starbucks….oh well! She pitched a hissy fit cause she didn’t want the spaghetti I had ordered for her. She had chowed it a few days before, so I thought it was safe thing to order – but today? Not on her palate preference…..oh my, oh my, oh my. The restaurant got to hear her hissy fit and the restaurant staff came and just stood and stared and stared and stared – an entire group of them!! Emma and I just smiled and waved, again, pretending to be oblivious…..it does help the situation to be able to mutter things under our breaths to each other – things that others can’t understand (while maintaining the big smiles) – tension reliever for sure! She went back to the hotel mighty hungry. Oh well. Straight to bed and guessing that she will think twice about turning up her nose to dinner. I’m just sayin’.
I don’t know what I would do without Emma here. We always have so much fun together. And with these struggles with Jubilee? Aye-yi-yi! Thankful beyond words for a daughter I can pray with, laugh with and even cry with! We’ve done plenty of all three this trip!!
Brief pause to share a little prayer request: Speaking of Emma. Would you please pray for her? She has a horrible sore throat! The pollution and chemicals of the remodeling of Shamian Island is not helping it any. We have been downing lots of Vitamin C, drinking tons of hot tea (thank you Jesus for the hot plate in the room) and popping lots of garlic. We were up a few hours in the night and I boiled water and had her breathing in a little tent I made of towels – but she is in agony and it is very, very swollen. We definitely need a touch from the Master in a big way! Fifteen and a half hours on one flight is not going to be much fun feeling so yukky. Thank you sweet bloggy friends!! xo
And completely changing the subject….I have met some very sweet blog friends (which has been such a delight!) Yesterday night at the Italian Restaurant I was so tickled to see some Westerners walk in…and we talked for a bit…and Miss Margaret – if you are out there – your grandbaby little Miss Lia Kate is absolutely adorable (and Lia Kate can vouch for the lungs that Miss Jubilee has as she and her mommy and daddy got to hear the hissy fit from the other room.)
Today is the day that we head for home (can anyone hear me screaming Yippee Jesus?)….so it goes like this:
23rd here in Ch*na – – – –
Leave Guangzhou to LAX…(leaving GNZ about 9pm which is 6am MST on Wednesday)
15-1/2 (unless a western tail wind helps – it was that long coming over) hour direct flight
Three hour layover in LAX
8:00ish pm LAX to Albuquerque (land about midnight and spending the night of the 23rd in ABQ since I will be so whipped I cannot drive until I have a few hours of sleep. I would be asleep in a ditch if I tried – guaranteed!!)
24th – drive home from ABQ after a few hours of sleep and let this little princess meet her Baba and big sis Autumny, big brother Graham, big sis Liberty, little brother Isaiah, little brother Elijah and little sister Elizabeth….oh my gracious I cannot wait to snuggle my sweet babies….Elizabeth asks every time we Skype…”Mom when are you coming home?”
24th Christmas Eve service as a family
25th Celebrate the birthday of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords – the healer of broken bodies and hearts, the restorer of severed relationships, the fulfiller of long-held dreams, the promise keeper – He is our Miracle-working, Mountain-moving, Awe-inspiring, Gasp-giving God – how we praise His name!!
Can't wait to hear you're home safe and sound-will be praying for an uneventful and peaceful trip home. and praying for sweet Emma too. I've loved reading the blog(thanks Dw!) and hearing all the adventures:-)
We're pray'in for you Emma!! And agreeing in faith for your healing, in Jesus' name! AMEN!!! <><
Happy Travels!! 🙂
~ Tanya
Has Emma tried taking some ibuprofen (Motrin,Advil) every 6 to 8 hours? I get KILLER sore throats and this really takes the edge off. Poor thing. Praying you all home. Merry Christmas!
I can't wait till you're home with your sweet girls Linny! I've been praying for you everyday and am so happy that we can keep up with you while you're over there. Thank you Jesus for the internet! (Or should I thank Al Gore?)
Praying you have a safe, smooth flight home and I can't wait for the rest of your family to meet Jubilee! <3
And I forgot to say I'll be praying for Emma too! <3 Not fun traveling when you're not feeling well. Get better soon Emma!
Praying for Emmy, that the Lord would heal her! Praying for you, as you finish up and get every last detail tied up! And praying for Jubilee, that she would grow and use those lungs to proclaim His goodness! 🙂
I'm only about 30 minutes from LAX…wish I could spend part of your layover with you, but I don't think they'll let me past security. 🙁
Praying for your trip home and sweet times with your whole family this Christmas!
Melissa
I wish you a Merry CHRISTmas with Jubilee!
God Bless you and keep you.
So glad to hear that the Starbucks replay went well! Praying for Emma's sore throat (I wish you had some honey), a safe, hissy-fitless flight home, and a beautiful reunion with your family. Merry Christmas to one beautiful family!
The most wonderful Christmas gift for your family. Yeah Jesus, thank you for blessing this family with yet another sweet treasure–even during the Oh My! moments. Love from Uganda
I have followed all your posts in China..but it's been to crazy in our house with a running toddler to reply! I'm praying for a safe flight with no hissy fits for you all! What a wonderful Christmas present for you all to spend Christmas together as a family. Your posts have filled me with of happy tears this week! Congrats!
Oh PRAISE THE LORD you're headed home!! I'll be praying that He heals Emma's sore throat and that He gives you BOTH the continued endurance, patience and love you'll need to get Miss Jubilee home!! Sounds like she's not used to being told 'no' yet 😉
Can't WAIT to see pictures of your WHOLE beautiful family this Christmas 🙂
Have a safe flight home and we will pray for you guys! Have a wonderful day! Hope the htroat feels better. what about salt water garge too!
Praying you home, Linny, Emma, and Jubilee Promise!
I hope Emma feels better!!!!!!!!!! I'm so sorry she's sick.
Merry Christmas!!!
Have a safe, wonderful trip and Merry Christmas! Welcome home, Jubilee Promise!
Praising our Lord of Lords and King of Kings for your journey to Miss Jubilee Promise! Praying for a safe and uneventful trip home to arrive for a joyous Christmas celebration.
God is good!
Love in Christ,
Janet, Kevin, Ted, Philip, and waiting for our Eli (who we are supposed to bring home in January!! 🙂 So excited!!)
Dear Linny,
I'm rejoicing with you as you bring your newest gift from God home for her first Christmas with your family. As you are discovering, she comes unassembled with lots of missing parts and no instructions, but once you put her back together, oh, the blessing she will be. I know someday you, Jubilee and Emma will all have a big laugh at her behavior on this trip.
I've noticed with my nine year old adoptive son that he needs to cry . . . very much like a newborn. Sometimes these cries come out as tantrums, sometimes real tears over silly things, but I know although he is so excited to be coming home, he is scared of what's ahead and sad about leaving behind all he has ever known. What used to be frequent behavior issues is now only occasional (and the episodes are much shorter). This is over the course of 1 month of living with him in Guatemala.
I'll pray for no more "oh mys" on your trip home. I know how stressful travel is for you (cause I'm the same way!). I'll pray for Emma's health and healing so she can handle the flight and enjoy a very special Christmas when you all get home.
Praying for safe travels and celebrating with you!!!
Kathie
Praying you ALL the way home Linny. AND that the Lord will make the trip home comfortable for Emma and take care of that sore throat!
I get shivers thinking of all of you together in time for Christmas Eve worship!
Praying for your flights, your pilots, for Emma's health, for all of your health, for safety, for the family still at home missing mommy, for Jubilee's transition and attachment. Praising God that your sweet daughter is finally coming home! Merry Christmas!
Dear Linny,
Have been praying for you and all the families who are in route to or from foreign adoptions…I have laughed and cried with you all.
Our Daddy is truly as you put it in your last paragraph: "King of Kings and Lord of Lordfs–Healer, Restorer, Fulfiller, Promise Keeper, Miracle-Mountain Moving-AWE INSPIRING and truly GASP-GIVING GOD…No matter the circumstance: good or bad, He is RULER over ALL…Owner of the cattle and the hills on which they graze……ALL IN ALL and no words can express fully how grateful we are to be in His presence.
Praying for your travel home to your eagerly waiting family….
Have a VERY BLESSED CHRIST Mas.
Lovingly,
Sandy
High Point, NC
Linny,
I just love reading yoru blog. You dont dont know me, this is the first time I have ever commented on your blog. Im so grateful for your realness, your love for the Lord and just who you are!
You rock! I love the way you share!
I'm praying for Emma and for a safe, uneventful (and quiet Ms. J) flight home! Can't wait to see the whole family together…
Can't wait for your post from the good ol' USA with Jubilee on American soil, home where she belongs.
I think just as Bryson and Isaiah have met their match, perhaps Marissa and Jubilee have as well!!! I am sure Little Miss Bossy Pants herself could boss some of that attitude right out of Miss Jubes!!!!
Love you!!!
I have been praying for you all for days, and I pray that your trip home goes well. Please, Lord, let Jubilee exert her independence once she is off the plane!
Linny and Emma, you are doing an amazing job. I am in awe of what it must take to be there doing what you are doing, and my hat goes off to you.
My God bless your journey home!
Oh Linny I am so excited for you, Emma and Jubilee to come home! Can't wait to see pics of the family all together!
I am one of many I am sure that is thrilled that you adopted older!! It is one of the best things we have ever done AND one of the most challenging things we have ever done.
You and Emma sound like Katie and I- we laughed, we cried, we prayed and we did a lot of trying to figure out how on earth to handle the different situations we found ourselves in! It was so funny to us to be able to talk out loud about everything because our little stinker couldn't understand us. At times it felt like we were doing something wrong by talking out loud about her but it was so therapeutic and it did no harm!
Merry Christmas!!
I'm guessing Miss Jubilee will figure out pretty fast that Mama is in charge. 🙂 Praying for the nasty sore throat to go away…ugh. Have a great trip home!! (And I am still craving the amazing pizza from the Italian restaurant on Shamian.)
Dear Linny,
Thanks for sharing honestly about how things are going in China. It is something that isn't shared enough about. When we brought home our daughter that was 10 months old we were shocked how little we knew about attachment I spent many hours researching and by God's grace found peace over it all. One wise adoptive parent wrote that adoption is not a destination but a journey. What wisdom. That gave me the peace to relax and realize that this was going to be a life long journey not something I had to acomplish and get past. Now over a year later we have come so far and have a joyful silly 2 year old. We still have moments that something seems to trigger but we are on a journey. God Bless you.
Praying for your safe travel home and for the safety of your family.
Merry Christmas,
Lori
Praying for you all as you are homeward bound! Praying for a touch by the Great Physician on Emma's throat! Praying that the trip will go smoothly and without any hissy fits!
Merry Christmas!
Alycia
Linny,
Praying for you all the way home… all 3 of you!
Emma Sweetie, try using ice on the outside until you can have ice on the inside then both… works like on a horrid sore throat.
Have a Blessed reunion & Most Blessed Christmas.
Also to Tyler & dear, dear Sarah.
God Blessings,
Barbara Lyman 🙂
Marysville, WA
Linny-
So glad you, Emily and Danny got to meet up in GZ. I've always been one of those silent lurkers on your blog, but rest assured, I've been praying for your amazing family for about a year now. Now Jubilee and Lia Kate get to start a brand new life – Hope you had a good trip home and you get some good rest one of these days.
Margaret in Mississippi
Hi. I agree with Karin, that pizza is the best anywhere!!!! Thank God for La Dolce Vita!!!! I'm sorry Emma isn't well. My 17 year old son David was sick the last few days too, I think with strep throat. We had brought antibiotics but he didn't really feel better until he got on the plane to fly home!!! He slept almost all of the way. I had to wake him up to make him walk (Don't forget to do that!!!!) You are the best Mama for Jubilee and she will know that!!! Merry Christmas!!!
Praying for you and the girls on your journey home! What a wonderful Christmas present…..to have your newest sweet addition to celebrate with! Merry Christmas to you all! The Tennant Family (GA)
Linny,
What restaurant is Karin talking about with the amazing pizza? We will be there in a month, so I am keeping my ears and eyes open now to good places to eat! Hee, hee!
Love,
Janet and gang
Linny,
I have followed your blog for a while now and am so happy that you have that sweet strong willed little girl now. We have 4 bio kiddos and 3 from China. We picked up our daughter in Aug at 6 yrs old. She was the most stubborn thing while in China. Since we have been home I haven't seen that little girl yet. There is hope that a miracle will happen between China and home. hehee. Just be happy that she is strong minded. That is what helped her survive all those yrs without a family.
Wendi
Denver mom to 7
I've been thinking of you off and on all day while I have begun my two days of cooking and baking, with all of my kiddos home, and expecting a house full of about 27 people for Christmas Eve.
We'll be praying for Emma, and beginning now.
Blessings from south Georgia!
Robbie
Will be praying for you on your safe return to HOME!!! Love following your blog…your kids are preious!!
I can relate to the fits…our son Jackson was not a happy campr when bringing him home in 2005. He would scream and have fits too. But all is well now…he is a wonderful 7 yr old.
Blessing to you and your family during this Christmas season.
Soooo excited for you guys! Merry Christmas!
Linny-
Remembering today what you think of flying and praying for peace and smooth flying for you- but if it's not, then praying for you to know know know that He is holding your hand and breathing for you when even that is hard! (I know well how airplane panic feels)
Praying for adjustment and bonding to continue firmly with your new daughter. Our 3rd daughter from China was 2 & 1/2 when we brought her home, and her anxiety, confusion, frustration, temper tantrums, poor health, and need for a stable home brought me hourly to my knees for quite some time. She's our youngest child of 6, and at 5 & 1/2 yrs. old now, she's my sweetest joy on earth, most of the time 🙂
love,
Lorisa in Greeley
WHOOO HOO! Almost home!!!!
Praying, praying, praying!
What a wonderful Christmas present for your family to be complete!!
Makes me sad to hear that Ms. Jubilee seems to have been food deprived. My daughter also came home from China very thin and anemic. At first she always had to have some food from my plate which I happily shared with her. But watch out if anyone took from her plate. It takes a long time for them to trust that food will be plentiful. Even now after 3 and half years she tends to want more on her plate that she can eat.
Can't wait to see Ms. Jubilee fill out and feel at home with your wonderful family.
God Bless your family
Praying for you as you fly home. And praying Emma is feeling better. What an awesome Christmas getting to bring Jubilee home ! Yeah !!!!
We are praying for you all. Hope you all are healthy and well rested and ready to be greeted with the sweeties. So excited for you all!! Hang in there. As you know, Jubilee will come around. You are an amazing person,Linny!!
Sending you prayers for a safe travel and for Emma and Jubilee…wishing i could be there to see you all but sending you a very Merry Christmas from Denver – see you when I return home!
Praising God that He has brought Jubilee home in time to celebrate with you family the birth of our Salvation. PRAISE HIM! Rejoicing with you!!!!