Reunited

Once we had rested -- we slept about 5 hours -- we forced ourselves awake in an effort to get on the correct timezone.

Our guide told us that we would be going to the birth family's home for dinner. We were all tired, but excited to see our family once again. We also couldn't wait to see the changes in the home we saw last year, as it was in the middle of being constructed.

We parked outside the gates of the housing area and walked in. The land around the homes are still really muddy and full of rocks and some garbage. By then it was really dark and we walked towards the home carefully. When we got close to their front door, we saw that they were all in the entryway and greeted us with enthusiasm and confetti fireworks. Everyone hugged with complete joy and it was wonderful -- I would even say a relief -- to be together once again.

We were blown away by the inside of the home. It was beautiful!! Maelyn's father is in construction and he built the house himself and did an amazing job! The family gave the girls and I a bouquet of flowers each and it was really touching. We then saw that the family had created a large heart on the wall out of balloons for Maelyn -- so many ways to demonstrate how much they cared.

While we waited for dinner to be ready, Maelyn and her younger sister started playing a game of keep-up with the balloons and had a great time together! The dinner was a feast and we appreciated all the work they went to to get it all prepared. With the help of the translator, we were able to catch up with the family and tell them how happy we were to be there. Maelyn was able to reconnect with all of her sisters and it brought huge smiles to our faces to see them all together. It just felt right.

The night was full of laughter, catching up, celebrating, and many rounds of 'cheers!' A wonderful start to our time together.

Flying to China

We knew before we left that our journey to Wannian County would be long. That in order to save money, we had chosen flights that took us all over the place and we get us there, indirectly. We hoped that we would all be able to handle it and that we wouldn't regret our decision.

As it was Christmas Eve when we arrived at the airport in Toronto, we came across Santa Claus, who was handing out candy canes. The girls were thrilled with the treats, but wondered if security would allow them to bring them through to the plane ride. I reassured them that they could load up on them if they wanted to! We had an amazing lunch/dinner at a restaurant in the airport and enjoyed some comfortable downtime before the big journey.

Our flight from Toronto to Ottawa was a short one and we didn't have a long wait for our next flight to Vancouver. The flight to Vancouver, however, felt very long. I think anticipating that it was our 'shorter' flight set us up for feeling that the almost six hours we were in the plane passed way too slowly. When we landed, I was grateful that we had made a last-minute decision to switch hotels -- we were now staying at the hotel right in the airport.

The hotel was close by and absolutely beautiful! The girls loved the room and the view of the airplanes outside our windows. When we got in the room, we saw that the hotel had left a stocking full of treats of us, for Christmas. Once the kids were in bed, Paul and I sat on the floor together, chatted and enjoyed the treats ourselves!

The next morning, being Christmas morning, we decided to treat ourselves and we ordered room service for breakfast. We also knew that we had a long day ahead of us. The girls enjoyed the luxury of it and not having to get dressed and go out to eat. It was yummy!

I was nervous for our flight to Beijing -- being stuck in the airplane for thirteen hours is not my favourite way to travel, but it was necessary. The kids did an amazing job and we all survived. Ailee and Paul slept for a couple of hours, but Maelyn and I did not sleep at all.

Once we landed in Beijing, we were looking forward to checking into the airport hotel and getting a few hours of sleep, as we had a six hour layover before our next flight. Unfortunately, we found out that the hotel had closed down and that there wasn't any other option -- so we had to scour the terminal to find some empty benches. By this point, Ailee was beside herself with exhaustion. My priority was to get her as comfortable as possible on the chairs and let her sleep, which she did. Paul and Maelyn went in search of food and enjoyed some noodle soup together. Afterwards, Maelyn finally crashed and slept for about an hour and half. Waking her up when it was time to check into our next flight was not easy!

We hit a snag when we tried to check into the final flight. We had booked our tickets when Ailee had her old passport and they were not happy that she now had a new passport number. They didn't want to let us on the flight. I promised to fix the situation before we did our return flight at the end of the trip and they finally agreed. Phew!

When we landed in Nanchang two hours later, the girls were doing well and I was beyond exhausted. We met up with our guide and our driver for that night and began the two hour drive into Wannian County. It was 2:30 am, so the roads were nice and clear!

We checked into the hotel and very gratefully unpacked just enough to get ourselves to bed and finally get some rest.

Still not sure if the indirect travel was worth it or not -- time will tell!

Our Journey Back to China

Last year, we went on the trip of a life-time. With the company of other adoptive families and friends, we toured the beautiful country of our children's birth. We experienced so many amazing adventures and were able to enjoy all of them together, laughing and supporting one another. 

We also had one of the most amazing experiences of our lives -- meeting Maelyn's birth family. It was an experience that is difficult to put into words. (scroll below this post to see the posts from last year's trip)

So why go back again so quickly, only a year after our last trip? The answer is simple. For the love of our children and their first families. While we had the privilege of meeting the birth family last year, we were only able to spend a few days together. This year, we will not be touring China, but spending the entire time with the family, getting to know one another and simply spending time together. Time for the siblings to hang out, time for family members to connect. 

We leave for China tomorrow and getting there will be its own adventure. It will take us four flights and 48 hours to get there, but once there, we will settle into our hotel and stay in one spot. Please check back for updates, if you would like to follow along!

December 31 - Hardest Day: Goodbyes

Today was hands down one of the hardest days Paul and I have ever had to deal with – ever. It was the day we had to say goodbye.

We met the family for breakfast in our hotel. Maelyn’s uncle also joined us, as did the nieces we had met the night before. The mood was definitely more sombre. Everyone could feel the goodbye coming, but we were all trying to ignore it. Ailee, thankfully, was feeling better and able to join us.

Amy, one of the nieces, braided the girls’ hair and kept them entertained, once they were done eating. While they were eating, Maelyn’s big sister fed Maelyn again and Maelyn’s mama fed Ailee. We all chatted about China and Canada and the fact that it was snowing in Wannian County – something that rarely happens. We joked that us Canadians brought the weather with us!

Once we were done breakfast, we went up to our hotel room for about 20 minutes for more of a visit. Then it was time to say goodbye. Paul and I felt like our hearts were ripping out and that we were saying goodbye to a family that we already loved. I cannot even imagine how Maelyn and her family were dreading this moment. It was very, very difficult. Ailee played with Ella at this point so that we could concentrate on Maelyn’s needs and so that Ailee wouldn’t feel stressed out by the situation.

Maelyn’s mom gathered her in a hug and kept caressing her face, giving her advice and good wishes for her future. She started crying and you could see she was starting to feel panicky about saying goodbye. The tears started to flow for everyone, including our guides. Everyone hugged and expressed love for one another – and our tears did not need any interpretation. We all knew what the other was feeling at that moment. We promised that we would return and spend more time visiting with the family. Maelyn’s mama kept coming back to her and it was very hard for her to leave. Her family had to guide her out – and down the hallway she kept calling out to Maelyn, telling her she loved her and that if she ever needed her, she would be there. The three of us went into the hotel room and cried while holding each other.

The tears flowed on and off throughout the day. I actually didn’t know if I could get on that bus and leave, the pull was that strong. When we did eventually get on the bus and it pulled away from Maelyn’s hometown, my heart physically ached and the three of us held hands and silently wept. Although in our head we know that Maelyn needed to come home with us and that she is also our daughter and would not know how to function in the environment of her birth home, the guilt of having her while they do not, was quite intense.

The bus ride was about two hours long and it helped to give us some time to calm down and think more logically – that we will be back, and soon, to connect once again with this loving family.

We got to the airport and boarded our flight for Beijing. We arrived quite late at our hotel, so the kids were beyond tired. Our hearts and bodies were ready for a rest.