We are all just in AWE of how well Eliza is doing. I feel like we have put her through SO much….and yet she is adjusting to her new life very quickly. I even had a conversation with our caseworker about coming home from China and how much “new” would be here for her – so many more people, such a big house, the whole farm, so many animals, so much space. Eliza has taken it all in stride. It makes me all the more thankful for all that we went through with her while in China, because we literally flew away and left most of that sad, but very necessary, grieving behind.

Here is a peak into Eliza’s new world!!

Is there anything better than littles after their baths and in their pjs?

Being outside is one of Eliza’s favorite things. Coming back inside is not one of her favorite things!

We are making her world full of sensory type play. She does well touching and experiencing all these new things! They have not overwhelmed her at all.

Helping Kayla fill the lettuce tub was another sensory activity!

She also spends time playing on her own already. It is so sweet to watch!

Eliza is amazing. She mimics EVERYTHING we say, and then remembers it. I opened her shade to her room on Thursday morning and she starts yelling “Puppy! Anaya! Puppy! Swing! Outside!” just as clear as I would say it! But she still says many things in Chinese as well, as Addie Mae is still Jie Jie (pronounced jeh jeh) which means big sister. When Eliza is given something she says “xie, xie” (pronounced syeh, syeh) which means thank you. She also gave me a talking to in Chinese when I picked her up in the grocery store yesterday evening because it was time to go….I can only imagine what she was yelling at me!

Last night was the first night that Eliza slept all night long. Wish I could say the same for me! Jet lag is much worse than I could ever have imagined! Praying that we get completely through it soon, because I have plans to start school next week (might as well be productive while we are cocooning here!), and we have a garden that will need harvested and put up for winter! Eliza also has her first doctor appointments next week, music studies start again for Addie Mae, there are chiropractor appointments made……back to life full speed ahead! Jet lag, you better hit the road!

Life in Eliza’s new world is amazing. Praise be to God!

When Eliza and I arrived in La Crosse Tuesday evening, we had quite the surprise in store for us. As I picked up the stroller outside the airplane an airport worker said to me, “There is quite the welcome for you out there!” And, YES, there was…..

There were over 60 people in that little airport waiting to welcome us home. I am humbled beyond belief. The support we have had is amazing. May God bless each of you for being obedient to prayer, for the endless comments and e-mails, and especially to those of you in our area who made the effort to be at the airport Tuesday night. We love you all so much! ELIZA IS HOME!!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!! ELIZA IS HOME.

“Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth: Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.” Isaiah 43: 5-7

**A BIG thanks to sweet Megan for these beautiful photos!!

When you live with kiddos like these (and a sweet visiting friend)….

Who bring laughter and smiles to your face all day long….

And who have JOY that just comes from within each of them….

Whether they are playing or working it is always there….

It sure made being away for so long extra hard. I praise God for the JOY He has given each of us….and I pray that we will use it and share it all for His glory!

“….for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10

Before Eliza and I started our journey home, Blake and Addie Mae had their own journey to make. There were some kiddos who were super glad to finally see them!

As soon as they arrived at the house, they called me on Skype! Skype was a saving grace for us.

Kristen and I started our journey home at 4 a.m. Tuesday morning when we got up to get ready, check out of the hotel, wait for the bell boy, grab the sleeping sweeties out of bed, and get in the van with our driver who would take us to Hong Kong. It was about a two and a half hour drive in a very new and comfortable vehicle. There are no car seats in China, so Stephen and Eliza were on our laps.

The border checks out of China and then into Hong Kong can be rather intimidating! They open the van doors, hold your passports up to match them to your face, temperature scan your foreheads to see if you have a fever, and do all of that with a surgical mask on their faces with only their eyes showing.

We made it to the Hong Kong airport in plenty of time. I am sure it was quite comical to see these two moms moving a cart with three huge suitcases, two strollers with two littles in them, two back packs, and two diaper bags. We just had to give high fives to each other when we made it all the way to the check-in desk!

Several elevators, walkways, one train, and two Starbucks coffees later we were at our gate. We then had time to let Eliza and Stephen run off some wiggles. There was this angel there named Joe, whom neither of us will ever forget, who helped us get on that huge plane. It was rather crazy as United tried to help Kristen and I get seats together at the last minute, because our travel agent was unable to do that when she re-booked our flights for that day. Praise the Lord it all worked out!

The next 15 hours was long and hard. Eliza screamed endlessly, and even happy-go-lucky Stephen had a few moments of crying too. We were so happy to touch down in Chicago. Then our angel Joe helped us get through immigration and customs….what would we have done without him? Eliza and Stephen became American citizens right there in the O’Hare airport! It was not celebratory AT ALL, but I was still so glad!

Kristen and I had mere seconds to say a tearful goodbye in the middle of absolute chaos….I think the Lord planned it that way for us knowing we could not have handled it any other way. She was off to her gate, and I was off to mine. Eliza was so happy in the airport once we got to our gate and we enjoyed our time waiting for our connecting flight to LaCrosse. It was a long one hour flight, with an exhausted Mama who had not slept at all yet, and a little girl who again screamed and screamed…..

The Lord carried me off that plane, because I had not one ounce of energy left to do it myself. Little did I know what was waiting for Eliza and I….

Will tell you all about our incredible welcome home soon!!!