Sadie

2007-08-06T20:39:00.000-07:00

Look at me in my new sweater knitted by grandma Joan!!! I look so good!!! These are also pictures of Ryan’s class celebrating Sadie’s arrival in the US!!! Ryan’s class was so sweet to through her this party and they made some very neat things - - - thank you!!! God is amazing!!!

2007-08-06T20:27:00.000-07:00

“I love my Daddy…” is so true. And my daddy loves me!!! She is so special and is such a gift from God!!! She is so small she takes a bath in the kitchen sink. It is so sweet to see her play in the sink… so small but yet so special… she is a gift packaged by God!!! So sweet!!!

2007-08-06T20:17:00.000-07:00

Sadie’s little foot - - - it is so small! Spending time with her brothers Ryan and Sawyer, Also spending time with her aunt Missy!!! And her little friends Maelin and Maya… In the end – I look so cute!!!

2007-08-06T20:11:00.000-07:00

Sadie rolling over… her first opportunity of moving!!! Sadie was so proud of her self. She took it all in and loved the fact that she could do it on her own… so sweet!!!

2007-08-06T20:02:00.000-07:00

Sadie chilling with mom… stretching her legs and just loving life! Everyday is a new adventure and she is loving every part of it! What will tomorrow bring? Will it be better then today - - - yes it will and I love my life with my mom Heidi and my dad Rob… I’m so happy!!!

2007-08-06T19:45:00.000-07:00

Sadie with her new aunt Kathy… enjoying her time with family! She is so sweet and life is so new for her! If she only knew where she has come from and the opportunities she will have in the USA and in her new life now that she is a US citizen… She is so special to us and we have enjoyed the unique journey that has brought us to today – Gob is amazing and God is control… Sadie - - - we both are blessed by Gods gifts – our gift is you and your gift is us…

Sadie's first Christmas

2006-12-28T22:31:00.000-08:00

Sadie at her first Christmas with her new family and new cousins… She was an early Christmas gift for all of us. She is doing well - -- better everyday. Getting use to her new brothers, cousins, mom, dad & Grand parents… been an adjustment and not fully over but everyday she is doing better… We love her as our own. We know this is the work of God and she is our own… praise Him for this gift – she is so special… thank you God!

2006-12-28T22:18:00.000-08:00

Sadie with her new brothers and cousins! They are so excited to have a new little sister. Ryan is so excited that he is no longer the youngest… A picture of Sadie in her Christmas dress. If she only new what Jesus did for her… she will soon – She is a happy little girl. She is still a little over whelmed but doing better every day. She grinds her teeth and pulls her hail when she gets overwhelmed. She also wakes up at night and cries a quite whine telling us she is sad for what she has left - - - her foster family and her life in China… she is sad and misses these things but she is adjusting well to life with the Pehkonen’s – I’m trying to get her on the sales floor… I do not think you could say “No” to these eyes… Heidi says a need to wait a few years or decades but I think why wait? Get her to earn her keep… I’m losing so far… Ha ha - - -

Sadie's first USA bath

2006-12-28T21:38:00.000-08:00

Sadie’s first USA bath!!! What a cutie!!! She is very special to us… a true gift from God. It is amazing how He works – He gives us her as a Gift and we give Sadie a gift of life in the USA… life where she will decide her destine verse where she came from in China – Praise God for His gifts and blessings. When the world looks impossible or discouraging – think of the blessings and gifts you have received – is it really that bad? God is GREAT!

Sadie's first USA hair cut!

2006-12-28T21:27:00.000-08:00

Sadie’s first USA hair cut!!! What a cutie!!! She is so cut already but after her little snip -snip… she is even cuter…

Welcome Home Sadie!!!

2006-12-28T21:12:00.000-08:00

“WELCOME HOME SADIE!” These are a few pictures of our first few days home in Colorado. We all were so happy to be home. Sadie is doing ok. She is a little or a lot overwhelmed… it is a lot for her but she is doing well – with a family like the Pehkonen’s… how could you not be just be so excited!!!! Ha ha…

Denver - - - Home Sweet Home

2006-12-19T21:02:00.000-08:00

Pictures of our Denver arrival. Grandma Joan, Jim, Sondra, Sawyer, Ryan, Kathy, Haley, Sierra, Scott & Calie - - - So good to be home. Been a long 32 hours and we are really glad to be home. Cannot wait for our own bed and our own house. I’ve been waiting to just be able to walk around in my underwear… and soon I can do this with out worries.

American Girl Made in China!

2006-12-19T20:26:00.000-08:00

Sadie is a US citizen!!! She is an American Girl, made in China!!! This was such a neat night. We arrive home and Sadie is not only our daughter but also a US citizen. These other pictures are Heidi’s aunt Myrla, who lives in Orange County, who meet us at the airport to snuggle the new Pehkonen. The other pictures are the two twins after their first McDonalds processed chicken Mc Nuggets – as you can see… they loved ‘em…

On the flight… How lucky we all are…

2006-12-19T19:50:00.000-08:00

On the flight home!!! This is so huge because once we land on US soil… all our new daughters become US criticizes!!! We all have come a long way and we are all excited to land in the good old USA - - - my stomach is better but I feel a head cold coming on – Great – get back from being gone two weeks and get sick. What a journey for Heidi and I. We have spent a lot of time discussing how God works and how amazing He is. He has blessed us with this new healthy beautiful daughter and he is blessing her by allowing her to come to a country where she will be free. A country where she can do what ever she wants – be what ever she wants and most of all be blessed by being a Pehkonen… ha ha – well this one might be test from God – poor Sadie… Oh well – our Sadie is almost home!!! This was an amazing view of Sadie’s hand on mine… she is so tiny but so bold. Look at the picture of Wayne and Heidi’s seat – you think we were going on a 12-day flight – Heidi brought everything but the kitchen sink…

Getting ready for “Our” 12 hour flight

2006-12-19T19:36:00.000-08:00

These pictures were some of us just relaxing before our short 12-hour flight back to the good old USA!!! Our flight is scheduled to leave on time and we’re all ready to go home!!!

Getting Ready to board the airplane for our 12-hour journey home

2006-12-11T21:27:00.000-08:00

These were pictures taken at the airport right before we got on the airplane for our 12-hour flight home. We all were very excited for the trip home – not to excited for the 12-hour flight…

Wayne’s Last night in China…

2006-12-11T21:11:00.000-08:00

This is a picture we took of Wayne meeting a few of the “local Shopping Sales girls…’ as I guess they called it – he disappeared for a few hours and said he was “Shopping???” What ever - ha ha… No really these two girls were friends with Wayne and Heidi. They worked in one of the local shops and helped Wayne and Heidi pick out some nice new stuff for Sadie at a very low price – a few US $’s… Wayne and Heidi got on a first name bases with a lot of the shop help…Some more pictures of our last day and all the luggage as we were loading up to the airport for our trip home…

Pictures of our last day in China

2006-12-11T20:41:00.000-08:00

These are a few pictures of our last day in China. We did a picture with all the kids – pretty amazing if you think about it. Also a bare butt picture of Sadie after her final bath in China… as grandma Pearl would say, “I do not care about anything but you better look good when your arrive back…” - ask Sondra if you need anymore information. David form Larimer experienced some of the local food – octopus on a stick – I was going to have a few but ran out of RMD currency – bummer… a picture of Heidi and Sadie in a close moment – very special….

Final Thoughts from China…

2006-12-08T00:21:00.000-08:00

Wow, what a few weeks. To tell you the truth – words cannot explain how wonderful and how amazing the last two weeks have been. It has been an emotional rollercoaster of every thoughts and feeling imaginable times infinity – Sawyer what would this be? Ha ha. Wayne, Heidi, Sadie and I have really been through a lot and we are very happy to be coming home. It is truly a bittersweet day, as we get ready to load the bus to the airport. We all have missed our family and friends very much. We have seen sights that we really cannot imagine and really have opened all of our lives with a new perspective of things we in the USA really take for granted everyday. We have acquired a new daughter who we will love and give a life that opportunity is hers - - - it is and will all be up to her as to where she wants to take it. We have turned her little life around in a new direction. We have been able to see her village and see the place that she might have grown up in. We have seen God at work in more ways then we all can explain and really look to the future with excitement and love as Sadie is now part of our family, part of our life and part of us. We are so excited and as Heidi just whispered in m y ear, “I cannot believe she is ours…” This really sums up our experience – We cannot believe she is ours. We love her and cannot wait to get her home.
I will ad a bunch of other pictures once I get home. It is so much faster. Sawyer wants to help keep the sight going… so we will keep adding pictures over the next few months for family who want to keep in touch. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers – pray for a safe trip home to Denver and I thank God for our new little sweet thing – Our Sadie XI XI (Pronounced - Sadie she she).

Waiting For US Citizen Ceremony…

2006-12-08T00:05:00.000-08:00

Here we all are waiting for the US Citizen Adoption Ceremony where we take an oath to raise Sadie and take care of her… It was a pretty special event and was the culmination of almost two years time waiting for our little Sadie… Very neat and special day! I was able to get a picture of Heidi, Sadie and I with the person who did the Ceremony. It is very special to have this picture… I was able to sneak in the camera and got this photo. They usually take any cameras away and give them to you when you leave…

Immigration Day!!! The BIG Day for all Families!!!

2006-12-07T23:49:00.000-08:00

Well today is the BIG Day. This is when we go to the US Immigration and get Sadie’s Visa and citizen paper work into the USA!!! How it works is she is currently a Chinese citizen with a USA Visa. She has a special Visa that once we arrive on US soil – her Visa allows her to become a US citizen and she does right then and there… Pretty neat. Sadie will always be eligible for a Chinese passport but once we hit LAX – she is a US citizen. Here all the families are getting off the bus and heading up to the immigration office to get their daughters Visa and US citizen paperwork.

Grandpas (AKA - Papas) and Grandmas on the trip…

2006-12-07T23:20:00.000-08:00

The special ones that were lucky enough to see the process come together. It was so nice to have all three of them here. Harold is the person standing next to Morgan in the Mail area. Harold is Kim Bell’s Dad. Wayne is the one with the two pictures and Myra is Barb’s mom who came along to help and also just experience the whole thing… Pretty neat to have them all along. They were all a big help – Thank you to them!!!

The Final Families…

2006-12-07T22:52:00.000-08:00

The final families are Tye, Kim & son TJ. The family with the two twin brothers is Tom and Tim Horeis with Tom’s son Jake. Tom is the one adopting. Tom’s wife was not able to come over due to her needing to take care of their three-year-old son – They are really looking forward to heading home. Poor Jake has been sick for the past four days… and he is just ready to head home. The person in the Red shirt is our fearless leader – Morgan who has done a GREAT job and was personally responsible for keeping us on schedule – Way to go Morgan – Thank you!!!

More Families and thoughts…

2006-12-07T16:06:00.000-08:00

Well as I’m waiting a half an hour for this to upload to the USA… I could not stop my self-thing of the two way street of blessing God has given each one of these families. It is truly an amazing thing that each on has done but the over whelming amazement is what is to come to each family by the blessing of their new daughter or daughters. God works in amazing ways and right now we are marveling n the excitement of our new daughter but God has so much more in store for us all. We will get to see our daughters take their first step, say their first word, go off to 1 st grade – a killer for me on my two boys, graduate from high school, get married and hopefully hit it rich and take care of mom and dad – just kidding… but really it is an amazing blessing that God has magically made happen for all parties and I can only say, thank you God and Amen…

All Families got great news today – Our INS Paper work was approved and we all received our daughters Visa. We also received her new USA Passport but it will not be effective until she steps on US soil. Then it gets stamped and our new daughters are US citizens… This is a big deal. This is so GREAT! This also means we will all be on the flight to LAX leaving tomorrow at 9pm… We all are very happy and thanks to our Morgan who lead the group – we will be leaving on time and arriving in the US around 5 pm Friday Dec 08, 2006 and this is when our daughters become US criticizes…

Here are a few more wonderful families. The picture with the mom and Daughter are Barb and Myra Reisman from Chicago. Barb is a single mom who fulfilled a dream of being a mom on this trip. The family is David and Susan from Laramie. More pictures and thoughts to come this afternoon.

AGAIN, GREAT NEWS – We all passed our INS Paperwork and coming home today!!! Congratulations to all the blessed families.

Lets meet some of the other families…

2006-12-07T05:59:00.000-08:00

Right to left on the picture around the table – Jeff and Angela Perkins from Nevada, Darryl and Susan from Hawaii, Craig & Cynthia are from Des Moines IA and Morgan our fearless leader. The picture of the two with the twins are Jeff and Angela from Nevada – Wayne has kind of adopted them and has helped them out through the trip - - - they call him “Grandpa Wayne…” The husband and wife with their new little blessing are Kelli and Dean Barber from Fort Collins CO. The Family with the very cutie little girl are Terry, Carole, & Isabelle the Gregan’s form Highlands Ranch CO – just down the way from us in Denver. I can truly say that this was a very special group of people. We all really helped each other out when someone needed something and we just road the wave – did what ever we needed to as a group. I will always have a special place in my heart for all the families on this trip. To think how they not only blessed their family and lives but how they have blessed the little soul they now call there daughter or in one case – daughters as in two… it is a true blessing from God, to God and by God… Thank you all for sharing in our blessing and adventure…

Sadie having a little dinner…

2006-12-07T05:25:00.000-08:00

Yes more pictures of Sadie doing the everyday thing – but from the comments I have received – this is what her audience wants… so this is what they get. These pictures were taken a few hours before she got sick and yes, a few hours before I get sick also. Was not fun but a few days later and feeling much better. Sadie had a tougher time of it. She is finally feeling a little better. We hope she will be 90% to 100% by tomorrow – a day all four of us are ready for. The day we come home. Will be a bitter sweet day, a day to get excited about drinking a glass of water out of the tap and not getting sick but also a day to reflect on the past two weeks and really think of the amazing thing that we all have been through. Time to celebrate our new daughter but also a time to reflect on the sight and sounds of China… more to come.

Sadie’s Medical Exam

2006-12-06T07:54:00.000-08:00

Yes, she passed!!! Was a very simple medical exam. She got sick about 12 hours after this exam… Poor little thing. She is doing a little better tonight – final sleeping but really had a rough night so far. It is about 12am and she is finally down. She has had a lot of diarrhea and we are a little worried about her getting dehydrated. We have been able to get a little liquid in her and have gotten her to keep it down. It is hard when you cannot just run to the store and get some pedealite… They have nothing like that here. Will update all in the morning.

Group Photo at the White Swan Hotel

2006-12-06T07:37:00.000-08:00

We had our group photo at the White Swan Hotel. We also got a few other good ones. We did these photos after we took Sadie’s Passport Photo! Today is a busy day of passport photos, Medical exam and INS Paperwork… Fun – Fun – Fun!!!

On the way to the hotel in Guangzhou…

2006-12-06T06:09:00.000-08:00

Papa Wayne practiced his loading skills as we piled the luggage to take it to the bus. The flight went very well and Sadie slept through most of it.

Sadie’s first airplane ride!

2006-12-06T05:45:00.000-08:00

Sadie’s first airplane ride to Guangzhou. I’m feeling better today but Sadie is still pretty sick. Not really eating and what she drinks comes back up or out the other end. Not very good. We are a little worried about her getting dehydrated… Not fun in China at 10:07pm

Sadie the “Ham…”

2006-12-06T05:28:00.000-08:00

These are a few pictures of Sadie goofing off the night before we head to Guangzhou. She was having a good old time playing and being funny.

Rob and Sadie get sick...

2006-12-05T04:38:00.000-08:00

Sorry for no updates today but I am sick and Sadie got sick tonight. Seams a bug is going around and it is not good. I'm hoping to feel better tomorrow and will ad some more pictures. Heidi and Wyne are worried... that they are next. A lot in the group have been sick... I hope I get better - this is not good.

Rob, Heidi, Wayne and Sadie

Sadie’s Birth Certificate

2006-12-03T20:44:00.000-08:00

This is Sadie’s Birth certificate. This was taken our first day together… If you look at her passport picture, she was not very happy. Brings back memories of our first few hours together and little Sadie wondering what the hay is going on. This was one of her ”I got Troubles days” – actually it was the first… Jeff, another new father in the group with twins made a smart comment to me – he said, “Man, look in the mirror. If I saw you I would scream my head off too. Consider yourself lucky it only took a few days…” True new friend. Wayne has really been helping them out – the received twins and are new parents…

Sadie’s Passport

2006-12-03T20:17:00.000-08:00

Sadie’s Chinese passport!!! We are ½ way home and cannot wait. Next stop US passport!!!

Pictures getting TONG MINXI Passport

2006-12-03T20:06:00.000-08:00

Here Heidi and I are getting Sadie’s passport. We had to show our passports and they had to look at Sadie and make sure her picture on her passport was whom we had in our arms – our little Sadie.

Chinese Passport Day for Sadie Minxi Pehkonen – Chinese: TONG MINXI!!!

2006-12-03T19:48:00.000-08:00

Well today is the day we get Sadie’s passport. Her passport is printed in her Full Chinese name – TONG MINXI Birthday 16 FEB 2006 Place of birth – JIANGXI. Very exciting day! We have been waiting all week for this little passport. This means that we can move on to the next step and get her US Visa and passport. All is on schedule thanks to Morgan. We will fly down to Guangzhou where we spend the rest of the week What we will do there is get Sadie’s US Visa and passport. I think she becomes a US citizen here in China but it is not really in effect until she steps on US soil. I’m not 100% sure.

Pictures after diner tonight

2006-12-03T05:08:00.000-08:00

We had another great Chinese dinner tonight. It was a little spicier tonight. It was a nice dinner right by our hotel with the group. The other picture is Sadie having a little bottle snack after dinner… I think she was more playing then drinking but what do I know. She is doing very well in the area of eating and drinking. As a matter of fact she is really doing well in all areas. She was a little cranky early this afternoon but ended the day really happy. She is too happy right now since she should be sleeping but she is in her crib making funny sounds and playing with no sign of going to bed. She better get sleepy soon because the lights are going out. Things are going very well with the little sweet girl and she seams to be settling in on getting use to us.

Sadie eating - - -

2006-12-03T04:58:00.000-08:00

These are pictures of Sadie having her bottle this morning and holding it all by her self. The one is Sadie eating her lunch of squash… the others are of her having her evening bottle before she decided to get wild and play. I feel she will be crashing anytime soon – I hope… Heidi and I are getting tired!

An Adventure out shopping at Wal-Mart – Nanchang

2006-12-03T04:50:00.000-08:00

What an adventure it was to hit the local Wal-Mart in Nanchang. As you can see – people everywhere… amazing. We took a few pictures of the appliance department. Mostly very small appliances and priced pretty expensive verse the wages in China.

More Pictures Of the little Sadie Bug…

2006-12-03T04:25:00.000-08:00

Here are some more pictures of the little wonder girl. Heidi and I are a little worried tonight… it is about 8:38 pm China time and the little bug really doesn’t seam to interested in sleeping. She is more interested in playing and laughing. We show her pictures of her brothers, Sawyer and Ryan, and she just laughs… if she only knew… she will soon enough.

More pictures of us out in Nanchang

2006-12-03T01:10:00.000-08:00

These are some pictures of us out in Nanchang. I’m thinking of revising my delivery crew and moving to this new “truck” to deliver appliances… might not work as well in Denver but I think we should look at the cost savings verse investment – Ha ha… The one of little Sadie and I – we took looking in a mirror. The others are just neat pictures of us enjoying the day. Sadie girl really likes to get out and about. She will fit well with in our family. As Sawyer and Ryan both love to be out and about too – Sadie just cannot stay still… She loves it!

A Day out in Nanchang

2006-12-03T01:02:00.000-08:00

This was a visit we made to a famous Pagoda. This was a picture of our whole group. Was a neat time to see a little history of Nanchang. These pictures are what you think of China when you see them.

More pictures of the countryside from TongGu to Nanchang

2006-12-03T00:36:00.000-08:00

These are a few more pictures of the buildings and countryside as we drove from TongGu to Nanchang. The truck with the pigs in it – would never pass PETA standards. We tried to count how many pigs were in the truck but every time the bus driver passed – we all had to say a quick pray so needless to say – we did not get a count. The other picture is water buffalos – they run wild all over. Chickens and Rosters also run wild all over…

Sadie’s Second Bath

2006-12-03T00:23:00.000-08:00

Wow - what a few days make. Sadie really likes her second bath. She plays and splashes in the water. She had a little issue when we washer her hair but this was to be expected. She had fun and got clean – I hope this doesn’t mean 15 minute showers in about 10 years… Oh well.

Wayne and Heidi's Thoughts...

2006-12-02T16:10:00.000-08:00

Hi all!
What a week! We have enjoyed and looked forward to all of your comments. We too cry everytime we read them! Keep 'em coming!
Sadie continues to just thrive. She is so happy...smiling and laughing and jabbering a lot! A few nights ago we had our second attempt at the bath and she really liked it. Figured out that splashing is fun!
For so long now I have wondered what she would be like, and now it's so great because I know so much about her. She loves to be held; loves to put her face right up next to mine; does not like to have her clothes and diaper changed; loves to be outside, walking around; likes to feed herself finger food...just likes to eat in general!
She's just so sweet and I can't wait for you all to meet her. By the way, Dad and Rob and I all agree that the pictures of her do not in any way do justice to how cute she really is!!
It's funny because Rob and I have some of these moments of kind of "fighting" about who gets to hold her.
The visit to TongGu was extremely emotional. I can't even describe how I felt. Part of me just wanted to find a corner somewhere and sob, and another part of me was just thanking God over and over and over that our precious Sadie was given to us and that she would not have to grow up here. For me, it was even more emotional than Gotcha day. I cry now as I think about it and I know I always will. The meeting with the foster mom seemed to be a defining moment for all of us with the bonding and attachment. I just can't describe it.
Well, going to let Dad type now. Thank you all so much for all the comments and prayers. We really do feel the love all the way over here!!
love to you all,
Heidi

Hi to everyone. I can't begin to describe this experience. I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to be here and see this amazing process. Sadie is such a bundle of joy. It is hard to describe the bonding that has taken place between her and Heidi and Rob. Each day you can just see it. It is so neat to experience. We can't wait to get her home and share her with all of you. You will love her to pieces just as we do. I'm sure you are enjoying the pictures but they don't do her justice. She is even prettier than her pictures. She is a sweetheart. I miss all of you back home and I am so thankful for all of my friends and family. Love to all. Wayne (Papa)

Trip back from TongGu to Nanchang

2006-12-02T07:15:00.000-08:00

Wow, what a couple of days. The picture in the bus is passing another vehicle. Yes, we are going 50 miles an hour and headed directly for the car in the opposing direction and yes we are driving on the wrong side of the road – no big deal… we have done it all the time. The driver is honking at this car to tell it to move over more right so all three vehicles can pass each other at the same time. Keep in mind there are usually people on bikes and walking to make the issue a little more interesting – driving in China is really an experience that is pretty crazy. Words cannot explain the past 48 hours. Been so full of emotions that it really has been overwhelming – would love to make an Apple Martine but I cannot have the ice – do not want to get sick. It has truly been amazing to see the area our little blessing came from. Seeing the orphanage and meeting the foster mom. Thinking of the day she was brought to the orphanage and really wonder what went through Sadie’s birth mom’s thoughts as see decided to risk a lot by bringing her to the orphanage verse other things she could have done - - - Wow, what a few days. Just in amazement of the power of God. Sadie seams to have a real comfort level with us now. Her little heart and soul seam to be warming up to the life God has laid out in front of her… and that life is with Heidi and I. She is growing closer to us by the minute and I’m thankful for this very much. She is a sweet and special little girl. Wayne has commented many times that the pictures are good but they do not do our little angle justice – she is much sweeter, cuter, and prettier then any of these pictures. I would have to agree… God has blessed us in more ways then I can imagine and I’m very thankful for what He has done.

More School pictures…

2006-12-02T07:09:00.000-08:00

These pictures are more from the school visit. The pictures are of the kids eating. The wash area is where all kids have to wash up before they can eat. The school allows the kids to bring their own or they can purchase a lunch at the school if they want. The picture with all the kids around a guy, this guy is Morgan our coordinator, is where he took a picture of them with his digital camera and then showed the picture to the kids. This was a hit – most of them have probably never seen their picture in a screen or even on a photo… pretty amazing. Was another neat moment I will not forget.

School Visit – Firs sight of Americans for Chinese school Kids

2006-12-02T06:37:00.000-08:00

These are pictures of Chinese grade school grades 1 – 6. This is something that an American traveler would normally not see. Our group organizer, Morgan, really feels that part of what we do when we are over in Chine is just say “Hi’… spread the love of humanity… so he has no issue with just walking up to the school and introducing himself and our group – so he did. What an experience. We got to see kids in class, eating lunch and just exchange a moment in time. It was amazing and a neat experience to see the school and interact with the kids… They loved looking at the little baby girls – you wonder what went through their heads…

Visit to Buddha Temple

2006-12-02T06:18:00.000-08:00

This is a Buddha Temple that we hiked up about 30 minutes to see. I really do not have a whole lot to say about it. This is what the Chinese worship. I really do not know a whole lot about it, so if you want to know any more – please call 1-800-Chines-Buddha-info to get the answer or feel free to call information and ask to speak to any Chinese about Buddhism… I hope that helps. I aim to please.

More Farm House Pictures and thoughts…

2006-12-02T05:32:00.000-08:00

Here are a few more pictures of the farmhouse we visited. This is probably much larger then any of the apartments in town. The difference is who knows how many people really live here. I would imagine it is a lot. Heidi, Wayne and I had a discussion as to really how lucky Sadie is to be coming home with us. Could you imagine living in this house? Heidi and I have had tears come to our eyes as we drove through the town of TongGu and have seen houses that look worse then this. What a life changing experience not only for us but also for Sadie. What would she have lived like if she were not dropped off at the orphanage? It is really so sad to think of what her life probably would have been like. Poverty is so different here… it is very hard to explain but it is a very poor county where they make use of every area possible but yet they through their garbage and trash right out in their own back yard. Our time in TongGu really opened my eyes. If your having a bad day, count your blessing and be glad for what you have… many or most people over here have nothing and in a way - - - they live life as if they had a million dollars in the bank… it is sad but makes me very thankful for all my blessings, my wonderful wife, my two wonderful boys Sawyer and Ryan, our new blessing – Sadie, and our great family and friends – and all the other blessings God has blessed us with. These - God, family and friends are the most important… everything else really is just a “thing” or just “stuff” in time…

Visit to a local farmers house or really any house – TongGu, China

2006-12-02T05:20:00.000-08:00

These pictures are from a local farmers house in TongGu. As you can see, they are very primitive. No heat – cement floors and well, the pictures pretty much show it all. I can truly say we are all blessed in the good old USA. In China, they do not own their home – the state decides who gets what home where… and it all depends on your social class. They sort of have a way for you to “Purchase” your social class or sort of by a house… I really do not understand. Most people do not own a car. They could afford a car but they could not afford the fuel, taxes, road toll fees – all highways are toll roads and the parking garage fees – these put the cost of owning a car out side the probability of most Chinese. Below is the kitchen – I did notice that there were no Maytag appliance and had a discussion with the owners of the farmhouse… they promised when they plan to remodel – they would check out Maytag or Whirlpool. I told them I would be back some day and check in on if they actually purchased the Maytag or Whirlpool appliances or not…

Pictures of TongGu and Sadie on her first hike

2006-12-01T16:30:00.000-08:00

These are pictures of the front of our hotel in TongGu, Us going on a hike and a stop at a small Chinese school. The little boy is pointing to where we are.

Sadie Girl Smiling and having fun…

2006-12-01T16:13:00.000-08:00

These are a few pictures of our little Sadie smiling and just having fun with mom and dad. She is really starting to get to know us and enjoy being around us. She smiles a lot and is eating and drinking as she should. I have noticed that she can be a little stubborn and she knows what she wants - - - and she goes after it…

More pictures of the Orphanage and outside the Orphanage

2006-12-01T15:54:00.000-08:00

Here are a few more pictures of out side by the gate Sadie was found. As you can see it is a very poor area just outside the orphanage. The orphanage itself was really very nice considering the surroundings…

The Gate where the little one was found – Our Special Gate…

2006-12-01T15:39:00.000-08:00

Here is the gate where the little sweet Sadie was found at two days old. Just think – Heidi and I have now had our special girl longer then her birth mom - makes us both cry with sadness and cry with joy. She is really turning around. Again, If I had to look at me and say you’re my dad – I would not turn around in a life time – ha ha but she is eating well and is drinking fine. She slept all through the night again and did not squeak at all. I think she is really feeling much better with us! Hard to imagine someone leaving this pretty little thing by this gate – but Heidi and I thank God for it everyday!

Orphanage Visit with Foster Mom – Special moment in time…

2006-12-01T06:59:00.000-08:00

We arrived at the orphanage and received a briefing from the orphanage director. We were allowed to ask questions and found out that we were the first ones to ever come to the orphanage. In the past, they just always say “No” – feel it is too hard on the kids and to hard on the orphanage workers or foster families. Morgan, our trip coordinator, feels this is very important not only for the kids, new parents but also for the orphanage – feels it is important to show them this is much more then us just getting a new baby girl – that this is a special event and it is very important to all parties involved to just understand each other. We found out that the foster parents find out only 24 hours before we got little Sadie that they need to bring her to the orphanage so she can go to a new family. We also found out that most of the foster parents were only called about an hour before we arrived today…!!! Sadie’s foster mom was able to come. We were not sure about why her foster dad was not able to come – probably working. She was a very nice lady… Sadie recognized her right away. They rubbed noises and both smiled. You could tell that her foster mom was sad for her “lose” but happy for the life that Sadie will get. She did not really cry… and this made it a lot easier on all of us. It was very hard – to think this woman took Sadie in at two days old and raised her knowing that she would have to give her up. She did a GREAT job! It was interesting when Sadie first went to her - she smiled. They rubbed noises and Sadie’s foster mom spoke a few words to her. After they just looked at each other for a little while, Sadie went back to Heidi. She really did not cry – it really seamed to set her little heart at ease with the whole thing. It was such a neat experience – I really cannot explain. It was another sad, happy, upsetting, scary, uneasy and most importantly really calming moment all at the same time. I know this sounds hard to believe but it was. Sadie little heart and soul seam to just “Take a deep breath…” and it really seam to calm her down. It was really a very special time. My heart stopped a few times, just thinking of how this whole thing could come together ½ a world apart. That a little baby girl could be born, dropped off at an orphanage, raised by a family for 9 months and then we get blessed by welcoming her into our family… a moment I will never forget. It is a moment where you really sit back and think of how this one little life has changed so many people and how God made this one little life – and she is very special… just like we all are very special and put here by God for a reason… WOW – what do you say… Sadie is a special girl as her foster mom is a very special lady to do what she did. It was an amazing moment in time that I will never forget.

Lunch Before The “BIG” Visit

2006-12-01T06:53:00.000-08:00

This was lunch before we head over to the orphanage. The food has been very interesting. I really like it, Heidi and Wayne are being a little more cautious as to what they eat. Sadie seams to love just about anything…

A 4-Hour Trip to TongGu!!!

2006-12-01T06:23:00.000-08:00

Well, today is the big day we visit the orphanage and hopefully Sadie’s foster parents. Sadie had a GREAT breakfast and her little soul and heart seam to be settling in to Heidi and I. I’m not sure what today will bring? Could cause her to get upset again or it might be good for her. Heidi and I both have mixed emotions about today, but know it will be good. The bus ride was something that I really cannot explain. The driving over here is mass chaos but since everyone is crazy – it is usually ok. It is very common for our bus driver to pass, drive on the wrong side of the road – and then honk his horn at the oncoming traffic – of witch it looks like we will hit head on, but honk his horn to tell them to pull over more on the right side so we can continue to pass the car on our right - - - it is truly something I can not explain. I will post a bunch of these kinds of driving and just some interesting China photos this weekend when I have more time. Again it takes about ½ an hour to an hour to post three pictures - - - but we have some very interesting ones of the country side and just a lot of neat photos I will post later this weekend when I have more time. Sadie seams really happy this morning. Our plan is that we left the hotel at 8am. We will arrive at TongGu a little after 12 noon, have lunch then go see the orphanage and Sadie’s foster parents. Wow, what another emotional day. I’m not sure I can handle much more – but I know I can.

Wayne & Rob get a foot message – Sadie sleeps All Night!

2006-12-01T05:47:00.000-08:00

Sadie had a pretty good afternoon on her second day with us and she SLEEP THROUGH THE SECOND NIGHT! Her cold is better and it was nice that we had today to really not do a whole lot. We packed in two days worth of paperwork and stuff yesterday and today we got to just relax a little. Yesterday was a crazy day… so today was really nice. Wayne and I decided to go with a group to get a foot message while Sadie and Mommy got to spend a little time on their own. Sadie and mommy had a great night while Wayne and I had a great night by getting an 80-minute foot message… it was great! Sadie sleep through the entire night. This was a picture I took at about 6:30 am the next morning. She seams to be adjusting very well and I’m amazed about this – especially if I had to look at me and say – “you’re my dad???” Ha ha – It would probably take me a lifetime to adjust to me… so she is doing pretty well to do it in a few days. The next big step is visiting the orphanage – Wow very mixed feelings about this but fell very good deep in my heart that this will be a very good thing!

Day on the town and a little quite time...

2006-11-29T00:15:00.000-08:00

This afternoon we decided to be a little adventurous and walked down to the local shopping area about ten minutes away from the hotel. It was really interesting. They have very small shops and they are very specialized. Often people came up and touched Sadie – they were very nice. I wish I could speak Chinese and understand what they were saying… we could only imagine. Wayne said it felt kind of funny – we were really out of place verse all the rest of the people. They really looked at us as we walked from shop to shop. It was a nice time – cold and wind but a nice time. Sadie is still having issues with wanting to drink anything – I’m about to try a little Tsingtao, but Heidi will not let me – just kidding. We are a little concerned but she did eat well this morning for breakfast. We are having a nice bonding day but there are still times when Sadie has some “Troubles…” She really needs to drink some more liquids but she did eat well this morning. We will have a group dinner tonight and tomorrow off to the orphanage to hopefully meet and get some picture of Sadie’s foster family. It is about a 4-hour bus ride and we will stay in that town. Not sure if they have any Internet, so it may be an extra day before I get the pictures posted.

More Pictures from yesterday - Gotcha Day

2006-11-28T19:03:00.000-08:00

A few more pictures from yesterday. I’m trying to post as many pictures as I can but the Internet connection is very slow and half the time it will not up-load to the blog site after 20 minutes of waiting. Then I have to do it all over again. It takes around 3 minutes and up to 10 minutes per picture… The picture of Heidi and I with a gentleman – is some one we found on the street and invited in to experience our great day - - - ha ha just kidding – He is the Orphanage Director where Sadie went in once a week to see how she was doing. As many of you know – she was with a foster family. They bring their foster kids in once a week to have them “checked out” but more importantly to get supplies. The orphanage supplies everything that is needed to raise little Sadie. The family receives about the equivalent of $30.00 per month per child. The Director was very clear that $30 per month was a good amount of money were they live. He was a really neat guy and has been the Director for 13 years. I asked him what he enjoyed about his job and he said that it makes him so happy to know that the kids at his orphanage will grow up somewhere and live happy lives… He said that a day like today when he has to hand off the babies to new families is very happy for him but also very sad… They really feel very proud of the job they have done to bring the kids, mostly girls, to the point where they get a new family… It was very clear that he takes pride in what he does…

Sadie's first bath!

2006-11-28T18:33:00.000-08:00

Sadie’s first bath… the pictures are a little deceiving – they make it look as if she is having a good time but the truth is… she did not really enjoy it at all! She is all nice and clean though.

First Night Update and Breakfast

2006-11-28T18:14:00.000-08:00

First night with Sadie update – she really did not sleep to well. She was a little or a lot upset most of the night. Wayne, Heidi and I all feel it is just a combination of “I got Troubles…” “I got cold troubles, my noise is running troubles, I have junk in my lungs troubles, I really do not like this formula crap troubles – it is not what I’m use too troubles, I keep looking at these people and wondering what the heck am I doing here with them troubles, I have a few teeth coming in troubles and on top of all that I just want to fight not going to bed troubles…” That being said – so is so sweet. As I’m writing this she is finally asleep in my arms. A few times last night Heidi and I got Sadie laughing… She seams to go through a few phases where she is happy and feeling good… then thoughts of all the “troubles” listed above start to come back in her little head… then – well lets just say she can cry pretty good. When morning come – we decided to just get out of the room and have breakfast – maybe this would get her little mind off all the “troubles” and it did. She ate a lot!!! We were so happy because she really has not ate that much!

WOW - What an amazing day!!!

2006-11-28T05:22:00.000-08:00

Wow – What an amazing day. I really cannot put into words or even thoughts of the events of today. It was happy, sad, amazing, scary, overwhelming, and all inspiring of the power that God has all kind of wrapped up in to a 24-hour period and – well for me it was a lot. Sadie is doing well – I think a little scared at the events of today and just a little or lot of wondering what the heck is going on. Who are these people? Why do they smell, look and sound so different. WHO THE ARE THEY and what are they doing to and with me? I cannot imagine what went through Sadie’s little mind when they just handed her over to us… The truth in the matter is it all really just seamed so surreal but it really wasn’t - - - It was, well – very hard to explain. Heidi and I are so excited though – we feel very lucky and very blessed by God. Even though Sadie spent most of the afternoon crying – we got her to laugh a little this evening. I really think she is missing her foster family and just really wondering what the deal is… What a day though and a real God thing – who else could set up a family with a sweet little soul ½ a world away? Well we finally got her down and she is sleeping… Took a little while. I’m sure she is just wondering what this whole day is all about. My heart cries out for what she must be going through – you can see it in her little eyes and feel the energy from her little soul… the neat thing is the days ahead are great for our little Sadie and these feelings she is feeling will pass soon… Thanks for all you thoughts and prayers – IT HAS BEEN AN AMAZING DAY and we are blessed in more ways then we all know. Tomorrow is a free day with nothing planed and I’m really looking forward to it. Again the power of God shown so strong today - - - Wow…

2006-11-28T04:44:00.000-08:00

Pictures of Wayne holding the little bundle of joy, a small example of all the paper work Heidi and I filled out today and me trying to comfort the little one. I think it has been a very hard day for Sadie – she has cried a lot and does seam to have a little cold. I think a lot of it is just all the change – shocking and big day for all. The Director of the orphanage said that the foster parents gave her back to the orphanage early this morning – then they had a four-hour bus ride to Nanchang… busy day for Sadie, Heidi, Rob and Wayne! Amazing but really thoughts cannot describe this day.

2006-11-27T21:53:00.000-08:00

Few more pictures to enjoy – was an absolutely AMAZING Moment!!! She is so sweet. We love her so much…

Our Little Gift from God!!!

2006-11-27T21:42:00.000-08:00

Here she is – Our little gift from God!!! Isn’t she just amazing. This is the picture when she first came in the room and sat down with her nanny that brought her here. The other picture is her first snuggle with Heidi and I… She is sooooooooo sweet!!!

Almost Time...

2006-11-27T21:22:00.000-08:00

Getting closer - This was the welcome sign on the 26th floorat the adoption service center! The picture below was the room where they brought all the babies to meet their new parents and families!!! Was a nice room. The babies were a little late so this added to the event...

Gotcha Day - Waiting and the ride over!

2006-11-27T21:15:00.000-08:00

Heidi waiting at the Hotel - making a last min. entry in Sadie's little book... This is a picture getting on the bus for the ride over to the provincial office to get our little Sadie!!!

2006-11-27T16:18:00.000-08:00

IT'S GOTCHA DAY!!!!
Woke up this morning about 5am with major butterflies in my stomach. I'm nervous, excited, scared, very emotional!! We get our little Sadie in about 3 hours. I just can't tell you all how strange and surreal this all is. Last night when we walked in our room and saw the crib it really hit me. Starting to seem more real now, and I've already started my crying!
Be praying for us around 8pm mountain time. We'll probably be surrounded by 11 screaming babies about that time!!
More later...with pictures! Thanks for all your comments. We feel the love from so far away!
love,
Heidi, Rob & Wayne

2006-11-27T06:05:00.000-08:00

Sadie's little bed all made up and ready for her to sleep in tomorrow night - Ha ha... but it is at least ready!!! Wayne just happens to also have one too - - - could come in handy, that's all I'm going say. Heidi enjoying a wonderful meal of watered down rice - was not that good but I thought it would be GREAT with a little (Or Lot) of brown sugar. We all are really sleepy and tired but doing well. We are so excited about getting little Sadie tomorrow around 11 am Nanchang time!!! We will post more tomorrow - right now I'm off to bed!!! Rob :)

Day One of Travel

2006-11-27T05:34:00.000-08:00

Wow - what a long day... we left DIA around 4pm On Sat. 11-25-2006 - Arrived in LA and left for Guangzou about 12:50 am in the morning. 15 hours later we arrived in Guangzhou. We were late leaving LA - so our grop missed the flight to Nanchange - It was fine - we just were able to spend a few extra hours in Guangzhou - have lunch and try and relax. Our flight to nanchange went well and tomorrow is the day know as "Gotcha Day" We will get Sadie around 11am Nanchang time - about 15 hours later then MST - - - All the talk about the time change - well all those people were wrong - it is simply 15 hoursw later... Tomorrow we will have some good pictures of our first time with Sadie!!! Get excited - we are!

Rob, Heidi and Wayne

Travel Dates!

2006-11-04T18:32:00.000-08:00

We have our travel dates, and flights are booked, so I guess we're really going!!
We will be leaving Saturday afternoon, November 25, and will arrive in Guangzhou, China early Monday morning. Monday afternoon we will fly to Nanchang and possibly get baby Sadie right away....oh my!!!
We come home on the 8th of December, landing in Denver around midnight, which will be mid-morning for us. (China is 11 hours later, plus one day since we cross the
international date line.) In other words, we will be way messed up with a way messed up baby! Could be interesting.
Bye for now!

2006-11-03T21:33:00.000-08:00

Sadie at 8 Months - already driving - - - WOW she takes after her dad... Way advanced - a little early but, well not always best to be early or advanced - Ha ha

2006-11-03T21:27:00.000-08:00

WOW - Sadie at 8 months Old!!! She looks like a Pehkonen - am I right??? I am!!!

Sadie - 5 months old!!!

2006-11-03T21:23:00.000-08:00

Sadie - 5 months old!!!

Welcome!

2006-11-03T20:52:00.000-08:00

Hello friends and family. Thank you for visiting our Sadie site!
While we are in China we will be posting information and pictures
every chance we get.