Tuesday, November 30, 2010
It's Official
Today our family officially increased by one. Molly is now legally one of our own. Of course she has been ours in our hearts for a long time. Now its written down, stamped, witnessed and notarized. Chen Yajing born October 21, 2009 is now Molly Catherine Yajng Trentham. We couldn't be happier.
We continue to be impressed by Elizabeth and Daniel. They have shown love, selflessness and maturity that we didn't know they had. It has been such a blessing to see God continue to shape them and work in their lives.
It has been so much more of a joyful experience to have so many of you share it with us. There have been times in the last two days when it was hard to keep up with all the emails and Facebook postings. We know you are rejoicing with us. It struck a much deeper chord with me today. First you need to understand exactly what we die today. We took this child we had already accepted to the local adoption official. We paid the necessary fees required to complete this adoption, promiard him that we would always love her and never abandon her. I thought of what Christ did for us. He chose is long before the world ever began. We were lost wothout any hope. Jesus came to our world, paid the price we couldn't pay and promised to never leave us or forsake us. If we thought the celebrating for Molly was special, the party that goes on in heaven will be without equal. The Bible tells us that there will be great rejoicing in the presence of the angels when even one lost soul comes to Christ. Then when everything here us done, He will take us home with Him to a place of such beauty and grandeur that we could never imagine.
Praise Him for His incredible gift and thank Him for the glimpses of heaven that we sometimes get here.
We continue to be impressed by Elizabeth and Daniel. They have shown love, selflessness and maturity that we didn't know they had. It has been such a blessing to see God continue to shape them and work in their lives.
It has been so much more of a joyful experience to have so many of you share it with us. There have been times in the last two days when it was hard to keep up with all the emails and Facebook postings. We know you are rejoicing with us. It struck a much deeper chord with me today. First you need to understand exactly what we die today. We took this child we had already accepted to the local adoption official. We paid the necessary fees required to complete this adoption, promiard him that we would always love her and never abandon her. I thought of what Christ did for us. He chose is long before the world ever began. We were lost wothout any hope. Jesus came to our world, paid the price we couldn't pay and promised to never leave us or forsake us. If we thought the celebrating for Molly was special, the party that goes on in heaven will be without equal. The Bible tells us that there will be great rejoicing in the presence of the angels when even one lost soul comes to Christ. Then when everything here us done, He will take us home with Him to a place of such beauty and grandeur that we could never imagine.
Praise Him for His incredible gift and thank Him for the glimpses of heaven that we sometimes get here.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Gotcha!
"O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago." Is. 25:1
Paula and I actually first discussed adopting a child together before we were ever married. While dating we discovered that this was a mutual interest. Then it just seemed like a far off fanciful idea. Now it is reality. The even more incredible thing is to realize that God had this all planned out long before the universe and everything in it was created. What has at times to us seemed like a tedious and frustrating process to Him was merely the properly timed unfolding of His perfect will. So now here we are just like He had planned all along with three beautiful children.
The best way I can describe the day was joyful. Where I thought there would be tears, there was only smiles all around. That's because it was all just as it should be. We were complete and whole. It was hard to believe. Here in front of us was the actual "Baby China" that we had talked about for so long. God has been so faithful. And right now it doesn't seem like life could get any better.
Thanks to all of you for your prayers and kind words. So many have been so supportive. Please continue praying as there is still much to do to get our new daughter to her new home with us.
Paula and I actually first discussed adopting a child together before we were ever married. While dating we discovered that this was a mutual interest. Then it just seemed like a far off fanciful idea. Now it is reality. The even more incredible thing is to realize that God had this all planned out long before the universe and everything in it was created. What has at times to us seemed like a tedious and frustrating process to Him was merely the properly timed unfolding of His perfect will. So now here we are just like He had planned all along with three beautiful children.
The best way I can describe the day was joyful. Where I thought there would be tears, there was only smiles all around. That's because it was all just as it should be. We were complete and whole. It was hard to believe. Here in front of us was the actual "Baby China" that we had talked about for so long. God has been so faithful. And right now it doesn't seem like life could get any better.
Thanks to all of you for your prayers and kind words. So many have been so supportive. Please continue praying as there is still much to do to get our new daughter to her new home with us.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Sunday in Beijng
The word for the day was traffic. If there are 20 million people in this city, I believe they were all on the road today. It took us much longer to get around than any other day. We were also struck by the sheer size of this city. Do something for me. Imagine yourself sitting in your car in your driveway. Now travel for 45 minutes by car in one direction. For me this would put me in Maryville, near Knoxville or somewhere south of Cleveland. We rode for that length of time today in a bus and never saw anything but skyscrapers. In city I have ever been in is dwarfed by this place. It is absolutely massive.
We spent part of the morning at the local "silk market". It is a large shopping area with hundreds of vendors of all sorts. We had a great time bargaining with the vendors. It was somewhat of a game to see how low you could get them to drop a price. We got some nice jackets for the kids and two adorable dresses for Molly among others.
Later in the day the whole group went to see the emperors winter palace. It was an impressive spread. The highlight was a magnificently beautiful temple on top of a hill with a 20 foot tall Buddha statue. This thing was gilded bronze covered in pure gold. It was an impressive thing to see. We felt sorry for old Buddha because he was dirty and corroded and looked like he had about 20 years worth of dust on his shoulders and heads. We were also struck by the number of people stopping to pray. It reminded us that we are blessed to live in a special little corner of the world and that the cast majority of people are searching in the wrong places for the One true Lord. Sad.
We are especially thankful today for our beds and pillows at home. We miss the lack of traffic at home. We are so proud of the kids. They have had the best attitudes. Too often I don't give them enough credit. Thank you Lord for them.
We want to say a special "go get 'em" to the Mtn View Tigers as they play Etowah City tomorrow night. We are counting on you guys to do great.
Tomorrow is the day we have been looking forward to for over five years. They call it “Gotcha Day”. We will finally get to see, touch and hold Molly. It just seems so unreal right now. We have no idea what to expect. We just know that God brought through this process to this point for a specific purpose. We are confident in Him and pray that we will be faithful to His calling. We will leave the hotel at 5:30AM to go to the airport. We will fly to Changsha where we will meet her for the first time. We so wish that many of you could be here to experience this with us. We know of your prayers and your love and are so grateful for both. The only thing that could top it off would be for our niece Laura Danielle to come into the world on the same day. For that matter I know Jennifer is ready too.
We spent part of the morning at the local "silk market". It is a large shopping area with hundreds of vendors of all sorts. We had a great time bargaining with the vendors. It was somewhat of a game to see how low you could get them to drop a price. We got some nice jackets for the kids and two adorable dresses for Molly among others.
Later in the day the whole group went to see the emperors winter palace. It was an impressive spread. The highlight was a magnificently beautiful temple on top of a hill with a 20 foot tall Buddha statue. This thing was gilded bronze covered in pure gold. It was an impressive thing to see. We felt sorry for old Buddha because he was dirty and corroded and looked like he had about 20 years worth of dust on his shoulders and heads. We were also struck by the number of people stopping to pray. It reminded us that we are blessed to live in a special little corner of the world and that the cast majority of people are searching in the wrong places for the One true Lord. Sad.
We are especially thankful today for our beds and pillows at home. We miss the lack of traffic at home. We are so proud of the kids. They have had the best attitudes. Too often I don't give them enough credit. Thank you Lord for them.
We want to say a special "go get 'em" to the Mtn View Tigers as they play Etowah City tomorrow night. We are counting on you guys to do great.
Tomorrow is the day we have been looking forward to for over five years. They call it “Gotcha Day”. We will finally get to see, touch and hold Molly. It just seems so unreal right now. We have no idea what to expect. We just know that God brought through this process to this point for a specific purpose. We are confident in Him and pray that we will be faithful to His calling. We will leave the hotel at 5:30AM to go to the airport. We will fly to Changsha where we will meet her for the first time. We so wish that many of you could be here to experience this with us. We know of your prayers and your love and are so grateful for both. The only thing that could top it off would be for our niece Laura Danielle to come into the world on the same day. For that matter I know Jennifer is ready too.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
windy and cold
There are some families with us who believe that Chicago should give up its title as the Windy City to Beijing. We spent much of the day outside and the wind was punishing and brutal. We were in the Forbidden City for about three hours. The wind and cold made it difficult to appreciate what we were seeing. It was an incredibly impressive place. It had one building that served no other purpose than for the emperor to have a place to change his clothes and rest. I couldn't help but draw an obvious contrast with the Eternal City. The Forbidden City was called such because the common people were forbidden from entering on account of the royalty and majesty of the emperor. Yet our Lord, the sovereign king of all, calls is all great and small to come to Him. "come into Me all ye who labor and I will give you rest." we also spent some time in Tiananmen Square. It is a massive open square used for many official and public functions. Our guide was reluctant tongive is any information about the student uprising that occurred there in the 80s. Then tonight we saw an incredible acrobatic show. We were told the performers had begun training when they were 2-3 years old.
I've got to brag on the kids. They stick it out through the wind and cold today with very little complaining. We were all quite rosy-cheeked when it was over.
We are all well--just very tired. Going to sleep has not been a problem. We have been waking up quite early as our bodies are not sure what day it is yet. We are looking forward tomorrow to going to an open market and touring the emperors summmer palace.
Today we are thankful for gloves, blankets and ear muffs. We miss Oreo and ESPN. Thanks for your prayers.
I've got to brag on the kids. They stick it out through the wind and cold today with very little complaining. We were all quite rosy-cheeked when it was over.
We are all well--just very tired. Going to sleep has not been a problem. We have been waking up quite early as our bodies are not sure what day it is yet. We are looking forward tomorrow to going to an open market and touring the emperors summmer palace.
Today we are thankful for gloves, blankets and ear muffs. We miss Oreo and ESPN. Thanks for your prayers.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Beijing
Hello from Beijing! Its been quite a whirlwind for us so far. We landed ahead of time. No problems in customs. There are 14 other families from all over US here with us adopting through Bethany. Some are here for the second time. All really super people.
Beijing is huge--16-19 million people. It has been quite cold with highs in 40s. We got to go to the Great Wall today as well as a Cloisonnen factory. Great Wall was awe-inspiring. Had traditional Chinese food for lunch and Pizza Hut for supper. Tomorrow will be going to Forbidden City and Tiannamen Square. Really looking forward to that.
We are definitely not but fans of our beds here in hotel. Ita just a box springs with a thin padded cover. Everything else is great.
We are so appreciative of all your prayers. Please join us in prayer that this mess in the Koreas doesn't affect us negatively. Also praying that our new niece Laura will arrive safe and soon.
Things we are thankful for today--our translator Joy and gloves. Things we miss--ice in drinks, clean tap water and large drinking cups.
Beijing is huge--16-19 million people. It has been quite cold with highs in 40s. We got to go to the Great Wall today as well as a Cloisonnen factory. Great Wall was awe-inspiring. Had traditional Chinese food for lunch and Pizza Hut for supper. Tomorrow will be going to Forbidden City and Tiannamen Square. Really looking forward to that.
We are definitely not but fans of our beds here in hotel. Ita just a box springs with a thin padded cover. Everything else is great.
We are so appreciative of all your prayers. Please join us in prayer that this mess in the Koreas doesn't affect us negatively. Also praying that our new niece Laura will arrive safe and soon.
Things we are thankful for today--our translator Joy and gloves. Things we miss--ice in drinks, clean tap water and large drinking cups.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Final night in USA
It has been a very hectic but fun few days. From Thanksgiving X 2 with our families over the weekend, celebrating Paula's birthday, basketball, getting Elizabeth off to Nashville and back, work, surprise parties at work and a day full of final preparations, we have done it all. We finished it off by having a great evening with some great friends. You have all made us feel incredibly loved.
It's hard to believe that our departure day is here. It has seemed so far away for so long. Sometimes it just didn't seem real. But now it's here! Daniel told me that he was excited, nervous and a little scared. I think that would probably sum it up for all of us. I just keep thinking about how wonderfully different it will be when we are back in this house. I am excited to see what God is going to do in our family during this trip.
Schedule for the day--up at 4:00AM, arrive at airport 5:30am, lift off at 8:08am for Chicago, lift off for Beijing at 12:01pm cst, estimated flight time--long.
So for now, it's time to get some sleep. Hope to post another update on Thanksgiving Day from Beijing
It's hard to believe that our departure day is here. It has seemed so far away for so long. Sometimes it just didn't seem real. But now it's here! Daniel told me that he was excited, nervous and a little scared. I think that would probably sum it up for all of us. I just keep thinking about how wonderfully different it will be when we are back in this house. I am excited to see what God is going to do in our family during this trip.
Schedule for the day--up at 4:00AM, arrive at airport 5:30am, lift off at 8:08am for Chicago, lift off for Beijing at 12:01pm cst, estimated flight time--long.
So for now, it's time to get some sleep. Hope to post another update on Thanksgiving Day from Beijing
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
One week until we leave for China!
Well the countdown has begun! One week from now we will be on our way to China to bring Molly home. We will continue to update our trip on our blog, and we hope you will follow along. Thank you for your prayers.
"The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy." Psalm 126:3
ps-A big thank you to Lauren Surwic (one of Union University's finest Seniors and Grant Barnett's sweet girlfriend) for helping us to set up our blog. Lauren you did an awesome job!
"The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy." Psalm 126:3
ps-A big thank you to Lauren Surwic (one of Union University's finest Seniors and Grant Barnett's sweet girlfriend) for helping us to set up our blog. Lauren you did an awesome job!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
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