Gotcha

I love the quote, “Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the number of moments that take your breath away.”  The past two days have been filled with those moments for me!  Yesterday morning at 10:00, we finally met our Conner.  It has been over two years since we first saw his face in a video taken by another adoptive parent visiting his orphanage.  By the time I was done watching the video, I had tears streaming down my face and had already dialed Jeremy’s number to tell him that I was pretty sure we had a son in China.  (:  My feelings about whether or not he was right for our family and whether our family was right for him have been all over the place since that moment.  I have had to remind myself many times of how I felt when I first saw that video because sometimes, honestly, adding one more just didn't seem like the right thing and the thought completely overwhelmed me.

After spending the last two days with this young man, I can honestly say that I KNOW that we were meant for each other. (: (: (:   And it’s a good thing too, because at about 10:30 this morning, he officially became Conner Allen Green.   Our son, our brother-- your grandson, nephew, cousin, and friend. 

He is absolutely precious.

We have learned so much about this sweet boy over the past two days.  First of all, we have learned that his mother is smitten with him. (:   Second, we have learned that he is absolutely positively THRILLED to be part of a family.  I can’t count how many times he has said “I love you, Mama,” or “I love you, Baba,” or “I love you, (insert Taylor, Parker, Graci or Cali).”  And we certainly can’t count the number of hugs and kisses he has given us, because they are constant.  I mean, it’s in the hundreds for sure.  He is the most affectionate guy I have ever known.  CONSTANT affection.  (This has proven to be a bit of a struggle for a Daddy that does like some personal space once in a while.)  (;  He has the most PERFECT smile that just lights up his whole face.  He is so, so happy.   So happy.  I LOVE IT.

Conner is very smart.  His ayi (nanny) pulled out a braille book when I asked if he could read.  She handed it to him and he proceeded to read faster than most people can read print.  As he read the book and was talking so fast, it was pointed out that his mouth can’t keep up with his fingers.  I feel  SO bad that he is going to have to learn a different braille system (English and Chinese braille are not the same) but I have no doubt that he will be able to do it quickly.  He absolutely soaks things up.  Today he has been dazzling us with his spelling.  I will say something like, “Cali is behind us,” and he will say, “behind—b-e-h-i-n-d—behind,” just like he’s in a spelling bee.  It’s so cute.  I just said to Jeremy, “Makes you wonder, huh?”  Conner, hearing the word ‘wonder’ said to himself , “Wonderful.  It is wonderful.”  He keeps trying out the phrases he obviously learned at school.  I think he will be picking up English very quickly.  (:

The night before we met Conner, our guide told us she had a surprise for us.  It was a newspaper article that had been published that day (Sunday) about Conner.  It talked about what a gifted piano player he was and all of the competitions he had excelled in.  It spoke of how he was the orphanage “superstar” and how some top Chinese adoption officials have given him special attention because of his talent.  It told a little bit about his life in the orphanage and how he was going to be adopted by a family where both the mom and dad were accomplished piano players and how they had a piano waiting at home for him.  It was so neat.  Today when we were meeting with the orphanage director, she asked if we would be ok with the media being there on Thursday when we visited the orphanage.  Apparently, both the TV and newspaper want to do a story on his adoption.  They were worried that we would not be ok with the cameras.  Jer and I kind of laughed at that, being as how we've had our share of cameras in the past couple of years.  (:  So of course, we said yes—but asked if we could please get a DVD of the segment.  They promised that they would send us two—one for us and one for Conner.  What a special souvenir that will be for him!!!  They also gave us many mementos of his life in the orphanage.  We received a scrapbook, professional pictures, books, and other special things.  His foster mom sent him two big bags of his favorite snacks.  We were told she couldn't stop crying when she said goodbye.  Absolutely breaks my heart.  They also gave us several very nice pieces of sheet music from his piano teacher.  Apparently, he has been a student of a very prestigious music professor who loves him very, very much.  This professor will be doing a concert in Washington this July, and we were invited to bring Conner if  possible.  We are crossing our fingers that we can somehow make that work as it is obvious how much his teacher adores him and would love to see him again.

Speaking of the piano, there is a very nice one here in the lobby of our hotel.  We were so excited to finally hear Conner play, but when we went over to it we were told that it could not be played.  It was for decoration.  Ha.  I had a hard time taking no for an answer and kept pushing it to no avail.  Later I went and asked to talk to someone who spoke English.  I explained how we had adopted Conner earlier that day and had been waiting for two years to hear him play the piano.  I asked if there was any way they would let him play just one song.  The man agreed to let him play two.  (:  Oh my goodness, it was so incredible.  He would be considered a very good pianist if he could see, but knowing that he is completely blind made it all the more impressive and beautiful.  I can’t wait for him to share his talent back home.  I have no doubt that he will touch many people’s lives with his beautiful music.

Last night we took Conner swimming in the hotel pool.  He was such a good sport.  He seemed so nervous, so I asked if he had ever been swimming and he said he hadn't.  It is quite a beautiful thing to be part of so many “firsts” even though he is thirteen years old.   He is very easy going in many ways.  He LOVES to talk and ask questions (so grateful for our guide and for Graci and Cali who can interpret) and always wants to know exactly what’s going on, but he is willing to do whatever we do, eat whatever we eat, etc.  Yesterday he asked what we eat for breakfast in America.  I started to laugh, knowing how hard it has been for all of my Chinese kids to adjust to American breakfast—especially because there are many days when we just have cold cereal.  I told our guide to tell him what we had and that I was sorry it wasn't the kind of breakfast he was used to and he just smiled and told the guide to tell us, “It’s ok.  No worries.”  When he asked what our family liked to do, Jeremy mentioned we like to hike and to swim.  He told our guide to tell us it was ok that he couldn't do those things because he would learn.  He said to tell us he will learn whatever we want him to do.  He is such a gem.

I am so grateful for so many things right now.  I’m so grateful for everyone who made it possible for us to get into our new home.  It has already blessed our lives tremendously and now I am seeing how much it will bless Conner’s life.  I am getting a sense of his spirit and I know that he is worth every moment that was spent on that house.  Thank you again and again and again to everyone who was involved in that.  I am grateful for Leslie, Ty and Laura, and Mom and Dad for taking care of our other sweet kids while we are gone.  I know it is a tremendous task and I am just so grateful that I don’t need to worry about them right now because they are in such good hands.  I am so grateful for a husband with such a generous, sensitive heart who would be open to bringing another sweet child of God into our family.  Lest I have painted the picture that it is easy, I will assure you that it’s not.  Conner is worth every sacrifice and struggle, and there are many.  I am grateful for the absolutely amazing travel companions we have in Taylor, Parker, Graci and Cali.  They have been wonderful.  Adoption trips can have fun moments—but they are not vacations.  There is a lot of work, jet lag, not-so-great food, boring times, sacrifices, etc.  We are so blessed to have kids who have been stellar through it all.  I am grateful for America—for the many, many, many wonderful things about it that we so often take for granted.   I am grateful for China.  There is much to love here.  I am grateful that it has given me seven beautiful, amazing children.  It has given me perspective.  It has humbled me and made me aware of how fortunate I am. 

Most of all, I am grateful for my Heavenly Father.  He has given me the perfect trials and blessings I need to make me turn to Him.  I adore my Savior and am so blessed to know Him.  I know the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and can bring us so much joy.  I know because of Him, all of my children will someday have all that is lost in this life restored to them again.  Eyes will see, legs will walk, arms will hold.  What more could I ever ask for?

Happy Adoption Day, Conner Green!  I love you!!!