We spent the morning yesterday shopping in the market outside of the temple behind our hotel. Our guide helped us to find some of the brocade that this area is known for, as well as a special type of rock called "Rose Flower" that is found only in this area, from the bed of the river. After we wandered there, and looked at the statues of famous scholars who passed their examinations here, we headed to Walmart to find some pants with a smaller waist for KaiYu. We picked up lunch there and then spent most of the afternoon in the hotel room, except for a quick walk to the market again. Kai seems to strongly prefer just being in the hotel room. As active as he is, when we are out with him, he is very quiet, especially if our guide is not with us. I don't know if he is worried about us leaving him, or if he is afraid we don't know what we are doing since we can't talk to people around us (maybe it's embarrassing to a seven year old to have his parents use the picture menu at a restaurant?) So we spent a long time playing card games, watching TV and trying to stay entertained in the room.
Today our guide will be picking up Kai's passport and paperwork, and we will go to see the Confucious temple with her as well. Things continue to go very well. It's hard to peel back the layers of KaiYu and see what is defense mechanisms, orphanage behavior, or cultural differeneces, and what is the real child within all of that. It will take a lot of time. He is still very happy all the time, sometimes almost manic. He did not sleep as well last night, was really restless again and talking in his sleep. It could be that he is still not feeling good from his cold, or I strongly suspect it's stress and grief. Ryan and I are doing well. Ryan is still coughing a bit, but the air quality here is terrible, so I think that is affecting us both. We are trying to stay energized and patient, but honestly, it's a bit lonely here without other adults to really talk to. Tonight we will be celebrating Thanksgiving with another American family we just met, so we are looking forward to that.
Thank you again for your prayers, and for all of the encouraging words in the comments -it means so much to us, and really helps a lot! God is so good, and we are so blessed. We have much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving day.
Today our guide will be picking up Kai's passport and paperwork, and we will go to see the Confucious temple with her as well. Things continue to go very well. It's hard to peel back the layers of KaiYu and see what is defense mechanisms, orphanage behavior, or cultural differeneces, and what is the real child within all of that. It will take a lot of time. He is still very happy all the time, sometimes almost manic. He did not sleep as well last night, was really restless again and talking in his sleep. It could be that he is still not feeling good from his cold, or I strongly suspect it's stress and grief. Ryan and I are doing well. Ryan is still coughing a bit, but the air quality here is terrible, so I think that is affecting us both. We are trying to stay energized and patient, but honestly, it's a bit lonely here without other adults to really talk to. Tonight we will be celebrating Thanksgiving with another American family we just met, so we are looking forward to that.
Thank you again for your prayers, and for all of the encouraging words in the comments -it means so much to us, and really helps a lot! God is so good, and we are so blessed. We have much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving day.
Sounds pretty typical for a kid to think his parents don't know what they are doing hah! :) Sure wish I was there with you experiencing it all. I am thanking God for you and your family today, this Thanksgiving. It will take some time for Kai to really let those walls down and I am sure, and there has to be some underlying fear. When I try to imagine how that would feel from a child's perspective, I am overwhelmed by how downright scary that would be! Kai will see that you are truly his FOREVER family and will grow to trust. I am praying for that for him, but most of all for Kai to see Jesus in you and Ryan. What a blessing we are given as parents to have that little hand placed in ours as we walk this journey. Love you guys! Happy Thanksgiving!!
ReplyDeleteOops that was from me JO!! :)
ReplyDelete