Sara and I are getting ready leave. We have really enjoyed our stay, but are ready to get home to see the boys and get back to life and see how well we can incorporate this kid into our daily routine.
Mae continues to remind us that, just a few days ago, she was an orphan. For example, if Sara walks by without picking her up, she'll say, non-verbally, "Hey, I used to be an orphan, so pick me up." Or if I am holding the remote control, she'll say, again non-verbally, "I used to be an orphan, so give me that." Or she'll pipe up with, "Hey, the sisters at the orphange said you people would take care off me, so why am I not being held?"
It's good to have a baby around again.
I invite all to come and visit Taiwan. You will receive answers to the following questions.
1. What ever happened to Hello Kitty?
2. What does Macdonalds do with all of the leg and thigh chicken meat now that they have gone to all white chicken?
3. How do we find a cure for all of the road rage in America? Do we promote more courteous, more defensive driving?
4. Does it make sense to wear a jacket in 75 degree weather with 80% humidity?
I'm sure there are other questions to be answered. In reality, our trip was incredible and unforgettable (mostly because of the major souvenier we are taking home) and I think Sara andI have both grown as a couple and as people by being here. I've certainly grown to love her even more.
More later.
11/9/07
Is the honeymoon over?
After three days of exchanging pleasantries, Mae has finally decided to let us meet the real her. Sort of like a third date. To put a postive spin on it, she's a real go getter who doesn't take no for an answer.
In reality, it's nice to see that she's a normal girl and that somethings are more "nature" than "nurture".
We went on a nice sightseeing tour today. My favorite stop was the Martyrs' Shrine, which is a monument to all those who gave their life for both Taiwan and China. We also saw the Chiang Kai Shek memorial, the National Palace Museum, and a Taoist temple.
The Chiang Kai Shek memorial is huge. It made me think of how complex humans are. Chiang Kai Shek was instrumental in uniting China, and then after he was ousted by the Communists on the mainland, turned Taiwan from almost strictly agrarian to a substantial player in the world industrial economy. And yet, he was a ruthless leader who crushed anyone who opposed him. He died in 1975 and construction on the memorial began the next year, ostensibly championed by his son who assumed leadership of Taiwan after he died. It reminded me that who we become in life is largely based, not on what we think of ourselves, but how specific people perceive us. Our judgment about people is so important because it can lead to them being vilified after death, or memorialized with a giant memorial.
It reminds me of the value in sitting down and picking 4 people who you know, and imaging (1) what you think they might say about you at your funeral and (2) what you want them to say about you. If they aren't the same, there are changes you might want to make. (I think I got that from Seven Habits of Highly Effective People)
I am hoping we can get over to Taipei 101 in the morning tomorrow before we leave. It is currently the world's tallest building, but will be unseated from that post next year when that huge building in Dubai is finished.
More later.
In reality, it's nice to see that she's a normal girl and that somethings are more "nature" than "nurture".
We went on a nice sightseeing tour today. My favorite stop was the Martyrs' Shrine, which is a monument to all those who gave their life for both Taiwan and China. We also saw the Chiang Kai Shek memorial, the National Palace Museum, and a Taoist temple.
The Chiang Kai Shek memorial is huge. It made me think of how complex humans are. Chiang Kai Shek was instrumental in uniting China, and then after he was ousted by the Communists on the mainland, turned Taiwan from almost strictly agrarian to a substantial player in the world industrial economy. And yet, he was a ruthless leader who crushed anyone who opposed him. He died in 1975 and construction on the memorial began the next year, ostensibly championed by his son who assumed leadership of Taiwan after he died. It reminded me that who we become in life is largely based, not on what we think of ourselves, but how specific people perceive us. Our judgment about people is so important because it can lead to them being vilified after death, or memorialized with a giant memorial.
It reminds me of the value in sitting down and picking 4 people who you know, and imaging (1) what you think they might say about you at your funeral and (2) what you want them to say about you. If they aren't the same, there are changes you might want to make. (I think I got that from Seven Habits of Highly Effective People)
I am hoping we can get over to Taipei 101 in the morning tomorrow before we leave. It is currently the world's tallest building, but will be unseated from that post next year when that huge building in Dubai is finished.
More later.
11/7/07
First Full Day
We had our first full day with Mae. She clearly likes her mother better than me. Sara tries to reassure me that it's just because her dark hair makes her look more like the Taiwanese caregivers at the orphanage. It was the first opportunity we've had to walk around Taipei and just get a feel for it. Mae weighs more than we thought she would, so we decided to spend the dough to buy a stroller, even if we have to leave it here. That made a huge difference. She loves it.
It has been a little rainy, but we've really enjoyed it. The temperature has been a pleasant 790 to 75 degrees with the humidity quite bareable.
We went to the American Institute of Taiwan to get her visa application completed. We met some other adoptive families who are going through a different agency. It was nice to meet them and share war stories. We also went to a couple of big stores, and otherwise, just relaxed and enjoyed the day. Last night we went to dinner with two other adoptive families and Sally, the local coordinator who accompanied us to the orphanage and coordinated our travel to and from Tainan. A truly great person who has made this trip very enjoyable.
The restaurant was exceptional. Very good food. I decided to slighly branch out of my comfort zone and ate frog legs. They were good. Probably better than a chicken leg or wing. More tender. The restaurant spiced them up a bit. I was pleased. We've otherwise stuck to noodles and rice with chicken or the American favorites (Subway, MacDonalds). Our problem is that, to get the real local food, you need to be able to read Chinese. The little "hole in the wall" places to eat can't tell you in English what they are serving, and it isn't something you can figure out by site. I'm not afraid to eat something new or strange, I just want to enter that deal with full disclosure.
More later.
It has been a little rainy, but we've really enjoyed it. The temperature has been a pleasant 790 to 75 degrees with the humidity quite bareable.
We went to the American Institute of Taiwan to get her visa application completed. We met some other adoptive families who are going through a different agency. It was nice to meet them and share war stories. We also went to a couple of big stores, and otherwise, just relaxed and enjoyed the day. Last night we went to dinner with two other adoptive families and Sally, the local coordinator who accompanied us to the orphanage and coordinated our travel to and from Tainan. A truly great person who has made this trip very enjoyable.
The restaurant was exceptional. Very good food. I decided to slighly branch out of my comfort zone and ate frog legs. They were good. Probably better than a chicken leg or wing. More tender. The restaurant spiced them up a bit. I was pleased. We've otherwise stuck to noodles and rice with chicken or the American favorites (Subway, MacDonalds). Our problem is that, to get the real local food, you need to be able to read Chinese. The little "hole in the wall" places to eat can't tell you in English what they are serving, and it isn't something you can figure out by site. I'm not afraid to eat something new or strange, I just want to enter that deal with full disclosure.
More later.
11/6/07
The Perfect Pickup
Well, it happened. We picked Mae up and are now back in Taipei. What an incredible experience. It was such a surreal moment when the caregivers walked through the door with Mae in their arms. Another one of those "I never imagined in a million years that I would ever be doing this" moments. I'm still an emotional wreck.
She is very bright and responsive. She learned to walk over the last couple of weeks, but is still shaky. She has a great temperment. She only cried when we had to clean up her hemangioma. It's huge and has a couple of spots where it's bleeding. But otherwise, she smiles and laughes. She doesn't seem as freaked out right now as I thought she would. We'll see how things go. (We're working on pictures).
As we flew back to Taipei, my thoughts turned to the twin concepts of loyalty and commitment. I often wonder where I'd be without both the loyalty and commitment that I've had from my great family, in-laws, and good friends. Mae is no different. Her birth mother and grandmother came to the orphanage yesterday to say good-bye. She left us a note. It has gotten somewhat easy to forget that she has a young birth mom who loves her and wanted what was best for her. Inspite of giving her up for adoption, her mother showed extreme loyalty and commitment. Her mother's committment to her, and that of her family, evidenced itself by making the decision to send her to the orphanage, knowing they simply could not provide the life for her that she deserved. I was impressed that she came back to say goodbye. She has asked that we send pictures every year. She knows we're in the States, but doesn't have a clue where Utah is.
I contrasted that idea with the incredible loyalty and commitment of the caregivers at St. Lucy's. They really loved her. A couple of them had a really hard time saying goodbye. One girl is a college student who came to the orphanage today just to say good bye. I was so grateful to them for the committment they made to care for her over the last year. They gave her all they had for the short time she was there, but knew that she couldn't stay there either. Again, committment evidencing itself by giving all you've got to a person for the time you've got with them, however long or short.
I've been inspired today. Inspired to give more of myself to those I love and to commit myself to helping them achieve joy in life.
More tomorrow. Unless Sara wants to add something.
She is very bright and responsive. She learned to walk over the last couple of weeks, but is still shaky. She has a great temperment. She only cried when we had to clean up her hemangioma. It's huge and has a couple of spots where it's bleeding. But otherwise, she smiles and laughes. She doesn't seem as freaked out right now as I thought she would. We'll see how things go. (We're working on pictures).
As we flew back to Taipei, my thoughts turned to the twin concepts of loyalty and commitment. I often wonder where I'd be without both the loyalty and commitment that I've had from my great family, in-laws, and good friends. Mae is no different. Her birth mother and grandmother came to the orphanage yesterday to say good-bye. She left us a note. It has gotten somewhat easy to forget that she has a young birth mom who loves her and wanted what was best for her. Inspite of giving her up for adoption, her mother showed extreme loyalty and commitment. Her mother's committment to her, and that of her family, evidenced itself by making the decision to send her to the orphanage, knowing they simply could not provide the life for her that she deserved. I was impressed that she came back to say goodbye. She has asked that we send pictures every year. She knows we're in the States, but doesn't have a clue where Utah is.
I contrasted that idea with the incredible loyalty and commitment of the caregivers at St. Lucy's. They really loved her. A couple of them had a really hard time saying goodbye. One girl is a college student who came to the orphanage today just to say good bye. I was so grateful to them for the committment they made to care for her over the last year. They gave her all they had for the short time she was there, but knew that she couldn't stay there either. Again, committment evidencing itself by giving all you've got to a person for the time you've got with them, however long or short.
I've been inspired today. Inspired to give more of myself to those I love and to commit myself to helping them achieve joy in life.
More tomorrow. Unless Sara wants to add something.
11/5/07
Tainan
Well, it's 2 AM in Tainan and Sara and I are wide awake. We spent the day yesterday just walking around and soaking in the sights and sounds of the city. Tainan is in southern Taiwan and has about 700,000 people in it. We walked up and down the main streets and took a risk at eating at a McDonalds (I know, we're brave). There are far fewer here who speak English than in Taipei, but we have found them to be very kind and polite people. We're the only Americans we've seen in this city, so people gawk a little. We walked through a park that was, literally, full of crazy people. But it was beautiful.
We're going to try to get some shut eye. Only 7 hours until "Pick Up."
We're going to try to get some shut eye. Only 7 hours until "Pick Up."
11/4/07
We've Arrived in Taipei!
After hours of watching High School Musical 2 in multiple languages, choking down some goofy porridge with seaweed and chicken for breakfast, and realizing we don't speak a lick of mandarin, we finally arrived. We will have pictures, but realized that we didn't have the right cord for the laptop, so we'll update it with pictures tomorrow, hopefully. If not, I hope my glowing narrative is enough for you to picture what is going on.
Though it feels like morning, it's after 11:00 P.M. We're bushed, but need to figure out a way to get to sleep and wake up tomorrow morning early.
More Later.
Though it feels like morning, it's after 11:00 P.M. We're bushed, but need to figure out a way to get to sleep and wake up tomorrow morning early.
More Later.
10/7/07
Nipple bleeding, cramping, involuntary pants wetting, vomiting, 4:45am wake up calls, chaffing, applying diaper rash ointment, sore knees, diarrhea, dehydration, blisters, and losing your toe nails. It was all worth it to finish the St. George Marathon this Saturday. For the second year in a row Mike ran the 26.2 miles to prove that he's the MAN!!!
Mike & Jake at the finish line
Mike with his proud parents
10/6/07
Here are the lastest pictures of Mae. We also have some wonderful news, we are going to Taiwan on Nov. 3rd to pick her up! We were able to make it through the court system over there at lighting speed. She'll be home in time to celebrate her 1st birthday on Nov.28th, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. We are so blessed.
9/11/07
Mae is hanging out with her bud Zane. He is our friend's, the McQuiveys, little boy that is at the same orphanage. We're glad she has a buddy.No news on when we'll be traveling to go pick up Mae. We're still hoping that we can have her home in time for Christmas. Keep praying for us that we'll get a speedy judge over there in Taiwan.
9/10/07
Summer vacation
We took our vacationing to new heights this summer as Sara and the boys spent a few fun filled days in our state capitol in May. The highlight of the trip was an outing to Hogle Zoo where Ethan and Ben noted their strong resemblance to monkeys. Please keep it a secret just a little longer while they better assimilate to our culture. While they enjoyed themselves, I finally came to the realization that, yes, I do talk to myself when I'm all alone. I even answer my own question, but do so evasively so as to keep myself constantly on my own toes.We also enjoyed the Leavitt Family Reunion in Green River. Forty stinky Leavitts, spouses and half-Leavitts all under one roof for three days. The mosquitos made certain we stayed inside and all got to know each other real well. I now know that my brother-in-law Dan recites the Canterbury Tales in his sleep, the Pardoner's Tale being his favorite.
Maybe next year, we'll go crazy and go as far as Ogden.
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