APRIL 12, 2006

Today was our final day in Guangzhou, China.  We awoke early to do some last minute shopping after breakfast (which again was WONDERFUL!)  We took a cab ride over Qing Ping Market.  A locals market offering some of the strangest, but very common for Guangzhou, items you can think of.  These included snakes, turtles and scorpions, all for eating.  :)  I've created several videos where families had visited Qing Ping Market and knew that it was something I definitely wanted to see in person, and to share with our family.  It was interesting to step out of the "tourist" areas and see how the locals really lived.

After our little tour of the outdoor market, we came back to the room, cleaned up and headed to the lobby to meet the group for our final arranged destination in China, The American Consulate.   On this day we would be sworn in and attesting to the facts that we are Kai's parents now and agree to all of the terms the United States has given us to bring him into the US with a visa.  Being that our adoption was finalized in China because both Scott and I traveled, as soon as that stamp is put onto Kai's visa at the point of entry, in our case Newark, New Jersey, Kai becomes an American citizen.  The actual swearing in took very little time, and of course, due to security reasons cameras were not allowed in.  Although very short, both Scott and I were very moved by the ceremony and both got a bit teary eyed.  This was the final step before we could bring our baby home.  All the paperwork is done, is he officially ours forever.  Immediately after the official said, "Congratulations!"  Scott, Mom, Amanda, Kai and myself huddled close together and said a quick prayer of thanksgiving.  I can't help but to stop and thank God for His perfect plan and for blessing us with such a beautiful child.

Afterwards, our little group all headed to Lucy's Cafe for a celebratory dinner.  As I sat there with my little guy eating up everything in site, I reflected on the past two weeks and all that this journey has brought to us.  It is truly a bittersweet day.  It saddens me that Kai's birth mom will never know what happened to her beautiful child.  The one she bundled up and left at the gates of an orphanage hoping for him to get medical care and possibly even a family to love him forever.  It saddens me to think that although he will be given everything we have to offer, and will be living in the greatest country in the world, he will always have the loss of his birth country.  Being an immigrant myself, and having entered the US roughly at the same age Kai is, I know what it is like to have that loss and how devastating coming from a communist country could be.  I pray that his little heart be filled with peace as all these demons arise in his future and that we can be at his side if someday he wishes to return to his birth country to learn more about his roots and his beginnings.

While at Lucy's, I brought Xie Xie the note that the director had written Kai and it warmed by heart how he wanted Kai to never forget where he came from.  That, Mr. Hua, I promise you!  The People's Republic of China has opened it arms and welcomed us as we traveled through this ancient land, taking with us tiny slivers of history to share with our precious Asian treasure.  It has been an amazing journey and one that I will cherish deep in my heart as long as I live.   Both Scott and I thank Harrah's Family Services for all that they have done for us, both in the US and here in China.  Their staff is second to none and we are blessed to have had them be our guiding light as we followed God's plan to our son, Kai.  We also want to thank the China Center of Adoption Affairs for allowing us to bring home Ni Wen Kai, now Adrian Wen Kai Bombardier.   It is an honor to have a son of Chinese heritage and we appreciate their trust in us. 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to the countless numbers of friends in the adoption that have supported us in this journey.   When we thought we could not go forth one more day and things were getting from bad to worse, you were there chugging along with us, giving constant support and prayers that I now see were heard and answered.  May God bless you all abundantly.

And finally, to Jesus Christ, from whom all good things come.  We know that Kai was created for our family and we give him total glory for this blessing.

This is our last post from China.  Thank you all so much for your emails and words of encouragement....we loved having you join us in our journey.

I can't wait to see our big boys and family and of course, our beautiful little boy, AJ!

The next post will be from our home in Florida.

Many blessings,

Scott, Ohilda, Amanda, Kai and Abuela Titi