Home...a great place to be!

We arrived in Richmond Thursday afternoon and made the drive back to Newport News with a very full load. Every single seat in the Suburban was filled and we had all our luggage to boot. Good thing we packed light! At least that's what Henry said.

Our journey to receive God's blessing, now known as Grace Ann Nhi Klein, began over 3 years ago with a decision to adopt a child from Guatemala. We began the process w/another agency after having worked w/All God's Children International for our adoption of Andrew. It became readily apparent that all agencies are not created equal. We abandoned that endeavor and returned to AGCI - one of the best decisions we've ever made. If you're considering international adoption, we encourage you to check them out. We've met myriad adoptive parents from many agencies and this theme is constant, "AGCI is fabulous."

Why Vietnam? Many people have asked us that. You know we have Andrew from China. We'd have returned to China again except, at the time we began our pursuit, China would not allow us to adopt into a household where 5 children already lived. That has since changed. We thought it would be good for Andrew to have a sibling who kind of looked like him. Vietnam qualified and had recently opened again. As it stands now, however, we may be the last Americans to work with Henry in Vietnam for quite some time. Our window was small and God blessed us, providing our official referral w/only 8 days to spare before Vietnam quit offering orphans to Americans.

Now that we're home Grace is adjusting pretty well. She really lights up around Andrew, who has been nothing short of wonderful in his new role as big brother. She's been particularly fond of his little cars...which she piles into the doll house. Temperatures here in VA right now are in the 20s to 40s. That is something she's never experienced. We bundle her up and she does well.

We are so thankful for God's blessing through Gracie. She is truly "unmerited favor." Thank you for joining us in this journey and, particularly for your prayers on our behalf. We will likely update this blog from time to time over the next 6-12 months so feel free to check back if you're curious of our life with Grace - a constant reminder of our Saviour's goodness to us.

Blessings!
~Jack

We're home!!!!!!!!!

We awoke about 52 hours ago, spent a day in Hanoi getting a visa, changed a reservation w/American, and flew home via Tokyo, Chicago, and Richmond. Quite a trip, and Gracie was an absolute trooper.

She's upstairs right now playing w/Andrew. They're getting along just fine!

Thanks for all your prayers. We'll try to get some more pictures up tomorrow.

~ Jack

Coming Home!

Debra and Mike at American Airlines have hooked us up! We leave tonight around midnight for a long ride home...but it'll be home! Hopefully the next posting will be from VA.

Please pray for the Richardsons who have shared this time in VN w/us. They leave on Friday and little Ema is sick w/a fever. (www.meetingema.blogspot.com)

God be praised!
~ Jack

Got visa...neeeeeeed tickets!!!!!!!!`

We got Gracie's visa this afternoon but American Airlines in VN is telling us we can't get seats until 8 December. I'm on hold w/AA in the US right now trying to get some help. If you're reading this...please pray. VN is beautiful, but we'd really like to get home!
~Jack

VN Pottery + Passport + Medical...Home soon????

Sunday we visited a local pottery village. It was lots of fun and we purchased many things. Christmas is coming so we're not going to tell you Alex and Margaret! Some of the pots were bigger than Billy and if we sawed off the top he could have fit in them.



We saw some pottery that we could have painted ourselves, but it would have taken to long to get it done so we decided to skip that.



On the way we passed this bridge in progress. This one's for you Grandpa

Yesterday we went to go get Gracie's passport. When Thuong picked us up she already had the passport and told us we were able to get Gracie's medical exam completed yesterday. On the way we passed the hospital in which Gracie was born.



When we got to the international medical facility we learned that Gracie was 24lbs and 33 inches.



Finally, a delightful French (we think) Dr. very patiently and kindly examined our little girl.



We're expecting to get her visa today. After that we'll try to push our airline reservations up. We figure Friday is the earliest we'll make it home.
Here are more pictures of Gracie in the hotel which she now views as home.














Coveting your prayers as we go to the embassy this afternoon for her visa.

~ Sarah

"Frogger" illustrated...not for the faint of heart!

This circa 2004 video is in our part of the city ...things haven't gotten any better. (Bill...don't watch this until we get home!) Imagine doing this with 2 adults, 2 teens, and an adopted 3 year old. Feel free to keep praying! Actually, we could avoid this...if we didn't eat. However, every trip to get any food involves at least one trip like this.

We hope to get Gracie's passport tomorrow (Monday), but Tuesday is more likely. After that she has a medical exam and then we apply for a US Visa. Though we're not holding our breath, if it all transpires w/o a hitch we could be headed home by Friday. Again...feel free to keep praying.

Today was a banner day. Gracie let both Jack and Billy hold her! Sarah was a great blessing to the other American couple here as their daughter Ema won't go to anyone but her Mom, who really needed a break, and Sarah was able to coax Ema away for a bit.

Thanks to all of you who have been adding your comments. It's a real encouragement.

Blessings,
~ Jack

Gracie Ann Nhi Klein

It is such an amazing experience to have a new baby in the family. We re-learn many things that we knew long ago. Such as, there are times in the day when you need to be quiet. Today for example, while Gracie took her nap, Mom Dad, Sarah and I had lunch in the bathroom :) it was funny to see us all eating pizza, fried rice, and fresh pineapple in a bathroom about 15 feet long and 8 feet wide. Later today after Gracie took her nap we took a walk. Unfortunately, the sling we got was to big for her so until dad figures out how to adjust it (if it is possible to) mom and Sarah will just have to carry her. She still will not let either dad or me hold her, although she did smile at me and say something that resembled Billy. She still seems a little scared of dad, but not so much of me. This is probably because I am smaller than dad so I do not seem so threatening. During our walk we stopped at a cafe and dad fed her ice cream. She seemed to open up a little more to dad and really enjoyed the ice cream. But, we do seem to get a lot of smiles from our little princess. :)


~Billy

Got her!

She is officially ours!!!

But before I get ahead of myself, let's take the day in chronological order. After breakfast, we called Henry and asked if we could go visit Gracie again, he said yes and they picked us up around nine. This time, we actually went inside her orphanage and saw where she lived, and the other orphans. We had given her a bag of treats which she immediately spread out between the children, she shares wonderfully. The three oldest children loved pushing down the button on my camera and taking pictures of each other and seeing the pictures. The two oldest (pink shirt and orange dress) are unavailable to adoption. Sadly, they are there because each has parents in jail, but they are two of the sweetest things I know. Here are pictures,








We then went to lunch at an all you can eat Vietnamese buffet where food from all three regions (North, Central and South) was available. We have documentary pictures of Billy eating pig trotters, and fried squid, and we won't need to eat again until Tuesday!



During lunch we got the call that we were going to get her today at three!!! Yeah!! If we had not gotten her today we would have had to wait until Monday. She was the best little girl that we could hope to have, didn't cry, make a fuss, or even stick her lip out. We then had a long car ride to the giving and receiving ceremony. (G&R aka "grab and run!") Mom and Dad signed a lot of paperwork that they couldn't read, and the official from the Vietnmamese Department of Justice pronounced her ours.




After that we proceeded to the office to apply for her passport and played Frogger on the road crossing. While we were in the waiting area Gracie amused herself by playing with my camera by pushing down the button taking extraneous pictures. After level two of Frogger we finally came home to the hotel. Dad and Billy are out buying water and Gracie is playing with Mom and reading a book upside down. She was very interested in the dental floss and was trying to open it before Mom took it away. She likes being bounced and spun, and has little dimples. Well, more later!

If things go really well we may actually be headed home as early as next Friday night...at 11:55 pm. Please pray all goes efficiently and we can get home soon...with our treasure.


~Sarah

Happy thanksgiving! Care for some duck feet or pickled snake?

Today while we are still waiting to receive Gracie we decided to take some time to go sightseeing. We were picked up by our driver and Chi (an AGCI guide) at 9:30 and we first drove to a quiet section (with few scooters) of Hanoi and visited a silk village. This consisted of a row of shops that featured mainly silk products. After a couple hours of negotiating we headed back to our van with several purchases including a Vietnamese dress for Gracie. We then headed on to Vietnam's first university - the Temple of Literature, over 1000 years old! (and we think Jamestown is old!) Chi was a wonderful guide! Below are pictures taken at the university.

After the university Billy stopped to buy some soccer balls because a factory is here and the balls were very inexpensive. Here are pictures of him shopping, and his purchases along with an interesting scooter.








































We returned to the hotel and then headed to the bakery for lunch.














On the way back from the bakery we saw roasted duck feet being sold by a street vendor and pickled snakes and scorpions in jars. I think we'll pass on those! Tonight we are headed to KFC (yes, they have one) for fried chicken and mashed potatoes - our Vietnamese Thanksgiving feast.

God is giving us a wonderful adventure as we patiently await Gracie. Well...mostly patiently


Love to all back home!

~Sarah

We've moved...but don't have Gracie yet

Henry, our guide, helped us better understand Vietnam economics. Translation...he turned us onto a much more economical hotel (Lucky Star) with a better room and more bed space. Wahooooo! I'm attaching a picture of the entrance. Sarah took a picture outside our window. Suffice it to say, we're now definitely in the heart of old Hanoi. The sound of honking just never stops!

We walked down to the Dong Xuan Market today and did a little shopping. This was a new experience for the kids and Susan. Crowds were unbelievable and bartering consisted of handing the calculator back and forth with each of us putting in the price we wanted. The shopping was pretty easy...it was getting back and forth from the market that was a challenge. Every sidewalk is covered with commerce and/or scooters. On the roads direction means nothing. Honk and drive is the rule. Sorry the picture doesn't show the scooters....

And, for those electrical engineers out there we've included a picture of the power line structure outside our first hotel.

The other Americans we've met have a blog here. (And they're really good at it!) They were expecting to get Ema today at 2 p.m. We've not yet heard back from them. We're hoping for Thursday but expecting Friday.

Blessings,
Jack for the rest

First Day/First Meeting

Today after a wonderful Vietnamese breakfast and some walking, we visited Gracie with the other family that is adopting. Here is a picture of the newest member of our family.

We are hoping to get (and keep) her by the weekend. Keep praying that she won't be scared, and that she will transition easily.

~Sarah