Picture Catch-up and Please Pray for the Loong trip Home

Hi There...  It's Dawn's Cousin...  :) 

Here's an update on The Rettew Family's travel, and a catch-up on some pics that didn't get posted yet. 

As I type this, Dawn, Mike, and Roy already left their hotel room over 12 hours ago.....

They had a short flight from Guangzhou to Hong Kong...  Then a 7 hour layover in Hong Kong. 

Now they are in the beginning of their long flight...  15 hours and 40 minutes long! 

They will arrive in Newark late tonight and it will be EARLY Thursday morning by the time they get home....

So that's over 30 hours of travel all together....  If you're reading this on Wednesday October 29th, please be praying for their travel...for good health, rest, and of course for Roy.  The plane ride is probably the first time he's ever been buckled in anywhere since they don't use car seats in China. 

I know Dawn & Mike appreciate your prayers!!! 

And here are some pics that didn't get posted from Oct. 20-23:

MONDAY, OCTOBER 20TH----GOTCHA DAY! 

TUESDAY OCTOBER 21

 

 



 

 

(HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAWN:) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 22 ~ MEDICAL EXAM DAY

 

Roy was not a fan of the Medical Exam.  Who could blame him? 

 

 

 

 

 

THURSDAY OCTOBER 23-ORPHANAGE VISIT DAY

The orphanage workers are looking at a photo book that I (Dawn's cousin) sent for our son's foster family.  For those of you who don't know, we have a son from the same orphanage as Dawn & Mike's son, Roy...  And our sons are the same age!  We sent a photo album for our son's foster family to see how our son is growing and doing so well.  Dawn said the orphanage workers were so excited to hear that our two boys will now be "cousins" in America!  :) 

 

 

 

With Roy's foster mother

 

 

She loves Roy very much

 

 

 

 

I'M NOT POSITIVE WHICH DAYS THESE PHOTOS ARE FROM.... 

GIGGLES AT THE HOTEL

 

 

CAKE!!!

 

NOODLES!!!

 

Our Little Emperor

Consulate Appointment & Safari

Today was our Consulate appointment - our very last part of paperwork while here.  AHHH - Hallelujah!!!!  Such a good feeling!  Assuming all goes well, we will receive our visa for Roy tomorrow and then fly out on Wed morning. We can't wait!  Once we land back in the states, the first minute Roy puts his foot on American soil, he becomes a US citizen.  Woohoo!!!

After our appointment, we went to the "Safari Park" zoo - it was unbelievable!  You are sooo close to the animals!  We saw pandas, koalas, tigers, lions, bear, giraffes & elephants - all super CLOSE!  It was very hot while there, but really had a good time.

At one point while there, we became mini celebrities - these high school kids just came out of nowhere and starting snapping photos of us.  I just had to snap a  photo of them taking one of us!

We are sooo sooo excited to get home! 

Curious how it will go with flying over 15 hours with a toddler! 

Please pray he does this the whole flight:

 

 

hee hee (that last sentence was added in by Dawn's cousin:-)

Seriously, please pray for the loooong trip home!

thanks!
~Dawn

Pearl Market

Yesterday, we went to the Pearl market - It is a mall full of jewelry stores!  Very fun to see!.  While there we bought a pearl necklace for Roy's future wife. That gave me so much joy to do.

We then went to a special embroidery store & we bought some special Chinese artwork for our home.  We want Roy to always be proud of his first home.

After that, we went back to Shamian Island with our guide and new friends.  We even met a gal who was originally from Lancaster, PA!  small world!

We have made some dear friends here & so thankful for all the encouragement they have been to us.  I really believe God arranged them to be here this same time.  Our trip has been so blessed because of them.  

Thank you for all the prayers - I have been doing better.  Mornings are still intense...but by mid-morning, i'm feeling more optimistic.  :-) Please continue to keep us in your prayers.  They mean SO MUCH!

Super Dad & Super Son UNITED at last!!!

We fell in love with Roy when he wore this...

Saturday October 25

Hi All,

Today we went to the electronic market.  It is truly crazy there!  I requested this excursion as I thought Mike would enjoy it.  It's like a mall, full of cell phone cases, kindle cases etc.  One store after another after another.  Fun to see again.  I got a couple cell phone cases.  The one I'm currently using is from my trip last year here.  :-)

After that, we went to a Buddist Temple.  Beautiful place, it was certainly a unique experience - as a Christian its hard to watch all these people bowing down to Budda & praying & idolizing them.  People bring flowers or fruit or burn incense as a sacrifice to the Gods there.

Next up, we went to a vegetarian restaurant where everything was made with tofu but looked AND TASTED like meat.  If I lived near this restaurant, I could easily become a vegetarian.  Everything was delicious!

After that, we came back to the hotel & readied our paperwork for our big US consulate appointment on Monday.  WE.CANT.WAIT!!! 

Tomorrow we will do a little shopping on Shamian Island - beautiful place that Mike & I ventured out to last Sunday.  Tomorrow we will go again with our guide  (and friends )& get any last minute souvenir's.

Roy is still pretty emotional - we are having hard time deciphering if:  1.  His way of mourning  2.  Being a typical 2 year old  OR 3. Being a little emperor.  Boys are typically spoiled over here & known as an emperors.  We think at night & morning time, he is truly mourning.  However, during the day, if there is a change of scene or his doesn't get his way...he will cry till he does.  Very interesting parenting a child while you don't speak the same language!!! Hopefully we will see some changes soon.

Wonderful news though!  We knew Roy has some motor delays, especially with his arm & hand.  Well...our lil guy is amazing!!!  he can use both arms perfectly & even can pick up individual grains of rice!!!  PTL!!!  When we get him home, we will dive into his language delays or see if there is any.  In Chinese, he only has a few words he can say. However, we are pretty sure we heard him say "uh-oh" already & that is clearly from us!  So...time will tell.

 

Please keep me in your prayers too.  Honestly, today was my worst morning ever.  Mike & I even had agreed that I would stay home from sight seeing.  It must have been your prayers, but after some toast at breakfast, I suddenly felt ok to go & i'm so glad I did.  Please please please keep praying for all of us.

Love,
Dawn