Bryan & Danielle S.
China 2017
China 2017
Our journey to China was unforgettable and filled with many lasting memories and impressions that will be shared for generations to come. The reunion with our YaYa, who we had hosted 10 months prior through Cradle of Hope’s Bridge of Hope Summer Program, officially joined our family on May 15th.
We felt nervous about the reunion and whether he would remember us from the previous summer. The 10 month wait time seemed unimaginably long for us; we couldn’t imagine whether he had been told we were coming to bring him home or what was running through his mind.
Our family day occurred in a dark, somewhat dingy hallway of a governmental building in Taiyuan. We were waiting; together with our guide, for the government officials to come and for the representatives of the orphanage to bring YaYa. Suddenly, he came running down the dark hallway like a crash of thunder, screaming, “baba, baba” and leapt into the arms of my husband. After what felt like forever, my husband set him down so that I could press my tear-filled cheeks on his smiling face.
I brought a photo album with me, in the event he didn’t remember us, so that he might feel more comfortable. I began showing him pictures from the last summer when he visited. He began to answer in Chinese and dug out all three albums that he had kept from our care packages. He not only remembered us, but also his brother, Markus, who was waiting at home.
After proudly showing us his albums he packed them back up and put the suitcase in my hand. He grabbed my husband’s hand and began leading him down the hallway. He told the caretaker from the orphanage, in Chinese, “it’s time to go home now” and started leading Bryan down the hallway. We were all in tears. It was one of the most beautiful moments of our lives.
He not only remembered us but was ready to begin his new life as a part of our family. The following 12 days spent in China were peppered with appointments and questions about when it was time to take the big airplane. YaYa did well being patient and explaining his needs by gesturing. Even in China he began experimenting with his use of English. He picked up several body parts and a few numbers. I am very confident that he’s going to do very well with language acquisition.
We toured several places in China with YaYa, including a Buddhist temple where we made a wish for our family, the Safari Park and the circus. Although these places were all interesting he seems happiest together with us at home.
He has been home for two weeks today and is doing very well getting adjusted. He is sleeping in his own toddler bed and walking around like he owns our house. We are so happy that he feels at home and getting along very well with our 22 month-old son, Markus.
Our house has never been so full of laughter. The boys chase one another around roaring and laughing. The belly laugh of our almost 2-year old often brings me to tears. Markus is so happy to have a brother and we are just so thrilled to have another son.
The adoption process would not have been possible for our family without A Child Waits Foundation’s financial support. Thanks to your grant we were able to proceed with making YaYa a member of our family. We are so grateful for your support of not only ours, but countless other families’ adoptions. Our son YaYa has found his forever family and has blessed our family with the joy of having a second son, a brother, nephew, cousin, grandchild, a great-grandchild.
Through our adoption, our entire family has a renewed appreciation of the good that this world holds. We feel blessed beyond measure and will never forget the pivotal role A Child Waits Foundation has played in making the dream of bringing our precious YaYa home our reality.
With heartfelt thanks,
Dani & Bryan S.
We felt nervous about the reunion and whether he would remember us from the previous summer. The 10 month wait time seemed unimaginably long for us; we couldn’t imagine whether he had been told we were coming to bring him home or what was running through his mind.
Our family day occurred in a dark, somewhat dingy hallway of a governmental building in Taiyuan. We were waiting; together with our guide, for the government officials to come and for the representatives of the orphanage to bring YaYa. Suddenly, he came running down the dark hallway like a crash of thunder, screaming, “baba, baba” and leapt into the arms of my husband. After what felt like forever, my husband set him down so that I could press my tear-filled cheeks on his smiling face.
I brought a photo album with me, in the event he didn’t remember us, so that he might feel more comfortable. I began showing him pictures from the last summer when he visited. He began to answer in Chinese and dug out all three albums that he had kept from our care packages. He not only remembered us, but also his brother, Markus, who was waiting at home.
After proudly showing us his albums he packed them back up and put the suitcase in my hand. He grabbed my husband’s hand and began leading him down the hallway. He told the caretaker from the orphanage, in Chinese, “it’s time to go home now” and started leading Bryan down the hallway. We were all in tears. It was one of the most beautiful moments of our lives.
He not only remembered us but was ready to begin his new life as a part of our family. The following 12 days spent in China were peppered with appointments and questions about when it was time to take the big airplane. YaYa did well being patient and explaining his needs by gesturing. Even in China he began experimenting with his use of English. He picked up several body parts and a few numbers. I am very confident that he’s going to do very well with language acquisition.
We toured several places in China with YaYa, including a Buddhist temple where we made a wish for our family, the Safari Park and the circus. Although these places were all interesting he seems happiest together with us at home.
He has been home for two weeks today and is doing very well getting adjusted. He is sleeping in his own toddler bed and walking around like he owns our house. We are so happy that he feels at home and getting along very well with our 22 month-old son, Markus.
Our house has never been so full of laughter. The boys chase one another around roaring and laughing. The belly laugh of our almost 2-year old often brings me to tears. Markus is so happy to have a brother and we are just so thrilled to have another son.
The adoption process would not have been possible for our family without A Child Waits Foundation’s financial support. Thanks to your grant we were able to proceed with making YaYa a member of our family. We are so grateful for your support of not only ours, but countless other families’ adoptions. Our son YaYa has found his forever family and has blessed our family with the joy of having a second son, a brother, nephew, cousin, grandchild, a great-grandchild.
Through our adoption, our entire family has a renewed appreciation of the good that this world holds. We feel blessed beyond measure and will never forget the pivotal role A Child Waits Foundation has played in making the dream of bringing our precious YaYa home our reality.
With heartfelt thanks,
Dani & Bryan S.
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