Promises, promises

May 24, 2010

In life we make lots of promises, promises we keep, promises we break. In February we wrote a letter promising to take care of this little boy we had not met yet, to never abuse or mistreat him, to love and educate him as our own. Last week we met this little Chinese cherub we call Benjamin and promised those things again after we met him and then were put to the test to care for him in an emergency situation almost immediately. With God's help we survived that first test. In a few days we will go to the American Consulate to promise yet again to raise this child as our own. Meanwhile we are ready to get home. Shamien Island is not the same with all of the construction and we are trying to fill out days so they pass quickly. We love China, but it's time to be home now and we don't leave for four more days.

Just a few observations about our little guy: Benjamin has a halo. God knows he needs one, too! But seriously, and not so seriously, Benjamin has a halo. I thought this a few days ago when I saw the sun hitting the top of his little head while we were out for a stroll and meant to say something to Dale about it but with all the chaos of traffic and keeping everyone out of it I forgot about it. The next day Dale asked me if I had noticed that when the sun hits the top of Benjamin's head just right that it looks like he has a halo. I finished his sentence mid-stream and we laughed and laughed about it. He had a temper like the devil, hot and fast, but it burns out quickly, so his little halo is there to remind me that he a CAN be a perfect angel when he chooses.

Yesterday we went to the pool and learned that Benjamin has absolutely NO FEAR of water. He slipped under a few times and after the first time held his breath. Yep. I see swimming lessons in his future this summer. Just beyond the pool and our hotel is the Pearl River, the 4th longest river in China. The boats and barges are up and down the river all day, hauling rice, fish, all sorts of cargo. It's truly an amazing scene.

As I mentioned, the traffic is another amazing sight. People in and on all manner of transportation share the roadways at all times, even pedestrians. Abigail and Olivia have given me more than a few grey hairs worrying they are going to be hit by a car. Rather than call them indiviually to get in a narrow straight line to avoid being hit we simply have a code now: Baby duck! When they hear that they know to IMMEDIATELY get in line one behind the other between me and Dale so they don't get hit and so I don't have a heart attack!

While the island is being torn to bits to renovate and get ready for the Asian games being held this fall, the bronze statues are still everywhere and Abigail and Olivia are enjoying posing with them. We started snapping their pictures with the statures yesterday and the locals took their pictures as well. Today we're seeing the locals posing their children with the statues. Too funny!

We made a quick trip to the clinic to have Benjamin's TB test read. He passed with flying colors! We were the first ones in and were there less than five minutes. Let's hope he passes his college entrance exams so easily. :o) He's a smart, smart boy, so it wouldn't surprise me, but then I'm just his proud mama.

We spent severl hours in the Swan Room, the play room at the White Swan Hotel which Mattel outfitted for adoptive families to have a place for their children to play. It was a Benjamin-friendly environment. Of course he still found quite a few places to climb, even though he wasn't supposed to. Then he crashed for a couple hours nap. It was wonderful, and it was bigger than the cracker-box size hotel room we're calling home right now. It gets smaller and smaller as the days go by. I think we'll find ourselves there again tomorrow between the pool and dinner. After Benjamin woke up we went out for a late lunch/early dinner at Subway. Yes, Subway...and almost just like home. It wasn't here five years ago and with our favorite noodle shop being gone there isn't much to choose from that isn't too expensive. Even Lucy's Cafe which caters to Americans has become a bit pricey. There's less competition and therefore the prices are higher. On our way back to the hotel from Subway we stopped at another new addition to the island: Starbucks. There was a small Starbucks before, but this is a really nice Starbucks with compfy seating, Wifi, and A/C, not to mention the blueberry cheesecake that Benjamin went crazy for. While I was sharing a slice with him Abigail and Olivia pounced on my mocha frappaccino. Two straws and two minutes later and it was gone! It all tasted like home, though. I think we'll make another stop there this week. I just won't turn my back on my coffee next time.

One more site that I must mention is the kapok trees, or the cotton trees. They have gone to seed and "cotton" is floating in the air everywhere. As we are out walking Abigail, my little seed-collecting, green-thumbing, Grandma's girl is gathering as many puffs as she can. Tonight when she was emptying her pockets she had a handful of the little black seeds she had pulled out of the cotton. She fully planned to take them home and plant them. Hated, just hated telling her how illegal that is. (Just hush, Virginia! I can hear your scolding now. It's the LAW for goodness sakes!) I promise to make it up to her somehow.

COMMENTS FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY:

*Hello Croy family,
I love the pictures of the statues, they are hilarious! We can't wait for you all to get home. I hope you will be ready for Cracker Barrel sweet tea and biscuits cause we are picking you up hungry!

Love to you all,
cindi
Posted by: Aunt Cindi on May 24, 2010 at 07:43 A.M.

*Benjamin is going to keep you guys on your toes it sounds like!! Hurry home, we can't wait to meet him and hear all the stories!! -niki
Posted by: niki on May 24, 2010 at 08:25 A.M.
Dale, Carmen, Abigail, Olivia and Benjamin, What an exciting time for the Croy family. And how awesome it is to follow your journey. We are praying for you and can't wait to you get home!
Posted by: Wilma on May 24, 2010 at 11:57 A.M.

*Hey Guys-I feel your exhaustion. You just want to get home and get about the business of being a family. So glad Benjamin has a visible halo because you will probably need a reminder of his angelic status periodically. Sending you love and support as you prepare to come home.
Posted by: Teresa on May 24, 2010 at 12:28 P.M.

*Still can't see how many "round" is in his head.
We are waiting for you to come back sooooo bad, watching Benjamin's room get better and cooler.
Posted by: Minqi and Rhoda on May 24, 2010 at 01:37 P.M.

*I'm so glad that Benjamin is better. God has truly blessed you and Dale with two beautiful girls and one handsome little boy. He has also given you the best of both world with all the experiences you will have raising all three of those precious children.I've been updating Mama and Daddy on your trip and we will be glad when you get home. Hugs and kisses to all.

Love,
Cousin Penny, Jeff, Bryan, Craig and Caleb
Posted by: Penny Cook on May 24, 2010 at 05:05 P.M.