This is the 22nd installment in a series of columns I am devoting to the adoption journey my wife, Claudette, and I started in 2005. Hank Bond, publisher and editor of the Greenup Beacon, asked that we share our story with you. Maybe you have an interest in adoption or know someone who does. If so, I hope this information is helpful. We adopted our daughter, Josie Claire Siyan, from China in 2007.

While in China, we communicated with our friends and family members via a website we set up prior to leaving for our two-week journey throughout China.

In a post titled “Monday in Guangzhou,” dated Feb. 5, 2007:

“Our Monday was a nice day!  We started our morning with breakfast downstairs in the hotel.  Josie enjoyed her favorites--French toast, eggs, banana, and milk. 

After breakfast we walked, with three other families and our guide--Susan--to the medical clinic for Josie's medical examination.  Everything turned out great!  Our BIG girl weighs 22.5 pounds--shoes and all!”

“We then did a bit of browsing in the shops around our hotel.  I was searching for a shop that sold watches, but could not find the shop.  I asked a gentleman who runs a shop in this area where the best place to buy nice watches is located.  He wrote down the Chinese name and the English translation below it.  So Claudette, Josie, and I set out on a journey that had to have taken us at least three miles into the heart of Guangzhou.  A nice woman who works at a Thai restaurant mapped out how to get there.  We walked over a "bridge" that took us over a very busy main road, and ended up in an area that had some very nice shops and some not so nice shops.  Claudette wouldn't let me stop to take photos because there were so many people it was crazy!  We kept asking people who worked in some of the shops where the ‘store’ (so we thought) was located.  They kept pointing in the direction so we kept walking.  It ended up that it was not a store at all, but instead the name of the street!  We found a fellow who sold nice watches.  We made our way back and did some additional browsing in the shops surrounding the hotel.  And guess what?  Claudette ran across the same exact watches just across the street from the hotel!  We walked all that way for nothing.  I guess it did help our cardiovascular health.  I keep telling myself that.”

“Claudette found all kinds of bargains today.  After shopping, we ordered lunch from room service.  Josie really enjoyed it!  She's a French fry girl.  She loves French toast and French fries.  We then enjoyed a long nap while listening to a ‘channel’ on the hotel's music system that plays beautiful piano music.  I cannot wait until we get home so I can continue Brock's and Blake's piano lessons, and then start Josie on lessons as soon as she's old enough to learn.  Papaw Terry has instruments for each one of his grandkids--my children and Melanie's.   He'll put together a high-quality bluegrass band and they'll become known as that great bluegrass band with that little Chinese girl playing mandolin!”

“After our nap we had Pizza Hut delivered to the room (everyone in our A Helping Hand group did).  It was wonderful!  It's amazing how you miss the little things like Pizza Hut when you're away from the U.S.  After dinner we enjoyed a two-hour cruise on the Pearl River.  Josie really enjoyed it.  It was beautiful, especially because of all of the fluorescent lights in every color on many of the buildings.  Apparently nearly all of the babies in our AHH group have been very sick with fevers.  We would appreciate your prayers that they will have a speedy recovery.  And keep praying that Josie remains healthy.  So far so good!  Claudette has had a bit of a cough.  Please remember her in your prayers.”

“After the cruise we hit a DVD store and the 7-11 for some ice cream, Coca Cola, and water.  After we enjoyed our ice cream, Claudette put Josie in the bathtub.  She really enjoys her bath time.  She's in there now just giggling.  She's so spunky, happy, and precious.  What a major personality.  Claudette and I could not imagine our life without Josie Claire Siyan!  And we sure cannot wait until we see our precious boys--Brock and Blake.  We do not like being away from them for this lengthy period of time.  We love you, Brock and Blake!” 

Terry L. Hapney, Jr., Ph.D., is a professor in the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Marshall University, and an eastern Greenup County native. He may be reached at hapney@marshall.edu.



The world-famous White Swan Hotel.

Josie (Siyan) enjoys French toast at the White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou, China.

Josie (Siyan) and Daddy smile for a photograph on the world-famous Red Couch at the White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou, China.