This is the 24th 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 blog we set up prior to leaving for our two-week journey throughout China.

In a post titled “Tuesday afternoon and evening in Guangzhou,” dated Feb. 6, 2007:

“Tuesday afternoon and evening were enjoyable with Josie.  We did not receive a phone call from Susan while we were waiting in our room.  That was good news!  No problems at the consulate.  We will take the oath tomorrow.  We then did some shopping with Rick, Antinette, and Hadley.  After that I stopped by a deli and picked us up some sandwiches and apple butter cake!  Everything was delicious.”

“After spending some time in our room, we met Rick, Antinette, and Hadley downstairs and walked to a restaurant named Rose's (or something to that effect).  We decided not to go with our AHH group for dinner at a Cantonese restaurant, because we were not in the mood for that type of food.  I had to exchange some U.S. dollars for yuan.  While getting on the elevator, a man looked at me and said ‘I never dreamed I'd see that t-shirt here!’  He was referring to my ‘We are . . . Marshall’ t-shirt.  He attended MU but now lives in Chicago.”

“Now, back to Rose's.  It was too Chinese for our taste (after having authentic Chinese food for nearly a week in Nanjing).  So we ended up back at Lucy's (which we love dearly).  We discussed with Rick and Antinette about trying to find a central location between Ohio and Washington state in which we could meet for Josie's and Hadley's Gotcha Day celebration on Jan. 29.”  

“After dinner we did a bit more shopping and we're now back in the room.  Josie's getting ready to get a bath and we're all going to bed early tonight.  I think our major trip is finally catching up with us!  WE ARE READY TO BE HOME!”

In a post titled “Our Final Day in Guangzhou,” dated Feb. 7, 2007:

“This was our final day in Guangzhou.  In just seven hours from now (4:30 a.m.) we will wake up, gather our carry on items and get on the bus at 5:30 a.m. to head to the airport.  We finished packing our check-in luggage and have everything ready to go home.  We even put each one on the bathroom scales to weigh it to ensure it is under the maximum 50-pound limit.  We are safe!”

“After our 7 a.m. web cam chat with Brock, Blake (who was sound asleep), Mamaw Patty, and Papaw Larry, we met Rick, Antinette, and Hadley Johnson for breakfast downstairs here at the White Swan.  This is a beautiful place.  We've really enjoyed our stay here.  I was reading that Queen Elizabeth, Richard M. Nixon, and George H.W. Bush (and Barbara) have all stayed here in the past.”

“After breakfast we took photos of our family and the Johnson's around the beautiful hotel.  I'll post some in a moment.  We then came back to our room for a while, did a bit of shopping, and then went to the U.S. Consulate to take the oath.  Now when Josie lands in Chicago she will be a United States citizen!”

“We had a great dinner at Lucy's tonight (we love that place), and then came back to our room, packed everything, checked out of the hotel, and are now getting ready for bed.  Rick Johnson stopped by to tell us bye (Antinette was getting Hadley ready for bed).  He brought a beautiful doll for Josie from Hadley.  Josie's carried it around all evening.” 

“Josie still seems to be wound up and is running around the room as if she still has much steam left!  Maybe we can keep her up very late so she'll sleep during the flights tomorrow.  We fly from Guangzhou to Hong Kong, and then from Hong Kong to Chicago.  We then go from Chicago to Columbus, to a snowy Ohio!  Our neighbor, Cathy Mann, e-mailed us three photos of our neighborhood and all of the snow we received there.  We'll be leaving behind sunshine and 80 degrees for snow and 12 degrees!  We don't mind though; we cannot wait to be home with our boys and family and friends.  See you soon!”

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.



Josie and Hadley at Lucy's . . . Best friends forever!

Josie looks at the doll Hadley Johnson gave her. Rick dropped it off to our room. Josie loves it!

Our precious gift from God--Josie Claire Siyan Hapney--before she goes to sleep!