This is the eighth 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.

An entry in “Our Journey to Josie Claire Siyan Hapney” dated January 28, 2007, and titled “Thank God for the French!” reads:

“I've heard over the years that some Americans think the French are ‘arrogant’ toward Americans; that has been wiped out of our minds, because they gave us some wonderfully delicious toast!” 

“Claudette and I had a wonderful breakfast here at the hotel, complete with French toast, bacon, scrambled eggs, orange juice, cereal, coffee, etc.  It was, in Claudette's words, the best meal we've had so far!  And the coffee cups were American size!  I only had two cups today.”

“We wait in anticipation for our guide to pick us up at 10 a.m. (it is now 9:15 a.m. here in China) and take us to the Civil Affairs office here in Nanjing.  What's precious to note is Josie's orphanage is three to four hours from Nanjing.  She'll have ridden in an automobile for that length of time--most likely the longest car ride of her life up to this point!”

“I have the camcorder and digital cameras fully charged and ready for our guide to utilize for the big moment when we meet our precious gift from God face-to-face.

After we pick up Josie, we plan to stop by a store to pick up some items (Claudette cannot avoid getting a Wal-Mart fix--even clear across the world!).  We'll then return to the hotel and spend time bonding with our daughter.  It's finally hitting us that our eight-month wait for Josie Claire Siyan Hapney is finally coming to a close. While we are enjoying ourselves here in China, we cannot wait to return to the U.S. and be home with our sons and daughter.”

“Thanks for all of the guest book entries.  You don't know how very much they mean to us.  When we're in a city of 3 million people in a country clear across the globe, it makes it easier communicating with our relatives and friends we love and cherish very much.”

“We have to be going.  We forgot to convert our U.S. dollars into yuan, and need to do so prior to our guide arriving.  Keep praying God grants Josie and us a very smooth transition, as she officially becomes a Hapney!”

On January 29, 2007, are website entry was “Gotcha Day!”

“After breakfast, John, our guide, picked us up at the hotel to take us to the Civil Affairs office to meet Josie face-to-face for the first time.  He told us to bring along some clothes for Josie, as she vomited during the three-hour car ride from her orphanage.”

“When we arrived at the Civil Affairs office, we were told that she was just a few minutes from arriving.  Her nanny came in and asked for a coat for Josie, as that's what she had vomited on during the car ride.  A few minutes after that the nanny and the orphanage director brought Josie into the room where we were.  It's difficult to describe the level of emotions we were experiencing then.  It was every bit as exciting as Brock's and Blake's births!”

“Thanks for all of your prayers.  They were answered.  Claudette and I prayed this morning that God would touch Josie and us with his powerful hand, making Josie feel at complete ease when she was with us.  She went to Claudette right away.  She moved her face away the first time I kissed her, but I think that was because my beard tickled her face.  She has since warmed up to me and allows me to hold her and kiss her.  She's our beautiful gift from almighty God and we thank Him for giving her to us.”

“The nanny and orphanage director told John (who discussed Josie with them at length in Chinese, asking questions of them that we prepared last night) that Siyan (pronounced See Ann--a variation in dialect) is spoiled!  They said what Siyan wanted at the orphanage Siyan got!  They said she was "number one" there.

The woman Claudette met via the Web--Antinette and her husband (from Washington state) were there to pick up their 3-year-old daughter, who was not taking the transition well at all.  Please remember them in your prayers.”

“After we left the CA office we stopped at a grocery/department store and picked up the necessities for the rest of this week (Oreos, Skippy peanut butter, baby food, diapers--as Josie is not completely potty-trained yet--Coca Cola, and spring water).  It was a true joy pushing Josie around in the cart!”

“We've been calling Josie "Siyan" all afternoon and evening, as she responds very well to that name (which is a part of her new name anyway).  We're throwing in a "Josie" from time to time.”

“We left the grocery/department store and stopped for lunch at another authentic Chinese restaurant.  Claudette and I took turns feeding Josie.  We had a blast!  She enjoyed several dishes we had, but especially a fried egg and tomato dish, in addition to the rice.”

“We left the restaurant and came back to the hotel where we've been for the rest of the afternoon and where we'll be all evening.  We've been playing with Josie and all of her toys.  She's such a precious little lady.”

“The maid came in a while ago and left some extra Kit Kat candy bars for Josie.  Claudette was taking one from Josie's hand to unwrap it for her and Josie threw one heck of a tantrum!  She is spoiled (but we wouldn't have her any other way)!  She's over there lying on the bed with Mommy, playing with her baby doll and blanket (Blee) Mommy just gave her.”

“We cannot wait until you meet Josie.  She is much smaller than we though she would be, and has eyes, hair, and a smile that will melt your heart, just as she's melted ours.  While she had her cleft lip repaired, she will still have to have surgery at some point to repair her cleft palate.”

“She was singing a ‘song’ a few minutes ago.  She's called Claudette ‘Mama’ and me ‘Papa’ and ‘Baba’ since we first met her.  The nanny and our guide John would ask her in Chinese who her Mama is and she looks at Claudette and says ‘Mama’ and they did the same with ‘Papa’ and she looks at me and says ‘Papa.’”

“We are truly thankful that God chose us to be Josie's parents.  We cannot wait until you meet our beautiful daughter, and are looking forward to her beautiful brothers meeting her in person soon.”

“God has richly blessed the Terry and Claudette Hapney family, and for that we give Him all of the praise and glory.”

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.



Terry (Baba/Papa) and Josie/Siyan enjoying some cereal at the hotel in Nanjing, Jiangsu, in China. This photograph was taken on "Gotcha Day!"

: Josie/Siyan, Claudette (Mama), and Terry (Papa/Baba) at the moment the orphanage director and nanny brought Josie/Siyan into the room to meet her parents for the very first time. This was on "Gotcha Day" at the Civil Affairs office in Nanjing, Jiangsu, in China. Mommy and Daddy give Josie/Siyan her new doll.

Josie/Siyan enjoys some orange-flavored puffs her orphanage nanny brought with her. She even shared one with "Mama" (Mommy) and one with "Papa/Baba" (Daddy).