Green, Party of Five

Though our house is sometimes occupied by thoughts of Jiang Yongxing's likely still living birth mother in China, just being able to see her laugh and smile and love is confirmation enough that she's enjoying her new life here in America. Sometimes it seems Xing Xing's (as she was known in China) mother is right here with us and she is funny, witty, pretty, and very loving. The thought of her relinquishing her precious Xing Xing is not easy to comprehend, but we know there are many reasons. Unfortunately, we'll never know for sure what drove her to that point. However, we cannot help but think that Xing Xing's life will turn out better than it would have if she were forced to live out her youthful days among so many children, yet so alone. Not because of anything we have done, but because God had a plan for her. And we were the "lucky" ones, that His plan happened to intersect her life with ours. Casting Crowns recorded a great song called "Who Am I?" whose words seem to describe exactly what we feel:

"Not because of who I am, but because of what You've done. Not because of what I've done, but because of who You Are."

Because of what He has done, the blessing, unknown to us at the time we first met Lily Grace, is ours by His grace. Yet there are the persistent thoughts of how to answer the questions sure to come later in life. And whether we'll really be able to explain her humble beginnings with a degree of certainty that will satisfy her longing for understanding herself and her country.

So many times in the past year, people have said to us what a good thing we did in bringing Lily Grace to America, implying that we somehow "rescued" her from the orphanage. And each time they do, I am embarrassed. Please don't misunderstand that. I am embarrassed only because it must be something that I've done or said that gives that impression. And when you really think hard about it, nothing could be farther from the truth. What I think about is how much of Lily's heritage she'll never be able to reconstruct. The siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins she'll never meet. The language and the beauty of her birth country, never to be experienced any moreso than as one of countless other tourists. I also think about the other children we met in her orphanage and wonder if God had a plan for them similar to the one He had for our Lily Grace. We know her best friend was adopted here in America and we hope one day to be able to visit with her and her new adoptive parents. In Lily's orphanage, there was this one older girl, probably 9 or 10, that Connie and I both noticed with great interest. She's in several of our photos and our video. We've wondered many times what has happened to her. There was a little boy, dressed in American red, white, and blue, content with the candy we brought, barely noticing our presence after receiving it. We wonder what happened to him.

Neither Connie nor I can stop thinking about those children and how they must long for someone to hold them and love on them. Maybe it could be us. And for that reason, we believe it is God's guidance for us to reach back into China. Not because we feel like it's our duty to do what we can for the lost children of China, but because we have come to know a love in the past year that is simply indescrible and we know that Lily Grace is filled with that love as well. She has taught us to love without bounds, and everyone in our family has benefitted from it. She tells everyone in the house how much she loves us, often just out of the blue. And you can tell she knows what she's talking about, sometimes accompanying the utterance with a kiss on the cheek or a look that simply melts its recipient. Though at times she treats him as typically as any American girl would treat her brother, Lily will tell Austin she loves him and if he's not feeling well, she'll do her best to comfort him. She needs to share this love with somebody who'll better understand its origins. Long after we're gone, we'd like for Lily Grace to have a connection to her heritage, someone to share her innermost thoughts with as she grows up and begins to wonder why she is different.

Yes, it's official. We are seeking to grow our family once again and with God's guidance and direction, hopefully we will be obedient to His will and find another sibling for Austin and Lily Grace. Austin is growing up so quickly, it's a little sad to realize that in just a few short years, he will be off to college. And then, Lily Grace will need somebody to play with, someone to build her imagination with, to share toys and nighttime stories, a close friend at school for those tough times to come. And they will come. I had wanted to wait until things got a little further along, but this kind of news just seems to find a way out. We spoke with our pastor and had prayer together last weekend. That is so important, just to pray and listen for God's will. For anyone thinking about adopting, please start with prayer and listen to God. If you ask His guidance, He will be faithful to lead you and direct you along the plan He has selected for you, whether that plan involves biological, domestically adopted, or internationally adopted children.

We have decided to use Lifeline Children's Services again, in short because their entire staff is so professional, and yet so loving and caring. Lauren, Anna, Karla, and all the others behind the scenes were amazing during our adoption of Lily Grace. Anna will handle our case again and we couldn't be happier about that. Their in-country representatives were uncommonly competent and caring people. Sally in Nanchung and Rebecca and Lily in Guanzhou were the perfect aides along our journey. They took care of more than we could have ever expected.

We've already begun the paper chase, having turned in a few documents while working on a new application. We have begun the process for getting a U.S. passport for Lily Grace, so she can travel under the U.S. flag when next we visit China. Our first homestudy visit is next week. So, please be in prayer for our entire family, as we begin this process again. We are thankful to have so many friends (actually, we consider them all family) we can talk to as we walk this path again.

Love,
Green, Party of Four ...
Jerry, Connie, Austin, Lily Grace, ...

The Rest of the Summer

Aren't the months of June, July, and August supposed to be the "lazy, hazy daze of summer?" It seems like it's been anything but lazy. It also seems like this was the shortest summer ever. I'm not sure why, just does. Now that it's mid August, both kids are back in school (more on that later) and the freight train that is 'Fall 07' has left the station ... all aboard!

Continuing the review of summer ...




Lily Grace, Austin, and Amanda enjoy fireworks at the Athens fireworks show, a tradition in the Green family that dates to Austin's first fourth of July!

We took a long vacation in Ft Walton Beach after the July 4th holiday.

"Is there anything I can get you?"



"Lily Grace and 'The Claw!'"

In mid July, the Jr Youth group from Isom's Chapel worked at Manna House, distributing food to the needy and were rewarded with a pool party at the Bryant's. Lily Grace took advantage and learned how to jump off the diving board (yes, in the deep end!). Her reward ... a cupcake with green icing!





Lily and Austin's 'Big Sister' Amanda heads off the college. She's going to graduate school in Chicago, Illinois ... that's a long way away! Please come back and visit often (BTW, at the time of this blog entry, Amanda has come back to visit ... yea!)




Of course, the big event of the summer was Lily Grace getting baptized. We decided to do this on the anniversary of her "Gotcha Day" and it gave me the opportunity to give a testimony before the church about how God showed me our privilege and responsibility in seeing that Lily Grace would know "Who this Jesus is."





Not long after that, Austin began workouts for band and football at East Limestone. No pictures of course, that might tip the competition. This year, Austin will continue to manage the high school football team, but he will also march with the band during halftime. In a twist of irony that even I couldn't imagine, the band will open the season with "Mission Impossible!" Of course, Austin says it's all worked out. He'll manage up until 3 minutes before halftime, then run through a phone booth and emerge in his band BDUs, grab his snare, and be on the field marching before you can say superman! This will be fun.

I now pronounce you ready for fall ... let the games begin!

Love,
Green, Party of Four ...

June Bugs, July Flies, and August Ladybugs

Remember June bugs? Those hard-backed, big green bugs that could fly. How come we don't catch those and tie them to a piece of thread and let them fly in circles anymore. Remember those days? How 'bout July flies, those over-sized, cricket on steroids bugs that make the most racket you've ever heard? Lily heard one tonight as we were leaving Granny's and asked what it was. That's what prompted this little review of summer. Hope you enjoy. And please remember that no matter what, God loves you and has a plan for you!

With a long, hot summer winding down, I thought it would be fun to review the memories of this past summer with lots of pictures. Yes, believe it or not, another summer's in the books (unless, of course, you check the thermometer which seems to scream I'm not finished yet!). School has started, kids are hurrying to class with arms full of notebooks, pencils, colored pencils, and pens ... and paper towels, tissues, baby wipes, and all manner of other items that I never remember having in school. Wait a minute, I digress. We'll get to that later. Let's start with school getting out back in May.


"Austin Receives an Award for Awesome Grades!"

It seems like only yesterday that school let out for the summer. Austin had finished the requirements for 7th grade and was subsequently awarded the privilege of coming back for 8th grade in the fall, but not without a few summer assignments. Now, that's another thing I don't remember from my school days. Anyway, four books to read and two projects to complete for Advanced Literature. Wow, I've been working on one book for probably 6 months now and haven't finished, but Austin had to read four in a mere eight weeks of 'summer break.'


"Kristin Graduates High School"

Kristin, one of Lily's "sisters," graduated high school in May this year. It seems like only yesterday that Kristin was babysitting Austin, spending the entire summer becoming such a wonderful part of his and our lives. We pray a special blessing for Kristin and wish her well as she begins a new chapter in her life. And Lily Grace says "Good job, Kristin!"


"One of My All Time Favorites, This Picture Earned Lily Grace a Place on Website for the Maker of the Dress."

Lily and Austin's grandfather, and my father passed away in May. I wish that I'd spent more time with him and that Lily and Austin could have known the man I knew before Parkinson's wreaked havoc on his very being. Please pray for a cure for that awful condition. By God's grace, the children did get to visit one last time in the hospital and I hope they'll remember their grandfather in the best possible way.



Austin played golf several times over the summer. He really enjoys the game. I wish I could take him more often, because I know the opportunities for that kind of activity will dwindle as he gets older and begins defining himself as a young adult.

By Memorial Day, we knew the summer would be hot, based on the way it started out, so we began dressing Lily appropriately. Check out the bathing suits in the pictures below.





Oh, we also allowed Lily Grace to renew a relationship with her favorite food - watermelon! This girl can eat some melon - is there a melon-eating contest somewhere?


"Gimme Some of Da Good Stuff!"




Austin and I got to see a couple of our favorite Christian groups in Building 429 and Hawk Nelson. We were able to talk with the artists of Building 429 after their show and tell how much their song "No One Else Knows" meant to us while we were in China. They were excited to hear how their music had ministered to us in a foreign land. Austin got to meet Jason of Hawk Nelson, easily one of the craziest guys we've ever met. They talked a little and Austin showed him a picture he'd drawn of them on the way over. Probably Austin's favorite night of the summer.

Oops, look at the time! Seems I'll have to finish this little summer review another night. I guess Summer is hanging on after all.

Love,
Jerry, Connie, Austin, and Lily Grace
Green, Party of Four ...

U.S. Citizenship Celebration

How Important is Your Citizenship in These United States?

OK. A little on the documentary side I know. This is an article that I wrote for our local newspaper. Hopefully, it will be published sometime in the near future. For now, enjoy watching the paint dry. (And get some coffee!)

Are we witnessing a demographic change of seismic proportions in our small, rural, hometown community? Probably not, though at times it may seem so. In fact, many of our citizens would answer yes to such a question, based on the number of immigrants, legal and otherwise, who now inhabit our small town in search of employment and a better life for their families. Immigration is an idea that has long been part of most major American cities and that is just now reaching out into small-town America. Immigrants come from all corners of the earth, though most of the current influx is from the Hispanic communities in Central and South America. However, a small, but growing number, of new residents in Athens and Limestone County is represented by children of Asian descent, primarily Chinese. This is the story of their newfound citizenship in these United States and how they are being nurtured by the Athens chapter of Families with Children from China, a Christian-based support group for adoptive families. The Athens chapter of FCC recently held its annual celebration of U.S. citizenship, honoring those who became citizens of the United States through international adoption during the past year. The Forrest Hills community was gracious enough to allow the use of their clubhouse on Saturday, July 21st for the event.


"Three New Citizens"

"Lily Mei and Her New Mother Monica"

"Let's See Now, What to Do?"


"A New Parachute "Game is Invented!"

Citizenship and the status of immigration is a topic of significant emphasis in many small, rural communities as they struggle to incorporate “new residents” into mainstream America. There are many barriers to successfully melding peoples of different cultures into our society, including reluctance on the part of citizens within the community to accept them and reluctance on the part of the immigrants themselves to adapt to an English-speaking society with cultures different from their own. For many Americans, our citizenship is not something we think about often enough. It’s not that we take our citizenship for granted. We are certainly aware of the sacrifices that many have made and are making on our behalf. And we pray Psalm 91 for those who would give their lives to protect ours.




"Practicing for His First Coca Cola Commercial"

Still, the question of the importance of our citizenship rarely comes up in our everyday lives. God has blessed our country so immensely and those very servicemen and women we pray for have done such an awesome job in protecting what God has given us, that we as Americans have come to ‘expect’ our freedoms. As for citizenship, those who come here for a better life would benefit greatly, as would society in general, by seeking to attain their own citizenship. They would learn to appreciate the sacrifices of those who’ve gone before us and could then teach their children the importance of loyalty to a concept called freedom for those who will come after us. In short, we have come to experience life in these United States as a normal, customary, and standard way of living. We consider it normal to be able to wake up each day to choices that enhance our Quality of Life. What to wear, what to eat, what to do, where to go. Even our children have an array of choices each day that keep their little minds busy, constantly evaluating choices.



Sadly, as many who have traveled to other countries will attest, life as we know it here in the good old USA is anything but normal for many parts of the world. Simply put, the choices that we enjoy and the freedom under which we exercise the privilege granted us to make those choices is not normal in many parts of the world. So, how important is your citizenship in these United States? For some, it is simply a miracle from God, granted not because of anything they’ve done, but simply because He planned it that way. This is their story. Lily Grace Xing Green, Paul William Ogles, and Lily Mei Carter all completed this journey in the past year and are now full-fledged U.S. citizens, whose freedoms and privileges are protected by the greatest country on earth, the United States of America.


"Love That Chicken from Popeyes!"

Each year, the miracle of international adoption is experienced by many families across North Alabama, with a surprising number right here in Athens and Limestone County. Many of these international adoptions are of Chinese children and more specifically, Chinese girls. This circumstance is born out of the Chinese government’s attempt to deal with a large, burdensome population in excess of 1.4 billion. (By comparison, the U.S. recently eclipsed the 300 million mark, or less that 1/4th the number of Chinese). The process of adopting a child internationally is lengthy and expensive, sometimes taking as much as two or three years, and filled with ups and downs, paperwork, and prayers. The first step in gaining U.S. Citizenship is completing forms for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) indicating a family’s intent to travel abroad and adopt a child. This step occurs as much as a year before the family travels to China. Families who adopt from China typically spend 14-17 days in China, the first stop being in the capital city of the province where their new family member was born. Here, he or she is adopted into the family by Chinese government policies and given a passport for travel abroad.

The final in-country stop is in Guangzhou, China to visit the U.S. Consulate. The United States does not have an embassy in Beijing, nor do the Chinese have an embassy in Washington, DC., so matters of state are accomplished by similar government offices in non-capital cities. These offices are referred to as consulates and they are essentially the same as embassies. When you enter the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou, you are on U.S. soil. You must have a valid passport just to enter the facility. It is the most awesome experience to be in a foreign land and enter a building wherein the full weight and power of the United States government is at your disposal. To see the American flag flying in a building guarded by Americans and Chinese alike is something I wish everyone could experience at least once in their lives. The appreciation gained for our government and way of life in that one instant is monumental. It is here that prospective new citizens are sworn in and granted immigrant visas, allowing them to travel to the United States with their new parents. Families of internationally adopted children go to great lengths to ensure that every step is completed accurately. If both parents travel to China, the child is eligible for U.S. citizenship immediately upon entry into the United States. This occurs when the U.S. Customs and Immigration officer stamps the child’s passport and immigrant visa allowing entry into the United States. If only one parent travels and completes the adoption, additional requirements must be met before U.S. Citizenship is granted. The end of the process is the receipt of a Certificate of Citizenship from the President of the United States a few months after arriving home!


"Try Getting a Picture of This Kid!"
Now, back to our newest little citizens. Lily Grace is from the Jiangxi Province in southeast China and has been in the U.S. for 1 year. Lily Mei is from the Sichuan Province, while Paul William is from Hubei Province. Lily Mei and Paul William were welcomed home in June and are rapidly becoming loving members of their families. Paul William represents the blessing of a Chinese boy adopted in the U.S., an event that rarely happens. The Athens Chapter of FCC is proud to present these newest little citizens to our friends and family here in Athens and Limestone County.


"This Citizenship Thing is the Ticket!"
For more information about the Athens Chapter of FCC, please contact Amy Hall at 230-6950.