Countdown to Christmas

Two years ago today Louis became a U.S. citizen when we landed in Chicago. We thought we were so close to home--just a few more hours and one more flight and we'd be there. Instead, thanks to a snowstorm that shut down most of the East Coast, we found ourselves trying to navigate a U.S. airport with no cell phone, no U.S. cash, no ATM card, no helpful airline employees--and no sleep for more than 24 hours.

We only survived because of our forever friends Cherie and Scott, who live outside Chicago and had just adopted their beautiful daughter on the same trip. They found a hotel in a city where many people were stranded due to the storm, dropped us off, and made sure we were safe. Cherie's mother even slipped a panda necklace into my hand before we said goodbye.

We finally arrived home late in the afternoon two days later, after renting a car and driving through six states with our adaptable, adorable son who had never seen a car seat.

Four months ago today John and I hugged that little boy...

 

...and boarded a plane for China to bring home his little brother.

Now, with Christmas just days away, people keep asking whether we're ready for Christmas.

So...are we ready?

Well, the undecorated tree is up. It has lights on it because it's a pre-lit tree. We finally found our Advent wreath in time to light all four candles.



I think our shopping is done, mostly because we have run out of time. In some ways we're only slightly more prepared than we were for Christmas two years ago--but maybe with fewer gifts since we haven't just been shopping in Guangzhou.

And yet it seems as if we were just there.



Either way, half of our family is ready and counting down. "Why isn't Christmas today?" Louis asks. He can't wait. We talk about Jesus' birth and life and Louis has started asking questions that are a little harder to answer. "Why did people want to kill Jesus?" "Why did they use nails?" Why, indeed.

Then, as we drift back to the toy conversations, we come back to the other question--a much easier one. "Can I put that on my Christmas list?" Sure! Just don't expect to get everything, we tell him. Santa may just surprise you.



Louis has a pile of tattered toy catalogs and he loves to flip through them and imagine. They have bought us extra hours of morning sleep over the past weeks, and I will almost be sorry to say goodbye to them after Christmas.

Louis is hoping for many, many toys. Michael is just going to enjoy whatever comes his way.
 

Baba wants a nap. I'm hoping for some new potholders.

But even if Santa fills my stocking with coal--or nothing at all--I'll be happy. After all, we're not stranded in a Chicago airport. We're not waiting for any government approval. We're home, and we're not jet-lagged.

What could we possibly have left to add to our wish list?