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Thursday 12 December 2013

Visiting Maya's orphanage and foster family

Today was a very emotional day. I was allowed to see where Maya has lived since she was 8 months old. I met her main nanny who cared for her until the age of three, and her foster parents who have cared for her from age three until present. foster families live in a building near the orphanage. Each foster family has four children with special needs. Next week a new child will move in with Maya's foster family. Her foster mother and father were very loving, and I am so grateful for the love she received. to see the children in the orphanage and know so many of them will live there whole lives in an institution was hard. Half the Sky foundation runs in Maya's orphanage, so it is a very well run orphanage, and the children are well cared for. However, an orphanage is not the love of a family. I especially had a soft spot for Maya's 14 year old brother with down syndrome. At 14 he is no longer eligable to be adopted. He will live his whole life in the social welfare institute. I asked to take a picture of him and he had a sweet pose for me. I cannot express how grateful I am to be raised in a loving home in our beautiful country. I am emotionally exhausted, and will never forget today. I also remember that God reaches into every corner, and I can do what I can do, but, must give the rest to Him. But, we also need to allow our hearts to break for what breaks His....and that heartbreak hurts.

Tuesday 10 December 2013

Family Day and official Adoption Day

Yesterday, I arrived in Nanjing and was brought straight to the civil affairs office. I was nervous, and walked into a very full building full of crying babies and kids with adoptive parents. walked throught the room, and recognized Maya right away. Maya did not make strange, and seemed rather indifferent to everything going on. She was very, very quiet, so, at that moment I was still thinking she was none verbal. The staff gave me the gifts we had sent her, they took our picture, and we were sent off to our hotel for some bonding time :) At the hotel, we began playing, and I saw a very giggly girl, who also had much more language then I had thought she would have. She is charming, and a bit of a stinker, all good signs of her personality. I was not sure if Maya would be toilet trained, she is, and tells me when she has to go. The kid scrubs her hands after like she is prepping for surgery. she eats well, and really likes to eat with a bowl and spoon. Today we went and finalized her adoption I find it very special signing the papers and making it official with my red fingerprint. Like blood it reminds me we are now blood relatives. FAMILY Maya loved going shopping and riding in the cart, she also loved riding in the stroller, such blessings,as I had put her in the back carrier, but will save my back for the trip up the great wall. Again, thank you for your continued prayers, on this journey to Maya in China. I have been doing very well, am healthy. I enjoyed a huge apple tonight, which was nice, as I do not think I can eat more rice or noodles for a few meals. The food is much better in Beijing.

Sunday 8 December 2013

Beijing-Day 1

Today we took the bus to pipe alley and enjoyed some hotpot. I loved this hotpot restaraunt and was so happy we traveled back there. We also saw a lovely lake and enjoyed looking in the stores in pipe alley Tomorrow morning, I fly to Nanjing and in the afternoon will meet our sweet Maya for the first time. I am excited, yet, it somewhat seems surreal that the day is here.

Tuesday 3 December 2013

The Count Down.

It seems like a lifetime ago when I first saw her picture. The face that captured Kevin's heart right away. The little girl whom we will soon call our daughter. On Dec. 6th I will be flying out to Beijing and on to Nanjing, Jiangsu to adopt our sweetie pie. Please keep me in your prayers, our daughter Maya, and my husband and kiddos who will be staying in Edmonton.