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.
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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.
