Gotcha Day details....here's the scoop!

Where to begin?

We boarded our bus...the last ones on (surprised Daddy?), but on none-the-less. The drive to the Civil Affairs office was very interesting. Jim and I both had butterflies! The scenery outside was dreary. Such poor conditions for these people...and to live in an area in which the air is so oppressive and polluted... yet we know that these aren't the poor ones. It makes me so grateful for the blessings we have...and we don't even know the half of it!

After about a 20 minute drive we arrived at the building. There were only three small elevators so our group had to go up in shifts. We, being the last OFF the bus, too, waited in the last group. While waiting, in walks a young lady (not more than 20!) holding the hand of a short, very round Chinese girl with pig-tails. The lady carried a yellow bag and other things, and the girl was holding something, too: a little Asian babydoll with a white eyelet dress (except we didn't see what she was holding right away). We all thought and whispered...that looks like Emmy Xiang. The more we looked, the more we realized....THAT WAS OUR DAUGHTER! Of course, she spied us watching her and moved closer to the young lady.

The elevator opens and we all ride up....with our daughter! Unofficially, we see her before we are suppose to! What a gracious and kind God we have!!! We are all overwhelmed at this point, and quite anxious. We are the first family called and she walks out (from behind a curtained playroom) with her lady friend toward us. She's not real sure about us....until we bring out the peanuts. Then, one by one, she looks us over. The peanuts are keeping her interest. She played with her doll and watched us, while her friend encouraged her toward us in her local dialect.

We had learned earlier that day that she only likes almond juice to drink. Almond juice? What is that?!? Apparently it is not a best seller among adoptive babies, adoptive families OR the local people, because a bottle or can of it could not be found on the island (either at Beatrice's grocery store or the 7-Eleven....yes, they have those too!). Anyway, we found this powder stuff to mix with water (I think) so we had *planned* on bringing it, but forgot it. But we did bring the cool sippy straw cup I'd bought back home. So we scrambled for a bottle of water (can't drink the water around here...gotta boil it or buy it bottled!) and poured it up. She loved it....almond juice, huh!

Jim got near her and held out his hand to see if she would come to him, but she surprised us all and slapped his hand....she gave him five! Must have been a "daddy" thing because she wouldn't do it to the rest of us. She warmed up to Jim, so I got to do the interview with the caregiver lady (who just works in the office at the orphanage, but who also was special "friends" with Xiang Xiang Gongzhu (she confirmed....Emmy Xiang is royal!) We learned a bit about her, exchanged gifts with the lady (the foster family sent us a gift...the bag I sent the doll in was FULL of unshelled roasted peanuts! How sweet that they would send her favorite snack!). She also gave us a pendant (kid-kind...acrylic) from Love Without Boundaries...and I believe a video CD from them as well. I haven't had a chance to check it out. What was really cool is that all of the cameras we sent were used up (hopefully they have good pictures!), the Nicolette Larson lullaby CD I sent was returned, as was her baby doll (which she played with constantly and we noticed she had scribbled on the doll's feet) and dress I'd made for it, her crayon roll up I'd made for her, the books we'd sent for her and the outfit we sent recently. Plus they sent a little purse and a stange net-like scarf, her funny hair extensions from the pictures we'd had of her before AND a little mini cd that we hope has pictures on it! Haven't slowed down to check it out!

You saw from the pictures on the previous post that she loved the ball we brought with us and played and laughed! We were able to distract her with that same ball, after the photos with the lady friend, when that said friend made her exit. You could tell that it was not easy for her to leave. However, I think it was quite evident that Emmy Xiang is right where God wants her to be!

So the bus trip back to the hotel wasn't great. Once we walked outside of the building, Emmy Xiang started to cry. She struggled a tiny bit, but then just sort of moaned. We'd learned that she got carsick earlier on the trip up. Perhaps she'll be with Gracie when we dole out the dramamine! She didn't look great, but soon stopped crying and drank water. When we got out of the bus, it was as if she'd not even been on it! She walked right in the hotel...rode the elevator up and had no problem with the western toilet. Then, the fun began...

We enjoyed watching her play with the ball, laugh and lean back on her sisters, and later eat pizza. We encouraged her to sign and say, "more please" and "thank you" and to our surprise, after just a few times of modeling and asking her to say it, she said or signed both! We'd been told that people from Shantou are clever...even one of the locals here said she would be! She LOVED pizza. (Personally, just looking at her...I think she loves FOOD...gonna have to be conscientious parents on the eating thing!) She took a bath while mom did paperwork...and when I came back in she was having a blast. The girls were so excited!

Speaking of the girls...they have been AWESOME! They were just as excited and teary eyed as Jim and me....and have been the most help. This is no surprise to me, but I want to be sure to tell the world that my daughters are the best daughters in the world!

We finally settled down...colored a bit, and watched a few of the pictures on the computer (BTW....everyone say together, "THANK YOU TIFFANY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" for letting us borrow your computer! We...all of us, right folks?...are sooooooo grateful to God for you!). I made a pallet on the floor (sounds awful, but really the four fluffy quilts make the nicest bed!) for the Pooch and Emmy Xiang. She inched that way, and allowed me to tuck her in, though, she's not fond of kisses yet. Ladybug was already asleep, and the Elf was working on slide shows. I came in here to post. It's been very quiet for a LONG time...the Elf has been in bed for a while, and Jim's been snoring since before the pallet was laid out.

So that's the run down...hope you enjoy it! And, in the waiting time....enjoy a few more photos from the hotel!

Praise be to God for this very awesome gift of a life to nourish. Pray that we will glorify Him as we train her up in the way she should go...and that she would come to know Him. Good night, all!