the last few days...

before we left Zhengzhou...after all the rain

Zhengzhou...well we did end up trudging out in the rain. It actually was quite the adventure. The kids had fun literally jumping in the puddles of water and just watching the people go about their business on bicycles and scooters with ponchos on as if it weren't really raining.



Thursday we traveled to Luoyang to do the official notary for all the paperwork and to get Ellie's passport. We met up with Michael, our american friend that is in most of the pictures we have of Ellie, and his friend Mikey. They went with us to do the paperwork and then to the orphanage. While we were in Zhengzhou we took Ellie to a grocery store and let her pick out cookies for all her friends. When we got to the orphanage, she couldn't wait to get up the stairs to give her goodies away. When we walked into the playroom on her floor, all the kids began shouting her name...they were all so excited to see her.

She first gave suckers to all the little kids on the floor and then dashed next door where all her older friends were and gave out cookies. She was all smiles. The nannies and preschool teachers all stood around smiling at her, smiling at us. The were all chattering about her, we just couldn't understand all they were saying. They gave us pictures of her with all of them, some of her school work, and a stack of papers where they had been recording all about her since she was really little. They were so excited for her, but when we left her floor their were a few tears behind the smiles. She has been loved so well.


Alex and I had the opportunity to go up the the 4th and 6th floors where all the older kids that we had played with last summer were. Several of them recognized us without Michael telling them who we were and when we had been in the orphanage. It was an incredible experience for Alex and me to see these kids again. Ray also got see the Hope Foster Home floor of the orphanage. As we walked past Ellie's floor one last time Ellie told her friends goodbye and never looked back. When we got outside one of her nannies who has been in the orphanage since Ellie was little gave her a hug, chatted with her for a moment, and as she said goodbye she was in tears. Ellie gave her one last hug...said something and got on the bus. In that moment, as a mom, I had such mixed feelings; God had given this little girl to love and be loved in the orphanage and now he was giving her to us. I know there will be times of deep sadness as she misses her friends, nannies, and the life that she has had, but she is smiling, laughing, cutting up, hugging and kissing us. God is indeed good!!

...the family with Director Pei
and then at Longman Grottos on Friday


...Ellie's first taxi ride

A huge thanks to all for your continued prayers for our family